Enjoy life. He almost laughs - instead lets out a soft huff of breath that betrays much but explains little. At some point, and even he isn't sure when, he stopped thinking about enjoyment. Between carefree boyhood and burnt out adult, it became an abstract sort of concept. Something other. The thought makes his hair stand on end.

But, maybe he should be glad that she's taking some kind of interest. It's not exactly reassuring, but Derek finds it hard to really mind. He yields, sighing.

"I'm trying to avoid boring you," he says, only half in jest. She may put him on edge, but it's easy enough to slip into this kind of banter. "The basketball isn't as good out here, but my bookcase is pretty full. London keeps me busy."