That girlish satisfaction that Irene has already caught a glimpse of is more self-assured, here; reinforcement always does a body good, but it's the assurance that she's been clear that she needed, more than validation. She's confident here, where she'd deferred to Irene earlier on sexuality and exposure, and most of all what pleases her is that her company seems pleased-- it is so easy for her to become invested, that way, and she doesn't always notice herself doing it.

(Sometimes it's hard not to think humans where she should be thinking person, and there's something pleasantly unfettered about a conversation where the distinction barely crosses her mind outside of intellectual speculation. To sit here and not second-guess.)

"I think it doesn't matter what happens or what's said, if expectations are in the driver's seat like that." She considers, turning her fork over in her hands, before she adds, "I think if you always assume you know what you're looking at, you won't ever learn anything interesting. And you're never surprised."