"Great! Have you heard about the Kelp and Crest thing that the Erol'a have? Anybody under eighteen gets special treatment because they're first-class citizens. It's weird, but they want us to stick to the same rules when we're visiting. I'm almost twenty, but if you're just sixteen, you could go with me and help me get better deals in the market." He smiles hopefully. "I've got some waterproof tech that should trade really well. I'll split what I make with you."

He could have asked Pepper to be his under-18 liaison, but he'd rather do business with the assistance of someone who won't go mad with power and get distracted by lording her new social standing over him all day. Anyway, he sees Pepper all the time (since she lives with them), and he hasn't hung out with Alayne in a while.