"Thank you, Joy," Mort said, nodding politely. "I admit, partly I'm fond of it just because it's an entirely mechanical, portable calculator. I can't help being amazed that such a thing exists."

"There speaks the engineering student," James teased. "Not to wrench the subject at all violently around, but Aaron - you assumed we're both ace." He raised a hand quickly. "We are, by the way. But I haven't run into a lot of other aces - at all, honestly - and especially not ones who'd go for that explanation first, given that we're obviously a couple. And given how... physical we are."

"How you can't keep your hands off me, you mean," Mort joked.

Well, approximately. It was more that he couldn't keep his eyes and lips off him, but that... sounded awkward. "Anyway," James said with the most over-the-top fake long-suffering voice he had at his disposal, "Mortimer and I are the only couple I know who're both ace. I'm guessing you've met some others? If you don't mind--" he gestured-- "talking about it in the middle of an increasingly occupied coffee shop, I'm kind of curious now."