He scribbles furiously, the ink smearing into a mess of equations. Leonard, his roommate, peeks in, clutching a bowl of instant noodles.

He drapes the blanket over a dummy, turns on the peripheral lights, and waits. The audience watches in hushed anticipation. A soft blue glow emanates from the blanket as the coils activate.

“According to the Schrödinger equation, the probability amplitude for a particle to tunnel through a potential barrier is given by...”

“Hey, honey,” Mary says, her Southern drawl warm as ever. “I thought you might need a snack while you’re… working on that thing of yours.”

Leonold nods, extending a hand. “Friends?”

He pauses, looking at the blanket. “I think I’ll keep this one for the next experiment.” He tucks it under his arm, ready for whatever the next day holds.