The sword is pretty impressive. Cam or Gideon would be able to say something intelligent about it, but all Pal can tell is that it’s probably very good for stabbing and slicing people. And honestly, that’s all he needs to know.

“I wouldn’t dare touch someone’s sword without permission,” Palamedes says with a perfectly straight face. “Or anything else that’s yours, for that matter. I’ve had two roommates on the ship so far, and while, sadly, you cannot ask them for references, I like to think they would vouch for me.”

A couple of post-it notes have fallen to the ground, as they sometimes do, and he goes to collect them and return them to where they belong. “In the interest of full disclosure, I have a friend who has been spending a lot of time here whilst I was the room's only occupant,” he says, and let’s not think about the way he oh-so-briefly pauses before saying friend, “but I shall let her know that circumstances have changed and we will endeavor not to disturb you.”