If anyone gets what kind of 'friend' he's referring to, it's Levi, who comes from a time and place when you simply couldn't refer to a same-sex lover as anything but a friend--unless you were rich and influential. He's not aware, of course, that Ziggy is coming at it from a different time period and perspective, but he smiles gently anyway, and nods.

He's surprised by the offer of a hug, but Aletayria gets a sheepish smile. "I'm okay. Just...my mom died when I was about twenty-two. We had some disagreements, but I miss her sometimes."