"...." he was silent for a moment, before sighing.

"So you can see them, huh?" he asked.

"You got time?" he asked her.

"The short answer is... yeah. I know they're there, they're always there, I need them there." he said further.

"If you want an explanation, get something to eat and take a seat."

"Ahhh, I see." he responded.

"Well, if you have time for a bit of an explanation, be my guest to have a seat." he told her.

"Otherwise, well, yeah, they're there. And they're kinda supposed to be." he went on.

He then sighed, and shook his head slightly.

He just chuckled in response.

"Well, the first sentence will answer a lot." he told her.

"I'm a Conduit." he informed her. "Natural born, legit, and a prodigy of a Conduit, at that." he went on.

"Didn't always know that, though." he then said. "Until very recently, I thought I was... legit crazy. I thought I was hearing audio hallucinations, and no medication was helping me." he said further.

"I had very few friends, and people looked at me like I was a dangerous psychopath." he lamented.

"However, your sister found me as she was lecturing at my University, and gave me mana blockers to see if they would help. They did, and I didn't hear the voices any longer." he continued.

"...which was when we learned that I am SO good of a Conduit, I am actually in touch with... well... Older Gods." he revealed. "And the souls you see around me are legitimately, a shield to silence them and stop me from descending into actual madness and becoming a meat puppet for... them..." he finished.

"I know." he responded.

"Believe me, I know." he repeated. "I'm well aware those like me tend to die early, due to the madness caused by those beings." he continued. "And every day, I'm thankful for it." he said further.

"But... yeah, that's my story." he told her.

"The ring around me changes every so often, as they come to terms with being dead and pass on, but they're always there for me." he smiled.

He was then silent, before he realised something.

"Oh!" he exclaimed.

"I'm Levi." he introduced himself to her.

Levi chuckled a little.

"Well, hopefully it's not been TOO bad." he told her.

"But I am grateful to your sister." he said. "She listened to me when nobody else would, and helped me come to terms with what I am, and helped me find a place in the world." he told her further.

"Sadly, she's hard to shop for." he then muttered.

"I know her birthday is coming, but I have NO idea what to get for her." he sighed.

Levi just sighed and hung his head a little.

"She has no reason to beat herself up." he said. "She had no way of knowing what would happen. Nobody did." he reasoned. "Damn it, I'd talk to her, but... well, I've said before I don't blame her and it's not her fault." he went on.

"Suppose it can't hurt to say it again at some point." he admitted.

"And a new kalimba?" he asked.

"Ooooh, thanks!" he said, perking up.

"I'll be sure to do just that!"

"I'm doing all right for finances." Levi assured her. "My girlfriend and I both work in the Media Relations department here, and share a house together. So... well, the fact that we're paid well, combined with sharing costs and such, means we're both doing well." he chuckled.

"But if you see if there's anything else, lemme know." he told her.

"A kalimba's a very good idea, though. I'll remember that." he then said. "Look around for one." he went on.

"And yeah... I know she can be stubborn at times. Amazingly so." he then mumbled.

"But she's brilliant and caring, and we can't see the lab without her."

Levi couldn't help but stifle a laugh.

"Yep, that checks out." he said.

"She's making drinks from time to time for the bar near here, Helscape." he told her. "And because of that, it is one of THE best bars in the area. Probably the city. Maybe even the state." he went on.

"She truly is amazing." he continued.

"How are you doing for a living?" he asked. "If that's not to personal to ask. I've heard you're part of a well-known theatre company. I'd imagine that pays the bills nicely, yeah?"

Levi nodded as she said what she did, pausing at the end.

"That's... wow." he mumbled.

"Literally? She will die in the sun?" he asked.

"She will." Kaia confirmed.

"That... doesn't sound like a good way to live..." Levi then said.

"But I assume you all make it work?"

"A snow-woman?" Levi asked.

Kaia nodded.

"I've read stories about them. I've never actually MET one before." he admitted.

"But at least you make it work. Seems sad that she doesn't see the outside." he mumbled. "But as long as she's happy, I suppose that's what really matters." he reasoned.

"And she has you and everyone else." he continued, before pausing.

"Or, rather, she will. Again. We'll make sure of it. We're making sure of it." he told her.

"...trying to, anyway..."