This is the most that Amelia has spoken about her past in one go, and Adia is reluctant to say anything afterwards, lest she scare off her friend from sharing anything else. That's quite a story, though. She doesn't miss that pause between "inventor" and "friend", either. Of course, anyone who would give her that hairpin must have cared about her very much.

Caspar has all sorts of questions, but for the moment, he has to deal with a cat in his lap who is trying desperately to reach for those ribbons. "Here," he says to Anastasia, setting her on the floor and dropping the discarded wrapping paper to the floor. He sighs and dusts off his hands. "I don't think a kneazle and hair-braiding lessons mix. You still have that rapier, Amelia? Did your blacksmith friends figure out what metals the meteorite was composed of?"