[Stoic, linefacey people are some of his best friends ever. He doesn't bat an eye at the flat tone. Completely normal, as far as he's concerned.]

I was homeschooled back in my world; it wasn't until I got here that I found out I seemed to be ahead of the other kids my age. And . . . you look about eleven or twelve?

[Latching onto something else now.] So you're not from Earth, then. [He's getting the sense that there's more in common here than being advanced students. Even though he was born on Earth.]