...I did just ask. Or did you want me to ask a little more directly than that...?

[ She stares at him patiently, though it's turned into a look of confusion when he states that him being male had anything to do with being First. She keeps staring at him, but her head tilts just slightly, like a particularly baffled bird. ]

Since you were a boy...? Why would that matter? I mean. Look at Pel. She's our First, and she's a fine First, we couldn't ask for better.

[ She pauses as she notices that past tense he's been using for the first time. Was he no longer First? Could it be--?

He'd been downgraded to Second. Embarrassing. ]