She finds herself surprised again at the pat to her hand, but it's the kind of gesture that's kind and easy, a thoughtless little thing. She finds she doesn't mind, even likes it. "That's a good way of viewing it."

He intrigues her again as he goes on.

"No? What did happen to you, then?" she asks, eyebrows lifted again. She's turned partly to him, not enough to jeopardize her stability on the rafter. "For my part it was never intentional. The effects of the loops had already manifested, so I had no choice but to comply, no matter how I tried otherwise."