[Billie's unguarded smile catches Ortus underneath his ribs, infiltrating easily up into the cavity there with warmth that fizzes like one of the syrupy drinks that Gideon urged him to try. He cannot match that grin, but he is inspired to open his smile another handful of tentative degrees, relaxing into his chair by a fraction.]

Who am I to doubt such certainty?

[Of course Billie will keep to his word. Doubt dispelled, Ortus chews another contemplative mouthful of sandwich, pleased by the work accomplished so far. It only vaguely occurs to him there was, at some point, a mention of cleaning.]

I have not tried the cross ants. Are they fashioned in the shape of a cross, or the insect? Or are the ants a type of decoration?

[He learned about 'ants on a log' quite recently, and is proud to show off this piece of knowledge.]