[ He's a little buzzed, and that's...well. Lakshmi is a little thing, and she's clearly not used to this, but oughtn't she be able to keep up with him a little? She's Vor. Her family comes from a long, long line of drunkards. It's the Betan in her, it must be, that makes her so chatty and bubbly and full of laughter and wine-flushed.

Not that he objects. He'd never tell her - not unless it made her angry - but she's cute like this. ]

So you're telling me - [ He snorts skeptically. ] That you'd endure an entire conversation about agriculture? No, no, please don't answer that. I believe it completely. I believe completely that you have a dozen incredibly strong opinions about the dirt.