Tristan paused and looked behind him to make sure that Mary wasn't perhaps speaking to someone else. As crazy as she may have sometimes seemed, he was fairly certain she was sane enough to not be speaking to the wall.

Tristan: "You got me a present?"
Mary: "Sort of as a 'thank you' for helping me bring Emily back."
Tristan: "Ok I told her, and now I'll tell you--you don't have to thank me for what I did. I don't need any sort of reward. Honestly I'd like to forget the whole fucking thing."

Mary: "Fine then, Mr. Grumpypants, we can call it a birthday present. I think you probably have one of those coming up at some point this year. I could be wrong about that of course."
Tristan: "Er actually it was just a few weeks ago."
Mary: "Oh, well happy birthday then. Sorry it's late."

Mary pulled out a small tattered box from an unseen pocket and handed it to him.

Mary: "Now, I know it's a bit odd, but I was really bored one day a while back and was browsing around eBay when I found it. I don't know why, but I just had this pull to buy it for you. It actually came the night we moved in, but in all the chaos I forgot to give it to you."

Tristan felt a wave of dizziness as he opened the box and saw the contents. A little cartoon mouse smiled up at him as its gloved hands moved almost imperceptivity in a circle. He shakily removed the watch from packaging and turned it over, running his thumb over an engraving he wasn't completely surprised to see.

Tristan: "Where did you get this?"
Mary: "I told you, I found it on eBay. Some guy named Charlie from Hell, Michigan was selling it. Sorry it's not your style or anything, I mean it's not even black."
Tristan: "Mary, this is my watch."
Mary: "Yes, Tristan. Very good. I bought it for you, therefore it's your watch now."

Tristan: "You don't understand. This is my watch. I… well I suppose you could say I lost it when we went for Emily."
Mary: "How did a guy in Michigan end up with it?"
Tristan: "I don't think he's from Michigan."
Mary: "Um. Ok. That's what the return address said, but I've been wrong in the past."

Tristan took a deep breath before hesitantly putting the watch on his wrist. He wasn't entirely sure of what would happen, and only exhaled when a few seconds passed without him vanishing in a puff of smoke.

Tristan: "It's quite strange to have it back. To be honest I'd pretty much written it off as gone for good."
Mary: "You're just lucky I found it when I did. At this point money's starting to get a little tight and that puppy wasn't cheap."
Tristan: "Are you and Emily still having trouble finding jobs?"
Mary: "Yes. We must be the most pathetic creatures in existence. It's not like we're picky, it's just that no one wants to hire us."

Tristan: "Maybe you're 'unclean'."
Mary: "'Unclean'? What century did you grow up in again?"
Tristan: "Nineteenth. I meant that in a proverbial sort of sense, what with… you know."
Mary: "Yeah, I think that's probably a big part of it, but what can you do?"

Lorraine: "I couldn't help but overhear you…"
Mary: "Well maybe if you weren't hovering right over us it wouldn't be such a problem."
Tristan: "Damn, you're nothing if not consistent."
Mary: "What?"
Tristan: "Never mind."

Lorraine: "I'm sorry if I'm bothering you, I just thought you might be interested in a card for an upcoming meeting. It's for those of us who may be finding it difficult to get a job in the current market."
Mary: "What's your game?"
Lorraine: "There's no game, we just help you find a job. We work within the community matching up employees and employers."
Mary: "How much does it cost?"

Lorraine: "We're a nonprofit organization, so it doesn't cost you a thing!"
Mary: "Aside from my immortal soul, right?"
Lorraine: "You're a feisty one, aren't you? Monetary donations are always welcomed of course, but you're under no obligation. Here, just take a card. We're having a job fair this weekend. There'll be refreshments!"
Mary: "Refreshments, you say?"

Lorraine: "Yes, just simple things like brownies and chips, and a small beverage selection."
Mary: "And it's free?"
Lorraine: "Yes."
Mary: "Thanks, I'll keep it in mind."

Lorraine: "Did you want a flyer as well?"
Tristan: "Independently wealthy. Thanks, though."
Lorraine: "Perhaps you'd like to think about donating then, to help others less fortunate than yourself."
Mary: "Listen, lady, if you don't mind, we were trying to have a private conversation here."
Lorraine: "Of course, my apologies. Have a wonderful evening!"

Tristan watched in mild amusement as Mary fleetingly glanced at the business card before putting it away.

Mary: "Some people have no sense of personal space or privacy or anything."
Tristan: "Are you going to go?"
Mary: "Maybe. I'll drag Em along; it'll be a blast. Too bad you're so busy being independently wealthy or you could join us."
Tristan: "Yes, such a shame. I don't know how I manage."

Mary: "I hope to one day know such pain. Anyway, that's it. I hope you enjoy the watch. I'll let you get back to whatever the hell you came here to do. Brood at people or whatever."
Tristan: "Right. And you can get back to guarding Emily. Just please don't sing again."
Mary: "Oh god… you mean that really happened?"
Tristan: "Unfortunately yes. Copious amounts of vodka weren't enough to erase that painful memory."

Mary stood up and wavered ever so slightly.

Mary: "Well, rest easy. I only drank enough tonight to get out on the dance floor. Emily, being far braver and a much better dancer than I, doesn't need quite as much motivation. Your ears shall be spared."
Tristan: "I'm very glad to hear it."

Mary nodded once before turning on her heel and heading in the general direction of the bar. Tristan remained seated and stared down at his newly retuned watch, wondering at the journey it must have taken to arrive back in his possession.