The books are helpful, it's just trying to keep track of what the divergences are between this world and mine that's tricky. I've been keeping a list, though, and that's helped a lot.

[Apparently, though a lot of things had changed, some things had simply been different here to start with long before Nashir's era. In his world, the first American Seer had gotten slavery outlawed in the US Constitution, a Seer had kept Korea from splitting off into two countries, among other things. History here is a headache.

But learning it alongside Gladion has helped. They're both working on understanding what the hell people are talking about, so there's not a lot of judgment on either end. It's an easy kind of companionship they find themselves in.

It's hot enough, on the verge of summer, that Nashir has taken the liberty of removing his gloves. He's careful not to touch him, but as Nashir reaches for another book, Gladion reaches for it, too.

For a second Nashir freezes up entirely as it registers he just touched Gladion's hand. Oh God no oh God please - wait.]

I can - I can just touch you? Without any visions? I know you told me, but I still thought with my luck I'd have a misfire or... or something...

[He trails off, gingerly reaching out one finger, brushing it over Gladion's knuckles. Nothing. Absolutely nothing, not even a glimpse of an image or a whisper of a voice.

Nashir looks like a man having a revelation, because he is. Give him a second, Gladdy.]