"Grain,"

Alan offers as he leans in, tipping his head to regard Lukas. It might be conspiratorial, if it weren't otherwise utterly flat of affect. What's this made of? Well,

"Is terrific the same as adaptable?" Unblinking, he fiddles at his own mug — remembers, after a moment, to offer a faint, cockeyed smile. "What were you doing, before you adapted?"