"Do you see any other chattering monkeys to blame?" Billy laughed, and there was something slightly hysteric about it. The cant of his voice was not quite right.

The room was lit with hanging lanterns, whose electric bulbs artfully imitated atmospheric candlelight. The brightest light came from the center of the room, where a long scroll was illuminated upon a long, slanted table. So as not to strain the student's eyes as they poured over the text.

Billy was perpendicular to Ragdoll, seated in a large and comfortable chair. He wore the same color of robes as the others, with sandals on his feet and regular glasses rather than his usual visor. Even in the dim light one could see the dark circles under his eyes and the way his normally meticulous hair had been left uncared for.

Crouched beside him, staring up mutely at Meister, was a passable imitation of Ragdoll himself. It wore his costume and its long limbs were folded into the same near-impossible contortions. On its face was Ragdoll's mask.

"You want to blame him for everything. Next global warning will be his fault. You'd still be dead without the Echo's help, you realize." Billy ran his hand fondly over the yarn on the other's head.