"You DO like me!" "I don't think 'like' is the right word." "You tolerate me." "Maybe." one on one

Lin nodded a bit. "Alright, uh… what makes you happy?"

“Doctor Pepper. And books.”

"Uh… who's Dr. Pepper?" Lin asked, bewildered. "Do I know him?"

Orion laughed. "No, no. It's a kind of pop. Or soda. Whatever you wanna call it. It's a variety of cola, like Coke, or Pepsi."

"Ohh… I guess that makes sense…" Lin still seemed a bit confused. "And it makes you happy?"

"Yeah. It's my favorite soda. You know how some things just make you happy, even though it isn't like a big thing, like a vacation or something? It's like that. Like getting a new sketchbook. Or a new hoodie. Or your friend brings you chips at school."

"Yeah, I guess so. I'm not sure what makes me happy…" Lin considered for a few seconds. "I like using magic, I guess. And ice cubes."

"I like ice cubes. Why do you like them?"

Lin shrugged. "I like eating them, I guess. Satisfying?"

"I like the crunchy-ness. Like, it's so weird that water can be crunchy. You know?"

Lin nodded a bit. "Yeah. I dunno, I just like eating them. Weird brain… focusy thing, I guess."

"I get that. I like to lick metal. Which is weird. But, each to their own."

"Well, you can use metal with your powers, right?" Lin asked, looking over at her.

"I suppose so. Maybe that's it. I doubt that everybody likes the taste of metal."

Lin shrugged. "Dunno. I've never tried it. Maybe I'd like it."

"It tastes sort of like blood." She shurgged.

"Hm. I might not like it then. Not too big on… you know… blood in my mouth."

"Most people are not," she said wryly.

"I would figure as much." Lin hummed thoughtfully. "Not sure what else makes me happy…"

"Toast?" she offered. "I like toast. Toast is nice."

"I guess. I mean, it's just… bread but hot and crunchy. So… good, I suppose."

"I love it. Especially with butter."

"You put stuff on toast?" Lin asked curiously, seeming confused. "We always just ate it plain."

"You've been missing out, Munchkin. Chocolate ice cream, toast with butter."

"Uh… yeah, I guess. There's a lot of stuff I haven't tried."

"Apparently so," she said.

"Mm. 'Sheltered' childhood and all. What are some other normal things that I should probably have tried?"

"Do you have a favorite cartoon?"

"Cartoon? Ah… no, I don't think I've seen any."

"None? Wow. Not even like Scooby-doo or. . . the Simpsons or anything?"