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[lightconductor]

If you have a message for me, Dr. John Watson, please leave it here. I shall certainly get back to you as soon as I can.
- JW

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[lightconductor]

"That's deeply kind of you," Watson says. "The places you're from did seem a very lovely place to settle down, even for someone for whom it was strange. Strange is only unfamiliar, after all."

He hesitates. He hates being the bearer of bad news, in this, to someone who is new. "Myself, I'm in the camp that thinks there is no going home. I am -- well, I'm something of an artist myself, a writer. And as it happens, I received a whole collection of books I have not yet written, and will not for decades, some of them. Damned awkward. I don't know how that works, if I were to go back to where I left."

[ablativeholopleather]

While it's not the first time that he's had the news broken to him, he's been obstinate in his refusal to believe that this would just be it. He's come back from death again and again and again, he's gone to space and made it back home. He doesn't want to believe that this is just it.

At least he can make an effort not to dwell and focus instead on the second part. "Oh wild...do you think I'd be able to find the finished versions of the stuff I was working on? Helena writes too but I haven't gotten to ask her about it yet. Vance is learning how to play his guitar. I don't think I'm very good at teaching him yet."

[lightconductor]

Sometimes people believe things for their own sanity. Watson won't fight him on it. It isn't worth it, and there's nothing to be gained.

"We don't have much of a music library," he says, "but things do appear from time to time. It's possible. If it does, I don't suppose you'd be willing to share? Or perhaps you might like to arrange a concert of some sort."

[ablativeholopleather]

"Definitely man, if anything appears I'll let you know. I thought about doing the concert thing, but right now it's just me on guitar and Nobunaga on drums and even then he's got other stuff on his plate. I'm not a vocalist, that was Somsnosa's gig and, y'know. She's not here." A slightly awkward shrug of the shoulder for that. He's trying to do better about not dwelling on not having the rest of his crew about, but he still likes talking about them, and that makes it kind of unavoidable sometimes.

He stands finally, with his notebook on top of the borrowed volume, and holds them both carefully in one arm. "If I'm ever in the theater, you should come hang out. I'll play you something," he offers, "especially since you're letting me use this. It means a lot that you would."

[lightconductor]

Watson shakes his head. "We have to take care of each other, around here. It's a trifle, and I'm glad to help. You can send me questions any time, and I'll be glad to clarify."

He offers his hand to shake.

[ablativeholopleather]

The movement is becoming, if not more natural to him, easier to respond to without an awkward pause. He gives Watson's hand an easy squeeze in response.

"I appreciate you, man. I'll hit you up when I can get my music stuff together."