Xaviers!

Will was in the dining hall, eating to regain his mass -- he had gotten back up to about three feet tall, through careful application of culinary-based healing. Some pancakes, with syrup and strawberries, would do the trick.

And some waffles, with fried chicken.

And some eggs over easy. And some bacon. And a small steak. And some hash browns. And a slightly larger steak. And a glass of orange juice. And a much larger glass of beer.


Hey, he had been eating for two until recently. Old habits die hard, right?

((open))

Drake sat down across from Will, his own tray laden with protein and carbs. His right wing had been dressed with a splint and put in an unusual-looking sling.

"They grow up so fast... " he said with a sniff.

"Not fast enough, but you know what they say. Adapt, improvise, overcome."

"Wish that worked for my fractured wing bones," he replied after eating some eggs.

"Eh, it's why bones are overrated, if you ask me. Non-personhood has it's advantages," he grinned.

"Yeah, I can see the advantages of being a sentient blob," he chuckled. "Though a dragon isn't exactly a person either."

"What makes you say that?" Will asked, munching on a drumstick. "You want to go around burning villages and sitting on piles of money?"

"I'm a very civilized dragon, so only the second thing," he smirked.

"Nah, you're 100% person, then," Will nodded, smiling. "'Ts normal enough. You'll do just fine 'round here."

"What makes you not a person then?" he asked curiously.

"Hold on, I've got a certificate," Will said, making a show of checking his pockets. "Wait a minute, dang it, I must have left it in my other pants. In my other universe. You know how it goes," he smiled.

"You can't explain it, can you? Like how I can't explain the feeling that I'm something... more?"

"Well, I've had it explained. By psychologists, therapists, and telepaths alike.

By the by, the difference between good mental health dudes and bad mental health dudes is that the bad mental health dudes try to change who you are. The good mental health dudes try to help you accept and deal with who you are.

And so, you're more than just a guy, huh? Neat."

"Why do you think I stay in this form whenever I can? It's because I feel more like myself this way than I ever did looking human. But even now, I feel only mostly myself."

"I've met you, like, twice. I didn't even know you had another form," Will pointed out. "But I'm glad you found something that makes you happy. Don't let anyone take that away from you."

"Anyone that tries will lose their eyelashes," he smirked.

"See, violence is going to keep you isolated, there," Will pointed out.

"I was joking," he answered, "Unless I'm attacked first anyway."

"I'm just sayin. Us weirdos have a hard enough time getting people to stick around as is. Ya gotta know when to let your freak flag fly and when to go to half mast, as it were."

"I've never had to moderate my mutantness. It's not something we learn back home in Genosha."

"Really?" Will said, interested. "You just sit on piles of gold coins all day and no one calls you out for it?"

"Well, no. Not that," he laughed, "I just don't have to worry about frightening the villagers."

"Did you go full dragon very often down there?" Will asked.

"I... " he said, looking down and sounding embarrassed, "... haven't figured that out yet."

"Well, if they're as welcoming as you say, I'm sure they'll have plenty of accommodations for you when you DO figure that out."

"It's more a result of having an all mutant society than anything else. No reason to hide our abilities."

"Abilities are one thing. Worldview is another, unless Genosha has gotten a lot more welcoming since the last time I went."

"It isn't without its shortcomings. It isn't very welcoming to outsiders and too much is based on the power of one's mutation. But it's all I've ever known."

"Are you still a mutant dragon, or are you more dragon first, mutant second?"

"Why choose? Can't I be both at once?"

"You can, sure, but Genosha might not see it that way."

"Yeah, well, just between us, hardliners are assholes in whatever country they're in or what side they're on."

"I'll drink to that," Will said, taking another chug of his beer.

"As shall I," he said before chugging on his own. He then belched with a small spurt of flame.

He coughed. "I hate when that happens."

"You should probably get that checked out. Heartburn is no good for anyone."

"More like throat-burn. Or house-burn if the worst happens."

"You'll want to try to avoid that last one, if at all possible. Another tip -- if you're one of us weirdos, people generally are less accepting when you're on the 'this affects my life personally' end of the weird spectrum."

"Note to self; Don't drink alcohol around humans or flammable materials."

"Or sneeze."

"'m just saying, 'tsall. You'd be surprised how people react when you bring up the weird stuff."

"Wouldn't it be weirder if I looked like this and couldn't breathe fire?" he joked.