"That sounds." A pause as he comes up with the right word. "Inefficient. At least a pen should have its own ink inside it." He is, apparently, familiar with fountain pens. Also familiar with: "Charcoal. You can use charcoal to write, too. Though it will be messy."

He has a brief, flickering memory of smudged hands and smudged paper and smudged clothes and exasperated anger at having to do laundry again and--

He shakes himself free, confused for a moment.