[ the smile he offers in response to the question is amused and a little self-conscious. ] I should say so, [ he murmurs, glance dipping briefly to his covered arms, littered with the thin, straight scars all mercuries collect over the course of their short lives. he pushes a hand up beneath a sleeve, rubbing his bruised wrist absently as his eyes lift again to meet the stranger's.

well.. not exactly a stranger anymore.

he closes the book again, straightening up, but not offering a hand out in case the doctor--stephen--would find a handshake painful. ] Bram Dee, [ he says as introduction, and to clarify his earlier comment: ] Descendant of John Dee, if you're familiar. I'm actually not certain where we're all from. [ earth? alternate versions of earth? other places, other planets and dimensions? ] You have an interest in magic yourself?