"Quite so," he agreed amicably, taking a sip of the water. It was still gloriously cold, and he savored every last bit of it.
But when she got to the part about staying behind on a planet set to be destroyed, he sat up a little straighter and listened intently. After a moment more, he leaned forward.
"Forget the shirt, Oswin," he said gently, but with an intensity that levity couldn't pierce. "You stayed behind?" He paused, and then more gently said, "How did you survive?"