This is the wise course of action, he thinks. He'd like not to spend his one day of life experiencing food poisoning. That's not very sexy.

In some ways, taking the back seat again is a relief. A little space to process the new sensory information he's been getting on overdrive. He thought he'd be ready, considering how much he tunes out daily from around him, but most of that is external. He's not as prepared for it being so... internal.

Perhaps. Or... Now she'll have the opportunity to hear him in his own voice but imitating her accent. It's not perfect, but it is remarkably close. I could try a little harder to blend in.