A lot of the assumptions and questions that Palamedes has also went through Malcolm's own mind when he arrived here two months ago. The reason he didn't have a minor mental breakdown was because there was something so calming about the island of flowers. Being on this island has definitely made his anxiety rise though. There's something creepy about this place, even beyond the carnival atmosphere.

Somewhere between Palamedes's tears and his getting his pack together, Malcolm finds the tea pot and helps himself to some tea. He ends up sitting down next to the woeful young man.

"You don't seem very excited about the carnival," he says before taking a sip of his tea.