Hey guys, so if you're just tuning in, we've decided to move all of the Q and As from the main chapters because of how long they are. That way, we're more organized and that readers will be answering their questions here than they do from the main stories.
So here's the new Q and As center around the recurring scout members, aka Total Drama expies.
Bowen
From Crosshot
How'd you meet Jemma and Lynxa?
Bowen: Well, um, we met them when… I think Carter would explain this better than I could, so you should probably ask this to him. I guess to put it gently… our first meeting was not a positive one.
What was Lynxa like?
Bowen: Oh, she was great! Despite our first… hostile interactions with her sister, it actually didn't take long for me and Lynxa to become friends. I think it was because of how similar we both were, since we were both friendly witches who tried to look at the world with a 'cauldron half-full' instead of a 'cauldron half-empty' perspective. And when we both realized that Carter and Jemma were into each other, we immediately began scheming to make them a couple, which I think only brought us closer together. Yeah, Lynxa was great. (smiles briefly before the smile vanishes and is replaced by a frown) She was great…
Did you go out with O'Darby?
Bowen: Heh, Darby. I don't think I've seen her in years. I heard she was actually in the Emperor's Castle on the day before the Day of Unity, though I didn't see her… and I have no idea what she was doing in the Emperor's Castle to begin with. Like, I don't think she was with the CATTs. Was she just… already in the Emperor's Castle? Why? But anyway, we did date. Back when we were teens. It… didn't work out. The relationship was hurting me. Like, physically it was hurting me. Darby liked to kick me in the junk a lot. It was her love language. Carter wanted me to break things off with her and I did. After that… I didn't really see much of her. Nobody's seen much of her. Darby is the kind of gal who always pops up when you least expect it, but you always loved it when she did pop up. (sighs) I do miss her and would like to talk to her… but I have no idea where she is or how to reach her.
From Jack_Skeletron_4ever
How did your friendship with Carter start?
Bowen: Me and Carter met on Camp CB, we were even on the same team together. We interacted a few times, but it wasn't until we started our coven scout training that I think we really became friends. He chose to partner up with me during training because I was one of the biggest scouts there and he thought that my muscle could help him. In return, he said he would help me with his smarts. I agreed and though I think Carter initially saw it as just an alliance to help himself get further, it did end up becoming a very real friendship and we continued to stick together even after training. I don't think he wants to admit it, but I believe it's because I rubbed off on him. Carter is usually cynical and pessimistic, but he used to be a lot worse. I remember him being pretty antisocial during Camp CB and not making many friends. It didn't end up working well for him there and I think he realized that by the time he started training, which is why he wanted a partner. But ever since our training, I have noticed that Carter has been a little less cynical… if only slightly. I think we balance each other out, in a way.
There's a special someone in your life?
Bowen: Nope. I haven't dated anyone since I broke up with Darby. I used to have a huge crush on a guy named Beau… but nothing came from it. And after Beau, I haven't really thought about dating. Instead, I've been more focused on enjoying every day with my best buddy Carter! Although you won't believe how many times I've met other witches who assume that we're gay. Hopefully those rumors will go away now that Jemma and Carter are living together.
What can you tell about your family?
Bowen: First off, I am actually related to a Coven Head. Ever heard of Oso, one of the former Head Witches of the Beast-Keeping Coven? He was my grandfather and he was the reason I decided to join the Emperor's Coven, since I had a very close relationship with him I wanted to make him proud… even if posthumously. My relationship to Oso definitely helped me get into the Emperor's Coven, though I don't think I would have survived training without Carter's help. Besides that, there's my parents and my siblings. My siblings are Pando, Grizzleford, Teddick, and Dina. My sister, Dina, is actually not a biped demon like the rest of us. She's adopted. Her full name is Goldina, though we all just call her Dina. The story of how we adopted her is actually pretty funny. We were all out on a family outing together and when we came back, we saw that our house had been broken into by this very dirty witch girl who fell asleep in my bed after helping herself to our book. Rather than turn her over to the coven scouts… we decided to adopt her. She actually does kinda remind me of O'Darby, which is probably me and Darby were able to get along so well.
How do the people at the Torsa Villa treat you, after the fire?
Bowen: I can tell that there is still some distrust toward me and Carter, since we were both in the Emperor's Coven even if we are no longer coven scouts. But I think most of the werecats have accepted us, since they know that we were there helping them during the fire, even disobeying Captain Bhonif's orders to abandon the Torsa Villa. Me and Carter still help out the Torsa Villa pretty regularly and a lot of the werekittens now look forward to seeing me, though I will admit that I am not sure why. They are pretty adorable though.
Now that Belos' rule is over, what type of magic will you want to try when you're freed from your sigil, if they ever find a way?
Bowen: I'm in the Emperor's Coven, so my sigil isn't restricting my magic. I would still get rid of it if I could though, since I don't like looking at it. Because even though I am no longer a coven scout, I still have that sigil. It's like a mark of shame…
What did you think of Belos before his true colors were revealed, and what do you think of him now?
Bowen: My grandfather used to tell me stories about Belos. Grandpa Oso had nothing but respect and praise for Belos and his stories always left me in awe. Belos was this… larger than life figure. He was my second biggest hero. My first being my grandfather, obviously. (pauses) Actually, my parents are also bigger heroes to me than Belos was, so I guess Belos was my third biggest hero… but the point I'm trying to make is that Belos was still really important in my life. He was important to my entire family. Carter used to try to convince me that Belos wasn't as benevolent as he claimed, but despite his attempts and everything we saw at the Torsa Villa, I just couldn't stop seeing Belos as my childhood hero… until the week of the Day of Unity, that is. As for what I think of Belos now… (his tone gets darker) I think he should have suffered more. Especially for what he allowed Firebees to do to the Torsa Villa. (growls) If I ever get my claws on Firebees, I am going to rip him apart piece by piece…
From Matteso
Have you and Carter thought about competing in reality shows?
Bowen: I did suggest it a few times to him, but he didn't really take to the idea. He thought we should focus on our career as coven scouts and that appearing on reality shows could hurt that. He was probably right.
From Navy-Heart
Did you have a Palisman and if so, do you miss it?
Bowen: (sighs sadly) No, I was never able to get a Palisman. My family couldn't afford Palistrom wood.
From Shuffollower
Bowen, are you seeing anybody at the moment?
Bowen: I already said no.
How did you and Carter meet?
Bowen: I thought I already answered this one too.
Carter
From Crosshot
How'd you meet Jemma and Lynxa?
Carter: (sighs) It wasn't under the best circumstances. You have to understand, me and Bowen were both stationed at the Torsa Villa to help 'protect' it, though really it was just to make sure that the werecat population was kept in line. To make sure that they didn't overstep. I mean, I think some of us actually did think we were protecting the Villa and its inhabitants, which is why some of us disobeyed orders and continued to help during the fire. But not all of us. Our captain, our superior, once ordered us to break up this festival that the Torsa Villa were having. He told us that the festival, called Mistoffest, had been unapproved by the Emperor's Coven, that if it continued it could lead to the werecats becoming overexcited and dangerous. It could even lead to a riot. So we went into the Torsa Villa, broke up the festival, and started taking stuff down. That's when me and Bowen met Jemma and Lynxa. They were covering the festival with their scrolls and when we started to break things up, Jemma started yelling at us. I tried to deescalate the situation and explained that the werecats should have gone through the official process of getting this festival approved… and Jemma told me that they had. For years. She told me that this festival was something that their ancestors used to celebrate, that it was just one of many holidays that they no longer celebrated because of the Emperor's Coven. She accused me of helping the Emperor's Coven to erase their heritage and the thing is… she was right. I think the Emperor's Coven was systematically erasing parts of their culture, like by preventing them from celebrating their roots and making them adopt the Titan as their deity instead of their original religion, all in an attempt to make them more… docile, I guess. Fortunately, nobody was hurt that day, but what Jemma said to me… it did make me stop to think.
What was Lynxa like?
Carter: (quiet for a moment) She was… sometimes a little scatter-brained, but generally upbeat, excitable, friendly. She was a lot like Bowen in many ways, so I guess it was no surprise that they got along so well. Like Bowen, Lynxa was an optimist, always looking at the bright side of things, while me and Jemma were both typically more cynical and, frankly, realistic. Lynxa was also obsessed with her scroll and she loved crystal ball games which, hey, I can definitely relate to. Sometimes we would play Merlock Kart together. She was absolutely supportive of my relationship with her sister and I think both she and Bowen realized that me and Jemma were into each other before we did. And of course, she and Bowen were the only ones who knew of our relationship before the fire. (long pause) I miss her…
From Guest
How is your relationship with Jemma going?
Carter: It's… well, it's complicated. On the bright side, we're able to be open and public with our relationship now, which is definitely nice. We're now living together and her meeting some of my other friends went well. I think meeting them helped her to get adjusted. But… the fire and Lynxa's death are still fresh in our minds. Jemma is doing the best she can and I've been helping her, but… her sister is gone. That's a void in her life that I just can't fill. I wouldn't say that has put a strain on our relationship, since I think we're still good, but I am worried about Jemma. Though at the same time, I didn't expect her to quickly get over Lynxa's death. She needs time and I'm here to help her however I can. That's what a good boyfriend would do. So I think we're fine, even if Jemma is… not fine. And it may be a long time before she is… anywhere close to being fine. But no matter how long it takes, I am going to be here to support her through the worse time in her life, do whatever I can to make sure she comes out of it okay.
What are you currently doing now that the Emperor's Coven has disbanded?
Carter: A lot of things, actually. I have been helping out with the Torsa Villa and I have been helping out Jemma, obviously. But… I have also been working with Raine and Lilith to hold some of the coven scouts who were originally stationed at the Torsa Villa accountable. (takes a deep breath) A lot of the scouts who were at the Torsa Villa were guilty of… abusing their authority. Probably more than anywhere else on the Boiling Isles. I had tried reporting it before, but I actually got in trouble for it and was threatened with reassignment. I didn't want that to happen, since I wanted to stay at the Torsa Villa to help the werecats there, so I was forced to keep quiet, not cause any trouble, and bide my time. And fortunately, now I actually have the chance to hold those bastards accountable. They need to be made an example of. The Boiling Isles need to know about what was really happening at the Torsa Villa…
From Jack_Skeletron_4ever
How did your relationship with Jemma start?
Carter: Well, as I already recounted, we didn't exactly start off on the wrong foot. And our next few interactions weren't exactly positive either, although I think we did have some good back-and-forth snark. I guess… that's how it may have started. I did find myself admiring her. She was intelligent, quick-witted, and wasn't afraid to call me out for doing the Emperor's Coven's dirty deeds, unlike so many of the other werecats from the Torsa Villa. She did get me to start thinking about what I was actually doing on the Torsa Villa and I started to try to be more of a positive influence on the Villa, which Jemma noticed. We still snarked at each other, but it had a more… friendly tone. I don't know when we became attracted to each other, I just remember that Bowen and Lynxa picked up on it before we did and worked to set us up. We both resisted at first, but eventually we could no longer deny that we had feelings for each other. We did start dating, but we both agreed to keep it secret, with only Bowen and Lynxa knowing about it. A relationship between a coven scout and a werecat was pretty taboo and by that I mean an actual relationship, not… what some of the other coven scouts did, which is why I didn't want them to find out about me and Jemma. Keeping it secret was the best way to protect both of us, though fortunately with the Emperor's Coven disbanded, we can be more open about our relationship.
How are the people at the Torsa Villa treating you, after the fire?
Carter: It's… kind of a mixed reaction. Even though I'm no longer wearing my coven scout uniform, I was still in the Emperor's Coven. For some werecats, they're still uncomfortable around me because of my background as a coven scout. Some even resent me and I can't say I blame them. Others have been a lot more forgiving and even grateful for my actions during the fire and after it. And it does help that I've discarded my coven scout uniform. I don't want to wear anything that represents the Emperor's Coven. And not wearing it does make it easier for me to work with the Torsa Villa survivors.
Sorry to be a downer, but were you and Jemma able to at least locate Lynxa's remains at the end?
Carter: (sighs) We found a few bodies that could have been her, yes. But they were all too charred to identify. So many remains that were recovered after the fire were just burnt beyond recognition, including Lynxa's. And that honestly made Jemma really upset, not knowing for sure which body was her sister. It denied her closure.
What can you tell about your family?
Carter: I am the middle child of a family with seven siblings. As you can probably imagine, growing up in a family like that was… suffocating. Even more suffocating as being crushed underneath Bowen's weight when he fell asleep on me that one time. Because in addition to having all those siblings, I also lived in the same house as my parents, my aunt, my cousins, and my grandparents. That's honestly one of the biggest reasons I wanted to join the Emperor's Coven, just so that I could finally move out of that house. That's not to say that I don't love my family. I do, just as long as it is in… moderation. My oldest siblings actually do already have kids and my parents are hoping that I find a nice girl to start a family with as well. I… actually haven't introduced Jemma to them yet. Not because I am embarrassed about our relationship or anything like that, me and Jemma both agreed that we don't think we are ready for her to meet my family, since my family… can be a lot.
Now that Belos' rule is over, what type of magic will you want to try when you're freed from your sigil, if they ever find a way?
Carter: I mean… I'm in the Emperor's Coven. I already have access to all of my magic. It's a non-issue for me. Not that I don't sympathize with everyone else who is stuck with their sigils, because I do. I hope they eventually find a way to undo it…
Why did you join the Emperor's Coven?
Carter: I wanted to move out of the house and I was ambitious. I had a plan to gradually move up the ranks with the least amount of effort possible. Part of that plan involved Bowen, since I thought he was strong enough to do the heavy-lifting for me and naive enough that I could convince him to do whatever I wanted. The Torsa Villa was also part of that plan, since I knew that position saw less action, meaning I wouldn't have to risk my neck as much and that most days I wouldn't even have to do much, but I could do just enough to eventually secure myself a promotion and replace the current captain there. However, the main thing that I didn't take into consideration… is that I would end up caring about Bowen and caring about the Torsa Villa. Both were originally just means to an end for me. But I hadn't anticipated Bowen to be just so… infectiously kind and I didn't expect Jemma to slap some sense into me. (pauses) If it wasn't for them… I wonder if I would have turned out just as bad as Captain Bhonif.
What did you think of Belos before his true colors were revealed, and what do you think now of him?
Carter: I saw the worst of the Emperor's Coven at the Torsa Villa. I saw the terrible hand that the werecats had been dealt and I knew that it meant one of two things. It meant that either Belos was so incompetent that he didn't know about how bad things were for the werecats or it meant that he did know about the abuses going on and he just didn't care. Ultimately, it turned out to be the latter, though I still think the former is at least a little true as well. My opinion on Belos had honestly soured long before his true colors were revealed, since I knew that he was either ineffectual or corrupt. I actually had my suspicions about Belos even before the Torsa Villa, since I thought that there was no way Belos was as benevolent as he presented himself as, but I didn't care too much at the time because I didn't think that it actually affected me. I was pretty apathetic to some of the stuff that Belos was doing to the Isles, at least until the Torsa Villa. Of course, Belos ended up turning out even worse than I could have imagined. Everything involving the Day of Unity was bad enough, but when I heard that in addition to that he had decided to let Firebees loose on the Torsa Villa… (he looks down, fists clenching as he's silent for a moment) …Belos can rot in Hell for what he did.
Did you meet Jemma's relatives? Before the fire, I mean.
Carter: I did, since I saw them around the Torsa Villa. I didn't interact with them though and they didn't know that I was dating their daughter. We did reveal our relationship to them after the fire when Jemma decided to move in with them and they… didn't like me, which I can't say I'm too surprised by. It's why we didn't tell them earlier, since Jemma knew that her parents would probably dislike me because of my background as a coven scout. And she was absolutely right. But we're not going to let their disapproval of the relationship keep us from continuing to date. I do hope that eventually they'll grow to like me, not that I need their approval, but I think it would be better for Jemma's sake if I was able to get along with her parents. This is also the reason we haven't told my family yet, since I am worried about how they might react to me dating a werecat and how their reaction might impact Jemma in addition to how overwhelming they can be and how I think she's still upset with her own parents…
From Matteso
How did you and Jemma fall in love?
Carter: Um, I already answered this question.
From Navy-Heart
So what do you plan on doing now since the Emperor's Coven is gone?
Carter: I already answered this question.
From Shuffollower
Carter, how did you meet Jemma?
Carter: And this is the third question I've already answered. Do you have any questions that I haven't already been asked?
Did you have any rivals in the Emperor's Coven?
Carter: Yeah, I did. His name was Beau. The 'anti-me', as I liked to call him. While I got ahead with my smarts, he got ahead with his looks, though he somehow still thought he was smarter than me. Bowen actually had a crush on the guy, believe it or not. Ultimately though, Beau wasn't as smart as he thought himself to be. I mean, I hate to give Alburno some credit, but he's actually pretty good at what he does. So I wasn't surprised that Alburno got to join BIG while Beau was reassigned to some remote Emperor's Coven outpost. Haven't heard from him since.
Clé
From Crosshot
Clé, can you cook in any way?
Clé: I'm not sure exactly what you're asking. What does 'in any way' mean? Yes, I know how to cook. I would even say that I'm really good at it. But I wouldn't claim that I know every recipe or how to cook anything. Not even close.
From Jack_Skeletron_4ever
What's your relationship with your family?
Clé: For starters, me and Tyrone are pretty tight. Out of my siblings, he's who I'm the closest to and I think a big part of that is because of our love for cooking, which means we spend a lot of time together when making meals for ourselves and the rest of our family. I look up to my older brother Dirtmont, although I will admit that he's gotten more distant since moving to the Inwell Isles. I'm not even sure what he does over there, to be honest. As for my younger sister Julie, I love her, though I am definitely not as close to her as I am to Tyrone. The weird thing is that Venoma actually reminds me of her, at least in a bossy kind of sense. As for the rest of my siblings, my youngest brothers, Lucas, Mercer, and Burner, like to prank me… a lot. And I absolutely adore my baby sister Rochelle. Basically, I love all of my siblings, even if things back home can get chaotic at times. As for my dads, they're the main reason why I joined the Emperor's Coven, since I wanted to make them proud. I was really worried about disappointing them, but they're actually even more proud of me now than ever, which is a huge relief. My dads mean well, but just like my siblings they can be… a lot sometimes. Oh, I'm also very close to my Grandmomma. She's great.
Did you know Patrick, Terra Snapdragon's former Coven Aid?
Clé: (sighs) Yeah, I did. We actually used to trade cooking tips with each other. We weren't close or anything, but we were friendly with each other. When I heard about his death… (pauses) Patrick didn't deserve his fate. I don't usually like to swear, but I feel like it would be appropriate on this occasion. (takes a deep breath) Fuck Terra Snapdragon. Fuck her not just for what she did to Patrick, but for what she did to that Beel kid and for… everything else she did. How could someone just be… that evil? I honestly think she's even more evil than Belos. Because with Belos, there's at least this twisted logic. He was still evil, but he wasn't just after power for power's sake or was evil for the fun of it, which was the impression that I got from Terra. Although at the same time… it is Belos's fault that Terra was in a position of power to begin with. If he had done something about her earlier, then Patrick or Beel wouldn't have died. And they really shouldn't have died. It was… just a waste.
What's your relationship with Cooker?
Clé: It's… complicated. I met him while I was on Camp CB and over time he seemed to take a liking to me, especially when I began to help him around the kitchen. I was starting to appreciate him as well, since I thought he had a soft spot behind his gruff exterior… but then I learned that he wasn't being nice to me out of the kindness of my heart. No, he wanted to make an illegal alliance with me and he promised to help me win in exchange for some of the prize money. And for a while… I did let him help me out, since I was too afraid to stand up for myself in front of him. But eventually… my conscience overcame my fear of Cooker and I stood up to him, calling him out for using me and exposing our cheating to everyone else. This did get me eliminated from the competition, but I was actually ready to leave, since I had maintained my morals and I knew that my family would be proud of me. Though the funniest thing is that Cooker was also proud of me. I'm… still not completely sure how I feel about Cooker. Did he really just help me to help himself? Or did he actually see something in me? I did visit him in the Conformatorium after he was arrested. First time that I saw him in years. He didn't say much, but I did promise that I would put in a good word for him. Because regardless of his motives for helping me out during Camp CB… I think I owe something to him. I think I am a stronger witch today because of him, because I learned from him how to stand up for myself. So for that, I'm grateful to him.
What do you think of your brother's work as a vigilante?
Clé: You mean now? I'm really proud of him. I did think he was misguided at first… but I think I was probably even more misguided, since I stayed in the Emperor's Coven even after the disaster at St. Epiderm. Le'Belle left the Emperor's Coven before I did, which is not something I honestly would have expected. But I really am proud of my little brother and his friends. I think they're going to go on to truly great things, since the future of the Boiling Isles… it belongs to witches like them.
Now that Belos' rule is over, what type of magic will you want to try when you're freed from your sigil, if they ever find a way?
Clé: I was in the Emperor's Coven, so my sigil isn't a problem. However, I do hope that they eventually do find a way to get rid of their sigils. I have several friends, like Gidget and Meg, who are in a coven and are stuck with a sigil that restricts most of their magic. They're not making a big deal out of it, but it still sucks for them.
What do you think of Venoma?
Clé: I'm someone who tries to see the good in everyone, who tries to treat everyone with kindness. This includes some of the worst witches that I have ever met… witches like Venoma. I first met her on Camp CB. She was definitely bad and got into a conflict with a lot of the other campers, though I still tried to be nice to her. She didn't reciprocate… or at least she didn't until I was eliminated. Before I left the island, everyone hugged me as they said their goodbyes. And this included Venoma. I didn't make a big deal of it then, but looking back… Venoma was mean to everyone else on the island, but I don't remember her being mean to me. She may not have been nice to me either, but I think she still liked me in her own way. Although I don't know if that's true anymore, since I did hear that she's a murderer now. (sighs) We may not have been friends, but I am still disappointed in her.
Did you have a Palisman before joining the Emperor's Coven?
Clé: No, I didn't. And honestly, it's a good thing that I didn't, but that would mean I would have had to turn my Palisman over to the Emperor's Coven and I don't think I would have been able to do that. And if I did, I think I would have been absolutely guilt-ridden. I might have even tried to get myself kicked out of the Emperor's Coven. And I can only imagine how annoying that would have been…
What did you think of Belos before his true colors were revealed, and what do you think of him now?
Clé: I… actually had my doubts about Belos before the reveal. I had them for a while, actually. They probably started when I first heard the rumors about what he did to the Palismen he collected. I didn't want to believe the rumors, but I still found them incredibly disturbing. Yet despite my growing doubts, I remained in the Emperor's Coven, mainly because I didn't want to let my family down, since I knew how important this was to them. And yet I was never able to fully shake off the feeling that there was something off about Belos, so when his true colors were revealed… it all made sense, honestly. And I guess I've already said my thoughts about Belos. He was definitely evil and needed to be stopped… but from what we've learned about him and his past, I can kinda understand his logic, even if it is a very twisted logic.
From Matteso
After the way the Emperor's Coven didn't do anything about the muggings, do you think it's understandable why Tyrone and his friends formed LOWTH?
Clé: Yes, I do. I understand Tyrone's reasons for founding LOWTH, especially now more than ever. I now think… I now think they were right to take things into their own hands, even if they were putting their own safety at risk to do so.
From Navy-Heart
Do you still see your family?
Clé: Of course I do. Whenever I have the free time to visit them, I do. This was true when I was in the Emperor's Coven and it's true now. My family has always been incredibly important to me and I don't see that ever changing.
From Shuffollower
Clé, what exactly motivated you to take that palisman you gave to your brother, Tyrone?
Clé: I guess you could call it… my first small act of rebellion against Belos. Even though I've never owned a Palisman, I've always recognized them as living creatures, just like us. I didn't agree with how the Emperor's Coven treated Palismen or overharvested Palistrom wood. I had also heard about the rumors of what Belos did to the Palismen and I prayed to the Titan that they were just rumors. So when I saw Sheldon, who had somehow escaped from Belos's Palisman stock… I saw it as an opportunity to do something good by smuggling him out of the Emperor's Castle. I knew that I couldn't keep Sheldon as my own Palisman, so I gave him to Tyrone… and I just realized that I may be partially to blame for Ty going against the Emperor's Coven, since I set the example for him by saving Sheldon.
Dale
From Crosshot
Dale, have you talked to Viney at all recently?
Dale: I did want to talk to her after the Torsa Villa fire, since I knew that was Firebees' doing and I wanted to see how she was taking the news. But it still took me a while because of all the craziness that happened before and during the Day of Unity. That week was just… nuts. And even after the Day of Unity, it took me more than a week to get around to reaching out to her. Got to meet her mom, she was super nice. As for Viney… she is not doing well, unfortunately. Blames herself for the Torsa Villa fire. And while I did talk to her, I'm not a therapist. I did recommend to her mom that she sees one though. (sighs) Poor kid…
What was your school and track?
Dale: I attended Merlin Meadows. As for my Track, I did switch a few times. My first Track was Abominations, but even though I managed to create my own Abomination bro named Buddy, I didn't really have him do tasks for me like my other classmates did with their own Abominations. We just kinda chilled with each other and my teachers weren't exactly thrilled when the only thing I seemed to teach Buddy was how to fist bump… which is something that I hoped would catch on back then, though I heard some kids have started to fist bump each other more now, which is good to hear. Since my grades weren't doing great in Abomination, I tried several other Tracks before settling with Healing, which I ended up doing pretty well in.
From Jack_Skeletron_4ever
Do you feel comfortable about sharing a bit about how Viney's dad saved your life?
Dale: It… happened in my teens, before Camp CB. I was throwing a party with my classmates in a warehouse that I probably shouldn't have been in. The place became the target of Firebees and… (long pause) I survived that day, but not all of my classmates did. My recklessness ended up getting several good witches, including Arnold Potts, killed. I actually did try to make sure that I was the last one out of the building, a sort of 'captain goes down with his ship' philosophy, I guess. I wanted to make sure everyone got out before I did, but I couldn't save everyone… and I would have died that day as well, if not for Viney's dad. (another long pause) I would say that I eventually got over the guilt… but I haven't. That guilt, it never leaves you. Not fully. I still blame myself for that day. Yeah, I know, Firebees is the one who set the fire. But my party, my mess, my responsibility. The witches who died that day are gone, while I'm still here. So… I decided to actually do something with my life to honor those who died, especially Arnold Potts. I joined the Emperor's Coven and applied for their firehouse department. I dedicated my life to saving other witches and fighting fires. But that doesn't mean the guilt is gone. (shows his burn scars) The scars, both the ones on the outside and the ones inside, still remain. (sighs) Honestly, I am not surprised that Viney is beating herself up so much over the Torsa Villa fire. If I was in her position, I would do the same thing… and I was in her position once. I have told her to make those lives that were lost mean something, just like I did. But even though I want to help her… there is only so much I can do. I'm not a licensed therapist.
Are you discriminated against, given your canine appearance? Do people think you're a Lycan?
Dale: Sometimes. It was actually really hard for me to join my coven because of my canine appearance. That's because when I am saving witches, they need someone they can trust, someone that can make them feel safe and comfortable. It was a concern for a while that my appearance was too… threatening to calm down witches. But it was eventually decided that my chill easy-going attitude more than made up for it. The thing is that any reservations some witches have against me quickly fade away when I actually start to and interact with them. While I have faced a lot of discrimination throughout my career and, well, my life, I don't let it get to me. Because for the case of most witches, I feel like that is coming from a place of ignorance, not hate. They don't know any better and I don't treat them any differently than I would treat anyone else because… well, that's my job. To save everyone.
Are you and Gidget in a relationship?
Dale: Yeah, we've been going steady ever since we were teenagers. We met each other while we were both on Camp CB and hooked up during the show. Years later, and we're still dating. Although I won't lie… it hasn't always been smooth sailing. We did hit a few bumps in the road, including a period of codependency. We used to have a reputation as a couple who would just make out all the time and never hang out with anyone else. But we realized the problem, addressed it, and we're better off for it. We even managed to make things work despite us having different jobs. We still make plenty of time for each other and some of our friends have asked us when we are getting married. And… that's a question I don't really have an answer to, honestly. Me and Gidge… we haven't talked too much about marriage, since we've been focusing on our own careers. I'm sure we're gonna get married someday, but right now neither of us are in a rush and are just enjoying where our relationship is at the moment.
What do you think of Meg?
Dale: Meg? As in Meg Brimstone? Oh, me and her go way back. We were both on Camp CB together and we became friends by the end of that show. Afterward, we stayed in touch. I sometimes invite her to parties and she sometimes invites me to her art galas. She and Gidget are also friends and sometimes all three of us get together whenever we're not too busy. And before you ask, my support of her never wavered, even after the thing with Judd and Le'Belle. I wasn't about to abandon Meg just because she made a mistake. That's not what good friends do.
Now that Belos' rule is over, what type of magic will you want to try when you're freed from your sigil, if they ever find a way?
Dale: I was in the Emperor's Coven, just a normal scout before I decided to join their firehouse department, so I still have access to all of my magic. I still hope they find a way to get rid of sigils though, since Gidget still has her Beast-Keeping sigil that restricts the rest of her magic.
What do you think of Alburno?
Dale: I don't trust the dude. He's actually the reason that Gidget didn't make the cut for the Emperor's Coven and had to join the Beast-Keeping Coven instead, since he left her up on the Knee to freeze to death during training. He later claimed ignorance about the whole thing, but I never believed him. After we both finished training, we didn't interact much. We did end up on the same side during the Day of Unity, which made me think that maybe he had grown as a witch, but then he went missing about a week after the Day of Unity, which I don't like at all. Whether he's dead or he's planning something, I hope he's found soon.
What's your relationship with your family like?
Dale: For one thing, I was adopted. I don't really know anything about my biological parents, other than the fact that they must have been biped demons like myself. I don't know what happened to them… and I don't want to think about what might have happened to them. As for my adoptive parents, they're cool. They're non-traditionalists who were once in a small 'counter-covens' social group. I remember that they were huge fans of Delara Saltstar and all of the reforms she tried to make. And they were pretty disappointed when I decided to join the Emperor's Coven, but they didn't hold it against me. We still continued to talk, at least before they decided that they really didn't like the direction that the Isles was going in and they decided to leave the Boiling Isles to join a commune founded by Boiling Isles witches on another Titan. I do sometimes get some messages from them, letting me know that I'm okay. While we did end up making very different life choices, the important thing was that we always respected and loved each other. Though I do think they are going to be thrilled when they hear about Belos being overthrown and the Emperor's Coven being dismantled.
What did you think of Belos before his true colors were revealed, and what do you think now of him?
Dale: Honestly, I used to idolize him. A lot of the witches in my generation did. He was the greatest witch of our time… or at least he thought he was. (sighs) I think about all of the scouts and witches who died for him, who died for his coven system. All because they believed in him. It… actually disgusts me. Sure, he also killed a lot of witches. And he set the Torsa Villa fire in motion. But I can't stop thinking about all of the witches who gave their lives for Belos and the Emperor's Coven because they believed the lies that Belos had been feeding them. And do we even know the extent of the atrocities he committed? How many natural disasters and other tragedies were actually secretly being manipulated by Belos to advance his plans? (stays silent for a moment) I hope the new government does an investigation to get to the bottom of this. We may never know all of the atrocities he's committed… but we should try to find out about as many of them as we can. We need to know. (tone becomes darker) We need to remember what he's done so that we never let someone like him take power ever again.
What is your relationship with Clé and Judd?
Dale: The three of us were best buds back in Camp CB. An inseparable trio. Me and Clé are still friends to this day… though admittedly not as close as we used to be back when we were in our teens. I actually think that Clé and Gidget are a lot closer, although that makes sense considering he saved her life when she nearly froze to death on the Knee. I should have been there for her… (pauses briefly) As for Judd, I haven't seen or spoken to him in years. And we're certainly not friends anymore. Not after what he did to Le'Belle. Not after what he did to Meg. (sighs, shakes his head) He was pretty cool when I met him on Camp CB, but since then he's become a complete douche. I honestly don't want anything to do with him anymore. Actually, I can't think of anyone who wants anything to do with him at this point. I think the dude has burned every bridge he had. When Meg left him, it was over.
What was your reaction when you heard Napoli became a Coven Head?
Dale: My reaction was basically "good for him". I felt happy for the dude. I knew that he had some wicked skills back when we were both in Camp CB, so I didn't question Belos's choice to appoint him as a Coven Head and I personally congratulated him when I got the chance. And I still think the dude deserved it, especially since I think he has definitely proven himself worthy of being a Head Witch. He's certainly more worthy than I would be, since I think if I was a Head Witch, I would end up letting all that power and fame get to my head. It's not something that I think I would be able to handle. Or at least not be able to handle it easily.
From Matteso
How did you get into partying?
Dale: (shrugs) I don't know. I've kinda been partying for as long as I remember. I do try to party more responsibly now though, after the… incident. Some witches have asked me why I didn't let that incident ruin partying for me. Well, it was because I didn't want to let Firebees change who I was and it was because I think parties can still do some witches a lot of good. It can help witches open up to other witches and it can raise morale, which was especially useful when in the firehouse department. (pauses) Maybe I can throw a special kind of party for Viney…
From Navy-Heart
You've been in the sea before?
Dale: Um, what? I'm not sure what you're asking.
From Shuffollower
Dale, what's the craziest party you've ever thrown?
Dale: Look, I've thrown some pretty crazy parties in my time… but nothing I've done can compare to the parties thrown by this kid named Andrea Pinkjoy. She puts the parties that I throw to shame. I kinda love that girl's energy.
Gidget
From Jack_Skeletron_4ever
What can you tell about your family?
Gidget: Well, I actually have a pretty large family, but I'll tell you about just a few of them. My parents are Marlon and Tori. They're both in the Beast-Keeping Coven and they specialize in sea life. They both currently work at the aquarium in Bonesborough and I would say they have both definitely had a huge influence on me. Besides my parents, I'm probably closest to my aunt. She runs a bakery that specializes in nut recipes. When I was younger, I used to help out in her bakery a lot. We're still pretty close and I even introduced Clé to her. Unsurprisingly, the two of them got along really well. Also worth mentioning is my great uncle Walter, who lives on the Inwell Isles. I… don't actually have many memories of him, since I only met him a few times as a kid. But I always remembered him because I really liked his mustache. I think he was an inventor…
Now that the Emperor's Coven is disbanded, what are you going to do?
Gidget: I think I'm going to stay a scout, like a lot of my friends. Whatever new government Raine Whispers is creating, I want to help, put my training and my experience to good use. The reason why I originally wanted to join the Emperor's Coven was to help the Boiling Isles and even after I was scrubbed during training, that's still my dream. So I'll happily lend my magic to aid Raine in leading the Boiling Isles into a new era, especially since I don't want people like Belos or Leonte or Terra to take power ever again. I also do want to help out the werecats of the Boiling Isles, because what happened to them was just awful…
What do you think of Alburno?
Gidget: (her eyes narrow) I hate him. When we were both training to be coven scouts, we ended up partnering up with each other on the Knee. It was freezing, even with my fur. We helped each other survive during that training exercise and we did end up getting pretty… close to one another. But when he thought that I would have slowed him down, he left me behind to freeze to death! He later claimed that he would have sent someone back to find me and that he thought he would have found help faster on foot, that he didn't intend to leave me to die, but I know he was lying and trying to gaslight me! I would have died up there if it hadn't been for Clé! And yet, he was the one who passed training while I was forced to leave. Afterward, I was just so angry and embarrassed. I've never forgotten what he did to me and I've never forgiven him either. I can't say that I was too surprised when he vanished about a week after the Day of Unity. You can't trust Alburno…
What do you think about Leonte's unwavering loyalty towards Belos, considering you were caught in the middle of it?
Gidget: (sighs) I heard about Hikari. I'm… pretty disgusted toward Leonte, especially since I heard that even after he killed a kid, he still continued to support Belos up until Belos was finally defeated. He had… so many chances to do the right thing, so many chances to change sides. But at every possible chance, he doubled down. I don't know how he can justify his actions and honestly I don't care to hear his justifications either. Because he already cemented how he is going to be remembered. As a lap dog for the Emperor and a child murderer. That's going to be his legacy… I hope he's proud of it.
Now that Belos' rule is over, what type of magic will you want to try when you're freed from your sigil, if they ever find a way?
Gidget: Well… before I joined the Beast-Keeping Coven, I wanted to join the Emperor's Coven and have access to all of my magic. But after I didn't make the cut during training. It… would be nice to have access to all of my magic again, but I'm not exactly holding my breath. I accepted being cut off from my magic a long time ago and I'm content with it for the most part. I make due with what I have instead of focusing on what I don't have. That's kinda how I've always been. I could focus on how my life hasn't gone like I planned. I could focus on how I didn't win Camp CB, on how I left the Emperor's Coven in disgrace, and on how I'm stuck with a sigil. But I don't. Instead, I focus on the friends I made thanks to Camp CB, the relationship I have with Dale, and the magic that I do have. I honestly consider myself pretty fortunate. There are definitely other witches that are less fortunate than me and I would rather help them than feel sorry for myself.
How is your relationship with Le'Belle and Meg?
Gidget: Right now? They're good. I've known them both for years, since we were both on Camp CB together. Although back then, I was only friends with Le'Belle, since we were on the same team together. And on our team she was basically my only confidant. We would talk to each other about things we felt comfortable telling nobody else, like about our relationships with our respective romantic interests. Okay, I will admit I was a bit of a disaster back on Camp CB, like when I accidentally broke her violin or when I accidentally set our team's tent on fire. I thought she would hate me for those things, especially the former, but instead… she forgave me. I think she may have valued our friendship more than she was willing to admit, especially since I don't think she had many friends back at St. Epiderm if she even had any friends, since she told me that she focused most of her time on her studies at school and didn't have too much. I was probably one of her first true friends and I was someone who didn't put a lot of pressure on her, since I was pretty chill back then. And I did try to get her to relax and actually enjoy herself while we were both on Camp CB, instead of focusing all of her energy on thinking about how to win. I like to think that it did her some good… but unfortunately after Camp CB we kinda drifted apart, especially after graduation. I think that after the, uh, kiss, Le'Belle started pushing everyone, myself included, away in order to focus on advancing her career. And once I was cut from the scout training program, we just… stopped talking altogether. It was at that point I did become closer to Meg, although I was actually a bit reluctant to forgive her for what she did to Le'Belle, since I knew how much Meg's betrayal had hurt Le'Belle. But with Dale's encouragement and Meg convincing me with her sincerity, I decided to give her a chance and we started spending some more time together, with Meg eventually becoming one of my closest friends. Over the years, I have tried reaching out to Le'Belle a few times and have even tried helping Meg get Le'Belle's forgiveness, but Le'Belle wouldn't hear it. I think she felt like I had betrayed her as well and I will admit that hurt a little. Because I did miss her and I missed our friendship. But now… me and Le'Belle have started talking again and it looks like she and Meg are on better terms as well. I'm really happy for both of them, although I think it is going to be some time before me and Le'Belle reach the same place we were at years ago.
What did you think of Belos before his true colors were revealed, and what do you think now of him?
Gidget: Believe it or not, there was a point in my life when I looked up to him. When I believed in what he was preaching, when I believed that he wanted to help the Boiling isles. That's why I wanted to join the Emperor's Coven. Because I wanted to help make a difference. You can call me naive if you want, but I know I'm not the only one who thought that about Belos. As for what I think about him now… he's a monster, plain and simple. I almost never say this, but I'm glad he's dead. And I hope we never go back to someone like him. We can't allow ourselves to go back to someone like him. (shakes her head) Never again.
What did you think was your mission when you were sent to St. Epiderm, before being revealed that you were to brand children?
Gidget: I knew we were there to apprehend the members of LOWTH. I didn't entirely agree with that decision, but I thought I understood it. I knew that the kids who were in LOWTH had their hearts in the right place and that they meant well. But they were still vigilantes who were taking the law into their own hands and what they were doing was dangerous, especially since none of them went through coven scout training. And that could encourage other civilians to also put their lives at risk in order to take the law into their own hands. At least, that's what I told myself to justify what we were doing. I thought we were protecting the kids, stopping them from hurting themselves or encouraging others to hurt themselves. I didn't think that Leonte would go as far as he did…
From Matteso
How did you and Dale meet?
Gidget: On Camp CB, this reality crystal ball show that we were both on when we were in our teens. We were both even on the same team together. We've been going steady ever since then.
From Navy-Heart
Why are you in Beast Keeping?
Gidget: I feel like I already explained this when I was talking about my parents. I was raised by two Beast-Keepers who had a huge influence on me and I wanted to follow their example. And I've always loved animals. Isn't that reason enough?
From Shuffollower
Gidget, what types of beasts, if any, are you bonded to?
Gidget: My personal favorite are sea hotters. They're a breed of demon otter that can withstand the Boiling Seas due to their intense internal heat. They can spontaneously burst into flames when feeling threatened by predators, but they're pretty friendly in nature. I am also bonded to a few beasts that aren't actually native to the Boiling Isles, like the vertebyte and the skullelk. Oh, and I am also bonded to an aquafox, which is a fox with fins on its back and gills on its neck as well as a blue furred body. It can transform itself into liquids to escape from threats. Like my parents, I have a special fondness for marine life.
Grip
From Jack_Skeletron_4ever
What was your relationship with Meg?
Grip: We used to date while we were in our teens, we eventually broke up, and now we're friends again. I'm… not sure if I want to go into the specific details, not with her around. Especially not after the fiasco with Le'Belle and Judd, which I don't blame her for. As for what went between us… that's our business. I do sometimes get asked by fans if I'm still in love with Meg and if I'll ever get together with her. And the answer is that I think I will always love her, just not in the same way I used to. We may not be dating anymore, but I still care a lot about her and I really value her friendship, especially since it took me a while to get it after our break-up.
What do you think of Judd?
Grip: (eyes narrow) I hate his fucking guts, that's what I think of him. Judd is the absolute worst and I will never understand what Meg saw in the guy, although I was so relieved to hear when Meg broke up with him. I'm also glad that Meg is no longer in contact with him either, since I don't think he even deserves to be friends with Meg. That asshole used to bully Napoli relentlessly, he cheated on his girlfriend, and he dragged Meg's name and reputation through the mud. Seriously, I'm usually a pretty chill witch, but just fuck that guy.
What can you tell about your family?
Grip: My dad is an accountant and my mom is a lawyer. When I was a kid, a lot of the time they were too busy to watch over me, so I spent a lot of time with my grandfather instead. He and I… were very close. He was actually the one who inspired me to become a bard, since he was a famous bard back in his day as well. The guitar that I play was actually originally his. He gave it to me as a gift before… well, before he passed. Even after all these years later, I still feel his absence in his life. (stays quiet for a moment) I guess I can't really put into words just how much he meant to me. That's not to say that I don't love my parents, because I absolutely do. They just… don't get me like my grandfather did. At one point they wanted me to get a job like one they had, but for me it wasn't even a debate about whose path I wanted to follow.
What is your relationship with Napoli?
Grip: He and I are old friends. We were both on Camp CB together, although we weren't on the same team and we didn't actually become friends until after the competition ended. We bonded because of our shared love for music and while our boy band days are long behind us, I look back at those days fondly and I still really value Napoli's friendship. Our band didn't break up because of personality conflicts, despite what some rumors claimed. We just wanted to pursue our own separate paths, but we're all still friends to this day. I was actually really proud of Napoli when I heard that he got promoted to Coven Head, because I thought he deserved it. Not just because I think he's really talented, but I also just think he's a good witch in general.
Now that Belos' rule is over, what type of magic will you want to try when you're freed from your sigil, if they ever find a way?
Grip: To be perfectly honest… I haven't thought about that. For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a bard and only a bard. I never saw myself as being anything else, especially because of how much I idolized my grandfather and wanted to be like him. I… can't really imagine myself being anything else, so if my sigil ever gets removed, I don't know if it will change anything or not. I guess it could be cool to try out other types of magic… but is there anything I would be good at when playing music is what I'm all about?
What do you think of McScream?
Grip: Let's just say I wasn't exactly shedding any tears when I heard that they found his body. I actually didn't hold a grudge against him unlike some of my friends who were also on Camp CB with me, but I can recognize that what happened to him was definitely karma catching up to Mephistopholes McScream. In the end, karma catches up with us all…
What's your favorite band?
Grip: Hmm, tough question, but I think my favorite has to be… the All-Coven Rejects.
Did you have a Palisman before joining the Emperor's Coven?
Grip: I never joined the Emperor's Coven. I never even tried out for it like Meg and Gidget did. I joined the Bard Coven instead.
What do you think of the number 9?
Grip: (groans) It's my lucky number, but despite what you may have heard, I am NOT obsessed with it. I do not do everything nine times and I did not date Megan because our first names have nine letters in total! This is just a false rumor!
What did you think of Belos before his true colors were revealed, and what do you think of him now?
Grip: (sighs) Like a lot of witches from my generation, I looked up to Belos. Admired him. But besides that… I don't really know how to feel about his 'true colors'. I'm not sure why though. Maybe it's because I feel like I never really knew Belos… and I wonder just how many witches were close enough to Belos to know the 'real' him. We've learned a lot since the Day of Unity, of course. But I still feel there is so much that we still don't understand about Belos and I guess that is what gives me pause.
From Matteso
What is your love life like right now?
Grip: Oh, I'm not really looking for a relationship right now, much like Meg. Right now, I just want to focus on my career and my friendships. In the past, I have had trouble balancing my lovelife with balancing everything else, which is one of the main reasons me and Meg didn't work out in the long run. So I'm single at the moment and I'm pretty happy with being single.
From Navy-Heart
Who's your favorite musician?
Grip: There's a lot of bards that I love, but off the top of my head, I can think of three of my favorites; Harper Taboo, Raine Whispers, and Slasher Brooke.
From Shuffollower
Grip, how did your band form? How many members were there? Was it your idea?
Grip: Honestly, I don't completely remember how the band came together and whose idea it was. Each of my bandmates has told a different story that gives credit to themselves, but I think the truth is probably a combination of those different stories. There were four of us. Me, Napoli, Hugh, and Beau. We were all on Camp CB together and after Camp CB we became the Broomstick Brothers. We're not together anymore, obviously, but that time we were together meant something. Not because of the success we had, but because of the friendships we forged. I still see my former bandmates on occasion, though it's been a while since I've heard from Beau. I would actually love to do a Broomsticks Brothers reunion someday, but it's obviously not going to happen anytime soon, especially since Napoli has been really busy helping out with the new direction that the Boiling Isles is going in.
Judd
From Jack_Skeletron_4ever
Are you a skeleton demon? How does your anatomy work?
Judd: Yeah, I get this question a lot. I'm not a skeleton demon, I'm a normal witch. And no, I didn't lose my skin. It's still there… it's just permanently invisible. You see, back in school, I was in Potions. I used potions in the pranks I played on other witches and at one point I got the idea to use a potion to make my skin transparent so that I could look like a skeleton and scare the crap out of people. It worked… too well. I didn't realize that the effects would be permanent and I have been stuck looking like a skeleton ever since, despite my efforts to find a cure. (shrugs) It's not all bad though. I still get some funny reactions from witches every now and then.
Now that your Palisman has moved on to another witch, do you think you'll get a new one?
Judd: (shrugs) Probably not. I'm happy that Scruf has found a new owner and I am happy to help out the Bat Queen and the other Palismen, but I'm not looking to replace Scruf. Maybe if a Palisman chooses me for whatever reason I'll consider it, but it's not something I'm seeking out at the moment. Instead, I'm content to just crash in the Bat Queen's forest, especially since they aren't charging me rent and I'd rather stay with a bunch of Palismen than with my parents, which would be my other option.
What are your feelings about Meg and Le'Belle?
Judd: I had some good times with both of them, I won't deny that. But if you're expecting me to confess my regrets about how things ended up with them, you're going to be disappointed. Le'Belle had her nice moments, but they were too few and far between. I got tired of putting up with her trying to boss me around, control every part of our relationship, and change me into what she thought the ideal version of me would be. And whenever I pushed back, we would get into arguments and fight with each other. Sure, the sex afterward was usually great. But after a while, I wondered if the sex was really worth sticking with her for. Honestly, she didn't deserve me. So I chose Meg. Not only was she just as hot as Le'Belle, but I felt like she got me. I felt like she wanted me for who I was, not for who she wanted me to be. And at first, it was great. Meg was an even better lay than Le'Belle. But then… she broke up with me. Right out of the blue. Apparently she thought we should have never gotten together, or at least we shouldn't have gotten together the way we did. She told me that she felt bad for Le'Belle and I told her not to. I told her that Le'Belle didn't deserve her sympathy, that trying to be forgiven by her just to ease her guilty conscience was a waste of time. I told her that she shouldn't care what anyone else thinks about her and she asked if I cared what anyone thought of me. I told her that of course I didn't and then… she was gone. Honestly, I probably dodged a bad spell there. Meg was starting to bring me down with her moping anyway. She even told me that I was a bad witch and I told her that was why she had wanted me in the first place. Because I was a bad witch. She knew exactly what she was getting herself into. If she didn't like it, that's her fault, not mine. So what are my feelings about Meg and Le'Belle? I feel like I'm better without them.
What do you think of Napoli, and what was your reaction in learning he became a Coven Head?
Judd: When I heard about that, I laughed. I thought it was a pretty good joke… and then I realized it wasn't a joke and they were being completely serious… and I laughed again. I've known Napoli since he was a teenager. He was a nerd back then, a total geek. Really fun to mess with and get a reaction out of. I'm still not sure what they were thinking, making him a Head Witch. Did they really have nobody better to choose? Then again, it wasn't like he was their first pick. Technically, he was their third pick. And even then, I wonder if they actually had any faith in him or not. I do imagine that it boosted Napoli's ego, at the very least. Napoli was always arrogant, even when we were teens.
Now that Belos' rule is over, what type of magic will you want to try when you're freed from your sigil, if they ever find a way?
Judd: (shrug) I mean, I was in the Emperor's Coven. My sigil isn't a problem.
Do you know Barbara's boyfriend?
Judd: Dude, I don't even know who 'Barbara' is.
Do you like scary movies?
Judd: Yeah, I love scary movies. The more graphic the gore, the better. I'm not a huge fan of Vanessa Pierce though, which is something that me and Meg used to disagree on. That was one of the first ways we bonded, arguing over horror movies. (pause) You know, I think those are actually the best memories I have of Meg. Not us making out or having sex, but us just hanging out, talking about horror movies, and occasionally riffing on movies together. Don't get me wrong, the make-out sessions and the sex was still great, but… I think it's just having her to watch and talk horror with that I miss the most. (shrugs) But she made her choice. She couldn't handle our relationship and was too worried about what other witches thought about her, so she chickened out of our relationship in an attempt to save her reputation.
Why did you join the Emperor's Coven?
Judd: To get my dad off my back. I also thought that I would be able to get away with a lot more while in the Emperor's Coven, that I could be one of those coven scouts who abused his power. Oh, and I wanted to show up my ex. But yeah, I guess things didn't exactly work out like I had planned… (shrugs) Meh, it's not like I cared that much.
What did you think of Belos before his true colors were revealed, and what do you think now of him?
Judd: I already hated Belos and recognized him as the dictator he was. I just thought I could use the fact that he was corrupt to line up my own pockets. I wasn't one of the witches who were deluding themselves into believing that Belos was really the savior he framed himself as. I wasn't like Le'Belle, Dale, Clé, or even Meg. I especially can't believe that Meg bought the bullshit, since she hated the elite of the Boiling Isles and you can't get more elite than Emperor Belos, even though he tries to hide that by being all aloof and mysterious. I think the only witches besides me who I knew saw Belos for exactly who he was were Carter and Venoma. The former didn't care, while the latter was just as evil as Belos. This is actually the reason why I gave my Palisman to the Bat Queen, by the way. Because I already knew what Belos was going to do to Scruf and I wasn't stupid enough to hand him over to Belos for the 'greater good of the Boiling Isles' since I wasn't a gullible idiot. So when Belos's true colors were revealed, I wasn't surprised in the slightest. He definitely deserved to get offed though. It's only a shame that it couldn't have happened sooner.
There's someone you're genuinely terrified of from your past?
Judd: (scoffs) I'm not scared of anybody. And don't let anybody tell you otherwise. (raises fist menacingly) Got it?
What can you tell us about your family and your relationship with them?
Judd: (chuckles) I'm pretty much dead to them at this point. My dad was in the Emperor's Coven. A scout captain, actually. So you can imagine his disappointment at how I turned out, especially since he pushed me into joining the Emperor's Coven. I do wonder what he's going to do now that his beloved Belos was exposed as a fraud and the Emperor's Coven was disbanded. I bet he's going to end up hitting the bottle again. Oh yeah, did I mention he had a drinking problem? When I was a kid, he used to come home drunk, probably because he tried to use liquor to help him forget about the stuff he did and the stuff he saw as a scout captain. You'd think my mom would have a problem with that, but she never did. She believed that everything was part of the Titan's will. Yeah, she was one of those types. Religiously devoted to the Titan and to Belos. She was even the Shaman of our local temple, preached about how wonderful Belos was. I wonder if she's going to start drinking as well, now that Belos has been exposed…
What do you think of Cooker?
Judd: What about him? He was McScream's right-hand man during Camp CB. I'm pretty sure he used to be in the Emperor's Coven and I wonder if he stank as a coven scout just like he stank as a chef. He didn't like any of us, but he especially didn't like me and the feeling was very mutual. (pauses) Wait, actually, I do think he liked Clé. But then again, everyone liked Clé. Even Venoma, probably the second most evil witch that I have ever met, liked Clé. Honestly, I think Clé is the only witch from Camp CB that I actually miss sometimes. We used to be friends, but after the drama with Le'Belle and Meg he… (stops, catches himself) …he made his choice. As for Cooker, I don't know what ultimately became of him. I heard he got arrested during the fall of Glandus, but I don't know what happened to him after that. Maybe the Tarot Guild silenced him just like they silenced McScream. Especially if Cooker decided to snitch. Snitches always get the worst fates…
From Matteso
What happened between you and Le'Belle?
Judd: Ugh, I already talked about Le'Belle. She was a bitch, okay? Can we move on?
From Navy-Heart
You ever been through a witches duel?
Judd: Um, sure. I attended Glandus and joined the Emperor's Coven, so obviously I've fought other witches at least once. What answer were you expecting?
From Shuffollower
Judd, what happened between you, Le'Belle, and Meg?
Judd: I already answered this and I don't like repeating myself.
How did you obtain your old palisman, Scruf?
Judd: Let's just say that I "found" some Palistrom wood that some coven scouts just happened to "misplaced". Since nobody was using it, I decided that I shouldn't let good Palistrom wood go to waste. So I carved him into a spider, one of my favorite animals. After that, he was my reliable partner-in-crime… and my best friend.
Le'Belle
From cooki15xd
How are things going in the Boiling Isles, is the rebuilding effort going well, specially with the Werecats?
Le'Belle: They're going pretty good, though not easy to summarize considering how many moving parts there are in the Boiling Isles. But since you specifically asked about the werecats, I will say that I've made sure that they haven't been forgotten like they could have easily been… and like they have been for years. I can't spend all my time on the Villa, since there is so much going on around the Boiling Isles, but I do try to make sure that they get supplies regularly. I… wish I could do more though.
From Crosshot
What was that competition with the other scouts about and who participated in it?
Le'Belle: Um, you're going to have to be more specific. Are you talking about one of the many competitions that me and my fellow scouts had to survive during scout training or are you talking about the competition that me and some of my fellow scouts participated in before we even started out training to become scouts? Although honestly, both are pretty similar. Both put us through life-threatening challenges and both encouraged backstabbing and other ruthless practices. I guess it's not a surprise that so many of us who competed together on McScream's show ended up in the Emperor's Coven, since we already proved what we were willing to do to be considered the best of the best by being willing to sacrifice our bodies, our dignities, our morals… I guess by the time that we actually started our coven scout training, we were just used to being pushed to our limits like that, more than a lot of the other candidates. So I suppose I have to be grateful to MsScream for that. If not for all of the torture he put me through, I might not have gotten to where I am today. But I suppose I am getting off-topic, aren't I? As for that competition I was in during my teens, it was called Camp CB, short for Camp Crystal Ball. It was a reality television show hosted by a washed up celebrity named Mephistopholes McScream. I'm pretty sure his right-hand man, Cooker, used to be in the Emperor's Coven, though he was always vague about that. It would certainly explain the similarities between that show and coven scout training. I was one of more than twenty teens who were shipped off to some island away from the Boiling Isles, where we competed in challenges and voted each other off until only one of us was left standing. I honestly don't remember everyone who was in the competition, but a lot of them did become coven scouts. One of them, Napoli, even became a Coven Head, which definitely came as a shock to me. There was a time when I wanted nothing to do with anyone who was on Camp CB with me, but now… I guess I am glad that so many ended up in the same profession as me, especially since we've been through a lot of the same trauma together. We're survivors and that is something we will always have. I could go more into this, but… I've gone on for a while and I imagine you have more questions.
What made you want to be friends with Emily?
Le'Belle: Huh, I guess we are friends, though I never really thought about what exact label to put on what we have. As for what made me want to be friends with her, it wasn't like it was something I had planned. But in the moment where she learned that Graye was her father and that he had left her for dead… someone had to step in. I mean, she needed help. And nobody else knew what to do, since Graye and Emily were our leaders and the former was beaten into a coma by the latter while Wolffe was nowhere to be seen. I guess that as a Captain-In-Training, this was the moment I had been prepared for. The moment to take control of the situation. So I did just that, offering Emily a shoulder to cry on before pulling the scouts out of the school. It just seemed like the responsible thing to do. And after that, I had nothing but sympathy for Emily. How could I not after personally witnessing how her father let her parents get petrified just to hide the fact that he had an illegitimate daughter? And later I learned that it had also been her birthday the day that she learned Graye was her father and the Torsa Villa burned down… yeah, that poor girl needed that hug when I gave it to her. But besides just feeling sorry for her, I do like Emily. She reminds me of myself in many ways… both good and bad.
From Guest
Are you still planning to become a full-fledged Captain or have you let that dream go?
Le'Belle: Oh, I'm already a full-fledged Captain now. You have to understand, after the Day of Unity a lot of the scout captains either fled or were arrested. Wolffe is an example of the former and that kid-killing bastard Leonte is an example of the latter. That didn't leave too many captains to lead the remaining scouts, so because I was a Captain-In-Training and because I was friendly with the CATTs, I was promoted to full-fledged Captain. Sure, the Emperor's Coven has been dissolved and so have mandatory covens. But that left many scouts not knowing what to do. Plenty decided to retire, but others wanted to continue protecting the Boiling Isles. So I have been working with Steve to allow them to do just that as part of a new defense force. I'd say it's still a work in progress though and let me just make it clear I am not a fan of the name that Steve proposed for the project…
Do you have a plan for your next course of action now that Belos and his regime have fallen?
Le'Belle: As I just explained, I have been promoted to Captain and I am helping out Steve with creating a new defense force for the Boiling Isles that includes many former scouts like ourselves. That is my priority right now, along with just aiding Raine and the rest of the CATTs in general. But I haven't just been working, I've also been reconnecting with a lot of my old friends from my Camp CB days after I helped throw a housewarming party for Carter and his girlfriend Jemma. Meg was the one who asked me to come and it was honestly… really nice to be in the same room with so many of them again. Sure, a lot of us fought together during the Day of Unity and the day before it… but it's different to be in a room with all of them after everything has calmed down. Especially Gidget. I… used to be really close to her, but we had a falling out at some point. But we're talking again, which is nice. And obviously I've been talking to Meg more as well. She even got to meet Emily while Emily was staying with me. So… I guess I have a lot on my plate for the future.
From Jack_Skeletron_4ever
Did you have a Palisman before joining the Emperor's Coven?
Le'Belle: No, I never got one because I didn't see it as necessary. I was always more focused on my studies. I do remember one time when my parents asked me if I wanted a Palisman, but I declined. Although it wasn't just because I was disinterested. It was calculated on my part, since I didn't want to risk getting attached, considering that I couldn't keep my Palisman if I wanted to join the Emperor's Coven. That's something that not every aspiring coven scout takes into consideration and it can be devastating for many young scouts. Fortunately, I avoided that scenario completely.
Are you still in contact with Emily?
Le'Belle: Yes. We send each other letters. I actually do want to visit her again when I have the time, though not just to see Emily. Meg told me that she's always wanted to check out the West Mumbo art district on the Inwell Isles, so I thought it would be nice to bring her there. (pauses) As friends, of course. Not like a date.
What are your feelings towards Meg now?
Le'Belle: We're… I'd like to say we're friends again. I have a… complicated history with Meg. We attended St. Epiderm together, but I didn't acknowledge her until we were on Camp CB together. We didn't get along at first, especially since she had a huge grudge against anyone from St. Epiderm after being expelled from it. (sighs) Don't ask. Anyway, we eventually did become friends, but then my boyfriend cheated on me with her and I felt… betrayed. By both of them. I… didn't take it well. Meg did eventually apologize for the whole thing, even breaking up with Judd, but I… couldn't bring myself to forgive her. I was just too hurt. I think at some point I did realize that I wanted to forgive her, but I was too proud to admit it. And because of that, it became incredibly awkward when we did see each other, like at the art gala. At that point, I wasn't angry at her anymore, not like I used to be. But it was still hard for me to tell her that I forgave her, that I wanted to be friends with her again. I've… always had trouble opening up to people, being vulnerable around them. Meg was one of the first witches I let myself be vulnerable with, which is why what she did hurt me so much. (pauses) And then the fire happened. And I just… couldn't keep hold of myself anymore. I needed a shoulder to cry onto, just like Emily did earlier that day. And thankfully, Meg was there. Since the Day of Unity, we've talked more. I even introduced her to Emily. And I think we are on the right track. We just… haven't talked about the cheating thing yet. I know we should at some point, but I guess I'm worried that it will ruin things again, especially since we are doing better. I just… wish things didn't have to be complicated. That we didn't have this baggage. That we could just be friends. (growls and punches the side of the confessional) Ugh!
What did you see in Judd?
Le'Belle: (shrugs) He was a bad boy. I mean, I was the perfect A student and overachiever from St. Epiderm and he was the tough guy delinquent from Glandus. He was mean and rude and callous and initially I thought that was all there was to him. But it turned out that he wasn't that bad of a guy beneath all of his bravado, as much as he tried to deny it. I mean, I totally get why he acted the way he did. He's from Glandus, where it is 'survival of the fittest'. If he didn't act the way he did, he would get eaten alive. I guess that's part of the reason why I am so sympathetic toward Emily. Although I think Glandus may have actually been worse when Judd went there. He used to tell me stories, especially about one student in particular. (shudders) Anyway, I eventually saw through his bravado and he managed to get me to lower my walls as well and we… clicked. But I guess it was never meant to last. I wanted to change him and he refused to be changed. I guess some of my desire to help Judd has been transferred onto Emily, although I have learned from my mistakes. I'm not trying to control everything about Emily, which is what I tried with Judd. Not that it justifies Judd cheating on me, of course. While I can forgive Meg, I haven't forgiven him, especially since unlike Meg he never apologized. He never even seemed to be remorseful at all. Ugh, sometimes I do wonder what I ever saw in him. (pauses, frowns) But I guess I do blame myself for letting things get as bad as they did. I wanted to help Judd, I just… went too far. Hopefully, I have done a better job at helping Emily.
Now that Belos' rule is over, what type of magic will you want to try when you're freed from your sigil, if they ever find a way?
Le'Belle: You do remember that I am in the Emperor's Coven, right? That witches who are in the Emperor's Coven are able to practice all kinds of magic.
What is your relationship with your family?
Le'Belle: First, I was adopted. My parents, Slyvia and Kriminel Case, wanted a child, but were far too busy to actually have one of their own. Going through the pregnancy and raising an infant would take too much of their time, so they decided to adopt instead. And they wanted to adopt the most promising orphan… who happened to be me. My parents work as bureaucrats in the coven system, helping to ensure that things run smoothly. They always had… high expectations for me, which they never hid from me. Even though that did put a lot of pressure on me, I strove not just to meet their expectations, but to succeed them. To be the best of the best. And I still wanted that, even after my relationship with my parents started to become… strained. I haven't actually talked to them since before the Day of Unity… although I imagine they aren't happy with me since it is partially my fault that they're now out of a job.
What do you think of Alburno and Venoma?
Le'Belle: Ugh, those two. I knew them when they were teenagers and after joining the Emperor's Coven, I tried to avoid them, only to end up on the same team as them when I made the cut for BIG. I didn't want to lose my chance at a major promotion, so I thought I could put my past feelings towards them aside in order to work with them. After all, we were no longer teens. Alburno and Venoma were probably more mature by now, right? (pause) Nope. They were pretty much exactly like how I remembered them. Still, I forced myself to work with them, though I won't deny I felt no small bit of satisfaction when I heard that Venoma was arrested for murder. Once Venoma was removed from the team because of this, Alburno actually seemed to become… more reasonable and was surprisingly a big help during the week of the Day of Unity. I probably should have known better though, since after the Day of Unity he just straight-up… vanished, probably to meet back up with Venoma. (sighs) Those two will never change…
What do you think of Napoli?
Le'Belle: Well, like I said, we were both on Camp CB together. Same team, actually. When I met him, there was no way I could have pictured him as a Head Witch. The very notion of it seemed… ridiculous. And when I heard about his promotion, I was shocked… and slightly horrified, since I didn't think he would be able to honor Scooter Crane's memory. And to be perfectly honest, I don't think Scooter Crane would have liked him at all. Scooter Crane was very strict in what he believed was proper 'bard magic' and I think that would have conflicted with Napoli's style. Me and Napoli were actually rivals back on Camp CB because of this. But despite that rivalry… I actually do respect him now. Not just because he became one of my superiors, but because he actually did stand up against Belos and his loyal Coven Heads during the Day of Unity. So even though I never saw him as a Coven Head, I think he has proven that he is a worthy Head Witch. I do still wonder why Belos chose him. Did he have nobody better to pick? Did he think that he could control Napoli? Well, if he believed that, he was certainly wrong. I think he underestimated Napoli. Then again, I remember underestimating Napoli back on Camp CB as well. And he actually ended up winning several challenges, so I guess this is pretty on-brand for him. So I do respect Napoli… just don't tell him I said that.
What do you think of the rest of the BIG members?
Le'Belle: I actually went to school with Thunder and we… dated back in St. Epiderm. It wasn't too serious, but Thunder was struggling to keep his grades up and I wanted the extra credits, so I agreed to tutor him. I found Thunder to be arrogant, but like me he was under a lot of pressure to succeed from my parents, which is why he needed my help. I guess… I found myself relating to him and his struggles. When his grades did improve, he wanted to thank me by taking me out. It lasted a few months and dating St. Epiderm's hottest athlete was actually pretty good for my reputation, but like I said it wasn't too serious. We broke up on amicable terms and maybe we could have stayed friends, but instead we drifted apart. Even after we both ended up in the Emperor's Coven and later joined BIG together, we didn't really talk to each other much, mainly since I wasn't interested in any kind of relationship at the time, platonic or romantic. I just wanted to focus on my own career and keep things between us strictly business. I… kinda regret that now, since I missed so many opportunities for us to reconnect. But overall, I don't think Thunder is that bad. As for Joana, I don't know her that well. She seems fine though. I already gave my thoughts on Alburno and Venoma. Then there's Skrap… (sighs) I do check up on him, time by time. Fortunately, after what happened to him at the Bonesborough Brawl he's been able to start making progress in his physical recovery. He and I… we used to date, back when we were both coven scouts. He was someone I could order around easily, since he actually liked taking orders. But like all my other relationships, it didn't last long. My career always came first. (lets out another sigh) Finally, Scameron and Barb… I like them both, even if I don't know them well. Scameron helped me and Emily save lives during the Torsa Villa fire, so he's definitely good in my book for that alone.
Do you know what happened to Cooker after the Glandus War?
Le'Belle: Last I heard, he managed to cut a deal with the Emperor's Coven. I think it was to help the Emperor's Coven track down any of the other Glandus teachers who had managed to escape and I think he has shown leniency because he was a former coven scout, though I don't know what happened to him after that. Apparently Cooker still had some friends in the Emperor's Coven and his reputation still meant something, unlike someone like Terry Grease. (pause) Wait, did they ever find out what happened to Grease after the Glandus War? I did hear rumors that he was killed by Willow Park, which might explain why Belos tried to use her for the Draining Spell…
What was your opinion of Belos before learning his true colors?
Le'Belle: I looked up to him, to be perfectly honest. I've always had a problem when it comes to worshipping authority figures and Belos was like the ultimate authority figure. I admired him and genuinely believed that he was going to make the Boiling Isles a better place. Even after I learned about some of the… shadier aspects of the Emperor's Coven, I justified it in my head, believing that somebody had to make the difficult choices while the rest of the Isles could rest peacefully. Well, either that or I placed the blame on 'bad actors' like Terra Snapdragon or Adrian Graye, believing that Belos was unaware of what some of the witches were doing in his name. All because I was blinded by his vision of a better Boiling Isles. And I know I wasn't alone in believing that. But the farther I made it up the ranks, the harder it became to ignore or deny the problems with the Emperor's Coven… and how all of the rot and corruption was coming from the very top. I wanted so hard to believe in the dream, to believe that I was helping witches… when I wasn't. (sighs) Fortunately, my conscience eventually got the better of me.
From Matteso
McScream wouldn't happen to be the host of the competition you competed with several scouts, right?
Le'Belle: (sighs) Yes. When I heard that he turned up dead, I couldn't be happier. Honestly, he probably deserved worse.
Does Emily remind you of yourself in any way?
Le'Belle: Yes, she does. Ambitious, intelligent, cunning… I know that a lot of witches are hard on Emily because of the terrible things she did during her time as Queen of Glandus, but I think they easily forget that she was only a teenager. Technically she may be an adult now, but that doesn't mean she wasn't affected by her trauma, abuse, and lack of positive role models and healthy growing environments. I mean, she was raised in the Tarot Guild and she attended Glandus. Because of that, it is really easy for me to empathize with Emily, especially since like her, I did a lot of terrible things when I was a teenager that I now regret. And honestly, I could have easily turned out even more like her if things had been different. I… grew up in that orphanage Scooter Crane built. I don't even know who my birth parents are, so I could have been just as illegitimate as Emily is. I was fortunately adopted by the Case family, who made sure that I got a proper education at St. Epiderm. I was lucky in life, while Emily got screwed. And sometimes I think about… how I might have turned out if someone else had adopted me. After all, Sonya Mera spent some time at that orphanage too…
From Navy-Heart
Which of your parents named you 'Le'Belle'?
Le'Belle: How would I know? I was an orphan who never knew her biological parents, since I was dropped off at the doorstep of an orphanage when I was just a baby.
From Shuffollower
Le'Belle, did any of these scouts go to St. Epiderm with you?
Le'Belle: Not a lot. St. Epiderm was a lot… harder to get into when I was a student there. I think the only scouts I personally know that also went to St. Epiderm are Clé, Thunder, and… Meg. (pauses) Poor Meg. Despite us attending St. Epiderm at the same time and both of us being in the Bard Track, we never interacted and I don't think I even knew her name back then, partially because she liked to keep to herself. Meg didn't socialize with a lot of the other students, since she came from a completely different background from them. So for the most part she steered clear of everyone and everyone steered clear of her. I didn't even recognize her when we got picked for Camp CB. Although by then she no longer attended St. Epiderm. I… I shouldn't talk about this. Not without Meg around. But I will say that I wish I had reached out to her when she was in St. Epiderm. Maybe… maybe things would have been different.
What caused you to develop feelings for Meg?
Le'Belle: What? I don't have feelings for Meg! What gave you that idea?
Meg
From Crosshot
Meg, how did you develop your emotion paint spell?
Meg: It… wasn't always something that I could control. I know about this one kid, Gus Porter, who would sometimes lose control of his illusion powers and it had the side effect of making someone relive their trauma, which is something that happened to Emily. It used to be similar with me, where my emotion paint spell was the result of me losing control of my own emotions in moments of distress, causing others to feel distressed as well. I eventually managed to learn how to control this ability and even harness it to my advantage, but during my teen years I had very little control over this part of my magic, which is what resulted in me getting expelled from St. Epiderm. As for how it works… something that gets taken for granted is that our emotions and our mental states affect our magic. Sometimes, when we get ourselves worked up, our magic reflects that. Just like how art and music can be used as a conduit to express our feelings, magic can also be used as a conduit. And when it comes to bard magic, a talent that some bards possess is the ability to make others feel something with their artwork or their music, to convey emotions with their art and make their audience experience those emotions themselves. My emotion paint spell is just a way I've found to use that talent without losing control.
What's your most well-known piece of art?
Meg: Some of my most well-known pieces of art tried to evoke the research and the writings of Howard Hatesew, who was one of my personal heroes. I actually did get to officially work with him once and create illustrations for the new editions of his books. In fact, he even stated in his will that he wanted me to draw the illustrations for any new editions they publish in the future. (gives a sad smile) He… really took a liking to me, said that I had a talent for the macabre and the otherworldly. I think the piece that really got his attention was called 'The Abyss'. It was just that: an abyss. But sometimes what the audience imagines will always be more terrifying than whatever you can conjure up yourself. So with 'The Abyss', I took advantage of our ability to project our own fears onto artwork, using my special talents to create a piece of artwork that was capable of inspiring a sense of dread in whoever looked upon it. I still remember when Hatesew walked up to me in the gallery and praised me for it. (sighs) I can't believe he's dead. (scowls) Damn Venoma…
Can you play any instruments?
Meg: I can play the drums, but I was always more into the 'art' side of the Bard Coven.
Are you and Vemona arch-enemies?
Meg: We were back when we were teenagers. But now… I don't consider her my arch-enemy anymore, even though she still occasionally tries to get a rise out of me when we occasionally cross paths. Venoma… hasn't matured at all. She is still just as petty and mean now as she was back when she was a teenager. If anything, she's probably gotten even worse, since I heard that she actually murdered Howard Hatesew, who was one of my favorite writers. We really were at each other's throats when we were teenagers, but nowadays I try not to let her get to me. Because unlike her, who still insists on being the mean girl bully from high school, I've actually grown up. And so have all the witches who were on Camp CB with me that I still keep in touch with. We're trying to not let who we were as teenagers define us, because we're not proud of who we are or what we did. I especially don't want my teenage self to define me, because I already got enough crap for being a homewrecker. I don't want to be seen as just 'that girl with relationship issues' and I guess the same thing could be applied to my old rivalry with Venoma. She may not be over it, but I am. Or at the very least, I'm over what she did to me as a teen. Her most recent crimes, on the other hand… I don't like it at all that she is still out there, running free…
From Jack_Skeletron_4ever
What is your relationship with Grip?
Meg: We're friends. We used to date in our teens, but it ended on very bad terms. We didn't actually become friends again until a few years after our break-up. We met on a show called Camp CB, so we didn't see each other outside of the show and I tried to join the Emperor's Coven while he immediately joined the Bard Coven after graduation. After I dropped out of scout training, I joined the Bard Coven. It… still took some time for us to start hanging out again, that and some encouragement from our mutual friends Napoli and Mosquita. It was a bit awkward at first, but eventually we worked through that awkwardness and became friends again.
Did you have a Palisman before joining the Emperor's Coven?
Meg: I'm not a member of the Emperor's Coven. I did attempt to join the Emperor's Coven, but I left during training. I actually still have my Palisman. He's a duck. Although he's only my Palisman when he decides he wants to be, since he can be difficult. I still love him though.
What are your feelings about Le'Belle now?
Meg: Me and Le'Belle have a… complicated history and I would rather not get into all of it here. But to sum it all, we both used to attend St. Epiderm, though we never interacted with each other. Then we both ended up on Camp CB. I used to hate her, though that was admittedly me projecting my grudge against St. Epiderm onto her. Although in my defense, Le'Belle was a… hard girl to like back then. Very uptight. Yet despite that, we ended up becoming friends. And then… I went after her boyfriend. (sighs) I'm not proud of what I did, okay? I did try to make it right, breaking it off with Judd, swearing to give up dating for the moment, and apologizing to Le'Belle for hurting her. She… didn't forgive me and I still believed that she hated me for what I did until recently. I… guess we're friends again now, though I don't know if this means she's forgiven me for what I did and I'm scared to ask because I don't want to ruin things with her now. Honestly, out of all the relationships I've ruined, my friendship with Le'Belle is my biggest regret. I knew I did the right thing when I broke it off with Grip and Judd, but Le'Belle… she didn't deserve to get hurt like that by both her boyfriend and her friend. And now that we're on friendlier terms again, it has made me realize… just how much I missed her.
Do you like scary movies?
Meg: Of course! I am especially a huge fan of Vanessa Pierce. I regularly visit her movie memorabilia shop in Lokitown.
Now that Belos' rule is over, what type of magic will you want to try when you're freed from your sigil, if they ever find a way?
Meg: Before I joined the Bard Coven, I actually did start training to be a coven scout in the Emperor's Coven. But being there with Venoma, Alburno, Judd, and Le'Belle… it was too much for me, so I quit and decided to stick with bard magic, even if it meant I couldn't use the rest of my magic. I was… mostly content, although I have thought about what other types of magic I would want to try if I had the option. I've… kinda always wanted to take Beast-Keeping, but of course mixing magic was an absolute no-no back when I was in school. And I still would like to learn Beast-Keeping, especially since Gidget, one of my best friends, and Sunny, my cousin, are both in the Beast-Keeping Coven. But I don't exactly have high hopes that I will eventually be freed from my sigil. (shrugs) Call me a pessimist if you want, I'm just trying to be realistic.
What did you see in Judd?
Meg: He was hot, at least before he got all skeleton-y. We also had similar interests, like a love for horror movies, and we generally got along really well. I thought he was this cool, badass rebel who stood up to the system rather than conforming to it. And honestly… at the time I thought he deserved better than Le'Belle. She wanted to change him, while I didn't think he needed to be changed. I thought he was perfect, just the way he was, and he deserved somebody who actually appreciated him, that somebody being me. So despite Le'Belle being my friend, me and Judd went behind her back and… (sighs) I'm not proud of it now, but at the time I thought the thrill was worth it. I thought Judd was worth it. Obviously, I was wrong, but by the time I realized that, it was too late.
What's your relationship with Mosquita?
Meg: She and I were best friends during Camp CB. We both hated Venoma and mutual hatred is in my opinion the best way to start a new friendship. (laughs) Seriously though, Mosquita is great. We unfortunately did drift apart for a while after Camp CB, but then we reconnected after I joined the Bard Coven and she remains one of my closest friends. I was even at her and Napoli's wedding. She was also never mad at me for what happened with Le'Belle and Judd. She was certainly disappointed. But she never stopped supporting me and I will always appreciate that.
How did you meet Slasher?
Meg: I don't remember when exactly I met him, but it had to be at either an art gala or some other art showcase. Honestly, I usually don't care much for the rich witches who try to buy my paintings, especially since they only pretend to understand it and just want something to show off to their other rich friends. They care more about flaunting their death than actually getting my artwork… but I'm more than fine with taking their snails and hiding my disdain behind them with a fake smile. (her tone becomes bitter) Unless they're a Diamantos. I am never selling any of my artwork to those assholes. (she takes a breath before continuing) As for Slasher, I actually like him. He isn't like those other rich snobs. He's actually pretty chill and he's self-made, which I can't help but respect. And I'm glad he's okay after what happened at the last art gala…
What did you think when B.I.G was formed and Le'Belle was part of it?
Meg: I didn't really think much of BIG at first. I kinda immediately saw it as the publicity stunt that it was and just tried to ignore it. When I learned that Le'Belle was a part of it, I honestly wasn't that surprised. I always knew that Le'Belle was ambitious, that she wanted to move up the ranks of the Emperor's Coven. So her joining BIG to improve her standing with Belos made sense. And unfortunately, Venoma and Alburno joining BIG also made sense. While I was ultimately right about why BIG was formed, I will admit that I was surprised that the members of BIG were some of the first scouts to openly rebel against Belos. Although I guess I don't know what Venoma would have done if she had still been a member of BIG, since by the time that Belos was exposed, Venoma had already been arrested and kicked off the team. I actually got a good laugh over her being replaced.
What was your opinion of Belos before learning his true colors?
Meg: Honestly, I was already feeling kinda 'iffy' on Belos before Felicia exposed him just from the type of witches that he was surrounding himself with. Even if he genuinely believed that what he was doing was for the greater good of the Boiling Isles, a lot of the witches in his inner circle like Terra Snapdragon and Adrian Graye were clearly in it for their own personal glory. I never really completely bought the propaganda either, although that didn't stop me from becoming complacent. (sighs) I was actually a lot more rebellious when I was a teen, but I guess at some point I stopped resisting the system and started helping the system. Yeah, my anti-authority teenage self would have definitely been disappointed. It wasn't until Le'Belle openly rebelled against Belos that my rebellious nature came back fully.
What can you tell about your family and your relationship with them?
Meg: My parents are named Lennard and Elaine. Of the two of them, I was closest to my dad when I was a kid. He… died when I was in my teens, before Camp CB. It was a… rough time for me. It was a rough time for my mom as well and I don't think I fully recognized that then, though now I definitely appreciate everything she's done for me and my brother, especially after dad died. Fortunately, she and I are pretty close now. My little brother is named Cody. He can be an annoying little shit sometimes, but I still love him. I have a similar relationship with him that I have with Hugh, one of my closest friends. And I already mentioned my cousin, Sunny. I used to actually be really protective of her. She is honestly just one of the sweetest, kindest witches you'll ever meet and while I usually find that excess annoying, I just wanted to protect Sunny from the harsh realities of the world. I will admit that she is tougher than I used to give her credit for though, since I heard she actually defeated Hettie during the Day of Unity. So yeah, I'm not embarrassed to be related to her, despite her overly sweet personality. I'm actually quite proud to call her my cousin. And I am supportive of her relationship with her new boyfriend, Steve. He seems to be a pretty good guy. I hope he treats her well. I mean, he better treat her well…
From Matteso
What happened between you and Grip?
Meg: (sighs) I don't want to bad-mouth Grip, especially since we are friends again. Long story short, I don't think either of us were ready for a relationship at that point in our lives. We were teenagers, we were each other's first love, and first loves… don't always work out. Especially since Grip had a very different idea about what he wanted our relationship to be. Besides that, I won't go into too much detail about what went wrong, because I've already had to defend myself from Grip fans so many times. And because of all of the drama I had to go through and all of the stress that I endured, it took me a long time to be okay with Grip again. But we're not teenagers anymore. We're adults. We're more mature now and we both recognized that. He apologized to me and I forgave him. So I'm cool, he's cool, we're both cool. Don't get any ideas though, since I do think we're better off as friends.
From Navy-Heart
Other than painting, what other skills are you good at?
Meg: Well, I already mentioned that I was good at the drums. Besides painting and drawing… I've done some writing as well, though I haven't published anything yet. I mostly write for myself and some of my friends. Maybe I'll self-publish someday, since I definitely don't want to end up with a publisher like that Penlit guy who died a while back. Or was his name Piniet…
From Shuffollower
Meg, what's your most famous painting?
Meg: I already answered this question.
What caused you to develop feelings for Le'Belle?
Meg: (blushes) I don't have- (stops herself mid-sentence and sighs) Okay, I might have a bit of a crush on Le'Belle. I think it may have started while I was trying to apologize to her for the whole Judd thing, since I realized what I had lost when I started dating Judd and I even broke up with him in order to make things right with her. And I've started crushing on her even more after the Day of Unity because she's just… kind of a badass. When I realized that she had become this cool rebel who turned on the Emperor's Coven and stood up to the system, I… felt my heart skip a beat. (sighs) I don't want to say that I'm in love, especially since I was already burned twice and it's already taken this long just to be friendly with Le'Belle again, but… I think I would like us to be more than friends someday. Maybe. Ugh, I don't know. (buries her face in her hands) Why does she have to be so incredible?
Napoli
From cooki15xd
Are you helping in leading the Boiling Isles now that Belos is gone, or are you not interested in that?
Napoli: I'm already helping Raine and the other Head Witches. I'm afraid that I can't say too much, since it's pretty classified stuff. But we have been very busy, both with leading the Boiling Isles and dealing with the remaining Belos loyalists.
From Guest
How would you describe the current state of affairs for the Boiling Isles and the provincial government under Raine Whispers?
Napoli: Like I said before, I can't say too much. I know that there's a lot of, um, rumors going around right now, but I wouldn't believe everything you hear. The current state of the Boiling Isles is… fine. We're just going through some growing pains, that's all. There is absolutely nothing to be worried about for the future of the Boiling Isles. Nothing at all…
Did you have time to reflect on what the future will be for you since the government of the Isles is undergoing restructuring and rebuilding?
Napoli: I… have thought about that, yes. Honestly, I don't really expect to be a Head Witch forever. Not because there won't be a Bard Coven anymore though. Covens are no longer mandatory, but they're still going to stick around. Partially because there are plenty of witches who still have their sigils. I know that some witches are working on a way to get rid of sigils, but there hasn't been a lot of progress in that area. So a lot of witches are still going to have most of their magic restricted and they are going to need leadership to help them. Covens also aren't going away because a lot of witches are used to them and covens in of themselves aren't bad, since a lot of witches do benefit from covens. They help witches get jobs, provide them with a sense of community, and provide services to the Boiling Isles. I honestly don't think covens are the problem, just the mandatory nature. Though this is one of the things that me and the other Head Witches have been discussing. Oh, and as for why I don't expect to be a Head Witch forever, I do sometimes feel redundant with Raine around and there has been talk about witches being able to vote for their leadership instead of that leadership just being appointed like the original Coven Head Witches. I won't lie, that did make me kinda nervous. Me and voting don't really have the best history…
From Jack_Skeletron_4ever
Can you tell us something about you and Mosquita's wedding?
Napoli: It was a very lovely wedding. It was outdoor, held on a ranch at Satorius Acres. It wasn't a big wedding, just attended by our friends and our families. The Courtlands did the catering. Meg and Gidget were Mosquita's bridesmaids while I chose Hugh as my best man. After we said our vows, I sang a song and then we rode into the sunset on a unicorn. You could say that it was majestic.
What's your relationship with Judd, Clè, and Dale?
Napoli: (takes a deep breath) We were all on a reality show called Camp CB together, back when we were in our teens. I was on the same team as Judd, Clè, and Dale and they… used to pick on me. A lot. Judd was the worst, but Clè and Dale both helped him out. I remember one time where they made me eat my dirty underwear. But despite that… I've moved on. Clè and Dale both eventually apologized and I forgave them, while Judd… never said he was sorry and I doubt he ever will. Not that I need him to apologize. Karma eventually got to him anyway, since he got dumped by Meg and was thrown in the Conformatorium, while I got married and became a Coven Head. I won at life, while he ruined his. He even ruined his friendship with Clè and Dale, who have told me that they don't talk to him anymore. I don't even really feel bad for him, especially after he cheated on his girlfriend with Meg. However… I actually do think that I would have been willing to forgive Judd if he had apologized to me. I would have been willing to put our past behind me and even help him out if he needed it. But Judd doesn't apologize. Le'Belle can vouch for that.
How is your relationship with Tito? Are you and your wife thinking about adopting him?
Napoli: Tito is a bit too old for me and Mosquita to adopt, isn't he? Honestly, he's probably almost old enough to become emancipated. And I don't think that is the kind of relationship we have anyway. I don't see Tito as a son. He's more of a… mentee or apprentice. Despite his history, I don't think Tito is a bad kid. I actually think he's quite talented and can put that talent to good use. He just needs a good role model, someone who can set him on the right path and help him move forward. That's what I see myself as in his life. And honestly, I think I do see a little of myself in him.
What can you tell us about Napoli McGrady I and II?
Napoli: The first Napoli McGrady was my grandfather. He participated in a war against the Tomus at the Swampy Toes, a conflict between an invasive species and the local swamp farmers had to go up against. It was a brutal battle that lasted for months. When I was a witchling, I would listen to him recount the battle every time that we visited him. He was a great storyteller and he seemed to remember everything about the battle in vivid detail… probably because he had PTSD. As for the second Napoli McGrady, my dad, he was a door-to-door salesman that sold bowling eyes. But eventually had to flee the Boiling Isles because he owed a debt to someone up in Palm Stings, leaving me to live with my Grandma Gingi, my cousin Herb, and my Uncle Hicklin. My uncle was a bard and he is the reason I got into Bard magic. We lived near Satorius Acres. We… also have a pet Tomu and I'm definitely glad that my grandfather died before we got it because he would have not have handled it well…
Now that Belos' rule is over, what type of magic will you want to try when you're freed from your sigil, if they ever find a way?
Napoli: I think I would like to try it all, honestly. I mean, if I am freed of my sigil and given access to all of my magic, why would I continue restricting myself to just one type of magic when I can practice every kind of magic? I don't even care if it would be good or not, I just want to feel that magic flowing through me once again. (sighs) I still remember what it felt like. The propaganda told us that we would never notice the difference after we got our sigil, that we would feel exactly the same. But the truth was… I did feel different. And not in a good way. It took a while for me to get used to it and I did eventually get used to it, but… it would definitely be nice to never have to look upon my sigil again. I have my doubts though.
How did you feel when you learned you were going to become a Coven Head, and how do you feel now that you learned you were going to be an important piece of a genocidal plan?
Napoli: I was… honestly surprised, though I did try to play it off at the time and make it seem like I knew I was running when really I had no idea. But besides being shocked, I did feel honored and… even a bit nervous, since I knew that I was filling in some huge shoes and following in the footsteps of some of the greatest Bard legends on the Boiling Isles. And I hadn't exactly been prepared for the role either. Scooter Crane spent a lot of time with Raine before retiring. And often a Head Witch has an aide that they prepare to fill the role for them if they ever die or become unavailable. Because of the really poor timing of Raine's disappearance and Scooter's death, I did not have a lot of time to be prepared and had to learn things while on the job, especially since the Day of Unity was only a month away and Belos was worried about how it would appear if the role of Head of the Bard Coven wasn't filled up. Yeah, in hindsight it was a very abrupt decision that was definitely made to save face and get some good publicity for the Emperor's Coven. And… I do feel a lot less honored to have been chosen now, knowing what my actual role in my plan was going to be. But despite that, I'm still glad that I was chosen. It gave me the chance to help screw over Belos's plan, it put me in a position where I could help witches like Tito, the Brookes, and the Torsa Villa werecats, and it's now landed me with a position in Raine's provisional government. I think it has worked out for me in the end.
What did you think of Scooter Crane?
Napoli: I really respected him. I only got to meet him a few times and he was pretty dismissive of me, since I always found his views on Bard magic to be pretty narrow-minded. But despite that and our disagreements, I still thought he was a really damn good Bard and one who did make positive change on the Boiling Isles, specifically with his orphanage. I think that place will be his legacy and I'm glad that he will be remembered for it. I… do wonder where he would have stood if he had still been alive for the Day of Unity. Would he have rebelled against Belos, like I had, or would have helped Belos carry out the Day of Unity? I would like to think that my predecessor would have done the right thing… but since he's no longer around, I don't think we'll ever know for sure. And if he would have sided with Belos… then it might actually have been good that he had died before the Day of Unity. Not only because it deprived Belos of an ally, but because it saved Crane's legacy. Crane helping Belos would have forever tainted how he would be remembered. But thanks to his tragic death, everyone is going to remember Crane fondly. And I'm not trying to tarnish that view of him or anything, it's just… something that I have been thinking about since the Day of Unity.
How did you propose to Mosquita?
Napoli: It was at the place where we had our first date, where I planned to play one of her favorite songs. Of course, I had help from Grip, Hugh, Beau, Gidget, and even Meg to set everything up. It was going to be an extravaganza… but then the place got caught on fire. Turns out that the fireworks I got weren't illusioned casting like I thought they were. I ended up having to do a lot of community service because of the fire, but I still got to propose to Mosquita and she still said yes.
What did you think of Belos before his true colors were revealed, and what do you think now of him?
Napoli: Honestly, I used to really respect Belos, since I thought he was one of the greatest witches of our time. And I felt so honored when he chose me as his new Coven Head, since I believed that it meant he really saw something in me. I've always had a high opinion of myself, but to actually have Belos recognize my talent and skill felt… validating. Although it was actually Abel who told me about the promotion, rather than Belos himself. I didn't actually directly interact with Belos most of the time, but it still felt like I was working with him and for me it was a dream come true. And then… the truth came out. I honestly did not want to believe it at first. But I couldn't ignore it either. I tried to personally confront Belos about the accusation against him, but I never made it to the throne room. Gosh, now I feel like such an idiot for believing in him. All because he made me feel special, even though I don't think I even had a single conversation with him before the Day of Unity. But that is what Belos does to you, isn't it? He makes you believe in him, makes you believe in yourself through him, despite obvious it is now that he was just using me, using me like he used everyone. (sighs) I've talked with some other witches, like Lilith Clawthorne, who worked with Belos and they do feel the same way. It's… kinda incredible how Belos was able to manipulate witches like that. I just hope we can learn from this, that next time we will be able to recognize the warning signs before it's too late to stop the next Belos…
From Matteso
Have you found a new job yet?
Napoli: …why would I need a new job? I've already answered several questions about my role in helping to create a new Boiling Isles government.
Has Tito talked about his relationship with his family?
Napoli: Not really. He doesn't like to talk about his family and I haven't pressed the issue, since I don't want to make him uncomfortable. I can't really blame him for not wanting to talk about his family either, considering that they left him to rot in the Conformatorium. I did look a bit into his family though and I learned that apparently Tito is related to one of the criminals on the Boiling Isles' Most Wanted lists. Now that definitely caught me by surprise…
From Shuffollower
Napoli, how did you fall for Mosquita?
Napoli: We met on Camp CB. I still remember the first time I met her, since I had never met someone like her before. She was loud, confident, not afraid to say what was on her mind… and she was tough. She refused to let anyone walk over her and because of all of that I admired her. She was also beautiful. During Camp CB, I began writing love haikus to her. When she learned that I had written them, we kissed and it was the greatest moment of my life… afterward, she admitted that she had kissed me in the heat of the moment and that she wanted us to just be friends, since she didn't want to rush into a relationship. I was disappointed at the time, but in hindsight I think that it was for the best. We still barely knew each other on Camp CB, so it was smart for us to see if we worked as friends before we saw if we worked as boyfriend and girlfriend. And hey, it worked out in the end, didn't it?
Where did you learn Bard-Kai-Do?
Napoli: Napoli: During my teen years, I was in the the bard track. I learned about Bard-Kai-Do from a flyer one day, and so I went to the dojo where I met the bard teacher there. We called him Master Tuner and I ended up taking his classes on Bard-Kai-Do. We learned many styles like "Drum-Style", "Harp-Style", and "Key-Style". My preference is the "Key-Style", since I know how to play the key-guitar, but I've learned the other styles as well. The key to Bard-Kai-Do is to channel your inner rhythm and beat. Music is everywhere, as Tuner used to say.
And that's about it for the TD expies. Hope the answers are to your liking.
Now then, here's up for a next Q and A batch. This time, the 'Survivors of the Torsa Villa", consist of:
Chelsea Krakow
Jageera Kipling
Jemma Milk
Pam Fangs
Pawla Whiskabee
Tony Stripes
To those wondering, Pawla is the name of Casey's mom that Jack_Skeletron suggested. As for Chelsea's last name, we've decided to give her one at this point since we didn't before.
So hopefully, you got some good questions for these characters to answer.