It was...surprisingly close. Especially for a first attempt. Ariadne gave Raleigh an approving smile. "You said, 'Storytelling is our native banana.' Which is close to what I said. Very close. 'Storytelling is our native language.'"

She said it again. Slow and reverent. The way that her father used to say it to her, gathering her up against his side, running his palm along her hair.

"Storytelling is very, very important to Alastrians," she explained. "Without it, we wouldn't have history."

Or much to say, sometimes.