“The lack of any conceivable benefit for someone exerting the kind of power necessary to orchestrate unique scenarios for individuals of our relative level of insignificance certainly points away from -- “ Richard hesitates, “‘targeted’ domination. Someone else here must be doing the heavy lifting.”

There is a distinct pause there, through which he watches her at a curious remove.

It’s a little bit like being booped on the nose. Verbally.

He keeps his hands fully to himself, obviously, knuckles curled over garden soil.