"Telling time must be difficult when you don't have a baseline," Fortescue agrees, giving her a gentle handshake right back. With men, she tends to give a firm handshake — because of that alpha male rot concerning assertiveness and control. With women, it matters less, she finds. "I've run into a few things like that. Not something I'd like to repeat anytime soon."

Jazz wanders up to Ruby's pantleg, giving it a curious sniff.

"How often does this place throw curveballs, out of curiosity?"