( Mithrun's supplying ideas, but Sinclair's the one moving the narrative along, and Mithrun presumes this means Sinclair's getting on with the concept. Mithrun's not really a reassuring person - what social gestures he extends are things he's learned from other people, in their barest skeletal framework. They're solutions he inserts into variables mechanically - not out of sentiment, but to see if it works. Hold someone's hand. Say thank you. Say sorry. Give them something they like. But they don't work all the time. (In fact, they don't even seem to work half the time.)

He didn't know if this story thing would work. It's strange; he feels - relieved? knowing it has; at least, so far. With no monsters here yet, his hand holds fast. )

... With this new perspective, would the fox go on a journey of its own? Or would it try to find someone just for them in the city?