Question All Hallows Ball

Well, now we know a bit about Gen2...

And I need to refresh on Gen2 to see what they know about what's really going on...

Oh, and even more about Gen2's sitch with Elaine, and Laneth and stuff, beyond the obvious black mirror thing!

October 30th, 2007 A Forgotten Lab, Whateley Academy Tunnel System

Nimbus is in on the campus and has pulled an avatar spirit from its host using a mechanical device! Who is the young woman he is going to test this device on? A college student kidnapped by a rented Syndicate agent for Nimbus, hating him more and more. He has her under a thrall spell, kill him with fire! What he has done to this girl, he is a monster who deserves torment before he dies.

Poor Susan, that thrall spell is pure evil, if only she could be freed from it as those Hekate had under it were. That mirror, the one the twins saw in the tunnels in Gen 2 from its description. And he created it to rip spirits out of avatars, sickening.

There it will stay until I have stolen every avatar spirit on this campus and compress them all into a single, all powerful Force. The Nimbus Force, which only I will control! I will become a god!”

Okay, not only is he evil, but insane as well. And what he will do if she dies, Nimbus needs to be put down like a rabid dog.

Those lyrics sound like someone has had enough and is standing up to false accusations.

The National Museum of American History, The Smithsonian Complex, Washington, DC

Magical artifacts rumored to be Atlantean, wish I could go to this version of the Smithsonian. Tansy is there is a sim, interesting. Lanie in that form with that outfit on, hehe.

She was wearing the new costume Tansy had helped her make, swapping the mini-dress and beads for a tunic and pants. While the outfit was made to look like buckskin, it was actually Kevra with Cemakote and leather accents.

It was also skin tight.

Kayda should be glad they are in the sims for this or there would be an audience. At least her face is obscured. Bwahahaha, love how they can tease each other this way and still be friends, one of my favorite things about Lanie and Kayda.

Voice of Hartford to get them back on mission, rats, was enjoying the banter. New codenames for their work with the Committee, She-Bear for Lanie, good grief. And the argument between Hartford and Kayda about her new codename, yikes. And no wonder Kayda argued against it so much, Coyote as a codename, seesh, Hartford could have gone with a different Native American spirit for a codename.

Closed museum so what is the mission? Okay, outfits like that, this man and woman are obviously thieves, what woman in her right mind except for cosplay maybe would wear medieval armor like that. Knight and Daze, great, they are a pun-themed name combo. Dazzle Uniform, bragging about it only to get kicked in the groin, classic. Ouch, blasted right in the nose by one of Tansy's pistols and got a broken nose, Knight needs to learn to never underestimate your opponent.

Darn, Daze is more competent than first thought, taking Tansy's battery packs for her pistols and her spares as well. A brutal move by Tansy, that elbow would take a normal person at least several weeks to months to heal after that. Broken nose, broken elbow, and now broken knee all from Tansy, if I were Knight I would surrender at this point. Oops, Lanie would have killed Knight if this were real or at least put her in critical condition.

"Investigate the alarm, patrol the building and report,” Tansy replied sullenly.

*sigh* They had to take down the thieves despite orders.

Elaine's face flushed. “Look, what happened in the sim was an accident, she just fell where...anyway, yes, if someone were to try and kill Tansy or Kayda Ah will gut them like trout!”

Hartford's face was a mask of suppressed fury. “This is no longer a request. From here you will report to Dr Geintz in Hawthorne and set up a schedule of counseling sessions to deal with your anger issues and your inability to scale your attacks properly.”

About time someone realized Lanie needs help with her anger issues, they have only gotten worse without help. Tansy in armor and going to see Ito, oh boy, more fun. Now, who is Hartford calling?

Basement, Hawthorne Cottage

Boy, Mr. Geintz set-up is getting better down there. And tea made since he was expecting Lanie, most considerate teacher and therapist I've ever seen. Spinoza has some sage advice more could learn from nowadays.

The swarthy face split into a smile. “Yes, I can and feel as well. I'm so affectatious that I have all of this for show,” he said with a vague gesture at the books. Shaking his head ruefully he added, “I likely would have gone mad if I could not escape that glass prison and get to experience at least some aspects of life. But, my shortcomings are not what we are here to discuss.”

Always thought that was how his projections worked, not much use for interacting as we've seen without it. Control and harness her temper for productive ends, once she does look out. Wish more therapists were like him, nice to see Lanie getting help. And a nice quote from Sir Francis Bacon I loved that.

Room 211, Poe Cottage

There were times the realism in the sims, and her memory, were too good and the memory of the horrific death of Knight gnawed at her the way none of the sims ever had before.

Ouch, Kayda still reeling from that one. Wakan Tanka having a talk with Kayda about fighting against her nature, how she is a shaman.

“You have no place in the war party. Your hand will always find the handle of the tomahawk uncomfortable. You dance the ritual that ensures the hunt, you chant the magic that heals the sick, you beat the drum that call The People to Council Tent to pass the peace pipe and sheath their knives.” The intense gaze turned away, back to the gourd. “Your feet do not walk the War Path.”

“I'm not a pacifist!” Kayda protested. “I won't stand by and let people hurt my friends when I can stop it.”

“Use your mouth to stop it,” the Ptesanwi ordered her. “Not your fist! Wisdom is your club, words your arrows and knowledge is the strength of a shaman. And you are not just a shaman, Wihakayda, you are the shaman, first among equals at the fire circle, it is your voice that others must heed.”

All this may be true, but sometimes it seems like the world has moved on and Wakan Tanka still believes it has barely changed.

Talk of making a future for the People, how the stars could be that future, if only.

“Would you rather stay here, or move on to something better?” demanded Kayda, with her hands on her hips. “And how much of this is our fault? Did the Great White Father dump all of this trash on the ground or did we do that? Does the Cavalry still keep us here or can we go out and attend schools and learn skills and trades? We point one finger at the white man for our ills but four others point back at us! No matter how much we may hate it, the past we lived, that life we lived is gone and it cannot come back! We can sit in this filth or we can get up and make something of ourselves!” The Ptesanwi smiled as she looked at her host and once more they were in the idyllic village.

Now that is the Kayda I enjoy reading about.

Caressing her cheek, the Ptesanwi beamed at Kayda. “That is the way of the shaman! While we cannot forget the past, we cannot return to it either,” she said sadly, but with pride. Her smile turned a bit sad as she brought up her other hand and held Kayda's face. “I had hoped that by joining with you, not the child of yours and the Pict Daughter, that some of the belligerence and stubbornness of her blood could be avoided, but now I see the real source of that fire.”

She thought the source of fire was from Lanie, not from Kayda's side, hehehe. I have to agree with Kayda, a kid of hers and Lanie's, I doubt even Jade could handle babysitting her.

She sat back and raised both hands in surrender. “On your own head.”

Just like a frustrated mother who has to let their child grow up despite the mistakes she knows they will make. Nice new haircut for Kayda, when Debra sees her again, hehe.

Room 210 Poe Cottage

Ancestress' clothing and can see the tattoos her experiences had bequeathed upon her, don't let Wyatt see you in that Lanie. And with Laneth and seeing what she wore more often a green kirtle dress. A dress made by her mother for her 16th birthday, now that is a huge present back then.

The Banshee frowned. “What? Nursing? You'll know soon enough.” She smiled and gently separated the infant from her to hold her up and pat her back.

Does Laneth know something about Lanie we don't know?

Laneth pulled cheap pranks back in her day, figures, Lanie has some of that impish nature herself. Choose between being a warrior or a mother, fat chance of that, Lanie is too stubborn. Laneth touched Lanie is wearing the clothing to honor her, but Grizzly has something to talk with Lanie about, oh boy.

The human Amazon melted away into the huge brown bear that enveloped her host in a massive hug. “Because I am worried about you!” the spirit declared. “Laneth daughter of Joan is dead, my love, and has been for over a thousand years!”

“But she...Ah...it was mah soul in that life...”

“And that life is over, child,” Grizzly scolded her. She pressed the end of her muzzle against Elaine's forehead in a wet nosed kiss of the human in her arms and her dark eyes were watery and sad. “Yet you keep calling her up, like you are keeping her separate from you. A different person in your body, that isn't healthy.”

“You told me it would do me good to remember her life.”

“There is a fine line between remembering and reliving, dear heart,” Grizzly replied. The she bear sighed and as gently as a mother caressed the young girl's cheek with her massive paw. “Lanie, multiple personality disorder is a very real thing. I am being concerned how 'real' Laneth feels to you.”

Lanie grinned and gently touched the nose of her spirit. “Said the voice in mah head!

Uh oh, this sounds bad for Lanie if she doesn't give up calling up Laneth like this. Compartmentalizing herself, yikes. I hope Grizzly can get through to Lanie how dangerous this can be to her mental health.

October 31st, (Just Barely) 2007. 100 Year Oak, the back quad behind Schuster Hall

Tansy hiding from security in the 100 Year Oak, taking medicine to ease her painful muscles, Ito can be brutal. And slipping out of her holds that easily and hitting her with nerve strikes, ouch.

Then, after keeping her well after curfew, had slyly informed her he would not be giving her a pass and if she was caught on the way to her cottage he would double the detention. Which wasn't in itself so bad, kids sneaked around this campus all the time. Then, with that my shit doesn't stink grin of his he had reached up and tripped the fire alarm.

Ito, you [self-censors this portion].

Darn, enjoying flying only for 3rd Patrol to show up, takes all the fun out of sneaking around. A trap set up for her by Ito, he plays hardball. A fine kettle of fish, don't hear that expression often. Ooo, help from Jill Harris, this is going to be fun.

By the time the Ketoprofen had taken most of the ache from her muscles, a tremendous fireball rose up from the little shed behind Melville Cottage that the groundskeepers used to store fuel oil mixtures for their tools. Bellow her, she saw the guards, despite their challenged ethics immediately turn to the explosion and start to run towards it.

Now that is a diversion of the top order.

All the way to Dickenson's roof and to the stairs inside, only for someone to catch her at last moment, darn it! And it is Imp, figures only she would be on a rooftop this late at night, is she in on this with Ito or what. Darn it, Imp was part of the test by Ito, that is over the top.

The Imp's face grinned a sly grin. “She can be taught!” The teacher admitted as she gave the girl a long, appraising glance. “Hartford asked that I give you some coaching on your escape and evasion tactics, and I wanted to see what you could do first. And for a solid from one of the best hackers in the world, why not?”

So Imp is who Hartford called earlier.

“I have no doubt you could break into any bank or home I own,” Tansy replied. “Of course, the bank is FDIC guaranteed and everything I own is insured for at least three times what it is really worth, so that won't exactly hurt me.”

The demonic yellow eyes narrowed. “Is that a challenge, Blondie?”

Tansy is smart enough not to make The Imp a personal enemy, only idiots and the arrogant do that. A visit to Dr. Hewley and find out what Tansy's real exemplar rating is, about time.

“And Blondie, don't make the mistake of trying to fool me. Being lied to makes me angry. Miss Walcutt, don't make me angry; you wouldn't like me when I'm angry.”

Walcutt blinked in confusion. “You...turn into a six and half foot tall green rage monster? You don't look like Bill Bixby...”

Ah, a fan of the old Hulk TV show. And Imp lets Tansy off by not rating her out to Ito about failing the test, very nice.

October 31st, 2007. 3rd Floor Rest Room, Twain Cottage

Adam Lambert, hair on his head grown back that quickly and stains nearly out of his skin, that is awesome.

His bank account had a nice infusion of cash now that the patent for his 'Grease Skin' had been leased by Johnson and Johnson. He was told that it was a godsend to burn victims and being proud of helping his fellow man was doing wonders for his self confidence.

Now that is what I like to hear, an invention that helps people, especially victims. And Prue as his girlfriend, hope things keep getting better for Adam.

*sigh* No one believes Peeper's about the glasses that block his powers which Tansy bought him, she is going to have to make a public announcement for him to be believed, isn't she. John trying to apologize to Adam, yet he really doesn't accept it and starts to storm off. When Jericho stops you to say you being kinda harsh, you have gone too far.

Jericho's expression didn't change. “No, brother, I think you can do better when somebody is trying to apologize. I mean, if you're just going to be a dick, why bother not hanging around with Peeper, right?”

Adam frowned, but couldn't argue the bigger boy's logic. “That hurts, Joe.”

And got Adam to actually listen to John, about time, the healing needs to begin.

Headmistress's Office, Schuster Hall

Reverend Englund called in to talk with Mrs. Carson, eep.

“Perhaps,” she admitted, walking over to her desk and sinking into the chair behind it. “But when forgiveness is abused as a means by the wicked to do additional harm, well, that is usually used as a justification for all manner of unspeakable actions. Wouldn't you agree, Reverend?”

Anything happens and Englund is involved, I don't think he would survive what Mrs. Carson would do.

The temperature in the office cooled noticeably by the Headmistress' gaze. “Absolutely, Reverend,” she whispered. “Because while I believed that you had seen the error of your actions last year, and that you intended to correct the faults of your character that led you to make such a horrendous mistake, I must admit that my judgment has failed me from time to time. I am, only human, after all and I can be deceived.”

And here is why no one messes with Mrs. Carson once they learn their lesson, she is terrifying when angry or her ire is rose.

“Don't quote philosophy to me, Reverend,” she ordered quietly. “This is your warning. And as I respect you as a person, as one of the founders of this school and one of its oldest serving Trustees I give you this warning which I might not have otherwise. If there is a repeat of what happened last year, Reverend, or if I found out that you had anything to do with Sara Waite's disappearance, understand that there is nowhere on this Earth you will be able to hide from me.”

As I said, I'm not sure even an Eldritch horror would look her in the eye when she is like this. Glad this ended well, this is the scariest I think we have ever seen Mrs. Carson be and I don't want to see it again any time soon.

John H. Sununu Youth Services Center, Concord, New Hampshire

Ed 'Quickdraw' Rutherford, staying at the state's largest Juvie detention center and called over by a guard. All those to hobble him, despite his plea deal he is being sent to FCI Berlin, an adult prison. After he murdered Jamie as part of his buddy's plan, hard to pity him. His lawyer getting paid for it, wait, don't tell me Nimbus is behind this!

Ed beheld a sinister looking man, dressed rather like a wizard, robe like flowing coat and a completely black stocking over his head, under the hat.

Great, attack on the van and breaking out Quickdraw. Nimbus needs to get a new costume.

“And I'm going to help you get revenge on Darren Haskins and everyone else at Whateley, Quickdraw. Or, you can stay here, be transferred to an adult prison and take the fall for those two dead guards. Your choice.”

Quickdraw was set up to take the fall or work with Nimbus, yet he willingly works with him for a chance at revenge on his old partner Speakeasy and the rest of Whateley, a piece of work this kid.

Think of it as thrift, As a gift, If you get my drift!

Spirit Chan lives!

Lyrics involving pain heading someone's way, eep.

October 31st, 2007
Room 211, Poe Cottage, Whateley Academy

Kayda coming back from the showers to find Chou let Danny into their dorm room, annoyed because she doesn't wish to change in front of him while Danny is male. Now that is a cold October, brrh. Math help and Mrs. Bell is having them do Game Theory, good grief.

Bwahaha, love the book Peggy loaned Danny/Dani, The Last Ride of Black Jack Kingston, plus Kayda's reaction to the picture of the people in the story, eerie. Oh brother, having to get permission to be tutored, that is just silly imo.

Path between Emerson Cottage and the Crystal Hall

David Archer with the Bad Boys, only working with him because he promised they could beat up the 'fags' of the school, a bunch of bigoted idiots. And now they are thinking of using the Halloween Ball so they can be in disguise and attack with impunity, I hope they get sent to Doyle!

Woods north west of Laird Hall

Maggie creeping through the wood line, this is very bad.

It was not by accident that these woods were so littered with herbs and plants useful in magical rituals. There were many that were grown in the green house by Kirby hall, but some rituals required the practitioner to harvest the plants themselves, some at special times or with special tools, and a few required them to be sourced from the wild.

A necklace designed to fool Fubar, why do I have the feeling she will be expelled or worse by the end of this. Mandrake, she is messing with Mandrake, she is insane!

105.7FM WARS

Thuban on the radio, 8 minutes to noon, spreading rumors without full information on the incident between Peeper and Greasy, *sigh* Stormwolf and Heartbreaker promising the All Hallows Ball won't be like last year. We can only hope.

Room 308, Dickinson Cottage

Pru 'Chemtrail' Tavori going to her dorm room to switch out books for classes, only to find a box on her bed.

The lid had a logo she didn't recognize and taped over it by the bill of lading was a hand written note.

And it is a dress made by Tansy for her dear friend, just like the one Elizabeth Taylor wore in Cleopatra, wonder how long that took to make.

Houseparent's Apartment, Twain Cottage

Aww, Adam only able to go with a cheap costume for his Marc Anthony to Pru's Cleopatra. And proof that gadgeteering doesn't give you skills like sewing, at least not in Adam's case. And distracted by Mr. Filbert delivering a package, Stephen carrying it upstairs for Adam.

Museum Replicas Limited, in Conyers, Georgia

An apology letter from Tansy and a full Roman officer's uniform including a gladius, those people do good work.

Powers Testing Lab, Lab (E) Doyle Medical Center Tunnels

Finally, have been waiting for Tansy to be tested again so we can know her real power ratings. Heh, if Imp warns you not to deceive them again, it would be foolish to do so. Dr. Hewley not following her, Lab E for testing, curiouser and curiouser.

Lab E or (Exemplar) was a combination gym, obstacle course and gameshow stage. There were memory puzzles, spacial awareness puzzles, a Nautilus machine that could measure just about any way a human could lift or move weight. There was a track about the diameter of a basketball court, and finally an obstacle course like something out of American Superhuman Challenge, the TV Sports Entertainment Show.

Now that is a thorough testing lab.

Ms. Hartford, Sensei Ito, and Ms. Imp there, she isn't getting away with anything today.

Ms Imp looked up from her tablet which was displaying Tansy's MID she noticed. “You actually convinced an MCO classifier you were an exemplar one with that body?” the Imp demanded. “Blondie, I am impressed!”

An adult male touching a teenage girl like that, Tansy is right, f*** the MCO.

It didn't use traditional weight stacks, but a single metal plate mounted to hydraulic rams whose resistance could be scaled from pounds of resistance to tons.

“You started to struggle at eight hundred and the bar began to lower at one thousand four, making you just barely an exemplar four. Then suddenly you doubled down and pushed it back up. You didn't struggle again until fifteen pounds over three tons. You lost your grip at...” she consulted the read out on the display. “Six thousand, one hundred and twelve pounds! Explain that!”

3 tons with Mustang, dang. Great, dragging Kayda down here, thinking she did to Tansy what happened with Lanie because they don't know about Tansy's avatar trait.

Devisor Lab (Vehicle) Kane Hall Tunnels

Lanie left in charge of the shop while Mr. Donner went to get Bonnie, his Ford Flathead V8. Bet the students who worked to restore the car loved it. Wonder what idea Lanie got from seeing the car eased into the bay.

Ladies Rest Room, Broadway Tunnel

Robin McGraw having a panic attack from looking in a mirror, Mrs. Carson worked her magic to get Robin's face back, how bad was it to cause a panic attack? Crud, one of security hurt in the Halloween attack of last year, no wonder she is having a panic attack. Told to bring Kayda to Lab E, makes Robin wonder who Kayda has ticked off this time.

Darn, Kayda starting to freak out because of how she is being brought to the lab. And now Kayda under the gazed of Ms. Hartford who doesn't understand what Kayda did for Tansy fully. Kayda explains everything, telling the truth, yet Hartford thinks she is lying under Tansy stands up for Kayda and tells about her avatar trait being the first one which manifested. Ouch, 5 years ago and Tansy's DNA doner found out Jadis's real identity, how her father reacted to this is the act of a raving bigot.

“The estate backed up to Iao Valley State Park. It didn't take me long to get lost in the jungle. When I stopped running I was at this spot some of the groundskeepers kept talking about, this 'special place' with a waterfall that fell into a pool.”

A hallow with a nature spirit in it, sucked it up into her hallow, no wonder she is so hard on herself.

“You don't understand!” she shouted. “I let this beautiful thing into me and it was just trying to console me, to give me serenity. That's what it was, some kind of serene spirit. And it gave me the power to call animals to me. I needed to be strong, to fight my father! And all I got was little furry animals like I was some kind of blonde Snow White!”

And now we know what happened and why she is so hard on herself, ripped the poor thing to pieces.

“You can't,” Kayda told her. “It sounds like she cast it out of herself and probably forced it to have to reform. Nasty shock, but the spirit is fine. Tansy, on the other hand...”

Ah, good.

Kayda blushed and looked at her hands. “Um, well, last summer, the three of us were on a road trip to go home. And we stopped because Tansy said she didn't know what love felt like...”

The Imp crossed her arms and smirked. “Am I old enough for this conversation?” she demanded.

Leave it to Imp to ruin a tense moment. And Tansy reveals what happened with Jade and Jinn last year, plus how she accidentally pulled Grizzly into her, sounds like this an unheard of ability for an avatar. Tansy, Kayda, and Lanie excused from classes so they can help Tansy come to terms with all this, knew Hartford can be understanding.

Headmistress's Office, Schuster Hall, Whateley Academy

Liz going over the school budget while enjoying some Benny Goodman's Orchestra.

Completely rebuilding Poe over the summer, despite the not so anonymous donor footing the bill for the complete job, had shown issues with the building that likely affected the other 'historic' cottages. She had arranged for some discreet testing and, as she had feared, it looked like these problems were endemic to all those cottages. That meant four major building projects; even if she could find the money in the budget, the amount of disruption over the summer would be staggering.

Yikes, guess a rebuilding of that level had to show the cracks in the other 'historic' cottages. And of course, Hartford shows up with some concerning news.

The Champion Force and Astarte Force fought each other while Carson held a piece of it, yikes.

“Like a cat and a dog in a burlap sack; and I got to be the burlap sack. The Astarte Force had long since...molded is the best word I can think of, to me. It had become separate, and more powerful than it had been. And it very much refused to be a part of the Champion Force again!”

Whoa.

“Amelia, I think that, somehow, I don't know how, but that somehow I have the ability to not just host more than one spirit, but to...compress...them together.” She saw Amelia lean forward and took that as an acknowledgment to continue. “I think that I took that little piece of the Champion Force and I attracted other, low powered spirits or spiritual energy. So low powered I don't even notice I'm doing it. I think it started when I lit my essence well and by storing essence I somehow began to 'feed' that Force, making it stronger. And that, when I took the Champion Force into me, the Astarte Force tried to absorb it and it fought back.”

If that isn't how the avatar trait works, wouldn't that means she is Avatar 7 and it works differently or has some unusual abilities a normal avatar trait wouldn't have. Either that or there is another power out there similar yet different to the avatar trait, so rare it hasn't been classified, and Mrs. Carson is one of those with the unclassified power.

Dr. Quintain talking down to her like that, I would have punched him.

“Liz...I think Tansy can do the same thing.”

And that is where I thought this conversation was going, that is a lot of power.

“I swear I am going to kidnap you and drag you on a vision quest one of these long weekends,” Carson threatened.

“And when that white hat on your head stops glowing like a Clorox commercial, I might be worried,” Hartford snapped back, but there was no venom in either woman's remark and both were smiling. Quickly, Amelia recounted the story Tansy had told her of her adventures with spirits, both in her youth and more recently.

Love seeing them tease each other like this. The Committee might work for the greater good, but I still wouldn't trust them with the means they would go about it with certain things.

Office of Elyzia Grimes, Kirby Hall, Whateley Academy

The school day was over, Gerald had volunteered to oversee the Samhain Rituals for the handful of students who would be casting over the mystically significant event, which meant it was her turn to be one of the chaperones for the costume ball most of the students would be attending.

I foresee a headache in her immediate future, especially with what the bullies have planned and anything else that might come up.

A Tarot reading like that, hope it is accurate and no trouble happens. Another reading, warning about Hekate's Master, yet this time a sign of hope, who is the warrior the Seven of Wands predicts?

Student Alchemical Lab, Kirby Hall, Whateley Academy

Maggie there because she is Doctor Al-Feyez's student assistant this term. After the oath she made to Lanie she shouldn't have that kind of access to anything without supervision. A tube of crystals made alchemically, plotting against Grizzly, please let her get caught soon.

“Blood for blood, life for life,”

Any chant like this is bad news, she could harm a lot more than Grizzly with this. Destroying the mortar and pestle safely, just how dangerous is what she created to require this level of disposal? A vial of poison and quotes the Princess Bride, extremely dangerous.

First, Dumbtruck and company are still not getting the message... Does anyone else think that maybe they are reacting to even the slightest bit of MM attraction?
Kayda doesn't recognize Imp... Hmmm She has been rather distracted this year...
Tansy in testing, and oh! oh! She reveals that she is an avatar, has always been an avatar, and that if you read closely, she might be able to create spiritual 'forces'.
Is Wyatt the warrior or is it someone else? Just because Eliza thinks it is a male does that mean it absolutely must be a male?
Spirit Chan lives as Valentine noted. Then again I've suspected that for a bit.

So Happy, then we knew it wasn't gonna go well, but. Wow, that's horrifying.

And might also be Murphy having Bad Luck, right after she basically hit her cap on Good Luck??

This post is basically just gonna focus on the ending, but the rest of the story is cool too!

Did Lifeline just utterly screw up?

'Cause if it's "“Left for thee and right for me,”", and Right was what Murphy took. That's sorta suicidal?

Or is it actually a coma, or would've worked differently with Lifeline, allowing her to fight Grizzly or something? Or did Nimbus actually tamper with it?

...

Given that Murphy's spirit went away, depending on how important she is to Nimbus's plan, might he actually work to revive her?

But no, this seems quite final, if really sudden.

Malady wrote: 'Cause if it's "“Left for thee and right for me,”", and Right was what Murphy took. That's sorta suicidal?

No, she held out her left hand and that is what was taken.

Adam grew two inches taller as he gave his elbow to this queen and set forth to a high school party as though he had earned a Roman Triumph. For once, almost appropriately, in the back of his mind, his conscience warned, Be wary, Caesar, for all glory is fleeting...

That makes me very afraid for Adam's love life...

Interesting lyrics, curious what that last line means for the story.

October 31st, 2007
Room 502, Dickinson Cottage, Whateley Academy

Jericho gave Tansy a guitar as a gift, he must have loved her playing. Aww, forgot Kayda missed that jam session, though not seeing Jericho in a kilt might balance that out. Seesh, talking about your sex life in front of Kayda, poor girl is pining for Debra bad now.

Elaine made a gesture of innocence. “Blame mah dad, he loves Monty Python.”

Hey, he has good taste.

The International American's Cup, nice that Tansy's team and boat won it. Ouch, only getting the boat because he dad didn't want it anymore. Bwahahaha, Lanie sure knows how to get to Tansy with the teasing. Pretty nice shower for 4 people. Kayda stealing a jealous glance, girl, you need to learn to let go. Nice to see them remind Kayda they both love her in their own way, she needs it from time to time.

October 31st, 2007
1st Floor Game Room 'A', Poe Cottage, Whateley Academy

Poor Lina, having to deal with all that and not able to talk to her mother about it. Game room only to find Lara Croft and it is Steve, shifting when not thinking about sometimes, that has to make things complicated.

“I have Chaney Syndrome.” Seeing her confusion, he continued. “It's named after the actor, Lon Chaney, the so-called 'man of a thousand faces'. This,” and he gave a gesture to indicate himself, “isn't what I look like.”

And add another condition to the growing list which mutants can have. Doesn't know what he looks like, now that is a scary condition once he spells it out.

Steve's dad is an ass, ditching his wife and son when he manifested, and ouch, Lina's dad dying in Afghanistan. And now the embarrassing discussion of how to get her 'little buddy' under control, heh. And Steve is interested in Lina, guess the rumors have died down about him for this to just get out. And Lina being sensitive to Steve's nature, now there is someone you should be proud to have as a friend. Mario Cart, ah, good times, now that was a fun game and still is.

October 31st, 2007
Room 502, Dickinson Cottage, Whateley Academy

Well that is a surprise, Tansy is in Ms. Hartford's old room in Dickinson, class of 88'.

“Good,” Hartford declared solemnly. “I need you to understand this and for all of your sakes, you are not to breathe a word of this to anyone, other than myself, Sensei Ito or Headmistress Carson.”

Another serious matter, what is it this time? Telling Tansy she might be able to create a Force, heavy. Can't even speak about this amongst themselves, eep.

“Oh,” Amelia declared with a smile. “Tansy you are an Exemplar Four, though there are some overlaps with your spirit's assistance. With Mustang's help you can pass yourself off as a five or even a six if needs be, but my advice is for you to be discrete. Speaking of Mustang, our best guess is for your avatar trait is that we don't have one. Were I to have to update your MID, I would probably mark it as a four because that would give you some plausible deniability with our theory. In reality, if people were not evil, you would be a five simply because that is where we classify people with 'beats us' abilities.”

And Tansy is a powerhouse as if we haven't suspected it before now.

October 31st, 2007
1st Floor hallway, outside Game Room 'A', Poe Cottage, Whateley Academy

Hehe, Mrs. Horton eavesdropping on Steve and Lina, at least she does it for a good cause. And she loves mothering so it isn't even a job, how sweet. And a crush on Trish Savage, working out with her over the summer and fall and gotten into shape. Aww, doesn't think Trish would go for her. WIth those teens around she will never be alone, plus I wouldn't doubt if more than one of her charges had a secret crush on Mrs. Horton.

October 31st, 2007
Fixer's Patio, Schuster Hall next to the Crystal Hall, Whateley Academy

So this is the de facto party location for the school, nice. Heartbreaker and the Alphas setting up the decorations, and food and drinks by Chef Marcel, *tries to dive through the screen into their reality*

Melvin Donner as the Incredible Hulk, now that is priceless. Ms. Dawson costume, yeow! Ian Parker as the Green Hornet and his husband Bo Zhang-Parker as Kato, now there is a cute couples costume. Tansy as Catwoman in that outfit might need some medics on standby. Nice to see Jericho went simple, was scared he might have gone as the Crazy Quilt but with his own mix of colors.

Ouch, Murphy dressing up like that, thinking it is her future.

“Just trying to help,” Walcutt returned. “There is a specialty clinic on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. “They deal in BIT malfunctions, probably the best on the planet. And they know how to bill me.”

Joanne frowned and put the envelope on the stage in front of Tansy. “I haven't done anything to earn something like that, and I don't want your charity. I earn my own way in the world.” Tansy reached down and pushed the envelope back at Joanne.

“Once, another hero asked The Batman what his superpower was. Do you know what he answered?” Murphy shook her head, a strange expression on her face with her disturbing black eyes. “He said, 'I'm Rich,'” Walcutt said with a smile. “I know I'm a bitch, Jo, and I know I can't buy forgiveness, but if I can't use my money to do good, then what is it good for? The tickets are good for a year. Think about it.”

And two tickets so she can take a parent along, Tansy is really living up to doing good anyway she can. And now wishes to patch up Lanie and Murphy's relationship, hope it works.

Wyatt as Batman and Lanie as Poison Ivy, a nice theme with all there costumes. And Tansy using her telepathy to try and help Murphy fix this before it is too late, instead of living in regret. Ouch, memories of the incident with the Lit Chix and Maggie blowing up at Lanie over Grizzly. And Murphy thinks it was her power to manipulate probability which caused this, oh brother if she only knew Maggie's history. Seeing all this again from Murphy's perspective, she took it way worse and the Lit Chix need counseling.

Tansy smirked behind the mask. “Honey, a simple misunderstanding between friends has nothing on me! It was just a mistake, Joanne! Is it so hard to say, 'I'm sorry'?”

Tansy, at that age sometimes it can be very hard to say, fearing how the other person might react, that in doing so all hope of regaining their friendship might be lost.

Joanne tried and failed to hold onto her anger, and spit a little as she couldn't contain a laugh. “Cow? Me? All ninety eight pounds soaking wet of me?”

Tansy admired the claws built into her glove like they were her own nails. “I happen to like Skinny Cow ice creams,” she retorted, then joined the other girl in a giggle.

Now that was a great set-up for a joke response.

And yup, fear of making it worse and that her power was the cause of the end of Lanie and Maggie's friendship.

“Let me tell you what I know,” Tansy replied softly. “I know that saving me and redeeming Wyatt and the Alphas cost Elaine every friend she's had here. She did it anyway and she'd do it again because to her it was the right thing to do. Her mutation cost her the friends she grew up with in Georgia. She is alone, putting on a very brave face, but I am a telepath and she can't fool me. And as the Queen of Selfish Bitches, I'm here to tell you, Jo, either go make up with her or put my crown on your head, because you'll have earned it.”

Dang, Tansy sure knows how to make a point in a harsh way. Glad to see Murphy is at least going to try and mend her friendship with Lanie, good job, Tansy.

October 31st, 2007
Foyer, Dickinson Cottage, Whateley Academy

Adam in that costume is going to have more than his date checking him out tonight.

On the landing above him, Prudence Tavori stood, her lush model's body covered in spun, liquid gold, that clung to every curve and flowed like a river to her feet. Her left shoulder was covered in a cape that left the right arm bare and gathered at her hip. She was bedazzled in what looked like a King's Ransom in jewelry and was as regal as if Liz Taylor herself had been reincarnated in her. She gathered up the skirt and floated down the stairs to a fanfare of trumpets Adam was sure he heard, then smiled as she reached out and pushed his chin up to close the mouth he didn't even know was hanging open.

And she talks about Adam getting her out of later, dang.

October 31st, 2007
Fixer's Patio, Schuster Hall next to the Crystal Hall, Whateley Academy

Of course the freshmen, even if they heard the tales of what happened last year on Halloween, might not believe them. Stronghold and Megagirl as Beta Ray Bill and Lady Sif, I would hate to be in a costume contest at their school.

Rebecca Corbin's obsessive attention to detail won her the first place award for her exactingly perfect Lady Lightening costume.

More than one gasp ran through the crowd as Lord Paramount, looking exceptionally regal as Prince Charming, escorted Amelia Hartford, who was dressed in Cinderella's classic blue ball gown, out to the dance floor and slowly waltzed to an epic cover of Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson's duet of Beauty and the Beast by Diamondback and Jericho.

Arrrgh, why must you paint such descriptive scenes I wish to see drawn?

Mrs. Carson as the Imp and Imp as an Angel will never get old. Imp taking off before 11 PM, awww, wanted to see Razorback's reaction to her costume.

Mindbird just won't leave Tansy alone, trying to make a bitch analogy and failing.

The Black Canary took a step forward. “You're a bitch, Walcutt, from a family of bitches and assholes and that is your legacy!”

Ugh, really don't like Mindbird at this moment.

“You disgusting cunt!” Dale hissed. “You think you can pretend or buy your way out of all you've done? That you won't have to answer for Montana? Or Trap Door? Or me? You haven't changed. You can't change! You might change sides, you might even fool Carson, but deep down you will always be the selfish little whore that almost made Montana hang himself.”

Ugh, can't stand Mindbird at all now, people can change and you refuse to accept it doesn't change that.

Maggie dressed as Indiana Jones and Mrs. Carson even makes a joke, what has me concerned is she asked for two drinks. Is she going to try to slip her concoction to Lanie? Maria watching the punch, no need for Bobby Earl to spike it and everyone wake up the next day wondering what happened. And yup, spiked punch, Maggie is in major trouble if this harms Lanie.

Jo going up to talk to Lanie, joking how she could be Rainbow Death if she were a My Little Pony. At least now all this is getting out, how Jo didn't know the truth about Tansy, what happened with Hamper and Damper and such.

Jo's black eyes came up and she bravely held back the tears. “No, it is my fault! I'm an odds mangler! Whatever can go wrong will! Don't you see? I am the reason you and Maggie are screaming at each other! If you hadn't taken me in, you'd still have your friend. I'm sorry, Lanie! God, I'm so sorry!”

At least they have made up now, about time.

Maggie showing up with the drinks, offering Lanie one, Lanie thinking this is the best night ever and she is getting her friends back. Only for Murphy to take the drink and drink it, her own spirit forced from her body, Murphy is dead! No, no, no, no! It can't end like this, it just can't not after Lanie just got Murphy back as a friend.

October 31st, 2007
Room 308, Whitman Cottage, Whateley Academy

Quickdraw back at Whateley, sneaking into a room in Whitman which Nimbus told him about. Nimbus using nameless horrors, yikes. Wanting pages from the book of shadows, a copy of the one Kayda was arranged to find. An Ambulance from Doyle on the way.

Rutherford smiled as he ran. “Looks like Nimbus' test was a big success!”

Don't tell me Nimbus manipulated Maggie into making that potion, Nimbus has another thing to pay for.

All the build-up, all the different costumes, and excitement from students for the Halloween party, everything with Lanie needing counseling to let go of her past life, to learning Tansy's true power ratings and such were great. Even seeing Murphy helped by Tansy to get up the nerve to apologize to Lanie and be friends again was great. But killing off Murphy, I never expected that, that hit hard. Someone with mental issues and troubles trying to work to make their life better and restore lost friendships, hit way too close to home for me. Good storytelling just really shocked she is gone.

Does Nimbus take the result as the spirit splitting drug working? ... He did know that he was trying to take down Grizzly, right? She's a big spirit, not like the small one that Laura had?

Wasn't he sticking to small spirits since the mirror wasn't ready for the big time?

Or does he have enough mage sight, and is watching, to know that this wasn't a proper test?

Wait... Is there a specific reason why Heyoka's spirit was still on campus? Was it trapped somewhere?

All the spirits of the dead at Whateley, if they died after a certain date, are stuck on campus?

IIRC, it was confirmed that Heyoka couldn't be revived, through a bio-dev generated body, even though their soul was still on campus? But why?

“Be glad you didn't,” Lanie told her. “Jericho in a kilt. Ah still have nightmares.”

“Oh you do not,” Tansy scolded her.

“How would you know?”

“Because I'm usually having sex with you in your dreams!” the blonde shot back.

Hey, I want nightmares like this too!

“Uh, guys? I'm right here, ya know!” Kayda complained, which got the blonde and red head laughing. “I wish Debra were here,” she mumbled.

“Oh stop pining for the fjords!” Lanie told her with a grin. “If Ah know you two, you're up to this and that in Dream Space just the same as Tansy, Wyatt and me!”

I think she's salty for not getting any copyrights. You're ripping her off, after all.

Tansy came back from the wardrobe, handing Lanie a bath robe and a bundle of clothes. “Oh, that was the victory celebration at the International America's Cup. I actually drank enough champagne to get tipsy! That's my yacht, the Tansy IV. We won.” She gave Kayda a critical gaze. “Kayda, I'm not sure I have anything that will fit you, looks like we have about the same hips, but all of my jeans will be too long for you.”

“What do I need clothes for?” she asked, puzzled. “And you named your yacht after yourself?”

Kayda is asking all the important questions.

“Uh, sure,” the Lakota girl replied. “You and Lanie swap clothes a lot?”

“Well, Lanie is top heavy, but we're otherwise the same size,” the blonde returned.

“Ah don't recall you complaining about the size of mah tits when...”

More light-hearted than the most recent switch of clothing involving them...

Kayda stole a jealous glance or two as she disrobed, both because of some part of her remembering her time with Lanie in the sweat lodge and the fantasy of marital bliss that Coyote had tempted her with.

Fuck, even here. Forget it, Kayda. You have some just as nice as these ones home, and Vile E Coyote is a filthy liar who promised mountians of nothing anyways.

They moved over the nozzle and turned it on, steam quickly beginning to fill the room, some from the heat of the water, some from the passionate embrace the two engaged in as the water soaked their hair to their scalps and began to make their skin glisten. “I need to take a trip to Souix Falls,” she muttered under her breath as she got under the other shower head and let the hot water beat on her and tried not to listen to the sounds of their embrace as she did so. “Oh, get a room!” she scolded them.

They have one. The whole proble is that you don't.

Lina sighed as she found nothing that interested her in the vending machines lining one wall of the little kitchen area and so left it, feeling despondent. Tonight was one of the biggest party days of the school year but she definitely didn't feel like celebrating. The 'extra' gift her male spirit had bestowed on her made her feel like a freak, even as her exemplar BIT was turning her into the luscious curves of the body of a male adolescent fantasy she had always wanted, her spirit was working over time making sure it's maleness was well marked on her.

Aetheric bastards, still living as if their precious UberKewlLand wasn't a puddle between Americas, Europe and africa.

“Yeah, sorry,” the senior replied in his normal voice as he paused the game and put down the controller to give Lina his full attention. “Sometimes I still shift forms when I'm not thinking about it.” He flashed a perfect smile that Lina desperately wished did something for her. “Hey, it's the big party night, aren't you going?”

Well, you don't seem in any hurry either.

The smile flashed again, but didn't make it to his eyes. “Yeah, I guess I just assumed I'm the leading topic of gossip still.” He sighed and laid his forearms over his legs to lean on. “I have Chaney Syndrome.” Seeing her confusion, he continued. “It's named after the actor, Lon Chaney, the so-called 'man of a thousand faces'. This,” and he gave a gesture to indicate himself, “isn't what I look like.”

Mutation, aka the way to create always more syndromes to ruin your life. At least you're getting superpowers out of the deal.

He laughed darkly. “Oh yeah, my parents. Man I thought nothing would be worse than coming out to them. Oops!” The smile left his face. “My dad bailed on mom, couldn't take it that 'his boy' was a flaming queer and a mutant.”

Lina flinched and in a quiet voice said, “My dad died in Afghanistan.”

“Sorry,” he told her. After a long moment of silence he softly said, “I think Mom blames me. I mean, she doesn't say it, but... Anyway, why would I want to be that guy?”

Misery poker, nobody wins. Ever. Don't matter how much justification you have and hwo good they are.

He looked up, his face wasn't so perfect, in fact it was rather forgettable, with mousy brown hair instead of the windblown blond boy band locks. But it was an honest face. “Thanks,” he said and made a gesture at the game. “You wanna play some?”

That's more like my nights than any fiesta... except anime/RPG/videogames conventions.

“Thanks, Danny, uh, Pounce suggested baseball...” She paused as the thought of the exotic cat girl in the shower made her predicament worse and, fit to die of embarrassment, she had to adjust herself to be comfortable. “God, I'm so sorry!”

Still not the worst thing happening to Danny here in Poe. Right, Generator? And heck, every single girl of that dorm.

He shook his head ruefully. “Oh, there was a time! Mrs Horton really chewed me out last year, said I was putting the whole cottage at risk, being a jerk. Told me there was a difference from being out and proud as opposed to being a walking stereotype. She didn't pull any punches. I've tried to be discreet ever since.”

And yet we readers never saw any of this... I know, focus isn't on him. Still mmakes you wonder how is life going outside cameras... Could Betas be decent for instance? Nah, just impossible.

“You are one of the good ones, Lina. And I'm glad I know you. Now, I'm going to kick your ass in Mario Cart.”

“Bring it, Goldilocks! You are going down!”

Is that mispelled knock-off nowhere near the savagery levels of the original? If so, they're not remaining friends for long.

“This was your room?” Walcutt demanded somewhat incredulously. “You were in Dickinson?”

I know it's not a 100% thing, but she doesn't strike me as a Whitman or Hawthorne girl, her current interrest in Paramount seems to disqualify Poe unless other data comes in... It was a toss up thing here.

“Good,” Hartford declared solemnly. “I need you to understand this and for all of your sakes, you are not to breathe a word of this to anyone, other than myself, Sensei Ito or Headmistress Carson.”

So, standard Whateley stuff.

“And that you expelled more than one spirit without suffering spirit separation shock?” The confused blonde nodded slowly. “Tansy, Elizabeth and I think you may be able to create a Force.”

“No way!” she protested instantly.

Eh, don't feel down, now you can fit with all the cool kids competing for the new rage: creating a Force.

“Oh,” Amelia declared with a smile. “Tansy you are an Exemplar Four, though there are some overlaps with your spirit's assistance. With Mustang's help you can pass yourself off as a five or even a six if needs be, but my advice is for you to be discrete. Speaking of Mustang, our best guess is for your avatar trait is that we don't have one. Were I to have to update your MID, I would probably mark it as a four because that would give you some plausible deniability with our theory. In reality, if people were not evil, you would be a five simply because that is where we classify people with 'beats us' abilities.” She chuckled ruefully and then turned her attention to Lanie. “Now, Elaine, what did Professor Geintz say to you?”

It even comes with this nice bonus.

Mrs Horton smiled to herself as she quietly left the door way of the game room where she had been eavesdropping on Steve and Lina. It was good to see Lina making friends and coming out of her shell. She had been so withdrawn when she first arrived, Bella had been worried about her. Of course, it was also good to see all the work she had put into Steve Rossiter was paying dividends and he was becoming a fine young man, or whatever he would eventually choose to be.

My, my, only your most excellent and perfect work of moral and emotional support with Danny tops that achievement, you know that?

She shook her head, laughing at herself. She had thought herself far too old for crushes, but she had to admit, the fascination she had for the younger housemother of Whitman was wearing out its welcome. Too many more dreams about the tall, shapely blonde and she might actually have to do something about it. “As if she would be interested in an old frump like me,” Bella muttered to herself, catching her reflection in one of the mirrors in the laundry room as she pulled the door shut.

Eh, you don't know about your chances before trying.

Working out with Mrs Savage over the summer and fall had had results. She was no longer in danger of being called an 'Earth Mother' and truth be told she liked to consider herself back in the Rubenesque range; certainly full-figured, but the right kind of full-figured. And she had lost a good thirty pounds doing it, which made her doctors happy.

Meh, the living skeleton fashion is in need of a replacement anyways.

Tansy had decided to own her reputation and wear it on her sleeve. She was dressed in a dark purple jumpsuit and a hood type mask covered her head completely and came down to a mask with eye holes. The face of the mask was black as were the cat ears on the top of the hood. The jumpsuit had a belt of yellow disks that were actually compartments and surprisingly well designed. It was set off with black thigh-high boots and over-the-elbow gloves that had sharp, hard 'claws' in the fingers. Over her left shoulder to right hip was a coiled black bullwhip.

Pray nobody akes comment about wanting you in the version of the costume oming from that movie.

The boy grinned, not quite looking at Tansy. “What? You don't like my costume? I'm a teenager!”

“Bravo! Well played!” Tansy complimented. She noted that Murphy's skin was now completely milky white and both eyes were disturbingly black, but she was wearing a T-shirt of a rock band Tansy had never heard of and jeans. “What are you dressed as, Miss Murphy?” she asked.

Like she said, a teenager.

“No, the future of Joanne Gunnarson,” the rainbow haired girl replied. “Ever since this thing with my BIT every time I heal, my skin goes white. Just like Vamp, who's BIT got tangled with mine. There's nothing I can do about it, so...” she gave a gesture to indicate herself. “Scary, huh?”

Eh, could be worst, you could have gotten the hermaphrodism out of the deal too.

“What's this?” she demanded, opening the envelope to see and pair of boarding passes inside. “Plane tickets? You trying to get rid of me?”

Doubtful. More economic means exist.

“Once, another hero asked The Batman what his superpower was. Do you know what he answered?” Murphy shook her head, a strange expression on her face with her disturbing black eyes. “He said, 'I'm Rich,'” Walcutt said with a smile. “I know I'm a bitch, Jo, and I know I can't buy forgiveness, but if I can't use my money to do good, then what is it good for? The tickets are good for a year. Think about it.”

That, and it could work better than UV sessions and hair dye. Just an opinion.

“She was,” Tansy admitted, “But I talked her out of it.” She gave a pause long enough to give Murphy a chance to answer her question if she was going to. When it became obvious she wasn't going to, she asked, “Honestly, what is going on with you two?”

Given her reaction when she saw the two of you after the holidays... Burning jealousy?

The shade of Murphy left her new friends and headed towards the Crystal Hall, followed invisibly by her future self and the former object of her ire. There was an actual spring in her step as she filled her tray and began to walk to the Lit Chix table. The good mood didn't last long as she saw the shouting match that was in progress. “Ah will not leave the Lit Chicks just because you…”

Oh. Right. That moment where the whole pack of the Lit Bitches proved they were all grace under fire and true friends able to take a rift between two members of the group rationally to a bitch... Shallow bints, all of them.

“You have this obsession with this stupid Wicked persona and then you go and have someone bind a bear spirit into you and you expect me to sit still and watch you parade around like you’re not wearing my friend’s skin like a fucking cloak?”

First, blame Carson for Wicked. Second, for all my burning hatred of the aetheric bastards, their smugness and literally everything about them, I can still call bullshit about your drivel. Chew on that.

“Oh thank God, at least someone could get it through her…”

Yup, all grace under fire. I could almost hear these bints begin to complain that Elaine left before crying in their glasses so they could take the time to taste her tears...

“You don’t...” started Rebecca, but Murphy would have none of it.

“You’re right, I don’t. I’m done with you.” She turned on her heel and snatched up her book bag. “I’m done with all of you!” Her final taunt hanging in the air, Murphy watched herself vanish.

I never had many friends, Lit Bitch, but from the few I had, and everything I heard about it, I know that your behavior here was abject, repugnant, and many similar epithets. You little degerantes are supposed to be here for all your friends, and try to find a just middle when two begin arguing, not go gang-bang. Eh, did you learn that from the H1 mobs who went after you after betrayals of thers of your so-called friends?

Tansy smirked behind the mask. “Honey, a simple misunderstanding between friends has nothing on me! It was just a mistake, Joanne! Is it so hard to say, 'I'm sorry'?”

Again, teenager. For no reason I can't understand, they'll try to eat a fragmentation grenade whole before doing this. I wasn't a good teenager.

Tansy admired the claws built into her glove like they were her own nails. “I happen to like Skinny Cow ice creams,” she retorted, then joined the other girl in a giggle. “Ok, so if it's not pride, Joanne, clue me in, what is it? Why won't you just go talk to Elaine?”

Teenager, again.

Murphy stared at the boards of the stage and sighed. “Fear, alright?” she whispered. “I'm afraid that I'll make things worse. I don't care what you think, I know my mangling is what put Lanie and Maggie at each others throats. Come on! I asked around, those two were BFFs for life. Damn near sisters. I came and shit all over it. Lanie is better off hating me.”

First, odd mangling can be the awesome to save lifes. Ask the Loose Cannons when they manage to reach Whateley. Second, most emphatically nope: if they were even half the friends you describe here, the situation would be quite different.

“Let me tell you what I know,” Tansy replied softly. “I know that saving me and redeeming Wyatt and the Alphas cost Elaine every friend she's had here. She did it anyway and she'd do it again because to her it was the right thing to do. Her mutation cost her the friends she grew up with in Georgia. She is alone, putting on a very brave face, but I am a telepath and she can't fool me. And as the Queen of Selfish Bitches, I'm here to tell you, Jo, either go make up with her or put my crown on your head, because you'll have earned it.”

Again, none of these bints were friends in the first place if their behavior here is anything to go by. Guilt however, shows you as an actual friend. Don't waste that thinknig about thhese bints.

Adam grew two inches taller as he gave his elbow to this queen and set forth to a high school party as though he had earned a Roman Triumph. For once, almost appropriately, in the back of his mind, his conscience warned, Be wary, Caesar, for all glory is fleeting...

Especially when you disguise yourself into someone famous for losing and his suicide... Could have gone for less omnious foresadowing here.

Rebecca Corbin's obsessive attention to detail won her the first place award for her exactingly perfect Lady Lightening costume.

Funny, I remember 'Fractious' Castle as the Lit Bitch with an obsession for every single detail... Although connection Lady Lightning/becky is the way to go...

It wasn't perfect, there were a couple of scuffles that almost got to violence but the great aplomb with which Mr Donner was pulling off the alter ego of Bruce Banner, usually kept tempers from getting out of hand. As the evening wore on, people seemed to relax and genuinely begin to enjoy themselves. For many, the highlight was the surprise of the evening. More than one gasp ran through the crowd as Lord Paramount, looking exceptionally regal as Prince Charming, escorted Amelia Hartford, who was dressed in Cinderella's classic blue ball gown, out to the dance floor and slowly waltzed to an epic cover of Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson's duet of Beauty and the Beast by Diamondback and Jericho.

General consensus remains 'better than last year'. Except for Nacht.

The Black Canary took a step forward. “You're a bitch, Walcutt, from a family of bitches and assholes and that is your legacy!”

Hey Mindbird, you and your merry band of Cop Bullies are one year late here. Remember, that time you were content doing nothing except oppress bullying victims further as the virtuous Lawful Asshole you were (and you were one of the good ones)? Guess it's easier now everybody else did the work. Also, that remark is better be paternal-family only.

The sound of the slap across her face rung around the patio and was so unexpected it caught Tansy flat footed, exemplar reflexes or no. It didn't truly hurt, but feeling the anger burning off of Dale Townsend did. It was the kind of rage that wasn't healthy, that would fester into ulcers and worse. “You disgusting cunt!” Dale hissed. “You think you can pretend or buy your way out of all you've done? That you won't have to answer for Montana? Or Trap Door? Or me? You haven't changed. You can't change! You might change sides, you might even fool Carson, but deep down you will always be the selfish little whore that almost made Montana hang himself.”

Crawling Chaos, is that a Mantle thing where Head Beta is automatically hit with Concentrated Douchebaggery and Lawful Assholishness?

As for Carson... Let me speak moron so you even you can get it, pétasse. Lady Astarte. Champion's Pupil. Holder of Astarte Force. One-Time User of the Champion Force. Superhero with decades of experience. Mother. Teacher for decades. Headmistress for years.

Where the fuck did this description let you think, you and any other loser using that line (like, random wild crazy shot in the dark, Barney), that a teenage girl would have anything else than a snowball's chance in hell of running circles around Elizabeth Carson. Duck, can you even picture the monumental arrogance involved. Even Stormdork would call bullshit, and he had the Head Cop Bully Mantle before you.

Maggie nearly dropped the glasses from surprise. “Oh! Mrs Carson! Yes...Yes, ma'am, I've got the NAZIs taken care of!” She forced a smile and gave a terrible Harrison Ford impersonation. “NAZIs, I hate those guys!”

Drop it, bitch. You're nowhere near cool enough to play Indiana Jones.

Maggie looked over her shoulder as she moved to a more secluded spot to see that Mrs Carson wasn't watching or following her. Wyatt had left and someone with pure milky white skin was walking up to Elaine. It was her moment, she had to go now. Setting the punch down, she dug into the bag and took out the small wooden vial and broke the wax seal. The powder disappeared into the punch, making it bubble slightly as she picked the glasses back up carefully.

Maggie swallowed to calm her nerves. She must not spill. “Left for thee and right for me,” she half sang half whispered to herself and began to walk towards Elaine and the other girl. “Left for thee and right for me...”

Can't even remember Murphy. Repugnant.

Gunnarson forced a grin and tried to feel like this wasn't so important to her. “Heh, yeah, great look right? If I were a Little Pony, I could be Rainbow Death.”

Dunno, Rainbow Dash would be 20% cooler... And still pale in front of Best Pony Sunset Shimmer.

“It's almost November, Jo,” Elaine told her softly. “Why didn't you tell me this last year? Or this year before now?”

Rule of Three: Teenager.

Joanne found she could no longer meet the other girl's gaze and looked at the bricks that paved the patio. “When I came around the path the first thing I saw was you. But you weren't alone, you were with Tansy. And...and you hugged her. The bitch that I knew sent Hamper and Damper after us, who set us up to be raped and murdered!”

Fodder for the 'jealousy' file... If I was smashed and drugged up to the gills. Yes I have gills. Yes, I am weird, news at eleven.

Jo's black eyes came up and she bravely held back the tears. “No, it is my fault! I'm an odds mangler! Whatever can go wrong will! Don't you see? I am the reason you and Maggie are screaming at each other! If you hadn't taken me in, you'd still have your friend. I'm sorry, Lanie! God, I'm so sorry!”

Don't sweat it. Sometimes wrong will let you escape a black lab, or create chaos in a mall to let ou escape, or drop a flower pot on your enemy's head during a fight. Always keep a camera to immortalize the latter at first opportunity.

“I...I...” the blonde stammered. “We...we're too young to smoke. And I don't have a peace pipe, so, punch?”

Alarm bells, punch is the first thing spiked in anything involving students.

“No!” Maggie shouted, but it was too late, the rainbow haired girl had already tossed the glass back, gulping it down. She smacked her lips as the cup slipped from her fingers to break on the bricks below.

To anyone with mage sight, they saw the shade of Joanne Gunnarson forced backward out of her body a look of shock and ecstasy on her face that was lost as the spirit vanished out, deeper into the astral realms.

On the Prime Material Plane, the All Hallows Ball came to a sudden halt, one of those moments where the zeitgeist of a crowd becomes aware as one that something horrific was happening. In the tableau of silence, under the gaze of the entire school, the body of Joanne 'Murphy' Gunnarson fell over dead.

Maggie screamed in horror as she stared down at the dead girl.

Welp, success to you, bitch. Nope not sorry, I don't expect that Elaine would have fared much better here, and this bint still went for it.

Speaking of bints... To the rest of the Lit Bitches, you couldn't even do the 'make sure friends don't go earn Darwin Awards' thingie right? What? I'm trying to not focus on the very acute pain of seeing an actually decent and nice character potentially kicks the bucket for good. I'm not wasting mercy on that one.

Quickdraw ran, counting on his speed to keep him invisible, but carefully stuck to the route Nimbus had specified that would keep him out of range of any of the cameras. There was a hell of an uproar by the Crystal Hall, shouts, someone screaming their head off and over the band loudspeakers, the voice of Ms Hartford loudly telling everyone to stay calm. An Ambulance was bouncing over the grass up the hill to get to the party from Doyle Medical center, lights and strobes flashing.

Rutherford smiled as he ran. “Looks like Nimbus' test was a big success!”

Enjoy this while it lasts, he's right next to WitBitch and Don Assholo on the list for disposal. Also Carson, please prove naysayers like Barney and Brainy Birdie wrong by keeping Maggie under a lid.