It was impressive how well Raphael could ignore the little shadow monster, especially given that X couldn't stop glancing over at it, unnerved and wary. Asri, he hated them. There weren't many sentient creatures he hated on principle, and shadows were one of them.

"You can always ask," X replied, smiling. "Unfortunately, I can't tell you."

A little of Valdis in those words, probably. X paused to think. How much was strategically cautious, and how much was Valdis being contrary and rebellious just because she could be? It occurred to X he hadn't talked to Valdis since the day he woke up with her memories in his head, and that certainly wasn't helping.

"Yet," X clarified. "Can we talk, first? I was about to go get a drink."