It's not a perfect answer. Collette is curious, but as far as answers go, he picked one that's hard to be stubborn over, especially with someone his apparent age. She didn't have to like it in order to understand it.

Brushing lightly against him, she allows herself to wear a canine grin. The one nice thing about Thought Speak, she thinks, aside from it not threatening her into coughing, is how malleable the mental tone could be when she concentrates on it.

< Can't say much to that, can I? Ah, well. > She keeps her disappointment light and humorous. She's clumsier now than usual, moving her muzzle to nose gently at his midsection. < If that ever changes, you know where to find me! > Here. She hopes that holds true, for many selfish reasons, and a few she likes to think are less selfish.

They turn down a hall, and there's the elevator, waiting at the junction.