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Perhaps I should trade your Christmas present for a special sneaking visit into our own library. But I hope you can accept what I offer instead.

[Dorian holds out the package to Jekyll. It is two books: one, a collection of poetry, because seriously Jekyll less science more art. But the second is a beautifully bound notebook, with thick quality paper, and a fine quill beside it. Something so Jekyll can write.

The poetry book is inscribed with a message to Jekyll:

To my dear Henry,

Although these words do not contain the art of the Natural world, I hope the pleasure of their reading will bring as much beauty to your eye as you and your company do to mine.

Yours,
D.G.]

[Dorian doesn't fully recognize the little fluttering of excitement that is unsettling his belly. He is certain he must just be excited to get another Christmas gift.]

[Berserker accepts the package graciously, and passes off the two gifts he's brought for Dorian at the same time. He turns over each book, flipping through the empty pages of the notebook with a smile.]

How thoughtful! My notebook has become quite worn and full, there must be less than half a dozen pages left. I shall make very good use of it, thank you.

[Normally he might take the notebook from his pocket to show to Dorian, to see how it's falling apart and packed with notes. So he can see how appreciated the gift is. But that book is filled with details of Hyde, and Hyde's own writing at times. That is something he can show to no one. So he moves on to looking the poetry over, and the inside inscription, his smile softening as he reads it.]

Oh, Dorian, this is too kind, you flatter me. I shall treasure both, and will be sure to take a break from study to enjoy what art has to offer. With this I now able to do so! Thank you, Dorian, truly.

[One of the gifts Jekyll has given to Dorian contains a jar of blackberry jam. The other is two books, both printed off thanks to the Station's internet, then taken to be bound properly in leather. The first is Treasure Island, and the second, Prince Otto. Some Stevenson as promised.]

[Dorian is an open book because he LOVES JAM so that's exciting. But when he sees the books, he looks up at Jekyll, positively delighted.] These works. They're you're friend's? You found them for me! Thank you, Henry, so very much.

[No one tell Dorian how to use the internet so he can't look up Stevenson and see Jekyll and Hyde listed there. Don't give him Project Gutenberg. Or to look up Oscar Wilde and get Dorian Gray.

He smiles all the more for Dorian's reaction, practically beaming.] They are! I do hope you enjoy them, Treasure Island seems to have remained his most popular. As you can surely tell by the title, it's an adventure tale, perhaps best enjoyed had you been a few years younger. Still, I think it really quite enjoyable at any age! Even if I am somewhat biased as an old friend.

I love adventure tales! I used to read Gulliver's Travels and Robinson Crusoe over and over when I was a boy. It will be wonderful to see such a story written by a friend of yours. [HE COULD NOT BE HAPPIER]

Yes, you had mentioned your interest in adventure stories! I quite liked Gulliver's Travels myself. Stevenson was always such a traveler himself - largely for his health, you see - it lends well to writing. I wish I could tell him your thoughts on it afterward!

Perhaps you can. I mean to say—if I can be here, and you can, why could Mr Stevenson himself not come here as well? [He brightens up.] And then I would get to meet him! I will be certain to record all of my thoughts as I read and send them to you.

[As much as he would like to introduce the two, it becomes more and more apparent to Jekyll that he couldn't. Not without a request to keep a certain novel hidden, which would be all too improper for far too many reasons.

But he continues to smile.]

A fair point! With your thoughts recorded, it would be possible, if ever he were to appear. As it stands, I shall be awaiting those thoughts for my own enjoyment. Shall I do the same?

Yes, please! I would love to hear what you think.

Then I will regularly tear myself away from science to read, and when I do, you shall hear of it. As to the notebook, is there anything you would have me use it for, in particular?

Only whatever would best suit you, Henry. [He smiles an easy, innocent smile and touches a hand to Jekyll's shoulder.] If science is also an art, then I have no place telling you what compositions you should make with the material I gift you.

Well, certainly there is an overlap of words, though I've never considered myself much of an artist! [He laughs, bowing his head to Dorian in a sort of acceptance.]

That reminds me, you should have medicine on hand, let me give you some. Shall I find a bag or basket for you to carry all this? I should have warned you, or been better prepared myself!

Medicine? [Dorian's mind flickers back to his portrait, and it sets a certain panic to him. Jekyll doesn't know. But what if Dorian asked him? Perhaps Jekyll could know something, could help. And yet he can't bear to tell Jekyll the terrible secret, and he flustered at the suggestion.] Do you really think we'll get ill? That is, I mean, very kind of you, of course—ah, a basket would be best, please!

It all depends, really. I cannot contract illness as I am now, while injuries heal quickly, unless something has changed here. For humans, however, as injury is entirely possible, I see no reason illness should not. As I performed some Minot surgery recently, the focus has been more so on pain relief. Good to have around even if only for the sake of another.

I appreciate it very much. [Dorian hesitates a minute, and then, looking down at the books, he asks,] I can't remember from your explanation. Why is it that you heal quickly, and cannot become ill?

[He takes Dorian's arm to walk with him into the Station, to retrieve the medicine from his temporary, makeshift lab table.]

I am no longer human, I subsist on magical energy, normally provided by my Master. It heals and provides other such heightened abilities. ...Although now without such a source, it really is more difficult. Perhaps it's possible here after all?

[A conscientious person may be worried that their friend isn't as immortal as they thought they are. Dorian is a bit more egocentric.] So . . . the energy to heal, it comes from this Master of yours, from his magical energy. Where does he get the energy?

By my understanding, it is a sort of nervous system. Something very similar to one's heart producing blood and its path through the body. Although Tatsumi produces very little, it can be quite the problem at times.

[Mostly in that Berserker could very well kill him by using too much, which would be easy to do with his Noble Phantasm...]

Food can account for some, in just the way it would for a normal human. It is transferred to me through our pact. We share a sort of spiritual link. ...Well, not anymore, but we did, before this place. There are other ways to transfer prana, but- well, none I wish even to speak of.

[OH NO, THINGS HE DOESN'T WANT TO SPEAK OF] That sounds awful. I hope it is nothing you were ever forced to do.

No, my Master would never ask that of me. ...I haven't told him of those options to begin with. It would be too upsetting for him.

[Well, the murder would be upsetting, the sex would be...differently upsetting. Embarrassing.]

Another might try to force it. All the more reason that I am fortunate in my match.

[When he reaches his work station, Jekyll smiles to Dorian before dropping his arm to decide which medicines to offer.]

[Dorian takes a position to watch Jekyll work without being intrusive.

But he can't stop himself from being curious.] What are those methods?

[There's a fairly long pause as Jekyll debates saying it. His heart pounds in his chest at the mere thought, but then, Dorian's asking...]

...The first is to drain the soul of a human being. Which means killing them. The other is, ah, through the transfer of certain bodily fluids...

[He just can't directly say it's sex.....]

[That sounds horrifying—though for a brief moment, Dorian has the wonderful thought that perhaps it cannot touch him.

The second—] Oh, as in a transfusion of blood?

[Do you think he would do it to you, Dorian?! Or anyone for that matter!!

He chews the inside of his lip, shaking his head.] No, what I mean is semen.

[There is no other way to say it and this is awful.]

[I don't know. WOULD he kill Dorian? That's an interesting question for us to answer.]

[But. Oh. Dorian's eyebrows shoot up. He does turn scarlet, but he holds himself together remarkably well, considering.]

I can see why that method would be untenable.

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