After lunch, Tasha, Layth, Aaron and Calligenia return to the College Esoterica to see how Dr. Caravelli is recovering, and if the other two Karnors are finished being treated.

Examination Room
While the School of Life at the old College Esoterica campus on Rephidim is not a full-fledged hospital, it does often serve as one. Still, the primary function of the compound is teaching and research, and the examination rooms reflect that. The examination bed itself is mounted in the center of the room and can be adjusted to deal with various body shapes and sizes. This includes the restraints. The floor of the room has a drain set it in, and the walls are lined with cabinets and boxes and carts and ominous-looking collections of tools. There are no windows, and sterile white light is produced by square patches in the ceiling. Mobile, presumably magic-powered lamps are also scattered about, so that light can be brought to bear wherever it might be needed.

When the group arrives, they find Dr. Caravelli arguing with a Rath'ani nurse. "Just… give me my underpants back at least! I'm a doctor; I won't have my tail hanging out the back like this!" Dr. Zerachiel is stretched out on the examination table, apparently asleep, and there is still no sign of Captain Akkers.

"I'm glad they didn't examine me," Layth comments when he spots the open-backed dress worn by Caravelli. "Good day to your, Doctor, I hope that everyone is well? I do not see the Captain."

The wolf turns to face the others. "Ah, you're back! You can make them give me my clothes, right?

"Poor mens," Tasha remarks quietly, shaking her head as she enters. "This can' be good for any man's 'eart, bu' they'll get over it, I'm sure." She smiles at the doctor and steps forward. "Aye, where is Gabriel? An' I'm glad to see you well, if indignant."

The wolf turns to face the others. "Ah, you're back! You can make them give me my clothes, right?" Caravelli asks. "I'm done having… issues… with the food… uh… Right! The Captain is still 'under the wand' it seems. They won't tell me anything."

"I don' like the soun' of tha'," Tasha tells Layth, frowning. To the doctor, Tasha says, "I can' make them do anythin' if they think its for your own good. I wan' to see you well, aye? Jus' bear … rrr, well, bare with i'. You've go' nothin' to be shamed o' anyway!"

"That does not sound promising," Layth muses. His head cants to the side and he asks, "Can you provide the doctor some clothing?" While he has a handsome backside, it seems he doesn't wish to show it."

The doctor's tail curls down between his legs, the nurse gives a long suffering sigh and comments, "Oh, a doctor. Them's the worst patients of all." She smiles to Layth, and says, "If you watch him and make she he doesn't get into mischief or have to run to the potty again, I will go get his clothes."

"I will strap him to the table if you wish," Layth offers the nurse before flashing a grin to Caravelli.

The nurse nods, then turns and walks three steps to one of the cabinets, where the mens' clothes have been kept all along. On the table, Zerachiel gives a sudden snort and tries to sit up. "This… this isn't the thesis committee… " he mutters.

"The wha' comittee?" Tasha cocks her head to the side, puzzled.

"It's a jury that questions a scholar on his research until he cries," Aaron tells Tasha, and goes over to Zerachiel. "You're on Rephidim, Eli, remember? How do you feel?"

Layth keeps an eye on Caravelli and even moves a little closer to him, though he doesn't expect the doctor to do much.

"I wish there was a changing screen in here at least," Caravelli asides to Layth, and gets into his pants without removing the gown.

The nurse finds this very amusing. "It's nothing I haven't seen before, you know," she comments.

Remiel replies, "Well, it's my something though."

"Nothin' I 'avn't seen either," Tasha adds, smiling.

Zerachiel rubs his head, checks to see if any hair has fallen out, and then says, "I feel… well… alive for want of a better term."

"You could share your something with her," Layth suggests, straight-faced, to Caravelli. To the nurse, he notes, "You would think a doctor wouldn't be shy… "

"Please… just… stop using the 'nothing' word," Remiel pleads. "It doesn't help."

"You'd be surprised, big and fluffy," the nurse notes and goes over to the examination table. With great authority, she consults her clipboard and makes clucking noises.

"Aww, we don' mean nothin' like tha'," the Vartan insists. "Besides, you know I wouldn' do anythin' to 'urt any o' you." She walks over and pats Remiel on the shoulder, then folds a wing around him to give him some privacy.

"Thank you, Tasha," the Karnor mutters. Aaron asks the nurse, "So, what took Eli here longer?"

"I'm not surprised by much," Layth notes.

"He was missing some bits it looks like," the nurse notes. "There wasn't a surgery scar, so we weren't prepared for it." She gives the wolf on the table a disapproving glance.

"What was he 'missing'?" Layth has to ask. "Did you, uh, put it back?"

Tasha also glances at Remiel, brow raising slightly. She leans in and whispers, "I'm no' surprised, given wha' we saw there. Bu' at leas' tha's all fixed now."

"Oh… right… my appendix," Eli mutters. "I'd completely forgotten."

"No, we didn't put it back," the nurse explains to Layth. "It just made us think he had a different problem."

"Isn' tha' part o' a book? I think I saw one in the library," inquires the Vartan.

Aaron nods to Tasha. "It is also a bit of anatomy that apparently isn't as necessary," he notes.

"No' necessary? Then why's it there?" Tasha raises a brow, giving Aaron a curious look.

Layth ahs. "I am thankful to have never had any extensive surgery. Just minor wounds stitched and the like," the buck comments.

Aaron just shrugs. "Why do men have nipples?" he replies.

"Because they're fun?" Layth offers to Aaron.

Tasha grins a little. "I coul' tell you why, bu' tha's no' appropriate righ' now," she answers.

The smaller buck can't really come up with a reply to that.

"Well, at least I get to watch Eli have to choke down that gruel," Remiel says with a slight grin. Now that he's dressed, he seems to feel a bit more confident.

"Oh no, he won't need that," the nurse says, checking her clipboard. "He's good to have steak right off the bat."

Caravelli looks at Zerachiel and says, "I hate you."

Tasha lets her wing fall, then just slings an arm around Remiel's shoulder and rubs his arm with her free hand. "You poor mens," she repeats.

The door opens, and Mage Latania marches through, saying, "Make way!" Behind her, a porter pushes a wheelchair with a groggy looking Gabriel Akkers in it.

"You still cannot eat solids? What is wrong with you?" Layth asks Caravelli. As the mage passes his head tilts a bit out of respect…

Tasha unslings her arm from the doctor and hops aside, abandoning one Karnor to hurry over to another. "Oi, Gabriel! 'Ow you doin'," she inquires, moving to walk along sid ethe wheelchair.

"Blahhghfllp," Akkers sputters.

Latania tugs on Tasha's shoulder and says, "Try not to excite him until he's rebuilt his blood supply a bit."

"What did you do to him?" Layth asks.

"I did dress conservatively," Tasha considers quietly, then nods to Latania. "'Ow is 'e, Mage Latania?"

"There was something wrong with his blood?" Aaron asks in surprise. Calligenia finally shows some interest in things when blood is mentioned.

"He had extensive tissue damage and cannibalistic cell syndrome," the Cervani doe explains. "The malignant bodies had to be purged, and that unfortunately included several pints of blood and some of his bone marrow."

"Translation?" Layth asks Doctor Caravelli.

Tasha winces, despite not really knowing what that all means. It sounds terrible, even to her. "Oi, my poor cap'n!" She looks like she wants to hug him, but manages to simply hover around him and fidget.

"Cancer," Remiel comments. "And blood cancer too. But that's impossible to cure without… uh, right. Magic."

"Did you know he had this … cancer?" Layth asks Caravelli.

"Blood cancer, yes," Latania says, nodding to Caravelli. "And tumors of the liver, stomach and prostate."

"I wasn't his doctor," Remiel explains. "But he's military. Been exposed to hard radiation and such before, and with the weakening from the stasis I'm not surprised."

Tasha bites her lip, then holds her hands over her muzzle. The Lapi can hear her inhale sharply, then she turns away and blinks at the wall.

"Your hedge-priestesses energized their bodies, but did so indiscriminately," Latania says, with a bit of a sniff. "It is a good thing you brought them to real Mages for treatment."

"You were the ship's doctor, though, correct? He would not let you examine him?" Layth asks Remiel. "That would imply he knew he was dying."

"I wasn't the ship's doctor," Caravelli notes. "I was there for research purposes. The ship's doctor was the robot."

"T-tha' was the i-i-idea," Tasha stammers, followed by a sudden sniffle and another sharp inhale. She turns back around and, while her face is redder than usual, she seems to be trying to put on a strong face.

Calligenia pats Tasha on the shoulder, and smiles. "He lived. So, he has reason to," she claims. "Thank you, pale devil woman," she says to Latania, with real respect in her voice.

"You put too much faith in your machines, then," Layth comments. To Latania, the buck dips his head again, saying, "Thank you for helping all of them."

Latania twitches at the mixed compliments, and then thrusts a clipboard at Aaron. "Here. These are the medications they will require over the next few weeks," she says. The buck takes it silently and starts flipping through the pages. There are a lot of them.

"I-I know," Tasha tells Calligenia, before reaching over to grab her in a hug. If she can't hug Gabriel, it seems that Calligenia is the next best – or at least closet – thing. "I jus' can' 'elp bu' think 'e knew, an' 'e jus' was tryin' to 'ide it from me."

"I can't speak to the existence of these diseases prior to this 'stasis' state," Latania notes. "I've never had to treat anyone this old before. But at least he wasn't turned to stone. That one was a real effort… "

"Given their conditions, how fit are they for travel? Or, would it be more prudent to to delay travel until they are better?" Layth now inquires as he walks over to Gabriel. He crouches down before the wolf and peers at him.

Meanwhile, Tasha clings to Calligenia as if she were a big, fuzzy, deadly stuffed animal. Sniffle. She uses one of her ears to wipe her eyes.

"He's as fit as he's ever going to be," Latania notes, then waves a hand. "He just looks horrible right now, but he'll be fine after a good night's sleep. And no… canoodling… until he can urinate without it hurting."

The Amazonian doe just squeaks under the pressure. But given her background, 'extreme hugging' probably isn't anything new to her.

"You do not have to worry about me … canoodling with him," Layth has to point out and gives the woman an odd look.

Tasha lays her head on Calligenia's, and nods. "I'll see 'e gets all 'e needs, even if I 'ave to 'old 'im down or feed it to 'im myself," she promises.

"I expect you to protect him from the women," Latania notes. "I know how Lapi can be."

Aaron just rolls his eyes, and then hides behind the clipboard. "Mmm, hmm, yes… I can make this stuff… " he says.

"The Lapi women have not expressed any interest in him," Layth comments, "And Amazonian Lapi women wouldn't anyway. So, he's safe from Calligenia. I'm certain Tasha can restrain herself as well.""

"I can," Tasha agrees. "'E's mine anyway, 'e don' need Layth to protect 'im from other women."

"Well, he's your responsibility now either way," Latania notes. "I just have to make all of this not have happened. Hmm. Advanced training exercise should cover it… "

"Thank you," Layth tells the woman again. "If there is anything I can do for you in the future, feel free to ask."

"We really appreciate all you've done for us, Mage Latania," adds Tasha, "I mean, this was a lot o' work, an' effort. Gabriel an' I will be goin' to Abaddon, so if there's anythin' there you need, you jus' ask us."

"Don't get sick," the Mage responds. Turning to Aaron, she says, "Now Mr. Lightfoot, there is still the considerable cost of the components to discuss." "Oh… right… " Aaron grumbles.

"I will do what I can," Layth says with a nod.

"You can take them home now, the sooner the better," Latania tells them. "I'll have someone come around tomorrow to check up on them, but I can't afford to have them stay here overnight."

"They were that much of a problem?" Layth inquires as he now stands. "I assume you wish to push the Captain?" he asks Tasha

"I'm sure they'll wan' to go 'ome too, anyroad," Tasha agrees. She walks behind Gabriel's wheelchair and scoots into take the handles. "We're goin' 'ome now, me man from the stars," she whispers to him. She then blinks at Layth, and just grins. "You know me well, magic bunny."

"It would just raise too many extra questions and involve too many more people to put them up in rooms," Latania notes.

Aaron offers, "I'll bring Gabe's stuff back."

Zerachiel has managed to get dressed without any of the drama Caravelli had. But then, everyone was distracted and not looking his way at the time.

"I do. That's why I think he should get a room to himself tonight. You will share rooms with the other two Karnors," Layth comments as he heads towards the exit now. "And yes, Mage Latania. Should you wish to examine an Amazonian, you are welcome to call me before we leave for other shores."

"You're no different from other Lapis, just bigger," Latania claims, and then turns to Aaron to start discussing payment.

---

Back at the townhouse, Aisha is happy to see everyone back… and then worried at the sight of the wheelchair and the groggy Captain Akkers. "Did they melt his brain?" she asks Layth.

Tasha, who has been trying to comfort Gabriel the whole way, looks no less worried for the trip. "I'd make you a sam'ich, bu' I'm no' sure you're ready," she tells the incoherent Captain.

"They had to fix many issues. He is just recovering from … well, think of it as he is recovering from a massive hangover. He just needs to rest," Layth tries to explain to Aisha. "He should be back to normal tomorrow."

"You should give him spicy vegetable juice then," Aisha recommends.

"Much more than a 'angover. We jus' need to let 'im res', an' 'e'll be better t'morrow. I'm goin' to carry 'im upstairs an' tuck 'im in," Tasha explains.

"I'm not sure he should eat anything in his current state," Layth comments after a bit of consideration on that.

"Well, keep the doors between him and the bathroom open then," Aisha notes. "Or… I don't know if Aaron has a bucket we can put next to the bed."

"Fooood," Caravelli moans, and ransacks the kitchen. "Rrrrrr… just veggies!" This is followed by the sounds of crunching.

"Tasha, perhaps you should take the other two out to the Bromethen Heaven tonight so they can eat well. It will also help keep your mind off things," Layth suggests.

"Bu' wha' if Gabriel needs me," Tasha asks as she wheels the man to the stairs. Glancing at the kicthen door, she yells, "THERE'S SOME MEAT IN THE FREEZER!"

"It's frozen!" Caravelli yells back from the kitchen. "I could go for a baked potato," Zerachiel notes from the dining room.

"We will be here. You do not need to hover over him," Layth comments, "He needs to rest."

"Maybe we should order in," Aisha suggests quietly to Layth. "And you should help Tasha carry the Captain."

Tasha stands there frowning, as if mulling over the many details of what could go wrong if she leaves in her head. "I'd rather stay in," she says at length.

"She'll just tell me she wants to do it herself," Layth notes to Aisha, then shrugs. "I'll just go make dinner."

"Wai' no, I do need your 'elp Layth. C'mere an' 'elp me," says Tasha.

"I will go get the meat," Calligenia offers. "I find the smell of all those wolves and smoke rather pleasant."

Layth stops midway to the kitchen and turns. He heads back to Tasha. "You wish me to lift the lower half while you pull the upper?" he asks, then waves his hands to the lower frame of Gabriel's chair.

"Aye, we may need it upstairs," Tasha agrees. She moves to lift as directed, telling Layth aside, "Thanks for stickin' with me this long, magic bunny."

Layth reaches down and grips one of the support rails of the chair, then lifts it up slowly so that the wheels clear the stairs. "It's not over yet," the buck points out as the chair is now slowly carried up the stairs.

"I thought Miss Meadow was the magic bunny?" Zerachiel asks Caravelli.

"Is this celery? It looks like celery. Just… orange," Caravelli replies back, swinging a stalk of something around in the kitchen. "Why haven't they invented spray cheese yet? They can cure cancer, but can't handle that?"

"There men are a 'andful an' funny, bu' I like them," Tasha tells Layth as they carry Akkers upstairs. "Life's diffren' when you're takin' care o' people, isn' it?"

"It's more complicated," Layth answers, "And occasionally frustrating. I know you care for them, but do be careful to not cling too much to them. If you smother them, you may drive them away. Some males find too much attention frightening."

"You mean like Aaron?" Tasha helps Layth lift Gabriel into his room, then starts getting the bed ready.

"Keep them fed and they will be happy to follow you," Calligenia observes following Tasha and Layth up the stairs.

"He is a good example, yes," Layth agrees. "But Aaron has other problems as well."

Tasha nods to that. "I'll try no' to cling to 'em too, I did let 'im 'ave tha' nigh' out, an' one as a girl friend! Gabriel's differn' though, I think I'm allowed to be closer to 'im. The other two, they're like me family," shes says. The bed set, she helps Layth lift Gabriel and lay him down.

"Beer," Akkers mutters.

"You must love him, he smells like feet and yet you are still here," Layth mutters when he gets a particularly good whiff of the recently treated wolf while lifting. "This one needs a bath when he's coherent. I leave that to you."

"No bath, Mom," Akkers mutters again, and whines a little.

"Aye, I do. I don' think I ever tol' 'im – I didn' wan' to worry 'im," says the Vartan. "An' I'll bathe 'im." She glances at Gabriel, then pushes a finger to his lips. "Shh, no beer for you today. Sleep."

"Tasha, what do I order from the Hog place?" Calligenia asks from the doorway.

"Get tha' special, for four," Tasha tells Calligenia. "An' some o' tha' bread an' fixin's, for yourselves."

"Also keep another thing in mind," Layth comments after he looks at the prone wolf for a bit, "He may wet himself in the night. He does not seem in full frame of mine and may have limited control."

Tasha laughs a little at that. "Oi, I worked on an' airship full o' men who drank at the slightes' nod. I'm used to tha' smell coming from odd places," she insists.

"Are you used to sleeping in it?" Layth notes with a mild grin. "Another reason to allow him the room alone for the night."

"I'll jus' sleep on the floor, I'm no' so wifey yet tha' I've forgotten 'ow to make meself a bed anywhere," the Vartan insists. "Now lets let 'im sleep, an' go back down stairs."

"As you like," Layth agrees and heads towards the door and downstairs now.

Tasha pauses to tuck Gabriel in, then kiss him on the cheek, before she heads out with Layth. "Let's see wha' me other boys are gettin' in to."

Downstairs, Zerachiel has gotten the fire going, and is stretched out on the couch. Caravelli is trying to roast something on a stick in the fire.

"Why are you not using the stove?" Layth inquires as he heads towards the kitchen. A worry gnaws at him that they may have somehow broken it.

Tasha just shakes her head. "I wun'er if this is wha' kids will be like," she whispers to Layth. Louder, she says, "'Ello boys, glad to see you up an' abou'," and then she flops down on the couch and exhales.

"I don't know how to," Caravelli admits. "It's lucky enough that Lightfoot had a drawer full of sticks." The stick is indeed a Lapi gnawing stick, and probably a nice flavored one at that. A reddish blob is stuck to the end.

Eli sits up to make room for Tasha. "The Captain is sleeping?" he asks.

"Those sticks are for chewing on. They keep teeth properly cleaned and the right length," Layth notes as he passes Caravelli to check on the condition of the kitchen.

"Got a toothbrush for that," the Karnor mutters. The kitchen… isn't too ransacked. There are various bits and shavings in the sink of whatever vegetables Caravelli was desperate enough to try, however.

Layth just shakes his head and goes about cleaning up the mess.

Tasha nods to Caravelli. "Aye, 'e jus' needs 'is sleep. 'E 'ad a lo' more goin' on with 'im than you two did, bu' 'e did ask for a beer before we tucked 'im in, so I think 'e'll be fine" she answers.

The front door handle rattles, and then Aaron enters carrying two sacks. "I'm home!" he declares, and sets one sack down by the door before taking the other to the dining room table. "And I have medicines! Which I'm sure you will all hate, but I imagine Tasha and Layth will get you to take them anyway."

"E's right," Tasha agrees, then she waves at Aaron.

"I have ways," Layth warns from the kitchen.

"I have no problems taking medicine," Zerachiel offers. Caravelli just checks the meat on his stick (which is now half burned and half frozen) and says, "It will taste awful. It always tastes awful. That's how you know it's good."

"At least tell us that it is medicine taken by mouth. I would prefer it not require more invasive measures," Layth comments as he passes by  with a small sack of garbage in his arms.

Aaron hmphs, saying, "Well, my medicines taste just fine. And after your checkup tomorrow, we can start off for Abu Dhabi."

"Jus mix it with some o' Bromthen if you can," offers the Vartan. "An' you two migh' wan' to think abou' anythin' you wan' to get ready before we leave, since we can' stay 'ere too much longer. We've been much more obvious than anyone would 'ave liked."

"I'd like to go stay the night with my… uh… friend," Remiel notes, actually having to hide an ear-blush.

"If you are well enough, I do not see any harm in that," Layth comments as he heads out the door. He returns a moment later, sans trash bag.

"Jus' don' try an' fit 'er in your luggage," Tasha teases Remiel.

"You'll need to take some things with you," Aaron notes. "Where is Calli?"

"She went to collect meat for the Karnors from the Bromethan Heaven," Layth explains.

"Any sign of Spring Meadow?" Aaron asks next, looking more to Layth this time.

"You know, Calligenia collectin' bloody meat doesn' seem to not fit 'er at all," the Vartan muses.

"I haven't seen her since she left to check on if she could take a trip to Abu Dhabi," Layth answers. "If she cannot, then one of us should treat her to an enjoyable evening before we leave," he says, looking directly at Aaron.

"Oh, I agree," Tasha says.

"She'll probably come along," Aaron notes, and goes back to sorting out medicines. "It shouldn't be hard for her to find someone to cover for her."

"She will probably hate me, but I intend to get her to exercise on the trip. She has self-perception issues that need some work," Layth comments as he goes back into the kitchen. Thinking of something, he puts a pot of water on to boil. Some vegetable will require boiling at some point; they always do.

"I think I've ruined this meat," Caravelli admits as he looks at the now-blackened lump at the end of his stick.

"Exercise?" Aaron asks, and seems to think about it. "Hmmm, I suppose she hasn't been running much since she came to Rephidim."

"She thinks she is fat. Such thoughts are silly, but if she exercises some perhaps she will see otherwise," Layth explains from the kitchen.

Tasha shakes her head at Caravelli, then slides off the couch and takes his hand. "Lemme show you 'ow to cook aroun' 'ere," she says, dragging him towards the kitchen.

"Are you sure you want to empower him that much, Tasha?" Aaron quips with a grin.

"Well it's your 'ouse Aaron, no mine," Tasha quips back, with a grin and a wink.

"I hope you did not like your kitchen," Layth comments. He heads back out of the kitchen and stops near Aaron. "It is not a bad thing I have shown Spring Meadow attention, is it? She seemed as if … she could use some," he says quietly.

"I can wait until Calligenia gets back with the real food," Remiel offers.

"Springer's a good kid," Aaron notes. "I think she just felt intimidated by Aisha and Calli is all. They sure intimidate me."

"They don't intimidate me. Perhaps if you seduced them you would feel less intimidated?" Layth suggests.

Tasha goes about explaining 'modern' convinences to Caravelli, space traveler. "Are you sure you didn' 'ave anythin' like this on your ship? Is this reall tha' diffren'?"

"I pushed a button," Caravelli notes.

"Uh, I'm not the sort to go around seducing girls," Aaron notes.

"Ah, right. You are still waiting for the woman you desire to seduce you," Layth says with a small nod.

"It was all run by one button?" Tasha looks incredulous, brow raised. "The Themis Skoll 'ad more buttons than I could coun', and it talked into me 'ead. An' tha' reminds me, wha' would we need to reach a moon from a planet?"

"A spaceship, of course," Caravelli notes. "And the cooking facilities on Fenris were automated."

"You 'ad a lot o' fancy robots, was the pas' all run by robots doin' things?" Tasha has the stove lit now, and is showing the doctor how to work it with a hand while talking. "An' does tha' mean a spaceship can travel from Abaddon the moon withou' crashin' like the Fenris did?"

"I… don't know," Caravelli replies. "It's been six thousand years. Maybe they aren't any working orbital craft left. Or else it could be too expensive to run one."

"I'll seduce her when the time is right," Aaron notes, a bit defensively.

"Wh'a abou' somethin' like the Themis Skoll, I saw i' fly into the clouds when we lef' the mountains. Coul' a titan reach the moon?" Tasha douses the stove, then begins showing the doctor where all the food is stored.

"A moon is a long way away," Caravelli says. "Much farther than the range of a Titan. It would take days to reach."

"Coul' a titan las' tha' lo- … No wai', it couldn'. The Themis Skoll's fuel ran out durin' simulation … " Tasha purses her lips, then shakes her head. "There's the option o' a system like Gateway, bu' I've never 'eard o' one to the moon, so findin' a space ship migh' be the bes' choice."

"The Expedition… whatever is left of it… will have to let us know what our options are," the doctor notes.

Layth pats Aaron's shoulder, then heads towards the dining room. "Calligenia should be back soon, so I will make the table. That way, the Karnors can just eat instead of having to stand around, drooling, when the food arrives," the buck explains. He disappears around the corner.

"They pro'ly 'ave more abou' wha' 'appened than the Fenris, I'm sure they can 'elp us," Tasha assures the doctor. "For now, I'm goin' to show you 'ow to make a sandwich tha' tastes like meat, bu' ins't. Trus' me, with this much buns aroun', you'll thank me for i' later."