TwiLyghtSansSparkles

Posting by proxy for Mailliw. Idiot. Scorch was an idiot. Speeding off like that? Who would keep him from insulting a powerful Epic and use their brain for him? Altermind was annoyed. He knew he shouldn't have brought the fire Epic along. He would just mess things up. Altermind sped up and got to the bouncy castle. When he went inside, cautiously, he saw the flash of fireballs being thrown and knew Scorch was mad for some reason or another. He saw a woman standing right in front of him asking questions. "So, you're a new arrival here too? You probably shouldn't interfere. Let them work it out," Altermind told the woman in white. He saw Corpsemaker in the castle as well. He was one of the most powerful Epics in Portland. This had been his bank. Whoever changed it must've annoyed the rust out of him. "Scorch, what in Calamity are you doing?" Altermind yelled at the crazed fire Epic as he rounded the corner and saw Scorch's clothes evaporate into steam. What was going on?

On that day, the universe will either be saved by the pure awesomeness or destroyed by it. Either way, I'll read.

And let's not forget Thomas Paine, who once chased off a gang of attackers with a piece of firewood, and Ben Franklin, who wrote a book called Fart Proudly....come to think of it, American history is filled with geniuses who were also insane. Maybe that's why we Americans seem to have a soft spot for wackos.

Hey, don't discount wacko leaders just yet. One major battle of the American Civil War was won because a Southern soldier shot the Northern leader's drink out of his hand. When he shouted, "That was ungenerous! I'll have your guns for that!" his men thought it was an order—and he just went along with it, scowling all the way up the hill to take their guns. Also, I refer you to Sir Lord President Quentin Trembly III, America's 8 1/2 President.

I could be persuaded either way. If she shows up now, we could have alliances set and get to the war part. If she waits, you could have her and NH join alliances later on.

Part two is added to my original post. That should set up the sides pretty well, and give the others an idea about what Funtimes can do.

It wasn't long before Scorch saw it nestled between the other buildings and the trees crowding the block: a bouncy castle. A storming bouncy castle. Daylight was fading behind the clouds, but Scorch knew the castle would still be brilliant even at night. Garish blue and red and yellow stood in cheerful contrast to the rundown apartment buildings and stately trees. Had the bike's handlebars not been heatproof, they would have melted. This new Epic, whoever he was, had to be the most disgusting show-off in the Fractured States. Turning a bank—CorpseMaker's bank, if he remembered correctly—into a bouncy castle. The ​hell was wrong with that guy? He's powerful, that niggling voice whispered. More powerful than you? No. Scorch abandoned his bike at the curb and dashed into the bouncy castle, leaving Altermind in the dust. It wouldn't take the illusionist more than a minute to catch up, but a minute was all he needed. He tore off his shoes, recalling a particularly nasty fight on a Slip-N-Slide two summers back, and tossed them against a wall. There were voices in the next room—questions, answers, accusations, and giggles. Storming showoff, making more than one room, who even needs more than that for a bouncy castle? He longed to run, but he walked instead, a fireball glowing in each palm. After a few steps he reached the next room—and there he stopped to get his bearings. There were a few Epics he recognized. CorpseMaker was there—unmistakable, though Scorch had only seen him in passing—and a bouncing Epic whose name Scorch had never heard. He surveyed the others gathered there, looking for the one who looked the guiltiest, the one who seemed most pleased with himself. When Scorch found him, he was wearing a suit and duster, topped off with a tie so bright it might've been radioactive. He intended to surprise him. But Scorch was spotted first. The young man snapped his head toward the entryway. Their eyes locked. For a moment, Scorch thought he saw fear—but then the man smirked. "You!" He pointed to himself in a gesture of mock humility. "Me?" Scorch answered with a stream of fireballs and violent profanity. --------------------------------------------------- Back in Newcago, Nathan had never given much thought to being mistaken for an Epic. He had thought about Epics, sure. Given his profession, he had to guess at what they wanted and provide it before they asked, had to know what they might be thinking and be prepared to agree. But the idea that he might be mistaken for one of them had never crossed his mind. Thus, he had never prepared for it. When the sour-faced Epic with a flattened mohawk accused him of….of something, he thought it best to smirk. Epics did a lot of smirking. And when the fireballs began, he ducked. Epics didn't do a lot of ducking, but that was the best response to fire. "Do you—mind—telling me—what—I—did?" He dodged and rolled, fireballs striking the floor inches away. The holes repaired themselves, but he coughed at the smell of burning rubber. The Epic swore again. "You know!" Nathan pressed his back to the mesh, breathing hard. "Pretend I don't." Another fireball struck the wall above his head. He felt the heat even as he ducked. "You're doing it now!" Doing what? Running for my life? He crawled toward the emergency exit, but a wall of flame blocked his path. "If you tell me what I did, I might stop." The Epic growled, and another wall of flame blocked his path. "Doctor? Do you mind?" Doctor Funtimes giggled. "Okie dokie lokie!" The new Epic yelped as his clothes dissolved into water. He swore, steam rising from his skin, and his hand blazed with fire. Funtimes giggled again. "You're still wearing underwear." It took a moment for the threat to sink in, but when it did, his eyes widened. "You wouldn't." Her giggle became a laugh.

That image may or may not have been my desktop wallpaper at one point.

Anti-Funtimes. I like that. We can call them the Anti-Fun Coalition.

Emma Stone! I hadn't even thought of that, but now that you point it out, she'd be perfect. You know who would also make a good Cody? Paul McGann. He played the Eighth Doctor on Doctor Who, and he's an incredible actor. I think he could pull off Cody's mix of whimsy and sorrow quite well.

Those sound good from where I stand. Nathan won't leave Funtimes, and once she learns that Ricochet is a bouncing fire Epic, she won't be inclined to leave him, either. She could probably be persuaded into a temporary alliance with just about anyone except Nighthound or Electro. If all looks good, I'll have Scorch go Leroy Jenkins in just a minute.

Most certainly.

Rules are to TwiLyght as pants are to Gondor. I kid, I kid. I actually refer back to the rules whenever I feel in danger of breaking one.

I, likewise, wanted to make a friendly rebuttal. As Ravenclaws are inclined to do. If you know what it is. I honestly didn't know what it was until I heard other members talking about it. Had I started with Mistborn instead of Steelheart, I probably would have figured it out, but I hadn't the foggiest idea. And the description makes it sound like the 17th Shard chapter of Fight Club.

In fairness to our Queen, the Coppermind Wiki does have a somewhat mysterious title and description. I hadn't the foggiest idea what it was or why it was here until I saw other members mentioning it. If I had a Cosmere-related question, I wouldn't have known to go there. Perhaps it is my professor this summer, who rarely, if ever, answers assignment-related questions until the due date has passed, that makes me feel as I do. Perhaps it is her tendency to give only the vaguest directions and doom her students (well, this one, anyway) to stress over whether or not they met the expectations. But although I do agree that at times questions can be a sign of laziness ("What's in the omelette?" "It's there on the menu, sir.") they can also be a sign of curiosity. Answers, while in some cases may indeed foster laziness, can also save the asker time and encourage deeper questions, which fosters learning.

Aww, sad to see you go! Edit: As far as falling-outs go, I could have Scorch go all Leroy Jenkins, dash in, make a scene, and get himself—and perhaps Altermind by extension, if you wanted to go this route, Mailliw—on Funtimes' bad side. Bouncy castles don't hold up well against fire.

What happened to Vin's nose??? Also, maybe I'm just tired, but I found the Polish cover hilarious.

She'll see that, then. I just thought the other way would be funny.

Well, his intention with the illusion is to project an image of power, right? Something that will make people pay attention to and fear him. With most people, they see the same thing. That part—the intent of it—would work. But when it reached her shattered mind, it'd be like reflecting it through a kaleidoscope. She, being insane, would take either image as the real deal and not question them unless Altermind gave her reason to.

Also, Maillw, how would you rather this went down? Would you rather have Altermind and CorpseMaker speak first, or Funtimes run out to greet him and Scorch? Because, being insane, Altermind's typical illusion….well, it won't work on her as planned. I wasn't planning to have her go ballistic on him, but she sure won't see a regular guy when she looks at him, and I didn't want to intrude on any plans that way.

I just say what's on my heart. ….which means my heart is kind of weird.

Awesome. Thanks for the maps; it's much easier to visualize everything now.

Doctor Funtimes' hands fluttered as her grin widened. She straightened and bounced to where the new Epic—how many Epics can fit in one bouncy castle, anyway?—stood. "Attacking you? Why would we attack you at a party?" Despite his skittishness, Nathan couldn't help but smile. There was something comforting—charming, even—about an Epic who could remain cheerful in the face of multiple death threats. "This was his place," he said, nodding at CorpseMaker. "Now, I'm not sure. Whose would you say it is, Doctor?" She laughed. It was either the clearest answer yet or none at all.

Doctor Funtimes was in the air only a moment, skirts flying and socks blinking in the fading light, but it was long enough to knock the new Epic to the floor. When she sat back, his coat was gone. Bits of confetti fell as he stood, and Funtimes didn't seem to notice the pieces in her hair. She jabbered on so quickly Nathan could barely understand her: "Hi! I'm Doctor Funtimes! I don't know who you are but that doesn't matter 'cause you're here and Doctor Awesomesauce is here and so is Jeffrey but he doesn't like Jeffrey so we all call him CorpseMaker but Jeffrey isn't so yucky so if you want to be yucky you can call him that but great noodly one it's a party!" Her hands flew to her cheeks. "It really is a party!" "I—I guess it is," Nathan said, adding "dear" as an afterthought. He moved toward her, trying to keep his balance and appear confident at the same time. The casino had given Epics precious few rules of conduct, but there were a few that most abided by: non-lethal force only, duels outside, don't get blood on the carpet. Funtimes' bouncy castle had no such rules, but he hoped "Don't kill the guy pretending to be an Epic" was one of them. "What's your name, stranger?" he asked the new Epic. ​Stand up straight, hands in pockets—yes, that looks casual, confident—look him in the eye—there you go.