Question To Seal our Happiness!

I hope those song lyrics are a sign of good things to come for Lanie and Tansy. Whoa, back at the Nalley home in Georgia with the parents, nice way to start. AWOL bag, interesting, wonder how many parents or students at Whateley use those. A letter from Lanie to her dad, and what she has to say to him in the letter, whoa. Hard to talk about subject, learned her work ethic from her father, not wanting him to see her cry, and ouch, ashamed because she thought bad people would use her to hurt her parents.

Any parent who wouldn't be proud of having a daughter like Lanie, a young woman who cares more about making them proud than her own feelings for so long, I don't think I could ever see her parents that way.

Ah had some long talks with Rev. Harris over the summer, and with our school chaplain, Rev Englund and with their help Ah can now see this is just how God made me. That there is nothing wrong with me and that in a way Ah was like Ruth and Naomi from the Bible in that mah ability to love was not restricted by gender. Ah don't know why, but Ah guess finding the answer to why is the real meaning of life, isn't it?

Rev Englund helped her figure that out as well, will wonders never cease.

Shakespeare quote, don't tell me Tansy's father is going to show up at Whateley for Parent's Day. Oops, wrong parents. Looks like Marty is worried about meeting Stephen's parents, poor girl. Interesting new details about the Dunwick Depot. Parents Express, nice little detail, always wonder how so many parents got to the school without driving themselves or going by plane. A shapeless black beret is part of the school uniform, first I remember hearing about that detail.

Ah, so that isn't the full boys uniform, another new detail. Rosalyn and Zoe with Marty for the girls part of Poe, good choices. Cute nicknames from Marty's parents, A court reporter and a police officer, cute couple. Insisting Roz and Zoe call him Mike, I like him. Hehe, guys from his precinct want to do something for Lanie for her invention of Kevra, I would too, need more inventions for safety and protection.

Mrs. Shugendo, bringing order to a potentially chaotic situation once more. Glad to see Mike likes Steve, Melville group herded off first and that is usual, Mechano Man, nice codename and in Twain. And Marty still hasn't seen Steve's parents yet, the poor girl is going to be a wreck until she gets it over with.

Yikes, Tansy seeing herself like that in her mind's eye, she needs some help to deal with these issues. 27 days and fifteen pounds lighter, I want the exercise regime Marissa Dawson is using. The senior uniform is drab, at least it is easy to notice.

While it was obvious there had been almost no cosmetic thought to the design of the weapon, the exactness of the machining, the dull pewter maker's medallion in the grip and the gleam of the anodized powder coat of deep tungsten blue gave it a menacing beauty.

So that is what a force pistol looks like, interesting.

“When I talked to Mr. Siegel about defending myself, he said it was actually easier for him to defend me if I used a gun than if I used my hands,” she said as she returned the battery to the weapon, holstered it, and raised her shirt to attach the holster to the bra she was wearing. When the shirt was tucked back in the pistol had vanished in her decolletage. “He said it was harder to convince a jury I would have been in fear of my safety if I beat the crap out of my attacker.”

Makes sense to me. Bwahahaha, a Flashbang holster built in a bra, that is one way to get an attacker off-guard. Whoa, her grandma and grandpa are coming, that is huge after her father basically cut them off from contact with Tansy when he mother was sent away.

Fredrick talking to Mrs. Carson.

“Indeed,” Lord Paramount returned as he needlessly straightened a nine hundred dollar silk tie. “If I were half the villain I am made out to be, I could easily abuse my position as a trustee of this school.”

Elizabeth felt her eyebrow ascend her forehead. “Really?” she demanded. “To what end, Fredrick?”

“Well,” he said reasonably, flashing his oh so charming smile. “If I were such a villain, as a Trustee, that makes me your boss. I could finally compel you to admit my term paper on Ethan Frome was in fact worthy of an 'A' and force you to change my grade.”

Bwahaha, now that is an abuse of power, changing his grade for a paper when he was a student. Love this argument between them, too funny.

Fredrick chuckled at his former teacher's entirely put on venom and held up his hands in defeat. “This is exactly why I am not a villain! Who has the courage to face down you?”

This part was perfect, showing how Mrs. Carson can show her sense of humor and go to being a professional in an instant.

Call Me Coffee in Melville cottage, only they would have a coffee shop in the dorm. Maria Contessa Elyssa Gomez y Ricardo, I keep forgetting how long her full name is, that is a mouthful. Ouch, unpleasant thoughts of her mother. Ouch, the girls she hooked up with besides Lanie reminded her of her stepfather and what he did to her.

And then Elaine Nalley had dumped a glass of sweet tea down the front of Freya's blouse.

Snapped out of thoughts of the past by the arrival of Donna Fiedler. Become quite friendly in their time together, sounds like they are already a couple, bonding over things shared.

Maria smiled. “You remind me of her sometimes. I was her first girlfriend and she got embarrassed very easily too.” Donna looked about furtively.

How Donna reacted, is it because they are a couple or fear of being outed. Donna encouraging her to hook up with Lanie, oh boy.

And now, the one human being that finally helped her see what love was about was the one human being absolutely off limits to her.

And that not being the worst of it, yikes. Wondering, thinking she was replaced by Tansy, not knowing how Tansy has changed and thinking she is still as she remembers her. Rebound affair, dang, I misread that whole situation with Donna, not dating. Yes! Maria made the first move and Donna is going on a date with her, hope this works out.

Harvey Calloway in Crystal Hall working over schematic sounds like his robot will be impressive. Oh boy, thinking of others as ants, that isn't good. Meds took yet a hard day as no family is coming to visit him, ouch. He is in need of counseling before it becomes too late.

Love how Tansy's inner nerd thinks her grandparents are like old school Hollywood movie stars.

The couple physically reminded her of Honore Prendergast and Don Ameche, she was still a svelte, honey gold blonde who had taken care of herself and even through her dignified, somewhat conservative dress it was obvious she had been a rare beauty in her day. Her face was still quite lovely with an open, inviting smile and the icy blue eyes Tansy recognized from her own reflection. He was a tall and dapper fellow with dark, oiled hair that was going gray and the fatherly handsome face of a former matinee idol who still had the swagger to sport a pencil thin mustache. He was wearing a tan, linen suit that was cut to his still dashing figure and managed to be humble despite probably costing as much as the car.

How Tansy's life would have changed if her grandparents had gotten custody of her after her father had her mother locked away.

Penelope and Daniel Dawson, love her grandma already, sweeping Tansy into a hug like that. His version of her team jersey, rich but down to earth, both of her grandparents. A stuffed horse made for Tansy all those years ago, dang. And it's based on Tango, wonderful gift. Love how he got a picture of Tango to have the stuffed horse made, crafty.

Wyatt studying on Parent's Day, intrigued and finds the subject of magic quite challenging, good to see him rise to the challenge. Parents thousands of miles away wonder if Tansy bought him a little gift and they are going to show up, I hope. 'Drawing Down the Moon' to light his well, interesting.

His mind had expanded as he began to truly understand how the world worked, the very rules that governed Creation and by that understanding, how to change it.

“Which,” Circe had remarked at the time, “is exactly what magic is: understanding the rules of the universe so that you can change it.”

Having to hold back the power with his discipline and force of Will, heavy.

The three teachers had prepared a Sorcerers' Contract that he had had to read and sign in his own blood and to swear an oath upon it that, come what may, he would only ever use the knowledge and power he was about to be granted for the betterment of all around him, harming only those who intended him or others harm and to invite the wrath of those who kept the Contract of Solomon should he use what he would learn for evil intent.

He realized that he was above nearly all human restraint now in a very practical sense. Oh, policemen would still claim that laws applied to him, that they could arrest him, and in the strictly theoretical sense they were correct. But practically was another matter altogether. Wyatt was not a fool, and he realized there were few who could tell him no and have it stick without his consent, or keep him somewhere he did not want to be. It was an ultimate kind of power. Though it came with an ultimate kind of sobriety, for there were others who had this knowledge, some of them would always be better than he was, and some of them had not sworn Solomon's Oath to take on the burden of the magical forbearance to 'do no harm.'

In his soul, he heard the voice of his spirit laughing at him. You finally realize, son, you can't know how happy that makes me.

If only more students with Wiz ratings thought of magic this way. Ah, the old Uncle Ben quote to Spider-Man, classic for a good reason. Yah! His mom came, Catherine Cody, saying things changes and she wants to meet her soon-to-be daughter-in-law, hehe.

There was something off about Catherine's demeanor

Please let it just be problems with her husband and not what I suspect, that Tigakilik has somehow possessed her or even taken her form. He would want revenge on Laine over stopping him along with Tansy in the Astral plane, what better way to get close to them.

Love the new Poe redesign and description of the exterior. Beth Anders aka Cover Girl is I remember correctly, one of the Poe RAs and Amanda Conner aka Jinx. Oh boy, Marty spotting Steve with his parents and starts to freak out, she is too hard on herself but I understand why. And teasing Marty like that, saying she is freaking out because of hormones, they will learn. Hugged and kissed on the cheek by her boyfriend in front of his parents, it is a wonder she isn't beet red right now.

Steve's mother was a lovely woman, in her late thirties or very early forties to Marty's eye with, surprisingly, black hair. She had an oval face and clear green eyes and a somewhat florid complexion. She was wearing a linen jacket that bore the crest of Wheeler High School, over a floral blouse and jeans with comfortable looking walking shoes. Next to her was her husband, a tall, thin man who was strong in a wiry sense, with the red hair he had given his children that was now pulled back in a pony tail accentuating a high forehead that was giving way to male pattern baldness. He had the same oval face he had given his son, though with more cares and worries and he sported a red goatee that was beginning to be shot through with gray.

Nice to have detailed descriptions for so many parents. Oh boy, private chat for Marty with Mrs. Nalley, hope it goes better than Marty has feared.

“Relax, you don't have anything to apologize for! But I have to wonder what my son has said about us to have you wound up tight as a drum!”

Marty is adorable when she is babbling. How Stephen and Marty first met, has it only been less than a year since then.

Mrs Nalley smiled and patted her hand. “Marty, you don't need to be so worried. Stephen couldn't say enough good things about you when he called over the summer. What a grand time he was having in his internship and it was very quickly obvious he was certainly very sweet on you.”

Teaches Art and Latin at Wheeler High School in Georgia, interesting. Wonder if she will meet with Imp and how it will go.

And now with Lanie at Poe, making herself up to make a good impression and using recommendations from Tansy, wish we could have a picture of this. Good that Grizzly is no longer suspicious of Tansy or her motives, makes things easier. Wyatt getting to see Lanie with that look and in that outfit first, if his jaw actually hit the floor I wouldn't be surprised. Blushing that red upon meeting her future mother-in-law, love seeing Lanie as a regular girl like this.

The woman laughed and gathered the abashed young girl into her arms. “Don't feel bad,” she consoled Lanie. “I met my mother in law wearing a T Shirt with the Playboy logo on it!”

Okay, I like her, guess her acting off earlier was a red-herring, I hope. And her response of what she almost did to Wyatt's dad for it, okay, has to be his real mom. And Wyatt talking about Lanie that much over the summer.

Mrs Cody smiled. “His father is a charming liar too, so fair warning.”

“Actually, ma'am,” Lanie replied. “Ah don't know very many men with the morals and integrity of my fiancee. Mah daddy, maybe, but Ah do know you raised a young man, in a world swimming with boys playing at being men. You should be very proud.”

“You,” Cody replied with a wide smile on her weathered face. “Are a keeper, young lady. I officially approve.” Turning to her son, her voice became stern, but still had a hint of humor to it. “Wyatt, don't you dare let this girl get away from you!”

Now I'm more curious why she was acting off according to Wyatt earlier, what is up.

And another blush from her dad's compliment, poor Lanie must look sunburned by now. Both sets of parents want Lanie and Wyatt to marry, yay! And a private chat with her father, Lanie shouldn't be worried, this is the guy who raised her and Stephen. And 15 days since he quit smoking using Nicorette, wish that worked for everyone.

“Princess,” he told her quietly. “I was proud of you when the doctor first held you up and said,'It's a girl!' And when you started talking at six months I knew you were special.” He looked up and over her shoulder, his eyes wet and far away. “I thought I would never be prouder of you when I read that note from Ms Young, your first grade teacher, absolutely gob smacked that you were reading The Odyssey and understanding it. Well, I could sit here from now until Judgment bragging on all the times you made me proud and still not be done. Don't ever think I'm not proud of you, Elaine, or that you have to change who you are.”

If you see Lanie and Wyatt together, it is obvious they love each other. Revealing that they 3 of them were going to be together in a marriage and her father burst out laughing, I like him even more now.

“Well,” he declared once he mastered himself. “Folks said they wanted the biblical definition of marriage, it doesn't get much more biblical than that.”

Bwahaha, love this.

“Mad?” he asked, confused. “No, princess, I'm not mad. If you're happy and that is the family you want, that is between the three of you. I'm no biblical scholar, but David had a fair sight more wives than two, and he was a man after God's Own Heart.”

And confirming that is this what Lanie wants and she isn't being pushed into, great father. Oh boy, having to tell Wyatt's mom about this, hope she is as understanding. Ooo, telling her mom about Wyatt, Tansy and her, and Evan lording over her about knowing something first, heh. And insisting Grizzly call him dad, now that is awesome.

“Anyway,” he continued. “She knew about your...preferences...but not about Miss Walcutt. So now I'm not the last to know. And don't be in any rush to tell her.”

“Daddy, you're bad!”

“To the bone, princess,” he said with a cocky swagger to his step. “Bad to the bone...!”

And we see where Lanie gets her sense of humor as well, hehe.

Angelina Cromwell - Woah. Ember's real name has been used! It's quite heartwarming, for some reason!

Also Tansy being kind! YAY!

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"Angelina's parents were dead, having died in the fire that consumed their home when her powers activated."



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"Gene must be Gene 'Mega-Boy' McDonald who probably had a crush on Angelina because he delighted in tormenting her."

Well, that's gonna be interesting, if true?

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Peeper's scene! Aww!

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Treating Alzheimer's with Solon-4... Which is the first mention of that?

Yay, for a cure?

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Tansy + Jadis making up more, or something! Sweet!

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Mega-death sitch still unknown.

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Reveal of Adam Carlyle's Noodle Incident from Gen2.

... IIRC, we saw this Imp bit from her POV... Now, where was it...

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Maria and Donna ship! Nice!

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So, this is the end of Theodore Darryl Walcutt... IIRC, he was part of the Brotherhood of the Bell or something... All those old plot bits are gonna start rearing their heads?

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Energizer biology is interesting!

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Debbie Cantrel's precise condition is still unknown. ... Might it get repaired soon, maybe by Gen2??

Cute song lyrics to start this part with. Shelly, at least she takes it in stride that her mother is the headmistress of the school. Ouch, Maggie Finson's parents not coming. Maggie working on a story to distract herself, while Shelly is going to Boston for a movie on her own, oh this won't end in trouble. Maggie, what the hell are you thinking of reading those kinds of books. And the library of Boston University having those in the first place, good grief. A spell to banish a spirit from a hallow, that could harm Lanie and most definitely Grizzly, this can't happen.

Adam 6 years old and thinking Whateley Academy is the coolest place ever, was there ever any doubt he would manifest and come here as a student eventually. Checking everything out like it is the greatest place on Earth and the look on his face and energy could make even the most down on themselves individual with GSD feel better about themselves I bet. Seeing Jack and Adam playing together is cute every time.

Hartford considers it a treat to watch Mrs. Carson work a room, man she is good. Ah, pursuing justice, I would get out of Carson's way. I actually pity the supervillain who tries to come to Whateley and threaten any of the students, or even outside of school grounds.

In defense of her students, Elizabeth Carson was a force of nature, implacable, irresistible and every bit as relentless.

Ugh, betting that is Tansy's father with his newest trophy wife, hope Mrs. Carson tears into him.

Whoa, Penelope actually met Mrs. Carson back in the 70s when she was Ms. Might, her grandmother sure knows a lot of people. Hehehe, wonder how Penelope is going to feel meeting Mrs. Carson and seeing how young she still is physically. Ouch, early stages of Alzheimer's, shouldn't happen to a nice lady like her.

Part of the reason we went to Venice was a top ranked neuroscience practice there, and the EU has a trial for a new treatment that is based on Solon-4...”

Okay, I know he doesn't want to lose her, but if they haven't removed the side-effects she would change, not be herself anymore. At least Tansy convinces him to let her friends check it out, always good to get a professional opinion.

Mrs. Nalley spots Wyatt chatting with Stephen with a woman she doesn't recognize, probably Wyatt's mom. Oh boy, when they tell JoAnn about Tansy and their plans. JoAnn and Catherine finally meet, love how JoAnn corrects Wyatt, hehe. Bwahahaha, seeing Jack run past with Adam on his past and concerned if JoAnn only knew. And asking her parents if she can go to the Nalleys for Thanksgiving, Marty has another big task ahead of her. And everyone together for lunch, fun.

Mental gymnastics to keep track of things in her mind, at least Penelope is fighting it. Ouch, Tansy unable to do anything for her, too bad Jobe or another bio-gadgeteer or devisor hasn't come up with a treatment yet. Angelina Cromwell, poor little girl upset because she can't find her parents and was told everyone's parents would be here toward, now that is pain.

And it is worse than I thought, parents died in a fire when her powers activated, poor Angie hasn't been told. Great, Mega-Boy told her everyone's parents would be there today, that is just cruel. Calming her down and doing that for Angie, anyone who sees that and doesn't believe Tansy has really changed is dense. Pretending to be her mother, Penelope even acting as her grandmother, now there is true human compassion and empathy.

Homer Gallery and Angie so excited, Mr. Dawson finding out he had a new granddaughter like that.

Marissa looked at her daughter in an entirely new light. Placing a hand on her shoulder, Tansy felt her mother's emotions and was surprised by them. “I'm so proud of you, Tansy,” she whispered back. “What a wonderful mother you will make!”

Darn, Marissa called to administration as the On Duty Legal Council by Hartford, why do I have the feeling this has to do with her ex-husband.

John in the Nuclear Medicine Theater, parents not coming. Interesting, doctors and Jericho discovered his powers not strictly speaking to do with his eyes, didn't see that coming.

Jericho had been able to discover that he was emitting some narrow wave, energetic particle that was below Extreme Ultra Violet, but also not an X-Ray. Dr Tenent had dubbed it Turner's Radiation and they had worked out that John's optic nerves were interpreting the 'bounce' of the particle as a kind of natural radar in the visible spectrum, which began to explain why he could see through some materials but not others. Fortunately the particle was not ionizing, so skin stopped it, which was why everyone appeared naked to John.

*eyes bug out* Okay, they should have done more tests on him sooner, this changes what we know about his power, thought it was psychic in nature before.

That left them with the task of finding a material that was opaque to the particle, but transparent to the visible spectrum.

At least they can finally create him some glasses that will block his power. Shelly created the materials, whoa. And see a computer screen, this is a huge step.

His eyes filled with tears as he understood he could see a green shirt.

“Dr Tenent!” he yelled, his voice cracking with the overwhelming sense of joy mixed with disbelief that he felt. “My shirt is green!”

No wonder he was such a mess, not just how his parents raised him but robbed of being able to see even his own clothing by his power, dang. Happy to see him starting to turn things around, change things for the better, and getting the help he needs in various things.

*head hits desk* Having to deal with Mr. Walcutt, him trying to turn his 'charm' on her, make you want to hit him until he stops moving. Oh goodie, Carson eye to eye with him. His attitude about Tansy, about the other parents and students at Whateley, rich snob who thinks he is better than everyone else is what I'm getting.

The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, but while Theo was comforted by the pistol under his armpit, his cellphone with its speed dial function to his lawyers assured him he was untouchable.

A pistol, he is a fool. Plus his lawyers would be torn to shreds by the ones which work for Whateley, his ex-wife included.

Maria and Donna making out like that, Maria introducing Donna to French kissing, about time.

The lovely Hispanic girl pulled back for a moment, her eyes and lips still smiling. She raised a hand and lovingly stroked Donn's cheek. “I know,” she told her gently. Leaning forward, she kissed Donna's nose and touched her forehead to the other girls' each staring deeply into the others eyes. “Donna, I'm not her either.”

Donna couldn't keep in a giggle as she nodded and bit her lower lip. “Well, I'll swear off Blondes if you swear off Redheads...?”

“Deal!” Maria returned enthusiastically then their lips rejoined and they had better things to do than converse.

Woohoo! They make a cute couple, let's just hope Mrs. Carson doesn't get upset about this and think Maria is taking advantage of Donna.

Renewal of the in loco parentis statement, I hope they are screwing him over for more money with no loopholes for him to wiggle out of it. And getting his fiance to leave the room, huh, would have thought they would be married already. Hehehe, Marissa showing up right after the fiance leaves the room, perfect timing.

“This is a notice of my filing of a civil suit challenging our divorce decree on the grounds you acted in bad faith having me committed against my will, setting yourself up as my legal guardian and then divorcing me without due process!” Marissa purred, obviously enjoying herself.

Oh, I'm loving this, Mrs. Carson as Tansy's legal guardian in the interim, Trustee of her Collegiate and Inheritable Trust Funds, time to teach Mr. Walcutt a costly lesson. And then Walcutt calls Mrs. Carson a bitch and threatens her, he is toast!

“This,” interrupted Marissa once more, “is a notice of the freezing of all of your assets and chattel pending the refiled divorce proceedings, any attempt by you to move off shore or conceal our marital assets will be considered contempt of court and so sanctioned, govern yourself accordingly! And last, but not least a federal restraining order that compels you to stay no less than five hundred feet from me, my parents and Tansy!”

Couldn't happen to a slimmer guy. And what Tansy hits him with, yikes.

“You haven't seen anything yet, my darling!” Marissa Dawson permitted herself a cruel chuckle. “I have not yet begun to bitch!”

Ooh, I hope she ruins him financially.

Schuster Hall and Fredrick Coveanus aka Lord Paramount didn't include the Crystal Hall. Doing a paper on obscure alumni from the original Whateley Academy, now that is dedication. An orphan didn't now that about him. Aww, hit hard by news of the passing of Mr. Coveanu, the headmaster when he went to Whateley. Joe Wilkins needs an attitude adjustment, if you are wealthy you should give back to the school.

Lord Paramount funded the remembrance garden, now that is a huge deal, plus a monument to Clifford Alexander so the first headmaster of the new Whateley Academy would be remembered. Mr. Turner talking to Fredrick, both waiting for the women in their lives before going to the Crystal Hall for lunch. And considering the pile of gold a gauche display, he doesn't get the message it is trying to send. Seeing Mr. Walcutt storm out like that, good to know he recognizes Hartford's hand in it.

“Only Amelia Hartford can get under a man's skin like that,” he elaborated, nodding his head in the direction the man had stormed out. “Some trouble with a student who's father doesn't understand that the needs of his child come before his own.”

“I used to think being a parent taught that lesson pretty quickly, but there are always statistical outliers I suppose.”

Now that was nice of Robert, saying Dr. Alexander would be proud of Fredrick in his role as a Trustee. Ouch, knowing what happens in Gen 2, that sucks. He wanted to start a family with Amelia.

Catherine Cody listening to Wyatt's tales about the Crystal Hall, and of course the smells would get to her, Whateley has some of the best food around. No buffet in years, whoa that is an out of the way place. Roast beef that fresh, smoke and brown sugar glazed hams, roasted turkey, fried, bake, roasted, and rotisserie chicken, gah. *tries to dive through the computer screen and gets some of each type of chicken*

Four different fish entrees, a tray of meatloaf and those are just the meals, where is my interdimensional portal! And she wonders who eats it all, isn't much waste there according to Wyatt.

“Mrs Cody, most of it won't reach her stomach,” Lanie replied, having taken note of the conversation. “A number of energizers absorb the water out of the food in their esophagus. Here, look at this,” she said, taking out her phone and fiddling with it, before turning the screen to Mrs Cody. She saw an MRI of someone sitting and drinking a glass of some liquid and it vanished before it could reach his stomach. Next came a mouthful of food that seemed to melt into his teeth and by the time he swallowed almost nothing reached his stomach.

Well, that answers something I've always been curious about.

Catherine smiled and kissed her son's cheek. “Every time I worry you will turn into your father, Wyatt, you go and show me what a good man you are.”

Her saying that is a compliment, could there be trouble with the husband. And all of them sitting on the Alpha Dais, now there is a view I would love to see myself. And I was right, Wyatt's parents getting a divorce, that explains why she seemed off to Wyatt in Part 1.

Gunny and Mrs. Cantrel are cute together, I think she is one of the only women who could handle him and his many quirks. Hopes she could walk again, good, would love to see Mrs. Cantrel walking around. And he is helping her greet parents to Hawthorne, think she is going to need all the help she can get, especially with Eldritch's mom on campus.

Ouch, now Tansy knows what her grandmother has the beginning of. And upset she will never get to know her grandmother and never had in the chance in the past because of her father. Tansy hates having the Walcutt name, considering it a curse and ask God why he hates her so much, ouch. And Jadis being the one to comfort her, dang, didn't see that coming. Jadis able to see the real Tansy once more.

Jadis saw the tall, awkward nerd who had showed her that science fiction and fantasy could be just as much literature as Gothic romance. The friend who had introduced her to her greatest guilty pleasure; author C. S. Lewis and his Chronicles of Narnia and through them, the realization of who her real mother might be. And she remembered the selfless defender who rushed to her aid against the ceaseless torment of Cathy Pressman at Westchester Montessori and hid her heroism behind purposefully taking the contrary opinion of Jadis's favorite poet so they could argue and she could take Jadis' mind off the torment.

Finally, apology accepted, friends again I hope. Opening up to Jadis about all that, especially what is happening to her grandmother, blaming it on her past sins even though she is trying to atone for them, ouch. Yay! Friends again and Jadis helping out Tansy, I was hoping this would happen soon. Hehehe, a sleepover to catch up on things, now that is perfect. Whoa, who is Tansy calling and how can they help?

A sword, a cape with a saddle for Adam to ride on Jack's back with him, cute.

From the speaker around his throat, the voice of Stephan Hawking declared, “One land, one king! And the sword of power!”

Talk of a merry prank in mind by Jack, why do I have the feeling this will be a memorable Parents Day for many reasons.

Oh boy, asking Tansy if Elaine and Wyatt told their parents about her relationship yet, and Tansy doesn't know yet. Hehehe, Wyatt procrastinator of the first order, I can relate though not that bad. *sigh* And this incident with the idiot Aunt June trying to arrest Imp on Whateley grounds, nice to see a different perspective of it.

Marissa opened her mouth to say something, then saw something so completely fantastic, even for Whateley, she had to blink her eyes to be sure of it. Chasing after Mrs Carson was Razorback.

But not just Razorback.

The reptilian looking student was wearing a cross between a cape and a horses barding in scarlet that also seemed to have a saddle. In the saddle sat a midget wearing mirror polished full Gothic plate mail armor, complete with a plumed helm and a gold and silver sword he was waving about, urging Razorback to greater speed.

And somehow, through the transparent substance the Crystal Hall was made of, she distinctly heard the thunderous orchestration of Carl Orff's O Fortuna blasting from somewhere only slightly below the threshold of pain. Razorback was also running after Mrs Carson and 'Aunt June'. Closing her mouth, Marissa watched them go, straightened her dress and calmly walked back to her salad.

Bwahahaha, too perfect, sides hurting. Razorback and Adam chasing Mrs. Carson and 'Aunt June', just too funny. Glad Tansy got her mom to avoid getting involved.

They're having a quiet orgy while the freshmen show their parents around.

Letter

Yeeeeah, confessing this sort of thing over a letter is awkward. Also, personal peeve, having Elaine's accent reflected here. Yeah, it's told it feels like she's there speaking, but associating an accent to a letter just feels... off somewhere for me.

His mouth inordinately dry, it took two tries for him to find his voice. “Jo...Jody? Come here baby. You...you need to see this.”

Well, stay hooked for final reaction.

“It will be fine,” she told her reflection. “They are just people!” With a sigh, she tried to fix a smile to her face and headed out to the platform.

You're fine, Marty. And you're a girl, remember? It means no shotgun warning for you.

Marty stood with Rosalyn Dekkard and Zoe Nesmith of her cottage, holding the other half of a banner with the name of the cottage with Rosalyn that Zoe was standing behind.

Or so they thought, unfortunately, an idiot had pranked them by replacing it with one saying 'Headcase Central'. Said idiot didn't live to regret it very long.

“He's busy, I'll say hello once we're at the school.” He snapped his fingers. “Which reminds me! You know Steve's sister, don't ya? The young lady that invented Kevra, right?”

I think this invention might be helping there, just a random wild crazy shot in the dark.

“Really? Well, bob's your uncle, that makes things easy! Cupcake, can you introduce me?” He blushed a bit and became contemplative. “I, uh, well, the guys at the precinct found out she goes to your school and...”

Case in point.

Her mind's eye saw her ten year old self for a moment, pudgy stomach bulging out the polo, the jeans grotesquely tight, designer brands, custom made brown leather knee boots with inappropriate stiletto heels and the tight lipped disapproval of fashion divas who wanted her money but couldn't bear the thought of their name on her fat, disgusting body.

There's got to be at least some exageration in there.

“You're sweet,” Marissa replied and gave her daughters somewhat drab choice of clothing a gimlet eye.

And enjoy a Parent's Day wuth your parent too. Ah miracles of modern medicine, where a father isn't needed anymore...

“When I talked to Mr. Siegel about defending myself, he said it was actually easier for him to defend me if I used a gun than if I used my hands,” she said as she returned the battery to the weapon, holstered it, and raised her shirt to attach the holster to the bra she was wearing. When the shirt was tucked back in the pistol had vanished in her decolletage. “He said it was harder to convince a jury I would have been in fear of my safety if I beat the crap out of my attacker.”

Also, the vict– aggressor can't sue for grievious harm.

Tansy grinned and gave her mom a hug. “That's the idea, mom! It's called a Flashbang holster...”

And people think weaponized fanservice is an anime thing only...

“Grandma and grandpa are coming?” Tansy demanded excitedly and squealed with delight as her mother nodded.

I take it they are sweet people. Leading me to wonder where the duck they were before that sentence...

“Indeed,” Lord Paramount returned as he needlessly straightened a nine hundred dollar silk tie. “If I were half the villain I am made out to be, I could easily abuse my position as a trustee of this school.”

Elizabeth felt her eyebrow ascend her forehead. “Really?” she demanded. “To what end, Fredrick?”

“Well,” he said reasonably, flashing his oh so charming smile. “If I were such a villain, as a Trustee, that makes me your boss. I could finally compel you to admit my term paper on Ethan Frome was in fact worthy of an 'A' and force you to change my grade.”

Finally someone getting the perks of power and their implications right in this world. You shold take note if you weren't already dead, Assolo.

“That's why it was sexist!” Mrs Carson snapped. “Your 'C' stands! Fire me, I dare you!”

She stands in the way of perfect grades! Destroy her!

Fredrick chuckled at his former teacher's entirely put on venom and held up his hands in defeat. “This is exactly why I am not a villain! Who has the courage to face down you?”

Loser.

Maria Contessa Elyssa Gomez y Ricardo sat in the coffee shop that had been one of her favorite places when she had been a student and not a teacher and day dreamed.

I only remembered when i read that line than Maria had reappeared sooner during this dimensional shenanigan. Still, accounting for my comment from Amongst the Shadows, I chose to believe her appearance here was caused by a strange power of me. One I promise to use sensibily... By wishing for more Loose Cannons and Elrod's stuff (What? That's reasonable, I didn't say anything about the Kimboids.)!

The last she had heard, her mother had fled to Columbia, fearful of retribution from her mutant daughter. Maria hoped she would never lay eyes on her mother again; she wasn't sure she could trust herself to not do something permanent she'd regret.

She fled with your money, leaving you in the streets without even a word, with the ducker who abused you while she was doing fucking nothing if I remember it right. Hard to see what you could regret here. Except doing it too fast.

A short courtship, a couple of encounters to scratch the itch, then the masculine mannerisms of the bulls she had been with would start reminding her too much of her step father.

Yeeeaaaah, I know I'm trying to swim against beliefs and tauma there, but maybe you should have tried for people not tied to these happy memories.

She was so...innocent...and those huge green eyes...

Sorry for not being classy, but... The 'eyes' thing doesn't work on ladies, especially when they're not the point of focus (Yes, I know the eyes are the actual point here, especially with Elaine's age at the time. But the straight line was just there.)

Maria smiled. “You remind me of her sometimes. I was her first girlfriend and she got embarrassed very easily too.” Donna looked about furtively.

...At least you're not chasing after a trauma rapist ghost this time?

“Donna, I am a lesbian,” Maria shot back in her normal tone, perhaps even a bit louder. “And I don't give a flying fuck who knows it.” No one in the shop reacted and Donna breathed a sigh of relief.

It's ealry twenty-first century, Donna. While it's unfortunately not so widely accepted, homosexuality has stopped being ground for 'medical treatments' in several places now... Dag, that wass bleak.

“It's against the law, Donna,” Maria tiredly told her. In the back of her mind she was a little amazed that her friend, the child of the forties saw nothing wrong with a teacher getting into a relationship with a student so long as she was 'old enough.' Of course, old enough was a nebulous term that Donna was hesitant to define.

Although they had that... Mind you the idea had far more chances of being abused than the reverse.

The worst of it, like a toothache that wouldn't stop hurting, was that her place with that wonderful, amazing human being had been taken by that ladder climbing whore Tansy Walcutt. The ice queen, the homophobes' homophobe; it made a kind of twisted sense that somebody with that much denial something had to be fishy, but never, even in her wildest dreams would Maria think, after their explosive breakup, over a boy(!) that Elaine Nalley would take another girl into her bed. And it hurt that she had picked Tansy.

I think you'd need fourth wall awareness and a long, long read to get all the details here....

“You wanna find out?” Maria asked coyly, her mind firmly in control of her power so there was not so much of a wiff that anything untoward might sway Donna's decision. The seconds stretched out and her heart thundered if perhaps she had threatened their friendship. Then, after a small eternity, her roommate sighed and screwed her courage to the sticking place.

“Yeah...” Donna said softly finally. “I...I think I do want to find out. Let's go.”

It seems it could be more than ghost-chasing for either of you, sooo... yeah?

He knew his parents were not coming to Parents Day and he was completely unfazed by it.

Emotions were for the weak. Love was a weakness. His was a high and lonely destiny.

You need a better life than this, Harvey. And try to ditch Mega Death. that name is a straight line. (Example: Ultraschmuck just took an ultrapounding right in his ultrakidneys and thus faces an ultrahumiliation. More than usual).

“Mother! Father!” Tansy let her mother greet her parents first, seeing the joy of their reunion as they hugged and there was not a dry eye for several moments. Tansy knew there was a silly smile on her face and she didn't care, there were far too many daydreams coming true for her to give two shits about what anyone thought.

people interfering or mocking that smile have no soul and deserves annihilation.

His large hand held up a strong finger. “None of that!” he scolded her. “Penny and I are Grandma and Grandpa! Or even gramps! Kids today don't want to be formal, after all. You're a little old, but I had this made when you first made the polo team for Liliuokalani Academy.” From behind his back he produced a little stuffed horse that bore the subtle hallmarks of having been hand made by a master craftsman. It took her a moment to realize it, but as he placed it in her hands it occurred to her that the stuffed horse's marking and color were an exact match for her horse.

You're awesome... Where were you before that sentence up there, and where is the catch?

“So, do we get a tour?” Mrs Dawson asked with a smile. “What do they teach a young lady at this school?”

For a moment, Tansy tried to hold in her snicker, then decided against it. “Grandma, are you in for a surprise!”

Well, you do beat these matches of Save The Citizen at least.

“Which,” Circe had remarked at the time, “is exactly what magic is: understanding the rules of the universe so that you can change it.”

"Well, that and burn down your enemies by showering them with 'Fuego! Pyrofuego!'. This guy has it down to the essentials..."

The three teachers had prepared a Sorcerers' Contract that he had had to read and sign in his own blood and to swear an oath upon it that, come what may, he would only ever use the knowledge and power he was about to be granted for the betterment of all around him, harming only those who intended him or others harm and to invite the wrath of those who kept the Contract of Solomon should he use what he would learn for evil intent.

How many people in Whateley have to sign this contract exactly?

The spirit laughed and mentally placed his heavy paw on Wyatt's shoulder. Don't sell yourself short, son. I think you got what was being discussed a while back, and that's why you resisted it so hard. I don't blame you, I truly wish life could be as simple as eating, sleeping and...well...procreating shall we say? Unfortunately, that isn't the way of the world. You didn't ask for this burden, but you have picked it up and grown into being a man I respect.

I can't help but... picture Bedside Rug using Dagda's voice (Shin Megami Tensei 4 Apocalypse). Jury's out on what it means.

“Oh, no, that was Maria. She's a...well, she's a friend.”

Cheater. Where is the long exposure to resume the situation?

An icy, cold dread grabbed her by the guts and she felt a sudden, irrational desire to flee. Instead, she exhaled into her palm to sniff it and turned frantically to the other two girls. “How do I look?” she demanded, fearfully.

... I get it now, she's not actually psyching over meeting Stephen's parents, but because she can feel that Nimbus moved her on a 'to kill list' with her boyfriend.

“What's her problem?” she heard Bethany ask Amanda in a confused tone of voice.

Because I have to stress it, he is the one having to worry about shotguns warnings now. not you. What, there is more to meeting 'rents? forgive me to thinking it's important when you can have discussion about ow deep lakes can be during these.

Her tongue slipped its leash and she started to babble. “It wasn't Steve, Mrs Nalley! I'm just a big klutz and he's so important to me and I'd just die if I didn't make a good impression on you and I'm a New York Yankee and...” She clapped her hands over her mouth, mortified as the older woman looked at her somewhat askance and actually chuckled.

Marty, if we needed perfection ini our life, Human race would hhave gone extinct for ages.

“Oh, you might want to have a chat with Ms. Imp, she teaches Art here.”

“Ms. Imp?” Mrs Nalley asked. “What an unusual name...”

*Checks watch* And with luck, you can see her special performance for the day soon.

You will always come first, the spirit swore. But I admit I am no longer suspicious of her and her motives. And you three seem very happy together and that I very much approve of. Elaine went to hug her spirit and was surprised to feel her soft, warm fur in her arms before being enveloped in return by her powerful arms. I will do all I can to see things turn out well.

*rolls eyes* Please, you and Bedside Rug have been gaming for something like this to happen for a while. The only 'surprise' here is the identity of the girl.

Instead, she found her fiance whose mouth fell open along with other tells of his appreciation of her look. Which would have been fine if he were alone. Or with Tansy. But he wasn't alone, or with Tansy and that meant there could only be one other identity of the early forties woman with him. And, with his ring feeling like a millstone on her hand, Elaine realized she was meeting her future mother-in-law wearing a skin tight, low cut top and her skin flushed a crimson scarlet to match her hair.

Euuuh, Elaine, Parents' Day, remember? Of course his own parents (more accurately here, his mother) would be here. Did you really expect you'd only meet them after having time to change?

The woman laughed and gathered the abashed young girl into her arms. “Don't feel bad,” she consoled Lanie. “I met my mother in law wearing a T Shirt with the Playboy logo on it!”

“Dad sprung grandma on you like that?” Wyatt asked.

“It must run in the family,” Catherine replied with long suffering. “I almost castrated him over it!” Coming out of the hug she smiled at the young woman who had caught her son's fancy. “Cathy Cody,” she introduced herself.

I dunno if it qualifies as assholish or darkly funny. Or a really twisted scheme to make sure opinion on his future wife could only go up... I got nothing.

“Wyatt said you weren't coming...” Lanie declared in her defense, glaring at her intended and was a bit relieved when his mother punched him in the arm.

Never plan only for best outcome...

“You,” Cody replied with a wide smile on her weathered face. “Are a keeper, young lady. I officially approve.” Turning to her son, her voice became stern, but still had a hint of humor to it. “Wyatt, don't you dare let this girl get away from you!”

See Marty? Even if the girl is theoretic target, all pressure end up on the guy at the end. So chill.

"Mr Nalley, I am giving you fair warning, I intend to kidnap and adopt your daughter.”

That's... a fairly accurate description of marriage, when I think about it.

“Princess,” he told her quietly. “I was proud of you when the doctor first held you up and said,'It's a girl!' And when you started talking at six months I knew you were special.” He looked up and over her shoulder, his eyes wet and far away. “I thought I would never be prouder of you when I read that note from Ms Young, your first grade teacher, absolutely gob smacked that you were reading The Odyssey and understanding it. Well, I could sit here from now until Judgment bragging on all the times you made me proud and still not be done. Don't ever think I'm not proud of you, Elaine, or that you have to change who you are.”

Stuupid question, how exactly could you doubt your father would be accepting, Elaine?

He sniffed and wiped his hand over his goatee. “As much as I think Wyatt is a fine young man, I want you to know you don't have to marry him just because you think I expect you to, or your maw and I want grand kids.”

*Shifty eyes* Don't worry, she's covered on that front.

Lanie sucked on her lip and tried desperately to think how to explain things that were so intimate. “Daddy, Ah'm not stepping out on Wyatt,” she said quietly. “B...but Ah won't be his only wife.”

Speaking of that... In for a penny, in for the whole vault of the bank!

“Folks said they wanted the biblical definition of marriage, it doesn't get much more biblical than that.”

Keeping that in mind to throw it at fundamentalists someday...

“Anyway,” he continued. “She knew about your...preferences...but not about Miss Walcutt. So now I'm not the last to know. And don't be in any rush to tell her.”

*Thinks about all these times my own mother was the sharpest one*Treasure this almost as much as your kids, sir for tis is a rare thing you have now.

And, now onwards to Part Two.

And the library of Boston University had a fine collection of magic books for their Sorcery program, and they were a member of the New England Educational Library System. Maggie opened the tome of black magic and continued her research into spells of spirit banishing from hallows.

Ironically, the spell of resurrection she had worked on so hard would serve nicely when reversed properly.

“Soon, Lanie,” she whispered. “I'll have you free soon.”

... Now is the time to abort, Finson, at godspeed. You're getting close Darwin Awards levels of intelligence and tunnel vision (at least it will show the Other Lit Bitches than leaving Elaine twisting in the wind may not have been best choice. If yo side with the one going psycho, at least try to steer her away of self-destruction).

“Jack, why don't you take Adam and play outside while I finish the orientation?”

Within seconds, Adam was on his brothers back outside in the open air and loping off around this amazing place. “Faster! Faster!” he yelled, absolutely thrilled.

*Look at G2 Adam* You know your mission now. Break the Attack Bitches, and make Whateley a place Six Years You would do everything to go again. May this moment of pure Dawwww live again for another kid someday.

In defense of her students, Elizabeth Carson was a force of nature, implacable, irresistible and every bit as relentless. So when her boss casually walked up to one of the parents Amelia knew to be a threat to their own child, her disconcerting smile spread across her face as she settled in to watch, wishing she had popcorn. She gently ribbed her fiance with her elbow and discretely directed his attention to the headmistress as she arrived at a well-dressed man with a woman half his age who was not appropriately dressed on his arm. “Ah, the show is about to start,” Fredrick murmured.

Thanks for the warning, I'll set up the transat, parasol, table popcorn, fresh drinks and cameras. And the ST, of course.

“I haven't heard of her...” started the Dawson matriarch, but her husband chuckled and kissed her temple.

“Come now, Penny, you remember she changed her name to Lady Astarte, don't you?” He asked, and Tansy shared a glance with her own mother. Penelope rolled her eyes and made a gesture of self deprication.

... Okay, the catch is coming. So not happy of seeing it coming (I did before I had to let this review percolate, cross my heart, may I be forced to eat an entire tablet of white chocolate if I lie!).

Mr Dawson's face was uneasy and that immediately got his daughter more worried. He warred with himself behind his eyes before he finally sighed and nodded. “I'm sorry, sweetheart, it's Alzheimer's.” Marissa's hand went to her mouth in horror. “It's still in the early stages so far, she forgets things, where her keys are, getting dates confused. She had always been so sharp I realized something was wrong right away. Part of the reason we went to Venice was a top ranked neuroscience practice there, and the EU has a trial for a new treatment that is based on Solon-4...”

Nertz, to stealrespectfully borrow a swear word of someone over that campus who is really well-placed to give you more info avout that drug.

“At least give me the names of this trial and the practice, dad,” she admitted urgently. “I've made some excellent friends here. Let me find out for sure it's legitimate...”

“Alright, that's fair,” he declared.

Tansy, you should check this sort of thing with Jadis too. Even with her not knowing the finer details of her daddy's workings, i'm sure her insight will be valuable.

Why write a letter to her father admitting her experimentation now?

Beats me, Ma'am. Now, as a totally unrelated random wild crazy question, how would you like having both a step-son and a step-daughter through only one marriage?

She trailed off as she caught sight of what looked like a dinosaur running through the field below the courtyard with what looked like a young child riding him. “Should...should I be worried?” she asked.

Only if you're about to crush the day of a six years old getting the right to ride a dinosaur.

What was worse, she better than anyone could look into her grandmothers mind and see just how much she was being affected by something, but she felt powerless to act. Her grandmothers mind wasn't suffering from delusion or inability to see things for what they were, it felt damaged. As though a broken computer, the programs were fine but the hardware wasn't working right.

Yeah, must sting a lot.

Tansy gasped in fright and suppressed outrage. Angelina's parents were dead, having died in the fire that consumed their home when her powers activated. This had been kept from the little girl to give her time to grow up without the burden of accidentally killing her mother and father. Gene must be Gene 'Mega-Boy' McDonald who probably had a crush on Angelina because he delighted in tormenting her.

A brat badly needs a mega-kick right through his mega-balls, for some mega-pain and an impromptu mega-sensitivity training. And make it as mega-brutal as necessary.

“Grandma, this is Angelina.” Tansy reached out and touched Mrs Dawson's arm. She has control issues with her fire powers so we need to keep her calm, she pushed her thoughts at her grand mother, surprising her. Yes, it's me, grandma, telepathy is one of my...abilities. Out loud, she said, “Angie, why don't you take grandma and I to the Homer Gallery?”

Show-off. practical, but still show-off.

Marissa tapped her daughter on the shoulder. “That's me. Mom? Will you and dad be alright here for a few minutes? I need to run to admin for moment.”

“They need you?” her father asked. “I'm sure we'll be fine with our new granddaughter to tell us all about this wonderful museum!” Angelina giggled as Marissa turned back to her daughter.

“Come with me, you'll enjoy this.”

Okay, here Hindsight Cheating is working, but perceptive people were surely feeling an urge to yell 'Hell Yeah!' raising.

His eyes filled with tears as he understood he could see a green shirt.

“Dr Tenent!” he yelled, his voice cracking with the overwhelming sense of joy mixed with disbelief that he felt. “My shirt is green!”

Okay, I don't want to diminish what's happening to Peeper here, and I guess I'm happy for him, but well I did think that moment back inAmongst tha Shadows was a bit ham-fisted, this feels like progressing a bit too quick... And frankly, reading about Harvey in the precedent part reminded me of someone who has been on the background for as long, could be argued as more sympathic than Peeper, and feels like he's left on the wayside on Peeper's favor... Until whatever is happening for him to pop up pans out.

“Mr. Walcutt,” Mrs Carson greeted. “So nice of you to attend.”

Phew. For a moment I feared the popcorn wouldn't be ready in time. Thanks again for the warning.

“Your messages were certainly dire enough, Mrs. Carson!” he replied with just enough invective to carry the subtle message he didn't consider her issue, what ever it was, an emergency. “Still, for what I pay for this school, I would think a courier's expense could have been covered.”

... Why are all antagonists morons? Not that I have a lick of sympathy for you, but these sorts of things are generally surefire signs of things about to go South Pole. I swear, read the writing on the wall. Sorry for the bluntness.

Mrs Carson's smile was the smile of a jungle cat, just about to pounce. “Of course. If you'd like to join me in my office? Amelia? Would you be so kind as to fetch your Notary Stamp so we can get Mr. Walcutt on his way without delay?”

And it's not like Carson is bothering to hide how boned he already is.

Donna couldn't keep in a giggle as she nodded and bit her lower lip. “Well, I'll swear off Blondes if you swear off Redheads...?”

“Deal!” Maria returned enthusiastically then their lips rejoined and they had better things to do than converse.

At least you're chasing ghosts in a someho healthish way, so... yeah-ish?

“I'm Teddy's fiancee!” the brunette protested, but Walcutt patted her hand.

At best, you're a trophy wife, girlie, at worst a gold digger... No I don't mind if she's leeching the loser, but that money is supposed to be Tansy's someday. Also tells volume Mr W bring her here.

“Am I doing out of the little hospital prison you dropped me in?” she demanded archly. “My duties as an officer of the court.” She held out several blue envelopes in her hand. “You've been served.”

Heey, weI wanted to see her crush Gold Digger Number 347. Though I'll happily settle on this.

“What is this?” roared Walcutt in outrage, jumping to his feet. She held out the first envelope.

A restropectively very obvious trap about to crush you. And this awesome song.

Nine years too early, I know, but it fits so well.

“I would become a lesbian before taking you back,” Marissa snarled. “But you're not going to give yourself a sweetheart deal acting on my behalf in our divorce!”

Hey, trash him as much as you want, but don't badmouth lesbians by associating them to that in a 'rather X than you'! Also, real classy, steealing your interned wife's savings during divorce, ducker.

Walcutt whirled to snarl at Mrs Carson, his face flush and enraged. “You bitch! You're in on this, aren't you? Do you have any idea what I am going to do to you...?”

Oh that's adorable, you think you can do anything to Whateley. Please try, this year's Seniors need ideas for their Legacy project (they already marked the point where Assholo will feed a nice tree, but beyond that...)

“You haven't seen anything yet, my darling!” Marissa Dawson permitted herself a cruel chuckle. “I have not yet begun to bitch!”

... Fuck decency. Don't even leave him a box on his back, Ma'am!

“Bribes!” Wilkins had sneered.

... Yeah, Jobe clearly got his charm and ease at relationship from his mother.

“Robert,” he corrected. The hero smiled and shrugged causing his polo shirt, a black one with the school's crest in gold on his breast with the legend Alumni under it to strain slightly. “As well as can be expected. Awaiting my wife and our daughter before we head to the Crystal Hall for lunch. You?”

“We both seem to be waiting on the women in our lives, Robert, and since we're both incognito, it's just Fredrick. I await my lady Amelia from some business in administration. So I was loitering around here remembering old memories.”

... Where the duck are people who could profit to learn more about how the world is grey when this sort of scenes happen?

A man in a very expensive suit came storming down the stairs, shouting obscenities as he went, being chased by a woman who had all the ear marks of an experienced miner sticking with a claim.

Bah, if she truly was one, she would see the writing on the wall and hit aort before that becomes the one needing to crash in her appartment.

Robert Turner shrugged. “Who knows what the future holds?”

... Many things (Including hopefully some throughly broken Attack Bitches. What? It's a responsible wish too.)

Catherine Cody had listened to her son's stories about the Crystal Hall.

She had even seen the photographs and how proudly he bragged about spearheading the renovation of the space as the legacy of the Class of 2007, but even with all of that she was not prepared for the sheer magnitude of the space into which she entered.

And now I want to see something like this in Real Life... Is tday not too late to began saving up for this dream?

Wyatt grinned and sweetened his coffee. “Well, if there's one thing I've learned at this school it's how to network.”

That's how they call it now?

“Wyatt, your father and I are getting a divorce.”

... I hope this one has saner base than other I saw. And the Nalleys don't feel the need to follow the trend.

“If there is anything I have acquired here,” Gunny drawled, “It's a sense of humor.”

“Amen,” Debbie agreed as she put on a smile to welcome the parents making their way down to her cottage from Schuster Hall.

Filthy lies. And just way to see him double down on the students to 'prove' finding someone isn't softening him.

Tansy's mind was filled with memories of warm caramel pecan rings, Jane Austen, and pranking Malachi. “Believe me,” Jadis soothed her. “I know what it's like to hate your last name.”

At least your dad genuinely loves you... And cram you up with not really anted cybernetics, got you possessed by a demon warpng your power and painting a telepathic target on your back– Damn, I was trying to be uplifting there.

Jadis nodded, her own eyes a little moist at seeing Tansy in this vulnerable state and her conscience pricked her. Before her was not the Alpha who had turned a blind eye to her torment, nor the prettiest girl in school, distancing herself from her ugly friend now that she had bloomed, but rather Jadis saw the real Tansy. Jadis saw the tall, awkward nerd who had showed her that science fiction and fantasy could be just as much literature as Gothic romance. The friend who had introduced her to her greatest guilty pleasure; author C. S. Lewis and his Chronicles of Narnia and through them, the realization of who her real mother might be. And she remembered the selfless defender who rushed to her aid against the ceaseless torment of Cathy Pressman at Westchester Montessori and hid her heroism behind purposefully taking the contrary opinion of Jadis's favorite poet so they could argue and she could take Jadis' mind off the torment.

Dawwww. Also, you need more fantasy books in your life.

“Hi,” she greeted when the call finally went through. “I need a favor. No, that's not right, not a favor. I need to cash in a solid.”

The voice on the other end of the line was intrigued. “I'm listening.”

I dunno if that's Doctor Dad or someone else, but that's one other reason you needed to call Jadis: Connections.

From the speaker around his throat, the voice of Stephan Hawking declared, “One land, one king! And the sword of power!”

With the glee that shows your gift is the child's favorite, Adam threw himself at the bed and began to get dressed. There were damsels in distress, and they weren't going to save themselves!

Cherish this moment, Adam. And remember the mission.

Tansy blushed a bit and picked up a tray to lead the way over to the salad bar. “I think Elaine was going to talk to hers today, mom, but I don't know if she has yet or not.”

I'm smelling a good old big reveal to all parents still unaware real soon.

The muscled woman charged, one hand cocked back in a classic cartoon punch pose that the woman neatly avoided, then its follow up and several other attempts. “Really?” Imp demanded, for that was who the woman was. “In the Crystal Hall? With a bunch of kids watching?”

*Watch all the camera flashes going with mines* At least she's considerate enough for this.

“You're right, my little flower,” she told her daughter. “I don't want any part of that.”

Filthy lies. Everyone would want to watch that action go. Especially us readers.

Interesting lyrics, wonder how they relate to the story this time. Mrs. Carson had to assure some parents everything is fine after 'Aunt June' is escorted off campus by security, her job is a hard one. And spots Shelly about to head out to Berlin to see a movie, only for Mrs. Carson to remind her daughter Parent's Day is for her too.

“I am never too busy for you, Shelly,” her mother declared with just the right mix of sincerity and good humor to keep things from getting maudlin. “In point of fact, I have a tray of Chef Marcel's chocolate croissants just begging to be enjoyed over a mother daughter chat. There might even be hot chocolate.”

Shelly arched an eyebrow. “Will there be marshmallows?”

Mrs Carson's dismay was apocalyptic. “Hot chocolate without marshmallows?” she demanded. “That's...un-American!” The two women shared a giggle and headed back towards the offices on the second floor. “You know, you never told me how your summer was with your father?”

Nice to see them together.

Ouch, like she had been dead 12 years to her father and weird for her to be back.

Her Mom's hot chocolate had always been made from unsweetened raw Coco Powder, adding her own sugar, vanilla extract and used hot milk instead of water.

Want! Talking about Hugh, to lose him to Deathlist.

“Hugh was the most stubborn man I have ever met,” Liz told her with a smile. “That's how we met. I was at this little bar down in Berlin and he was delivering a batch of his cider when our eyes met and he walked away from the owner, mid-sentence, strolled right up to me and declared, 'You're going to be my wife! You want to fight it or just come with me over to the Justice of the Peace now? I'm Hugh Wells by the way,' and he actually stuck out his hand to be shook!” Liz shook her head. “In all my years of being in the super hero business I have never met an ego to match Hugh Wells.”

Now there is a unique person.

“He rates your respect as a teacher at this school and an adult,” Mrs Carson replied. “Beyond that is...”

Nice to see mother-daughter who can tease each other and it be in good nature.

It had been over twenty-six years since Shelly's birth, but her new cloned body was physically one. Her awareness, however, was somewhere between sixteen and twenty-six, since her consciousness had slowly become aware of her surroundings and the goings-on around where she was trapped. But her consciousness was only sixteen plus a bit in their dimension since she'd been in a para-dimensional trap. Fortunately, long ago, the legal age issue had come up in famous case Jabolnski v. Delaware, which every mage knew. With some magic inter-dimensional travel that included physical age reversal and time dilation, there was a huge argument about Eileen Jablonski's legal age and an estate she was supposed to inherit. When all the dust settled and the smoke cleared, the Supreme Court had finally ruled that under those circumstances, the legal age was the age of Jablonski's consciousness in this dimension, unless there was a body of scientific proof to establish the exact duration of time in an alternate dimension and that there existed proof that the consciousness in said dimension possessed awareness. It was a hugely complicated decision that included criteria for awareness, and two later cases extended the precedent to include suspended animation and time warps.

Ow, I think some discussions on time travel have hurt my head less, not a complaint but dang.

Shelly legally seventeen and Donna legally twenty-two, interesting.

“Don't conflate boorishness with manhood, my girl,” Mrs Carson replied.

A good lesson for anyone.

He was confident, but not a braggart, he was strong and his strength wasn't challenged by mine. He was the most natural leader I have ever met, and yet he could listen and admit when he was wrong, which I must admit was actually pretty rare. He knew what he wanted and he would not be turned aside by anyone or anything but me. And he didn't want to sleep with me, he wanted to be my husband.

Too bad he isn't still alive, could give lessons to the idiots on campus who treat girls as objects of conquest.

Angie sweeping Tansy's grandparents off their feet hope they adopt her, though for that to happen she would have to find out her parents are dead. Ouch, control levels connected to stress levels, no wonder she is in Hawthorne. Pretty sure the Nalleys have a big home, one that can fit two guests and their family easily.

“Well, welcome to the family, young lady!” Mrs Dawson exclaimed, hugging the surprised red head. “I'm Penelope and this is my long suffering husband Daniel.”

Tansy, her mom and grandparents, Lanie, her parents, younger brother and Wyatt, and Marty and her parents, now there is a big group.

“My word!” exclaimed Mr Dawson as he and Elaine's father shook hands. “You're having this crowd over for Thanksgiving?”

“My wife is a sadist and loves tormenting me,” the mechanic drawled with a wink at his wife. “We were just sorting through all that as you walked up, please sit down.”

Love Gene's sense of humor.

All of them at the Dawson home in Boston for Thanksgiving, even Angie. Now that is something I would love to see.

Holding up a hand he declared, “Please, I must insist, I will see to all the travel arrangements and our house can easily accommodate everyone.” He placed an arm around his daughter and beamed. “Suddenly I am reminded of how important family is, and how fragile. I have my daughter and my granddaughter once again and I feel a need to celebrate. So, it is settled. You will all spend Thanksgiving with us.”

Nice J.R.R. Tolkien quote as well.

And a text from Marty about the buses being on their way, Kayda thinking how different the start of this year is from the last.

“Life has a tendency to change our dreams,” an all too familiar voice purred behind her, sending chills down her spine. Kayda stood and turned, seeing Coyote sitting on the floor between her bed and Chou's, tail curled primly around his paws like a cat, muzzle partly open in a canine grin. “Well met, Ptesanwi.”

Oh crud, with him there I'm guessing Parent's Day is going to have more excitement than 'Aunt June' attacking Imp.

“Why, all of them, of course. All will want to hear the wisdom of the Ptesanwi, the one who knows better than they how to live their own life.”

I sometimes wish I could trick him off a cliff.

Ugh, trying to goad Kayda like this, saying she is making decisions for everyone. And him bringing racism into it, I thought Coyote was more clever than this.

“So certain are you!” chuckled Coyote. “I wonder what the lovely Danica would say to such claims? She is mourning her manhood today, isn't she? Shall I call her to hear her tell us how well her sister looks out for her?”

“I didn't make Danny host Wihinape!” Kayda countered sternly. “And I surely wasn't going to inflict what I went through on a daughter I might have had with Lanie!”

Using Danica like that, really hating Coyote right now.

"And so you seized that power, wrapped yourself in a cloak of self-sacrifice and damn the consequences to anyone else!" the spirit continued as if Kayda hadn't interrupted. "What is your brother's manhood to you being the Ptesanwi?!” The grin got wider and a bit nasty. “But now you blame me for what you did to your own brother?”

Now this is just monstrous, beyond manipulative imo.

Blaming her for what happened to Danny/Danica, either choice was horrible in its own way and yet he is tormenting her for it. Calling her self-centered for making the choice she did, ugh.

The spirit stood, it's eyes fierce and burning. “Torment? Woe to you should I wash my paws of your best interest, Ptesanwi, and show you the full measure of torment the Trickster of the Tribe is capable of.”

No matter what aid he gives, the way he goes about it still ticks me off.

The spirit stepped forward, his breath hot and foul of carrion and rotting meat. “Know this, Ptesanwi, Kigatilik, Eater of Shamans, Warrior of the Claw People stalks your spoor. I, great liar that I am, helped your Cuwe and the Princess destroy his astral form, but he had manifested once more his physical form. Or were you and your wise teachers unaware that the freak snowstorm was a consequence of him pushing part of himself back into the physical world?" Kayda started at that new information; she'd have to relay that to Mrs. Carson and the magic arts staff.

All this to inform her of the threat, why mess with her about Danny? And now she apologizes to Danny and explains to him what happened, guess this was the point. Still, sometimes he is too brutal in his lessons.

Tansy being introduced by Angie to her team, Team Awesome. Gene McDonald saying Angie is telling fibs, that boy needs a lesson in manners from his mom who is right behind him.

“Gene, what have I told you about picking on Angie?” she demanded in a fair approximation of Mrs Carson's Stern Voice of Supreme Authority. The ten year old got nose to nose with Tansy, no small feet as she was currently six foot two thanks to her shoes. On Gene, the effect was somewhat comical as his proportions didn't change and he looked like an enormous little kid, not a young man of six foot two.

“You're not...”

“Gene,” Tansy repeated, her voice a better impersonation and just a hint of uncertainty and doubt washed over the boy.

“Sorry, Miss Walcutt,” he mumbled in a surly tone and shrank back down to his normal size. The woman arrived and offered her hand.

Good to see that boy taught a lesson.

“Goodness, can you teach me that!” she asked with a harrowed smile. “Tammy McDonald.”

Guess his mom knows what a pain he can be.

Team Awesome showing off for their parents, now that is a show.

Tansy smiled lightly. “A bit, but then Angelina’s parents didn’t make it. She doesn’t know, and every year someone plays surrogate parent for her. She’s a handful, but she’s a sweetheart.”

Mrs. Mahran talking about Erik, offering to keep an eye on Angie while trying to keep her mind off how Erik died, ouch. At least she has Miranda and her oldest daughter, plus I hope she learns the truth about Erik.

Ouch, Tansy spotting Caitlin's pained expression, Tansy feeling real pain and seeing Caitlin crying before she stalks off to Arena 99. This mess needs to be fixed already.

“Sure, Mommy!” Angie declared brightly and jumped up to grab Tansy around her neck and pull her down enough to kiss her cheek. “You're the best Mommy ever!” Basking in the feeling of completely unreserved love and joy from the girl, Tansy swept her up into her arms and gave her a twirl before returning her to her feet. Giggling, Angie hugged her and then ran back to Miranda.

Dang, got me tearing up here. At least Tansy heeds Mustang's advice, right now Caitlin would need one or more of the Outcasts to comfort her.

Lanie cleaning the dishes when Marty shows up to talk.

Marty joined her at the window and began to sort her own dishes. “My, uh, my dad wants to meet you. It...well, it might get a little embarrassing. He...look, I never got a chance to say this, but NYPD changed their uniforms to a kevra weave last year, and...and my dad was the first officer that was shot in one, and it saved his life.” Marty dropped the tray and swept her friend into a hug. “You saved my dad's life, Lanie! Thank you so much!”

It's not just anything, we need more inventors who create things to protect lives rather than take them.

Butter yellow hair and blue eyes like Marty, and nervous about talking to Lanie.

“I...uh...well, I wanted to say thank you,” the older man told her, his manner becoming more sure as he retold an old story. “That shi...stuff you made, kevra, well, the Department changed our uniforms last year to ones made out of it and a lot of the guys, me included to be honest, got kind of...uh...well, we complained that folks were just getting by and new uniforms were expensive. That was before I took a pair of shot gun slugs to the chest. That shirt saved my life.”

Whoa, kevra is better than I previously thought, uniforms made out of it and it stopped shotgun shells. Thought it was a vest worn under the uniform before now.

“No, hear me out, little lady, this is hard enough,” he replied with a somewhat roguish smile. “And not just my life. Twenty two guys have been shot so far since we went to the new uniforms. Guys with families they got to go home to because of you. We can't tell you how great it is to not have to shove a vest carrier under clothes with plates. Its hot, it doesn't let you move, it doesn't breath, they're a nightmare. A lot of guys wouldn't wear them because of it. Guys that aren't with us any more. But this thing of yours, it's just like a regular shirt! It's amazing!”

More and more I wish kevra existed in the real world.

Now that is a gift of respect and honor from police, a custom badge in gold and the jeweler saved by one of her kevra Under Armor shirts as well and added a ruby. That is just awesome.

A tear escaped Elaine's eye and rolled down her cheek. “Ah...Ah am overwhelmed, Mr Penn! Ah have never been so honored in mah life.”

“It was the least we could do,” he told her firmly.

So glad Lanie gets to see the good her invention has done.

How dare that blonde whore try this? He seethed as he took out his phone and angrily gave it his pass code. How did she get out of Ash Grove Assisted Living without my authorization?

Is it wrong to wish lightning would strike Theodore Walcutt dead? Seigel and Theo's law firm already trying to worm his way out of this, they are going to regret that. Properly schooled in her place once more, okay, death by lightning is too good for him. Boiling oil, tar and feather, then dropped in lava. Order for counseling, he is going to try and have her brainwashed! And after what he just said about Marissa and Tansy, slow torture using a healer to keep him alive seems a good fate for Theo now. Calling someone like Mr. Lewis, he may as well sign his own death warrant.

And Wyatt finally talks to his mother about the divorce. Catherine only stayed with him, planning to divorce when Wyatt graduated. His father is an alcoholic, they live in the most desolate town on planet Earth, his and the sigh indicates a lot more issues. Live with her parents until back on her feet and interview at Mercy Hospital in San Francisco, she has a plan. Wyatt having to think about visiting her with Lanie for the summer, *sigh*

Action Tactical, Inc. headquarters, the same guys Tansy hired for that job. Arthur Lewis, checking out nearly a hundred new hires they need for a huge contract with H Folmer & Co.

What was more troubling was why Mr. Walcutt suddenly needed him to deal with his daughter. Something had changed the family dynamic in a major way.

Good, maybe he will find out what is going on and reject Theo's contract, bad for future business with Tansy. Hope those orders given to the operative at Whateley are in Tansy and her mother's favor, otherwise, Arthur Lewis and Action Tactical, Inc. are looking down the barrels of messing with Whateley neutrality by targetting a member of the staff.

Marty on Cloud 9 after actually meeting Stephen's parents, she's got a great guy in Stephen.

“I swear,” came Naomi's voice from across the room. “If you keep me up all night again moaning his name in those pornos you call dreams, I will dump a bucket of ice water on you.”

Talking about her relationship with Evie, not wish to be lated to Loophole, now that is just mean. Bwahahaha, the way this conversation goes, and boys wonder if girls talk amongst themselves like they do.

Tansy and Jadis in Dickinson Cottage, Room 502, drinking wine. Ms. Hartford turned Tansy onto this particular wine, whoa. And Jadis asking if the rumors about Lanie and Tansy are true, hehe. Admitting she loves Lanie and Wyatt, that is a big step.

Tansy shrugged and took another sip of wine. “Maybe it's true what they say about the link between suppressed desire and homophobia. I won't say I'm attracted to every girl, but Lanie and I have something very special. What about you? I hear young Mr Fields is very taken with you...”

Bobby Earl has a crush on Jadis, I would love for them to get together.

Ouch, shooting him down because she doesn't think he is smart enough for her. Jill Harris, wearing a school grounds keeper's uniform, shows up to talk to Tansy.

Finally, Miss Harris nodded. “Miss Walcutt, I'm with Action Tactical, placed here to keep a protective eye on you.” Jadis noted Tansy's shoulders immediately square up and her weight shifted to present a blade angle of her body to the grounds keeper. Jill noted it too, confirming Jadis' opinion she was much more dangerous than she looked, as she deliberately stepped back a pace and kept her hands up, but in a gesture of submission. “I'm breaking cover, ma'am, on the express orders of my employer to give you a message.”

Wasn't expecting Arthur Lewis to go this route.

“Arthur Lewis, ma'am,” the veteran, for she could be nothing else, replied. “He told me to inform you that your father attempted to contract us to abduct you and return you to his residence in New York. Also that Mr Lewis is specifically declining that contract, and future work with Mr Walcutt and, if you and your friend, will keep this meeting discrete and my cover intact, that I am to continue to keep an eye on you for your own protection. In addition to warn you that as we have declined to accept this contract, it is likely your father will pursue other means of accomplishing this.”

And Jadis saying it is a family matter, no charge for confidentiality.

Whoa, Jill Marine is a badass, Tansy setting up contact protocol with her is smart. And Tansy tells Ms. Hartford about this new development, I think Theo has signed his own death warrant at this point.

Cyberkitty in a conference room she was directed to by Ms. Claire, a meeting with Ms. Hartford. Ooo, calling in the big guns on Theo, goodie.

“Frequently, we as hackers are given simple assignments or contracts, acquiring data from secure databases, monitoring networks or conducting intrusion or counter intrusion drills. While we have gone over a number of these so far, I'm introducing you today to one of the more interesting jobs as a Hacker. There will be times when your principal is targeting a specific person and has engaged your creativity to punish them for some transgression.”

Engage her creativity, now this is going to be good. Humiliation public to sting at their pride and vanity, yes, destroy Theo!

Donner turned the photograph and read the caption underneath it. “Theodore Darryl Walcutt?” She asked, mildly curious. “Any relation to Tansy?”

“Her father,” Ms Hartford replied. “You're going to destroy him.”

A smile spread across Paige's face. “Cool...”

I loved this story from start to finish. All the interactions with the parents, how Lanie's father reacted to the news and his talk with her showing he is a wonderful father, Tansy with her mom and grandparents, with Angie, Marty meeting the Nalleys and having her worries and fears put away. Just everything we got to see happen. And that last part with Cyberkitty and Ms. Hartford, can't wait to see the results of the semester project.

Liz looked at her daughter sidelong. “You know, Shelly, Parent's day is for you too.”

The grin on Shelly's face widened. “Mom, seriously, what can I show you that you don't know about this school? You're busy, it's cool...”

Besides you already got the 364/5 other days to go, so don't sweat it too much.

Mrs Carson's dismay was apocalyptic. “Hot chocolate without marshmallows?” she demanded. “That's...un-American!” The two women shared a giggle and headed back towards the offices on the second floor. “You know, you never told me how your summer was with your father?”

Yankees barbarians.

“About what?” Elizabeth asked as she led the way into her office. Shelly settled onto the couch with her mother next to her and had a little battle as her mother poured out the hot beverage. Her Mom's hot chocolate had always been made from unsweetened raw Coco Powder, adding her own sugar, vanilla extract and used hot milk instead of water. She had given the recipe to the kitchen staff and it was now the way it was made for the entire school to rave reviews. Shelly took a sip and let the warmth of the rich taste remind her of things her new peers had never experienced, Saturday morning cartoons, boy bands and the oh so traditional family Christmas' her mother had insisted on.

Barbarians. Do this to some poor innocent cocoa.

“Hugh was the most stubborn man I have ever met,” Liz told her with a smile. “That's how we met. I was at this little bar down in Berlin and he was delivering a batch of his cider when our eyes met and he walked away from the owner, mid-sentence, strolled right up to me and declared, 'You're going to be my wife! You want to fight it or just come with me over to the Justice of the Peace now? I'm Hugh Wells by the way,' and he actually stuck out his hand to be shook!” Liz shook her head. “In all my years of being in the super hero business I have never met an ego to match Hugh Wells.”

Dunno why, but I'm getting the wild impression we're missing a lot by not having this guy in the story... How hard is resurrection here?

Legalities about dimensional snatching

Is there anything law won't conquer and categorize someday?

Liz sighed. “Shelly, the government was never really in the bedroom in the first place. Take it from me, laws don't stop human behavior, they merely define what is beyond the pale. Men and women have been...enjoying each other's company outside of wedlock for a while now. Look up the Romans some time if you want your eyes opened. While the laws criminalizing homosexual relations did need to be repealed, the people pushing the so-called 'sexual revolution' didn't want equality, or justice, they wanted sex without consequences. Now we have little boys, playing at being men, who want to use us, but not take responsibility for their actions. That isn't love, my darling, and it certainly isn't an improvement.”

I remember a Dresden Files short story where the monster specifically needed a virgin. Dresden assumed it would be harder to find today. Cue his partner of the moment saying people have always been the same... Except they're much more numerous today.

Shelly squirmed in her seat. “Well, I guess I see your point, mom. I wish I could have known him.”

Liz looked away, her mind's eye in at her memory. “So do I, Shelly. So do I.”

Dawwww.

“Won't the Nalley's be crowded with Marty going down too?” Marissa asked as the car arrived and they entered it.

Naaah, it will just be a Drama overload, leading to probable troubles and fighting with monsters or something. Nothing too serious.

“My granddaughter tells me your daughter saved her life, and from what little I know, I do know that is not hyperbole,” Daniel replied gravely. “You all have a logistics issue, I have an embarrassingly large bank account and a somewhat empty house. My wife and I would be honored if you would allow us the pleasure of hosting all of you for Thanksgiving at our home in Boston.”

Do not expet this house intact by the end of the day. Just a hunch.

Stephen was not amused. “That too. He also said, “An adventure is reading about unpleasant things happening to other people.”

And given all the other people who will be around... Oops.

Her parents would be here soon. She smiled as she thought of seeing her mother and father again, and how different the start of this school year was to last year. Her hopes and dreams were so very different now than they had been. More importantly, she no longer felt like she didn't fit in, or insecure about her friends. That had been a huge accomplishment, with lots of help from Tansy and Lanie.

Kayda is happy. Cue–

“Life has a tendency to change our dreams,” an all too familiar voice purred behind her, sending chills down her spine. Kayda stood and turned, seeing Coyote sitting on the floor between her bed and Chou's, tail curled primly around his paws like a cat, muzzle partly open in a canine grin. “Well met, Ptesanwi.”

At least me finish my phrase, degenrate wanker. Calm down, Hardric, you had two rants about the guy, you can do it.

The spirit's dark eyes narrowed. “Does the Ptesanwi wish to play word games with us?” he demanded. “Why, I am hardly worthy to count coup with the chosen of Wakan Tanka! Or, should I say that the other way around?”

Remember the rants, not exploding... Om mani padme hm... Not howling about the blatant hypocrisy of the wanker...

The spirit blinked and cocked his head to one side. “A better question is why didn't you tell him,”

That one is piss easy. You didn't let her the time to try, because you needed an extra shot of sick fun, Lord of Hypocrisy, neither did you let her try to piece the truth together alone either... Eh, I thought you favor– Oh right, Lord of Fucking Hypocrisy.

The room grew dark and thunder rolled in the distance. “I do not lie, Ptesanwi,”

You lie constantly, hypocrite wanker and master of passive aggressive funk. I'm never drinking that fucking Kool-Aid.

“You...you're right. I am sorry for my words spoken in haste and anger. I ask your forgiveness, Coyote.”

The moment I couldn't contain first rant anymore. Because everyone has to suck up Wile E Coyote maggots rotten balls up in the ned, because he"'s always perfect and Always Right... What the fuck people see about this thing, is constant assholery married with total hypocrisy and absolute immunity and Plot Device Status making it so endearing for them exactly?

The spirit stepped forward, his breath hot and foul of carrion and rotting meat. “Know this, Ptesanwi, Kigatilik, Eater of Shamans, Warrior of the Claw People stalks your spoor. I, great liar that I am, helped your Cuwe and the Princess destroy his astral form, but he had manifested once more his physical form. Or were you and your wise teachers unaware that the freak snowstorm was a consequence of him pushing part of himself back into the physical world?" Kayda started at that new information; she'd have to relay that to Mrs. Carson and the magic arts staff.

...Fuck it, the hate isn't going away.
1) You already said that to Carson, wanker, so piss off with the lies. And I want to believe you didn't overtake the plot so much they're still allowed to be skilled and do their fucking job without you micromanaging everything.
2) Wait a second, no discreet warning to mystic students about signaling Fishy Things when there are chances of them being first targets of Kigabidule? Fuck, at least try to prove me Coyote isn't the black hole swallowing plot and competence here. Especially when Kayda has this 'First Fucking Likely Target' neon panel over her head. And where the fuck is Lodgeman? I swear, if calling up the corpse-fucker wanker was his idea, my respect for him will be plummeting harder and faster than the one I had for Englund before/after Halloween, and he wasn't exactly someone I was worshipping back then...
3) I notice you only consent to dole over this warning in the most condescending and assholish way after the person you're fucking with has duely sucked up your rotten balls and once again established you're Perfect and Always Right. Why the fuck are we exactly supposed to thing it endearing already?

“I...uh...had it brought to my attention that some of the decisions I made, well...I guess they had some splash damage on you. And I'm sorry for any part I had in it.”

“Huh?”

Kayda sighed and sank onto her bed, pulling her sister down with her. “Sit down. This will take a while.”

And any emotional value this scene should have had was utterly destroyed because it was all a Coyote Interrupt, and no proper character development to be proud of... And people applaud this... I just don't understand...

Like thinking about how Erik died. Tansy couldn’t help feel the thought pass as they got close to Hawthorne just as one of the Outcasts, the tall, cobalt-tattoed amazon that ran with the Hooligans was leaving.

“I honestly don’t mind tagging along. Angelina’s a sweetheart, and she could use a big sis if nothing else.”

“I think you’ll do well.”

Irony, how cruel can you be sometimes...

Tansy saw, and Natalie did not, the agonized, thunderstruck expression on Caitlin’s face as they walked past her into Hawthorne. It was not an expression that the rager girl was known for and, for a brief instant, tansy felt real pain, and saw the tears forming before the tattooed girl snarled silently and stalked towards Arena 99.

Really cruel.

“No, hear me out, little lady, this is hard enough,”

Yea, Elaine, the way the guy behaved so far, you're being gifted a priceless treasure here... Yup, quite a big deal here.

“Not to worry, Theo, I'm already texting my secretary to get one of the family law junior partners your contact information. Even with your assets frozen we have set up sufficient shell management corporations that you won't be inconvenienced. Is she out for blood, or would she consider a settlement?”

“We put her in a mental hospital for ten years,” Walcutt replied drolly.

Yeah, expect the Piranha treatment there...

“I want the bitch on her knees in front of me,” Walcutt replied. “Right where she belongs. I've invested too much time with Tansy to lose her now. I want them both under my thumb, Seigel. Make it happen and there is a very healthy bonus in it for you.”

Barf. Also, what's up with villains in this 'verse? Because the level of delusion they all share about life, their fauilures and plans is getting pretty big...

Amy presented him with the drink she had made, her face in a pout. “But, Teddy, baby, what about me?”

Not half the pro golddigger desribed. Hit abort, now.

Catherine sighed and gestured to an empty table they both settled at. “Wyatt, you're not blind,” she declared softly, looking him squarely in the eye. “You must know your father and I haven't really been a married couple for years. We stayed together for you to finish school, which you would have last spring, were it not for this new wrinkle.” She clasped her hands in front of her and shook her head. “I have had enough of your father's alcoholism, living in the most desolate town on planet Earth, his...” She sighed. “Baby, I love you, and I am so proud of the man you have grown up to become. Nothing will change that.”

... Could be worst on several levels.

Wyatt Cody frowned and started to think.

Good luck with that. I was older, and had a few years, still not reaching any big conclusions here... Unless Bedisde Rug has some 'wisdom' to lord over here by chance?

Unlike her father, Miss Walcutt was content to hire professionals and allow them to be experts; she had a well visualized goal and then took a very hands off approach to allow him and his people to achieve that goal. She was also young, and the possibility of repeat business from her was certainly greater than the same odds from Mr. Walcutt.

Jeez, treating employees well get side benefits. Heavens to murgatroyd, what a complete and utter surprise.

Marty's little discussion with friends...

How efficient is contraception for Examplars again? Because I'm seeing many, many nephews and nieces in Elaine, Tansy, and Wyatt's future...

Jadis arched an eyebrow at her friend. “Ms Hartford?” she demanded. “The Assistant Headmistress introduced you, an under aged teenage girl, to a wine?” Tansy made a dismissive gesture.

Pretty sure I just heard a Law of the Universe break just now.

The Super villian's daughter laughed and shook her head. “My own so-called Romantic Life is enough of a shambles, I'm not walking into that minefield! I do have to say I'm surprised, Tans, especially after the way you carried on about...”

Wow, guess the friendship is going really well for mentionning this sort of things...

She took a sip and made a dismissive gesture. “Fine, fine, yes, he's not a brick, but...just...no, alright?”

Aim for the throat, Tansy... Menttion Nightdork.

“Arthur Lewis, ma'am,” the veteran, for she could be nothing else, replied. “He told me to inform you that your father attempted to contract us to abduct you and return you to his residence in New York. Also that Mr Lewis is specifically declining that contract, and future work with Mr Walcutt and, if you and your friend, will keep this meeting discrete and my cover intact, that I am to continue to keep an eye on you for your own protection. In addition to warn you that as we have declined to accept this contract, it is likely your father will pursue other means of accomplishing this.”

Score another one for the Diabolik Way of treating minions. Not that it needs another point to demonstrate its superiority.

“Ms. Hartford? Sorry to bother you at this hour. I have some news you need to be aware of.”

... How do you want your dad prepared? Steak, roasted, grilled, carpacchio... ?

Amelia nodded. “That's right. Many times a client will want someone to suffer, but leave the details completely up to you. Its important that you establish yourself as someone not only competent, but with a suitable sense of style that will enhance your reputation. Both as a dependable operator, but also someone with a flare for the dramatic who can accomplish your client's goals with the suitable...eh...Joie de vivre that the client is completely satisfied.”

Take notes Kitty, you're introduece to the true core purpose of hacking there....

“We're going to study a recent example of such a feat and then we'll conduct a practical exercise.” Paige picked up the folder and opened it, reading over the pictures there. “So, have you ever heard of James Melville Hooper?” Paige shook her head. “He was recently ruined in a tried, but ever popular manner, child pornography. We're going to examine this hack, what could have been done differently and then we'll move on to our project for the remainder of the semester.”

Donner turned the photograph and read the caption underneath it. “Theodore Darryl Walcutt?” She asked, mildly curious. “Any relation to Tansy?”

“Her father,” Ms Hartford replied. “You're going to destroy him.”

A smile spread across Paige's face. “Cool...”

Hey, leave some juicy bits to Marissa people... Man is that total overkill for– Oh right, Rule Zero of Dresdenverse: Overkill doesn't exist. Also, Yay or Cyberkitty. A sign of her being the Blue Ghost of Evil Genius?