Vic: how was your weekend?
Alex: nothing special. Went up in the mountains. Did some moose hunting. Friend got in trouble with the cops, so I showed up for support. How about you?
Vic: (flashing back to ghost-hunting in Shanghai) visited an old museum, learned about some famous people from their artifacts, participated in some faith-based observances
Alex: back to the craziness that’s high school now, huh?
Vic: haha yeah
2 Likes
Mette: I’ve still got a date with Evan
Joey: Alex–
Alex: No more orbital death rays, we talked about this
2 Likes
Mette: I can make a root beer float
Evan: sounds delicious
Mette: (levitating root beer) I’m still fine-tuning my anti-gravity powers, so watch out for spills
2 Likes
Alex: double dating is good, but two-timing is bad
Alex: what’s up with that?
Teacher: Shelby, you’re not even supposed to be in detention. If you really want to stay, be quiet
2 Likes
Waters: debrief, agent
Alex: well, there’s literally no rock creature we know who’s on good terms with my team
2 Likes
Joey: Okay, so the HHL’s strongest member has been corrupted by the Great Adversary from Kiln’s past.
Alex: Yup.
Joey: And the HHL won’t be able to hold them for long.
Alex: Correct.
Joey: And the world is in danger, and Gothwitch is the monster’s first target, and Roddy’s probably wanted for trespassing and kidnapping, and the HHL is probably gunning for all of us right now, and Mette is freaking out and so is Kiln (though for different reasons).
Alex: Uh-huh.
Joey: And we missed out on the chicken tendies.
Alex: You got it.
Joey: Okay. I just wanted to be sure I was aware of all the aspects of the terrible situation we’re in.
Alex: You’re still in a super-gorilla body.
Joey: Goddammit.
2 Likes
Joey: (muttering to himself)
Roddy: is he okay?
Alex: he’s practicing his gloating about your Powertronic fanboying
Roddy: (patting Joey’s arm) thanks, glad to know I’m worth some effort
2 Likes
Joey: But, in all honesty, man, I’m sorry Powertronic turned out to be a gutless wonder.
Roddy: Yeah. It’s always a risk, putting a fallible human up on a pedestal. But it’s made my life simpler.
Joey: How so?
Roddy: Well now, instead of just being my best friend, you can be my idol, too!
Joey: Goddammit.
2 Likes
Waters: debrief, agent
Alex: well, there’s literally no rock creature we know who’s on good terms with my team
Kiln: Just because you destroyed her home and the only thing giving her purpose for thousands of years, doesn’t mean she hates all of us
2 Likes
Alex: have you thought about approaching Powertronic about some kinda sidekick deal?
Roddy: not really, why do you think that is a good idea?
Alex: you just seem like you could use a sidekick at this point, and he might be out of work soon
2 Likes
Roddy: Okay, that’s not fair. What kind of sidekick would you guys want?
Alex: Easy. A big burly combat machine who could either distract from what I’m doing, keep the oppo busy while I’m engaged in important stuff, or boost me up over a wall with actual precision.
Joey: Hey, I did apologize.
Alex: My abrasions accept.
2 Likes
Alex: What kind of sidekick would you want?
Joey: Someone spritely and wise, and funny, who could keep my mood up.
Roddy: Like me!
Joey: I would like to change my answer.
2 Likes
Kiln: A sidekick? Someone who could help anchor me in this present time. Someone who could teach me, and, in turn, whom I could teach.
Mette: That’s sweet.
Alex: Even profound.
Joey: Trying to think of a joke here.
Roddy: I … got nothing.
1 Like
Roddy: Mette?
Mette: On the ship, apprentices were assigned by an algorithm that took into account genetic miscibility, emotional engram classification, and psychological profile integration.
Alex: So did you have someone assigned to you?
Mette: Yes. He was a large man, with a thick beard, hairy arms … a kind man, if somewhat melancholy.
Joey: Ooooh …
Mette: I had him returned to the labor pool. We just weren’t compatible.
Joey. Oh …
2 Likes
Roddy: Well, if I were going to pick a sidekick, he’d be smart, noble, enthusiastic – the sort of person I could be best buddies with.
Kiln: Seems reasonable.
Roddy: Large, probably long hair and a beard, kind to others, but subject to great melancholy …
Joey: Goddammit.
2 Likes
Kiln: you can’t just take someone like Tahi out of her own comfort zone and expect her to just be okay with it
Kiln: people need time to adapt, and it’s stressful
Alex: is that why you’re eating all my tendies?
Kiln: (after another bite) yes!
1 Like
(Tahi is surrounded in the hallway)
Tahi: what’s this…?
Problem Child: we got a thing we do with new students around here
Seven-Year: students like you, in particular
Emma: (cracking knuckles) a very important thing
Poly-Anna: (grinning ominously) that nobody else must know about
Joey: basically, if you look weird, and anyone gives you grief about it, let one of us know and we’ll make that problem go away. You deserve to have a good educational experience and we’re gonna ensure it, by any means necessary
Tahi: uh, thank you
2 Likes
Joey: Y’know, after an experience like that, Gothwitch is going to be shaken.
Mette: Yes. She will need quiet support, an opportunity to recover.
Kiln: A period of contemplation, reflection, solitude.
Alex: Yeah, right now she probably just wants to curl up and –
Roddy: (on the comms) Hey, pizza party in Tiffani’s room, who’s in?
2 Likes
Roddy: So, Tiffani –
Gothwitch: Gothwitch.
Roddy: Yeah, but I want to talk to you, not your secret identity.
Gothwitch: I hate that name. An overpriced jewelry store chain associated cinematically with Audrey “Everyone Loves Her Because She Is So Cute and she shills for UNESCO” Hepburn. Meh. All it’s missing is a little heart over the “i” … which, point of fact, my mom used to put on my lunch bag for school.
Roddy: Huh. Yeah, that would be annoying.
Gothwitch: My secret identity name is mine. And, also, is dark, and cool, and awesome.
Roddy: But … secret identity. Especially since you also hate your full-on power –
Gothwitch: DO NOT SAY HER NAME.
Roddy: See? Which means, if everyone knows you socially and professionally as “Gothwitch,” you’ll have to deal with annoyances 24x7. People wanting help. Pollsters. Journalists.
Gothwitch: Yyyyeah, okay, that is extremely eyeroll. So … what do you suggest?
Roddy: How about … Tiff? It, like, fits in with your official record, but it’s more convenient and also implies a constant minor conflict against the world.
Gothwitch: That’s … not bad. It might even …
Roddy: Plus I think it’s kinda cool.
Tiff: Fine. For you, “Tiff.”
Roddy: Awesome!
Tiff: (Sigh) Also (looks at some apparently fascinating spot on the wall) … thanks.
1 Like
Police, about the Tomb Patrol: These children say they’re yours.
Hellbinder, out of pure habit and instinct: I have never seen them before in my life and I cannot be held responsible for anything they have done.
2 Likes