At first Sam just smiled at Isla's response, thinking it almost motherly and certainly welcome....then what she had actually said hit him. It was possible she had just misspoke, of course, had chosen an unfortunate phrase; Sam looked closely at her face. She did look different, as he had thought when he had come in.
He was aware he was being quiet for an uncomfortably long period of time, but Sam took a while to study her face. There was a trick to seeing the Ascended, he'd realised a while ago - normal people had red blood under their skin which dyed their cheeks and lips, in a way that seemed stunningly red when one was without. Isla had the same paleness in her face as he knew he had.
Of course, there was the possibility she was just sick and trying to emphasise. Sam didn't want to jump to any conclusions. Isla was sweet, nice and good. Not terrible like he was, not deserving of the curse of being Ascended.
"You...you know...um. Ha-have you spoken to other Ascended? The..the way you said that..." He laughed quietly and awkwardly, a sound not designed for him. "It...almost sounds like you are Ascended."
