[ Mal definitely just felt a twinge of worry upon hearing her loss of appetite, but he tries to mask it by feigning optimism. ] You'll change your mind once you see how fancy the food is. Expect more than a handful of grapes.

[ What might make up for the fact that he brought Zoya up in the first place is his thumb rubbing soothingly against her palm where her scar used to be. Not that he's even aware he's doing it - it's very much an unconscious act - and perhaps it'll make her feel worse for withholding the truth from him. ]

So what sign did you get? [ He tries to keep the conversation light instead of focusing on how doomed they are. ] I got Strength... because I'm so tough, obviously.

[ He throws her a grin because she's the only one who knows he wasn't always that way. Had he not befriended Alina all those years ago, his sign would probably be something else entirely. ]