No, I'm just testing your reflex to hand things to people reaching for them, Stacia carefully doesn't say. She takes the plate anyway and immediately puts it down on the table. "Nah, you just looked like you were going to keep trying to eat that, and life is just too short for terrible cake."

She waves off the apology. "Don't worry, I'm not concerned about guessing wrong. The game was more an excuse to start a conversation than anything else." She glances toward the donut box and makes a show of scrunching her nose in disgust. "No, I don't think they are. Though all things considered, I think it's more for show than it is any kind of sincerity."

She taps her breastbone meaningfully. Nobody who wants to be welcoming starts by implanting a device they can use to hurt or kill you.

"Higashi Setsuna -- that sounds Japanese, right?"