He catches it easily and puts it right back down. "Take it. You need it, okay?"

"I don't want your pity things." He had his chance to take it back, the packet is getting opened and then stomped on.

"Tommy. Those were for you."

"Yeah, well, I didn't want them. Fuck you. Leave."

Shrug. "Sure. Thanks for the things. See you tomorrow."

Flop onto bed. "Fu-u-uck."

Okay. What does he still have. He has his music box, and one of the cylinders on it; he plays Over The Rainbow for himself while he thinks.

He has his homework. He has Linda. He can get back some of the mana Clay took, at least.

He puts that aside for now. He prays.

Dear God, I know I haven't been talking to you as much this year. No churches in the Scholomance, you know? And there's less to thank you for here than there is outside. I hope Wilbur's having a good time up there with you. He did a lot of bad things but he was a good guy. There's good in everyone, I think, everyone's got a little bit of good in them. Like, Toby's good, even though he gave me to Clay. And maybe Clay's got some good in him too. He likes when I play my music. I mean--we were friends, for a little bit. He's not all bad. I figure you were friends with a lot of people who did bad things, too, so you get that.

I hope you're not pitying me right now but if you are then you should give me lots of cool stuff for it and then nobody will pity me they will just think I am awesome.

Thanks for Henry and Shroud still being alive. I was scared for a bit that Clay would kill them. I dunno if that's, like, you, or if that's Clay, but I don't really want to thank Clay for things, he's a wrongen, so you get all the credit.

Maybe I shouldn't have threatened Clay. Or lied to Toby. I was just... scared.

Stealing from George was fine, though. Probably. I mean, Clay just stole from me, so, like.

I guess that's one of the fuckin commandments though, innit? Thou shalt not steal. Ugh. Well maybe you should send down new commandments to me and they will be better. I bet the guy you gave the old rules to is not as pogchamp as I am. I am so cool and have so many wives. They all want to have sex with me and I say, no thank you ladies, I am a minor and also God has new rules now which he gave to me because I am awesome. And I will show them your rules and they will love me and also you.

I miss Toby. Is that weird? Like, I just saw him yesterday.

I wish Terrence was here. Or Phil. Mary is like Phil but a woman, that's what I always say. She is so beautiful and motherly.

...I miss Wilbur.

If I died, would I get to see him again?

Maybe Clay'll kill me and I'll find out. I think I've been pretty good. Maybe heaven won't be so bad. No mals allowed. Unless they are very good mals but that is okay, I'm not racist or whatever, as long as they don't try to kill me, hey, fine by me. And they will not kill me because I will be already dead.

I probably shouldn't have thrown food on the ground, even if it was pity food, but it's all gross now from my feet and I'm going to have to clean it up. I think you should give me more food that doesn't have feet on it. Not out of pity. Just in thanks, because I am me and I deserve it.

Amen.

And the next day he goes to Tampa's study area in the library. He doesn't have a bag anymore, but he grabs his homework and his music box.

(It is... not the safest, to be walking the hallways on his own, especially without a knife. He'll have to make a new one. He's suddenly really grateful that he's in shape; he has to run the last section, but he makes it.)

The homework's mana-building, too, even with interludes of Over The Rainbow. (It's a good song.) People don't bother him, even though he doesn't have a power-sharer, although he does get a few weird looks.

Clay waits until they're the only ones around to approach him. "Hey, Tommy."

"HELLO."

Clay holds out his hand. "Do you have something you want to give me?"

Tommy is going to shove his music box in his pocket (please God I would really appreciate it if it didn't break thank you). "NOPE. You're evil, by the way. You're evil and I hate you."

Clay laughs. "Okay, Tommy. I know there's something you want to give me, though."

"No, I don't reckon there is."

"Are you sure? What about your mana?"

"What the hell. No. You already took my mana yesterday, you don't just get to--come and, and demand that of me--"

"Tommy."

"Leave me alone. I'm not giving you my fucking mana, bitch."

Alright, fine. Tommy can be hit again, then.

"Ow!!!! What the hell!!!!"

What the fuck???? Tommy is pretty sure someone is supposed to do something about maleficing?????

"If you're not going to give me your mana, I have to take it, Tommy."

"What--no! What the hell, man! No!"

"Anyway, how are you doing?"

What the fuck. What the fuck. "You are a dumb bitch. You are a dumb bitch."

"Sure, Tommy."

"...Do you still have my stuff?"