Angelica is an influential figure to several girls, more than a few boys, and even a couple of seniors. As far as anyone outside that circle knows, that these people listen to her is the only reason she’s a big deal. But what else is coolness, other than your peers voting with their attention?
Harry Gale has been thoroughly immune to her influence. Jason Quill is too wrapped up in his own world. But now there’s another member of a major Halcyon super-team at Gardner! And he just unmasked this weekend! Angelica couldn’t look at herself in the mirror if she didn’t take a shot. Well, she could still do with some mirror time, but her pride would be hurt.
She starts for the table where Leo Snow is sitting, all unaware. Her game face is on. Her hips have received their instructions and are carrying them out. There’s some people she’s never met around him. Probably other hopefuls, System 1 of her brain informs her. Some of those plebs from HHS, maybe. Go get him. System 2 is running frantically for her seat of consciousness with vital information, but won’t make it in time.
“Hi there. You must be Leo. I’m Angelica. I’d like to make your time at Gardner as pleasant as possible, so if there’s ever anything you need…”
System 2 arrives, panting, and delivers an update. Those two girls next to him? Pay attention to them. They’re twins. They’re sitting too close to him to be strangers. He’s not uncomfortable with it at all. They’re giving you their best “back off, bitch” faces. They’re really good at it.
The boy himself seems unaware of the daggers being glared at this interloper from the twin guards stationed at his flank. “Uh, thanks. Think I’m doing okay for now, but I’ll see you in class.”
Angelica wilts. Her most alluring smile turns into the polite look of someone who’s late for an appointment. “Great, then, yes, nice to meet you.”
----
Those girls are going to be a problem. But who are they? They came out of nowhere.
A few quick inquiries with some eager HHS freshmen, desperate to fit in at their new new school, tells her that they weren’t Halcyon High attendees after all. There was some talk of maybe someone else on the Menagerie, a girl nobody really knew much about? But not two girls.
Angelica repays their information with some party invitations and fashion tips. She may be top dog of her particular social order, but the entire group benefits if its members are more successful. Nobody wins if she’s selfish. Noblesse oblige.
There’s only one way to learn more: active listening. Spying, says a voice in her mind, and she brushes it off. Now, where did those two get to…?
----
Aria follows Summer into one of the locker rooms. It’s unused, and should be for awhile. There’s showers in here, and hence a lack of any surveillance.
“Alright. Show me this thing,” Aria says.
Summer grins and undocks herself from the carbon shell. The hologram flickers into life, and she stretches out. Her outer body stands motionless, and Aria feels a flicker of discomfort at the sight. She shifts her attention to the living light version of her sister instead.
“Right. So, servo maintenance.” Summer beings her presentation. “Steps. Get your tools, find a brace, detach the arm or leg, brace it, change tools, reattach, verify, reseal. 15 minutes per limb, 12 if you have everything laid out. Right?”
Aria nods along. The routine is familiar - she inspects her own body for damage after every battle, and re-tunes and re-tightens the nanoyarn muscles if necessary.
Summer grins widely. “Now with this little guy…” With holographic hands, she mimes using a separation tool on her arm, then detaching it, operating tools with both hands, and re-attaching. “4 minutes tops. No fumbling around. Pretty neat, huh?”
Aria whistles. “That is impressive.”
----
Angelica has found them. She glanced around the corner just long enough to see one of the twins patting her abdomen, then had to retreat before she was seen. She can still listen in. It’s just that what she hears is thoroughly confounding.
“So you and Jason made it together. Are you going to keep it?” one of them is asking. “Of course I am!” says the other.
“Leo was kind of upset at first, but I think he’s okay with it now.” The other’s voice weakens. "… hope so… "
“And what about Jason?” “Jason’s got a lot going on. He told me he loved me, but loves her too, so he’s gonna….”
“And he didn’t mind if you keep it?” “Oh, not at all. He was really awkward when I talked to him about it. But he’s been so much better about things lately.”
Angelica retreats, face pale. Just what the hell is going on with the Menagerie?
#Cutscene
#Soundtrack https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAFuD-S-e_E
author: Bill G.
url: https://app.roll20.net/forum/permalink/6152862
Jason would shoot Leo (and me) in the face, while Aria would send Alycia in pieces back to AEGIS.