[ By now, Max has almost completely recalibrated her brain. This is Basil. Not a kid, but a guy around her age. Older. Shy, soft-spoken, and pretty gentle.

And, she decides... Yeah, she likes this better. Even if it's weird that she's actually the youngest in the palazzo. ]

Yeah, me too. [ A moment. ] Do you, uh... I mean, do you wanna do something? For your birthday, I mean. I know it might not really count, and it already happened, but...

[ An awkward half-shrug. ]