"Yeah? Does this mean I get to pick through your wardrobe?" Another dry delivery, impossible to know whether she's serious or not. Carolina isn't sure she knows, either. Still, she runs with it. "Better be worthwhile."

Travel, he says. She wonders what that must have been like. If he traveled alone. If he didn't. Wonders how a person prepares himself to meet horrors head-on and decides that maybe it isn't so different than gearing up for battle.

Different enemies, different horror, same sweaty palms and adrenaline spikes. Apparitions and aliens. She imagines his pre-battle rituals. The odd little things he must do the morning-of, lest his whole day of monster questing be thrown off.

Carolina eyes their dye barrel across the green.

"I can try."