And now for the Q and As of the Torsa Villa survivors
Chelsea Krakow
From Crash X Fusion
Chelsea, what sort of magic do you specialize in?
Chelsea: I… actually mix magic. Initially, I just learned plant magic, since the schools on the reservation didn't encourage magic mixing. And why would they? Our curriculum had to be approved by the Emperor's Coven. However, when I got older, I began to have… visions. It turned out that I had latent oracle abilities, sort of a 'sixth sense'. It was a pretty minor thing at first. Sometimes I could react to stuff before they happened. Like I was so fast that I could see ahead and could react to it before the rest of the world caught up with me. I didn't even realize that this 'sixth sense' was tied to oracle magic at first, but Clockwork Cab noticed it and wanted to help me hone my powers. Under his guidance, I was able to see farther into the future, but these visions were still… unreliable. Otherwise I might have been able to stop the Torsa Villa fire from happening. (pauses, sighs) More now than ever, I want to find a way to really be able to reliably control my powers, but without Cab's guidance I don't know who can help me. Besides helping me with my oracle magic, he also taught me a few bard and illusions spells as well. He was actually in favor of mixing magic, even though he could have gotten in serious trouble for helping me like he did. I really do miss him…
What's your family like?
Chelsea: My mom's name is Minona Magpie. I… actually don't remember much about her, since I haven't seen her since I was four years old and my dad took me with him to the Torsa Villa. I don't actually hold a grudge against her, because I think that I knew even then… that she wasn't fit to be a mother. I remember that she tried, she really tried. But she was a kleptomaniac who kept getting in trouble for stealing, she would suffer from extended periods of depression, and other mental issues. I've heard that she's been in and out of the Oracle Institute. I would actually like to reach out to her, try to have a relationship with her, and get to know her better. But… I guess I'm worried about what could happen. As for my father, his name is Clawrence Krakow. He used to run a gym on the Torsa Villa called "Strong Bones Fitness". I say used to because, well, it burned down with the rest of the Villa, unfortunately. And this was the second time that my father's dreams went up in smoke like that, since he actually tried to open a business outside of the Torsa Villa. A werecat-owned business off the Torsa Villa was unheard of, but my dad was determined to make it work. But as you might be able to imagine, he faced a lot of… opposition. While he didn't let the vandals scare him off, not even he could fight off the Emperor's Coven, who eventually shut down his gym because of 'health concerns', if you believe that excuse. He was pretty upset about that, especially since he actually used to do some 'off-the-books' jobs for the Emperor's Coven in order to earn their favor. Unfortunately, he and I… we aren't on the best speaking terms right now. Mainly because he isn't exactly the greatest father, if I'm being perfectly honest. Or maybe he is actually a pretty good father, just to one of his many other kids instead of me…
Why do you call Nina 'Little Thunder'?
Chelsea: Because we would race each other when we were both on the track team. I almost always beat her, with the best she could do was tying with me, even after her… modifications. I called her 'Little Thunder' because I am fast as lightning and she always came behind me and everyone knows that thunder comes after lightning.
When did you develop an interest in Anthony, and where do you two currently stand?
Chelsea: Honestly… I've had a crush on Tony ever since we were kittens. He was the first friend I ever made in the Villa. I wasn't born in the Villa, instead moving to the Villa with my father when I was four. I… had a lot of trouble fitting in, especially during those early years. Tony was the first werecat my age that I really connected with. He's… always meant a lot to me. As for where we currently stand… we're not together, if that's what you're asking. We talked about it and we agreed that neither of us can really afford to date right now because of the current state of the Torsa Villa. We have to focus on helping out our people and after that… after that we'll talk about 'us'.
From Jack_Skeletron_4ever
How did you and Tony meet?
Chelsea: Like I said earlier, he was the first friend I made on the Villa. I met him when I noticed him all by himself, studying some scroll. I asked what he was doing and he told me that he was trying to decipher the message on the scroll. I looked at the scroll and saw writing that I couldn't recognize, with Tony telling me that the writing was in some forgotten language that our ancestors used to possess. I was intrigued and that was when he finally looked up from the scroll and got a good look at me, recognizing my more witch-like features. However, he didn't balk at them. Instead, he asked me if I would be interested in learning more about my werecat ancestry. And I was. Tony… he helped me get more in touch with my heritage. And I think he appreciated having someone to talk to, especially since there were a lot of werecats who were not interested in what we used to be. He was a rare werecat who wasn't ashamed of our past and wanted to learn more about it. I've always… admired that about him.
How was growing up in the Torsa Villa?
Chelsea: I always felt… like I was a bit of an outsider. It wasn't like nobody on the Villa accepted me. I had Tony, I had Banjo, I had Cab, and there were plenty of other werecats who treated me with respect. But… I still never really felt like I fully belonged on the Villa. And that's because I didn't. I was a half-witch. And while Tony did help me learn more about my werecat heritage, that was only half of my heritage. I couldn't fully be a werecat, but I couldn't be a full-blood like my mother either. That was something I had to wrestle with a lot as a kitten. Believe it or not, this actually earned me some sympathy from Fauxworm, the coven scout captain who was assigned to the Torsa Villa. He was actually a hybrid himself, since his dad was a full-witch and his mother was a biped demon, though you wouldn't be able to tell from looking at him. If you were told that both of his parents were biped demons, you would believe it, but despite this he did show some sympathy toward me. Don't be mistaken though, he was still a piece of shit though who hated the Torsa Villa and left it to burn. But at least at one point, he was actually kind to me. However, this still didn't make growing up on the Torsa Villa easy, especially with my father's neglect…
What can you tell about your family?
Chelsea: Well, I already told you about my parents… so how about I tell you about my half-siblings? Because yeah, I have a lot of half-siblings. I'm pretty sure that the main reason my dad started his gym was as a way for him to meet and hook up with werecat women. My siblings are… (takes a deep breath) Tigressa, Charlisk, Morbin, Priskilla, Rummage, Evelynx, and Jewel. Tigressa's mom is Tressa Honeypaw, Charlisk and Morbin's mom is Shivanee Meola, Priskilla's mom is Purrscilla Payday, Rummage's mom is Chat Granite, Evelyx's mom is Deborah Licklock, and Jewel's mom is Tailya Jadetail. (pauses to catch her breath) And that's only the half-siblings I know of, since I've had my suspicions about Rosie and her friends. As you might imagine, having that many siblings contributed to me feeling like an outsider growing up. Not just on the Torsa Villa, but in my own family too, since I was the only half-witch in my family. I… honestly felt closer to Tony, Cab, and Banjo than I did to my actual family…
What's your favorite memory with Banjo?
Chelsea: Honestly, I don't have a favorite memory. I mean, how could I have just one? She was one of my best friends. My second best friend after Tony. I have… so many good memories of her. But I especially remember just how overjoyed I was when I first met her, since she was a hybrid just like me. I thought that I finally found someone who would share my struggle with coming from two very different cultures, two very different worlds. Someone who would share my feelings of being an outsider in not just my own community, but my own family. I remember one time when I accidentally ended up trauma-dumping on her and she told me in response that 'I think you're pretty cool'. I don't think I will ever forget that.
What did you think of Belos and the Emperor's Coven before the reveal of Belos' true colors? What about now?
Chelsea: My feelings toward the Emperor's Coven have… evolved. When I was a kitten, I actually didn't hate the Emperor's Coven. I wasn't old enough to know any better and as I already mentioned, the captain in charge of the scouts assigned to the Villa was actually nice to me. I used to like Fauxworm, but this obviously changed as I got older. I was able to start recognizing the oppression and the intentional erasure of our culture, of our history. Even before the reveal of Belos's true colors, I had learned to hate the Emperor's Coven and Belos as an extension. And honestly… to this day I have a hard time even looking at former coven scouts, including the ones that helped the Torsa Villa during the fire. It's just hard for me to separate them from the organization they used to serve.
What and who did you lose in the fire?
Chelsea: Fortunately, I didn't lose any of my family members. They actually weren't on the Torsa Villa when the fire broke out. My dad had a bad feeling, so he took all of his partners and my siblings and managed to get them off the Villa thanks to some connections that he still had outside of the Villa. They all hid in the Underground until after the Day of Unity. He did ask me to come with everyone else, but I turned him down, since I wanted to stay with Cabby in case he needed me around the Day of Unity. So I guess I was lucky in a way… but I did lose Cabby, my mentor, and I also lost Banjo, one of my best friends. (sighs) So I still lost a lot…
How are you doing after the fire?
Chelsea: …not great, if I'm being honest. I am still reeling from the deaths of both Cab and Banjo. I can feel their absence in my life, because they were really important to me and now they're just… gone. Along with Mao, almost all of Nina's siblings, and countless other werecats that I grew up with. Over two months later and… we're all still hurting, still struggling. Although as bad as I'm doing, I think Nina might be doing even worse. I'm… worried for her.
What are your projects for the future?
Chelsea: Right now, I'm just trying to focus on helping the Torsa Villa. I want to protect my people, ensure that we do have a future on the Boiling Isles. That's my priority at the moment. After that… I would like to date Tony, I would like to reach out to my mom, and I would like to find someone to help me with my oracle powers. But I have no idea when I will be able to focus on any of those things because of how much work still needs to be done on the Torsa Villa.
What did you think of Nina growing up, after she left the school and later left the Villa to live with the Brookes? Especially considering Calypso's reputation?
Chelsea: She was kinda my rival growing up. That's why I called her 'Little Thunder'. We weren't… we weren't friends though, even if looking back we should have been. I think… I think I was jealous of her, actually. I mean, she had this great family and she had the opportunity to attend a witch school off the Torsa Villa… and it felt like she took the former for granted and squandered the latter. I know, I know, it's petty. And that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. I know now that Nina's situation was… complicated. But back then I was frustrated when it seemed like Nina was intent on making the Torsa Villa look as bad as possible by getting involved in that school war… and I had no idea what to think of Nina living with the Brookes. I mean, sure, I knew Calypso's reputation. But I didn't know her personally and it seemed like Mao liked her. It also seems like she has really helped Nina out and she's helped the Torsa Villa out a lot after the fire, so… I think Calypso is okay.
From Matteso
How fast are you?
Chelsea: (shrugs) I stopped trying to measure it a while ago.
From Navy-Heart
What is your childhood like?
Chelsea: I… think I already talked enough about my childhood.
From Shuffollower
What types of magic can you use?
Chelsea: Plant, oracle, bard, and illusion, although mainly I use plant magic.
Chelsea, what do you do for fun?
Chelsea: Mostly, I just like to run and hang out with my friends. I've also tried out different sports over the years, which is something that I take after my dad. Track is my favorite though.
Jageera Kipling
From Crash X Fusion
Jageera, what led to you becoming Mao's bodyguard?
Jageera: Heh, there's a bit of a funny story about that. There were some witches who were not happy about Mao becoming the new leader of the Torsa Villa. They thought that she would 'rock the boat' too much, so they tried to have her offed. And apparently they wanted it to be public as well in order to send a message or something like that. I was just at the right place at the right time when the attempted assassination took place. I saved Mao's life and afterward she decided to make me her personal bodyguard.
What were Mao and Cab like?
Jageera: Mao… was a really good leader. I think she wanted to apply her experiences as a teacher to being a leader. In both cases, she wanted to inspire other werecats to be… more. This did make her some enemies, but it also did earn her a lot of admiration. She cared about her kind and she knew that things couldn't keep going the way they were. She didn't want things to stay the same, she wanted them to be better and her goal was to work with witches outside of the Torsa Villa to improve conditions on the Torsa Villa and decrease the presence of the Emperor's Coven on the Torsa Villa. I know she also wanted to hold Captain Bhonif Fauxworm and the coven scouts of the Torsa Villa accountable for all of the abuse they've inflicted upon us, but she knew she had to be careful about what she said in public. A lot of her plans were only known to her inner circle, since she had to manage a delicate balancing act between being an inspiring leader and not appearing too radical. She had to play ball with the Emperor's Coven, including with Fauxworm, even though I knew that she hated his guts. Mao had to make Fauxworm believe that she wasn't actually going to challenge his authority, that she talked a big game to get the Villa on board with her but maintained the same status quo as her predecessors. I know that Mao hated having to choose her battles, but she was planning for the long game and was making some progress outside of the Torsa Villa. However, she was never able to make as much progress as she wanted to and behind closed doors… she was pretty miserable with the state of things and how powerless she felt about creating actual meaningful change. Always having to make concessions, always having to hide her true agenda… it took a toll on her, even if she never gave up hope on her ultimate ambitions. As one of the few werecats who knew her intimately… I really respected her and I think we're all worse off without her. As for Cab… he was an old bloke. I think he was the oldest werecat on the Torsa Villa, actually. He and I used to drink together and he would always have some words of wisdom to share, even if I didn't always get it. He also… was a huge help to me when I first arrived on the Torsa Villa. (pause) I… miss both him and Mao a lot.
How did you feel about Darcilia when you met her?
Jageera: I was… shocked, since I had never met anybody like her before. But after the initial shock, I… sympathized with her greatly. Because she's… just a kid. A kid that had managed to fight back against whatever brainwashing and indoctrination she had been put through in the werecat community she came from. But because of that, she became a kid without a home, a kid who no longer knew where she belonged. She was… lost. Coming to us, telling us about her werecat community… it must have been an incredibly hard thing for her to do. But it was also the right thing for her to do and I will always appreciate what she did. And I guess… I guess I see a bit of myself in her as well.
Do you have a partner?
Jageera: Um… which kind of partner? Do you mean a work partner or a romantic partner? Either way, my answer is no. The closest thing I had to a partner was Oso, the former Head Witch of the Beast-Keeping Coven. We… did work together for a brief time. And during that time, I did think there was… something. But it wasn't meant to be, especially since Oso had a family of his own. Honestly, I don't even know if it was just me who caught feelings or if it was mutual. And I'll never know, since he passed away some years ago…
From Jack_Skeletron_4ever
How did you become Mao's assistant?
Jageera: I already answered this question. I saved her life and she made me her bodyguard afterward.
How was growing up in the Torsa Villa?
Jageera: I didn't grow up in the Torsa Villa. I was actually born in a mansion, just… without the benefits. My mother was… well, 'servant' is a charitable term but let's go with that. My mother was a servant to one of the wealthy families of the Boiling Isles. I won't name which family, because the last thing I need is to cause a scandal with one of the wealthiest families on the Isles. But I was born while my mother was serving this family, so my childhood was spent in this mansion, observing the lives of the wealthy elite while never enjoying any of the perks for myself. My mother and I were actually treated more like slaves or pets than actual servants. After all, servants would be allowed to leave… (pause) My mother passed away when I was young, but I was still kept as the family's personal pet. And I played that role up until I overheard my 'master' planning to send me to a Diamantos family mine on some other Titan. I knew then that I had to escape. I had actually been planning my escape for quite some time up until that point, but had not attempted yet because I knew that I would likely only get one chance. If I was caught, I most likely would not get a second chance. So, that night, I successfully escaped my prison. After my escape, I lived on the streets for a few years, coming and going from the Torsa Villa, which really didn't become my home until Cab noticed me and decided to help me out. (looks down) There is… a lot more to that story, but it's not an easy story for me to share.
Do you have some suspects about who the undercover agent Darcilia mentioned is?
Jageera: No, I don't. Whoever this undercover agent is, it would have to be somebody that I don't know, since they wouldn't have lived on the Torsa Villa. And every werecat I know has either lived on the Torsa Villa their entire lives or, like in Chelsea's case, most of their lives. I haven't seen any strangers that immediately come across as suspicious.
What's your favorite memory with Cab and Mao?
Jageera: I don't really have any favorite memories of Mao, since I don't really isolate a specific memory I have of someone and choose that memory as my 'favorite'. But I guess I do have a favorite memory of Cab. Like I mentioned before, after I came to the Torsa Villa, he was the one who noticed me and decided to help me. He took me off the streets, gave me a well-needed bath, and heard me out. He was a mentor figure to me and without him I don't think I would be as well-adjusted as I am. Before he took pity on me, I was this dirty thing who had spent his entire life in a mansion being abused by some of the most evil witches on the Boiling Isles. I didn't really have any experience socializing with others, which included members of my own kind. Cab was… probably the first witch that I ever let myself trust. I… owe a lot to him.
What did you think of Belos and the Emperor's Coven before the reveal of Belos' true colors? What about now?
Jageera: (scoffs) Considering my personal experience with the wealthy elite of the Boiling Isles that were immune from consequences thanks to their relationships with Belos and the Emperor's Coven, what do you think I thought about them? That was how my 'master' was able to keep me and my prisoner and his house without consequence. Because he knew that he was never going to be punished for it by Belos or the Emperor's Coven. Sure, Belos didn't 'allow' slavery, but that's why me and my mother were 'servants', not 'slaves'. We may have been treated like slaves, but Belos didn't care. The Emperor's Coven didn't care. They didn't save me, so instead I had to save myself. Because of this, I will admit that I am typically more… pessimistic than Mao and Cab were. They were the optimists, the idealists, while I was a bit more cynical, even if Mao still managed to make me believe in her. And now, with both of them gone… I can't be the more pessimistic one anymore, not when I am the closest thing to leadership that the survivors of the Torsa Villa have. Now I have to be the one who inspires… but I'm not Mao. And I'm not Cab. (sighs) I do genuinely hope that this new government is better than the last one. And more importantly, I hope that there's going to be some accountability in the future. No werecat kitten should have to go through what I did…
What did you lose in the fire, outside of Mao and Cab?
Jageera: I lost a lot of werecats that I knew. I wasn't friends with all of them, but I still knew them and their deaths were still a loss, not just for me, but for the community as a whole.
What's your family like?
Jageera: My mother… was trapped in a very bad situation that she couldn't get herself out of. She died when I was really young, so there is a lot about her that I'll just… never really know the truth about, like how she ended up trapped in the servitude of our 'master'. In the memories that I do have of her, she was very kind and gentle. That made her a loving mother, but I suppose it also made her a very… submissive servant. I hate that I will never be able to know her full story. As for my father… I was never told who he was, but I had my suspicions. While I was never able to confirm it, I strongly believe that my 'master' was actually my father and that was one of the reasons he was going to send me away from the Boiling Isles, because he feared that if the news broke out that he had fathered an illegitimate child with a werecat, there would have certainly been a scandal. And considering how cruel he was to me and my mother, if he was my father… I could only imagine how I may have been conceived. (pause) He died years ago, but he did have a son and that son had a daughter, which means there is a good chance that I have both a brother and a niece. But… I've decided to stay out of their lives, since like I said before I don't want to create a scandal with one of the wealthiest families of the Boiling Isles.
How are you doing after the fire?
Jageera: I'm… holding up better than most, I think. But it still isn't easy. Although I have been trying to be a leader, I'm just… not cut out for it. Not in the same way that Mao was. I did learn from her and Cab, but I was mostly still just the bodyguard. I'm still doing the best I can though. Mao and Cab's deaths were… a heavy blow, but I got my chance to grieve and right now my priority is to help everyone else.
What are your projects for the future?
Jageera: I am still trying to run things at the camp, make sure that everyone gets the supplies and the aid that they need. That actually takes up most of my day. Outside of that, I have been keeping my eye out for that infiltrator Darcilia warned me about, though I haven't been making much progress with that. I don't really have any long-term plans at the moment, I have just been taking things day-by-day, waiting for a change.
From Matteso
If Mao were still alive, what do you think she'd think of Nina right now? Given the last time they interacted before your late boss tragically died.
Jageera: I honestly think she would have been proud of Nina. I certainly am. Mao was… harsh on Nina the last time that they saw each other and I think she even regretted being so harsh with her, but her work had been very frustrating at that time and the stuff that Nina did during the Glandus War did not help at all. She still really did care about Nina, so if she could see all the stuff that Nina was doing now… yeah, I think she would have been very proud.
From Navy-Heart
Was there anyone you were ever close to?
Jageera: If you mean romantically, I've already talked about Oso.
From Shuffollower
What types of magic can you use?
Jageera: Construction. I was Mao's muscle, after all. Although in addition to summoning constructs, I also built weapons, including these special nunchucks that I use.
Who's the toughest creep you've ever fought while working for Mao?
Jageera: Hmm, the toughest creep would probably have to be Argo Rexer, who is the descendant of a werecat leader from before Belos's rule. Argo believed that Mao was unfit to rule and even attacked her. I managed to fight him off, although I will admit that I only barely won the fight. We thought about turning him over to the scouts, but before we could he fled from the Villa and he hasn't been seen since. He has the nickname "Argo the Destroyer", which I don't get, because he never actually destroyed anything…
Do you have any idea who Darcilia likes?
Jageera: No, I don't. And I don't ask either. Her personal life is her own and I respect that. But if she does ever want to tell me who it is that she likes, then I will be here for it.
Jemma Milk
From Crash X Fusion
Jemma, what is your goal in life?
Jemma: My goal is to become a lawyer and work in law, which I knew wouldn't be easy… especially for a werecat. But before the fire, I did believe that I could do it and that it would do a lot of good for the Torsa Villa, since it would be setting a new example for other werecats and it would be sending a message to the rest of the Boiling Isles. And that's still the plan, although it might actually be easier to get hired as a lawyer because the Emperor's Coven was disbanded and they were probably my biggest obstacle. And Carter is going to help me too, of course. My plans haven't changed despite the fire and my sister's death, they've merely… paused for now.
What's the rest of your family like?
Jemma: My parents were members of the Torsa Villa committee hearing board. They helped to settle disputes in the community. They both contributed a lot to the Torsa Villa and to improving the lives of our neighbors. My mom was in the business of selling house decor made by the community in a sub-Plant Coven called the "House Decor Coven" while my father was part of the bank loan coven under the Oracle Coven, providing loans to those in need. They were both very hard workers and now… I think they are a bit of a loss. The Torsa Villa community that they helped to maintain is now in shambles. My mom's already lost her job and I don't know how much longer my dad's job will be secure, given that the Oracle Coven has been a mess since the Day of Unity. And I don't think either of them know what they're going to do, since the future of the Torsa Villa and even who is going to stay in charge is really unclear. I… feel really bad for my parents. They did so much work for the Torsa Villa and it's now like it has all been destroyed, not to mention we're all still grieving Lynxa. It's just… a hard time for all of us.
What were you and Lynxa like as kids?
Jemma: We were pretty close as kittens. There was a time when we were both inseparable, though that was partially because I felt like I had to protect her. Lynxa had a… wilder side. Wilder than most. When she was a kitten she really struggled to manage her instincts and my parents were really worried that it could get her in trouble. And I was worried too, so I always stuck by her side, making sure that she stayed out of trouble and didn't lose control. And as she got older, she did grow out of these wilder tendencies… mostly. But also as we grew older, we developed different interests, started hanging out with different friend groups, and eventually we… just drifted apart. And I didn't mind for a time, since it gave me an opportunity to focus on myself for once. I never minded having to watch over and protect my sister when we were younger, but I liked being able to focus on just me when I got older. I even got a boyfriend… who eventually broke up with me. And I will admit, I did not take that break-up well. I'm even ashamed to admit that I wasn't able to pull myself out of the slump that I ended up in. But… I didn't have to. Because Lynxa was there and she ended up being the one to help pull me out of my own depression. And… it was like we were kittens again, except this time it was her helping me out instead of me watching out for her. We started to grow closer again and eventually Lynxa suggested we do our own show on Penstagram. (pause) I… I really miss her. Because she wasn't just my sister… she was my best friend.
How do you feel about Carter and his friends?
Jemma: I love Carter, though I am afraid to tell him that. I wanted to take our relationship more slowly after how my last one ended and we only just moved in together, which is a huge step. But I really do appreciate everything he's done for me, including giving me the time I need to grieve and… I really do love him and I want a future with him. Right now, after the fire and Lynxa's death, he is the best thing in my life. The thing that I can't afford to lose. And while… I love living with him, I think that also makes me more afraid and worried about something terrible happening to him as well. And all the while I am trying to keep myself from becoming obsessive, since that's how my last relationship ended. But it's just… really hard, especially without having my sister to reign me in. I wouldn't have even started dating Carter if it wasn't for her. (sighs) As for his friends, I do love Bowen. (smiles) He's just a guy that is really hard to hate, even when he was a coven scout. He and my sister especially got along. His other friends… I was a bit wary about meeting them, since they are all former coven scouts and it is… difficult for me to trust coven scouts, but I am glad that I got to meet them. They're all really nice witches and I know that several of them did help out during the fire and I really appreciate that. I think out of his friends, the one that I get along with the most is Le'Belle. It turns out that she and I actually have quite a lot in common.
From Jack_Skeletron_4ever
How are you doing after the fire?
Jemma: (sighs) I won't lie. I haven't been doing great. I haven't given up, but… sometimes it can be hard to find the motivation to leave the apartment or even get out of bed. Lynxa's death just left this… void in my life. And it's a void that Carter and his friends can't fill, despite their best efforts. I am still grappling with the reality that I am going to have to live the rest of my life… without my sister. One day, I am going to get married. One day, I am going to have kittens of my own. But those are moments I wanted to share with my sister… and now I'll never get that. She's just… gone. (starts to get worked up) She's gone and I don't even know where they buried her because her body was destroyed beyond recognition. I don't know if seeing her body put into the ground would have made me feel better but at least… at least it would have been some closure! But I couldn't even have that! Instead, I have to think about her body being buried in some unmarked grave because nobody could tell who she is! And the motherfucker who murdered her is still out there, so I can't even rest easy knowing that her killer is dead as well! No, instead I get no fucking closure! Fuck!
How was growing up in the Torsa Villa?
Jemma: (trying to calm herself down after her emotional outburst) I guess… I already talked about how close I was to my sister when we were both kittens, when I was always there to make sure that she stayed out of trouble. That's… something I was pretty good at when I was a kid. I knew how to stay out of trouble, keep my head low. I was a well-behaved werecat. (snorts in disgust) Of course, that changed when I got older. I actually took more of an interest in our culture and history when I got older… only to learn just how much of it was being erased by the Emperor's Coven. As I grew older, I learned the true extent of the Emperor's Coven's corruption and for me my breaking point was when they shut down Mistoffest, a festival that I had helped to put together as a way for us to get in more touch with our roots.
What's your family like? What do they think of Carter?
Jemma: I've already talked about my parents. They were both hard-working, committed to making the Torsa Villa a better place, and they cared a lot about me and my sister. And… they're not fond of Carter at all due to him being a former coven scout. I do want them to warm up to him, but… I think that's going to take some time and I don't want to force it, especially since we're all still grieving Lynxa and I think that's part of why they're so icy toward Carter.
What's your favorite memory of Lynxa?
Jemma: It's… hard to say. I have so many memories of Lynxa that I hold dear to me. Plenty from when we were both kittens and I was always watching out for me and plenty from after we became closer as adults and started working on our show together. But… I think my favorite memory was when she was there for me after my break-up. We had drifted apart over the last few years, but she didn't care. She was there to lift me up and pull me out of my depression. I was so used to taking care of her, but in that moment she was willing to take care of me and it just… meant everything to me.
What did you think of Belos and the Emperor's Coven before the reveal of Belos' true colors? What about now?
Jemma: (glares) I despise both. Even before the fire, I was fully aware of how corrupt the Emperor's Coven was. How Belos used his claim of speaking to the Titan as a way to justify his atrocities. How coven scouts assigned to the Torsa Villa abused their authority. How the Emperor's Coven gradually and systematically erased our heritage to make us more submissive and compliant. I really hope that this new government holds the members of the Emperor's Coven accountable for what they did and I know Carter wants to make sure that the victims of the Torsa Villa get their justice. If there is going to be any hope for a better tomorrow, there has to be accountability. Although I will admit that I am a bit worried about the new government, especially if Lilith Clawthorne is allowed to be free…
Did you lose anything or anyone else in the fire, outside of Lynxa?
Jemma: I lost my home and a few other werecats that I've known since I was a kitten.
What are your projects for the future?
Jemma: I still want to work in law. But besides that, I think I do want to pay a visit to the Bonesborough Library. I heard that the Forbidden Stacks has been re-opened and I want to see if any werecat texts were hidden there. If they were, I hope they weren't destroyed, because I think enough of our history and our heritage has been erased by Belos. I think… I think it is time that we started to claim our heritage back. To reclaim our cultural identity.
Considering they weren't able to recognize your sister's body, do you still hope she may be alive?
Jemma: Don't. Don't do that. Don't give me fucking hope. Because if she was alive… don't you think we would have found her by now? If she didn't die in the fire… that could only mean that something even worse must have happened to her and I don't want to think about that. I have accepted that I will never know for sure what happened to my sister. I did try to summon her spirit… I tried so many times. But I didn't get an answer. That doesn't mean that she's somehow still alive, since this is the case for everyone else on the Torsa Villa that I've talked to. We can't summon the spirits of our dead friends and family. They're just… out of our reach and we don't know why, but it does deny us what little closure we could have had.
From Matteso
If you're looking for a therapist, might I recommend Dr. Midnight?
Jemma: (crosses arms) I don't know who you are, so why should I even trust your recommendation?
From Navy-Heart
Do you have any hobbies?
Jemma: (shrugs) Mostly reading, really. Though I have also been trying to learn some new languages lately, including an old nearly forgotten werecat language…
From Shuffollower
What types of magic can you use?
Jemma: I'm an oracle witch. Although instead of crystal balls or tarot card readings, I actually specialize in astrology. I like to read the stars and make calculations and predictions based on the positions and the movement of celestial bodies. Although usually what stars and other celestial bodies can tell us is pretty vague or not particularly specific. Like the stars told me that something bad was about to happen before the fire, but I had no idea just how bad it was actually going to be… the worst thing about reading the stars is that it is easy to become obsessed with trying to decipher their meaning and prevent tragedies before they happen. But a lot of the time, these kinds of tragedies are inevitable, despite your efforts. With that said, I do still wonder if I could have taken more precautions before the fire and saved my sister's life…
Jemma, led to your streaming channel with Lynxa?
Jemma: It was my sister's idea. She wanted to start her own streaming channel and she thought that it could be something that we could do together. I initially resisted, because I thought that it would be a waste of my time and that I should really focus on my own studies and plans. But Lynxa was nothing if not persistent and eventually I gave in and agreed to do the channel with her. And I will admit… it was fun. I liked talking about the news and other topics with her and apparently other werecat witches liked hearing it from us as well. I guess it helped that we were the closest thing that the Torsa Villa had to a news source by werecats for werecats. But beyond that, it was just… nice to work on something with Lynxa. To have something that we were both excited about and that we both wanted to do together. I'm… glad I did it with her.
Did you have any other friends before Carter and Bowen?
Jemma: Uh… no. I didn't. I never really took the time to make other friends. I was either busy watching over my sister or busy with my studies. That's… actually why I appreciate Carter introducing me to his other friends. I definitely needed the socialization, but I also definitely could use some more friends in general…
Pam Fangs
From Crash X Fusion
Pam, sorry if this sounds harsh, but what were your dead children like?
Pam: Cally was just the sweetest and the kindest, though looking back I will admit that we put a lot of pressure on Cally to be the golden child of the family. We just really wanted her to succeed with her wonderful singing voice and her other magical talents, but I think we lifted her up so much that she would be even harsher on herself at even the smallest of failures, since she didn't believe that she was meeting everyone's expectations of her. I remember one time when she had a breakdown after getting an A- instead of an A on her report card. Ralph was an aspiring playwright, though he didn't have the confidence to actually publish them. His other aspiration was to become a public announcer, like he was back in his school days. Buttons… was on her scroll a lot. I remembered that I used to catch her playing scroll games instead of paying attention during temple service. She was actually quite a lot like Nina, though not nearly as cynical, and I think she did hold some contempt toward Cally. But Buttons was talented as well. She was a very good poet, though I am afraid that both her poetry and Ralph's screenplays were lost in the fire… (pauses before continuing) As for Max, he was only a little older than the twins. But he was also very independent for his young age, since he didn't need that much supervision or maintenance. He used to bring home dead birds back to the house as gifts for the family and he was probably the best rat catcher in the family next to Nina. He and the twins were the most excited for the triplets to be born… and the strangest thing is that sometimes I remember having another child before the fire. I have asked Nina, the twins, and a few others about this, but they insist that I only had seven children before the fire, not eight. But I could swear that I also had another son… maybe the fire affected my memory.
How do you feel about the Brookes?
Pam: My feelings toward them are… complicated. I still don't really like Calypso all that much, to be perfectly honest. Yes, I know that might be unfair, given how kind she has been to me and my family and how she and Slasher are letting me stay in their home while expecting nothing in return… and I acknowledge that and I try to be polite when I am in the same room as Calypso. But it's hard for me to look past her history and her family's history. It's hard for me not to resent her for "replacing" me as Nina's mother and not to fear she might try to do the same for my other kittens. And it's hard for me to not be nervous about having her around me and my kittens after her transformation into a vampire. What if she loses control and tries to attack me or one of my kittens? That thought scares me… and then it makes me ashamed, because then I remember that it's no different than the fears that many witches had about werecats. It's even no different than the fears I had about Nina, a member of my own family. And I reacted to those fears by pushing Nina away… (pause) I know that what I feel toward Calypso is wrong. My distrust, my resentment, my fear… I know that it's wrong, but I still can't help it and I can't force myself to like her. As for Slasher… there is still some resentment there as well, although I will admit that there is a lot less. Ever since he helped to save me and the twins from the Tarot Guild, I have had… complicated feelings toward him. Feelings that I am… comfortable with discussing. (another pause) As for Skara and Scabrina, I have no problems with either of them, actually. They're just kids, after all. And I know Nina cares a lot about them. I do want to be grateful for everything that the Brookes have done for me, for Nina, and for the kittens. But I still can't… shake away the fear that I am going to be replaced, even though I know it's wrong and I feel guilty and ashamed for resenting them when they've been nothing but kind to me…
What are the triplets' names?
Pam: I and Leo had already selected out a bunch of potential names for the triplets. After the fire, I did consider naming the triplets after Cally, Max, Ralph, and Buttons. As a way to honor them. But… Nina actually talked me out of it. She told me that I would be forcing expectations on them and as they got older they would feel pressured to meet those expectations and while that was not my intention… Nina was right. It would be… unfair on the triplets to name them after their siblings. And I don't want them to feel like they are only replacements for their siblings either, especially since I wanted to have them before the fire. So instead their names are Henry, Marie, and Hector.
What's Nina been doing to help with her siblings?
Pam: Nina spends a lot of her time at the Torsa Villa, volunteering and helping out there. She has also been working with this oracle witch named Boils, though I don't know what exactly on. She has been very busy… and yet she always does find time to check up on me and her siblings. She clearly trusts the Brookes to take care of us while she's out of the house. And she is out a lot, but I don't hold that against her. We are all processing the fire differently and I do appreciate everything she has done to ensure that I am cared for, especially considering the burden that I have been for her over the last few months…
What is your job?
Pam: My job was to be a stay-at-home mom. I haven't actually worked outside of home in… more than twenty years. After all, Leo was the one who went to work and supported the family through his work while I stayed at home and took care of the kids. Those were our roles and I never questioned it and I guess I became… used to being taken care of like that. To having someone that could support me and the kids. And I guess now it's the Brookes who are supporting the family while I stay home and take care of the kittens.
How did you and Leo meet?
Pam: We knew each other in school. We were friends and that friendship eventually blossomed into a romance. Pretty straight-forward.
From Jack_Skeletron_4ever
What do you think of the Brookes?
Pam: I've… already talked about my complicated feelings towards the Brookes.
How was growing up in the Torsa Villa?
Pam: It… wasn't perfect, but it wasn't as bad as it could have been. I was pretty much a well-behaved, straight-laced Titan-worshipping werecat. My parents taught me to keep my head down and not cause any trouble and I like to think that saved my life on many occasions. I stayed quiet and I didn't speak out, not about the scouts arresting wild witches and not about scouts taking care of the more… wilder werecats. I just… did what everyone expected of me. I prayed to the Titan, found a mate, had kittens, became a stay-at-home mother… and I was content. I was happy. Just as long as I didn't look out the window. Or at least that's what I thought. I might have to re-evaluate my childhood just like I have been re-evaluating… a lot of things lately.
How are you doing after the fire?
Pam: It depends on the day. However, I am trying to not let my grief get the better of me and stop me from being present as a mother. And… I will admit that part of that is fueled by my resentment toward the Brookes. They already replaced me as Nina's parent and I… I can't let them take my other children from me as well, even if I know they're not being malicious toward me. They're always just so… nice. But I still don't want to lose my kittens too. I was definitely… less present before the triplets were born and I think that was when I was at my lowest, especially since I was terrified of the idea that I would be a bad mother. I am better now, but I still have my bad days…
What's your favorite memories with the children you lost?
Pam: It's hard for me to narrow it down to just a few memories, but I'll try. For Cally, I think it was her first ever performance. She was so nervous beforehand, but you couldn't tell when she got out on stage and I was just so proud of her. For Ralph, it was when he was in school and he wrote a play that actually got made. Once again, I was so proud of him, although afterward he was very critical of his own play and he never tried getting any of his other scripts made, since he was obsessed with making them perfect first, which meant they would never get finished… and now his scripts are all ash. Just like him… (long pause) Sorry, I am getting off-track. For Buttons and Max, I think my fondest memories are cooking with Buttons and teaching Max how to hunt mice and… can I please stop talking about my dead kids? It's really hard for me, since these wounds are still fresh…
What did you think of Belos and the Emperor's Coven before the reveal of Belos' true colors? What about now?
Pam: There… was actually a time when I looked up to Belos and the Emperor's Coven. I was a huge believer in the Titan and I did believe that Belos spoke for the Titan. And now… like I said before, I have been re-evaluating a lot of things. The stuff I believed about Belos… about the Titan… about myself. Apparently there is a living Titan walking around now too… it's a lot and I still haven't fully processed everything.
What are your projects for the future?
Pam: I just… want to focus on raising my kittens. I don't want to take any unnecessary risks, not after… everything I've lost.
What do you think happened to Leo?
Pam: (looks down) I… want to think he's dead. I want to think he died in that fire, because the alternative is that he's still alive… and he never came back for me or the kids when we needed him the most. I had to bury my children and he couldn't even be bothered to appear in order to comfort me and mourn with me? I… really do hope he's dead because if he isn't… (her tone darkens) I think I'm gonna kill him myself.
Who was Hotep Koff and what he meant for the werecats?
Pam: When he was alive, he was this witch that was interested in lycanthropy. I… don't actually know a lot about what he was really like beyond that, to be perfectly honest. A lot of our own records about him are… lost and our main source of information comes from the Emperor's Coven. According to them, Hotep Koff saw how much of a problem we were becoming. We had infiltrated the Boiling Isles, using our shape-shifting abilities to pose as normal witches while secretly sabotaging and undermining witch society. We would have completely taken over the Boiling Isles and destroyed witch civilization, replacing it with our own backwards culture… if not for Hotep Koff, who found a way to trap us in our lycan forms. There would be no more deception. No more hiding. Our true nature was now exposed for everyone to see, giving witches the chance to… fight back. That's why Hotep Koff meant so much to us. Because he is the reason why we see our heritage… as something to be ashamed of. It is a reminder… of what our ancestors tried to do and of our true wild nature. We can control our instincts, but… everyone will still see us for what we are.
Whatever happened to Leo, dead or alive, is your decision to leave him final?
Pam: (her tone becomes colder) Yes.
From Matteso
Did you and Leo share the same idea of banishing Nina from your home, or was it all Leo's idea and you just went along with it?
Pam: …yes, we shared the same idea. I take full responsibility for my part in this. It was something that I deeply regret now, but at the time I thought that it was the right call to make. I… didn't know how to handle Nina, how to handle her outbursts. I didn't understand my daughter and I was even… afraid of Nina, especially since she had already hurt Cally. I thought that it was best to leave her with witches that were more equipped to deal with her. But I shouldn't have done that. I shouldn't have treated her like she was just a problem to be handed off to someone else. I shouldn't have treated her like I was ashamed that she was my daughter. Because… I love Nina. And after everything that has happened… I am incredibly proud of her. And that makes me hate myself even more for pushing her away like I did. I want to mend our relationship, but I am worried… that it is too late. That she's only helping to take care of me out of obligation and that she doesn't see me as her mother anymore. I… I know I haven't been the best mother and I want to make that up to her, but I can't shake the feeling that I have been replaced… by Calypso.
What did you really think when Mr. Tuggers got murdered by coven scouts?
Pam: I didn't think about it and we didn't discuss it. That was how we handled these kinds of things when they happened. I didn't want to focus on it and whenever we could we would find a way to avoid a confrontation. We thought that at least that way we would be left alone to raise our kids in peace. Clearly, we were wrong…
From Navy-Heart
Have you ever owned a palisman? If yes, what happened to it?
Pam: No, I have never owned a Palisman. Since Palistrom wood was a very rare resource that was hoarded by the Emperor's Coven and the other covens, only a few werecat witches on the Torsa Villa own a Palisman, my daughter Nina included.
From Shuffollower
What types of magic can you use?
Pam: I am a Bard. Everyone in our family had some bard and musical talent, Nina included. I was actually disappointed when Nina wanted to take up Beast-Keeping instead of Bard, though I guess now she will be allowed to practice both Bard and Beast-Keeping. I unfortunately have a sigil, but I do take some comfort in knowing that Nina, the twins, and the triplets won't be restrained in the way that I was. That they will be able to practice whatever kinds of magic that they want… but I do hope they all at least practice a little Bard magic.
Pam, could you tell us about all your kids and how you feel about them?
Pam: I've already talked a lot about all of my kids, but if it isn't obvious… I love them. I loved Cally, Ralph, Buttons, and Max. I love Nina, West, and Winter. I love Henry, Marie, and Hector. I will admit that in the past that I may have been guilty of… favoritism. And I haven't always been the best mother. But I want to be better. I am trying to be better… (her voice softens, breaks slightly) I hope I can be better.
Pawla Whiskabee
From Crash X Fusion
Pawla, what's your job?
Pawla: I work in education. I have for… about a decade now, actually. I wanted to be involved in my son's education when he started school, so I started working with his school. I never became a full-time permanent teacher. Depending on the occasion I was either a teacher's assistant, a substitute teacher, or a chaperone. I never minded. I just… liked working with kids. And even after… the fire, that's still what I'm doing. I and some of the other teachers have been helping to watch over the kittens, keeping them busy during the day. It's good, productive work… and it keeps me focused on other things.
Do you have close friends?
Pawla: Not… really, no. Casey was always my top priority… my life. I focused on giving him the best life that I could and because of that I didn't really have friends. I did have friends… a long time ago. But even before I had Casey, I was drifting away from them and I didn't really make an effort to reconnect with them after I had Casey. After Casey I died, I had… well, I had no one. I had plenty of werecat witches who offered me their condolences, but it just felt so… hollow. It didn't change how I felt like my life had lost its purpose, its meaning. Right now, I think the closest thing that I have to a friend is one of my co-workers. He's a Potions teacher named Clawdius. We've both been doing a lot to keep the kittens busy. I wouldn't say we're close, but he's a good witch.
What was Casey like as a kid?
Pawla: He was a very… happy, cheerful kitten. But I think… I think I knew, even back then, that he wouldn't be happy on the Torsa Villa forever. That he wouldn't want to be stuck on the Torsa Villa for the rest of his life. And even back then… I was afraid for him. But those early days, they were still… the happiest days of my life. (sighs) When Casey got older, I used to wish that he could be more like the happy kitten that I remembered. But that wasn't really fair, was it? I could have been a better mother… I could have been more honest with him… and maybe then my Casey would still be alive.
Who is his father?
Pawla: (hesitates) I… don't like talking about Casey's father. It's a very… difficult topic to discuss. (pauses) He was… a sailor. George Cutlass. He loved the Boiling Seas. He loved fish. He wanted to leave the Boiling Isles behind and he wanted to take me with him. But while I was pregnant with Casey, George was lost at sea when his ship went down. He… he didn't even know that I was pregnant, since I was waiting for him to come back to tell him. We were never married. In fact, nobody knew about our relationship and we preferred it that way. He was one of the werecats who worked outside of the Villa, so he wasn't around that often and we didn't have many moments together. He actually hated the Villa and I was pretty much the only reason he did return. While the moments we shared were few, they were also… good.
From Jack_Skeletron_4ever
What do you think of Lilith Clawthorne?
Pawla: I… have very mixed feelings on her, to be honest. Although keep in mind that I've never actually met her. All I know about her is what I've heard. She used to be the poster witch of the Emperor's Coven and I think a lot of witches do still see her as that and believe that she is one of the witches who represents everything wrong with the Emperor's Coven. And I will admit that it is… hard to separate her from the image that used to appear on recruitment posters, even if she does look completely different now. And I'm not just talking about her having a different outfit or a different hair color. In the recent footage and photos I've seen of her, she looks… different. Especially in the way that she presents herself. I hope that makes sense. But beyond her time in the Emperor's Coven… I have heard the stories. About how she cursed her own sister. About how she had an affair with Odalia Grunhar, although later I heard they were both drugged at the time. And there's all the stories coming about now about all of the awful things she was a part of while working under the Emperor's Coven. Lilith Clawthorne… is a walking contradiction, because she was one of the biggest enforcers of the Emperor's Coven and then she helped to bring it down. I… don't really know what to think of her, but I don't think I hate her. Mainly because I don't know her. But… I'm not sure if I would be comfortable around her either.
How was growing up in the Torsa Villa?
Pawla: It was… hard. The fire wasn't the first time that the Torsa Villa was struck by a fire. When I was young, we were ravaged by a plague and I'm… still not sure why I was spared while so many others died and I guess that was repeated by the fire. And unfortunately I think that plague was what defined my childhood. I guess it at least gives me hope that the Villa will recover from the fire, since before that we managed to recover from that plague that devastated the Villa.
How are you doing after the fire?
Pawla: I'm… alive, aren't I? And that's… that's better than a lot of other werecats right now. During the fire, I was ready to give up and join my son. But now… I do want to keep living. Especially because there are a lot of werecats suffering right now, suffering like I was after my son died because they lost someone in the fire. Some werecats lost everything in the fire, unfortunately. I know one werecat, a neighbor of mine, who was in a clinic with his daughter and his wife when the fire broke out. His daughter had been around Casey's age and his wife… she was expecting. Due for that day, actually. During the fire, the building collapsed and my neighbor… lost both his wife and his daughter. And his story is not unique. So many other werecats lost not just their homes, but their friends and their families. I'm honestly still not doing well, but I am less… trapped in my own grief. And that is better, right?
What's your favorite memory of Casey?
Pawla: I have a lot of favorite memories, since Casey was the best thing that ever happened to me and my time with him… were the happiest moments of my life. But I think my favorite memory… is when we would sing together. Casey loved music and he loved writing his own songs, but that love came from me. I would teach some traditional werecat songs, ones that my parents taught me when I was little, and we would sing them together. (sad smile) Of course, that was when he was a little kitten. Once he grew older, we didn't sing together nearly as much. I guess he felt like he was too big and too mature for such a silly thing… even though he had such a beautiful voice that I loved hearing. (tears up a little, wipes her eyes) I'm worried that I might forget that I might forget his voice, forget what he sounded like. I think that would be just as bad as forgetting what he looked like.
What did you think of Belos and the Emperor's Coven before the reveal of Belos' true colors? What about now?
Pawla: I… have never been a fan of the Emperor's Coven. My parents met each other while in that Zoo of theirs from Belos's earliest days and they never hid the truth from me. They were honest about their experiences and I think it was because they didn't want their story to be forgotten. And… I'm grateful they told me. Beyond the Zoo, there was also how the Emperor's Coven responded when the Torsa Villa was hit by the Red Death when I was young, although they did at least help us recover once the quarantine was lifted. But even then, there were scouts who… abused their authority and their power. (rubs arm slightly) Scouts who knew they could get away with it because they would never have to face accountability. (takes a deep breath) So no, I was not terribly fond of Belos or his Coven. But I knew to keep my head low and I did what I could… I did what I needed in order to protect myself and my son. Though I hated the Emperor's Coven, I never expressed it, because it was too dangerous. But now… I can say how much I despise them. (her fists tighten) And how I want them all to be held accountable for everything as far back as the Zoo, because that should not be forgotten. (her breathing quickens) Those… bastards need to pay. (she tries to calm down) I… I shouldn't let myself get worked up. But I do think there needs to be an investigation. There needs to be accountability.
What are your projects for the future?
Pawla: I have been thinking of moving from the Villa to the temple belonging to that Eclipsa woman. A lot of werecats have been moving over there and they will probably need some help, especially with some of the kittens. I know Clawdius is going to stay on the Villa to help the kittens here, but they are most likely going to need more paws over at the temple.
Did you have any family outside of Casey?
Pawla: No… no, I don't. My parents… they died years before Casey was even born. They were killed by the Red Death when that plague hit the Torsa Villa. I still remember how bad it was. How so many werecats were falling victim to the Red Death that their bodies would be left to rot in the streets. The Emperor's Coven actually quarantined the Torsa Villa to stop it from spreading to the rest of the Boiling Isles… which is what almost happened during the fire when Bhonif wanted to leave us to burn while prioritizing the rest of the Isles. (long pause) I still can't believe he did that… and that so little had actually changed since we were hit by the Red Death. That epidemic was just as bad if not worse than the fire. Our population was only able to recover so quickly after the epidemic because of how quickly we breed, but it still took a toll on us and I… I still remember how bad it was and how… horrible my parents looked before they died.
What do you think of the Coven captain and the scouts that were guarding the Torsa Villa? What about the ones that helped stopping the fire?
Pawla: (a long silence) I… don't walk to talk about Bhonif or the other scouts if that's okay. I'm sorry, but it's just… not something that I am ready to talk about. (takes a deep breath) As for the scouts who helped to stop the fire… I don't know how to feel about them, honestly. Sure, they helped to stop the fire and a lot of them are trying to help now… but they were complacent for so long. It's hard… not to resent them a little, even if I do appreciate what they've done and what they're doing. I am glad that, at least, they're no longer wearing their masks. At least they're not hiding their faces anymore…
What was your opinion on Mao?
Pawla: I knew her when she was a teacher and I thought she was very good at her job. But, if I can be honest, I… don't think she was as good of a leader as she was a teacher. I still think she was doing the best job that she could, but… it didn't really feel like she was making any progress. It felt like everything was still more or less the same. And maybe that wasn't her fault. Maybe the game was rigged against her from the very start. But… my Casey died during her rule. And she never found him. Her reassurances, her kind words, and her promises just felt so… hollow. And they didn't help. I think they just… made me feel even worse.
How did you meet Casey's father?
Pawla: It was at a party. I got myself wasted. So did he. We ended up in bed together. (sighs) I was younger and I… didn't always make the best decisions.
From Matteso
If you don't mind me asking. What happened to Casey's other parent? If I recall correctly, we've only seen you.
Pawla: He died while on the Boiling Seas.
From Navy-Heart
Is there a story behind your family name?
Pawla: …not that I'm aware of. It's just… the name I was born with.
From Shuffollower
What types of magic can you use?
Pawla: I am a bard. I suppose my son took after me in that way, though I am more of a singer.
Pawla, what have you been doing since the Day of Unity?
Pawla: I've already talked about this. I have been helping around the Torsa Villa, particularly with the kittens who need supervision during the day. That takes up most of my time and I have been thinking about moving to Eclipsa's Temple to help out there.
Have you done anything to honor Casey?
Pawla: …Isn't that what I'm doing right now? Am I not honoring my son by continuing to live? I'm not exactly sure what you're asking or what you're expecting me to say.
Who's his dad, by the way?
Pawla: (shifts uncomfortably) This is the third time I've been asked about Casey's father for this…
Tony Stripes
From Crash X Fusion
Tony, how do you feel about Chelsea?
Tony: Uh… (rubs arms, blushes) I like her. A lot. But we have talked about it and… we're not ready to date. Neither of us can really afford the distraction right now. There's just too much that needs to be done and we've both agreed that we need to focus our efforts on helping out our people. We're not going to talk about our feelings until… well, I'm not sure when, exactly. I guess whenever we have less on our plate, but that's not going to happen anytime soon.
What's your home life like?
Tony: I grew up in a group home. Several of those existed in the Torsa Villa and I was in one with two other boys and one girl. I… don't really have memories of my birth parents, since they died when I was still pretty young, apparently because of an 'altercation' with some coven scouts. The details are still… vague, but afterward I was taken in by a kind elderly werecat couple. They were too old to have werecats of their own, so they decided to open their home to werecats like me. They were… just the purest souls and with a deep interest in werecat culture and history. Unfortunately, they… passed away a few years ago. Natural causes. I still really miss them, but it was their time and I really appreciate everything they managed to give me and my siblings before I left. And after they left, me and my siblings watched out for each other.
Which is your magic specialty?
Tony: I mainly specialize in construction. I built things like birdhouses on the Torsa Villa and I wanted to build things for the Construction Coven as well. But construction isn't the only magic that I know. I also use illusions, since those can be pretty handy when you want to get out of trouble. I've definitely avoided a scout or two by going invisible. Beyond that, I do actually have an interest in other types of magic, like Potions and Abominations. And with the Emperor's Coven disbanded, I suppose that I will now be free to study and practice whatever kind of magic I want, which is pretty cool.
Who else do you hang out with?
Tony: Um, before the fire, most of the time it was just me, Chelsea, and Banjo. I didn't really hang out with anyone else… except for my siblings. I used to hang out a lot with Hector and PJ, two of my siblings from our group home. They were like my cool older brothers. We don't hang out as much as we used to though. Thankfully, they both survived the fire. And so did our sister, Lorraine. She was the one that I was most worried about… even though I know she doesn't like it when I worry about her too much, since she doesn't like being treated like she is completely incapable of taking care of herself. She doesn't like being seen as someone who also needs to be taken care of or coddled and… I am guilty of treating her like that in the past, I will admit. But I am trying to do better and respect her own agency.
From Jack_Skeletron_4ever
What are your projects for the future?
Tony: Do you mean beyond helping to restore the Torsa Villa? Because I do actually still have some ambitions for the future, especially now that Belos is no longer ruling the Boiling Isles. Despite everything that's happened… I do have some hope for the future. My two great passions are architecture and history. I enjoy building stuff, but I also enjoy diving into history and learning more about the past. I would still love to work with the Construction Coven if there is still going to be a Construction Coven, but beyond that I would love to become a historian. I want to learn more about where werecats came from, reconnect with my roots and retake the heritage that the Emperor's Coven tried to take from us. I want to rewrite the books that the Emperor's Coven wrote about us… all of us. I actually heard there is a chance that some old werecat texts might be in the Forbidden Stacks in the Bonesborough Library and if that's true I would love to read them… when I have the time, of course. But it's not actually only werecat history that I am interested in. For example, I heard that the Bonesborough Museum, which I have never been to, recently added a new exhibit about balusters from the Deadwardian era and that basically combines my two greatest loves! I would love to go there and check out the exhibit someday, maybe even eventually work for that museum. I know I am shooting high, but… it just feels possible right now.
How was growing up in the Torsa Villa?
Tony: I sorta already talked about this. My birth parents lost their lives in an 'altercation' with some coven scouts. Then I grew up in a group home, raised by a kindly old werecat couple. My upbringing wasn't perfect, but… I had a home. I had a family. And I'm grateful for that, especially since I know that there are a lot of werecats who have had it harder than me. But I will admit that growing up in the Torsa Villa was still… frustrating. I found myself getting sick of the status quo and obviously I was not the only one.
How are you doing after the fire?
Tony: I think I am doing better than Chelsea, honestly. We both lost Banjo, but she also lost Cab, her mentor. And Nina… lost even more. (falls silent) I guess it doesn't really matter how I am doing, not when so many others are still suffering. I was still devastated by the fire, but not as much as the werecat witches who lost… well, they lost everything.
Did you lose anything or anyone in the fire?
Tony: I guess this relates to the previous question, doesn't it? I lost Banjo, one of my best friends. She died saving Nina's two youngest siblings and her mom. I can at least take comfort in knowing that her death wasn't in vain, since West, Winter, and Nina's mom all survived and Nina's mom safely gave birth to triplets not too long ago. That makes Banjo's death a bit easier to accept, but… it still should have never happened. The fire should have never happened. I have heard some werecat witches say that the fire needed to happen, that it served as a wake-up call… but no, I refuse to believe that. Nothing can justify all that death…
What did you think of Belos and the Emperor's Coven before the reveal of Belos' true colors? What about now?
Tony: I mean, considering that coven scouts killed my birth parents… yeah, I was never the biggest fan of the Emperor's Coven, although it did take me a while to grow to truly hate them. And after the fire, I only despised them even more. It does bother me that a lot of members of the Emperor's Coven haven't been punished yet though. Take Bhonif Fauxworm, for example. He was the captain in charge of the scouts stationed at the Torsa Villa. He was the one who gave the order to abandon the Torsa Villa while it was burning. Where is he? Where did he go after the Day of Unity? Why hasn't there been accountability? (sighs, shakes his head) There are still so many unanswered questions…
What can you tell about your family?
Tony: Well, like I said before, I don't really remember my birth parents. I do have an aunt named Bengal, but we have never been close, though she is causing quite the fuss and getting a lot of attention lately. I'm not sure how I really feel about her, actually. Uh, I already talked about the kind couple that raised me, but I guess I could say more about my siblings. I have two older brothers, Hector and PJ. They're really cool and they're practically inseparable. They're both constructionists, like me, although they actually prefer working with machinery, which is unusual, especially for the Torsa Villa. I remembered they actually used to sneak off the Torsa Villa a lot and I know they wanted to leave the Torsa Villa someday, though since the fire they've both been working in a junkyard. As for my sister, Lorraine, she is just the most pure creature you will have ever met… and she's blind. Apparently her asshole parents abandoned her and left her to die after she was born, deciding that she was just too much of an inconvenience to keep. (growls) I hope if they were still alive by the time of the fire that they both burned to death. But I've always adored Lorraine and wanted to protect her, because she is the sweetest thing you can imagine and I am willing to will anyone who tries to lay a hand on her. And I mean it…
From Matteso
Ever thought of becoming some kind of mascot?
Tony: Um… no. I don't really see why I would be interested in becoming a mascot anyway, I'm a much more hands-on kind of witch. I'm in construction, after all. I like to design and build things. I don't really like to pose, say catchphrases, or whatever else a mascot does.
From Navy-Heart
Does your family help you with your magic?
Tony: My brothers used to help me with my construction magic, before I got the hang of it. They were pretty much my mentors and they were definitely better than the teachers at school, since they never showed me the ropes like my brothers did.
From Shuffollower
What types of magic can you use?
Tony: I think I already answered this.
What do you do for fun?
Tony: These days? I don't really have any time for fun. But before the fire? I enjoyed building stuff, studying architecture, and reading. I also just liked having other werecats that I could talk to about my interests, werecats like Chelsea and Banjo who were genuinely curious about the stuff that I was into. (pauses) It's kinda crazy how different things are now, how quickly things can change. It just… makes you think.
And that's about it. Hope you're satisfied with the answers.
Now the next round of Q and As will be for the rest of the Kids of the Boiling Isles, including the SSE, specifically:
Felicia Fox
Linkin Days
Everscence "Eve" Slipknot
Sioux Bansheeles
Korn Fleabite
Gavin Nightshade
Angmar Loom
Ukla Ulma
The Ceberus Sisters will not be part of the Q and As because that would mean writing three different voices, which would take up too much time. So any answers relating to the Ceberus sisters, Korn will answer.