[ the het beam has been repaired! there's something grim in the undercurrent of his emotions, but a bastion of stubborn, determined hope is smothering it as he

jumps, bobbling the peach that he was eating. ]

Shucks, you think I'd be used to that. [ grips heart in one hand, catches peach in other. ] Hey, Yuff, what've you been up to today? Outrunnin' the curses every which way?