Charles laughs; the game's doing him as much good as it is Zillah. "And so between the two of them," he lobs back, heading for the window, "they licked the platter clean."

He draws the curtains as he adds over his shoulder, "If we're not careful, we'll be at this all night," then turns to look at the New York skyline, lit up against the stars. It's different than his New York -- brighter and busier, if possible, and with more buildings--

(There's nothing audible to mark the sudden bolt of shock.)