Okay, that got a smirk out of Isabel and if she were in the business of being a little more vulnerable around Stiles (she'll get there) she'd probably even flush because she liked getting compliments (from people she gasp cares about) even if she was rubbish at receiving them. Instead of actually flushing or showing that the compliment pleased her, she rolled her eyes. Maybe he caught sight of that smirk, the one that was still teasing at the corners of her lips. "That's like saying I'm good at breathing." It was fortunate that she couldn't read his because she would have turned it around to say something like that's like saying you're good at being a dork. She secretly kind of liked that Stiles was a dork. It took confidence to pull off and Stiles was entirely himself no matter what. She envied that because Isabel ran around keeping up her bitchy facade because it insured she wouldn't get her heart broken.

"At least we'd get government funding for something we're doing for free now." Sort of. Isabel was pretty sure academics didn't make that much either and she was used to having money. Though, her family was also screwed up enough that she was aware money didn't insure happiness of any sort. "The idea of being immortalized for not being an idiot is appealing." Fame wasn't so much something Isabel wanted or needed, but she'd seen enough people die to know that immortality (not the literal kind) was something few people attained and the idea of being remembered after her death appealed to her.

She reached her arm across the seats between them and ruffled a hand through his hair before letting it rest at the back of his neck for the time being. She might not have said thank you or told him how much she appreciated it, but she could still show appreciation. Actions were easier for Isabel than words.