[ Ben may enjoy some yummy food more than most, but that doesn't mean he won't be repulsed by what passes as sustenance in this place. That he'd gone to town on, really, non-food. He'd been overtaken by the draw of the event, not processing what he'd actually eaten.

He's about to apologize for the light collision when he instead gasps, a memory that's not his own playing out in his mind. It's how Richie comes to the front of his thoughts and as he's physically rocked back a bit when he comes to once more, he looks over to his friend with wide eyes. Why the heck did I see that? What was he gonna do -- Straightforward, yes, but he genuinely wonders. Then, there's the start of a smile when Richie's voice spills out of his mouth. He can't help the sincere relief at seeing another one of the Losers, thinking about each one of their names.

He's often a heart on his sleeve sort of kid, so he says precisely what he's thinking about. ] You've been here for a whole month? Wow... [ Air blows out of his lips, head gently shaking. Forever in the mind of a kid? Yep. ] And, we should never, ever, talk about the fact that anyone in this room ate any of that. [ Least of all me. He peers over in quiet disgust at the buffet of food, frowning just so. I guess it's not just people who already overeat that are going eating nuts on it though... his head shakes in spite of himself. ] Why'd I wanna eat it so bad? Do you know?

[ He falls into a natural cadence with Richie, pleased, relieved, happy to see him. And not wasting any time trying to draw together facts. ]