"It's Wednesday," one of the nurses said flatly. "It's not Monday."

"Yes, I know that," Stark said with a roll of his eye. "I had glitter class after I did the radio notes so of course I know what day it is but Monday I was just...I wasn't here. So I'm here today instead."

"This some sort of April Fool's thing?" another nurse asked suspiciously, opening the lid to one of the coffees and peering at it like the liquid might hold the answer.

"No! I'm just here today because I wasn't here the other day and I thought I might be useful but I can just go if you'd rather."

One of the nurses sighed. "We're just not used company on other days. It's fine. Stay. Drink your coffee. Don't open the cabinets on the left there, things keep falling out, and watch out for Stabby."

"Why?" Stark asked, looking at the tank.

"He's playing hide and seek and he's usually got a knife when he does that."

"...of course."

The clinic was open, the crab was lurking, and the alien was in even though it wasn't Monday.

Stark had extra strong coffees for everyone at the clinic today on account of the time change. He, after all these years, did not understand the reasoning behind it.

"Extra caffeeine," he said, placing the drinks down. "In case it's needed." His, of course, also had excessive amounts of sugar.

"Everyone doing all right?"

The nurses mostly shrugged in acknowledgement. Stabby smacked his claws against the glass.

"He doesn't have a schedule to keep to and he still hates time changes," one nurse said.

The clinic was open but maybe kind of tired.

Stark had promised pizza this week and since no parts of the island were changing shape while he walked on them he was following through on that. Nothing fancy, just a couple of pizzas and some sodas instead of the usual coffees. Something different for the day.

"I brought lunch," he said. "Like I said I would. I can get coffees as well, if anyone needs one, but there's pizza. Cheese. And veggies on the other." He wasn't sure if anyone was vegetarian though he was reasonably certain none of them were vegan based on coffee orders. "No crab, of course."

Stabby gave an approving nod. Which was neat when you considered crabs had no necks.

"So. Let's eat? Unless there's something I need to do first."

The clinic was open, smelled like pizza, and the alien was in.

Coffees and Stark arrived at the usual time today certainly not many hours late because someone is sick.

The lights were turned down low and there were new lights plugged in around the room when he entered.

"I like it," Stark said, looking around appreciatively. "It's...cozy."

Stabby's current napping state seemed to indicate he agreed.

The clinic was open, the crab was snoozing, and the alien was in.

After putting a potato in a hole this morning, Stark arrived at the clinic with coffee and...french fries. It seemed like a day for potato products.

"Brought snacks," he said, putting everything down on a counter behind the front desk. "And coffee. Always coffee."

Even the crab got fries which he eagerly snapped up.

"Good weekend?" one nurse asked.

"Just quiet," Stark answered. "Very quiet."

The clinic was open, the crab was stuffed with potato (not like that), and the alien was in.

Stark's shift was starting later today since he now had a class Monday mornings. That was fine. The clinic was generally quiet during his shifts (and other days as well).

He still brought the usual coffees with him. Caffeine was important to the wellbeing of all clinic staff. But new today was nearly all of a watermelon. Because he barely had time to eat any of it during his class activity.

"Can crabs eat watermelon?" he asked, glancing at Stabby who waa making grabby-claw motions."a little is probably fine."

He handed over a little bit of watermelon to the crab and then sat down with his coffee.

The clinic was open, smelling of watermelon and still decorated for the holidays, the crab was enjoying some refreshing fruit, and the alien waa in.

Stark was covered in tinsel. Draped in excessive amounts of holiday cheer. Or at least in excessive amounts of shiny strands. Who knew it could not only rain tinsel but pour tinsel as well?

"I'm very glad all the coffee has lids," he said, setting the tray off drinks down and trying to unbury the cups. He'd de-tinsel himself once that was done. "And the cookies are in the box there but those are fine. It was closed the whole time."

Stabby made some grabby motions and Stark handed over some of the tinsel that was piling up on the counter.

"He likes decorating," a nurse said. "In case it wasn't obvious from how Christmas threw up all over his tank. Again."

The clinic was open, the crab was going crazy with tinsel, and the alien was still trying to get all the tinsel off of himself.

Stark had woken up in a new sweater.

At least it was warm? And he thought the other clinic staff might appreciate it.

Stabby had his own tiny sweater with extra arms. The pattern was knives. Of course.

The nurses had a variety of sweaters and so when Stark arrived with the coffees there were several minutes of admiring each other's unavoidable knitwear.

The clinic was open, kinda cozy, and the alien was in.

There were screams coming from one of the exam rooms.

Stark was alarmed by said screams when he arrived with the day's coffees for himself and the nurses but one nurse quickly reassured him that there were no patients in there screaming. "It's empty. No idea what's causing it. And we checked for speakers. Nothing. And Stabby hasn't been anywhere near there."

Stark sighed. "Do we have a ghost? Should I go and check?"

"I'm pretty sure it's the table."

"Tables don't scream."

"Stark." The nurse gave him a disappointed look. "Remember where you live. "

The clinic was open, the crab was probably not responsible for the screams, and the alien was in.

Stark had winter coffees today even though it was definitely not winter. He didn't mind. He liked the peppermint coffees. With extra whipped cream, of course.

"Was his video a success?" Stark asked, glancing at Stabby's tank.

"He was gone all day Saturday. Who knows?"


Stabby, for his part, was currently just hanging out in his tank. With a crab-sized novel.

Stark was looking over the invitation for the party. Possibly a more engrossing read than Stabby's novel.

The clinic was open, the crab was reading something, and the alien was in.