[Well, he'd realized why Battler - he'd wanted to see her response to his needling him about the man, and was satisfied with what he'd gotten in return.]

Ah, yes - I did read a few. It was entertaining, though I felt they lost the 'spark' that you had given to your work...Then again, should I really be saying that? After all, a Pastiche is just the same as a Forgery, and I was given far more life in those than in my 'original' stories.

[He gives a chuckle before clearing his throat.]

Anyway! As it is, we also have other things to talk of, don't we? Such as...this War we've both found ourselves in.