"Fair enough," Stefan admits, half-tempted to scoot closer (but that's improper first date etiquette). "Half the jargon's gatekeeping, anyway. I don't get why they use five words when one or two'll do."

He does, theoretically - science can be complicated, but most concepts aren't. If Stefan had put a little more thought into his career, he could've been a science communicator, breaking down the latest research into laymen's terms without simplifying or exaggerating the findings.

"It's still a lot less boring when you're around."