[Jayden reserves his sass for two main categories of people: those who deserve worse but he for some reason can't just go off on, and those he likes and is at least semi-confident will take it in stride. And since Hilda is in the latter category, which requires him to be in something at least approaching a relaxed mood, it's definitely a turn toward normalcy.

Is that because he repressed his issues instead of dealing with them? Sure. But the end result is the same, so good enough, right? Right.

He can't help but give an almost-smirk at the mistake of encouraging time in the Horizon, but he will definitely have to make a few dinosaurs later to practice. And a submarine, even if he's a little less concerned about that; he's pretty sure he could get away with a less-than-accurate one, and they're much less cool than dinosaurs.

While Hilda talks to the farmer, Jayden isn't completely against chiming in if necessary, but thankfully it isn't. Instead he just observes, lurking until they're heading back with their borrowed cart and horse, and he gives Hilda a flat look for her question.]

Any time I go talk to a stranger and don't get shot at or somethin' is 'not so bad.'

[Just because he doesn't like talking to people doesn't mean he can't, although he did definitely prefer not having to do so. But--]

I'm a little more nervous about the horse, actually.

[Are horses always this big up close? And sure, she's trotting along completely agreeably, apparently happy to be doing her job of pulling the cart, but who knows what she's actually thinking? How do you read a horse's body language? So many questions.]