Rachel's general objection and usual exhaustion with nightclubs falls along similar lines. She's a social creature by nature, needing that time to connect with people, but she does better one-on-one or in small groups. Intimacy, not crowds; a chance to get to know someone, not a random stranger hopping into her path. But moving through a club alone seems to suggest, to other people, that they must remedy your state of not-having-someone-at-your-side at once. It's tiresome.

She shakes his hand. "Hi, Tom. It's nice to meet you." Her tone, her smile, everything is full of easy warmth, even as worn and glad to be out of the crowds for a moment as she is right now.

His question surprises her; on the surface it's easy to think it's just idle conversation but the way it's worded seeks a deeper answer. She's impressed. She shrugs, and replies, "Mostly it was that Hasibe was so nice when I called her back. Also I've been really busy with stuff lately and thought I deserved a break. And I wanted to meet more people." She laughs, a little. "Just maybe not so many all at once."