[ Daniel takes it — carefully, always carefully, there's no physical motion he doesn't have to reckon with in the doing. His hands shake, but he doesn't spill as he sips. ]

Don't get bogged down in theory and lose your voice, though. If you're getting into this because you've got ideas, visions - write those down early, stay true to them. I still come back to my early work, even if it's painfully bad.

[ Another sip. Sparkling water still feels hedonistic even though he has a dusty sodastream on a shelf in his kitchen. Something about this, the passing back and forth, feels like the camaraderie of a bottle even if his BAC is zero. It's nice. ]

Sorry, sorry. The problem with getting old is you try and make all your experience meaningful by turning it into unwanted advice. I haven't even done postgrad, my Masters was honorary, what do I know, huh?