It's hard to tell, with Raguel, what's actually concern, and how it's meant. Especially through a vidscreen.

River's shoulders tense a little, and under the controls her fingers twitch and shift against her skirt and ankles. But her voice is low and not as unfriendly as it could be -- as it has been -- when she says, "He's okay."

"Better. In the relative calibration."

He's working again. River knows Simon's worries, knows or can guess her mother's, but -- well.

Stubbornness is a family trait.

"Are you?" she asks, abruptly in her turn, and it's hard to tell whether it's courtesy or accusation; maybe even she's not sure.