"It is when you make a living off it." Thomas eyed the finger-snapping, brow raised, then shook his head. "It'll come back. You just have to give it time. And hey," he continued, hands spread in a joking I'm innocent! gesture, "a man has to get by somehow."

One hand raised to point in the air, as if a thought had just struck him. "Speaking of! How have you been getting by? Work aside, this is probably pretty out there, huh?"