Case #19: Video

[19centconstable]

[The video feed turns on, and George settles back into his chair. He's seated in the infirmary, next to Eddie Spinola's bed. He has a book on his lap. The book would seem to be making little happy noises, except that's impossible. Isn't it?]

I suspect this has already been discussed, or at least asked, and I do apologize if that is the case, but I would like very much to know: what is it you believe in?

Not what you don't believe in, because that's not important, but what you do. Whatever that is. Because everyone must believe in something. And I'm interested to know what that might be. For instance: I've been having a thrilling read about this worm which devours...

[George glances down at the book on his lap.]

Oh! And: unrelatedly, does anybody know the average circumference of a man's chest?

Comments

[hourglass-twin.livejournal.com]

...why would you want to know the average circumference of a man's chest?

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

Because I've tried looking it up in medical books, and I haven't been able to find a number anywhere.

[hourglass-twin.livejournal.com]

Probably because no one but a tailor would care enough to make note of it.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

Really? I had thought that sort of thing would be of interest to doctors. They seem to have an interest in the length of babies. Among other things.

[hourglass-twin.livejournal.com]

Apparently not.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, I don't believe we have a tailor on board that I might ask.

[hourglass-twin.livejournal.com]

I repeat: why do you care?

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

Ah. Er. I want to check something.

[hourglass-twin.livejournal.com]

What? Nevermind, I don't care.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

I was just wondering if a person with more than one heart would have a larger than average chest, but if you don't care...

[hourglass-twin.livejournal.com]

Someone has more than one heart?

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

Yes.

[hourglass-twin.livejournal.com]

Tell me more.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

He...has two hearts. Oh! And a very charming dog.

He's here to learn how to ask for things nicely

[hourglass-twin.livejournal.com]

I don't care about the dog! Why does he have two hearts?

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

Because he does.

Do you not like dogs, Mr.-...?

[hourglass-twin.livejournal.com]

Raistlin Majere. And no.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

You don't like dogs, or you don't not like dogs?

[shortsghtedlove.livejournal.com]

[So much eye-rolling.] No. Which should be obvious.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

I don't see why. Twice the number of hearts and connect-y bits have got to fit.

[shortsghtedlove.livejournal.com]

[Sigh.] Because our whole anatomy is different. We don't just have two hearts, all the organs in our chests are completely different to what a human has. So it comes down to much the same average chest size, which you could have determined by simply looking at us.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

Not with clothing on, I don't think.

So do you mean to say you've got four lungs?

[shortsghtedlove.livejournal.com]

You humans wear clothing as well. And to be of interest one would presume the difference, if there were any, would be more than two, three centimetres.

No. The Respiratory Bypass System isn't just another pair of lungs, it's a completely different organ. And as I said, what's in our chest is generally quite different than what's in a human chest. We only look alike from the outside.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't have presumed that.

So you've got one lung?

[shortsghtedlove.livejournal.com]

Why would such a tiny difference be interesting? And how would you then find out the average for Time Lords?

[There's a slightly frustrated growl.] It's not just a matter of having one or two or three of something. You shouldn't assume that it's that easy to compare.