(AN: Shokomon you are the greatest person ever, you practically reviewed all my chapters and have given me such a confidence boost i hope this chapter makes you smile too i tried to write it up nice and on time for you. ;-;'')
(ALSo WARNING: i think i might have to bump up to a T rateing, do ya'll think i should?)
Chapter 14 - Too cool For S-cool
Today was a Monday; usually a day of school and fun time learning.
However I cannot participate.
Well I can but I don't want to. I'm still grades ahead on everything, I want Solo to learn that I'm not his keeper, I want the others to realizes that they are also his keepers, and hell I will still be learning today so it'll be finnnnnnnnnnne-ish.
When they woke up and got dressed, I set them up in a line and gave orders, "Pat; I entrust you to keep an eye on Solo and Jack. Jack; I entrust you to keep an eye on Rey and Solo. Solo; I entrust you punch ether Rey or Jack or anyone who comes into the school for any unsavory reason. Do ya'll follow?"
A Yes, a ye, and an accidentally early punch, apology and confirmation. Perfect.
"Also Barnaby no punching holes in the walls."
"Who's Barnaby?" Quipped Solo.
Not perfect but that will give me a project to work on during woodshop. (I may have whispered to Jack to ensure the activity, he'd appreciate the workout)
"Alright before I go is there anything you'd all like?"
"Doughnuts!" ok I think the kilobomb likes just about everything so that's-
"Um I'm goo-Doughnuts sound rad!" Well they both like custard and raspberry jam-
"Will you teach me something less mental tonight? Bowing was fun!" A collective shudder and involuntary covering of our heads. I don't think I've discovered his favorite doughnut so I'm skipping him.
With a simple nod, "Alright see you all later tonight-"
"ACTIVATING THE HUG RITUAL OF GOODBYES!" SOLO'S CAHRGING AT ME OH HELLLAHHHHHHH
One panic attack and an EM wave change later I was moseying on down to the high security prison, Fenceland (I actually only learned that name today…) and came by for my once monthly visit.
I waltzed passed the front desks waving my card as per usual and strolled right on in to the glass panel booths. I dialed her number and…"Hello? Her slightly stuffy voice floated through, "Whose it now? It if has anything to do with the fog I have nothing to-"
Oh no not the bureaucrats, "It's just me Vega."
"…Oh! Geo! Come on in dear boy." A buzzer bleeped and some heavily armed guards carefully escorted me to her room.
Room is a bit of a stretch. It's a lab. Not a fancy science lab (there not that stupid); an archaeological one. Hallow's back as well (lightning free, that is). And basically has every room a house needs as we sat around the fake fire place in the living room.
"So what brings you here today young lad?" she arrived in her usual insane dress of pure madness and discord, snuggling into her chair "Just felt like it?"
And she sure doesn't mince words, "Actually I came to learn more a about Mu; specifically stuff that can help me live with one in not death defying conflict."
Stunned, she laughed "Wow, you actually managed to convince Solo to try out being friendly?"
"Haha hell no, he wants to learn how to destroy friendship, from the inside." As I pretend strangle the air with my angstyest white haired scar boy impression.
She laughed almost spilling her drink, "Oh yeah, that's definitely Solo…."
"And I bet you know what my first question is…" stopped and cringed, "Oh? Do you happen to have an idea of what that might be hmm…?" I am judging so hard right now.
"…I swear the boat thing was just to see if he seriously knew nothing. He seriously knows nothing?"
"Had to teach him how to hug and write and stop weaponing the Roomba he knows nothing. But he sure is dedicated to learning it." He was excited for school today.
"Ah yes, Murian's praised education for all levels of its people, and the whole 'learning the inside' thing is a classic war tactic as well. You will find that a trend. Kinda like hive mind Romans. I'll try my best not to scar your little mind. Heehee!"
Oh no. She giggled. But I must have mental fortitude and strive forth without fear!
…
I'm going to be crying like a baby after all this aren't I?
Blech. So first highly noticeable thing; "What's his problem with smiling? He's never smiled even once, not even a smirk."
Vega laughed, "Ahhh! A classic sentiment of a first time Murian encounter! It's quite silly but…Murians reserve smiles for only there most close loved ones and intensely intimate moments. Murains might feel all the love for themselves, but that means that to make is special for their significant others every last drop of positive messages must be made special. It's kinda endearing in a…messed up way."
Neat! So now that I've broken the ice it's time to get to the nitty gritty:
"You're the only one who might know; where is he from? Who raised him? You're the leading researcher on Murian anything, you'd want to know about the parents. Dead or alive." I paused and sighed, "I don't think I can ask him without losing a finger or suffering minor death."
Vega got quiet, and then removed her glasses, "It's time we take a step out of Science and take a head long jump into the mystic. Mu is a vicious, vicious, insatiable place of pride. They would never stand for them to be gone forever. Or gone at all."
She took a pause, Hallow seemed to detect some kind of stress and continued for her, "There is a temple. 500 miles exactly due south of the temple near the Nakasta lines. Locals are intensely fearful of it and it is called…The Children's Grave. It is a huge tower filled from top to bottom with the bodies of new born children."
Well there went our E rating.
Vega shuttered, "What a horrid place, Mu in its pride, takes energy from itself and the sprits of its people to create a child; the perfect Murian. But while it can create a child it cannot raise it. Being left in a cold dark temple is no place a child can survive for long in…"
"Yo I think I'm going to be sick how about we jump to Solo?"
"He was found one day by a woman who regularly leaves flowers and says prayers from the children. He had just been created and was still relatively heathy being found surrounded by hundreds of de-"
"NAAHHH" waving in a panic, "and they took lil' Solo?"
"Yes and they took the Solo to town. As you can imagine a living child from the temple of death? Yeah, yeah didn't go well. It's a miracle he lived long enough to run. By then his description was around and he was beaten and attacked where ever he went."
"Oh man… No wonder he acts like my Mom's lost her marbles to the ends of the earth when she's momming him! He's never had a mom! Doesn't have parents at all unless ghostly rocks count as moms and dads these days." honestly that changed me.
Frankly he finally won the 'Suckyest Childhood' award for massive amounts of trauma! Dad 'died' in a space incident? Pfft! Nothing. Happens to all kinds of people.
Family dies when you just barely old enough to walk along with the entirety of your country following right after, live a life of crime by some evil monster who probably made home life as miserable as hell for you? Pretty sad.
Tossed in the trash when you were born, only able to survive with a broken mind and the help of a robot? Get me those anti-depressants but being created by ghosts to live on the dream of a dead nation of pride in a pile of thousands of your brothers and sisters to be hated and feared by all?
Well fuck.
She continued, "It's actually quite fascinating, if you look at his DNA is barely human. I imagine it wouldn't look a damn thing like humans if they didn't need to breed with them to not go extinct, when he gets a wife ill need to study that see if there children are infertile or if they have a few misca-"
"I am a CHILD. My friend is a CHILD. We are CHILDREN. Do NOT discuss to me a CHILD, about my fellow CHILD's CHILDREN and their possible NOT CHILDING. Is there anything else I should know about? Preferably about less traumatic things cause I am a CHILD and maybe about dancing."
She gave a very guilty and embarrassed look away, "Hmm, well He might not…" then confusion snapped her back, "wait dancing?"
"Yup. See where giving him friendship lessons and next on our list after scratching our heads was dancing."
"Ah. I see. Hmm…Murians like a good session of boogying down. Just don't do it in a public space, he'll probably slap you for it."
"Eh? He shy?"
"No no…dancing in public is a Murian sign for…ah…Bad things."
"Not a good game for cute children?"
"Absolutely not! And er uh he hates walnuts for some reason, never got an explanation and….hmmmm the only other thing I could think of is….don't give him gifts and definitely don't give him clothes with the color red."
"Why?" I glance to my shirt, "…it's not cause of me is it?"
"Oh no, but ah…I'm a little bit surprised he's never really commented about it but red is a highly highly effeminate color to Murian society. It's not a written rule or anything, and you wouldn't get in trouble but it would be so…weird for a man to where red. "
Hallow floated on by, "it would be the equivalent of say a man going out in full Lolita gear. Murains where completely tolerant of their own, but it still would be weird and catch you off guard."
"I mean there's a chance he's gotten over it but it wouldn't surprise me if he's not weirdly glad the day you don't wear any."
I blink, "Why don't you wear red?"
"I'm not an executioner of the high order. It's also just not my color."
"I'm going to leave now I think my friend Jack needs me," quietly shuffling my way to the door.
"Jack? Like…like anger tiny black hired Jack? Wears a fancy coat? Sister Tia?"
"….Yeah. Do you know them?"
She stared blankly out muttering, "Jack and Tia? I wonder…" then "Hay the next time you see them ask if they remember an aunt Vegaigita. If they don't, ask Jack if he remembers aunt Vegetable.
"Okey Dokey Artachokey!" PUNS.
She slowly waved, "Bye Geo~ It was nice to talk to you again. I'll text you anything else that comes to mind if you text me funny pictures~"
"Way ahead of you," texting her the massive supply of blackmail I will have for years as I sign out and leave the prison back.
I'm going to spend some time in the planetarium before I get back I think.
"Pair. Pair. Pair. -" Jack has not stopped poking me in the side for an hour straight.
LEMME JUST-"Jack please…."
"Gimmie Punky Brewster already." HELLO
"What do you want?" if it's something stupid I'll-
"What's the magic word to make Solo really really reallllllly angry?"
I love this kid, "Ah…blip? Blop? Ah…it's Bly R-"
"How dare you I will rips out your entrails with a bear Did you call for me Pat?"
Today is going to be a good day.
Oh No, you better-
TO LATE AHAHHAHAHAHAHHAAH
I return to the school in shambles, at least a better half of the second floor is gone, and a perfect grade for all this extra credit looms in the distant smoke remains of the school.
White invisible electric unicorn kid is sitting in a nearby transformer, "So, had a good day?"
"NO! Look at what happened! I'm so sorry he and the other just….! Just….!"
I patted him on his head and left a raspberry doughnut in his giant metal doom arm. He needs it.
Black invisible electric unicorn kid and quite visible fleshy bird boy (who this is the first time I've ever seen him wearing his visualizer) and Ancient Spook Child, clearly they're causing his tears.
"Ok what happened." clapping my hands in joy.
Jack giggles, and giggles some more, giggling like he was on the crackest sugar rush ever and…in his softest whispery nooty newt voice, 'bly.'
And the sound of Solo's Spine breaking to turn his head 180 degrees distressingly is disturbingly nigh instantly gave me my answer.
"Excellent beautiful children we must go home now before weareallarrestedgoGO!" giving donuts to the trio of destruction to hurry along our escape.
Will one quick question, "Hay jack, do you remember an aunt Vegalitate?"
What a face he made, "What in the sam hill kinda name is that?"
"What about an aunty Vegetable?"
WHAT A CUTE FACE, "ANUTY VEGETABLE? She had like; the coolest job ever!" he was now hopping around being CUTE.
"What did she do?"
"Study DINOSAURS AND NINJAS! What more could you want?!"
Not much.
Maybe less dead babies.
"I am very, very, pleased at my progress! I feel it necessary to offer you all a gift!" whoa Solo we just got home we haven't even told you what the next lesson wa-WHAT DO YOU MEAN GIFT?
He approached me ANDBOWED-oh he didn't hit me,"For Geo; you have always valued knowledge. I am not only happy to teach you Murin but I will also allow you visitation to the astrology room on Mu."
"I thought it sunk?" I swear I saw it sunk.
"I salvaged a lot of it it's hiding in Florida."
Huh. I WILL BE THE BEST DEAD LANGUAGE LEARNER EVER.
He approached jack and bowed, "For Jack; I was not sure what to get you actually so I went looking and I found all the dark colored condors and have ordered them to work for you."
"I GET MY OWN GANG YEE" I can see this go horribly wrong, but Jack is still cute so this is excellent.
To the Greenie, "And lastly Pat. You need a way to protect yourself, with yourself. I feel you rely too much upon the angry one. If you are not against having another very small tattoo, I would like to give you a powerful Murian technique.
Pat fidgeted, "i-I don't understand-"
Solo grabbed him and dragged him to the corner, "Fear not! I have this under mostly control!"
"SOMEONE HELP!" squeaked Pat, as he was dragged away.
Jack huffed, "huh? So no dance today?"
"No dance today."
He then hopped up on a foot, "So Geo, I saw the calamander and on the task list your ma wrote 'get birthday gift for G!' how old you turning?"
I shrug, "12."
"EEK!" squeaked Pat, "I'm scared!"
"But you have thousands, surly and old fashion needle doesn't scare-"
"YES IT DOES REY HELP ME!" he's crawling into the wall in fear.
"…we better help them."
Pat's squeaks are getting worse.
"…yeah."
Hmmm 3 in the morning, what an interesting time to be woken up by whirring noises.
"…do I even have to explain why you can't do that."
"Judith is allowed to protect herself with firearms like anyone else."
*BAM BAM*
"If the cops come it's all on you."