TwiLyghtSansSparkles

Sounds good. So a doc for at least their initial conversation where he convinces her tonto with him, then?

Once Alice responds, I can get them to the Black Fist/Reckoners meeting in a post. Kobold, did you want to do a Google Docs thing so we can put down their conversation on the way? Unless Alice won't say much.

Yes. If anyone has anything important that went on during the skip, sum it up in a post that brings everyone to right around 7, the time of the meeting.

At least Redleaf would say "So sorry aboot this" before killing and/or enslaving him.

I wouldn't blame him for wanting to leave. Between Koschei flashbacks and Reader being all Readery, I'd book it for the nearest....um....city being fought over by three powerful High Epics right away. Maybe he could hightail it for Canada?

Stupid professors. But seriously, if I had more time on my hands, I would sign up for this in a heartbeat.

Little known fact: Calamity just likes to see a good fight. Why else would it choose Marvel Man and the DCinator from the same city?

I'm glad you asked. You see, Nathan and his fellow casino servers often had to make their own fun. But all that changed the night Lord Snakehands and his mortal enemy, Mongoose Feet, arrived at the same time.

What's this? A post that actually makes me feel sorry for Reader? WHAT IS THIS WITCHCRAFT

So deep down he blackmails and insults her until the fateful, rainy day he finally says the words... "I love you, Autumn. I've always loved you, and I always will." ...to which Autumn says, "Seriously? Well, I kind of hate you, you slontze."

mail-mi? Any chance Reader's repeated attempts to make Autumn angry were Belligerent Sexual Tension coming to the fore?

To be honest, they'd be a terrible couple. The only worse couple might be Nighthound/Funtimes (or Nighthound/anyone). But....yeah. It has all the ingredients for a Foe Yay ship.

Maybe. Or maybe checkmaking counts as negation? I could see that working.

It does sound very similar. It makes me wonder how exactly they brought down Fortuity, since he was classified as a High Epic, but his precognition was only negated for a short time before he was checkmated.

Is that canon? Because it is storming awesome. Unrelated, but I realized something today. Reader is emotional; Autumn is rational. He snaps; she pauses. He seems to get a kick out of ordering executions; she does everything she can to prevent them. He has a hair-trigger temper; she tries to control hers. Her job is undoing the damage he causes. Entirely without realizing it, I set up a perfect Foe Yay ship. O.o

That's so sneaky it can't NOT work.

A RAFO. Of course you got a RAFO. -.-

To who--Funtimes or Möbius?

She wouldn't. That meanieface Mobius was trying to grab Nighthound, but got Funtimes too when she leaned over to put some acid in his shoes. Now poor Funtimes is stuck with the Meanieface Brigade.

(That line about killed me, by the way. )

Keep Reader in line. There was more to Autumn's job description, but that was what it boiled down to. Be the good cop to his bad. The yin to his very smug yang. The sweet honey to his salty, rancid peanut butter. She was there to be his opposite, calm and controlled where he was passionate and obstinate; ruled by logic when his emotions took the reins. Her task in this situation, as in all others like it, was to use her knowledge to work out a solution that did not involve a double execution. But at that moment, defusing the situation was the last thing she wanted. What she wanted was to sit down, raise her clipboard, and beat herself into unconsciousness. Hydron. He had to do it. Had to waltz in and steal her thunder, bluster and attempt to frighten two potentially dangerous Epics. Had to ignore everything said in what had been, to that point, a perfect interrogation. Had to give the more emotional twin an excuse to snap. Had to act like a storming Epic. Autumn shot him a glare. When I'm through here, the glare said, Vondra is going to hear about this. She wanted to scream. She wanted to stomp her feet and throw her clipboard. She wanted to grab each twin by the collar and explain, in great detail, exactly how executions were conducted for Epics who couldn't be shot, ending with an introduction to the three who would carry out their sentence. She wanted to see them pale and agree to her terms. Instead, Autumn drew a long, composing breath and spoke, softly and evenly. "I wasn't trying to threaten you. And those soldiers weren't trying to kidnap you; they were just following our laws. One of those laws says that any Epics found within city limits or the surrounding farms—yes, even those that aren't occupied—are to be brought to Reader and I so we can determine exactly how much of a threat they pose to citizens here. In a perfect world, we would simply trust you to do the right thing, but this world isn't perfect. We don't know you're not a threat. We can't know. So we do these interrogations with you, just like with any other Epic we find, to determine whether or not you're likely to go off on a killing spree. I'm willing to believe you aren't, but you have to prove it. If you can prove you're not a threat to the people of The Dalles, we'll give you a choice: Stay and work for the City Guard, or leave. If you leave, we'll have a few soldiers escort you out, and then you're free to go on your way. No tricks. No threats. I want to give you the benefit of the doubt, but I have to follow our laws, and if you want me to trust you, you have to show me you're trustworthy. All right?" She looked at each girl in turn, praying silently. Please, God, help them not to be idiots.

"Why don't you tell me what your pretty face is doing here before I have to tear it apart." Slaughterhouse looked strong, with well-defined arms and a broad, muscular chest. His hair was wild, his eyes sharp like a rattlesnake's, matching his wide, manic grin. A white lab coat hung from his shoulders and rippled in the breeze, the last of a litany of things a child might find terrifying, piled together into one ridiculous Epic. That alone would have brought a chuckle, but it was his threat that made Koschei laugh. "Please," he said when he could control it. "You're welcome to try, but I'm afraid it would be a waste of our time. I'm fairly certain I died on my way in. Did I, Rebecca?" From the way she pressed her lips together, it was apparent Rebecca either didn't know or preferred not to answer, but she nodded. "Though it is nice to be greeted by a smile, for a change. Perhaps you could tell me where this Queen Mobius is, since it seems she may be the only one aware of what is happening."

I'll write something up then.

Koschei: "LOL good luck with that. Your face makes me LOL. IDK what's going on but I'm not going to say that, so watch me torment this poor lady I found."