At precisely one o'clock Logan put the sign in the window that said Out for lunch and sat down to wait for Patton and Mr Delphi.

He didn't have to wait for long. Patton soon came bounding in and told him a joke he had heard. Mr Delphi was about ten minutes late though.

The figure who filled the doorway wore a crisp black suit and a large cloak with a yellow necktie and yellow gloves. He also wore a bowler hat that was pulled low on his face and carried a cane with a large crook. It took a second to realize that the man was rather short, maybe 5'2, because of how commanding his presence was.

"Mr Python Delphi?" Patton stood and offered his hand.

Mr Delphi shook it. "Yes. Thank you for meeting with me."

He shook Logan's hand. Logan noticed one side of Python's face was uncomfortably smooth and one eye didn't quite seem to focus. Logan realized his face might have been reconstructed after a bad burn or some other injury and tried not to stare.

"Of course. Please have a seat."

Mr Delphi sat in front of the desk while Patton and Logan sat on the other side.

"India?" Python suddenly asked.

Logan looked over his glasses. "Was it the accent?"

Python shrugged. "Your accent is fairly British which tells me you've lived most of your life in England but the way you pronounce certain words tells me that either both or just your mother immigrated from India. The sun can't darken your skin like that so I'm guessing both."

Logan searched for any hint of mockery as often he was the butt end of a racist joke. There didn't seem to be any and he had gotten used to it so he dismissed the comment.

"Python is a remarkable name," Patton commented.

"Yes, you might say it's a pun of sorts." Python's voice was noticeably less raspy. Instead, it was more smooth and... convincing?

Patton's eyes sparkled. "I love puns."

"Oh," the man smiled. "The story isn't all laughs. But I'll oblige. I had parents who were missionaries is South America. They were young and my mother was only seven months pregnant when they accidentally walked through a snake nest. My father was killed and my mother was so traumatized she gave birth to me early and died. The people at the orphanage thought it would be funny if I got the name Python so that they could say that both my parents were killed by Pythons."

He showed no emotion while telling the story, just had the corners of his mouth turned up.

Patton's face had gone blank. Logan knew Patton wasn't sure wether he should laugh politely or apologize for his loss. Logan saved him by asking:

"So, would you like to tell us what you require our help on?"

"Ah, yes." Python leaned forward. "I have a friend who is in trouble. We came to London two days ago. We didn't mean to stay long but he accidentally stumbled into a snake pit of his own. They had him arrested and because of his, er, interesting humor he is now in the asylum."

"And that's where I come in?" Patton asked.

The man nodded. "I heard that you had somewhat of a similar case a year or two ago."

"That's private," Logan cut in. "How do you know about that?"

Python inclined his chin. "Forgive me for prying but I had friends who told me rumors. Don't worry, I know nothing of the person you got out."

Patton shrugged. "I guess as long as that's confidential we can move forward."

"So, let me get this straight," Logan thrummed his fingers on his desk. "You want us to prove your friend is mentally stable enough to leave asylum?"

"Yes."

"Is he?"

"Is he what?"

"Sane?"

Python paused and thought for a moment. "No," he finally decided. "But I know how to handle him. In fact, his mental health is so fragile I'm sure the asylum is hurting him more then helping him."

Logan raised an eyebrow skeptically. "It's a hospital. It helps people with broken minds."

"With all do respect," Python raised an eyebrow back at Logan. "Have you ever been in a mental institution?"

"Of course-."

"No, I don't think you understand. Have you ever been committed to one? Do you know what it's really like when they don't clean it up for inspections?"

"They are very careful with their patients," Patton defended.

"So you haven't," Python summarized.

"Have you?" Logan challenged.

Python titled his head. "I'm very good at sneaking into places where I'm not supposed to be."

There was silence.

"I suppose I could take a look at him," Patton said slowly.

Python looked relieved. "Thank you so much. When is a good time for you?"

"Um," Patton flipped open his planner and scanned it. "Are you available tonight at six?"

"Yes, that works."

"Okay." Patton flipped it closed.

Everyone rose.

"I will be waiting outside your office at six tonight," Python told Patton and left.

"I think he belongs in a mental institution," Logan mused, pulling out his lunch.

"He's weird," Patton agreed. "But can you blame him for wanting to help his friend? We didn't even know Virgil when we were in the same situation."

"But we're not crazy. And neither is Virgil."

Patton smiled. "To an extent."

Logan nodded. "Still, is Mr Python safe?"

Patton laughed. "Is that what you're worried about? I'll be fine, Lo!"

"If you say so." Logan bit into his sandwich.

***

Picani peered out the window.

"There's something fishy out there."

"Hm?" Patton raised his head but his eyes were still glued to the paper he was writing.

"Something's fishy."

Patton looked up and glanced over Picani's shoulder. "Is that a fish stand?"

"Yep."

They both giggled.

Picani and Patton had been coworkers when they first met but worked together so well they had been an obvious choice when the old owners of the therapist office needed to pass it on. The two were very much alike and were often mistaken for each other. Only difference seemed to be an age gap of five years (Picani being older) and Picani's glasses being a more square shape while Patton's were round.

"But there is someone dark and mysterious standing outside." Picani glanced back out the window.

"Oh!" Patton looked at the clock. Six on the dot. "Could you lock up? I forgot I had an appointment."

"You can count on me!"

Patton pushed the paper he was working on into his briefcase and ran outside.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

The corners of Python's mouth curled upwards. "Oh, it's fine. I'm sure a man like you is very busy."

Patton shrugged. "It depends on the day."

They hailed a taxi. Python told the carriage driver to take them to a local mental institution by the name of Sunny Fields.

When they got there Patton curled his nose in disgust. It was in no way sunny, definitely the worst asylum around London.

Python seemed to read his mind. "Or the worst in covering it up."

The inside was a little better. They were taken to a clean padded cell.

"Is this where he usefully stays?" Python asked the attendant.

"Yes, sir."

Python shares a look with Patton but didn't say anything. It made Patton slightly uneasy and a bit confused.

"But please, sirs, he's not the safest. We have him restrained but could you please stay a safe distance away from him?"

"Of course," Patton agreed. He had dealt with patience like that in the past.

Python remained quiet.

They were let in and Patton took in the man in the cell. He was fastened to the chair in the corner and had a straight jacket. This was normal for dangerous patients so it didn't erk Patton. The man had brown hair with a shock of white in the front and a mustache more prominent then his week old stubble. He seemed to be asleep, his head on his chest.

Python stepped ahead of Patton and leaned over the man. Despite what the attendant said, he lightly touched his shoulder. The man's head snapped up, banging it against the padded head rest and shrieked "Don't touch me!"

"Relax," Python told him soothingly. "It's me."

The man squinted at Python. "Snake boy?"

"Mhm."

"You're here too?" The man pulled back his lips in a wide, almost grotesque smile that was somewhat unnerving.

"I just got here. Python is here."

"Jan-"

"Wolf, this is Dr Lovegood. He's helping me get you out of here."

The man's shocking green eyes locked with Patton's and his smile got wider, showing gums.

"Dr Lovegood, this is Wolf Duke," Python stepped away but kept his hand on the man's shoulder.

Patton smiled. "Hello, Wolf. I have a few questions for you."

"I'd be delighted to answer." The man's dark hazel eyes bore through Patton's skull.

Patton ignored it and asked "Could you tell me a bit about yourself first?"

Python's hand pressed into Wolf's shoulder.

"I like games."

"Games? That's something we have in common. What kind of games?"

"Brain games. Hand games."

"Hand games?"

Wolf opened his mouth to answer but Python tapped his shoulder with one finger. Wolf's face relaxed into a subdued grin.

"Alright," Patton pulled out a paper with a blotch of ink on it. "What does this look like to you?"

Wolf barely glanced at it before staring at Patton again. "Blood splotch."

"What?"

"A blood splotch on hardwood floor. Right after someone's been stabbed."

Patton froze but relaxed when Python chuckled.

"I told you he has an interesting sense of humor."

"Yeah," Patton laughed uneasily and pushed the paper back into his bag. "Are you close to Python?" He asked Wolf, for lack of a better question.

Wolf's lips curled back again. "I'd kill for him."

Python forced another laugh. And Patton tried to join him but Wolf's green eyes burned into his skull. Hadn't they been hazel? Maybe the dim lights had given them the brown tint.

"I-I think that's all I need. Do you mind if I go?" Patton asked, unable to look away from the stare Wolf had him locked in.

"Yes, I'll just have a few words with Wolf."

Patton nodded and retreated. As he left he heard Python say something to Wolf. Wolf answered. Python hissed something angrily and Wolf just snarled.