He huffs a little bit. It takes effort to not let annoyance slip into it, but he manages. After all, he doesn't want Gaia thinking that he's annoyed at her when this is literally the first time they are ever meeting each other. It's just his natural frustration at this place that threatens to flip into his way of speaking and his body language the moment he does as much as think about the topic.

"The main caveat is the kowtowing, but you seem to already have guessed as much." Which might not take a genius, given their situation. But Fabian does think some people can be horribly naive about this place, so he's definitely giving Gaia credit for picking up on this much. It's good to see.

"I know I don't feel comfortable asking this place for things when it has actively kidnapped us. I imagine you might feel the same way. I have just been making do with things I am able to find in these stores because of it, rather than asking for my wardrobe from my world."