"I look forward to seeing what you come up with," Soldat says mock-solemnly, setting the pans aside and rummaging around in the pantry-room just to one side for ingredients. The noodles they come back with are clearly casserole noodles rather than lasagna noodles, at least. "Want to fill a pot with water for me, kid?"

When that's on the boil, and Soldat is working on chopping things, they ask, "You're doing all right at the house, yeah? Not too crowded or anything?"