In a few years, the difference between their ages will be insignificant, but right now there's still miles betweeen sixteen and twenty-two. Right now she has a hard-won poise that Aleksei hasn't figured out just yet.

But he will. Most Cards come up with their version.

"Oh," she says, blinking over at him. Even at his age and even in her heels, they're around the same height. "You must be really...disoriented. I've always thought coming here must be that way, like the first day of school times a hundred."