"We know each other pretty well," he concedes. And for him, it's a big concession. It's one thing for him to admit that he knows Al pretty well, but it's another thing to admit that the knowledge goes both ways. Of anyone in the City, Al probably knows the most about him. That makes him closest to Al, doesn't it? Strange, if they were back home, he knows for certain that never would have happened. Too much to get in the way, no real chance to connect in this bizarre way that they have here, if their occasional enjoyment of each other's company can be considered a true connection.

He admires where Al places the box, thinks that it suits the apartment well, nods a little in appreciation. It does look good, and he's proud of it, proud that his present has been well-received and proud that it complements the rest of the apartment that Al has clearly put so much work into.

"Well, it's your birthday, so I guess you get to choose -- do you want to go somewhere, or stay in?"

Either way, he figures, it's only a matter of time before Al suggests trying out the new and exciting drugs. He'll leave whether they do that at home or elsewhere up to Al. It's remarkable that he trusts him enough to even give him that amount of choice.