( he might have guessed that they were around the same age, but the whimsical way she spoke of days long past had left him guessing for that brief moment.
ren softens, smiling warmly as she reminisces, and chuckling as he raises a hand— )

We can talk about it more later.

( he's quick to shift the conversation, trying to make it seem natural: )

The Realm of Stories is actually where a good friend of mine met him, originally. Were... you there also, by chance?

( from the way she'd said that it doesn't really sound like it, but. he doesn't want to assume... )