"Even then". Nice.

[he says it with a grin and a little roll of his eyes, amused and teasing more than offended]

But yes! I'm excited to really get a look at it, pick it apart. If there's some sort of extra molecular structure we can isolate from your original formula ... it might be native to things bought from Mana, and ...

[oh, the gears are turning. Norman's speechless, but only momentarily]

This could do so much.

[careful, Norman. CAREFUL.]