"Sorry," he says, deflating some. "It's just... I actually used to have a master--a real one. Valdis freed me from that, too." Valdis taught him to be his own minder. Now she's taught the Master to mind himself, too.

He pulls up a stool to where he can sit and still see or hear the door if it opens, crosses his arms, and prepares to observe.

"Looking forward to it."