Ep. 44: Crime and Courtship, Part 9

Previously on Quest Friends...

[Opening theme, “Friends” by Miracle of Sound, begins.]

Kyle (as Q-BO)

With a WingPal, you get to keep track of how many hearts you have with somebody else! If you establish five hearts with someone, you can go with them to Prom de Plume. It's a dance!

Tom (as Xoc)

I don't know. I'm kind of excited about dancing? There was nobody who knew how to dance in the Weal, so I...I never learned.

Ari 

And then Misha will give the skipping stone to Xoc. 

Ari (as Misha)

I remember you talking about how you like looking at the ocean, and I believe it is a, a human custom to throw stones sometimes and see them skip in the water.

Kyle

Vera reaches down and pulls out a small key-like shape with a glowing orb of light at its handle. 

Hallie

[Loud, frustrated noise.] Damn. She had the magic light key. 

Kyle (as Madam Citrine)

Oh yes, she is very—she is very close. Her name, her name, her name… The Lady with Cinnabar Lips.

[Warbling alarm sound.]

Kyle 

And at that point, Xoc, you start to hear a garbled message, but it's...it, it, it stops after a second. You start hearing this frantic beeping that you haven't heard before, and you can tell that it's just trying to call you.

Kyle (as Madam Citrine)

[Getting progressively more menacing.] That you will give her back what is hers, or everything—absolutely everything—will be GONE!

[Madam Citrine fades into menacing distortion.]

[Opening music intensifies.] 

Kyle 

[The music fades out.]

All right. So, Xoc or Misha, who wants to go next?

Tom 

[Sheepish and slightly strained.] Does Misha want to go next?

Ari 

[Stammering.] I, I, I, I don't, I don't know! I don't know what I want to do. So Xoc can go first. 

Tom 

[Resigned.] I guess I'll have to go then. Uhhh...uhh.

Emily 

[Tiredly.] I'm emotionally drained. 

Hallie

[Dryly.] It's not fun. 

Kyle 

How about this? How about we do...what if we did Xoc and Misha together, and then you had, uh, little mini scenes? 

Tom

Yeah!

Ari 

Yeah.

Kyle 

You two can go walk around a little bit. [Teasingly.] Maybe Xoc can get some heart points. 

[Laughter from the party.]

Tom 

Oh, yeah, that thing we haven't had time for because plot.

Kyle 

[Slyly.] I, Misha's gotten some with you.

Ari 

I only have one left!

Hallie

[Sarcastically.] Yeah, Xoc. 

Kyle

So!

Tom

Hang on. I gotta play some free time music for this. Hang on. Let me...

Kyle 

[Upbeat but soothing beachy music begins to play.]

Okay. So you are when we talked a little bit beforehand, Ari, you had expressed interest in assembling more gifts, correct? 

Ari 

Yeah. I want to get more gifts. And I also, I also want to give a gift L'Adrien at some point.

Kyle 

All right. So you want to assemble more gifts, and Xoc, um, you just want to follow along right now?

Tom 

Ah, yeah, Xoc wants to spend some time with Misha. [More sheepishly.] And also has a gift for Misha. 

Kyle 

Okay.

Tom 

And is waiting for a good moment. 

Kyle 

So you're going, you're walking around, you're trying to find yourself to kind of the mailweb, the nexus where all your mailboxes are.

[The music fades out.]

Once we get there, stuff is going to happen, so is there anything you want to do on your way there? 

Tom

Yeah. 

Kyle 

Through the hallways? 

Tom

Yeah. 

Kyle 

Like give gifts. 

Tom 

Y-yeah.

[Laughter from the party.]

Ari 

I imagine we've just been discussing how our days went and stuff. 

Tom 

Yeah. I feel like Xoc and Misha spent most of this time telepathically, like, chatting about what they've seen.

Ari 

Yeah.

Tom 

Going over things.

Kyle 

Dang kids walking through hallways next to each other just texting each other on their phones!

Ari 

Basically. 

Hallie

[Laughter.]

Tom 

Well, it would, to like, onlookers. I feel like it would look more like they were walking in silence with the occasional, like, glance shared between them.

Ari 

Inside plans.

Kyle 

Occasionally one of them just chuckles like, [Faint laugh.] I love it.

Tom 

But no, so while, while they walk, Xoc is going to pull out his backpack and say, 

Tom (as Xoc)

Oh, Misha Jarvis! I've actually been meaning to pass this to you, but we've been so swept up in finding ourselves here, and the classes, and the Jagged Dream, and the professor...

Ari

[Laughing faintly.] Finding ourselves. 

Tom 

What was that Ari?

Ari 

Ah, I just like finding ourselves, that such a philosophical thing. 

Kyle 

Xoc needs to figure out who Xoc is.

Tom 

[Slightly indignant.] Finding ourselves on this boat! I just had a pause there. It's fine.

Ari 

[Laughter.]

Tom 

[Crosstalking over Ari's faint laughter.] Uh, Xoc is going to reach into his satchel and drag out, uh, let's see, what's the exact description here. Uh, items, items, items. [Sing-songing.] Where did they go?

Ari 

Is it another ball of ants? You can never go wrong with balls of ants! 

Tom 

[Sheepishly.] Yeah. It's a ball of ants.

Ari 

[Laughter from the party.]

[Delighted.] Ball of ants!

Tom 

Xoc is gonna say, 

Tom (as Xoc)

I noticed you really liked the small insect creatures. 

Ari (as Misha)

Oh, I do! Actually...

Ari 

And they are gonna show Xoc the little ball of ants that they already have. 

Ari (as Misha)

I carry them with me all the time!

Tom 

Xoc...I'm trying to decide if Xoc, like, saw you purchase them in the store and thought, you know what Misha would like? More ants. Or if Xoc feels embarrassed but they bought something that Misha already had. But Xoc will sort of sheepishly hand over the ball of ants and be like, 

Tom (as Xoc)

Well, you know, really, we need to get a more sustainable population for those ants before properly establishing their home. 

Ari 

Misha's lights will literally light up when, when they see that, and they are just really, really excited about it. 

[00:05:00] 

Be like, 

Ari (as Misha)

Oh, this is, this is really wonderful Xoc! I was thinking that I did not have enough ants!

[Laughter from the party.] 

And I was wondering if they would eventually get lonely after a while. So this is, this is wonderful. Maybe they can even migrate to different colonies and meet each other this way! Thank you! I, I really like this gift.

Ari 

And they are going to semi, a bit awkwardly, hug Xoc in thank you. 

Ari (as Misha)

I, I believe this is something humans do to demonstrate their appreciation. 

Tom 

Xoc will return that hug and say,

Tom (as Xoc)

Oh, I think that's true. [Sheepishly.] Although I, I actually haven't, haven't done all that much hugging. It's still a little new to me. Um. 

Ari (as Misha)

It feels nice though. 

Tom (as Xoc)

[Calmer and happier.] Yeah...it does.

Tom 

[Gentle, sweet string music begins to play.]

And then Xoc will awkwardly be like, 

Tom (as Xoc)

Oh, and um, also I was thinking, I remembered! Back in the, back in the Inland Sea near the Weal,  there were these aquatic crustaceans that are very much like insects. I believe they are part of the same, uh, the same order as these ants, and as such they have similar features. And I used to see them sort of wandering around underneath the water. Sometimes they'd wander up on the beach a little bit. I, I was thinking someday, if you know, once we've, you know, dealt with, dealt with the, uh, the impending doom from the Apocrita and Jagged Dream, if you would be interested in seeing those crustaceans as well, since they are similar creatures. 

Ari (as Misha)

Oh, I...I would love to, Xoc. 

[The music ends.]

Maybe we can watch them together while you also show me how to skip rocks in the real ocean. 

Tom (as Xoc)

Yeah! That, I would also enjoy that. We should...we should make plans to do that, once we've...saved the world and, and all that. 

Ari (as Misha)

Yes. Yes. Definitely. We...we have a lot of things to take care of first, but after that I would love to go on these adventures with you.

Hallie (as Ness)

[After a beat of silence.] What the fuck is happening?

Tom

[Bursts into laughter.]

Ari (as Misha)

Ohh...?

Emily

[Laughter.]

Tom 

In and out of character, I forgot Ness was here. [Laughter.] 

[Whimsical accordion music begins to play.]

Hallie

[Through laughter.] I did too, I asked in the chat, and I just waited. 

Ari (as Misha)

Oh, hello Ness! Ah, I forgot you were here. Xoc just gave me this wonderful gift!

Hallie (as Ness)

[Sarcastically.] Yeah, obviously.

Kyle 

And reminder, they're speaking telepathically. 

Ari 

Oh, yeah!

Kyle 

So Ness just saw Xoc hand Misha a ball of ants, and then saw Misha get really excited. 

Tom 

And then they hugged.

Emily

[Laughter.]

Kyle 

Oh I forgot about the hug! So Xoc gave Misha a ball of ants, silently, and then got a hug. It's like watching The Sims! How many heart points has Xoc gained from this by the way? Tom did two gambits so I'll say he can earn up to two, but it's up to what you want to give him. 

Ari 

Ohhhhh! Yeah, sure, let's, let's do it, because I want to go to prom with this boy!

[Laughter from the party.]

And he's taking so long. So I'm gonna give him two! One for the ball of ants and one for the cute moment of the crabs.

Kyle 

You gain no heart points with Ness.

Hallie

[Through laughter.] Ness is just confused. He's been here for so long, just watching you stare at each other and then hug.

Tom (as Xoc)

I suppose it, it would be more polite if we communicated in a way that allowed all three of us to hear. I apologize. I was inconsiderate, Ness. 

Hallie (as Ness)

[Dryly.] I don't know if I want to know what you were saying to each other.

Ari (as Misha)

Oh! It wasn't anything...

Tom (as Xoc)

[Crosstalking hastily.] Nothing weird.

Ari (as Misha)

It–

Tom (as Xoc)

[Crosstalking.] Mmm. 

Ari (as Misha)

It wasn't anything that...

Tom (as Xoc)

[Crosstalking awkwardly.] Nothing weird. 

Ari (as Misha)

No. 

Hallie (as Ness)

[Through laughter, seemingly unconvinced.] Okay.

[Laughter from the party.]

Ari (as Misha)

Perhaps if you like insects too, I can get you some ants.

Hallie (as Ness)

Is that...is that what that is? 

Hallie

And he's trying to like, he's going up on his little tippy toes to like, see what you're holding. 

Ari 

Oh, yeah, Misha's gonna show, excitedly show Ness the balls of ants.

Ari (as Misha)

I, I really like insects, and these are really pretty insects that Xoc gave to me! And I just really like them. If you want some, I can give you a couple. Not too much though, because they can get really lonely.

Hallie (as Ness)

[Suspiciously.] Like a couple loose ants?

Emily 

[Laughter.]

Ari (as Misha)

If you want!

Hallie (as Ness)

Yeah, all right.

[Laughter from the party.]

Ari 

And I guess Misha will allow a couple ants to walk on top of Ness. 

Hallie

Yeah, he's, Ness is just like letting them run, going like,

Hallie (as Ness)

Oh, I can't feel this, but I bet it feels cool. 

[Laughter from the party.]

Ari (as Misha)

I also cannot feel...well, I can feel some, but not too much. So I understand.

Kyle 

[Quietly.] I love him. So much! 

Tom

Are they gonna bond over their inability to feel–get the sensation of touch? 

Hallie

Yeah. 

Tom 

I'm so happy we made Ness.

Hallie

[Laughter.]

Kyle 

All right, so.

[Zippy music with a bongo beat begins to play.]

Not far off from the cafeteria next to the frankly unnecessary line of escape pods...I mean who would ever need those...is a web of crystalline tubes that weave around one another, creating the image of a large knitted blanket, hence why it's called the mail net. 

[00:10:00] 

The mail web. Mail web? Mail tube web? Mail web? I don't know what it's called. It's the mail room.

These tubes scatter at one end to various parts of the Prodigious and stop at the other end a few feet off the ground. Here, each tube is connected to a small cylindrical box, and these boxes are oriented in circular groups. Uh, about a dozen or so, like knights sitting around a round table. Uh, this is where your mailboxes are essentially, and each of you gets a box which is connected to a tube and you can send items through it. 

A couple of mechanical things. One thing I said is that you can send gifts at any time for free. 

Tom 

[Surprised.] Oh.

Kyle 

This is what you would do.

Tom 

[A little distressed.] Ohh.

Kyle 

So you can give it to someone in person or you can just shove it in the mail tube.

Ari 

[Extremely excited.] Oh I didn't know you could ship gifts! 

Hallie

Ahh! 

Ari 

[Intensely.] Power! The sheer power!

Kyle

You can ship gifts.

Ari 

[Triumphantly.] I have gifts to send!

Tom 

[Upset.] I could have just done this for Sir Kentrim. I wasted our time for nothing. 

Ari 

[Gleefully.] Let's do this!

Kyle 

And then, um, when you reach five hearts with somebody, they'll send you a gift. And you get to choose if you want a cipher or if you want to gift that you can basically re-gift to somebody else for more points. 

Ari 

[Gleefully.] Yes! Let's start!

Hallie

[Dryly.] Start the white elephant. 

Kyle 

[The music fades out.]

Now, let's say you can send gifts. How do you buy gifts? 

Ari 

[Intently.] Yes.

Kyle 

So you can get them through various events, or you can see a vending machine. 

Ari 

Yes!

Kyle 

Uh, and you can buy things from this vending machine for five shins apiece. However, this is a Ninth World vending machine, which means it's not a vending machine. It is...an ending machine. 

Hallie

[Flatly.] No.

Kyle 

So you can buy whatever you want from it, but ending machines are infamous for spoiling just everything. So the second you go, it'll start spoiling the ending to anything that you're participating in. 

Tom 

Oh man, Danny Darko. Isn't that the movie where–bleeeep! 

Kyle 

Yeah. So essentially it just is gonna spoil anything while you're there talking to it, using the little flap. They're the worst, uh, but that's how you can get your gifts.

Tom 

Amazing.

Ari 

But I do need to have money. [Amused.] The thing is, look. I think I spent all of my money on gifts. 

Kyle 

[Through laughter.] Okay. 

So do you have any gifts that you have yet to send out that you would like to send out using this tube? 

Ari 

Yes. I want to send two gifts. I want to send, uh, the needle thing that I got, the needle gun with poison needles. It's really cool. I want to put it in Elee's mailbox with, uh, with a little note that says, I think that you will find this more useful than I will, since you already have sharp, uh, have sharp additions in your hands. This will make things even more sharp when fighting enemies. 

Emily 

So is this a cypher? 

Tom 

[Impressed.] No, that's an artifact. 

Ari 

Yeah. 

Kyle 

Okay. So you just get an artifact. You want to give Ari on a heart point for that?

Emily 

[As if it should be obvious.] Uh, yeah!

Ari 

Excellent. 

Kyle 

Okay, cool you have four heart points with Elee.

Ari 

[Pleased.] I have four heart points with Elee.

Kyle 

So just goes up, 

[Kyle makes a shwooping noise, like a vacuum tube.]

And for a second as it goes up, it's like, 

[Kyle makes the shwooping sound again, but this time with an 'ooowoooo' like a ghost noise.]

So it sounds like a ghost for two seconds, which is weird. 

Tom 

[Laughter.]

Kyle 

All right. Send up your next one. 

Ari 

[Slightly silly vaudeville music begins to play.]

My next gift is...back in Roulettia, this nice guy had this really cool cane that he just gave Misha. And Misha liked it a lot for that one time, but they don't really use it anymore. They don't really need it. But when they saw L'Adrien the other day in class, they thought that they would look really cool with it. So they are gonna send, they're gonna put it on L'Adrien's mailbox. 

[The music stops.]

Kyle 

So Misha goes...

Ari 

[Crosstalking.] Saying...

Kyle 

[Crosstalking.] Sticks it in...

Ari 

With a letter! Hang on. Let me put a note. They need to know, they need to know who sent it. So it's gonna just say, um, I think you will look really good using this. See you at Nano Fight Club tonight, and they will put that there. 

Tom 

Did you sign it though?

Ari 

Misha. Yes. Yeah.

Kyle 

So it goes, [Shwooping noise.]

And for a second you bear, [Ghost shwooping noise.]

Like a ghost, and then it keeps going up. 

Ari 

Also, it is signed, like, the whole, the whole name, not the acronym, so it's just, Machine In Suit Of Human Armor Just Another Rather Very Intelligent System.

[Typing sounds.]

Tom 

No, Hallie! Shut up!

Hallie

[Laughter.] I'm just pointing out continuity errors.

Kyle 

In the text, Hallie's pointed out that she asked for paper, and I said no. 

Emily 

Ohh. 

Kyle 

And then Ari has asked for paper and I've said yes. Do you want to just write it on the cane? 

Ari 

Yes!

Kyle 

Here, friend!

[Laughter from the party.]

Ari 

[Talking over laughter.] It's just like, around the cane and like, because the name is the whole name it's just covering the cane. 

Hallie

I didn't mean to actually ruin your plans. I was just being a jerk, but I like this better. So.

Tom 

Well, like, you were in detention like, can I have paper? Then it was like no, of course, not you're in detention in Qi University. Did you think they would give you paper? But illicit love letters? Yeah. 

Ari 

Well, I have now five hearts with L'Adrien and four hearts with Xoc. Theoretically, I could ask L'Adrien to go to prom. 

Kyle 

It seems like L'Adrien was actually going to send you a gift anyway. 

Ari 

[Smug.] Oh look, look, the tension!

Kyle 

Because you hear another, [Ghost shwooping noise.]

And you get...do you want either a cypher or do you want, like, a gift that you can–

Ari 

[Crosstalking.] I want a gift that I can regift! 

[00:15:00] 

[Laughter from the party.]

Kyle 

Okay. Give me, roll me a D20.

Ari 

Okay...

[Electronic chiming noises.] 

I, I rolled a 19 with this random number generator.

Kyle 

[Counting quietly under Ari talking.] One, two, three, four, five, six...

Ari 

Because even then I'm lucky.

Kyle

[Still counting.] Seven, eight, nine, ten...

Hallie

Fuck you. 

[Laughter from the party.] 

Kyle

[Still quietly.] Eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen...

Hallie

Fuck you and your luck!

Kyle 

[Getting louder.] Seventeen, eighteen, nineteen. Okay. Um, Ari, who do you want to get a gift for? 

Ari 

Xoc!

Kyle 

[Thoughtfully.] A gift for Xoc. Ummmm, so since it's a nineteen, I will not pick Xoc's ideal gift, but I'll pick something that I think he'll like.

Ari 

[Whispering.] Dammit! 

[Louder.] No! I wanted the magician's kit.

Kyle 

The performer's makeup / disguise kit. 

Ari 

Yeah this!

Tom 

Oh, yes. I want that. 

Kyle 

Yes, so that is not Xoc's thing. So if you want the magician's kit, a magician's kit comes in.

Ari 

What? That's not Xoc's thing?

Tom 

Nah, Kyle chose it, not me.

Ari 

Oh weird. Okay. 

Kyle 

Anyways, it just comes down, Misha pulls it out. A note from L'Adrien, which starts out,

Kyle (as L’Adrien)

[Eerie music begins to play.]

Newest companion, here is a gift that I thought you would–

Kyle 

[The music stops abruptly as Kyle makes a paper-ripping sound.]

And Misha just rips it off, throws it away, and hands it over to Xoc.

Ari 

[Through laughter.] Basically! It's like what I'm doing, very like, try to do it very sneakily, like stealthily, so that it's not obvious that it's a re-gift that they are re-gifting. And they are going to be like, 

Ari (as Misha)

Xoc! I have another gift that I think you would like!

[Laughter from the party.]

Tom

Xoc does little star eyes as he examines this disguise kit, and is like, 

Tom (as Xoc)

Ohh! It's wonderful. Now, I can enhance the sneakiness that I've been developing.

Hallie

[Laughter.]

Ari (as Misha)

This way, you can be what Vespari says he is, and is not. A true performer. 

[Laughter from the party.]

Kyle 

All right, so...

Hallie

[Crosstalking.] Um, can I–mechani, just, this won't offer, this won't matter at all mechanically, but in the background, Ness is switching peoples' items in mailboxes. 

[Laughter from the party.]

Ari

Perfect.

Hallie

Just random people. He's just, like, moving them around. 

Tom 

I'm so happy. 

Kyle 

Umm.

Ari 

Now I have five hearts with Xoc as well. Two people. Five hearts.

Emily 

How many hearts does Xoc have with Misha? 

Kyle 

Five.

Ari 

What!

Kyle 

They're, they're maxed out now. 

Emily

[Faintly.] Oohh.

Kyle 

They can go to prom.

Ari 

Oh I maxed it!

Emily

Wooooo!

Ari

Ooohh, that's good!

Kyle

[Sings the Final Fantasy victory music. A short triumphant little song.]

Ari

[Hastily repeats the song, skipping a few notes in excitement.] Let's go to prom!

Tom (as Xoc)

Thou hast turned a vow into a Blood Oath. It shall become the wings of rebellion that break the yoke of thy heart.

Kyle 

And then Ness. 

Hallie (as Ness)

Yeah.

Kyle 

So at one point Ness is just switching things around, and suddenly you hear,

[Quick normal shwoop. It turns into a ghostly shwoop very quickly.] 

And then suddenly one of the gifts just comes and smacks Ness in the head. 

Hallie

[Laughter.]

Kyle 

And you just hear a voice say,

Kyle (as the spirit)

[Weird, slightly spooky music begins to play.]

[In a breezy, floating, ghostly voice.] Sorry!

Hallie (as Ness)

[Indignant.] Who did that?! Who wants to throw down? 

[Laughter form the party.]

Tom (as Xoc)

All right, are there data spirits in the mail tubes?

Kyle 

And you see a small ball of light in one of the tubes come down and come out. And this ball of light has wisps of air coming off of it, and these wisps slowly congeal and create a greater form. It extends out to create a floating cloud-like body and a sundress that flutters at her bottom, like, ah, the end of a bedsheet ghost. It continues up above this torso and creates a head with a very foggy face, with the exception of glimmering blue eyes that seemed to almost wrinkle with, you know, kind of like the eye wrinkle smile thing? Like if you smile a lot, they're kind of crinkly. And then at the top of the head of this creature is vibrant white hair that puffs up like a cumulonimbus cloud and the voice says,

Kyle (as the spirit)

Sorry dearie, I didn't see you there!

[The music intensifies.]

Kyle 

[The music fades into loud ticking and then stops.]

Hello, and welcome to the announcement break for Quest Friends Episode 44, Crime and Courtship Part 9. I'm Kyle, your GM, and our intro and outro music are "Friends" and "Hitoshio," both by Miracle of Sound. And today, to make up for last episode's exceptionally long announcement break, I'm going to do a really short one. I've 

[00:20:00] 

only got two things for you today. 

The first one is that I need to credit someone from the name pool whose name we've been holding on to for like, a year and a half now? And that character is Sunny, who is named after @Sunnyshine100A1 on Twitter. And because I realized way too late that I edited out the explanation of who Sunny was from last episode, and so characters just happen to magically know her name this episode, ah, Sunny is the other half of the Professor. She is Myra's ex-wife. Ah, so thanks again for supporting the show Sunny. We were really excited about getting this character out here, even if it took us a while. 

The other thing that I want to mention is that it is September! It is anniversary month. And in only two and a half weeks on Friday, September 20th from 8 to 10, we are having our Q&A stream. And while we have some great questions already for that Q&A, we are looking for more. So if you have absolutely anything at all you want to ask us, you want to ask us about the show, you want to ask us about our favorite things, give me an excuse to talk about Miraculous Ladybug, then click on that link below this episode, which will take you to a place where you can submit those questions. 

All right, that's all I've got for you today. 

[Spooky music, more of a waltz than the previous song, begins to play under Kyle's voice.]

Thanks so much for listening and I will talk to you again on Monday, September 16th.

[The music intensifies.]

Tom 

[The music fades out.]

Is this Sunny?

Kyle 

Do you say that out loud? 

Tom 

Yes, Xoc will ask, 

Tom (as Xoc)

By any chance, is your name Sunny?

Kyle 

The, like, eyes blink over to you, and the creature–the what looks like a ghost swoops in and looks you right in the face. 

Kyle (as Sunny)

I knew the threads were right about you. Yes, my name is Sunny, and you're Xoc and Misha and little Ness! Isn't that right?

Hallie (as Ness)

[Surly.] I'm not little. I'm compact. 

[Laughter from the party.]

Kyle (as Sunny)

Well, it's a pleasure to meet all of you! Without a very corporeal form, I can't say there are many folks I've talked to.  

Tom (as Xoc)

[Reluctantly, unsure how to ask.] I...hm. So this, this might be a little bit forward of us, but ah, were you once part of the being known as the professor? 

Kyle (as Sunny)

Why yes, I was, and it's not too forward dearie! I heard you talk about the whole thing. It looks like you're solving crimes on this ship. 

Tom (as Xoc)

That is one way of putting what we do, yes. 

Kyle (as Sunny)

Well, I would love to help with your efforts! Obviously...[Sunny trails off with a laugh.]

Kyle 

And she like, just points to her wispy arms and, like, waves them, and like, the whiffs disappear. 

Kyle (as Sunny)

Obviously I can't do much, but the threads I see might be helpful to you. 

Kyle 

And she's gonna point at you two, and the like, little eyes are going to crinkle up with happiness for a little bit, and she's going to say,

Kyle (as Sunny)

Congratulations, by the way.

Hallie

[A sputtering snort.]

Ari (as Misha)

[Mischievous, whimsical music begins to play.]

Oh. What...

Tom (as Xoc)

[Crosstalking, confused.] On...what?

Ari (as Misha)

What are you congratulating us for?

Kyle (as Sunny)

Oh, your thread! I saw it tighten just a few minutes ago. 

Ari

Misha will look at Xoc.

Tom (as Xoc)

Did...did part of my robe gets snagged while we were walking in the hallway?

Kyle (as Sunny)

[With a delighted, boisterous laugh.] Oh, no dearie, I'm sorry!

Kyle 

And she swoops down and like, splits into two, one of which is around you, Xoc, with one of her arms, and she points up towards the web, and she does the same thing with Misha and points up.

Kyle (as Sunny)

Human interaction...and machines, and stratic…

Kyle 

And she points to herself.

Kyle (as Sunny)

Works a lot like that web! Little tethers tying people together, and I can see them! And I just saw yours two tighten up. 

Ari (as Misha)

Well Xoc is certainly a very, very good friend of mine. 

Tom (as Xoc)

[Fumbling a bit.] Yeah. We are very close...there's definitely about a b--a, a bond here, between us. 

Kyle (as Sunny)

I can't remember much from my time as the Professor. She was much more insightful than I am. But I can tell you this: I don't think the threads are just talking about friendship. 

Tom (as Xoc)

[Startled.] Uhh.

Emily 

[Delighted.] Sunny ships Xosha!

Tom (as Xoc)

[Sheepishly.] Uhhh!

[The music ends.]

Kyle (as Sunny)

But anyways, it seemed like you had some questions when you left. You seemed awfully confused.

Tom (as Xoc)

[Clearly excited to have something else to talk about.] Uh, yes actually!

Tom 

Xoc is going to interject, grateful for any opportunity to distract and derail this train of conversation. 

Tom (as Xoc)

You said you can see the threads between people, correct? Would you be able to see someone with, uh, a thread between two specific 

[00:25:00] 

people? Someone who has, say, a thread to both Vera Layeni and also the Blue Fairy? 

Kyle (as Sunny)

Hmm. Vera Layeni...I recognize that name. She's the new professor, very tough. She was very rude to you. I'd have some words for her...if I weren't a stowaway!

Hallie

[Laughter.] 

Kyle (as Sunny)

The Blue Fairy. I don't know anyone by that name. But, if you would help take me there, the Professor...back when I was her, well, she would have been able to see that, but I can't. I need to physically be there to. 

Tom (as Xoc)

[Sighs.]

Kyle (as Sunny)

If you could get me close, then perhaps, yes, I would love to help a pair so hopeful still!

Ari (as Misha)

Well, we certainly know where Mayra is. I suppose we can take you to her. 

Kyle (as Sunny)

Oh, no, I'm fine with the war part. 

Ari (as Misha)

But I thought you needed to be closer to...

Tom

[Crosstalking slightly.] To the Fairy, closer to the Fairy.

Ari  

Oh, I thought you said–because you said that when, back when she was the Professor she could see that, so she needs to get closer to her. So I thought you meant...

Tom

That is the other option though. It sounds like we either have to lure the Blue Fairy to this mailbox.

[Laughter from the party.]

Hallie

[Through laughter.] Just going, you've got mail! Running through the hallway. 

Tom

Or, or, or, we Parent Trap them.

Kyle 

Can I, can I propose an option as GM?

Tom

What?

Ari

Yeah.

Kyle 

Because each of you needs to do your own thing, right? 

Tom 

There are two options. Either we lure, we lure the Blue Fairy, or we Parent Trap this couple.

Ari

Why either or! Why can't we do both?

Kyle 

That's what I'm saying, I'm saying each of you gets a move to do so, why doesn't one of you try one, and one of you try the other?

Ari 

Let's do it! Let's, let's, let's say that we're gonna do it. 

Ari (as Misha)

I think that we can look for you to get closer to Vera or the Blue Fairy, while we also look for your...the second part of your bond. As I understand it, you also have another really close friend.

Kyle 

And she looks at, she looks kind of sad and she's like, 

Kyle (as Sunny)

Well, the threads don't lie dear.

Tom 

Xoc has been pacing and, like, stroking his chin the whole time, and he suddenly turns and points at Sunny and says, 

Tom (as Xoc)

You said a couple still so hopeful. You don't have any hope left?

Kyle (as Sunny)

[More insistent.] The threads don't lie, dearie. 

[Soft, melancholy piano music, Mayra’s theme, begins to play.]

There used to be a thread when we were together, all around us, all the time. But well...since we separated, there's not a thing.

Tom (as Xoc)

But well, we're, we're new to this whole threads thing. But when a thread gets...gets snipped off, you can tie it back together again, right? 

Kyle (as Sunny)

Perhaps one could try, but I don't want to waste her time with something so hopeless, dearie. You don't have to worry about an old spectral woman's love life.

Hallie

[Laughter.]

Tom 

[The music fades.]

I, I want it to go on record for the podcast that Kyle did the noodle arms waggle with that line also. So Sunny, while saying like, ohh don't worry about an old ghost's love life, also did like the cartoon noodle arm waggle. 

Kyle 

Um, and she says,

Kyle (as Sunny)

I think right now we should focus on finding your terrible professor's friend.

Tom (as Xoc)

That is avoiding the question, but fair enough. We should get to work. 

Ari 

Let's, let's, let's split and search for clues, gang. 

Kyle 

[A quick wooshing scene change noise.]

Okay, so who do we want to do first. Um...

[Trails off, clicking his tongue faintly.]

Tom 

Hopper Scotch.

Kyle 

I'm going to start with Tom. 

Tom 

Oh.

So Xoc, after leaving the group, finds a nice quiet place in front of a window looking out over the sky, takes a seat, and contacts the nano spirits. 

Hallie (as Ness)

Whatcha doin'?

Tom (as Xoc)

Oh! Uh, using my connection to the data sphere I can speak to beings, uh, within it. I ask them questions sometimes, to figure out what's going on. 

Hallie (as Ness)

All right, I'm gonna take a nap. That sounds boring. 

Kyle 

[Laughter.]

Tom (as Xoc)

Okay. I will be here when you wake up.

Kyle 

So you wait. And you wait. And you wait. And it's taking a really long time for them to answer. 

Tom 

That seems odd, given the powerful relay that we have here. 

Kyle 

Well yeah, but the relay's not for you. It's for the Prodigious.

Tom 

[Increasingly emphatic.] The data sphere is at my beck and call! I am a wizard, and I bend these forces to my will! [Frustrated noise.]

Kyle 

And after a little bit of waiting, finally you hear,

Kyle (as the nano spirits)

[A gentle, cheery series of chimes sound.]

Oh, hey, Xoc. Long time no talk. 

Tom (as Xoc)

It's been, it's been just a couple of days at most. 

Kyle (as the nano spirits)

Yeah, been just a couple of days. Don't mind us. We weren't worried sick about you ignoring our call or anything like that. One time we call you– 

Tom (as Xoc)

[Crosstalking, bewildered.] When!

Kyle (as the nano spirits)

[Steamrolling on without acknowledging Xoc.] You completely lock up. We won't worried that you were dead or anything, but no, of course, we'll pick up when you want to call–

Tom (as Xoc)

[Interrupting.] When!

Kyle (as the nano spirits)

But when we want to talk...

Tom (as Xoc)

[More confused.] When did this happen? 

Kyle (as the nano spirits)

[Indignant.] Oh, you don't even remember?

Tom (as Xoc)

It's been a very–

Kyle (as the nano spirits)

[Interrupting.] Well I guess 

[00:30:00] 

you were too busy in that glittering city of Roulettia, investigating that Tommy Funbuck to even pick up our poor message.

Kyle 

[Dramatic, unsettling music begins to play.]

And then Xoc, you remember back when you heard the speech about The Lady with Cinnabar Lips, you heard some ringing in your head. 

[The music fades into distorted ringing sounds. It sounds like an alarm but heard from underwater.]

Like someone was calling. And suddenly you realize...shit. 

Tom (as Xoc)

There was a lot of interference from very powerful being, which we still have to take care of. We, we've acquired a–

Kyle (as the nano spirits)

[Crosstalking.] Oh, Xoc, there was–don't come up with excuses about interference.

Tom (as Xoc)

Have you ever heard of, like, a really powerful being in the data sphere that controls things in, in our world? Wait. No, that's not what I came here to talk about. I'm sorry.

Kyle (as the nano spirits)

Xoc. 

Tom (as Xoc)

I apologize for not...

Kyle (as the nano spirits)

[Interrupting, exasperated.] No, no, Xoc. Xoc. Xoc. You're gonna come to us asking like, oh do, do you, do we know, do we know about someone who lives in our neighborhood? Do we know about someone who lives in our dimension that you just heard about? Do we know about her? Xoc, that's why we were calling!

Tom (as Xoc)

[Sheepishly.] Oh. I'm sorry I didn't, I didn't answer your call. There's still a lot I don't know about a lot of things.

Kyle (as the nano spirits)

[More intense, eerie synth music begins to play.]

Exactly, Xoc. Exactly. You don't know a lot about them. And one thing you don't know about is The Lady with Cinnabar Lips. She's nasty, Xoc. She makes murmurs up in our world, in, in our little sphere. We know about her. She's got a reputation and she is not one to be trifled with.

Kyle 

Now I'm sounding like Mauve.

Tom 

Yeah. 

Kyle (as Mauve)

[The music fades.]

[Jokingly.] Hey Xoc!

Tom 

[Strained.] This where Mauve went when she died.

Emily

[Upset.] Ohh!

Hallie

Shut your face. 

Kyle

Um. 

Tom

The, the data spirits were definitely not Southern before, but they are now.

Emily

[Laughter.]

Kyle

She's not someone to be trifled with.

Tom

Um...

Kyle (as the nano spirits)

Xoc, you remember that, that, that fun little cute speech you got about patrons earlier?

Tom 

Yes. 

Kyle (as the nano spirits)

Yeah or uplinks. We call them schnoẞwhapples, but no one seems to have connected with that. So pick your poison, I guess.

Tom

[Snickering in the background.]

Xoc, we're here to help you out. We're here we care about you, all right? And it's...it's not important. Just, what was your question that you had for us, Xoc? 

Tom (as Xoc)

[Weird, wandering, beat-heavy electronic music fades in.]

Well, I guess...it, it's not really one question. I know that's breaking the rules sort of, but I...

Kyle (as the nano spirits)

You think?

Tom (as Xoc)

Maybe we're, maybe I, maybe I was hoping we were beyond...

Kyle (as the nano spirits)

[Crosstalking.] All right, so you ignore our calls wait a few days and now you're gonna break the rules? You don't get to accumulate them for times you don't spend them Xoc! That's not how it works. 

Tom (as Xoc)

[Crosstalking.] Well, our–

Kyle (as the nano spirits)

It does, it's not roll over call minutes!

Tom (as Xoc)

[Crosstalking.] Well–

Kyle (as the nano spirits)

[Steamrollering on.] Roll over questions. 

Tom (as Xoc)

What does that even mean? I--you know I never know what you mean!

[Laughter from the party.] 

Uh, I guess I just wanted to ask...I'm really confused about people? 

[Soft, sweet, melancholy piano music begins to play.]

And like, what it means to really care about someone a lot, and how you show that. And I guess I...I just was hoping maybe you knew just how to, how to show someone that you care about them a lot. Or help people understand that they care about each other. 

[The music fades.]

Kyle (as the nano spirits)

So Xoc. You talking about your new spectral friend, or you talking about yourself?

Tom (as Xoc)

Uh, what if we went with...yes?

Kyle (as the nano spirits)

[The music begins again.]

Well, I think Xoc, for you. I think the fact that you're asking means an awful lot by itself. And the thing you got to do is stop thinking about the question itself, and start thinking about why you're asking it. As for your two other friends, that's a tough situation. Xoc, could you imagine what it would be like to be yourself, but not?

Tom 

Xoc will sit for a moment and think, 

Tom (as Xoc)

I might. I know it's not the same thing, but if you think about it, everyone's past self no longer exists. People change? And I don't even have most of my memories from when I was really little. I...I don't think the way I used to. I, I've become someone different, who's still the same person but also, not. Also a completely different person. I think I can at least imagine what it might be like to just...change.

Kyle (as the nano spirits)

[The music fades.] 

And Xoc, you had years to graduate out of that, and thank goodness you did. I mean, you were cute, but thank goodness. Now. Imagine if you did it...

[Snap.] 

In an instant. 

Now these two women have spent decades combined as this one entity. It wasn't two people piloting one machine. It was one thing that was both them and also not them. Well, imagine how scary that would be if you, well, suddenly, when you were just one half of somebody, now you had to stand on both feet by yourself. Why, it'd be hard to know anything, much less what you want. 

Tom (as Xoc)

[A more upbeat, soft guitar song begins to play.]

Hmm. What do you think I should do?

Kyle (as the nano spirits)

Xoc. 

[00:35:00] 

Do you remember the one thing Horus always told you about what you should do if you see someone stumble and fall?

Tom (as Xoc)

H-help them up?

Kyle (as the nano spirits)

That's only thing you can do. Oh before we go Xoc, I know this is us giving a freebie, but, uh, can you make two promises for us?

Tom (as Xoc)

What are they? 

Kyle (as the nano spirits)

Well, the first is, answer our damn calls.

Tom (as Xoc)

[Sheepishly.] Okay.

Kyle (as the nano spirits)

All right? We're panicked up here, Xoc. 

Tom (as Xoc)

[Chastised but understanding] Okay.

Kyle (as the nano spirits)

Second one is I know you're real excited, I know you got that friend you want to go to prom with. 

Tom (as Xoc)

[Startled.] Umm, hah, what?

[Faint laughter from the party.] 

Kyle (as the nano spirits)

[A strange, unnerving staticky noise begins to play under the music, gradually getting louder.]

Be careful around them, Xoc. You know that we're your patron, but have you ever thought about what theirs is?

[The staticky noise swells over the music, drowning it out, and then suddenly cuts out.]

Kyle 

All right. So Misha, you are hunting down the Blue Fairy or Vera. Which one are you hunting down? 

Ari 

Ah, yeah, that's... 

Kyle 

[Crosstalking.] 'cause they won't be together. So you gotta hunt down one. 

Ari 

I know, that's a good question. Ughh, this is hard. I think...because I have more experience with Vera, but at the same time I feel like maybe the Blue Fairy might be a little bit more easy to convince than Vera? You, you said...well, I guess both of us are really bad at social interactions, but Misha is particularly bad as this, so this...finding them is a thing, but getting them to do shit...ah, yeah, I'll do the Blue Fairy. 

Kyle 

Okay. 

Tom 

I feel like you can Looney Tunes your way out of this. 

Hallie

[Laughter.]

Kyle 

Uh, so you're hunting down the Blue Fairy. Where are you looking for the Blue Fairy?

Ari 

Uhh, hmm. Hmm mm mm mm. Is there, I mean, so where was the stage where you know, they had the, Vespari had a little show and stuff like that? Because maybe I could get into the backstage or something before...either before the show or around. Yeah. 

Kyle 

Okay. Okay. Yeah. Well, this is gonna be fun. 

[A song that definitely isn't "Cabinet Battle" from Hamilton begins to play.] 

The issue on the table!

Ari 

[Insistent, talking under Kyle as he continues.] No, no, no no no no, okay, fine!

Kyle 

Ghan is on the verge of war with Charmonde. And do we provide Zhev soldiers...

Ari

[Crosstalking.] No!

Kyle

To our Ghan allies or do we stay out of it?

Ari

No!!

Kyle 

Remember, my decision on this matter is not subject to the council of spheres' approval the only person you have to convince...

Ari 

No, no, no. No!

Kyle 

Is me!

Ari 

You must be out of your goddamn mind! [Through laughter.] Stop it!

Kyle 

[Laughter.] 

No! So you're backstage. 

[The music stops.]

You can hear that the Calaval performers are practicing for tonight's performance. 

Tom 

[Resigned sigh.]

Kyle 

[Laughter.]

Tom 

[Sighs again.]

Kyle 

You're in this backstage. Honestly, it's really just kind of like a cardboard wall for this, for the thing, and you're just kind of in the back half of the room.

Ari 

Was just able to sneak there, that's perfect. 

Kyle 

Yeah, Vespari, you can hear is, he's kind of muttering. Uh, he's actually, the door is open and he's sitting there just muttering, sitting to himself. He didn't notice you come in. Uh, he actually did, he thought you were a performer, because he doesn't know what Misha looks like. 

Ari 

Oh, yeah. 

Kyle 

So he's just sitting there like muttering to himself. Like,

Kyle (as The Great Vespari)

[With varying kinds of emphasis.] I am the GREAT Vespari. I AM the Great Vespari! I...am the Great Vespari.

Kyle 

Trying to get his, nail his opening line for tonight's performance.

Ari 

Was...as he's doing it, Misha is kind of unconsciously is going to roll their eyes a bit.

Kyle 

[Laughter.]

Ari 

And they, I want to see...can I, is Vespari the only one in the room, or can like, Misha look to see if they see the Blue Fairy somewhere. 

Kyle 

I mean, it's about ten square feet. 

Ari 

So I guess... 

Kyle 

So the Blue Fairy is not here yet.

Ari 

Not.

Kyle 

So you're just sitting there, and a voice from inside your pocket says,

Kyle (as Sunny)

Was that supposed to be a companion of this Blue Fairy of yours?

Ari (as Misha)

I, I thought that perhaps his companion would be here, and you would be able to see this thread. Hmm. Well, ah, are you able to see any nearby threads, perhaps not coming from him, but from the vicinity that might lead us to the people we're looking for?

Kyle (as Sunny)

Ah, can you lift me up please? 

Ari 

Misha will, and...Misha, so Misha is tall, so Misha will try, will do that. But also, I want to use my scarf to also lift, lift it up like, extend it and lift it up, because it's a long scarf too. 

Kyle 

And so what you do is you reach into your pocket and you lift up something that Xoc gave you, and is now in your inventory. Ah, you remember those keys that you had back in Charmonde that they use to store light?

Ari 

Yeah. Yeah, right. Yes. 

Kyle 

Yeah. So you needed to transfer Sunny throughout the thing, but since she's a stowaway and it had to be secretive, she couldn't just fly around. So it took a little bit of finagling, but, uh, you eventually realize that you could stick her inside one of these capsules so she can just hang around inside your pocket as you move around.

Ari 

I see!

Kyle 

So you lift up this little key, and it looks around, and she says, 

Kyle (as Sunny) 

No, I can't see anyone. I've found that 

[00:40:00] 

I have difficulty unless I can physically see the person. 

Ari (as Misha)

Ohh...okay. That is, that is understandable. 

[Thoughtfully.] Well, perhaps...

Ari 

Ahh, do we not have...what, how long is it until the show starts? Because what, maybe we can just wait until she appears.

Kyle 

Uh, it's a few hours.

Ari 

Okay. Nevermind, that goes out of the window. 

Kyle 

I mean if you're up for it, I'm okay with just you two sitting shooting the shit for three hours.

Hallie

[Laughter.]

Ari 

Ahhh...fine. Let's do that, because I don't have any other ideas. If people have other ideas, let's hear them. If not, I'll just sit and listen to this musical again that Misha likes the, the songs.

Kyle 

All right, so you sit and you wait for the Blue Fairy to come and it's, it's silent for a little while, and then eventually the orb pipes up, the little key. 

Kyle (as Sunny) 

So...how did you meet? 

Emily

[Laughter.]

Ari 

Ah, that's why you said yes to this.

Hallie

[Laughter.]

Ari 

Yeah. Misha will say, 

Ari (as Misha)

How do who meet? I...do you mean me and my companions? 

Kyle (as Sunny) 

Oh, well, not all of them...the blond bo--

Kyle 

He's blond, right? 

Tom 

Eh, it's like a dirty blond, right? 

Ari 

Yeah. 

Kyle (as Sunny) 

The blond boy! He's very cute, by the way. 

Ari (as Misha)

Oh Xoc, right. Um....

Ari 

And Misha's eyes will brighten up again, because I decided that's their version of blushing.

Emily

Aww!

Ari (as Misha)

Oh, well, we, we had this mission. 

[Simple, melancholy piano tune begins to play under Misha’s explanation.]

Um...well, I entered this bar looking for an adventure after well, we don't have to really go into details, but I, I–I really wanted to to have an adventure, a human, with humans, because I don't know them...I didn't know them very much at the time. And, well, he just happened to be there along with my other companions, and that's...how we met. I agree that he is...not bad-looking?

Kyle 

[Laughter.]

Kyle (as Sunny) 

[Playfully.] And then? 

Emily 

[Laughter.]

Ari (as Misha)

Then? Then...I don't know! Ah...

Emily 

[Laughs a little louder.]

Ari 

Misha is going to be a bit flustered about this and be like,

Ari (as Misha)

[Clears throat.] Yeah. Hmm. Uh, are you enjoying the show? 

Kyle (as Sunny) 

I remember when I first saw Mayra. 

[Slightly spooky, whimsical music begins to play.] 

It was a funny thing. I had never tried to take form in this physical realm before, but then I saw this...[Chuckling.] 

Poor...a young explorer. She was just so...stumbling, like...eventually she got into the middle of a cavern and realize she had forgotten her lights! So I had never tried to take form in the physical world before, but I thought, I couldn't just leave her there alone. So I tried to assemble together some of the little light I could find and pray to Beacon. Now that was much too heavy than I was used to, and I just stumbled right into her and the rest...

[The music fades out.]

Kyle 

And then she gets quiet. 

Ari 

Misha will smile at that and say,

Ari (as Misha)

Well that's...that is certainly a really nice story, and it seems like you two are really...or were, at that time, really close. I do hope that you can figure out again those links, and tie them if that's what you want.

Ari 

Um, Misha will actually shift a bit on their seat and say,

Ari (as Misha)

Um, I suppose I have a question, because I was a little bit confused as to a thing you said earlier. 

[Haunting, sad music begins to play.] 

You mentioned that the bond you saw between me and Xoc was stronger than just being very good friends. I do not understand what else is there? What is stronger than that? My classification...I don't understand it. 

Kyle (as Sunny) 

[Chuckles softly.] Well, dear. I can't say I understand it either. Uh, being fused into one person, quite unconventional. And... 

Ari (as Misha)

Yeah?

Kyle (as Sunny) 

Not recommended.

Ari (as Misha)

Oh.

Kyle (as Sunny) 

But I had heard that you had met Mauve and Mako.

Ari (as Misha)

Oh! Yes! [Trails off a little sadly.] I did...

Ari 

They're gonna kind of uh, be quiet after. Yeah.

Kyle (as Sunny) 

Well, in all my years...I haven't had that many years, but in all the years the Professor was around...

[The music fades out.]

She hadn't seen a better example of what else is there than friends than them. 

Ari (as Misha)

Oh.

Kyle (as Sunny) 

You two actually remind me a lot about them. Although your robot companion is a lot sassier.

Ari 

Misha will think about it. 

Ari (as Misha)

Yeah, they do have a diff...[Catches themself.] They did have a different relation than I guess anybody else they related with. What do you call that?

Kyle (as Sunny) 

I've heard it called love. 

["Seasons of Love" begins to play softly in the background. After a few moments it slowly fades.] 

Is that the, ah, Blue Fairy you were talking about?

Ari (as Misha)

Uh...

Kyle 

And as you look over, you see a 

[00:45:00] 

door has opened up and the Blue Fairy has walked in and is looking at you. 

Ari 

Oh boy. Okay! Way to interrupt. Rude! Misha will say,

Ari (as Misha)

Oh, certainly that...that is her.

Ari 

Misha will wave at her and say, 

Ari (as Misha)

[Hesitantly.] Salutations. I would like to speak to you for a moment. I don't think we have properly introduced yet. My nomenclature is Misha Jarvis, and I know you are referred to as the Blue Fairy, but I do not believe that is a nomenclature of yours. That would be like calling me an android. 

Kyle 

[Faint laughter.]

Ari (as Misha)

Do you have a nomenclature?

Kyle 

The Blue Fairy's gonna look at you, and she's gonna raise her eyes. She was not expecting this. And then–

Tom

[Crosstalking through laughter.] Eyes or eyebrows?

Kyle 

Raised eyebrows. No, her eyes are just–[Kyle makes a mechanical noise like a forklift going up.] Just go up.

[Makes a shwoop noise.]

Ari 

[Laughter.] 

Like the Miis, like when you create a Mii and you can put where the eyes are! You just raise the eyes!

Kyle 

Um, and she's gonna look over and she's gonna just kick Vespari's box, and he's just been sitting there ranting to himself. Like,

Kyle (as The Great Vespari)

I AM the Great Vespari! 

Ari 

He was still in the fucking room while we're having this conversation?

Hallie and Emily

[Laughter.]

Kyle 

And he's gonna be like, 

Kyle (as The Great Vespari)

Ah, yes, my assistant. Where have you been this whole time? We have a show to attend to.

Kyle 

And  he gets up and he storms off on the stage.

Ari 

Oh?

Kyle 

And the Blue Fairy walks off to the stage and she looks back at you, and she just shrugs. 

Ari 

Can...Misha's gonna attempt to grab her.

Hallie

Kidnap her. Do it. 

Kyle 

Yeah. 

Tom 

Oh no. 

Kyle 

Give me a roll. 

Tom 

Oh, no, I can't rescue Misha from the brig!

Ari 

I don't know what I'm doing, okay? I'm...sorry. Oh, nineteen!

Kyle 

So what is your goal? Why are you trying to grab the Blue Fairy? 

Ari 

Ahh, I mean, is the angle...I want her to listen...uh, I mean I guess we should...I just...I don't know. I just...this is why I was the was worst person to be looking for her. Um, because I want what's her name, Sunny, to be able to take a better look at the her thread, just a quick second, so that she can see what they are linked to. 

Kyle 

All right. So the Blue Fairy goes, you grab her by the hand, and she glares at you. 

Ari 

I, I would like, I don't know if there's a way to...for me to like, nod at friggin' Sunny for her to quickly look at the threads before I die. 

Kyle 

Oh, yeah Sunny's been listening this whole time, but she's not going to speak and...because you can't mentally talk to you.

Ari 

No, I know, but if she can look yeah, just hopefully she's looking while this awkward situation happens.

Kyle 

And then she aggressively moves her arm back and flutters off onto the stage. 

Ari 

Well, after that happened, I'm gonna, [Clears throat.] I'm gonna...[Trails into laughter.]

Kyle 

And then as you walk out, and the Great Vespari starts his second performance, Sunny pipes up. 

Kyle (as Sunny) 

Well, that's...no. My abilities must be completely off. That doesn't make sense at all. 

Ari (as Misha)

[Startled.] Why? What did you see? 

Kyle (as Sunny) 

So that was the Blue Fairy you were talking about, yes? 

Ari (as Misha)

Yes. I am certain.

Kyle (as Sunny) 

And you said she should have threads with two other people?

Ari (as Misha)

Yes. Well, I do not know–I would like to find that out. 

Kyle (as Sunny) 

Well, I saw two threads. 

[Closing theme, "Hitoshio" by Miracle of Sound, begins to play.] 

One points in the direction of that gymatorium.

Ari (as Misha)

Oh, I...I suppose that might be where Vera is.

Kyle (as Sunny) 

But the weird thing is the other one. Now, I must be wrong...I would need...only the professor could know this for sure, but it looked like her second thread was with the Prodigious itself.

[Closing theme swells and ends.]

Kyle 

For reference, Ari, how many balls of ants does Misha have at this point?

Ari 

Two! Two balls! That came out wrong.

Tom

[Laughter.]

Kyle 

So with an NPC, and Ness counts as a PC there. He's not going to send you shit. He's a stowaway, so he doesn't have a mailbox. His mailbox is Xoc's mailbox, and that's going to cause problems.

Hallie

[Laughter.]

Kyle (as Sunny) 

But the threads I see might be helpful to you. 

Tom 

[Wryly.] Okay, Sapphire.

Kyle (as Sunny) 

Any person you're connected to, I can see those lines bonding you together. It's how I knew I could trust you so easily.

Tom 

[A little sarcastically.] So could you run a ship on that power? 

Kyle 

What?

Tom 

Could you run a ship on that power? 

[00:50:00] 

Kyle 

Was Sunny's introduction okay?

Tom 

Yes. I liked it a lot.

Emily 

Mm-hmm!

Ari 

I picture her as the cloud from Star Butterfly.

Kyle

[Garbled screeching noise.]

Tom 

[Garbled screeching noise.]

Kyle 

And that's where we're going to call off the Xoc scene.

Tom 

Good, because Xoc was not fucking happy with them there. He might have moodily disconnected on them. 

Kyle 

I mean, that's fair. 

Ari 

Just hang up. [Pretending to be angry.] Goodbye, mom!

Tom 

[Pouting.] Fuck you Dad!

Kyle 

Fun fact. This is now a conflict that's gonna go...here's a new arc! Stay away from your significant other. 

Tom 

Fuck you Dad!

Kyle 

They're dangerous. 

Tom 

Fuck you Dad. Maybe The Lady with Cinnabar Lips should be afraid of us!

Kyle (as The Great Vespari)

I will never reveal my performance secrets from such a saboteur like yourself! Was a jealous person from Roulettia come to ruin my performance? I'm doing perfectly fine!

Ari (as Misha)

Well, I have seen it before and I can attest that it is not really that perfect.

TOM

Oohhh! 

Kyle (as The Great Vespari) 

[Sobbing loudly.]

Kyle 

And then I'll cut to you have love, just because I just really liked the reference to two people and a Ness. 

Hallie

[Laugh.] 

Ari 

Yeah, that's cute 

Tom 

Two people and a Ness, our sitcom.

[Laughter from the party.]

Ari 

Two and a half robits.

Tom 

[Dryly.] No, no, not that show.

Ari 

Two and a half machines! 

Tom 

No! Ohhh no!

Ari 

[Through laughter.] It's two and a half machines!

Tom 

No, no, oh no! 

Ari

It’s two and a half-- [Voice breaks into laughter.]

Hallie

You've done this yourself.

Tom

Nooo! No...no! Noooo! Not that show!

Ari

[Laughing in the background through the entire scene.] It’s true!

Hallie

I'm not sorry. 

Tom 

Fuck.

Tom (as Ness)

Catchphrase!

Tom

That was a bad Ness voice.

[Episode ends - 00:51:42]