[Lup snatches one of his papers up and studies it, and while it's borderline rude and incurably human, Barry lets her do it without comment. For as much shit as he gives them, he really likes humans. Always has. There's a reason he left his tribe to come be part of their society. Their technological and scientific advances, their many and diverse cultures, their go-getter attitude... even the way they look.

That last part is a private, shameful admission, but one he makes anyway. Humans are beautiful. This one in particular is very nice to look at. But humans and Others are discouraged from getting that close, to enter that kind of relationship. So Barry pushes the thought away as soon as it comes.]

Ah, it's not new exactly, but I guess th'discovery of it is new. It's like... the stuff that makes up the universe. Everything between gases and dust and electrons, all th'mass in between them. Since it doesn't emit or interact with light or radiation at all, it's been almost impossible to detect, but we're thinkin' some... non-human perspectives could change that. And, uh... [He clears his throat, cringing a little at the word "monster".] We prefer Other.

[The paper is tucked away, and Barry watches her with interest as she talks about herself. Human education is so strange. All Barry's classes are government subsidized, so he doesn't understand why humans have to pay so much for the opportunity. It strikes him as unfair.] Chemistry? No kiddin'. Anything particular about chemistry that interests ya?