It was James's idea...

James stared at his phone, reading out "What is something you take for granted...well that's a little tough, how should I know?"

Sally shrugged. "Idunno...shelter?"

"Water?", Aurora guessed.

James pursed his lips. "I guess if I had to pick...I think I take for granted the things that got me this far. Dad sacrificing his health to keep us happy...the fact I get to own my own house so young...it's like the pieces just fell together just right and I managed to be there when they did."

He passed the phone to Sally, who took one look at the new question and took a large drink. "Yeah, no." She passed the phone to Aurora, who tapped the space for a new question.

"It says, "What activity calms you down?" That's easy. Math and design."

James locked eyes with her, smiling. "Me too!"

"The numbers and answers-"

"-and the satisfaction of finding solutions to machines-"

"-and the excitement of seeing a design come to reality!"

Now they shared a smile, Aurora lit up the room with blue and green. Sally shoved the phone at James. "Okay, I get it, you're both huge nerds, let's get a topic I won't fall asleep to."

James cleared his throat, glancing at Aurora again with a grin. "Yeah whatever. Let's see... "What's something horrible everyone should try at least once?" Oh. God...it's the worst thing in the world to have but, actual haggis. The real deal."

Sally wrinkled her nose, "Isn't that like...sheep's stomach?"

James nodded, "Filled with everything you never want in your mouth from a sheep, yep. Worst five minutes of my life was that flavor, but I have always appreciated good food so much more since then."

Sally made a cartoonish face of disgust while taking the phone. "Ugh...no thanks... "If heaven is real, would you get in if you died right now?" Hm...probably not? Seems like heaven has some pretty strict requirements."

James shrugged. "Idunno, you're helping keep Aurora safe. If helping save a life didn't qualify you for it we'd just be out of place with all the saints up there."

"Like being in a rich guys house and being afraid to touch anything!", Sally laughed.

"Right! Oh, man it would be weird."

Sally passed the phone back to Aurora next, who read out, "What is something that confused you...stars, where to begin?", she sighed. "If I can pick the most confusing...human faces."

Sally and James both turned their heads. "What?", they asked almost in sync.

"Your faces! You can completely fake your emotions in every way!"

"You can't pretend to be feeling something?", Sally asked.

Aurora shook her head. "Not at all. Our emotions are all over our skin, like a muscle twitch. You feel it and you show it, no matter what. You can think of things to make yourself feel something, but not fake it."

James leaned forward, "Wait, that's what those spots are? That's your emotions?"

"Not just, but yes. We wear our expressions that way, questions, statements, answers, feelings, and even memories...if they shine bright enough another Nova can sort of...reach out. They show the same emotion, and they live through the memory that caused it."

Sally let out a small, "...Oooh...that's what you meant."

Aurora nodded. James gave her a confused look, to which Aurora glanced at Sally and responded, "Confidential."

James pursed his lips, but shrugged and leaned back into his seat.