[What was Prior doing? Scenting the wind? Either he'd had his eyes closed before turning to face him, or was just coming out of a record-breaking blink. Richie's mind takes a leap (what strange and wondrous things is this one capable of) but he brushes that aside.

Could have just been listening. Though that smile is...off. By a fraction, maybe, or perhaps Richie's agitation is painting suspicions on every twitch and fidget. Regardless, he's hardly assuaged by the sentiment.

The ship name passes through him with only the faintest remembrance. Some ghost story, wasn't it? Hardly the type of thing to say when you wanted to lay fears to rest.]

You wouldn't mind if I did a triple check, would you? [Richie offers his own smile now. Probably just as convincing as Prior's own.] Call it masculine obtuseness. I need the sight assured that a couple of those pods are still pumping air.

[And that one stays sealed. Or if there was a way to cut the gas now that Mom and Pops had left the house, well! Don't you mind him, doing the world a favor.]