[For Ethan, the best way to accept the idea there were radically different worlds out there was just to not think about it too hard. That was his strategy for enduring a lot of things. The more you think about it, the scarier it gets, the angrier you get, and he can't afford either of those things right now. Still, Kim's line of questioning gives him an avenue and he can't resist going down it.]

That's the stupid part, you know? You can't catch it by just shaking hands, or breathing in each other's face or even getting nast-

[There's a brief moment of consideration, looking over the older man and thinking,]

Even... y'know. [He makes a quick, informative gesture with his hands. The jury is out on if that's any more polite than what he was saying to start with.]

The only way it spreads from person to person is if it fully eats you up. Then you become one of the crystals and spread it. Doesn't count if someone kills you first, though. That was Ursus' strategy, flush out all the Infected, then cut 'em down before they can cause problems. The places that just stuck them in the slums manage to look nice by comparison.

[Despite the tonal whiplash between dancing around mentioning sex and discussing a nation executing it's people, Ethan's tone stays remarkably steady. That was just how things had been.]