"Fine people everywhere," Polli agrees with a warm smile, and Bastien emerges from his detail-debating with Anonymous in time to give his eyes a friendly roll about it. She's been listening well enough to know they've finished, so she says, "All settled?"

Anonymous nods, and Bastien says aloud, "All settled. I might have a present for you soon, as a thank you."

"If it's not tall, dark, and handsome, I don't want it," Polli says.

This isn't true. She definitely wants it. But unable to explain what it is without permission, Bastien only smiles and shrugs. "He's not mine to give," he says. "You'll have to convince him yourself."