[ It's strange, he thinks — some of her mannerisms are hauntingly familiar, but there is a gulf of difference regarding others. The woman he has in mind would never have asked his preference regarding anything at all, for example. His brow furrows, writing over the offense, and he turns his back again to carry on with the preparation. ]

Let's call them malfunctions. [ It's a term he's only just now come up with, but it will do. And as for what he is, well, he's not certain he wants to put a name to that. It seems less pertinent, luckily. ] And if we do find ourselves making a habit of this, I'll write the lot of it down for you.