Xaviers!

"And, you know, maybe you both have some points -- no one way to peel a grape, right?"

"I think she also assumed for the longest time that I just... don't have problems?"

"Which I guess is flattering, but it's not really true."

"It's easy to think that everyone else has it easy when you don't have it easy.

Plus, I mean, c'mon, you make better decisions on the reg than Miriam does. Usually."

"Maybe, but they're definitely not all winners."

"Well, I mean, you're a college student. You're allowed a few mistakes here or there.

Any particular mistakes you're fretting over, or is this just a more philosophical thing?"

"I don't think I'm necessarily wanting to go down the list and all, I just think she missed a few while she was being... chased by the vampire mafia or something."

"Well, I can't blame her too much for some jealousy there. When you deal with mythological jibberjabber, you get strange senses of power, extra muscles and, uh, a more, let's say, 'naturalistic' look..." he said, glancing slightly at Sam's unconscious extra hairiness.

"When she deals with it, she gets people trying to kill her and has to use me as a skinsuit to go to the bank. Slightly different experiences."

"Tereza's... getting a little worried about how I look lately."

"You're a shifter," Will said, confused. "Has something changed?"

"Lately I've been turning out... wolfish? Sometimes I can hide it better than others."

"She's worried that she's causing it."

"I mean, that's totally possible. You surround yourself with wolves; you spend enough time with them, you spend enough time in their heads, and you're going to be a bit wolfish yourself, right?"

"Aye, and if that's the case I guess I thought she'd be more... okay with it? Like we're a pack, and all."

"Well, all things considered, she hasn't been a wolf for too long. It can be hard to accept different sides of yourself; especially the abnormal ones."

"We've... been over that. She's starting to get a little better about it."

"But it just feels like she thinks I'm picking up the worst parts of her."

"There's also, uh.

Maybe the wolf doesn't want another wolf. Maybe that role in her life is filled, more or less -- after all, each wolf would have diminishing returns. Maybe she wants you to fill a different role."

"On the wolf side... aye, she wants a goddess."

"Oh, is that all. And here I thought I was needy."

"But like... turning into a wolf also isn't out of character for the Morrigan?"

"I mean, you would know how you feel better than I, at least. But I believe it's also not out of the ordinary for her to turn into a cow. It's a part-time gig, as opposed to the full-time wolfiness of the lycanthrope, right?"

"I guess, but at the same time it doesn't feel... entirely wrong?"

"Well, far be it from me to formshame," Will smiled. "And you know your wolves better than I do. I just know it can be hard sometimes to even know exactly what we want, or to find the words to express it."

"I think Viv would've talked us down from all this if she'd been here but it's probably... healthier if we don't have to rely on her for that always, and all."

"Like it's not really fair to her to have to be the mediator, aye?"

"Yeah, you have to be a little more...fluid in your relationship roles in three-and-up sets. No one wants to be the den mother all the time."

"...you're never going to run out of wolf puns, are you?"

"Believe it or not, that one was unintentional

But yes, I am going to continue to tease you for the foreseeable future," he nodded, mock-solemnly.

"You know, tossing wolf puns to enrage her isn't going to work to get Tereza to chase you."

"I mean, you're probably right, there," Will said, with a slight laugh. "Ah well. No accounting for taste."

"Might be able to convince her later if things calm down."

"She's kind of... all business, right now."

"Sam," Will said with a slight, disbelieving chuckle. "It's OK. You don't need to try to fix all interpersonal relationships everywhere all at once. It's really fine."

"I've got to run; I have six more classes today, if you can believe that. But if you ever want to do, y'know, the thing, we'll meet up wherever you feel most comfortable."