She waves a hand, dismissing the details -- for the moment, only, as she passionately loves details. "When I summon a spirit," she tells him, "I require -- usually -- an item to use as a grounding force -- or a structured ward -- along with something to offer the spirit. Something to eat, usually, or something that reminds it of life. Blood is the classic tithe."

Now she does open her notebook again, scribbling in the margins of what she'd written before. "It sounds to me as though your music is the call, the offering, and the grounding force, all in one. Very efficient."