[ he's talking to an older woman. it's. not something he does often, for there had been a conspicuous lack of people older than fourty years old back home. (they were all dead, or retired.) the fact that he's speaking to a middle-aged person thus throws him a little off - best to be polite, the thing he falls back on when he has no prior experience. politeness works for everything. ]

Yes, it's a valid concern. We should preserve our independence just in case.

[ and he says it on the network even though astoria can read this, because he believes everyone should have alternatives. ]

Is it alright if I take a look at those seeds? I have no background in cultivation whatsoever, but my power allows me to speed up the growth of plants.