Gabriel was happy to have gotten a name in return. Always felt nice knowing you could call someone by name rather than having to go without one. Felt more personal to him. And personal felt good.<br/><br/>He fell behind her as she went up to the desk, trying to think up a solid response to her statement, but not finding one. He didn't really think it demanded one actually. Was just kinda one of those empty social cues more than anything else. Which meant there was an opening for different conversation. Or, probably was. As he took a seat and waited for Caroline to finish her business at the desk he took a moment to look her over, his dark hair being brushed away from his brown eyes, observing her movements and listening to her voice. Verda.<br/><br/>He'd been there once, for an assignment during school. One of the students had lived there at the time and he'd had to go there to study and work with them on a big project. Got into a spot of trouble though, causing mischief and other such things as was probably expected of a freshman, but his dad had told him he wasn't allowed to go back, instead insisting that the other kid come to the city. He wound up failing that project due to schedules not being able to align in such a way for them to really meet up again to work more.<br/><br/>"So, how's Verda doing? Any big events coming up? I know they had some sort of harvest festival a few years back, that still a thing they do?" He had to ask more out of curiosity than anything else. He hadn't really left the city since the accident. Better to stay in the area so he could get repairs and such whenever they were needed and not have to make any sort of strenuous trip. It was a pain somedays, when he looked out at the horizon and imagined the adventures out there that just hadn't been had.<br/><br/>But he knew he'd get there someday. Just had to bide his time and keep that spirit of his burning.