Well, yes, on that. When I think that a fortnight later, and .. well. Not sure I could have talked him round that at all. Pretty sure not, in fact.

I did hear a few things in that line. Though really, that's as much my doing as you: for a long time I had quite the reputation for going for the smartest one in the area. (You heard Gilly at the head table: the others are less flashy, but all much like that, really.)

Thing is, love, you challenge me like that.

Not the exact same way. But I get more out of it, I think. Instead of keeping up with brains, you stretch me to learn new things. And get my head out of the stars, which I appreciate now and then.

(I also like your very real skills in private, mind, if that weren't entirely obvious. But I'd prefer to be quietly smug and satisfied about that. Aren't you the one who likes leaving people guessing?)

As to the lecture, told you. Besides, I wouldn't be much of a teacher if I didn't adapt to my audience. A good third the people there live in theory - rarely touch a telescope. A third rarely touch the theory. Splitting it down the middle and talking about applications solved a lot of problems, and let me show off some lovely examples.

I wish I knew where Nashira was.