Xaviers!

"You're body has started to produce what's affecting you. They can't figure out how to help you without a sample. Normally that would be blood, but your biology is pretty unique."

"Oh, they've taken samples. They've poked and prodded; I'm half surprised they haven't come to dissect me," the deck of cards said, this time. "And they're standing around with their thumbs up their asses."

"You can't know that, Will. Science takes time."

"Sure, let's go with that excuse, then.

Why did you come here, Tosh?"

"To check on you. And because I haven't always been the most attentive friend. For that, I apologize."

"Well, we're still here, and will be for a while, I suppose. Easier to be an attentive friend if you always know where I am, right?"

"It has nothing to do with finding you. I just get... absorbed in what I'm doing. And between classes and working at the Point and my girlfriend, there isn't always room for much else. That's my excuse anyway."

"They have me taking fourteen classes, Tosh. You're not going to find much sympathy for having being busy here."

"Jesus... really?"

"Anyway, I never said it was a good excuse. I'm sorry I'm only ever there for a crisis. You deserve better."

"Yeah, fourteen.

Theoretical & Computational Aerodynamics"

*THWIP!* A card flew from the table and smacked into the glass between Tosh and the room.

"Practical Malting and Brewing"

*THWIP*

"Electrophysiology Techniques & Applications"

*THWIP*

"Experimental Nutrition"

*THWIP*

"Vector Analysis. Innovation Law. Advanced Theory in Environmental Design."

*THWIP* *THWIP* *THWIP*

"Longevity. Computer Architecture. Form and Color."

*THWIP* *THWIP* *THWIP*

"Advanced Sculpture: The Miniature and the Gigantic"

*THWIP*

"Principles of Meat Science. Religion, Magic and Science. Video Games and Virtual Environments."

*THWIP* *THWIP* *THWIP*


"Why do you think I need the drug? I'm exhausted, Tosh. I'm stretched to my breaking point, and every day, every day, I have to get up, put on the green haired man, and run around campus. I'm fairly sure I've set an endurance record these past few months, with the most days in a row in one particular form. I can't even get much sleep now after Acala messed with my head. The MGH gives me that energy back, and what do I get? I get Sam ragging me on the plane; I get Nailah coming here just to accuse me of basically jacking off all the time; I get you locking me away in an asylum. Pah, the lot of you."

"Was this another of Lippincott's bright ideas? That kind of course load is practically criminal," Tosh fumed, completely missing anything after that.

"Well, I certainly didn't sign up for them myself.

They're gonna kill me if I get back to Xaviers this year; so much to catch up on."

"I'll do my best to get that lightened, because this is absurd. I didn't even know most of those even existed. Seriously, the fuck even is Meat Science?"

"Anatomical, physiological, developmental, and biochemical aspects of muscle underlying the conversion of muscle to meat. Includes meat processing, preservation, microbiology, and public health issues associated with meat products," Will rattled off, surprisingly textbook-accurate.

"Why? Is he planning to turn you into a food replicator?"

"...nnnnot quite..." Will hedged, the first time Tosh had seen Will pause rather than spit out rapid bile since he went on the MGH.

"Oh, so now you're thinking before you speak. Clearly you know something."

"Look, Lippencott opens some doors, that's all; there are some opportunities that he has access to that are interesting, at least. I'm just not prematurely shutting them down."

"Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for the opportunity he gave me. But I still don't quite trust him. Running you ragged isn't helping my impression of him."

"Well, I don't have much of a choice in the matter, being school property and whatnot.

Just gotta wait it out for an unknown number of years..."

"I'm sorry you have to. It isn't right. You may not consider yourself a person, but you're still a sentient being."

"I suppose one jail is as good as another, and jailers much the same."

Tosh winced guiltily.

"This isn't jail, Will. It's a hospital. If they really can't do anything for you, I'll get them to let you come back. Or get Lippincott to, since legally it's up to him."

"Easy to say it's not, on that side of the glass."

"Perhaps. But please trust me. You're not here as punishment. We really do just want to help."

"Well, let me know when that starts. I'll be sure to note it in my diary."

"Since you obviously don't care what I have to say, maybe I should go."

"Words are worth the paper they're printed on, Tosh. I judge you on your actions."

He thought for a moment and pushed the transfer bin through to the other side.

"Then give me a sample."

There was a brief pause, and then the table flung a the queen of clubs at the wall, *thwip*ing against it and sliding down in to the transfer bin.

"I'll tell you what I'll do," he said as he pulled the card back to his side, "If I figure something out, I'll work on getting you out and, unless you actually do something to endanger anyone or the decision is taken out of my hands, give you final say on cleaning out the MGH. Maybe I should have done that from the beginning."

"We'll see how that goes then, Tosh. Whether I agree or not, it's not like I can do much about it at the moment."

"It's going to all turn out okay. I promise," he assured, hoping he could keep that promise.

"Easy to say, especially when you're the one who caused the mess," the voices grumbled in unison.

"I was trying to do what was right with the information I had at the time. But, again, I am sorry."

"And maybe I should go, before I wear out my welcome."

The remaining cards gathered themselves back up, and the game apparently began again.