[Paul keeps his hand still, but not rigid, holds its weight such that it applies only the lightest of pressure on Lazarus. He doesn't look at Lycka, in her mournful striving to connect, but Sophia does as she emerges on Paul's shoulder from his collar and hops to the floor. She approaches the orca with curiosity, her ears swept up and whiskers outstretched.]

The second. [His tone is mild and factual.] I've been learning how to do that since before I was born. The nerve conditioning is easier that way.

[There's a rise and fall of a lullaby in his thoughts, one that reveals itself to follow the same pattern of the ripples, and Paul feels the soft, sweet sting of the poison of nostalgia. He lets the waters carry it away, too, with a faint half-smile.]

You can imagine some of the things control of so-called autonomic nerves make possible. Under extremes, the mind tends to either unconsciousness or hyperconsciousness - this is the basis of ensuring the latter. I thought you might already be conditioned in that direction. It seems like I was right.