"What's he like?" And where has Peter heard that name before? Recently, he means. It feels familiar.

"He's a loner, a bookworm, a perfectionist, an overachiever, a genius, and romantically reserved."

...that's a really fucking weird list, he's gotta say. But still, taking it at face value, "He sounds like an interesting person. And, 'romantically reserved', but he's fine with you, uh, having relationships with other people?" Why did Peter use the word "relationships" when he meant "sex".

"Yes! We're polyamorous."

"Huh. Cool. Well, I'm looking forward to meeting him tomorrow."

"I think you'll like him!"

...Peter might've dismissed that as rose-tinted glasses and Zach being in love and being certain that everyone would like the person he likes, especially given that he and Peter barely exchanged five words, but there's something about the way Zach says it...

"Oh? Why?"

"You're a genius, a lovebug, active, and good, and I think you'd get along well."

"wha"

"He's not much of a people person though so you might want to spend time with him one-on-one rather than in a party or whatever."

"That was a very... interesting... description of me you had, there."

"I'm very observant!"

"Yeah I'm getting that impression." He will someday become completely immune to how awkward these interactions can get but for now he can manually make himself not care. That'll have to do.

That, in particular, is pretty hard to get used to. The, like, way people will just stop talking and then kinda... stare... into the distance? Or something? Or just keep smiling or.

It's just such uncanny valley.

"Hey Zach, you're a spellcaster, right?"

"Yeah! Everyone in my family is."

"And you're pretty good at it?"

"I'm a Master at spellcasting."

That sounded like a title. Why is there a title.

"How long have you studied spellcasting?"

"The ability to cast spells came in when I became a teen."

"So... three weeks ago?"

"...I think so?"

Why are these people so impaired at thinking about their lifespans. Three weeks just isn't that long a time, Peter feels like he'd be able to remember if he had turned into a teen three weeks ago today.

"So would I be able to know as much magic as you in three weeks?"

"I became more powerful faster because everyone in my family is a spellcaster."

"...oh, there's, like, a genetics thing? Like, generational, or something?"