a/n: The treatment worked! With expected side effects.

All the good things belong to Monolithsoft.

He decided to let the others discuss the situation for a bit. His throat was as sore as if he'd been screaming for hours, although he didn't think he'd been screaming. Hopefully not. He didn't feel like screaming now, not even a little, so he probably hadn't screamed earlier. Which wasn't to say things were calm. The atmosphere in the room seemed a little tense. For now he was content to lie there and try to guess what would happen next.

He watched the angel move away from his bed. Things couldn't be too bad, he told himself, if she was there. It certainly was nice to be awakened by her. He wished he didn't feel so weak. Maybe he could sit up. He tried, but his body failed him. It wasn't painful, more like he wasn't allowed to control his limbs. He lay back a second, resting, letting their argument flow over him.

"This is not a consent form," said the angel, holding a small card. Even when angry, her voice was warm.

"Of course it is." The other voice was precise and piercing. Hard as he tried, he couldn't help but wince.

"Let me read it out loud," said the angel. "It says, 'Dr. Pelias can do what he wants.' That is not a real form."

"He wrote it himself. See? It has his signature. Presumably. I still haven't bothered to to to learn human writing systems, okay?"

"Oh, Quincy. You really don't have to be like that all the time." She had turned back to look at him, leaning over a little so he could meet her eyes easily. Her dark hair swayed along her face.

He didn't answer at once, taking a moment to admire her eyes. One was the color of violets, the other a rich dark brown. He couldn't decide which was prettier, and was glad that he didn't have to. He smiled a little at such luxury.

He'd delayed too long. "Oh, Quincy," she sighed.

"I'm like what?" Quincy asked curiously. He liked how emotions slipped around her face. A little exasperation, a little worry, a little amusement. And a little gratitude, which really made him curious.

"Adding something silly, to keep people from worrying. To make someone smile."

If he had done something to make her smile, he'd missed it. All of those emotions on her beautiful face, and she hadn't curved her mouth, not even a little. He wasn't sure why he had said that thing when he woke up. A brave new world, wasn't it? It certainly felt very new, very bright. He decided he was ready to participate in that world. First thing to do was to sit up. He grunted softly, straining his body, but he still could only flop a little upward.

"Oh! Hold on!" The angel fluttered around one of his wrists. He realized that he had restraints on his arms.

He laughed. "I hadn't noticed. I must have missed that bit."

A third person spoke, a man he hadn't noticed, very normal and utterly uninteresting compared to an angel and an imp. "It kept you from clawing out the mask."

"Mask?" He really needed to stop sounding so dim, but the only way to understand was to ask too many questions.

His angel didn't seem to mind. "Dr. Pelias was just about to explain." The restraints melted away under her hands. She wedged an arm under his shoulders and suddenly he was sitting. Victory.

"Dr. Pelias was not. Dr. Pelias was going to send you the info after lunch." Even with the thick goggles, the imp looked irritated. "So, everything as it should be, patient alert and responsive, emotions undamaged. I'll get the rest done within 48 hours, give or or or take, and jam it back in, agreed?"

The angel wasn't going to let him off that easily. "Jam what back in?" He was glad someone else was also asking questions. He looked alertly and hopefully at the little doctor, while also surreptitiously checking out his surroundings, comprised in large part by the angel still helping him sit upright.

"His memories, of course."

"What?" The angel gripped his arm suddenly. She sounded horrified. She looked at him anxiously with her wildflower eyes.

Quincy wasn't shocked. He'd been combing his brain for a full minute by now and was pretty sure it was empty. He smiled at her. She really was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Also the only one. "Hi."

"Quincy?"

"Yes?"

"Do you remember anything?"

"Afraid not."

"Do you remember ..." She stopped. Maybe she didn't want to sound pushy. He kind of hoped that was why. He looked encouragingly at her, but she turned away, slipping her arm free from him. He considered falling back dramatically, but that didn't seem nice. "Dr. Pelias," she said, "this won't do at all."

The third fellow interrupted. "Look, we need to clear this room. Space is limited. Could you take it elsewhere?"

"I think I need clothes first?" Quincy suggested. He didn't remember much, if anything, but there were a few basics wedged in his skull. Hospital. Pants. Angels. Shakespeare.

a/n: You will pry the amnesia trope out of my cold dead hands. Thursdays may be shorter from now on, because I'm also doing daily stories for Apriltober. Yes, 100 word drabbles still take a little time.

Next up: Farewell Mim Center, hello BLADE tower.