Christian was working on the newest mural in his room. He'd grown tired of the dragon wall and decided to replace it with something a bit more... epic.
So he was working on a city.
He'd already repainted the entire room white - he was getting used to the room being covered in plastic, it was just as well he didn't own much in the way of belongings - and was now sketching out some high rise buildings.
There was a knock at the door.
"Yeah?" he looked up to see one of his fellow art students.
"Liam, how are you?" he smiled in greeting.
"I'm cool," the boy shrugged.
"What's the problem?" Christian stood from where he'd been kneeling, putting his pencil down and brushing his hands off on his pants.
"Nothing, really," the boy stepped into the room a little further.
"Just... can I ask you something?"
"Sure, fire away," Christian offered, indicating for him to sit on the plastic-covered chair nearby.
Liam did so, as Christian sat on the bed.
"Why are you still here?" Liam asked, almost nerously.
"You mean in the rehab centre?" Christian confirmed.
"Yeah."
"Well..." Christian began thoughtfully, "it's a long story. How much do you know?"
"Just that you're supposed to be some sort of poster child for why we're here," Liam shrugged.
"Oh yeah?"
"Sort of. I mean, I heard you hooked up with Spider at some point. My Dad used to work for him..."
"The Spider was my Dad," Christian amended with a small smile.
"Really?"
"Really."
"...Wow."
"He raised me to be an alien hunter. One thing led to another, and here I am."
"But shouldn't you be in jail? I mean, you're kinda old. No offense."
"None taken. I get it alot," Christian assured, "I had some good words put in for me, and I have a few friends in high places."
"Like Telepathic Temptress?"
"Yeah, like her."
"But aren't you rehab-ed out already? I mean, you're like deb compared to the rest of us now."
Christian hesitated, not sure he got the comparison.
"That's the long story part," Christian explained, "I also have a lot of enemies in high places. And getting out of here doesn't just involve being able to contribute to society anymore."
"So now what are you supposed to do? Teach us?"
"I don't know," Christian replied honestly, "but hey, I'll play entertainer as long as I can. Have to keep some things going for the guys here before me."