This was like Bren suddenly got plunged into a machimi, only with Atevi, even when they're playing play pretty rough. Bren's PTSD for the next few chapters is very grim.

Bren's absolute shock at the ship arrival at the station was amazing. And in that moment, he's throwing his man'chi in with 'Sidi by way of Tabini. Very machimi indeed.

I love his constant fussing over his computer too, which becomes quite delightful and a bit diabolical in the next section.