Tumbler will check her dead drop voice mail to see if she got anything from the Magpie about her inquiry about the lamp before attending. She is fine with the whole secret lair shtick, riding along in the car while listening to music in ear buds and flipping through photos of her beach day with Megan.
When she arrives, she walks in ready to contribute - and then stops dead as she looks at Arcana. "That is quite a statement you're making. Form over function is the idea?" She asks. "Just, how much magic are you even using to make sure nothing slips?"
The temperature in the Cap Cave was positively chilly and it dropped several degrees when Ziss arrived.
Carmen's arrival was just in time. Arcana smiles excitedly at her question about her new look. "Quite a lot of magic, actually." She glides across the floor in her sparkling heels, though they barely touch the floor, and stands poised in front of Tumbler.
She runs her fingers across her chest to display the fact that the fabric doesn't budge. "It's not even real fabric, see? A hurricane couldn't blow this off me, since it's made of the same stuff that is me. Essentially."
Behind her, Arcanum face palms.
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086-732 arrives shortly after everyone else lurching out of the beefy box van style vehicle that was sent by the barbs. Shaking her head causing her mane to ruffle from side to side and puff out a bit before she strategically pushed it back down and seated her helmet.
Joining the group she notices that Kalilah is wearing basically nothing and frowns as best her bestial features can allow, turning to more of a scowling i'm gonna bite your face off rather than a simple upset feline.
"I believe I have made my point clear on you Terrans and your unappealing and dysfunctional choice in battle attire. But this barely even qualifies as under garments let alone battle raiment." She snorts loudly at Kalilah and quickly pushes past, to stand with the main group and await the arrival and official beginning of the meeting.
Megan gives a shrug at Fuzzbutt's grousing. "She's using magic to protect herself anyways. My whole battle singlet thing is more about style than protection anyways."
Arcana's eyes glow blue and she rises up several feet off the ground. Her hair and the trails of gossamer fabric whip around her in dramatic fashion. More bluish energy crackles around her. She gives CT a nod in agreement.
"I'm the party mage; I don't wear armor. I stay in the back. If they ignore you to come after me, you pummel them. If they focus on you, I get to ruin their day."
Wesley groans. Arcana gives him the sideye, then floats over to stand slightly behind Wendy.
|
|
86 simply shakes her head again.
"Not sure what that role is, but given your description I shall assume something like a long ranged fire support. But your other half seems to be against the idea."
She then looks to Megan, "Perhaps, but your attire covers you from the elements. And can be augmented with additional dermal plating, the same cannot be said for..." 86 motions to Arcana with a grasper, "That."
"Good morning, Derby, Arcana and Arcanum." She answers, though in a very professional way. She retrieves her kitsune mask. "I'd prefer to keep my feelings private, please. From now on, please, use my hero name when on a team meeting or during a mission." She adds before putting it on to cover her face.
---
As the others arrive, Ziss waves and greets them, using their hero names when possible.
Arcanum looks hurt at Ziss -- er, White Fox -- when she doesn't engage except with the most standoffish of greetings. He doesn't respond, just stays shrouded in his hooded cloak.
When 86 comments that he disapproves of Arcana's look, he shakes his head. "It's not the level of protection I'm worried about. It's the comment sections after we go out in public in that."
Wendy had seen her do the thing with the mask before. Hero name? But it’s Ziss… only Ziss.
”Sure thing, White Fox.” The name does not roll off the tongue. To be fair, neither does Darling Derby. ‘CT’ was quick to run with ‘Derbs,’ which Wendy had appreciated far more than she would ever admit aloud. Her naïve hope that CT would come up with a nickname for ‘White Fox’ is instantaneously dashed by the realization she already calls her ‘Li’l Ziss.’
Advice from Carmen and 86 are helpful. Wendy does not try to fix this.
”Well, thank you all for coming. This is the home of my Great-Grandfather, the Capped Crusader. Apologies for the lack of a signal here aside from the direct line to my holocomputer.”
Wendy leads the party further into the cave, toward her great grandfather’s underground mansion-slash-lair.
When 86 comments that he disapproves of Arcana's look, he shakes his head. "It's not the level of protection I'm worried about. It's the comment sections after we go out in public in that."
Tumbler scoffs. "Let's be real, there will be crude, obscene comments about Arcana and the rest of us regardless of what we wear. We could all dress up in medical scrubs or biohazard suits and the internet would still make those comments. It's a part of life filtering that out."
"But, that doesn't mean we should give any jerks a free show either. I'd still wear the cool cloak. Just let it billow out like the other magicians do when you're doing something awesome. Choose your moment to look like the badass font of magic you are." she advises Arcana.
"Anyways, we're not all in the lair of the Capped Crusader just to comment on fashion choices. So..." She follows Wendy, looking around for anything of interest here.
”Mmm… yeah. My favorite was a ‘Darling Derrière’ comment under one of my bikini photos. Y’know, that time we were at the beach?” No one saw that because ”Barbs deleted that one. And several others.”
She does not tell her girlfriend how to dress, but does mention, ”My great-grandfather might greet us if we’re lucky.”
Arcana looks around at the eyes on her, and starts to shift her stance uncomfortably. She looks somewhat defensive, tossing her hair over her shoulder and trying to find a place for her hands to go. She can't quite decide whether to fold her arms or put her hands on her hips.
"Fine." A light blue cloak quickly envelops her and shrouds her form, though it's still gauzy and offers a hint of the figure within.
Wendy offers Kalilah her hand. She gives an encouraging smile.
”Don’t let it get you down… some of your powers are beautiful, but in a way that’s best just for us. Like the amazing skate-run that followed your sorceress guises… and what followed the skate run that night!”
She doesn’t mind her girlfriend stealing the thunder of her own costume-reveal. I wonder if anyone even noticed at all.
Ziss keeps herself out of the discussion about Arcana's clothes, or effectively lack of, and if she noticed Wendy's new costume, she doesn't say a word about it as well.
"Well, everyone is here. Can we start our meeting?"
Wendy continues to a stonework archway built into the natural wall. She opens a bronze-and-mahogany double door. Even Tyr-Gal would find there is abundant headroom.
Inside is a grand hall. Everything not-natural-stone is white marble, gold, fire, mirrors and mahogany. Two Fembots in black maid outfits open one pair of doors. (There are many.) This room is hues of burgundy, well-furnished, has books, a fireplace, Fembots with teapots, and a 120” flatscreen that looks out of place, especially with several color-coded wires which resemble an unraveling rainbow-brain. The wires converge into a pipe that is obviously a recent (and likely temporary) addition to the Burgundy Room.
Wendy starts, ”My family is here, but given the dire situation, I want to start now, as Zi… White Fox requested.
“One of our own is in grace danger. We all have varying degrees of feelings on what happened and to whom, none of which are relevant. I state this only to emphasize: whether a mission is personal or not, the goal is always the success of the mission.
“In this we are fortunate. The goal is obvious: get the lamp. More specifically, get the lamp in Kalilah’s hands. That’s female-Wes.
“86 has done some amazing work at the base. Let’s take a look.”
The screen is on, and a Fembot gives 86 a control she can use to operate the holocomputer from where she is seated. (There is a chair designed for a person even bigger than her!)
As Wendy emphasizes that the lamp must return to Kalilah, not both her and Wes, she slightly looks at Wes, trying to notice how he feels and reacts to that.
Wesley's lips are drawn tight as Wendy prefaces the topic of the meeting. When she says the lamp needs to specifically return to Kalilah, his mouth twists in distaste, but he says nothing.
He briefly meets White Fox's eyes, then looks back to the computer display.
|
|
A bit of time has passed since 86 finished her work on the program for the holocomputer that she was tasked with before immediately getting to work to renovating the base to include a personal workshop.
She invites Wendy to the base both to show her the progress as well as to have her private meet-up with the team's fearless leader.
Wendy skates over in her new outfit.
Image
”Love what you’ve done with the place, 86.”
In one corner is a sectioned off part of the base that 86 has been very protective of over the course of the last few days... weeks? Even the barbs have been quarantined from this section of the base. On the other side is a moderately sized nano-forge that looks to be printing something when Wendy enters. 86 is standing nearby outside of her armor and in a simple printed cloth-like material that reminds one of a simple old earth long tunic
"Ah Wendy-Red your relaxation attire I suspect? I have simply made this a more viable workshop. A vehicle and heavy equipment bay." She motioned to the cordoned off area
"A forge of sufficient size for our requirements that took the longest to set up... moving from one size to another by building the parts individually. And feeding the old into the new and so forth."
one might wonder how this is all actually powered.
Of the outfit: ”It’s actually safety equipment I can use on missions.
“Red because you call me Wendy-Red and… I kinda like it.” She’s quick to add, ”I’m still officially the Darling Derby.”
One the equipment: How does she power…? I should ask aloud, make sure my aunt won’t freak over our utility bill.
”So… is this energy-efficient? Advanced civilization, so I imagine tech generally is.”
By ‘imagine’ she means ‘hope.’
She nods
"Efficient yes, we have lived without the benefit of planetary bodies for eons. As such our power harnessing and refinement is quite advanced. I had to utilize the bases generator to power the smaller forges. But eventually had a forge large enough to construct my own micro zero-point reactor. It is housed in a secret location. As i am aware that your kind has not discovered this technology. I have set up contingencies so it should not fail even if the base comes under attack. Just as well I have refitted the capacitors of the base to facilitate the excess off-energy."
Listening close Wendy might hear a very faint hum in the walls. But to accomplish all this in such a short time even from an advanced civilization with little access to resources or time to sleep...
"I will do my best to refer to you as such Dareing Derby."
"I have not yet built any cloning pods to begin food production. I also do not know any long-term viable subjects on your planet to use."
The food bill was ridiculously high these past few weeks
”It’s okay if you prefer Wendy-Re…
“Cl… cloning?”
She nodded not seeing any concern but hearing it in Wendy's voice
"Is there an issue with replicating food stores?"
Wendy isn’t sure. ”Replicating food is fine. As long as you’re not creating… life, I guess, technically?
“It’s controversial… could land me in juvi, end my superhero career, and lead to my family being under investigation.”
She doesn’t bother including any opinion she may or may not have.
"You worry that I will make something dangerous?"
Shaking her head she holds her graspers up
"I assure you I have not the knowledge yo do more than basic protein reconstruction. I am not a Biologos. I do not have the training to recreate a fully functional embryonic chambers. Nor the requisite knowledge of gene editing."
She lets out a deep purring laugh to accent the point. Almost immediately afterwards the Nano-forge produces a whining tone. Causing 86 to approach it
"Ah finally."
Wendy nods. ”That explanation will do, 86. But if you want anything from Cups & Capes, my family can afford your appetite—especially if you’ve improved the energy efficiency in the base!”
Wendy doesn’t get huggy, but she moves close to the big kitty.
”It’s not just the superior tech, which will really help us get that lamp back. I think I’m very lucky I found you.
“Consider this base your home. We can fit an appropriate bed and whatever cleaning facilities you need.”
86 bends down to lift a large piece from the forge and turns it in her hands as she inspects it. It must be far lighter than it looks considering it spans most of her torso
"Ah I... hmm thank you for the offer Wendy-red. Though Carmen-tumbler has already provided me with a domicile. You also do not know my diet exactly. Come."
She hefts the piece over her shoulder keeping it aloft and balanced with both of her larger arms as she walks towards the maintenance area
"I have not done sufficient research on your planet, but I am aware that I require certain nutrition that you do not. I have seen that you and many beings on your planet have red blood. A sign of high iron content correct? You have no doubt been witness to my own, i need a high source of Vanadium in my diet and too much iron may be toxic. With the little research I have discovered a creature that I will require in vast quantities to sustain my diet."
She expertly places herself between Wendy and the passcode punching in a series of sigils and then scanning her wrist device before it opens to a surprisingly large futuristic machining shop. Lights hang suspended on the sides of the room illuminating it quite well even for Wendy. A pair of suspension harnesses are off to one side holding 86's armor as well as the skeleton of a second set. The centerpiece of the room is a much larger suspension lift the complexity of which again causes one to wonder just how industrious 86 is when she has a goal in mind. Upon it sits a heavily modified version of the van that Wendy had given her. The entire frame is almost another half bigger and covered in armor plating
86 ushers Wendy in before the door closes and locks again and then moves to stand under the vehicle lifting the component into the underbelly of the beast
"I do hope that my assistance has been... adequate to you. It would be a great honor to prove myself away from my pack."
”S##% - just - got - holy.”
Wendy reflexively checks the corner of her lip for drool.
”I mean… sweet ride. Or ‘wow’ would’ve sufficed.”
Regaining her composure, maybe, Wendy suggests, ”We could conduct the rest of this meeting in that vehicle.”
86 is currently under the vehicle hooking the component in and looks over all four of her hands busy. Her eyes tilt a bit along with her ears
"It is not quite complete... though spacious enough for us. I made sure of that. It is not much given the limited time I had to work however. I need to finish installing this, stabilization bracket first.
She worked away at it for a few minutes pulling tools from under the rig which she seems to have left there before hand
”Ah, no need to rush on my account. Too bad it’s not something you can take to the meeting tomorrow.
“I’ll send a car. A spacious one for you.”
As for all of 86’s hard work on locating the lamp, she says, ”RoboBarbie and Barbs will allow you to access the holocomputer remotely from the venue.”
Looking over to Wendy again she hummed
"Wendy-red, does this mean the location has been chosen? I will try to complete my work by then."
With a final twist of the tool in hand she steps out from under the vehicle towards her
"You carry something with you pack-leader.."
She rubs the greasy substance from the vehicle on her vestments and approaches Wendy
"Speak here it is secure even from your prying eyes."
Wendy assures 86, ”The venue is chosen. I just want to be there before I make the announcement… in case I gotta go with Plan B.”
Carry something?
”What do you think I’m carrying?” Wendy asks. ”I’m interested in your perspective, if you don’t mind sharing your thought.”
She leans close giving Wendy a big snorf before standing back up, she points to an errant box
"Go, we can discuss there."
Wendy goes, not quite sure why so secretive. But 86 has a strong sense of honor, and she knows her heart is in the right place.
Following Wendy over 86 stands not deeming it fitting for her to squat just to be down to Wendy's level, that would be uncouth of her especially in such clothing
"I do not know... Terran emotions, so it is hard to say what it is you carry. But I can see it in your eyes, even if they are not the same as mine. I know it will grow heavy, such is the mantle of leadership. Lean upon your pack for their strength as much as their imp... no... ema..."
She struggles through several more attempts of the word before shaking her head
"You understand."
(yeesh 3 on the comfort)
Wendy says, ”I’ve lost Ziss. We were like sisters, and now she’s upset with me. I know why, I think…”
86 nods and speaks
"Continue with thoughts."
”Okay. Just understand… this isn’t anything against Ziss. I don’t like to speak about others. I like to speak to them.”
She sighs. She’s frustrated. And Carmen did mention 86 and Ziss are both from different worlds. Different from each other too, but…
”Ziss once told me, while I was unattached, romantically, that she might like girls. I found her beautiful… I had this policy not to get romantically involved with a team member because I would cease to be impartial. And besides, she said ’might.’ I wasn’t about to take advantage of her uncertainty.
“So… nothing came of that. Then Wes became Kalilah and.. a lot happened. We grew close, though with no thought of romance… so it seemed. Then she expressed her interest, and I said to hell with my policy.
“Ziss confessed her feelings for me a couple days after Kalilah and I began our relationship. What’s worse about the timing: Ziss changed her body—hoping to be more desirable.”
In the interest of not making a long story endless, Wendy wraps up with, ”Ziss and I have been drifting apart since, and it was so gradual… I didn’t really see how hurt she was.”
86 listens quietly arms folded and tail gently swishing behind her
"That is much Wendy-Red, much for you to hold onto. There is a reason that my people keep ourselves from forming such bonds in our first ship. We are packmates nothing more, though that is not all one might ever be. I will not set you to the same standard as myself in that regard. Have you expressed your sorrow to Siss? She was worried about your matron absorbing her into your pack without her consent before and I advised her to seek knowledge before pouncing on ill prey."
She let out a great sigh
"You and yours would be my second pack, meaning acceptable to form such bonds. However there is the obvious dissonance that I am not one of your species. Though Crimson-Megan's anatomy does encourage questions as to the malleable nature of the human gene with cross-species hybrids. It would be... unwise for me to see any of you in such a way. Though I respect you all we have not known each other for a significant time and I understand that one day I must leave to continue our mission."
The word ‘sorry’ his Wendy hard. She needs to breathe.
She doesn’t want to cry.
She doesn’t.
Breathe.
”Yes,” she replies, ”but only in a text. I wanted to meet in person, talk, about just that… she doesn’t want to talk to me.
“I honestly don’t see how we can function as a team with the communication broken.”
Her eyes narrow, ”And wait. What’s this about my matron?“
Watching Wendy deeply 86 kneels down in front of her, which helps with the height disparity significantly.
"She was worried, felt she had not been consulted in becoming your batch sister. Not wanting to have your matriarch as her own if she thought the same as you. I advised her to seek out your matriarch and find the answers first before making a decision especially with a heart stoked with fire-blood. I advise you to do the same, do not go blindly into a fight of words. But go openly, seek peace not war, she may say things that will wound you. You must let them pierce your mind's armor and feel the pain she feels. Embrace it and Siss. You are packmates, bonded sisters even."
86 moves to place a reassuring hand on Wend but hesitates remembering what Carmen had said.
"You cannot force her to stay, but that does not mean you should let her leave without keeping your hearts clear."
Wendy thinks she understands.
”I called her ‘sister’ and she used to like it. But legally, she was a house guest.”
Wendy has kind of a defeated look.
”Yeah… wounds. You know if you take enough hits, the wounds don’t hurt anymore.”
"They still hurt. You just get better at pushing it down. They are not the same. If you do not let them heal the oldest are what will fester and kill you."
She stands back up and gives Wendy her space back, not that she was invasive in her presence initially
”Maybe she is just pushing it down then.”
Wendy looks up at 86.
”Thanks. I still have no idea how to reach her. And unfortunately, we won’t get the lamp back by focusing on all the personal connections.”
Satisfied with the meeting, she asks, ”Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?”
She lets Wendy have her space for her little-revelation. Tilting her head a bit as she's asked if there is more.
"Much more, always questions about your culture and people. But none that are important at the moment. No need to visit before the team meeting."
She looks away to her work, and exhales loudly through her nose slightly mulling several things in her mind
Wendy notes the loud exhalation and says, ”Why not just one ‘unimportant’ question?
“You know, when Carmen picks a meeting place, she has me change into a different outfit or have my nails done.” Wendy shows her azure nails with little white and pale yellow stars on them. ”I feel like I know her better when we do fun things and don’t dwell on all work-related stuff.
“You can ask anything. If it’s embarrassing, I’ll answer awkwardly.”
There is an obvious pause in thought and 86's tail slaps the ground and then her leg a few times, as her top ears pin back slightly
"I don't... I don't get what the point of all the dressing up is. There is no celebration or ceremony in it. And it is confusing to me. Perhaps it is because I am Vat born and was trained for our unending war. But it confuses me, as if all Terrans are constantly looking for the next potential mate or showing up for an award ceremony only they know about."
Wendy says of her own outfit, ”I’m definitely making a fashion statement now… and I’m definitely would not attract a mate wearing a cherry-red helmet.
“But sometimes you dress up for a loved one, sometimes for yourself, and sometimes you experiment because you look in the mirror and say ‘this again?’
“There are occasions you dress for specifically. Maybe in a few years, I’ll wear a white gown and walk down the aisle where, at the other end, Wes awaits in a black tuxedo.
“And definitely… my great-grandfather will pass. I’ll wear a modest black dress for him.”
She’s happy to further explain the wedding and the funeral in as much or as little detail as 86 cares to hear. And if she asks why the wedding would be to male Wes, Wendy is mentally prepared to answer.
…IF she asks.
86 studies Wendy's outfit again and offers a shrug, she knows best afterall.
"Doing something that's not for the betterment of your species though? What is the significance of a white gown? It would only get dirty easily. I also do not understand the significance of a Tuks-ee-doh? Black seems a much cleaner color for all things however it does not show stains or blood."
Her own drab attire is a bland gray with no patterning at all
Wendy blushes.
”Well… the significance is” a pretty little fib ”that I have not yet” technically truthfully ”done anything for the betterment of my species… but I will after Wes and I marry.
“It’s early in our relationship… and there is the possibility that something will go wrong. But… I would rather Wes-Kalilah consciously break my heart of their own free will, not magical compulsion or worse: enslavement.”
Wendy feels like saying that takes a load off. And it also makes her think how this kind of love can be sisterly.
”Do you have a ceremony for mating? I know… vats, clones, but… if not for the rule, mating with a male would possibly impregnate you.” Minding boundaries, she adds, ”I mean, the royal ‘you.’ Generally speaking, there’s a natural, bedroom-instead-of-lab method…
“Is there a ceremony for that?”
86's ears pull back again and all four of her eyes try to find something else to look at immediately before her confidence resurges and she puffs out her barrel-like chest, clearing her throat
"Ah well of course. I'm vat-born of course but that does not mean I do not possess the necessary biological parts for breeding. We have Matriarchs and Patriarchs so I figured that would be obvious."
Stalling for time while her brilliant mind caught up again she padded about a bit
"We choose based off merit and well the bonds formed both aboard and abroad our home. That is part of why it is quite important to earn oneself a great name by deed, that would ensure that you are more likely to find a reputable partner. You could be chosen to be the next progenitor of a batch or a natural breeder. Due to where my designation falls in my line it is unlikely that I will be picked to replace the 086 genome."
Wendy smiles at 86.
”If I let my place in my line define me, my invulnerable cousin would be leading Bay City’s best teen heroes.
“Don’t let anyone underestimate you, 86… especially yourself.”
Wendy gives the big kitty a pat on the back, and takes a step toward the exit.
She doesn't retract when Wendy pats her assuming it is some Terran gesture.
"Wendy-Red.. I have one more 'unimportant' question."
She let Wendy move to the door keying the sequence for it to open on her wrist device, so it whirred open.
"Why do you all shorten my designation to my gene-donor instead of my full sequence? Or call me Fuzz Butt?"
Wendy comes closer. (She wasn’t in a hurry to leave, but thought 86 wanted to get back to work.)
”Both are terms of endearment. Like… nobody calls me the Darling Derby, but CT called me ‘Derbs,’ and I like that as much as I like how you call me ‘Wendy-Red.’
“Fuzz Butt may not sound so esteemed, but there’s real respect behind that name.” Wendy assures her, ”I’ll stick to 86 though.”
86 wasn't sure about that answer but without something more substantial to go off of she can't disagree.
"Hmmm thank you for your talk Wendy-Red. I should... let you return to your tasks as leader."
She looks like she wants to turn and take a seat to contemplate things but also doesn't want to just shoo Wendy out.
”Later, 86!”
Wendy heads out, feeling lighter.
86 waits until Wendy leaves, keys the door to close and sits on the errant crate for a while with her own thoughts
Strutting through the facility towards the actual meeting area 86 is surprised by the audacious stonework and figures this must be some location of importance to Wendy. The thought is further proven by her personal reverence of the place and how she speaks that her entire family-pack will be present. When the reins of the conversation are passed over to the Treznak she stands quietly for a few moments before realizing it was her turn for action.
Pressing a few keys on the device she is given it brings up a map of the district of Bay city that the coffee shop is located. "Uh.. Greetings. The scan is based from the site of the holoterminal that Wendy-Red provided me with to alter. After taking scans of Kalilah's unique energy signature I was able to create an algorithm that could specify the limited scanners around your star that should have been able to pick up residual energy of the same kind. As you can see there are many trails of the energy present here. Likely from wherever great expenditures have been used thus soaking the locations in said energy.
Several locations blink into existence and pulse lightly against the now widened map of Bay city. "I was able to then further refine the search and scrub away minor or old traces of the energy which helped to define more prominent uses of power. Which should help us locate the vessel."
The map would continue to zoom out but the fainter traces of energy would dissipate into nothing until only a handful remained, likely where actual Wishes were made. She nods back to Wendy.
Ziss gives Wes a very small, almost imperceptible nod as their eyes meet, taking care to do so only when neither Wendy nor Kalilah were looking at her.
What Wendy sees and doesn’t see is difficult to determine, given how she faces her audience when presenting and is wearing rose-tinted glasses.
However, the expression on her face is one of hope as 86 narrows locations.
”Okay… not down to one location, but a handful. So do we split into pairs, or find a systematic route and stick together, or delve into each ping to determine likelihood?”
"Oh, it's at Frosty's Fun Putt Hut," Tumbler confirms as she points to one of the signals. "It's a front for the Friends of the Circle, an eco-terrorist group. Financed by the Snowman, who acquired the lamp for them. Couldn't pin which group he gave it to until now," She tells them with a heavy sigh.
"It also has to be the one lead by one of my evil exes. That really sucks."
Wendy looks at which signals lead to potential storage areas or hidey-holes… and Carmen’s pick is a winner in her eye. The other spots are more for moving and exchanging.
”As much as I’d like you to turn that prick into a pile of coins… movie reference. Not condoning bizarre violence.
“…what’s the play, Carmen? Can your ex be reasoned with? Are we trying to be subtle? I’m thinking skates and a cherry-red helmet’s a bad play, so maybe I’ll stick to my classic look. I brought my Hatarang derby just in case.”
She doesn’t mention it was just in case her family disapproved of the roller derby aesthetic.
Arcana speaks up. "Is there any way to know if they're aware of what they've got? I mean, it looks like a genie's lamp. But you never know. There's always the chance they think it's nothing but a curiosity."
”I’m worried about that myself,” Wendy says, ”It goes without saying that anyone who knows the lamp can affect your will, and would take advantage, is a complete scum bag.
“But someone ignorant could just say the word… and… I suppose they haven’t yet.”
Wendy sits at Kalilah’s side. ”You would know, right?”
Arcana shrugs her shoulders. "I don't actually know. If they rubbed it and deliberately made a wish? Probably. Just saying the 'w'-word around it... I don't think so."
”So accidental slips don’t do the trick? Still keeping the word outta my vocabulary, but any other rules?—like can’t kill, can’t make people fall in love, and… what’s the other one Robin Williams said? ’Ixnay on the’—oh, can’t w- for more w-‘s.” Wendy wonders if there’s a three-per-person limit, come to think of it.
Arcana shakes her head. "Wishes around me, even casual ones--" she stops herself from looking around-- "will trigger. If I'm not around to hear them, then no. I think. Rubbing the lamp gets my attention. Well, more than that. Rubbing the lamp plus a wish is about as strong as it'll get with me."
She glances to the others, but avoids looking at Wesley. "The Aladdin rules are... I don't know. There's not the three-wish limit that I'm aware of. That's probably the stuff of stories. And it wasn't killing that was a no-no. It was bringing back the dead.
"That's also the big twist for the monkey's paw."
Wendy takes all that in—
”Possibly, said the w- word, nothing happened, laughed it off and…”
She looks at Wes, at Kalilah, ponders… ”Can Wes safely hear the word? Kalilah, you said mages stay in the back. Can you then be safely deafened?—rely on your eyes, on Wes to point you to danger that he hears?
“Or if him-hearing is you-hearing, there’s always Barbs.” She calls back to the tune in the wall. ”Ya back there, Barbs?”
There’s a light clunking along the pipe behind the flatscreen. Barbs crawls out of the pipe, stands before Wendy, and replies with a small nod.
With Arcana mentioning "rubbing the lamp", but skirting around the full explanation, Ziss frowns. "Arcana, don't you believe you should explain to everyone de difference between rubbing de lamp and tapping it?"
"From what I understood, if you are forced to please de person who rubbed de lamp, do you believe you could be forced to fight us?" She asks, oblivious that Wendy has rubbed the lamp and that others have likely seen it.
Wendy mutters, ”Taking that as yes.”
Her question asked, she faces Kalilah. She doesn’t bother to correct Ziss about what rubbing the lamp actually did.
She lets Kalilah decide what to say of the rubbing.
Arcana hugs her shoulders tightly. "Tapping the lamp is like ringing a bell. I hear it, but that's about it. If someone rubs the lamp, it's different. I'll become... 'attuned' is probably the best word. To them. If that happens, I don't know if me just plugging my ears will help much."
She looks over to Arcanum, who is sitting back with his own arms folded across his chest. "I've never been two people before. I don't know how that'll affect me."
A measure of impatience crosses Arcana's features. "Look. As long as the Curator doesn't have the lamp, I should be okay. Whoever's got a hold of it, hopefully they won't know what they've got and won't try to use it."
Kalilah’s assurance is a good place to move on. ”Right, likely they don’t. If they did, they’d have used it.
“So the trick is not to do anything to give the evil ex any funny ideas.” Wendy looks at Carmen… she maybe grins just a little. ”Not gonna lie. I’m intrigued, but it’s necessary to go into this informed.
“So… details? Does your ex have a record? Maybe Barbs can get a visual onscreen.”
Tumbler sighs before she slips an SD card out of what appears to be a hidden pocket on her boot, sliding it into her phone and then showing everyone a photo gallery. It's of a younger Tumbler, probably over a year ago, with another teen seated in her lap and grinning at the camera. They have long green hair that hangs shaggy in front of their eyes and dark brown skin, wearing a green tunic and shorts.
"So that's Thorn. They're the leader of the FOTC currently. Mostly because they're the only member with some experience on a team. Our former team, the Black Sheep," She explains. "Anyways, if the Snowman supplied them with the lamp, it's probably because he knew it had some application, though I think they probably don't know how it actually works. Thorn's got big ideas but isn't great on the details. I think it's probably got to do with messing with Mercury Petroleum though."
She looks at the team. "Last time we chatted they were still pretty pissed off by that oil spill the company was at fault for off Ferris Island. They kept saying how they'd like to dip the CEOs into the waters and rub their faces in their mess. But they're unlikely to make a wish that might cause collateral damage to the ecosystem, so they're probably figuring out how to word their wish - and probably assuming there will be only one," She suggests.
"But, yeah, still probably shouldn't let them keep it. They might pass it off to one of my other exes and that would be much worse."
"Huh. I guess dating within villainous team-ups would be even more likely to go sour past their expiration date."
Megan muses for a moment. "We don't have to try really hard to save the oil CEOs, right?"
Wendy says, ”Ha ha,” which she literally just says. ”Good one, CT. Of course we will ensure that lives our saved. However noble a cause, these are still people setting out to hurt people, and the lamp is their eco-friendly nuke. But I don’t have to tell you which side we’re on or how gently or roughly you act to complete the mission.”
Hoping this isn’t about to be made into a big to-do that will arouse suspicion from her family, she goes on, ”Speaking of complete, I think we’re close to wrapping up here.” She turns to a fembot. ”Sorry we started without you… but didn’t I tell you we’re efficient?
“Okay. Summary of so far—
“Goal: get the lamp.
Location: Frosty’s Fun Putt Hut.
Person of Interest: Thorn ..aww.”
Wendy can’t help herself. The lap photo is cute.
What’s not cute are the ”Known Risks: Kalilah’s will; Wes’ existence.” She makes eye-contact with Wes. The tinted glasses come off. She hopes he understands that ”You’re one of us.”
She goes on, ”Another risk that endangers the mission is finger-pointing crowds. If we want to do this in broad daylight, I’m thinking those of us who can blend in with the normies should. Carmen’s appearance will make our intentions obvious, but I’m not suggesting a disguise. Maybe there’s an advantage to being recognized when the time comes.
“Carmen, how do you want to play it when we confront your ex? Everything’s dynamic, improv’s in our collective toolbox.. but you know Thorn best.”
Wesley raises his hand. "This is... way better than what I'd thought we'd be facing. Tumbler, what if we just asked Thorn for the lamp? Maybe in exchange for helping them do some good? There's got to be some common ground, right? If we help them expose some sort of environmental issue, something like that?"
Wendy makes it a point to be close to a fembot (camera) as she backs Wes. ”If we give them something they can use to stick it to polluters without doing anything harmful or destructive, could be a win for everyone.”
"Well..." Tumbler crosses her arms. "The thing is that Thorn's a sweetheart, but they won't accept anything but their definition of justice on these perpetrators. To them, they're the hero taking down evil, even though they're also breaking the law and hurting other people in the process. I could never get them to take a step back to reassess their methods. So I ended things with Thorn." She looks down at the ground as she says this.
"I could probably talk to them. It would be really awkward. But it's not impossible that they could be convinced to give it back. They will just want something in return."
Wendy throws out a question mostly to Wes and Kalilah: ”Any chance the Curator is a big polluter?”
Archaeology seems environmentally friendly enough, but given the lengths the professor will go to get what he’s after…
Wes shakes his head. "He's an old white dude culturally appropriating a bunch of artifacts, so that might put him on their radar if they're looking to branch out into fighting other injustices, but I don't think he pollutes any more than your typical citizen.
"The museum stopped using Styrofoam in the cafeteria."
Ziss notices how Arcana used the vague word "attune" instead of the lengthier explanation Wes once gave to her... she doesn't mention that she'll become perfect for them and that their happiness would be her priority.
As the conversation progresses, Ziss remains quite for the most part. She came here with the intention to force her idea of changing leadership to someone else than Wendy, but since the others apparently weren't worried about it, she decided to remain silent about the issue.
As Tumbler explained more about Thorn and taking in consideration Wendy had said the word "eco-friendly nuke", she takes an old book from her backpack. "Unless she knows what de lamp can really do."
Ziss approaches the group, opening the book in a page with a big picture of a cracked square vessel. It is clearly metallic, though it is bluish in color with orange gemstones adorning it. There are also many runes around it. "Arcana, Arcanum, please take a good look at de runes on dis fing..." Ziss had not held the lamp for much time, but even she could recognize a couple runes that were both on the objects.
The book's alphabet is alien to the others, but Ziss seems capable of reading it. "Dis fing is called de Bottle of Nar-Narin, but also den it became known also as de Doom of Muc."
"Dis book was written in Thagir, the language of Tharis, but it describes a magic object from de world of Muc. I'll read a passage here... De bottle was believed to house a Marugg inside capable of making any desire of its owner real..." She then looks at Wes and Kalilah. "It is believed dat dis bottle was what caused everyone in Muc to disappear... well, almost everyone, since a single person was found wif it and a diary retelling how she willed every 'unbeliever' to disappear from Muc, and how she regretted 'willing de ultimate will'... whatever it is."
Arcana leans in to study the picture while Arcanum leans over her shoulder. "I recognize those glyphs," she says softly.
She stands up, a little more pale than before while Arcanum takes her place looking at the book closely. "Okay, I could be an extinction event. That's good to know. But, I'm not at full power yet. Like, I couldn't rewind time; I just messed up my memories. If Thorn and crew try to make a global wish, I shouldn't be able to pull it off."
”Wow… thanks m, Ziss.”
She takes in the weight of Kalilah’s phrase: extinction event.
”Maybe reasoning with Thorn’s likely with this knowledge… that w-’s can have a Monkey’s Paw effect. You can’t avoid collateral damage with magic you don’t understand.
“We still need something to offer up though, since Curator’s an asshoIe, but a green asshoIe.”
Arcana begins pacing back and forth, wringing her hands. "I should've been buried in the sands on Askara. I wouldn't be a threat there. It's just eternity. No biggie."
Wesley stands up straight after studying the book. "It depends on how big the 'terror' part of eco-terrorist is with them. If they really knew what they have, would they hold the world for ransom or try to 'fix' things?"
Wendy is immediately at her side, ”Definitely not. No matter how powerful you can become, it’s our job as your friends—your team—that you maintain your free will.”
Wendy does not address Ziss’ insistence that rubbing the lamp forces Kalilah. I’m no slave driver. She’s too spiteful to believe me.
And as an aside, not caring who overhears her, Wendy adds, ”You remember what I told you about my past. This—wanting to be buried forever—not the same path, but a parallel road.”
Kalilah rests her head on Wendy's shoulder. "It's not wanting. It's... choosing. To do something that keeps all of you -- and the world -- safe. It's not something I would seek out, but if it came to it..."
She straightens, looking Derby in the eyes. "You could respect that choice, couldn't you?"
Wendy replies, ”It’s the unthinkable. It’s worse than Hell because even Hell has company.
“It’s not that I wouldn’t respect the choice… but if you can do something that extreme, then you’re still capable of other methods that don’t eternally damn yourself to eternal isolation.”