Oh, wow, this is wonderful. I love how real it all feels: the opium den, the game of go, Simon trying to gauge the appropriate level of play, the mysterious René. It's clear that this is Simon before we knew him, before he understood what he'd be sacrificing in kidnapping his sister and running away -- but it's also clear that this is the man who will grow into the Simon we know and love: resourceful and brave and willing to do anything for River, anything at all. Gorgeous.