(Untitled)

[guppy_sandhu]

In the infirmary, there is a mini staff meeting going on. As in a meeting involving the miniature members of staff anyway.

"So this cupboard needs restocking." Guppy says. "... Work Experience, is that a tiny iPod you're listening to while I'm talking to you?"

Comments

[i_spoiled_it]

"Man," Steph says, picking her way over to his bed, "I haven't been in here in forever. And usually I'm the one bleeding all over the bedlinen. This is new and interesting!"

Beat.

"For me. Er, probably not for you. Sorry."

:D?

[v_accidentprone]

"Well," Alex says, "I saw a rat called Work Experience with a tiny iPod."

That was fairly new and interesting. And he offers Steph a smile, because he's enjoying having visitors. They make him feel less bored out of his mind.

[i_spoiled_it]

"... the rats have iPods now?"

Steph helps herself to a seat by the bed and props her feet up on his bedside table. Man, she remembers this place. They've repainted the ceiling since she last stared at it for hours.

"I want one. A rat-sized iPod, I mean. Not necessarily a rat, I feel like it'd be kind of awkward explaining to Bar why I had a waitrat in my backpack. ... Why are you in here?"

[v_accidentprone]

"It might be hard to work," Alex points out. "Since they're made for rat-sized paws and things."

And, um. Well. "Long story."

[i_spoiled_it]

"I don't see you going anywhere in a hurry," Steph says brightly, looking him over.

[v_accidentprone]

Seriously: "That's only because I haven't finalized my escape plans."

[i_spoiled_it]

Steph eyes him.

"It's not actually a prison."

[v_accidentprone]

He nods to her to come closer so he can impart Secret Knowledge. "I'm pretty sure the rats are waiting for me to stage a break-out so they can earn special helper points."

Good for valuable prizes at iTunes!

[i_spoiled_it]

Steph nods, very solemnly.

"They are kind of mean like that, I guess."

She considers him.

"... how badly hurt are you?"

[v_accidentprone]

"Not very."

Inwardly, he feels somewhat relieved that she seems to be going along with this. This may not be the worst situation he's ever been in, but it's certainly awkward.

[i_spoiled_it]

"Well, it is kind of the most boring place in the world," Steph admits, looking up at that nice clean ceiling. Some of the cracks in the paint were like old friends. "If they're not letting you out ..."

There may be only one solution here.

[v_accidentprone]

If he has the choice, he'd rather let her feel like it was her idea first, so he just looks at her expectantly. "Yes?"

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy would point out that they have a day room with a games console in to keep impatient patients entertained.

However he's having a kip in the staff room, since overnight stays can take a while.

[i_spoiled_it]

Steph leans back and looks at him, narrow-eyed.

"You've got somewhere to go, right? And you're gonna be okay to get there?"

She's not releasing him into the wild if it'll just end with him being EATEN BY BEARS.

[v_accidentprone]

"Of course. My guardian's waiting for me outside."

This is not quite true, because technically he has to alert MI6 first, and Jack isn't really at Wimbledon so much as... well, not at Wimbledon, but still.

Truthiness.

[i_spoiled_it]

Yeah, that did sound particularly truthy.

But hey, he's, what, fifteen, sixteen? He's old enough to make his own decisions. Steph is in favour of kids with injuries not being forced to do anything they don't want.

"Well. Okay."

She pulls her chair up closer, looking around warily. "How many rats are in here? And how well do they know you?"