"Yeah, uh– same."

She smiles smugly.

"Okay, well, it shouldn't take too long for me to get home and I can just bring stuff back for Tyler too?"

Small smile.

"I could send Manfred to pick your stuff up at your place."

"That– uh, yeah, I could text Dad about it? I think he'd be okay with that?"

"Manfred would definitely not mind."

"Meant Dad, but yeah, Manfred too."

So he gets out his phone and texts his dad about it!

"How about you?" she asks Jess.

"Yeah, uh, I can ask mum."

So she gets out her phone and calls her mum.

She waits.

And after a bit of a conversation, Jess hangs up and reports, "Yeah, I'd appreciate it, thanks."

So she gets the addresses and off Manfred goes!

"So– what now?" asks Theo, then he yawns a bit.

"Now we could play video games! Or do other sleepover things, like, talk about booooys—everyone's into boys here, right?"

"Opt out," says Tyler.

"Y– huh?" asks Theo, looking at Tyler.

"Opt out," he repeats.

"Of what?"

"Talking about boys."

"Well, is there anything you do want to do? You still seem to be in this weird funk even though you'll live, and are magical, and there's tons of science to do."

"Maybe get some sleep," he says. "Mess around with some magic tomorrow after we find out mana regen is a thing."

"Well, that might actually be a good idea."

"Awww, but I'm not sleepy!"

"You're also not mana-drained and very hyperactive and also likely to ignore your body's needs."