[He blinks, for a moment. Then blows out a breath -- preparing for another dead end.]

Thank you, first of all.

[Second of all:]

I'm... missing about a year out of my memories. And for a while I've been trying to figure out if there's a way to bring it back.

[He holds up a hand.] If that's not something you're comfortable dealing with, please say so. It's not life or death, and I'm used to it by now. Just sort of figured asking couldn't hurt.