“We call talking about other people’s personal lives ‘gossip’ only if we aren’t or weren’t part of the conversation.”

“Wayne’s a little attached to that hat,” Waxillium said. “He thinks it’s lucky.”Wayne: “It is lucky. I ain’t never died while wearing that hat.” Marasi frowned. “I … I’m not sure I know how to respond.”Wax: “That’s a common reaction to Wayne.”

“We may talk lightly but never carelessly. We keep at bay the flow of common, ignorant thought which runs its damaging course through the pathways of ordinary human conversation.”

“Where are you?” he asked. “I’m right here” she said. “I know, but it feels like one percent of you is somewhere else, where is that one percent?” he said. “I don’t know….I think I’m always like that…” she answered. “I like that.” “You do?” “Yes, because that way, I have to always look for the one percent to find it.”