Do you make shrimp?

[ He asks as if planning to ask Linneus to cook for him more often, but it could also be a curiosity. There's not enough in his tone to make it immediately obvious, leaving Linneus to interpret as he'd like. ]

But yeah, you are pretty skinny.

[ Like he might break at any moment. Ash himself is considered slender by many, a fact he often uses to make people drop their guard, but he's almost bulky in comparison. Already, Ash can be accused of occasionally undereating. If he drug the kid around, maybe it'd take some heat off of him the days that food didn't seem as appetizing.

His fork cuts through the pasta and lifts it up. He chews, swallows, and then replies to the question. ]

Two really different countries. [ The pasta swirls around the silver tongues, his jade eyes watching the process. ] I can't find proof they exist here. I don't know if I landed in Oz or went down the rabbit hole, but this place shouldn't exist. [ His voice is quite and contemplative. ] But here we are.

[ Another bite, another chew, another swallow. ]

Where are you from?