Are they? [He lays out the tools, then starts playing with his own brush, turning it between his fingers nimbly.]

It's tradition to write wishes for other people, where I'm from. For the New Year, you put them in a box, and anyone can pull one out. It's good luck! [Or bad luck, depending on which slip of paper you pick-- but he's not about to bring that up.] But I think the Admiral likes things to be a bit more practical, so that's what I've been writing.