Isabel stays quiet, watching him think and how the progression moves over his face. Her teachers had always told her that sometimes, staying quiet, you could learn more than by breaking the silence. It's a little obvious, here, especially when the guy grasps at her response about her parents like a drowning person after a life preserver.

Interesting. And a little sad, but he wasn't thrilled with her sympathy; he'd probably like anything close to pity even less. So she keeps mum, though she does nod at the answer he does give. It explains a lot, but she won't go into that. Not now.

"Oh, they do, for the most part. Dad returns to Earth mostly to check on his holdings there, and my aunt, though she also comes to visit us. It's not difficult, and at least to us, family is important." And so were friends to her parents, but Isabel's not sure he'd understand that, with his value of strength in his own solitude. It's a bit saddening though; he really had to have had it rough where he came from.