Kirah

Camp Lava Lake

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9:45 AM - Friday, June 13th 1980 - Lava Lake trail, BC, Canada

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@KazAlkemi@Achronum@kittyluna45@Morose@Trainerblue192

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Emily

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Location: Camp Lava Lake Trail
Skills:

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Em squeezed Marco’s leg under the table, she smiled warmly at him. She didn’t care what the cops thought. Not one bit. This was her Marco, she’d follow him to the end of the world.

Emily turned her attention to Demi as he claimed an allergy to eggs. She watched him as he shoved a bite of quiche into his mouth. He was either incredibly stupid or messing with them. They’d find out soon enough.

”Well, let us know how that works out for you,” she tells him a raised eyebrow. ”Alright, Aster, you’ve got general cleaning on the lock I suppose. I want to do some shrub cleaning, trail marking, and general maintenance that has been lacking. There are a lot of deer trails around here. I want to make sure the kids who show up don’t end up in an animal den, or a patch of poison ivy.

Dobbs are there yard maintenance tools at least.”

“Yeah, there is a shed by the water with anything you might need in that type of way,” he said around a bite of food. He nodded approvingly at Marco. The food was good. He’d hold up his end of the bargain and bring whatever he ordered special. “Once the kids get here, can’t keep up that deal, unfortunately. There will be other staff coming in.”

”So, we are only alone for the week?” That was a bit of a relief. Though, in a way Em wished it was more time alone. She’d be fine working with the kids. But in a way getting to know the others was sort of fun.

Avengers Academy: X of Swords ⚔️

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Location: School
Skills: Enhanced Reflexes (Passive); Enhanced Durability
Magic item: N/A
Fit check, and Letterman jacket

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The day before school

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The day before school, found Andy packing up her bag. She had more clothes and things than she had ever had before in her life. She ran her fingers over the duffle bag. Even this was new. Her clothes were new. She had so much stuff. Andy carefully packed her school bag. She put Jamie’s deck of cards in there. It felt good to have that again. She rubbed her hand over the spot where it pressed against the backpack’s fabric.

For all the new things she had, she had also found so much she had thought lost forever. She had been texting, and on calls with members of the MU, and in some cases talking to them face-to-face. Having four of them living next door helped a lot with that latter one. So much had changed in just the last month. And going farther back even more had changed. Andy felt like it had been a bit of a whirlwind.

Andy paused on the sea glass mosaic that Sabine had given her. She smiled, appreciating it. Andy appreciated all the gifts her friends had given her. The strange rock that Leah had made, the coffee from Vicky, the necklace from Percy. Her life was so full. Andy held back tears that burned at her eyes. Her life was so full and she was happy. Looking at the mosaic she wondered how long it would last. Her heart twisted. Fear pulsed through her.

Damn. She had made it through the whole break without feeling like the world would pull the rug out from under her at any moment. Part of Andy figured that was because she had had something so terrible happen right before break started that the universe thought she deserved a break. It had been since Thanksgiving that she had been in a near death experience. Something she wouldn’t be able to survive if it happened again.

She started pacing. Slowly Andy’s hands traced where old scars would be. Since the final battle of Genosha she hadn’t had any physical scars. They all had gone away, including her piercings, which she had replaced as soon as she had the chance. She ran her thumb over the crook of her elbow. The oldest scar had been there.

Back before she had powers she had been playing tag, and climbed on... something. She frowned. What had it been? Andy could sort of picture it in her head, but couldn’t put a name to it. There had been something sharp on it and her arm had gotten cut up. She hadn’t gone to the ER and hadn’t gotten stitches, but she probably should have. The scar had been vicious looking.

After that her scars had all been little incidental things. A broken nose, her fists, both from fighting. That had all been healed. Wiped away as if none of it had happened. Now she wasn’t sure if she could scar. She had fallen from a height that should have killed her. She had taken swipes from Gideon’s sword during practice, and still nothing. No external sign of anything that had happened to her. It was all erased.

From her school bag, Andy removed the deck of cards, she pulled the cards out of the worn box. The deck had once been gorgeous, but now it was so worn it wouldn’t be good for a game of anything. She knew each card and how they felt, despite it having been months since she had had them in her hands. It was soothing. She shuffled the deck over and over, playing with the cards, using the magician tricks that Jammie had taught her.

This was proof. Proof that Jammie and Ash had lived. Proof that she had lived with them and learned at their sides. Learned how to fight, learned how to do magic card tricks, and learned how to love and be loved. She gave up fighting her tears. She sat down on the floor and cried.

Andy cried for the life she had had. Cried for those lost to her forever. Cried at what could have been. She cried long enough that she wasn’t sure how long it took, but the daylight was dimmed as the sun set. After washing her face and getting a glass of water, she hugged Magento and went back to packing. She felt better, still scared of the future, but better.

Later Gideon came over and they hung out watching movies together. Andy giving elaborate commentary about the history of the films. Andy talked about her feelings from the day. About how scared she was, even now and still. How she felt like part of her past had been erased and taken from her when her scars had been healed after the Battle of Genosha. But she had hope in what was remembered. She also talked about something she had only spoken with Magneto about after he had told her what happened to Genosha after she had left. She talked about how she had struggled with coming to terms with claiming Genoshan and how much harder that was after learning about what happened after she left. How a piece of her was blaming her for it, if she hadn’t left, maybe she could have helped.

Andy told all of this to Gideon, never expecting her to return the sharing. But hoping that by doing it like this, sharing her emotions, it would help teach Gideon how to do that. They crashed out kind of late that night.

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The first day of school

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Andy and Gideon hitched a ride to L.A. with the K-G Household. Casper gave her a small bag full of sexual health items. She went bright red, her ears in particular. In the bag was also a cookie from Ben. Both were sweet gestures and Andy thanked them embarrassed.

Magneto had joined them. This was the first time she was on campus with him. She was happy he decided to go too. It felt more personal than a goodbye hug at home. She would have been fine with that, but that he came with her felt so good.

She noticed the ice skating and friendship bracelets. As she looked around she planned to unpack her skates, and check out the rink, she also decided to make friendship bracelets for Gideon and America.

Once she had her dorm assignment she had parted ways with them. Hell yeah! Andy was now rooming with Gideon. She hadn’t even gotten that lucky with Zari. She was a little surprised, but with how many people had left the Academy she wasn’t surprised at the new room assignments.

She partially unpacked her bag, setting the mosaic on her nightstand. When she finished that she asked Gideon, ”I’ll finish unpacking later. Ready to head down to the carnival? If they have the sword club thing set up again, wanna spar?”

Andy made sure she had the ice skates from Sabine with her, she was not going to give up the opportunity to be on the ice again. The fact that Sabine had gotten her a pass for the ice rink nearby had been super sweet too. She planned to take advantage of that. Part of her thought about trying to combine sword fighting and ice skating. She’d discover Hockey soon enough and that would be basically the same thing.

Before leaving the room she considered which jacket to grab. She touched the one from Ash gently, but ended up taking the letterman style one. The others might be wearing theirs. There was something symbolic about not wearing the jacket with metal studded spikes. Andy did consider that as she and Gideon headed down to the carnival.

Gideon had already finished unpacking - she didn’t have much in the way of possessions, everything she owned fitting into a duffel bag that she had dumped unceremoniously on the bed, before her fingers twitched, her body stiffened, and she changed her course, neatly unpacking it and putting everything in its place with military precision. Her week’s worth of clothes were folded and placed in the dresser, her sword maintenance kit placed in the drawers of the desk, her bed made with sheets tucked in appropriately, and the sword placed down on top of it - before she hesitated once more, and slung it over her back. She didn’t like going places without it. It felt like a part of herself was missing, like she’d left behind a limb.

She did a wolf whistle, her eyebrows wiggling as she checked out Andy. “Hot damn, you look like an asshole - but in the hottest way possible,” she praised, tempted to keep Andy all to herself for a little while longer. But Gideon loved the carnival. She loved all the physical contests, all the ways to test her strength. “Hell yeah, man!! We’re doing that! I’m going to text everyone I know and challenge them to a duel. Have ourselves a sword tournament.”

Andy winked and flicked her collar, ”You love to see it.” Andy bounced on the balls of her feet a little. ”Ohh, yes!”

Andy had noticed the strange shift in demeanor. It wasn’t simple, it was a weird shift. As they walked out of the dorms Andy had to ask, ”Did you go to a military school or something?”

“Nope!” Gideon tilted her head, a little confused as to why Andy had asked. “Did you? I do gotta say, I love a gal in uniform - so if you have pics of you in your ROTC blues, I wanna see.”

”No, I went to... A really terrible school. If I went to one. That’s not why I was asking. You did a weird thing. At first you threw your bag down, and then you went all military precision on setting up. I didn’t expect you to unpack yet. We have time for that later when we have the Carnival to go to.”

“Oh, but if I have a messy bed, I’ll have the shit beaten out of me by Sis- sorry, never mind, ignore that I said that. Just a brain misfire. Just random words. Do you think they’ll have any good food? The food trucks were killer last time!”

”You have a sister?” Andy asked without thinking about it. She had been trying to not pry on Gideon’s life, and let her come to her when she was ready. ”I only knew about your brother.”

“No?” Gideon looked genuinely confused. “Just me and my bro. Well. Our dad kinda fucked his way around, so maybe I do, idk.”

”Then who or why is someone beating you for having a messy bed? That’s wild.”

Gideon pretended she didn’t hear Andy, as she pressed the button for the elevator down from the sixth floor.

”Gideon, wait, what is going on?” Andy asked, her voice heavy with concern. Shooting way past her promise to not press.

“We’re going to the festival, duh. I could see the snow they’ve got set up from the room, I’m going to kick your ass in a snowball fight, just you wait.”

Andy stood there confused, but closed her mouth. She wanted to help Gideon, damn, why wouldn’t she let her? ”Okay, we’ll see about that,” she tried to say teasingly, but knew her voice fell a little flat.

They took the elevator down and were soon out among their schoolmates. Andy looked around, unsure what to do first, or who to speak to. She pushed the panicky feeling of impending doom away, by taking Gideon’s hand and heading for the friendship bracelet stand.

Strange Academy: Journey into Mystery

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Location: Primary Artificer Laboratory
Grimoire: Fae Magic
Skills:

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”Mild discomfort,” Finley said, a little sarcasm toning their voice. They did not like the feeling one bit. They could feel the blood binding. It pulled at them. As soon as that object was no longer necessary they would make sure to break the magic.

”Are we done then?” Finley was ready to leave this room. They wanted time alone with Dysphoria. They wanted to leave the uncomfortable draw of the thing the group had made. Finley had only tasted Rohan’s ‘blood.’ Uncertain if it was something they could even work with. Even while tasting it they had shoved the power, and memories aside, only tasting for compatibility. However, it had tried to hurt them. Tried to consume, and if not for Dysphoria it may have won.

For the others Finley had no need to taste their blood, they were standard human witches of one breed or another. They had not been concerned about not being able to manipulate the blood. It also had the bonus of showing that Finley respected their privacy.

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Location: Room 12
Grimoire: Transform self
Skills:

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Connie, still a bird, fluttered around and eventually landed on Jake’s shoulder. She ruffled her feathers. It wasn’t clear which part of what Croan said caused her irritated bird noises that followed. Very likely it was all of what he said, or that he had yet again mispronounced her name.

Suddenly a whole lot about Jake seemed to make more sense for Connie. Jake had no memories, that explained why he couldn’t read. However, her attention was still on Coran, as she lifted off of Jake’s shoulder and shifted back to her human form in a fluid motion. The error of the previous night seemingly forgotten. Perhaps it was because she was moving between her more customary forms, humanity slipping over her easily.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, her heart pounded from the vision she had seen. Connie was not normally a seer. She did not have visions. Her magic was in the body. It was healing and changing. This though, she could not deny what she had seen. Connie hated it. Hated knowing that. Before that moment she hadn’t trusted Croan, and now anything resembling respect she had for him as a practitioner burned away, like his cottage, like the lives he sacrificed to his thirst for knowledge and power. Never in her life had she had such a desire to turn someone to stone as much as she did in that moment.

Her attention shifted to the statue, Connie considered once again attempting the stupidest thing she could think to do. If she reached out and touched it, skin to stone, and willed it, could her magic change it. However, the parade of people sacrificed at the feet of Croan and his liege for the sake of this seemingly impossible task held her hand. She would not touch it, she would not allow her magic to flow into it. Not until she knew the cost and consequences of such actions.

”Are we excused then?” Her tone is harsh when speaking with Croan. ”The sigils we see continue in the top down view of the statue as well,” she told Barty in a clipped tone, though not harsh. She gathered her things, making a quick note.

”Jake, let me know when you wish to go over those notes. I will assist you.” Her tone warmed a little when speaking to Jake. ”Barty, you’re welcome to join us, but it may be best for us to discuss once we’ve all gone over it and have thoughts about it, rather than discussing while reading it.” This time her voice was not as clipped, her annoyance and anger cooling a little.

Avengers Academy: X of Swords ⚔️

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Location: School
Skills:
Magic Item: N/A

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Jan. 13, evening

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Ben waved goodbye one last time and shut the door, locking it. He turned around and Matt was standing at the end of the entrance, arms crossed.

”Living room.” Matt’s voice was stern. Ben’s heart sank. Damn. They had not gotten away with it. He sighed heavily and followed Matt into the living room. Matt sat down in the chair and gestured for Ben to sit on the couch.

”Alright, how long have you and Chase been dating?” Ben sank into the couch.

”Uh, a couple of days.” Technically a lie, it had been basically ten days. Matt sighed heavily. Ben winced.

”Ground rules going forward. First, your bedroom door will be open if Chase is over. Second, please for the love of God don’t have sex. Third, he will be coming in through the front door. He will not be jumping through the shadows to sneak in. I was a teen once. I get it. I do. Though my experience was very different then yours, it is not so different that I don’t know exactly what you're thinking and feeling. I promised your mother the day you were born that I’d be there for you. That if anything happened I’d make sure you were okay. We knew you’d get powers eventually. And your father’s family is not equipped to deal with it.”

”Not that they even tried,” Ben said sullenly.

”I know that hurts. When we are rejected for something we cannot change about ourselves it hurts a lot. But you are my family. You are blood of my blood and I love you more than you’ll understand. Not until you have children of your own, which I hope is someday very far into the future.” Ben opened his mouth to interrupt, but Matt held up his hand. ”I know that it is not something that will happen in the type of relationship you are in. I just mean in general. You’re fourteen. You’re not ready for that sort of responsibility. I want you to be safe. I want you to have as normal a childhood as possible. That’s why your parents weren’t ready for you to go through Terrengensis. They wanted you to enjoy being a kid before anything like responsibility was put on your shoulders.”

“You saw after the Contest all the things that your friend Danni and the others went through. Imagine if you had been there with them. The reporters would have dug into your past just as much, they would have found out about your parents and they would have asked. I need you to be aware that this kind of life is not fun or safe nor is it easy. God it isn’t easy.” Matt paused in his speech and rubbed at his face with his hands.

”Sorry, I’ve gotten off topic. You don’t need me on a soapbox. Just be honest with me. Don’t do something you’ll regret. He seems like a good kid, and he seems to like you a lot. That’ll get him far in my book. I know you’ll probably have to get hurt by a relationship. It happens, and it sucks even more when it is your first love. So please be careful. And if you need to talk, come to me, alright.”

Ben nodded. He knew about Matt’s past, but maybe he didn’t know everything. Matt wasn’t in a relationship. Ben knew there had been some, but Matt didn’t talk about them. He chewed his lip.

”You’re not mad?”

”I’m furious. I feel like you lied to me. That you went on the trip and didn’t tell me the truth. I could tell that the two of you were interested in each other, but I didn’t think either of you would go that quickly into a relationship. I honestly thought you were a little too hurt. That’s on me. I should have insisted at least one of us adults went with you. But I also know what it is like to be a teen and feeling stifled. So I didn’t. I’m not going to take that out on you though. Instead, you’re going to promise you won’t do something like that again, and that you’ll follow the rules.”

Ben winced. He could follow two of them. He’d have to text Chase and let him know they had not gotten away with it, and what the rules were. However, he had already failed at rule two. Matt saw the facial expression and rubbed at his face again. He stood up and paced for a moment. Ben pulled his legs up and wrapped his arms around his knees.

”Go to your room. Chase isn’t to come over tomorrow. I know you start school Monday and I can’t stop you two from hanging out there, but you’re going to have at least tomorrow apart.” Ben stood and hurried to his room. He carefully shut his door and flopped on to his bed. He grabbed his phone and texted Chase.

@Chase

Wellllllp.... Cat’s out of the bag. He knows.

Ben didn’t know if he was shaking because he was freaked out, or if he was honestly just relieved he wouldn’t have to try to keep up the secret.

Sometime later, before Ben fell asleep, there was a knock on his door.

”Come in.”

”Congratulations on your first relationship. Good night.”

”Thanks, and good night Uncle Matt.”

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The day before school

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Ben was packing. He didn’t really know what to take, other than his bugs. He was not leaving those behind. Some of them required special attention, like Titan. His door was open and Matt knocked on the door frame.

”Hey, kiddo, uh have you had the talk?”

”What?”

”You know the sex talk?”

”Oh my god, Uncle Matt, please do not. Yes. I’ve had the talk. It’s fine. I know how to be safe. Jesus.”

”Good, good, just checking. I’m not thrilled about you having sex this young. I’m pretty certain your mum would be pissed at me.” Matt left Ben alone. Ben lay face down on his bed. What the hell? He was going to die of embarrassment.

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The first day of school

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Matt drove Ben to school. Matt still had a motorcycle, and that was his preferred method of transportation when alone. However, he did have a car. For Matt those thoughts reminded him of other old co-workers. For Ben it just meant he hated everything. He felt sick to his stomach and desperately wanted to climb out the window. His uncle had allowed him to roll down his window, but that was the best he could do for now. Matt was considering what cars he could buy to replace this one. It had to be something with room. As he had that thought he came to the realization that if he got a van and if Ben joined a team he could be the sports dad. That sent a little thrill of parental joy through him. Matt knew most likely Ben would set up a skate club with Chase.

At the school, Matt had collected paperwork and took Ben to his room. It was necessary to have his help since Ben had one of his terrariums. Ben was not thrilled about his room assignment. If only because it was not with Chase. He had had his hopes held too high. Or maybe Matt had called the school to specifically make sure they wouldn’t be roommates. That seemed like something he would do to discourage them. The student he did room with was his Uncle’s friend’s kid. Ben did not care if Percy didn’t like insects. He set up the terrarium on his side of the room, in a spot where they’d get natural light still. Matt helped him unpack and then after a quick hug left.

Ben swung by the bathrooms, checking out the space. His heart sank when he saw the tiny shower space. He was not taking showers there. He’d have to use the gym showers, provided they had them. That would get annoying quick, but it would be better than trying to fight the coiling pit of fear that boiled over just looking at the tiny space. He felt like throwing up even knowing he wasn’t about to climb into the shower.

Ben left the dorm hall and headed outside for the carnival. He looked for Danni and Chase.

Avengers Academy: X of Swords ⚔️

The text logs of Danni, Ben and Chase. AKA: The Round Table

JAN 7th

Ben: okay
Ben: Danni, this is kind of ... Idk
Ben: anyway, use this group chat instead
Ben: We’ll chat here while we’re driving
Ben: i’ll read the texts to Chase, and if he wants to say something I’ll do something like
Ben: (Chase) is saying something
Ben: make sense?

Danni: 😁🥳🎉😁🥳🎉
Danni: EXCITING!
Danni: Hello! Hi! How go?!
Danni: Things sounded a little spicy last night
Danni: Did Chase get my messages?
Danni: He didn’t respond
Danni: So mean
Danni: So rude
Danni: I shall wither away!
Danni: But heyyyyyyyyy
Danni: I love group chats!
Danni: So much easier :D
Danni: Wait
Danni: The car?
Danni: U norms send bug photos first.
Danni: Wild
Danni: No buggies?
Danni: I started looking forward to the buggies
Danni: Hm
Danni: I know what Ben looks for on the trip
Danni: What's Chase looking for?
Danni: He never responded to my Scorpia comment BTW
Danni: le gasp
Danni: (Thats my French gasp btw)
Danni: Oh sheet
Danni: I could have been making jokes in French too
Danni: Laaaame
Danni: But we should all do a watch party
Danni: You’all love a Danni watch party
Danni: Once (not really, I love watching parties) in a life time experience guaranteed!
Danni: So how y’all doing?

Ben: yeah, car, unfortunately
Ben: not everyone has a teleporter on hand
Ben: things are good
Ben: we had to talk about a couple of things though
Ben: and idk if we’ll get bugs today
Ben: the pass is snowed in
Ben: so we’re deciding what we want to do
Ben: (Chase) Wait you have someone that teleports? Dude next trip LONDON!! Think the drinking age there is like 16 or some shit idk.

Dabbi: OoooO
Danni: Talking things through
Danni: Das good tho!
Danni: Love the good vibe boyfs!
Danni: OMG Yaaas! Ben and I were already talking bout London!
Danni: Yeah, drinking is kinda off limits in mu family
Danni: Papa had a lotta addictions so uh
Danni: Pls no
Danni: Its a thing
Danni: Buuuuuy
Danni: Ben and I were talking about that!
Danni: Cause he wanted to do a photoshoot
Danni: And I was gunna dress him up as an explorer
Danni: and we were gunna go to bug places
Danni: And get cool buggie exploration photos!
Danni: Then he can take us all over!
Danni: And yeah, duh
Danni: Pa can portal us anywhere
Danni: The whole fam goes on vacations all over!
Danni: And lemme tell.you
Danni: There is this little coffee shop in Italy we go to when schedules line up
Danni: But THEN
Danni: We pop over to France for a little croissant treat 😀
Danni: It's so fun!
Danni: And now, when she isn't fighting people who can make you think they're not real
Danni: America can open up the multiverse!!!!
Danni: Ben did you show Chase the multiverse photos!!!
Danni: Omg Chase
Danni: You don't wanna Aurora Foil?
Danni: But you skaaaate
Danni: Ben wants to aurora foil
Danni: Come on
Danni: I could get cool couple photoooos
Danni: Like, skating side by side
Danni: And dedinately not going into my portfolio
Danni: plssssssssss
Danni: Pretty pls with a cherry on top

Ben: (Chase) Fuck, my bad man. Didn't realize that. No drinking then, just some hot food spots and some good grinding. Won't lie, Ben in an explorers outfit sounds very cute. Whats uh, Aurora Foil?
Ben: yes, we’ll skate, yes we’ll photoshoot
Ben: lol

Danni: Muwhahahahahaha
Danni: It's gunna be fuuun!!
Danni: I gotta get ur sizes Chase so u maaaatch!
Danni: Omg, guys
Danni: I had a absi mess yesterday
Danni: It was awwwful
Danni: Fiiiinally got Leah ij that cooking video
Danni: Doin’ our thing
Danni: We put three of the hottest peppers in the world
Danni: Just an easy stir fry tho
Danni: Kinda gauge the cookingness of eaxh ither u know?
Danni: We're bonding
Danni; Its amazing
Danni: And then
Danni: Leah reminded me we didnt turn the cameras on
Dann: 😭😭😭
Danni: The food was good, the whole point ruuuined
Danni: Tho!
Danni: April and I got our move down!
Danni: Likez we were in rough shape after Pop's training but it wooooooorks
Danni: (Photo of Danni in an ice skating rink)
Danni: Training made me wanna skate today
Danni: So viola
Danni: Skating!
Danni: Not a board but I can do this!

Chase: My size for what?
Chase: Three of the hottest peppers? For Ben that's like…all three bell peppers. But thats ok, we're working on my little Cuddle Bugs tolerance to spice.

Ben: rude
Ben: your not wrong
Ben: but still 😝
Ben: ooh ice skating
Ben: was the stir fry at least good?

Danni: Omg, so goood!
Danni: I loved it
Danni: Leah loved it
Danni: 10/10 would make again
Danni: Your size for clothes, shoes etc
Danni: If we're matching, it all has to fit
Danni: Oooo
Danni: Good nick name for Benny Boi
Danni: You two looked so cozy!
Danni: Snug as a bug in a rug
Danni: (Photo of Danni curled around Amelie in his pillow and blanket nest)
Danni: This was who I was snuggling with!!!
Danni: Dragon cuddles are the best!!

Ben: great
Ben: between the two of you I’m going to get called every nickname possible
Ben: Amelie <3
Ben: you’ve seen basically all the other photos
Ben: wait I haven’t sent you the stamp ones
Ben: Attachment 1: photo of Ben and Chase at Death Valley, Ben has the date and park symbol stamped on his cheek
Ben: Attachment 2: photo of Ben and Chase at Sequoia, Ben has the date and park symbol stamped on his cheek
Ben: Attachment 3: photo of Ben and Chase at Yosemite, Ben has the date and park symbol stamped on his cheek
Ben: We couldn’t get to the Lassen park museum/office place because of the snow 😩
Ben: but maybe after the snow melts and the pass opens back up
Ben: Instead we’re doing [yet to be determined]

Chase: We are not matching. What?
Chase: We can do…complimentary clothing though. Hows that?
Chase: [Attachment - Image of Chase and Ben cuddling in bed, Chase is shirtless and pressing a kiss to Ben's cheek.]
Chase: You already know who my cuddle buddy for last night was

Danni: Omg so cute!
Danni: Those stamp photos are so fuuun!
Danni: Omg
Danni: Chase
Danni: We should come up with like
Danni: tons of nicknames
Danni: And we just rotate them
Danni: It'll be so fun!
Danni: Snow is Laaaaaaaaaaaaame
Danni: We can't match?!?!
Danni: I love doing matching outfits tho
Danni: 😵‍💫😢🥺🥺🥺
Danni: Oh, I tots changed that photo to ur contact pic btw
Danni: Its so cuuuute
Danni: Yeeeesh
Danni: What is there 2 do out there BTW
Danni: Like
Danni: Isn't it sups far away from everything
Danni: Wild
Danni: Couldn't be me
Danni: Ugh
Danni: We'll do a cuddle piles the three of us
Danni: I love cuddle piles
Danni: We should tots my goats
Danni: OMG SHE-RA WATCH PARTY
Danni: And I can cook
Danni: And make Hot Chocolate!
Danni: Santa brought me the Hot Chocolate recipe
Danni: Omg, we can wear cute onesie!
Danni: Plssssssssss

Chase: Oh D, mind making us some Huevos Rancheros someday? This city is lame and had no good Mexican around but I'm trying to show Ben some good food.
Chase: ↪️REPLY What's there to do? I mean I'm chill as long as I have Ben as my company. He's plenty entertaining.
Chase: Miss me with that onesie thanks.

Ben: i have regrets
Ben: your both gonna team up against me now 😵‍💫
Ben: please 🙏 don't make it spicy 😫
Ben: hmm I think cuddle piles will be okay as long as im not at the bottom and can move...
Ben: most of what there is to do is enjoy being out doors
Ben: the landscapes are terrific
Ben: even if it is literally snowing 🌨

Danni: Ooooh huevos rancheros!!!
Danni: Yeeeeees
Danni: I can make urs less spicy, bb Bennie
Danni: Tho
Danni: I make my own hot sauce soooooo
Danni: You'll be missing ouuuuut
Danni: No onsie?!
Danni: Beeeeeeeeeeeeeen
Danni: Give him puppy dog eyes
Danni: Beg him to wear one!
Danni: We can get…
Danni: A bat
Danni: or a cat!
Danni: Or like
Danni: A panda
Danni: Omg, Ben
Danni: Chase would look so good as a panda!
Danni: Why you regret?!
Danni: We're great!
Danni: I just like cuddle piles and pillow forts and cozy stuff so w/e y'all want
Danni: Idk
Danni: I def don't sit still well lololol
Danni: Haven't u figured out what 2 do today yet??
Danni: Oh, oh, oh
Danni: Make a snowman
Danni: Or snowball fight
Danni: Or
Danni: Hm
Danni: Snow Angels
Danni: Snow tubing
Danni: Ice skating

Chase: ↪️REPLY - Don't make it less spicy. He needs to gain a tolerance.
Chase: No onesie, they aren't comfortable for me. I'll wear sweatpants and a panda hoodie as a compromise?
Chase: Just…careful with the cuddles man. My bfs claustrophobic. So like…no?

Ben: nooooooo toooo spicy. I didn't even like those chips 😓
Ben: [heart reacted message: Just…careful with the cuddles man. My bfs claustrophobic. So like…no?]
Ben: we will find something to do :)
Ben: we decided to drive to the next stop

Danni: I will… leave the bottle on the table :)
Danni: Oh, ye I know!
Danni: Ben taught me that word!
Danni: I also have issues with small spaces!
Danni: :D
Danni: So I'll be extra careful with Bennie!
Danni: Yeesh, so much driiiiiiving
Danni: Wait, what chips did you eat??

Chase: Creek Sweet n Spicy.
Chase: He's weak ❤️ (Endearingly)
Chase: is typing

Ben: they were not sweet
Ben: only pain

Danni: Bennie
Danni: Bennie Boi
Danni: BB Benni Boi
Danni: Those are like
Danni: Bottom spicy levels
Danni: Like
Danni: On a scale of 1 - 10
Danni: .05
Danni: Its okay
Danni: I'm here to fix this
Danni: U don't eat a Kingston-Grey's food
Danni: Without enjoying spice
Danni: So we'll getcha there!
Danni: Chaaaaase
Danni: Whats ur address?
Danni: I'll pop a bottle of my hot sauce 2 ur house!
Danni: It'll be delicious!
Danni: Oooo
Danni: Yeees
Danni: I luv the panda sleep shirt!
Danni: Deeef
Danni: !!!
Danni: Its all of us!
Danni: !!!
Danni: Okay, okay, okay
Danni: Most important question
Danni: Ever
Danni: Best & Worst Popcorn flavors
Danni: Go!

Chase: …
Chase: I only like Theatre popcorn with theater butter…

Ben: i just like lightly salted.
Ben: ive not tried much else other than theater popcorn
Ben: but i don't care too much for the butter tbh

Chase: The butter is the best part. Add chocolate in it and it's the best thing since sliced bread. Salty, sweet, what's not to love?
Chase: What about you D-man?

Danni: Pink Gin Popcorn is awful
Danni: My favorite is def caramel corn from the three flavor bucket
Danni: the one with cheddar and plain ones
Danni: Its kinda gross
Danni: In a yummy way!
Danni: Oooooo
Danni: Choco butter popcorn is so gooood
Danni: Theater pops is good
Danni: Whats the drink of choice tho

Ben: coke 💯
Ben: if they have ot cherry coke
Ben: cheese popcorn?????

Chase: See? This is why he is my King. Cherry coke is the right choice unless Blue Razz ICEE is available.

Ben: im gonna regret this
Ben: what is that?

Danni: What is what??
Danni: And yeeees
Danni: Cheddar popcorn!
Danni: Its popcorn + cheddar cheese!
Danni. So goooood
Danni: Idk, ngl Imma kinda a sprite boi
Danni: Its just so refreshing
Danni: And with how heavy popcorn butter is
Danni: It's like
Danni: The perfext balance
Danni: Tho Blue Icee is def the best one
Danni: The rest are kinda
Danni: 😒
Danni: Ya know?
Danni: But ya know the best snack?
Danni: The ones u sneak in
Danni: Current record
Danni: 82 beignets
Danni: I'm aiming for 100 next time
Danni: Huehuehuehuehuehuehue

Chase: How do you?
Chase: How did you?
Chase: 82?!
Chase: Fuck man, that's impressive.

Ben: what is a blue iccee??
Ben: beignets are the best!!
Ben: also that is TOOOOO many
Ben: I eat like four and feel like that’s too much!

Danni: We'll just have to go to the movies
Danni: The you can see my secret techniques
Danni: And it doesn't include the bottomless bag!
Danni: Well.its blue and tastes like blue
Danni: And its a reaaaaally
Danni: Reaaaaally
Danni: Ice-y drink! (Huehuehuehuehuehue)
Danni: They churn it like butter
Danni: And it comes out really silky for like
Danni: 13 minutes
Danni: And then poof
Danni: Crunchy blue drink!
Danni: stains your mouth all blue too!

Ben: unhinged
Ben: I’m down for the movies
Ben: What is bottomless bag?

Chase: Mind if I show him ICEEs before then? Might hit up a sev at some point for gas and I could get us some there.
Chase: …unless you want to be a part of it…
Chase: Then…I could wait. That's cool.
Chase: A bottomless bag is when a top is holding their bottoms purse i think.

Danni: Get the iceeeeees!
Danni: Idk why u gotta wait for me lol
Danni: So good
Danni: u'll love the sugary goooooodness
Danni: What
Danni: Oh!
Danni: Pa gave us bottomless bags one year!
Danni: I can fit like… 75% of my closet in one!
Danni: And its like
Danni: Suitcase sized
Danni: So super portable!
Danni: Makes outfit changing when plans change the best!
Danni: Oooooo
Danni: U should do a red/blue/purple icee photo
Danni: It'd be so cuuuuute
Danni: We could make in ur profile pictures!!!!!
Danni: One has blue, one has red, and like ur banners are purple!!!!

Ben: I am somehow more confused than I was before I asked.
Ben: i still don’t know what a bottomless bag is
Ben: chase, as funny as that is, i don’t think that’s what Danni means
Ben: what banners?

Chase: Clearly Danni didnt find it funny 💔 🥲
Chase: No idea what he's on about though but maybe of this storm clears we can get some ICEEs tomorrow on our way up.
Chase: Clearly Danni doesn't want to be a part of it 😜

Danni: Bottomless = Bigger on the inside!
Danni: And on SM obvi!
Danni: Ya know
Danno: Prof pic is the little one
Danni: Banner is the biiiiig one!
Danni: Silly gooses!
Danni: idk what it meant sooooo
Danni: I liek being included
Danni: But u seemed so saaaaad
Danni: If I made u wait!
Danni: its ur trip & u goes had fun b4 we're all in school
Danni: And we can always get Icees when u come back too!
Danni: Im so exciiiiiited to introduce you to every1!
Danni: they're gunna love u both
Danni: And I'll show u all the fun places round campus
Danni: And the best training room
Danni: And the best place to hang on the roof
Danni: And the tree
Danni: Im so exciiiiiited!

Ben: danni sooo there was a storm
Ben: we had to stop at a hotel
Ben: but
Ben: the only one open was this ski lodge
Ben: [Attachment: photo of the exterior of a ski lodge, snow is coming down enough that it is hard to see beyond it, the lodge is massive, rambling over the mountain side]
Ben: and unfortunately it was very popular
Ben: so there was only room we could book
Ben: [Attachment: photo of a large suite sitting room, including a stairway up to an unseen area, the window in the back shows the snow has not slowed down]

Chase: Oh are we just gonna move past the tree thing? OK cool.
Chase: I'm…not so sure they'll like me.
Chase: Benny Boi sure, they'll love him
Chase: Who wouldn't?
Chase: [Attachment: photo of Ben playing with bugs at one of the previous parks.]
Chase: I mean look at him!

Danni: Wheeelp, I guess I see ur point.
Danni: Ben is sups adorbs, 100%!
Danni: The tree is def sups cool!
Danni: Its haunted!
Danni: Extra fun and spooky!
Danni: So I gotta show you the tree!
Danni: Oooooo
Danni: That's so nice!!!!!
Danni: Thats gunna be a great staaaay!
Danni: The hot tub probs is amazing!
Danni: especially if its super cold and/or outside
Danni: Yeeeeees
Danni: U gotta have a soak for meeeeeeee

Ben: the main pool is heated too
Ben: [Attachment- photo of a large spa solarium there is a long narrow pool that stretches from one end to the other near the windows]

Chase: Tree sounds chill 😎
Chase: Gonna leave my phone in the room to charge
Chase: But I'll definitely be soaking enough for all of us dont worry.

Danni: Ooooooo
Danni: Okay
Danni: Have fuuuuuun
Danni: Do the swimming
Danni: Do the soaking
Danni: Do a little dance!

Avengers Academy: X of Swords ⚔️

The text log of Benjamin Moss & Danni Kingston

DEC 17th - Near Miss 2

Danni: It's ya boi, Danni <3

• Attachment 1 - Danni smiling with a victory pose.
• Attachment 2 - Danni blowing a kiss at the camera.
• Attachment 3 - Danni furiously mixing something in a bowl, frosting across one cheek.

Danni: Idk which one ya want as my contact pic!
Danni: Send me a pic back 4 mine!

Ben changes the contact picture to the victory pose.

Ben: hey! I had fun hanging out, sorry my uncle is a wet blanket.

• Attachment 1 - A selfie of Ben with a moth sitting on his hand.
• Attachment 2 - Ben on his skate board, taken by someone else.
• Attachment 3 - Ben hanging from something concrete, several feet off the ground, taken by someone else.

Danni: Oooo good ones, good ones.
Danni: Idk which to pick.
Danni: Hm, I think the third one.
Danni: Done!
Danni: Mr. Park core!

Ben: I love parkour. Have you ever done it?

Danni: Nooo
Danni: I like to flyyyyyy
Danni: I did gymnastics for a bit
Danni: But I was doing acting and cooking aaaand gymnastics aaaaaaaaaaaaand dance
Danni: So I dropped it tbh
Danni: I still do yoga tho!
Danni: Gotta stay flexi for all my fans!
Danni: And so I can dodge.

Ben: What about skateboarding?
Ben: I could teach you sometime? Parkour is a lot harder to get into. But you can fly so that’s like cheating when it comes to the sport.
Ben: I can’t cook or any of that other stuff
Ben: well I probably could do gymnastics since it is a lot of the same stuff as parkour
Ben: so you’d probably be okay it

Danni: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Danni: YOU WOULD THUNK
Danni: THAT I COULD DO THIS
Danni: WITH ALL MY SKILLS
Danni: BUT
Danni: PICTURE THIS BB
Danni: A THIRTEEN YEAR OLD DANNI
Danni: CUTE AF
Danni: DANCER AND COOK AND SUPERHERO EXTRAIR
Danni: SETTING THINGS ON FIRE
Danni: GOT ON A SKATEBIARD
Danni: AND THN FOUND OUT THAT CONRETE SHOULD NOT HIT YOUR HEAD
Danni: I never tried again 🫠🫠🫠

Ben: Okay I don’t blame you for that.
Ben: but what if I was there?
Ben: to help?
Ben: To catch you?
Ben: you can fly? Are you going to eat pavement again?

Danni: I couldn't always fly.
Danni: That's only in the last year or so.
Danni: Only if you promise to let me hold onto you.
Danni: And promise not to laugh at me.

Ben: you can totally hold onto me! I’ll keep you safe 🙂
Ben: cross my heart! I won’t laugh

Danni: 🥰😇😊🤩🤩
Danni: My life is in your hands then!
DEC 25th - Christmas Day

Ben: merry Christmas! Idk what your fam does for it. Hope you have a good day :)

Danni: OMG, MY SIS WOKE ME UP AT 6AM!!!!!! LIKE, TF?! PLS SEND COFFEE!
Danni: BH is pretty fire today -
[*]Attachment - Danni in his pj's, a little ruffled and sleepy looking, hair all disheveled and sitting in his nest of pillows and blankets, Amélie on her back and snoozing in his lap
Danni: O remind me to tell you what I got for the rents today!!!!
Danni: OMG, yes Merry Christmas!! Tell your Uncle I say hi and I still wanna come over to cook 4 you! <3

Ben: lol, we drink tea here like civilized people.
Attachment - Ben in pj's with a bow stuck to his head.
Ben: had church last night, I'm tired too. But I woke up at 7 am :p
Ben: I got Matt a book about some military history he likes. He got me a new deck. It is decent, but not the same brand I'm used to
Ben: also what does BH mean?

Danni: Anything before 9 is a crime!!
Danni: Heart reacted to “Attachment”
Danni: Omg, that's so cute!
Danni: It's your new contact pic btw
Danni: We def won the kids of the year award.
Danni: We cleaned up a whole island of magic aids.
Danni: Pops actually sobbed.
Danni: I think when we're outta school, the rents might try to rebuild Genosha.
Danni: Pops is kinda obsessing over it.
Danni: brb, Papa is panicking lololol
Danni: He summoned a Christmas ghost! Imma touch it.
Danni: ABORT, ABORT IT IS NOT A CHRISTMAS GHOST, NOT A CHRISTMAS GHDKSBEHSGSJNTNRNSJS
Danni: The ghost is gone now 🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠

Ben: Laugh emoted “It's your new contact pic btw”
Ben: Is touching ghosts something you normally do? Why is there a ghost?
Ben: I’m so confused? What island? Do you mean Genosha? You cleaned it so it is safe again? I’ve heard of Genosha but it wasn’t ever really anything we talked about. My uncle talks about the moon normally.
Ben: I told him you want to come over and cook and he said you could if you want before school starts, but you’re welcome over after school starts on the weekend or something too.
Ben: He is weirdly very happy I’ve got a friend. He seems smug. butthead

Danni: Okay, ghost was only [i]slightly[i] stabby so we gucci!
Danni: Papa can summon ghosts!
Danni: Most of the time, they're nice.
Danni: But sometimes they're not.
Danni: This one was the stabbing kind!
Danni: Yeah! When we made the big glowy guy!
Danni: We did 2 things!
Danni: One - Clean Genosha.
Danni: It's was sup dangy so we fixed that for Christmas!
Danni: Two - I gave everyone on the team a hug!
Danni: It was fun!
Danni: And then I wanted to die.
Danni: So I said no more magic for Danni!
Danni: Okay, bet!
Danni: Imma make my gnocchi soup!
Dannie: When are you free?
Danni: When am I free?
Danni: Uh
Danni: Mmmm
Danni: How about Jan 5?
Danni: When did I get busy?
Danni: Are you happy you made a friend 🥺🥺🥺

Ben: Dude that giant glowy thing was crazy!
Ben: I did not expect you to join it. I didn’t even realize you could until you did!
Ben: You cleaned Genosha from new orleans?
Ben: glad you didn’t die, id be sad and without a friend... that yes, I am happy I met :3
Ben: Matt said Jan 5th works!

Danni: No, yeah
Danni: I was sups easy!
Danni: 🥰🤩😜😍🤩🥰
Danni: Yay!
Danni: Peeeerf!!!! I’ll let the rents know!!!!

Ben: sweet looking forward to it!
DEC 26th - Ben meets Chase & Marlena

Ben: okay your right. I met two people at the skate park.

Danni: HDVSJEBHDUSUSISJNS
Danni: OMG, for real?! I said it, right?! Total movie moment!
Danni: Group pics or it didn't happen! *grabby hands*

Ben: We already parted ways. Later I guess. I wasn’t texting around them we were skating and chatting.

Danni: 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Ben: Sorry! I’ll get a pic next time I see them. They both like skating a bunch and we plan on going more. I swear.
Ben: Also they are both going to go school with us, so you’ll def meet them.
Ben: Chase and I are talking about going on a camping trip.
Ben: I’ve never even camped before. What do I do for that?
Ben: The other person, is Marlena. She’s got tk and is sick as hell with her board. Like I bet she was good before she got powers but now she can do insane tricks.

Danni: Ooooh!
Danni: They sound fun!
Danni: You have to let me meet them then!
Danni: Its the winter carnival too!
Danni: I can hang with you!
Danni: Cause Dee and Spicy are proba gunna be couple.
Danni: Rillie might be hanging off someone's arm.
Dannie: Beanie and Leah's be doing couple stuff.
Danni: Oh! I can bring Andy
Danni: Huh, she might be with America.
Danni: If they're done with Mother and all that.
Danni: Huh
Danni: Whelp, guess you're stuck with me and maybe Andy!

Ben: A carnival sounds fun!
Ben: Yeah! I’ll introduce you at the carnival/school!
Ben: who is andy? Mother?

Danni: Yaaaaas! More friends!
Danni: I love friends <3
Danni: Andy did all the electric stuff in the contest!
Danni: Mother is… idk some sort of entity that Young Avengers have to deal with.
Danni: I was more worried about hugging everyone than diving into that mess, yikes.

Ben: Oh yeah I remember her
Ben: she seems intense???
Ben: okay, nothing i have to worry about hten

Danni: Naaaaaah
Danni: Nth ya need to care bout.
Danni: They know ta ask if they need help!
Danni: Andy's a sweety. Just a little behind the times
Danni: 🤣🤣💤💤⏰️⏰️🤣🤣

Ben: *sigh of relief!*
Ben: I am not hero material.
Ben: I’m barely material
Ben: alright, willing to hang and meet Andy then

Danni: You are!
Danni: Everyone is hero material.
Danni: They just have to put in the work!
Danni: Yay!!! Looking forward to it!!!! 🎉🪅🎉🪅

Ben: ehhhh we’ll see about that

DEC 28th - Danni’s multiverse photoshoot

Danni: [Photos of America and Andy surfing through the sky and Andy falling]
Danni: [Photos of Danni and Eli surfing on the aurora]
Danni: Heeeeeeeeey
Danni: Looks what I diiiid
Danni: I skated!
Danni: Well
Danni: Eli def did most of the skating
Danni: But it counts!

Ben: bloody hell that looks cool!
Ben: where?
Ben: how?
Ben: wait... is the one falling okay???

Danni: (Selfie of Andy and Danni in the snow after the fall making snow angels)
Danni: Yes!
Danni: Apparently Andy can take a beating!
Danni: I freaked too when she hit the ground.
Danni: Deeeef thought ‘merica or me could catch her
Danni: Spoiler - we could not
Danni: Buuut its in a different dimension!
Danni: Did a dimensional photoshoot
Danni: And American brought us here for the winter part
Danni: I have so many pictures across a bunch of them!
Danni: We did beaches, we did a real fancy place (idr what they called it), super fun
Danni: Bit they got thisz rod that os a board and you fly in the sky!

Ben: good, glad she's okay
Ben: andy is the lighting one?
Ben: no wonder she did so good in the contest
Ben: though she didn't even get hit often
Ben: that sounds like a ton of fun 😁
Ben: keep sending photos! I wanna see everything

Danni: ooooh
Danni: (Photo of Eli and Danni, wearing orange and white speedos)
Danni: hehehehe
Danni: I got Eli to match with me
Danni: america fgo Eli to wear it
Danni: She snuck it into his luggage
Danni: (Photo of America and Andy playing in green water)
Danni: the ocean was green Af man, safe tho!
Danni: V. warm water
Danni: Like real nice, real comfy
Danni: (Photo of Danni on Eli’s shoulders, grappling Andy on America’s)
Danni: I…
Danni: I am not a stronk
Danni: I lost right after that
Danni: (Photo of Danni spiking a volleyball from 30ft in the air)
Danni: We did win that round of volleyball but uuuuh
Danni: It was determined flying was banned
Danni: 🙂🫣🥲

Ben: that looks like a blast!
Ben: yeahhhh flying feels like cheating lol
Ben: especially if the others can't fly
Ben: anybody going against the person who broke America's leg is probably gonna lose if that's her default

Danni: Its noooot!
Danni: Andy's a sweet pea!
Danni: Breaking a leg is not the norm
Danni: I proooomise
Danni: (Photo of the four of them in Letterman jackets)
Danni: This was a pretty place!
Danni: Their leaves were super, super pretty!
Danni: (Photo of Danni and Andy doing Victory poses on Eli and America's shoulders)

Ben: glad to hear that lol
Ben: i wouldn’t want my leg broken
Ben: not that I have any intention of fighting andy
Ben: or anyone from your team
Ben: they all intimidate me 🙂
Ben: wicked cool! All of it!

Danni: (Photo of The Multiverse Squad, done in their punk and goth outfits)
Danni: I was v. Proud of the makeup in these shots
Danni: God, I love a good punk look
Danni: Like the goth is nice
Danni: but punk?
Danni: Stick a fork in me
Danni: I'm done

Ben: you all look great
Ben: in general that looks fun
Ben: maybe someday we can do something similar?

Danni: You wanna do a photoshoot with me?!
Danni: 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩
Danni: I'm so down
Danni: I already have so many ideas for us
Danni:And O can do some lookin into London styles
Danni: Omg omg omg yeeeees

Ben: sure!
Ben: auper down!
Ben: if we go to London too I can show you the best spots

Danni: Omg, yaaaaas
Danni: Whats ur fav place in London?
Danni: Omg - I need to get you in an expedition outfit and we need bugs for a photoshoot
Danni: Is there a bug museum in London?
Danni: Are there bug museums?
Danni: Hm
Danni: I gotta look into that
Danni: You'd look adorable
Danni: I'll have to get matching outfit
Danni: Idk what that would be
Danni: I'll ask Papa, he can do it
Danni: Do you have tall boots????
Danni: Whats ur shoe size?

Ben: there are natural history museums
Ben: those have sections about bugs
Ben: there are also live bugs at zoos and special places
Ben: lol sure if you want to do that
Ben: no i don't
Ben: size 8 (kirah is guessing at shoe size)

Danni: Great!
Danni: That's how we start!
Danni: And we'll get you those cool tall explorer boots
Danni: Hm - maybe I'll also do exploration
Danni: Maybe the damsel
Danni: Idk yet!
Danni: But we xan get photos of you with the bugs
Danni: And the bugs can be on you!
Danni: ooooh
Danni: Maybe u can get them to fly around ypu
Danni: It'll never such a cool shot!

Ben: I’m sure I can get the bugs to fly around, that’s easy
Ben: we can figure it out
Ben: I’m excited!

Danni: Saaaaame
Danni: You gotta take me on all the touristy stuff
Danni: And then the not touristy stuff, u know?
Danni: Like, the super secret local stuff that tourists dont know
Danni: Cause I wanna know!

Ben: Absolutely!
Between christmas and Jan 1st

Ben: Chase and I are planning on going camping but it might conflict with our plans 🙁😭

Danni: Wait, wha???
Danni: But we made plans???
Danni: Are you canceling?
Danni: On me?!
Danni: 😱😱🤢🤢🤮🤮😵😵💀💀👻👻

Ben: I’M SORRY! zo/ 🙏
Ben: don’t call it canceling
Ben: call it rain check?
Ben: unless you’re available before new years?
Ben: it’s been so hard to convince my uncle to let me go
Ben: but because the holiday is over he is cracking I can see it
Ben: He started giving me rules which basically means it’ll happen
Ben: I just don’t know what day we’ll leave yet

Danni: 😡😤😡😤😡😤😡😤😡
Danni: 😵‍💫😭😢😭😱🥺🥺😢😭
Danni: 💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔
Danni: Um.
Danni: k.

Ben: Ahhhhhhhh
Ben: Please don’t hate me!
Ben: I know this is like a pet peeve of yours
Ben: How about this
Ben: In exchange for every day I’m gone with chase, I promise you a day of whatever you want to do?
Ben: I mean literally whatever
Ben: I don’t care if you want to go to a spider museum where there is only spiders and they crawl on you
Ben: I mean I do care, please don’t ask that of me, but I will if you’ll forgive me

Danni:...
Danni:....
Danni:......
Danni: And I get to cash them in whenever?
Danni: Do I have to cash them in all at the same time?
Danni: How many days?

Ben: you can cash them whenever, anytime.
Ben: as many days as I have for camping with chase.
Ben: I expect it’ll be like 10

Danni: …
Danni: ….
Danni: …..
Danni: Anything I want?
Danni: So if I want to spend all day shopping, you'll come?
Danni: If I want to spend all day sitting inside and reading, you'll do it?
Danni: If I want to hop six countries in a day just for snacks, you'll come?
Danni: Miss me with those museums.
Danni: Snooze fest.

Ben: yes anything
Ben: shopping, sure
Ben: I don’t sit still well, but sure
Ben: okay, that sounds fun I’m 100% in for that, especially if we hit up london
Ben: I can introduce you to the best food from home 🙂

Danni: Hm.
Danni: I guess that's fine.
Danni: Still not happy but
Danni: We're picking a new date right now.
Danni And you're not allowed to cancel again.
Danni: You're forgiven once we have the date.
Danni: When are you coming back?
Danni: And I don't sit still either
Danni: Makes me kinda achey
Danni: 🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠
Danni: Unless Im sleeping
Danni: I love sleeping!

Ben: I like ready so honestly it is fine, I just don’t like sitting still lol
Ben: matt says I have to be back the friday before school starts
Ben: matt says he needs time to have a search party if i don’t come back
Ben: as if i’m not giving him daily updates of where I am 🙄
Ben: so we can do that weekend??

Danni: Omg that sounds like my Pops.
Danni: We have these family bracelets
Danni: Super cute, has the family like symbol right?
Danni: Like alerts the rents when we're in danger
Danni: So we're getting tracked all the time
Danni: which like fine, cause I travel everywhere whenever I want
Danni: But I get it
Danni: How about… the 13th?
Danni: Gives you a whole day to chill?
Danni: And then you can have some hearty gnocchi soup!
Danni: v. Rejuvenating
Danni: Imma make little cards
Danni: They're gunna be my coupons :)

Ben: I guess my phone location isn't any different
Ben: the 13th works for us!
Ben: looking forward to it
Ben: omg that's hilarious 😂 love it

Danni: 🎉🪅🥳🥰
JAN. 2nd - Ben and Chase leave for bug hunting

Ben: I convinced Matt! Chase and I are going to go camping!

Danni: Yaaas queen! Live ya life!
Danni: Wait, what's the fit?
Danni: WAIT WAIT DON'T FORGET THE BEAR CHALK!

Ben: Is this okay? I don’t know what to wear camping?
Attachment 1 - photo of Ben, wearing jeans and a t-shirt with an unbuttoned button up layered over
Ben: WHT IS BEAR CHALK?

Danni: The chalk
Danni: To keep the bears away!
Danni: I heard they can't cross chalk circles.
Danni: So like, draw one on the ground and stand inside!
Danni: Heart emoted “Attachment 1”
Danni: Or sick the bugs on them.
Danni: There is gunna be lots of bugs.
Danni: Probably.
Danni: Tbh, idk cause we always stay in cabins.
Danni: Or lodges.
Danni: Wait, what lodge are you staying in?

Ben: I think we have a tent?
Ben: I do not think that is how bears work....
Ben: Do you think if I swarm a bear with bugs it’ll go away?
Ben: are there bees in a forest?
Ben: we are going to more than one national park so we aren’t staying anywhere

Danni: ☠️☠️☠️☠️💀💀💀💀
Danni: Tent?
Danni: Like
Danni: One the ground???
Danni: Couldn't be me.
Danni: Isn't that what bees do?
Danni: When bears want honey?
Danni: It should work???
Danni: Idk bout bees tbh
Danni: Bring chalk just in case!!!

Ben: Fine I’ll pack chalk... if i can find any
Ben: Matt says there is no such thing as bear chalk, he said there is bear mace. We don’t have any.
Ben: I’ll pick some up at the park, they’ve got to sell it right? If it is an issue.
Ben: I’ve never stayed in a tent before. I’ve never camped at all. I’m kind of excited.

Danni: Your Uncle is on thin ice.
Danni: Bear chalk is def a thing.
Danni: I saw it on TV!
Danni: But I don't know about tents.
Danni: We always stay in AC when we are outside.
Danni: Only Pops can handle the heat like that
Danni: Or the cold.
Danni: Or anything really.

Ben: LOL I’ll tell him
Ben: it is the middle of winter, how hot can it be? Or cold? It is california how cold does it get here?
Ben: how do you have AC outside? Or do you just mean like at hotels?
Ben: cant your ... max (?) teleport? Do you actually stay places?

Danni: Yeah, Pa can port us all over!
Danni: But, yeah we stay in places.
Danni: We got to skin lodges
Danni: Hotels
Danni: Adorable cottages in the woods
Danni: Cause like, what if we wanna do more than just that?
Danni: Why port home when you want ta feel that sweet, sweet experieance, ya know?

Ben: But your own bed?
Ben: I’ve never skied, i could probably snowboard smae muscles!
Ben: you know the difference between a cottage in the woods and a cabin in the woods is a serial killer right?

Danni: Why would someone kill ceral? Seems wierd.
Danni: Jk, Jk!
Danni: I'm just being silly!
Danni: I would feel so bad for a serial killer.
Danni: Once, Pa took the kids on a vacation without telling anyone.
Danni: Middle of the mountains.
Danni: No cell signal (brutal AF btw)
Danni: Baaarely electricity.
Danni: Fireplace.
Danni: Beautiful shots.
Danni: Pops found us.
Danni: Three days, broke in, held Pa at gun point before he realized it was Pa.
Danni: I think if we ran into a serial killer
Danni: I'd probably just laugh, tbh.
Danni: Oh! Snowboarding looks scary, tbh.
Danni: Like, just a single board? Spooooked.

Ben: Why didn’t your Pa tell anyone?
Ben: That alone seems insane
Ben: I mean my parents never took me alone
Ben: okay maybe to like grandparents places
Ben: i don’t think my dads parents liked my mom a lot, but the died when I was little sooooo 🤷
Ben: my mom’s parents liked my dad
Ben: After you learn skateboarding snowboarding will be easy!

Danni: 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♀️🤔🤔🤔😶‍🌫️
Danni: Idk tbh
Danni: Sups last minute?
Danni: Just wanted ta hang with the kids?
Danni: Idk man
Danni: Im just here for a good time
Danni: Says the skateboarding champ
Danni: Soooooo easy
Danni: Not face in the snow
Danni: Def not that
Danni: You gotta let me hold onto ya
Danni: and not laugh.
Danni: Def don’t laugh!

Ben: you did the foil thing
Ben: in the air!
Ben: you can handle a little snow 😀
Ben: You’ve got the balance for it
Ben: Also def not a champ lol
Ben: I do alright

Danni: No, no
Danni: I tried the foil thing
Danni: I tipped it out of the lights
Danni: And I had to fly down and grab it
Danni: 😭😭😭😭😭
Danni: Plus Andy and Eli spooked my a little
Danni: I was reaaally highly
Danni: They don't fly so if they slipped
Danni: I have noodle arms Ben, nooodle arms
Danni: How am I supposed to catch people and fly them down?!
Danni: Okay, actually not that noodly.
Danni: I'm just used to being near Leah
Danni: They made her out of mountains and tree trunks btw
Danni: True fact

Ben: Attachment - [photo of Ben in front of a sinclair dino]
Ben: You’ll be *fine*
Ben: a little snow never hurt anyone
Ben: pavement is way harder
Ben: it hurts a lot more to hit pavement
Ben: you wouldn’t be flying
Ben: alright, well I’ve never even snowboarded so i don’t actually know
Ben: but it cant be worse

Danni: Aw, so cute!
Danni: What's the dino's name?
Danni: And I've fallen in snow!
Danni: I ski, I haaave to have fallen
Danni: And hitting pavement
Danni: Feels a lot like Leah punching you in training
Danni: And smyou knahsowhskwbahsjsns
Danni: ajshushajajahahshshs
Danni: dhaijahsisbshsbasaa
Danni: Attachment - Amélie looking smug where her head was poking out of Danni's shirt Danni clearly on the ground
Danni: Amélie decided it was loving her hour
Danni: 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Ben: Sinclair? Idk 🤷‍♂️
Ben: snow is better than pavement I've got the scars to prove it
Ben: omg she so stinking cute
Ben: okay so chase was a bit jealous I was texting you during our trip but I talked with him about it.
Ben: he wants us three to have dinner together sometime to get to know each other
Ben: is that okay?
Ben: i told him after school starts.

Danni: Yeah, she is 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Danni: Chase was jelly?
Danni: 😏😏😏😏
Danni: But def down!
Danni: Idk if you can tell but
Danni: I like making friends!
Danni: The more the merrier!
Danni: 🥳🥳🥳🥳
Danni: Wait
Danni: Aren’t I meeting him on day 1???
Danni: The carnival?

Ben: yeah I'll introduce you then
Ben: but like just the three of us hanging out.
Ben: he seems interested in wanting to try your cooking??
Ben: do you want to di that?

Danni: Benni Boi.
Danni: Buggie Ben.
Danni: Bb Boi Ben
Danni: I
Danni: love
Danni: cooking
Danni: You whisper my name three times in front of the stove
Danni: BAM
Danni: I'm there.
Danni: I was not joking about making lunch for ypu
Danni: Just lmk when!
Danni: Just don't ask me to bake
Danni: I will blow up the kitchen
Danni: Well known fact
Danni: And cleaning
Danni: I do hate washing dishes
Danni: 🥰🥰🥰🥰

Ben: eww dishes
Ben: maybe chase will do the dishes
Ben: we'll figure it out

Danni: 🎉🪅🥳🎉🪅🥳
Danni: Yes, get him to do them!
JAN. 3rd - Danni gets a piercing

Danni: Attachment 1 - [i]Danni wearing a crop top and cargo pants, a new piercing in his belly button.[i]
Danni - Look who got some new steeeeeeel.

Ben: OMG that is awesome!
Ben: Where did you go fot that?

Danni: Papa's tat shop!
Danni: Pops healed it so no redness! No swelling!
Danni: It's great!
Danni: My first piercing!
Danni: Thinking about getting more but Pops was stressi about this one.

Ben: Oh shit that’s cool!
Ben: having parents that can heal you of anything has to be the best
Ben: i bet you never got sick, ever
Ben: so even though he could heal it right away he was stressed? Crazy

Danni: Oh Pops is super stressy bout safety.
Danni: Doesn't matter what it is.
Danni: And nope!
Danni: No colds, no flu, no nothing!
Danni: Broke my arm once.
Danni: Pops fixed it in less than a minute.
Danni: Got yelled at for an hour though.
Danni: Especially when Appa started tag teaming.
Danni: Uuuuuuhh, naggy.
Danni: Love them tho!
Danni: Pops'll help anyone out if they're hurt tho.
Danni: So like lmk if you're hurt
Danni: I can get ya to him!
Danni: He runs a clinic for everyone.
Danni: Doesn't turn anyone away, flatscan, mutant, alien, etc.
Danni: Even some not so good people.
Danni: But he doesn't let us see them!
Danni: So unfair.

Ben: hope he doesn’t turn aliens away :p
Ben: that’s cool though, like my dad, trying to help in different ways
Ben: how did you break your arm?
Ben: i broke mine on my board once, and then i broke my foot when I was first learning parkour

Danni: You broke your foot?!
Danni: And you didn't have no one to help?!
Danni: How did you handle that?!
Danni: That must have been terrible?!
Danni: I was trying to be Sea-Hawk and set our cardboard boat on fire and then jumped out!
Danni: Didn't realize I was jumping out a window.
Danni: From upstairs.
Danni: 😁

Ben: My mates called my mum
Ben: She came to pick me up and take me to a hospital
Ben: i passed out. For like a minute. It hurt so much
Ben: that’s not too bad, it is the landing that matters, which i guess you messed up
Ben: ic an show you how to land right

Danni: Pls
Danni: Now that Im flying more
Danni: Pops wants to start training on falls
Danni: Its gonna be brutal
Danni: But if I get early tip, maybe I can get off easier
Danni: Pls send help

Ben: I will help!
Ben: I’m good at taking falls.
Ben: it is all about how you let the impact flow through you.

Danni: Yeeeees. We can do training after school!
Danni: At least when I don't have a tutor.
Danni: And club.
Danni: And videos.
Danni: Maybe I'll skip the tutor.
Danni: No, I'll get yelled at.
Danni: Do you have your training schedule yet?
Danni: Probs not.
Danni: We can link up our training schedule at some point

Ben: lol I have no idea!
Ben: I signed up for classes, but i don’t know the schedule really
Ben: Attachment - [photo of class schedule:
Traditional
1 - Algebra
2 - English
3 - Computers
4 - Environmental Science
Superheroics
1- Alien Civilizations
2- Combat 101
3- History of Superpowers
4- Practical Emergency Medicine]
Ben: do we have classes together?

Danni: Uuuuhh
Danni: UUUUUHH
Danni: Def know my schedule
Danni: 🫣🫣🫣🫣🫣
Danni: Listen I forget it like immediately
Danni: Dee normally carries it around
Danni: And just reminds me where to go
Danni: I get distracted v. Easy
Danni: Uuuuuuh
Danni: Attachment - photo of class schedule:
Traditional
1 - Stage Craft
2 - Intro to Film Studies
3 - Psychology
4 - Art History
Superheroics
1- Crisis & Disaster Management
2- Combat 301
3- Crime Scene Investigation
4- Elemental Manipulation
Danni: Found it!
Danni: Noooooo
Danni: Dang
Danni; Guess you're gonna have to hangout after class!
Danni: So terrible for you lol
Danni: Oooh are you thinking about joining any clubs?

Ben: damn really?
Ben: no classes togehter
Ben: that sucks
Ben: i guess that makes sense
Ben: i am a freshman
Ben: wait
Ben: how old are you?
Ben: im 14
Ben: when is your bday?
Ben: Sept. 10
Ben: is there an entomology club?
Ben: if not
Ben: what club are you in?

Danni: 🫠😭😵‍💫
Danni: 17 - July 19th
Danni: Summer bb right here!
Danni: idk
Danni: What is that?
Danni: Entmology
Danni: Sounds sciency!
Danni: Home Ec!
Danni: I do cooking there!
Danni: My ex likes to sew so he still chills around.
Danni: The girls and us all sit around gossiping!
Danni: So fun, 10/10 would recommend!
Danni: I'll let you know when I'm going to club - you can come over and get dinner.
Danni: Home cooked meal is better than the dining hall any day!
Danni: Tho, I smuggled in an electric stove to the dorm too hehe he.
Danni: I make lunch for Rillie and Dee sometimes
Danni: So hit me up!

Ben: [shock emoji to message ‘17 - July 19th’]
Ben: I’ll save it in my calandear I will 100% forget if I don’t
Ben: the study of bugs! Lol
Ben: ehhhh idk about home ec
Ben: i’ll think about it
Ben: what are the other clubs? If you know

Danni: Wow, not even cumin round for my cooking (hehe, cumin get it? Like the spice?)
Danni: Uh, there are all the sports balls clubs
Danni: AV
Danni: Uh, Pride
Danni: Some political ones that I avoid
Danni: I think a film club???
Danni: Some of my film friends go
Danni: I think there is a DND one?
Danni: Which was confusing because people call Dee and me D&D so I got confused all the time
Danni: I can send you a link?
Danni: I think the school site has them
Danni: Link - Margaret Institute Clubs
Danni: Like which one you join!
Danni: I'll come visit sometime!
Danni: Wait, why shocked?!
Danni: OMG do I look old????
Danni: 😭😵‍💫😭😱😱💀

Ben: i thought you were my age!
Ben: I'll look when I'm back
Ben: ..maybe pride? Idk
Ben: I've never played dnd

Danni: Omg, D&D is do fun!
Danni: Time consuming 😭😭😭
Danni: Played with the fam
Danni: I'd say lets do a game but
Danni: Time ya know
Danni: Aw, you thought I was 14?
Danni: Means I'll b young 4ever!

Ben: yeah lol 😆

JAN 4th - mid afternoon

Ben: Attachment- several photos of the view from beetle rock in Sequoia National park

Danni: OMG OMG OMG
Danni: These are soooo good!
Danni: There are so many treeeeees!
Danni: Looks cold tho
Danni: How are the bugs?
Danni: Do bugs like cold?

Ben: a lot of bugs are sort of hibernating right now
Ben: that is def not the right way to explain it
Ben: but they aren’t very active
Ben: Most beetles are
Ben: there are ton of beetles here!
Ben: Attachment - several photos of various insects on his hand
Ben: it is very cold
Ben: we got a hotel because we could not sleep outside in the snow lol
Ben: this has been such a fun trip though! I’m having so much fun 🙂

Danni: Omg, they're on you?!
Danni: That's wild.
Danni: Omg, bugs hibernate?
Danni: Damn, I wanna be a bug.
Danni: All curled up
Danni: Snug in a rug
Danni: Sleeping for the season
Danni: See? Gotta have the glamping experience
Danni: But yay fun!
Danni: Whats the best part so far??????? Tell me!

Ben: I knew I shouldn’t have said hibernate
Ben: that isn’t what is really happening
Ben: it has more to do with their life cycle
Ben: it is why mosquitos aren’t as common during the winter/cold months
Ben: I don’t know if a hotel is considered glamping lol, but it has been nice
Ben: this might be stupid, but I’ve just enjoyed spending time with chase
Ben: he’s cool and thoughtful like this whole trip is cool af
Ben: Idk otherwise i’d say it is the insects
Ben: ive gotten to see some ive never seen before
Ben: and he got me a little tank so I rescued one, he lost his wing
Ben: Attachment - photo of a beetle in a little tank with some grass and sticks

Danni: Oooo!
Danni: What's the beetle's name?
Danni: Wait
Danni: They don't hibernate?!
Danni: Nooooo
Danni: You cant take thia away from me!
Danni: And yeah
Danni: I getcha
Danni: I love spending time with friends!
Danni: And look at you
Danni: All grown up
Danni: Making friends with people
Danni: At the skate park
Danni: Like a movie!
Danni: See! I knew ya coul d do it!

Ben: lol thx
Ben: it is like a movie
Ben: a little weird
Ben: but cool right?
Ben: no name yet
Ben: any ideas?

Danni: Def!
Danni: I wanna live in a movie
Danni: Like
Danni: All the cool stuff
Danni: and the spooky stuff
Danni: It'd be super fun!
Danni: I think
Danni: Titan
Danni: Clicky
Danni: Herbert
Danni: Once
Danni: One of those!

Ben: I like titan!
Ben: that’s a good name
Ben: though herbert is too tbh damn
Ben: hmmm
Ben: yeah i’ll go titan
Ben: weird q?

Danni: It a normie q tho

Ben: idk what that means
Ben: i was just wondering if you knew what claustrophobia is?

Danni: uuuuuh
Danni: UUUUUH
Danni: an intense, irrational fear of being in enclosed spaces, leading to anxiety and panic attacks
Danni: I know, I know
Danni: I'm so smart
Danni: Don't look at the search tab
Danni: :)
Danni: I do now!
Danni: why, what up?

Ben: [laugh reacted message: Don't look at the search tab]
Ben: okay
Ben: so...
Ben: i think i have that?

Danni: Oh!
Danni: You think…
Danni: Wait
Danni: Like you found out?
Danni: omg!!!!!
Danni: R u okay?
Danni: like
Danni: How didnyou find that's out?

Ben: im fine
Ben: i just had a weird episode
Ben: chase and I talked about it
Ben: and from the list of things that bother me
Ben: it sort of makes sense i guess
Ben: like i don’t like being the car
Ben: there is like this hmm
Ben: pit that opens up
Ben: and i feel like i’m going to be swallowed
Ben: or crushed
Ben: idk
Ben: but it goes as far back as i can remember
Ben: it is weird idk

Danni: Yeah
Danni: That makes sense!
Danni: I mean tbh small places are spooky
Danni: Like, I woke up in a jar once
Danni: Immediately set everything on fire
Danni: It felt like it was like
Danni: Crushing me, ya know?
Danni: Real hard to breath!
Danni: Def why I made the rents gimme the big room
Danni: And keep my bedroom dor open
Danni: Ooooh or if you get in like a storage closet
Danni: Nad the door shuts behind you
Danni: Lemme tell you
Danni: I cried for like
Danni: 3 hours
Danni: I slept in my rents bed flr daaaays cause of the nightmares
Danni: Thnx God I was only 12 - no fire yet!

Ben: You woke up in a jar?????
Ben: was that a dream?
Ben: or like really really?
Ben: and yeah i get it
Ben: ew closets lol

Danni: On no
Danni: That was real.
Danni: When Cadie went cray cray
Danni: And tried ta murder us!
Danni: In video gaaaames
Danni: I woke up in the jar
Danni: And it was def spooky
Danni: But I was brave and only cried for five minutes!
Danni: I am also terrified of snakes
Danni: Like
Danni: I will scream
Danni: And cry
Danni: And give up on life
Danni: I know people like ‘em
Danni: But if one ever touches me
Danni: Three things will happen:
Danni: I will.scream
Danni: I will peel.off all my skin
Danni: I will set everything around me on fire
Danni: Tbh, the first time I ever remember going to a zoo
Danni: I freaked out so bad I passed out
Danni: When they took us to the snakes
Danni: Like, no never pls

Ben: cadie?????
Ben: someone tried to kill you???
Ben: you cannot just glaze over that at all
Ben: snakes are fine imo, but i prefer insects.
Ben: no issue with insects right?
Ben: spiders don’t count, those are ick!

Danni: Oh yeah!
Danni: We went to train
Danni: Cadie hacked the training room
Danni: Logged in to the v-rooms
Danni: And he turned it into death games!
Danni: So we super lost (and died)
Danni: And then timey-wimey stuff
Danni: And we won!
Danni: I mean buggies are kinda chill?
Danni: Like pls not my room
Danni: They stay outside, I stay inside
Danni: And we can vibe!
Danni: like they're pretty (some)
Danni: But I dont wanna share my facial stuff ya know?

Ben: that is bloody wild!
Ben: you died????
Ben: wahhhat???
Ben: oka, but they’ll be in my room?
Ben: i have some buddies I care for like titan
Ben: you won’t have to share space with them
Ben: i’ll keep them at bay for you 🙂

Danni: My hero!!
Danni: 🥳🎉🥰😍
Danni: Idk tbh, tho
Danni: Different timeline?
Danni: Who are ur buggies?
Danni: Did ya name them?
Danni: Or they just vibings w/ u

Ben: lol
Ben: oh okay, sure that makes sense
Ben: I’ll send you some photos later of them
Ben: ive got a few
Ben: they all have their own habitats
Ben: yeah they are named
Ben: theyre all at home tho

Danni: Laaaaame
Danni: Why don't you carry them around?
Danni: I carry Amélie around
Danni: Mostly cause she screams when I dont
Danni: Do bugs not scream when you leave them?

Ben: bugs aren't as needy lol
Ben: if they do... no one else hears it but me

Dann:😱😱😱
Danni: So spooky
Danni: 10/10 real good movie line
Danni: No one will hear you scream but me
Danni: And then evil laugh
Danni: 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Ben: lol
Ben: id never be mean to bugs though
Ben: they don't deserve it
Ben: 🥺 don't hurt the bugs

Danni: Why would I hurt the bugs?!
Danni: Can bugs scream?
Danni: Ooooo, we should get ice cream actually
Danni: I'll bring hirtcha ice cream when I come over to cook!!!
Danni: Wait - you liek ice cream right?

Ben: who doesn't like ice cream???
Ben: yes bring ice cream 💯

Danni: 😍🎉🥳🎉😍🎉🥳

JAN 6th

Ben: attachment: photos of a water fall, and more insects

Danni: Oooo
Danni: Did you go under the waterfall?
Danni: Maybe there is a secret caaaave
Danni: And secret adventure!
Danni: You know
Danni: Didn't realize how many types of bugs there are until now
Danni: Or how different that all looked?
Danni: Def through someone got a cookie cutter and said this is bug
Danni: Made a bazillion of them lolololol

Ben: insects make up most of the creatures on the planet
Ben: mammals are like 14%
Ben: and insects are basically everything else
Ben: (this is a reduction of a fact it is way more nuanced than that)
Ben: even individuals look different within a species
Ben: and not def didn't go into the almost frozen water
Ben: the fact that the water is flowing and not ice is only because it isn't actually freezing
Ben: the water though is wayyy to cold
Ben: unless you're one of those weirdos who likes to be ice cold water
Ben: no thank you

Danni: OMG its cold there
Danni: Its not cold here
Danni: Its like…. 71
Danni: So I guess that means
Danni: Yeah, water is probs cold
Danni: Miss me with that noise
Danni: No tanks
Danni: Love me the sun
Danni: Love me the heat
Danni: I do not want to freeeeeze
Danni: Why are there so maaaaaany?
Danni: Teach me the mystery of the bazillion bugs
Danni: Actually
Danni: Wanna see something kinda funny?
Danni: (Picture of April and Danni, flushed and sweaty with Danni pressing a bruise to the icy floor. April is clearly trying not to laugh)
Danni: Absolutely bit it yesterday in training
Danni: Working on a combo move with Rillie
Danni: THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME SHE WIPED ME OUT
Danni: THE ADICY
Danni: But it was fun
Danni: Do you ice skate?
Danni: Omg, do bugs ice skate?
Danni: Can we make then little booties?!

Ben: oof! Did you Pops (did i get that right? James) did he heal you?
Ben: i guess water beats fire lol
Ben: ive gone a few times
Ben: my uncle is really into hockey
Ben: been playing it for a million years
Ben: so he takes me to practice and I can skate during laps and stuff
Ben: i am not good
Ben: i don't think they do????
Ben: most bugs don't like the cold that much
Ben: I'll happily teach you about insects!!
Ben: you can try to make the booties lol 😆
Ben: I've got to see this now

Danni: Ye, thats Pops!
Danni: And course he did.
Danni: He's v. Intense bout that stuff
Danni: Use to be check in before bed, check in during breaki, check in when he passed us
Danni: We should go ice skating g some time!
Danni: I am also not good lolololl
Danni: I get cold reaaaaaaaaal fast
Danni: Beeeet
Danni: Gotta make the booties
Danni: You teach them to skate!
Danni: whats the best bug for this????????

Ben: your folks are very protective
Ben: Yes! We should!
Ben: at least we both arent good
Ben: aren’t you like your own personal heater?
Ben: how do you get cold???
Ben: hmmm. Maybe a water strider
Ben: Link to wiki: water strider

Danni: >.>
Danni: <.<
Danni: Benni Boi
Danni: Bb Bug
Danni: Thats a lot a reading
Danni: I can't read all that at once!
Danni: I need picture books - thats so looooong
Danni: Do you have a water strider.
Danni: Do you know where to get one?
Danni: How big are their little feetsies?
Danni: And sups easy.
Danni: I cant use fire if Im on ice
Danni: I might melt it!!!!
Danni: And that would ruin eeeeeeeeveything
Danni: Its fine, I'll just cliiiiing
Danni: I'll be like a barnifal

Ben: YOU SAID YOU LIKE TO READ!? Lol
Ben: Sighhhhhhh
Ben: No I don’t have one, but I do know where to get them
Ben: tiny tiny feet, little nubs at the end of long legs
Ben: helps them with water tension
Ben: something you should learn if you wanna beat April 🙂
Ben: Also, something I want to tell you.
Ben: attachment: photo of Ben and Chase holding each other in front of the waterfall
Ben: chase asked me out
Ben: i said yes

Danni: Why would I wanna beat Ri
Danni: WOSHSJSSAHSUEYE6SNSKSN
Danni: SAUNNA BOI?!
Danni: CHASE IS SAUNNA BOI?!
Danni: WOW YOUR BOYFRIEND IS A PUNK
Danni: AND OWES ME A SAUNA HANGOUT
Danni: You two are cute, 10/10, you can't get rid of me just remember XOXOX
Danni: BUT YOU BETTER TELL HIM HE OWES ME A SAUNA TRIP

Ben: Sauna boi?
Ben: i met him at a skate park...well not actually i met him at the contest first
Ben: i’ll tell him
Ben: thanks
Ben: yeah i told him we were friends and I wouldn’t ruin that. He agreed the three of us can hang out. We won’t leave you behind okay.

Danni: OMG ITS TOTALLY A MOVIE
Danni: Hehehehehehee
Danni: Love at first sight at the skatepark
Danni: You're welxome
Danni: I take thanks in chocolate and friendship :)
Danni: Omg
Danni: U-haul much?!?!
Danni: And you couldn't
Danni: You'd miss me too much, I know
Danni: I'm everyone's favorite part of life
Danni: Colors are brighter when Im around
Danni: Music is a little louder
Danni: Life's a lot funner
Danni: Funer? Funner? More fun?
Danni: Idk one of those is right
Danni: Oh perf, we can all go the sauna!
Danni: Are you a sauna guy?
Danni: Bugs I dont think are sauna people

Ben: lol! You are fun, life is more fun with you around
Ben: i guess it kind of is like a movie, it feels weird
Ben: ive never bene to a sauna
Ben: there is a type of bug for everything
Ben: but im not a bug

Danni: (Screenshot of Ben's Contact Name: BBB🎉🥳🤩)
Danni: That means Baby Boi Bug
Danni: Srry but you are cutie bug, I dont make the rules!
Danni: Why it feel wierd?!
Danni: Dee and Spicy were like all over each other in like 3 seconds
Danni: But saunas are lit life
Danni: Like, gimme somw steam and a hot room and perf
Danni: Ya know
Danni: I always thought a movie life would be burning
Danni: Like there isn't anything after ya know?
Danni: Like, maybe they have the after credits. Ut then boom - all dark.

Ben: *sigh* still not actually a bug
Ben: idk it is like surreal?
Ben: i’m down to try a suana
Ben: i don’t know if we are aware of the end of the movie
Ben: it just rolls into the next one

Danni: Yeeeees
Danni: Twooo people for the sauna!
Danni: We can all hang!
Danni: Oooh, what if this is all a movie that is just never ending????
Danni: Oh
Danni: I dont like that
Danni: Let's pretend I never said that!
Danni: Soooooo
Danni: Have you ever been to France?

Ben: lol
Ben: sounds fun
Ben: yeah I've been a few times on family trips

Danni: Oooooh same, dame, same
Danni: Okay, lightning 20 questions -
Danni: Favorite place to visit, go!

Ben: in France or in general?
Ben: there is this farm that makes clotted cream, has for like three generations
Ben: in general the skate park
Ben: what is something you want to do before you graduate?

Danni: I wanna drop a water balloon on Prof Coulsey's head!
Danni: It's like, a perfect target!
Danni: Muwhahahahaha!
Danni: What's your favorite bug?

Ben: unhinged
Ben: sounds fun 😁
Ben: impossible question!
Ben: i have more favorites
Ben: (lady bugs)
Ben: what's your favorite meal to cook?

Danni: Oh! Rn, def Marry Me Gnocchi
Danni: But it changes!
Danni: I wuv makin like
Danni: Soups & Gumbo
Danni: Jamabalya & Southern Comfies!
Danni: Whats ur fav song?

Ben: Those all sound delicious!
Ben: hmm
Ben: (Kirah doesn’t know music well enough to answer this, but this is a London based House band that Ben will talk about and link the song for)

Danni: OooooO
Danni: If you leik that, I think you'll like
Danni: Link - “The Cruise” by Nicholas Wanderungen
Danni: Link - “Aerodynamic” by Daft Punk
Danni: Link - “Don't You Worry Child” by Swedish House Mafia
Danni: Link - “Sun & Moon” by Above & Beyond
Danni: Listen and lmk!!!

Ben: okay :)
Ben: i’m in charge of the music so I’ll play it
Ben: (Kirah assumes ben likes it and will tell danni as such)
Ben: Oh! My turn!
Ben: Favorite app on your phone?

Danni: Ooooooo thats a spixy one
Danni: Probs maybe def VSCO
Danni: A little photo edit app
Danni: Soooo easy to use!
Danni: And lots and lots of ops!
Danni: Like def hard at 1st but
Danni: Now? So easy.
Danni: Okay, okay
Danni: Favorite movie?

Ben: i generally like action movies
Ben: hmm I think terminator
Ben: I know it is old
Ben: but i like how despite everything they try
Ben: of that makes sense
Ben: On vacation, are you the hardcore R&R type or the person who has a full itinerary for every day?

Danni: 🫣🫣🫣
Danni: Don't kill me please
Danni: I
Danni: Haven't heard of that movie
Danni: We can watch it sometime!
Danni: oooooooo
Danni: So tots depends
Danni: Like, the beach yes
Danni: I wanna wake up late
Danni: Wanna have breaki in bed
Danni: Wanna sun tan and get massages
Danni: Skiing? Im on the slope all day, no questions asked
Danni: City?
Danni: Have I been there?
Danni: Relaxing
Danni: Strolling
Danni: New city?
Danni: I wanna see everything
Danni: New food
Danni: New events
Danni: New sights
Danni: New clothes
Danni: Twice daily outfit changes are mandatory
Danni: If you could see one wonder of the world before the world ended, which one and why?

Ben: we can def watch together sometime
Ben: I only know it because my dad
Ben: it was his favorite movie
Ben: I'll warn you
Ben: it is very twisty has time travel and stuff
Ben: you like a busy day, noted lol
Ben: i think maybe the great wall of China
Ben: it has some cool history and probably some interesting insects
Ben: What’s your go-to karaoke song

Danni: Oh yeah!
Danni: Its real big!
Danni: There were some real uh
Danni: Slipper spots
Danni: Don't go in winter
Danni: I almost tumbled down
Danni: v.spooky!
Danni: OMG
Danni: I love karoke!!!
Danni: Bubble Pop Electric by Gwenni
Danni: An absie bop
Danni: I gotta show ya
Danni: I did a whole routine to it once
Danni: Smashed that
Danni: I'll show you sometime!!!!!
Danni: What would you wanna explore: Space or the Ocean?

Ben: sounds fun!
Ben: not a lot of insects in space
Ben: so ocean
Ben: Who’s your favorite author

Danni: ?!?!?????!!
Danni: SJABSKDVWSBSJ
DANNI: Bugs?!
Danni: In the ocean?!
Danni: no
Danni: They cant breath tho?!?!?!
Danni: How are they there?!
Danni: I need answers!!!
Danni: Just FYI
Danni: You cant judge me and my audiobooks
Danni: Rn, def Rick Rordan.
Danni: Listening to Perxy Jackson series
Danni: I keep forgetting people's names so I keep have taken listen to previous books
Danni: 😭😱😭😱😭😱😭😱
Danni: If you could get 1 tattoo
Danni: What would you get?

Ben: yeah... like some typed of parasitic lice that live on fish
Ben: they get their oxygen from when the fish surface
Ben: idk if they are *true* insects
Ben: I'll only know if they answer when I try to talk to them
Ben: oh! I've read Percy Jackson!
Ben: hmm probably a beetle 🪲 one of the irradecent ones
Ben: What’s your favorite piece of random trivia?

Danni: 😱😱😱
Danni: That's so spooky
Danni: OoooO Shiny Beetle
Danni: Love
Danni: Papa has a guy who does real fun tats!
Danni: So hmu if ya wanna get one!
Danni: Hmmmmmmmm
Danni: According to the creator
Danni: Double Trouble rehabilitates the Horde Clones and makes a theater troupe with them!
Danni: In my favorite show 🥳🥳🥳
Danni: If you could name a star, what would you name it and why?

Ben: I don’t know what show you’re talking about?
Ben: ... Chelsea
Ben: Do you volunteer anywhere?

Danni: >.>
Danni: <.<
Danni: Chelsea???
Danni: Whyyyyyyyyyy
Danni: You can't skip out on a queeeeestion
Danni: No, I don't
Danni: I donate to charity tho!
Danni: And some of our contest stuff went to charity!!!
Danni: Oh, oh, oh
Danni: Whats your favorite mon-skatinf way to hang out with friends?
Danni: Btw, She-Ra fantastic. We binge it all the time.
Danni: We'll watch it!

Ben: mum
Ben: donating is good
Ben: i used to help at this garden near our home
Ben: before I had powers, i still helped with the bugs
Ben: parkour lol
Ben: or just going out to movies and eating
Ben: Are you competitive?

Danni: <3
Danni: Thats so sweet tho
Danni: oooo tru tru
Danni: So u've always been (hehe Ben) a buggy boi
Danni: Moooovies! Yeeeeeees!
Danni: I leik winning :)
Danni: Especially against the siblings
Danni: like, def fun first but winning makes the fun better!
Danni: Ooooooo
Danni: OOOOOOOOOO
Danni: If u were invisible for a day
Danni: what would u do?

Ben: if i were back home
Ben: before everything
Ben: i’d probably pull pranks on my friends
Ben: Idk here
Ben: Do you believe in monogamy?

Danni: Omg, Dee loves pranking
Danni: He took over a bunch of lockers first year
Danni: And made them bang around
Danni: During Halloween
Danni: It was hilarious
Danni: Uuuuh
Danni: UUUUUUH
Danni: one sec
Danni: Okay
Danni: I now know what that means
Danni: Cause I totally always knew
Danni: But like, yes?
Danni: Some peeps just want one person
Danni: Some peeps want more than one person
Danni: It all depends on the peeps, ya know?
Danni: Like, I know I'm down for one or more than one cause I love lots!!!
Danni: And everyone should have some Danni!
Danni: But like, Dee is def not like that
Danni: He wants his boyo and just his boyo and thats chill!
Danni: So, TLDR, I do but I'm not!
Danni: If you could live on one planet, which one would it be?

Ben: lol
Ben: I don’t know for myself... i’m used to monogamous relationships
Ben: but Chase said he’s open to poly
Ben: so maybe?
Ben: Other than earth?
Ben: NOT THE MOON!
Ben: hmm, maybe mars?
Ben: but really i don’t think i’d want to live off earth i like it here
Ben: Who’s a famous person you would definitely lose your cool around if you saw them on the street?

Danni: Like my Pops says
Danni: You dont gotta have it all figured out now
Danni: We're still kiddos after all!
Danni: Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Danni: Yeah, same tho
Danni: Earth is good
Danni: And warm
Danni: And safe(?)
Danni: Debatable
Danni: Oooh who would make me lose my cool
Danni: Tbh, I am v. excitable
Danni: So most celebrities
Danni: But I think its probably
Danni: Hm
Danni: This haaaaaaaard
Danni: Kate Moss
Danni: Super unique fashion model
Danni: Love it so much
Danni: I'd probs cry
Danni: Ooooooo who was your first celebrity crush?

Ben: never heard of her before
Ben: okay, don’t laugh
Ben: but I really liked prince george
Ben: god i never told anyone that
Ben: Are you similar to your siblings?

Danni: You should check her out
Danni: Love her stuff!
Danni: gasp
Danni: Secret Ben lore?
Danni: Muwhahahaha
Danni: What evil shall I do with it
Danni: Ummmmm
Danni: I mean
Danni: We're siblings, so yes and no
Danni: Like, Dee gets into crazy stuff like me 2
Danni: But he's waaaaaaay quieter bout it than me
Danni: And Rillie is deeeeef more like Dee most the time
Danni: Less she's on the upswing, then she matches me
Danni: And if she's on a down swing, then she's someone toooooots different
Danni: Im def more outgoing than them.
Danni: What do u consider the most annoying character trait?

Ben: 😛
Ben: hmm
Ben: maybe people who lie?
Ben: like there is no reason to
Ben: i get, sort of, protecting feelings, but in the long run it’ll be worse right?
Ben: idk
Ben: all my lies i told have kind of bitten me back
Ben: what’s your favorite thing to do with them?

Danni: Omg, mood
Danni: Honestly, its just so much to keep track of
Danni: I talk lots
Danni: Imagine if lied
Danni: omg like, how would I keep anything straight
Danni: I mean, like, I cant cause 🏳️‍🌈
Danni: lololololol
Danni: Oh, def just hanging
Danni: Like, don't get me wrong
Danni: Goin out and about is fun
Danni: But I def just like it when its just the three of us
Danni: Dancing
Danni: Playing video games
Danni: Shopping
Danni: Cuddle pile
Danni: Actually, def cuddle piles
Danni: I just love cuddle piles in general tbh
Danni: I am v. Touchy lol
Danni: If I don't get to touch someone, I could die you know
Danni: Hm, what is your favorite board game? We play a lot of them lololol

Ben: that sounds nice
Ben: i don’t have any siblings so idk what that would be like
Ben: I don’t play a lot of board games tbh
Ben: I don’t like competitive games that much
Ben: played monopoly once and hated it
Ben: What’s your favorite childhood memory?

Danni: Awwwwww
Danni: You gotta come over some time
Danni: Its chaos
Danni: Glorious, glorious chaos
Danni: Ooooo I bet I could find some!
Danni: There are some where you get to see the sights and experiences of countries!
Danni: Its super cute!
Danni: Hmmmmmmmmmm
Danni: Oh gosh
Danni: Thats a hard one
Danni: Hmmmmmmmmmm
Danni: I think
Danni: My favoritist memory
Danni: So, when I was a little thingy
Danni: Papa performed at shows
Danni: Pops worked at a mechanics
Danni: So when Pa and Appa were busy, I would play backstage
Danni: With the stage crew and stuff
Danni: And then I'd get reaaaaal sleepy
Danni: And then I'd get carried home
Danni: And when Im having a bad day
Danni: Or like, Im having a hard time falling asleep
Danni: Sometimes I remember that smell of like
Danni: Car oil and grease and metal
Danni: Cause like, that was before we had all the fancy stuff and the magic house and the French Quarter and
Danni: Just makes me feel safe when I'm all sad or super lonely
Danni: So weird memory, just a smell but ya know
Danni: Different strokes like Papa says!
Danni: Hmmmmm
Danni: Oooh favorite energy drink?

Ben: i get it
Ben: sounds nice
Ben: hmm, i think just rockstar, they have a coffee flavored one that is good
Ben: how has your break been?

Danni: Rockstar? Hmmm
Danni: Nice, nice
Danni: Oh it's been fun!
Danni: I've been texting you during most of it!
Danni: OMG
Danni: I didn't tell you!
Danni: Attachment - Photo of Danni in his pj's, showing off his dragon slippers and a book on dragon rearing. Amélie is trying to chew on the corner.
Danni: Dee and Pops got me dragon stuff for Christmas!!
Danni: Isnt it cute????
Danni: How bout you?!
Danni: I know, I know
Danni: Super cute trip with the boyf
Danni: But what else :D

Ben: those are some great gifts!
Ben: break has been good
Ben: i’m glad we got to do this trip
Ben: he’s been really thoughtful about the whole thing
Ben: we have been having fun
Ben: the bugs have been super cool
Ben: i’ve sent you most of those pictures, but I have more
Ben: otherwise not a lot
Ben: I think we’re getting close to our hotel for lassen park
Ben: ttyl okay 🙂

Danni: Okkiiiiiiies
Danni: Ttyl!
Danni: Says hi to Chase for me!
Danni: Have fun!!!

Ben: Will do!
Ben: attachment: a selfie of chase shirtless, in a towel, laying in a hotel bed with his hands in a peace sign and a very unimpressed look
Ben: hi

Danni: (Photo of Danni, holding up a finger heart and winking, clearly out at dinner and dressed punk casual)
Danni: Heyyyyyyyyy bb
Danni: When u hittin’ me up sauna boi?
Danni: Ben, give your boyf my number!
Danni: He owes me a text!
Danni: And a hang out!

Ben: I told him. I’ll send you his contact info in a bit.

Danni: Ooookies!!!!
Danni: Hope everything is okayyyy

Ben: attachment: [Chase's contact info, the name is saved as “my knight”]
Ben: idk. He seems upset idk why

Danni: My knight?
Danni: Thats so cuuuuuute tho
Danni: What me to annoy him?
Danni: Danni texts make everyone feel better!
Danni: Imma add him as sauna boi tho
Danni: Gotta earn that cute nickname

Ben: it is a thing we started doing
Ben: I'll tell you the story later
Ben: maybe... wait a bit.
Ben: he is thinking about something and I don't want to bother him yet

Danni: ooooo
Danni: Whelp, lemme know!
Danni: I'm good at chilling people out!
Danni: So you lemme know and I'll tag in!
Danni: 😁😁😁

JAN 7th

Danni: Heyyyyyyyy
Danni: Everything good?
Danni: I texted your boyf!
Danni: He sent me (1) one reply
Danni: And it was long
Danni: Like texting Spicy tbh

Ben: yeah, hold on!
New chat group started [The text log of Ben, Danni & Chase]

Avengers Academy: X of Swords ⚔️

The text log of Andy & Gideon & America

DEC 17th

Andy: I had fun last night <3 let me know if either of you are down to hang out during the break. Technically I'm grounded this weekend, but I'm free after (except for Hanukkah stuff)

America: yes, def will!!! We got that photoshoot to do!!!!

Gideon: 💦💦💦
Gideon: attached a thirst trap

Andy: [Heart react to image]
Andy: Damn I’m going to have to match some energy!

DEC. 25th - Christmas Day

Andy: Merry christmas!

America: Feliz Navidad!!!

Gideon: Here comes 🎅🏽Santa Claus,🎅🏽 here comes 🎅🏽Santa Claus,🎅🏽 right down 👩🏽👸🏽slutty girl lane!👩🏽👸🏽 ❌🚫❌🚫STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!❌🚫❌🚫 Is your 👨🏻👨🏻daddy👨🏻👨🏻 not giving you enough 💦💦💦gifts?💦💦💦 Hold up,🙅🏽🙅🏽🙅🏽 ho! It's 💦💦gift giving💦💦 ❄️💦❄️SEASON!❄️💦❄️
click to read more

Andy: OMG
Andy: [laugh reacted to Here comes 🎅🏽Santa Claus,🎅🏽 here comes...]

America: i need eye belach lollllll

Gideon: 👿👿👿 ill bleach ur eyes

Andy: Don’t bleach your eyes!
Andy: it is the brain that gets bleached
Andy: take it out and give it a nice little massage while you’re at it.

America: too late

Andy: rip your eyesight
Andy: you won’t be able to see the beautiful views during our photo shoot
Andy: you won’t be able to see all the awesome pictures of me

Gideon: more 4 meeeeeeeee

America: regjkbngrejkgbkjrgbesgkjibsrkjgbe

Andy: i’m gonna go.... See you later <3

America: i wont see u, im blind now

Andy: that’s a you problem
Andy: can’t stop me if you can’t see me

JAN 12th - concurrent with “Grounded and Bored”

Andy: Hey, April just mentioned Prom and I haven’t thought about that at all. Are we doing that?

Gideon: 💃💃💃

America: sorry just saw this, the mother is being a fucking cunt. im going with kate and cassie but if you wanna come to senior prom too you def should and we can hang!!!

Andy: Oof! Good luck. Let me know if you need help
Andy: Okay going to your prom! I think it’d be fun for team eclesoir (how the hell is that spelt) to do a friends night for jr. prom.
Andy: Though I will be lazy and it will be the same dress.

Andy: Oh god... uh... do either of you have outfit plans for prom? I *might* go to paris I guess to shop for mine. What is my life?????

Gideon: i was just gonna wear the tux i wore the last 2 yrs i went.

America: i think its spelled team eggplant!!!
America: but omg youre going to paris? Rich girl behavior!!
America: idk what im wearing, kate wants us to coordinate so ill let her deal with it

Gideon: wait where iz paris

Gideon: guz seriously where iz paris

Andy: that is def not how it is spelled!
Andy: ...Europe?
Andy: Attached - [photo of the planet with france circled]
Andy: it is the capitol of that country.
Andy: Alright, If I wear black i’tll be fine...black goes with everything

Gideon: oh ok
Gideon: wait
Gideon: wheres europe
Gideon: i just see fance there

America: black goes great with my DICK jk jk jk unless…

Andy: France is part of Europe... Europe is the continent
Andy: 😜@ america

Gideon: oh
Gideon: whats a continent
Gideon: isnt that a bfast
Gideon: can u eat franc3???

America: 😊😊😊
America: gideon i see y u keep failing school
America: also u can eat andy lol

Andy: OMG
Andy: how have they not just kicked you out at this point?
Andy: yessss you may 🙂

Gideon: idk
Gideon: im not psychic
Gideon: im just here to fight bitches

America: ok but u didnt even get 2 do that
America: like u didnt get to fight bitches bc u failed
America: idk how u even managed that tbh
America: ur wild

Gideon: fuck

Andy: seriously WE ALL HAD PASSES
Andy: FOR THE WHOLE SEMESTER
Andy: How did you fail?

Gideon: how am i supposed 2 kow that

America: WHO ELSE WOULD KNOW THAT???

Gideon: coulsmith

Andy: Coulson?

Gideon: itz spelled coulsmith andi
Gideon: u should kow that

America: im screenshotting this fyi

Andy: Please do
Andy: can it be put in the year book?
Andy: I dont know how that works

Gideon: do u mean the calendr

Andy: 😮
Andy: I cannot.
Andy: I’m going to focus on hanging out with April. Otherwise I'm going to fall into the damn water laughing.

America: [a selfie of America having crashed into some trees while flying]
America: learn from my mistakes

Gideon: ur hanging out with part of the calendr???

Gideon: wait do u mean the blonde girl
Gideon: the psycho 1

Andy: rude don’t be mean to my friends
Andy: Attachment - [selfie of Andy and April together in the water]

Gideon: would

Andy: *sigh*

Avengers Academy: X of Swords ⚔️

---

---

The side gate to the back yard of Magento's house was propped open, waiting for a particular someone to make an appearance. It was a sunny day, warm, and humid despite the fact it was technically winter. Andy stood under the shade of a tree, soaking in the warmth that felt more like California than Louisiana. Except for the humidity. She was used to dry climates. Not the ever pervasive moisture of the south.

She waited, her date would arrive soon. Andy had prepared a small picnic, and because the date was with Gideon, her sword, a gift from Lady Nimue, was on the blanket too.

It wasn’t too hard for Gideon to make the trip back to New Orleans, with the number of teleporters in their social circles. America had been kind enough to take the two seconds to drop her off at Andy’s place. Her sword was slung over her back, her hair tousled in a carefully constructed mess, and her ever present black shades concealed her eyes. She wore a loose fitting black tank top and gray sweats, her biceps on display for all the world to see.

“Sup?”

Gideon rounded the corner of the fence, coming in through the gate, a grocery bag filled with Gatorade and protein bars in one hand, and a bouquet of roses in the other.

Andy’s face lit up with delight as Gideon came into the back yard. ”Hey,” She gestured to the blanket laid out near her feet. ”You can put food there. I made us some sandwiches too.” The flowers she took and smelled deeply. Holding them she realized this was the first time anyone had ever given her roses.

”Thank you,” she said, her smile soft and happy. ”I can put these in a vase real quick.”

“You made sandwiches? Hell yeah!!” Gideon beamed. She didn’t know how to cook. At all. Even something as simple as putting meat and toppings between two pieces of bread confounded her. The only thing she knew how to make was a protein shake, and she had mercifully decided not to bring one for Andy today, figuring she might prefer the taste of the bars. “Gotcha, take your time. Imma get warmed up,” she said, as she set the food down, took her sword off of her back and set it aside, and immediately went into doing push-ups.

Andy appreciatively watched Gideon for a moment before going inside to find a vase she could put the flowers in. She brought it back out with her, placing it near the picnic that was set up.

She joined in warming up, and some light stretches, stretching was better for after, but it was good to get blood flowing.

Andy, normally taciturn, fell into a comfortable silence. Maybe that's why she enjoyed the presence of others who would fill the silence with little effort from her. She had never given it much thought.

Gideon cycled from push-ups into sit-ups and then lastly into squats, moving into her usual stretching routine when she was done. Her blood was flowing comfortably, her body warm and a little buzzed, as she unsheathed her sword, giving it a few slashes. “You ready to show me what you’re made of, Lensherr?” she taunted.

Andy grinned, picked up her sword. ”I considered making a joke about being made of steel, but I realized how weird that would be.”

Andy laughed and took a fighting stance. She almost automatically went into her boxing stance, but shifted from it into a sword fighting stance.

”Ready.”

“Ready!!” Gideon grinned.

She had no intention of taking it easy on Andy. That wasn’t the way anyone learned. Her own teachers had hit her with a stick to adjust her grip, demanded push ups for every loss. Pain was the only way she knew how to learn. So she wasn’t going to hold back. Not one bit.

Their blades clashed against each other, Gideon’s sword large and strong, but its bulk made her movements slower - whereas Andy’s slighter blade allowed for a more nimble strategy, as Andy dodged attacks, blocking them only to change her position, causing Gideon’s sword to carry its momentum forward, sending her off balance. This dance went on and on until they found themselves locked in a grudge - surely a victory for Gideon, as she pressed more and more down onto Andy, with Andy’s hands above her head, her muscles straining. But with a simple twist and light footwork, Andy sidestepped out of the grudge, her sword swirling around Gideon’s until her blade was held to the other girl’s throat.

“Fucking hell, Lensherr. That was hot as shit.”

Andy was breathing heavily. She was used to a lot of foot work and exercise. Though she felt she had let some of it drop off over the last semester. She had been so focused on the Contest, that she had not worked out in the way she had before... everything.

She smiled, gave a slight nod, and lowered her sword. Andy took a couple of steps back. ”I am pleased that you weren’t trying to hold back. That was intense. I don’t think if I didn’t have my boxing background I could have kept up with you.”

Andy then stepped back to the blanket and grabbed one of the gatorade that Gideon had brought with her. She took a few deep drinks of it. ”Also, I think I lost some of my fear of getting hurt. After I fell while doing the foil thing with America I did some testing. I’m damn hard to hurt now. I don’t know what changed.”

“Oh yeah?” Gideon tilted her head, as she grabbed one of the gatorades as well. She knocked it back, downing it all in one gulp. She recapped it and tossed it back into the bag, before reaching down for a fresh one. “Isn’t that, like, kinda the whole deal of being a mutant? You can do shit and you don’t know why?”

She swallowed half of this one, before closing it. “Did you wanna go again or nah? You know me, I bounce back fast.”

Andy nodded, ”That is true. I just didn’t know it changed like that. At least last time my powers changed it was because I was cursed.” She shrugged, and drank half of what was left in her Gatorade.

”Again,” she nodded again, closed her Gatorade, and dropped it on the blanket. She adjusted her sword and took a fighting stance again.

Gideon raised an eyebrow. “You’re not cursed again, right? Or I guess you don’t really know if you’re cursed.” She didn’t know her sword was cursed, for instance, as Gideon picked up her two-hander and sank into her fighting stance.

Andy shrugged. She didn't know. She did doubt it. But that was a problem for another day. Andy went on the attack, her quick motions matching against Gideon's far more powerful ones. In a wrestling match Gideon would win every time. The sword fight only was a question of if Andy wore out faster.

This match went on. It was difficult. They'd trade blows, back off and trade again. Andy was already a little worn out from the previous match, but so was Gideon. They pushed each other to their limits, neither willing to give up easily.

”Draw? Andy asked, her whole body shaking as she held her sword aloft. There was a fifty-fifty on who would win. Andy could move faster, but was she fast enough right now to beat Gideon’s raw strength?

Gideon was panting, her sword locked against Andy’s in a grudge, but not one with an easy exit. “Draws end in kisses, you know,” she taunted, not giving up - still pressing her weight down, and not yielding a single inch. Ordinarily, she would have demanded a fight to the floor - but this, this could be a different sort of ending.

Andy’s arms shook a little, she grinned, ”Guess you’ll have to give me a kiss then.”

“Oh yeah?” Gideon grinned, her tongue poking out slightly between her teeth. “I guess it’s what you deserve, then.” She took a step closer, still not breaking the grudge, as she kissed Andy, her tongue slipping into her mouth.

Andy tried to keep her arms holding the sword up steady, but as she melted into the kiss she couldn’t. Her arms had already been tired, and with the kiss she lost control. She didn’t care, she dropped her sword and pulled Gideon in for a deeper kiss.

“I think that means you forfeit,” Gideon growled into the kiss. She kept one hand on her sword, refusing to drop her most prized possession to the ground, as the other migrated to Andy’s waist, before migrating further down to grab her ass.

”This round,” Andy growled back. ”I'll get you next time.” After a few moments of kissing, and grab ass, Andy pulled away. ”Hungry?”

“I could eat,” Gideon nodded, her eyes darting downwards.

”Not that kind of lunch, at least not outside.” Andy laughed. ”We would go to my room for that.”

“Waste of a good picnic blanket, but alright,” she sighed, before putting her sword carefully away, and flopping down onto the blanket, pulling Andy down there with her. “So what are we having then?”

”Eep!” Andy exclaimed, landing half on Gideon. ”I made sandwiches. A couple of types. Wasn't sure what you liked.” Andy didn't make any moves to open the basket.

Gideon wrapped her arms around her, holding her tightly. “I kinda eat anything,” she shrugged slightly. “Except for soup. Always worried there’s gonna be a finger or something floating around in there.”

”Soup? Finger? Why? How?” Andy asked, concerned. Was this something that had happened to Gideon? Or one of those unfounded fears?

“It happens more often than you’d think.” Gideon didn’t elaborate, as she let go of Andy and started looking through the sandwich options.

Andy sat up, sitting criss-cross applesauce, and picked up one of the sandwiches. They were wrapped in butcher paper and labeled in her messy handwriting.
”Veggies, meat, and condiments of various types.” she held up the one she had pulled out for herself.

”Salami, sprouts, tomato, mayo and mustard on whole wheat bread. I call them soggy sandwiches even though they aren't.”

The soup conversation was just horrifying enough that Andy didn't want to dig. She let that drop and kept it in mind to never make soup for Gideon.

Gideon squinted, before putting a hand over her eyes to shield them from the light, and lifting up her glasses so she could read a little better. She immediately regretted her choice, however, yelping a bit in pain before letting the shades go back into position. “Damn. Sun’s spicy today.” It was not, in fact, very bright out.

“Umm…. I’ll take this one!” she grabbed one at random, having no hope of knowing what was in it. She ripped the paper open and took a big bite. “Holy shit this is good!!!”

Andy took a bite of hers and considered how to ask what she wanted to. ”How... uh god, Gideon, how did you fail last semester? We all had guaranteed A's. With that, I know you're a super senior and if I didn't already feel sometimes like I was way older than my classmates that'd be weird, but considering time travel I'd be 34 and I don't want to consider that even less.” She paused, Andy struggled with reading. Had her whole life. She had recently agreed to let Percy tutor her. ”Is there a way I can help?”

Gideon stopped mid bite for a moment, confused. “Didn’t we already talk about this?” she frowned.

Andy considered letting it go. Gideon had given her an out. She adjusted her seating position.

”You always dodge the question. You haven't answered. I've asked and you've avoided. Why are you still in school? How haven't you graduated?” Andy felt bad for pressing. She knew sometimes secrets were easier to keep than share. But secrets also festered and became dangerous between... lovers.

She sighed, and set the sandwich down. And then, Gideon pulled out her phone, swiping through until she clicked on an app, and slid the phone across the blanket to Andy. It was an app that converted speech into text and text into speech. “There, you happy now?” she snapped, her voice harsher than she meant it. “I don’t know how to read!”

Andy winced slightly at Gideon’s tone. Guilt chewed at her as she looked at the app. She felt her face warm up. ”I’m sorry for pushing, but... I kind of understand where you’re coming from. I’m dyslexic, well not officially. But I’ve looked at the symptoms and it matches up pretty well for what I deal with.” She paused and chewed on her lip, thinking. ”Can I help?”

Gideon looked away. She knew that Andy was being nice, and she just wanted to be supportive. She knew that the right thing to do was to say yes, that this was something they could bond and connect over. But she had spent so long being so guarded, so long repressing every emotion, it was hard to break that habit. She just wanted to kiss hot girls and fight people with her sick ass sword. Why couldn’t life be that simple? Why did she have to have failing grades and a dead brother?

“Can’t we just have fun on our date?” Gideon murmured, pulling her knees to her chest. “I’m fine. They said if I fail this semester, I’m kicked out. So either way, I guess I graduate.”

”I’ll let it drop for now,” Andy agreed. ”However, I’d like to help you study, maybe we can get you C’s.” Andy struggled with studying, but maybe she could make it fun somehow for Gideon. Relate it back to stuff that she enjoyed. Andy got up and sat down so she was shoulder to shoulder with Gideon.

”If there was one thing I’ve learned about being in a relationship it’s that you have to communicate and support each other. As fun as making out, and,” she cleared her throat. ”And other things are with you. I’d like for it to be more than just sex. Is that okay? Is that what you want?” If not Andy could deal with a short term relationship that was just sex and fun. She could choose to not get attached, or at least try not to. She needed something fun.

Gideon wanted nothing more than to die in this moment. She wasn’t good at this - wasn’t good at talking about feelings or communicating. She didn’t know how to handle feelings, how to do anything except for bury them. If she talked about them with Andy, then she had to be honest about them - had to be honest about how she felt. And there were so many things she wasn’t ready to face, so many things she couldn’t handle. She wanted to just make a stupid joke and go back to fighting - or find some way to dip before things could get too serious, get too real.

“Andy, I…” she huffed slightly, trying to force the words out. “I’m here for you, I’m super down to support you, I’m in your corner, okay? I just…”

She fell silent again, and hidden by the shades, her eyes had started to well up with tears. “There’s so much fucked up shit in my life, and if I stop running from it, it’ll all catch up to me.” Her voice cracked. “It’ll catch me.”

Andy held out her hand for Gideon. ”You don’t have to tell me right now. I appreciate that you will be there for me. And you need to know I will be there for you. I’ll be here. When you’re ready to talk about it. When you need help. You have my sword.”

She didn’t move for a moment, before she took one of her hands off of her knees, and put it in Andy’s. “What if I’m never ready to talk about it?” she asked. “I can’t promise you I ever will be.”

”Then I’ll be here anyway. When your past comes back to haunt you. God knows if my mom ever gets out of her little prison I’m going to be dealing major shit. If you’re willing to stand by me for her, I can handle whatever you throw at me.” She squeezed Gideon’s hand. ”I will say, from very recent experience that loads like that are a lot easier to carry with friends. So if you ever do want to talk, please do. The world is a whole lot less scary than it was a couple of months ago for me, and that’s with just a few people willing to help carry the load. I was so overwhelmed, and scared. God I was so scared of everything. In a way I still am scared. All the time. But now that I know people have my back no matter what happens, I’m less afraid of how much it will hurt. Because I know there will come a day that I have to do that impossible fight.”

Gideon sniffled a bit, before she nodded. She returned the squeeze. “It’d be kinda sick to kill your mom,” she agreed.

Andy laughed. ”I don’t think she can be killed, at least not in any meaningful way. Every fight will be just another delay. Every time I win against her it will be more time the world is safe. I had kind of hoped to rehabilitate her, but it felt like the opposite was happening. Like she was sinking her teeth more and more into me.” Andy shook her head, shaking away the feelings and thoughts about her mother.

”So, promise? Promise that when your past comes knocking you’ll let me help?” Andy reached over with her free hand, holding up her pinky.

Gideon hesitated for a moment, before nodding. She reached out and hooked her pinky around Andy’s. There was still so much she wasn’t ready to talk about, so many things that she hadn’t told her… She’d never even mentioned the killer nuns to anyone before… but maybe she could start with something small. She sniffled. “Let’s break my brother out of the insane asylum, then. Over spring break.”

”Okay,” Andy said, simply. She hated CAGE, she would help Gideon get her brother. They definitely had sex after the sandwiches were eaten.

Avengers Academy: X of Swords ⚔️

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Andy was in fact getting a little stir crazy. She had gone on a multi-universe photo spree with America, Danni and Eli. In general though, living in New Orleans meant she didn’t have as much time with most of the others as she would have liked. She had gone Christmas shopping with Sabine and Leah. Percy and Dorian had come over for Hanukkah. But this winter break was long.

She decided to see if any of the Kingston-Grey household was available to hang out. A part of her hoped it would be April. The two hadn’t really talked... ever. Even though they had been on the same starting team Andy felt like she barely knew April. Dorian and Danni were fantastic and if she wanted to be swept into the riptide that was their friendship that’d be fine to hang out with them.

Andy knocked on the door, and told the door knocker who she was and looking for. She sent a text to Gideon.

@Gideon

”Going to hang out with one (or more) of the K-G’s today, if you don’t hear from me in twelve hours send a rescue party lol”

Andy received a reply a fraction of a second later -

@Andy

10/4 my mistress of darkness

Similarly, April was also starting to suffer from a bad case of cabin fever. She’d been grounded for all of winter break - an incredibly lenient grounding that let her go where she wished in New Orleans, but still a grounding. And as much as she loved her family and spending time with them, she was starting to feel a little twitchy and ready for a bit of a change of pace. She hadn’t yet come up with a plan for what she wanted to do, however, when the door knocker informed her that Andy was here to see her.

She couldn’t help but be surprised. She’d thought for a second that it might have been a mistake, that Andy was there to see one of the dads - or maybe Dorian. She made her way to the front door and opened it up, more than a little bit intrigued. Maybe Andy had left something here and didn’t think anyone else was home? Maybe Nimue had sent a cryptic message to the other members of the Huntresses and April just hadn’t received it yet, and Andy wanted to talk about it?

“Hi, Andy!” April greeted, a large smile on her face as she opened the door. “What’s up - did you need something?” The smile was more genuine than any she’d given during the school year, but it wasn’t the only aspect of her appearance that had changed. Her hair had been cut short and styled into a mohawk. She wore a brown overcoat, cropped button up shirt, and baggy white pants.
”Nice hair, very punk rock of you,.” Andy complimented April. ”So, I was getting a little stir crazy and thought that, well, we don’t really hang out much. I’d like to get to know you better. I thought maybe you’d be down to go do something. I have no idea what. I just want to get out of the house.”

April’s face flushed. “Really? You like it? Thanks!! Danni did it, actually! Well, the dads fixed it up a bit later, but not too much!” She ran a hand through her hair. She loved doing that lately, even if it messed up with the product a little bit. There was just something so satisfying about how short it was now, and every time she caught a glance in the mirror, she couldn’t help but squeal a bit in delight. “I’m so down!” She stepped out of the house, shut the door behind her, and shot off a quick text in the family group chat that she was hanging out with Andy. “I was feeling antsy too, tbh, so this is iconic timing. Have you been to the Riverwalk Outlets? It’s got a sick view, some fun shopping options - very much your classic mall sort of vibes. And it’s not too far from here, we can walk - oooh or have you ever been to Jackson Square? They’ve got the absolute coolest art there - maybe we’ll go on our way back, if I don’t get to see the water I am going to sc-reaaaam. So how’ve you been? Besides being bored?”

”Really and truly. It looks awesome. Do you think you’ll dye it? Or just leave it blonde? I think you could rock purple hair, or blue. As for Riverwalk and Jackson Square, I haven’t been to either. That sounds perfect, honestly. I just need some fresh air so some shopping and sight seeing sounds like a great idea.” Andy started walking, mostly letting April lead the way since she didn’t know exactly where they were going. She hadn’t explored the city as much as she would have liked.

”I’ve gotten to do a few things this break. It has been fun, but I didn’t realize how long the break was. Going back to school in mid January is wild. I remember we used to go back to school on like the first Monday after the New Year. I know we’re going back soon, but it still feels like it has been ages. I kind of miss it.”

“I don’t know, I haven’t thought about dying it - I’ve been kind of…” She paused, biting her lip for a moment. She’d only really told family members so far. But she knew that she’d need to tell everyone at school eventually - her current plan was to text in the group chat on the first day back, giving her a little more time to figure things out before announcing hello, I am this thing now!. “...having a bit of a gender moment,” she settled on. “Been trying a bunch of stuff out, so I might try adding some color! I think some blue streaks could be fun, or maybe the tips? Have you ever dyed your hair? You’d probs have to bleach it first, right?”

She nodded, leading the two of them through the streets of the quarter. It was maybe a twenty minute walk at most from their block to the Riverwalk. “Yeah, it’s definitely wild - but after the contest and everything, I was dying for a break,” she giggled. “Is it school you miss or just Gideon and America?” she then teased, her tongue sticking out slightly between her teeth as she grinned. “Do you drink coffee, btw? I assume you do. We can get some at the Riverwalk, or I can show you the best spot right by home for when you need a pick me up.”

”Well if you want to try different pronouns or names today let me know and I can use them for you to test.” Andy smiled brightly.

”Fun fact this is dyed. I'm naturally a dark blonde. I don't like it so I dye it black. Happy to help if you want to test any colors. There are temp dyes you could try. Those wash out after a few washings. Or if you want something natural looking henna is the go to. I just always use cheap box dye though cause it was easy to get ahold of. I understand needing a bit of a break.
Everything was very overwhelming. And yes I miss America and Gideon.” She stuck her tongue out back at April. ”We've been texting, but not the same. I have gotten to see them a bit at least. Ohh coffee I'm addicted. My biggest vice. I made a thermos that is everfilling so I always have some hot and fresh on hand. Please show me the best spots. I haven't gotten to explore New Orleans as much as I would like so it'll be nice to have a local help me out. I know you're adopted but I don't know how long you've lived here.”

April gasped. “It’s dyed?? It looks so good! I don’t think I’ve ever seen you with roots either, I had no idea! How long have you been dying it black for? Is the cheap dye bad for your hair? I know I’ve heard horror stories about hair falling out and stuff - if you want nicer dye, I’m sure Pa could get it for you - he gets a lot of stuff for Erik,” she then opened the door to the neighborhood coffee shop, stepping aside to allow Andy to go in first. It was tiny and cramped, with fresh pastries in the glass display, and a small crew of baristas behind the counter. It didn’t look like much, but every seat was taken, and the line was half a dozen people deep. “I think temp dye could be really fun! Less commitment, y’know. Oh and hmm. I don’t know yet about names, I think April is fine for now but I might want to try on some other options in the future - I thought about maybe going by my old middle name, Rain - or Rainie could be cute? But I’m not sure. Pronouns… is it weird that it’s still kind of scary to think about? But… if you wanted to try she/they, I think that’s an okay place to start!”

”The roots come through often. But because it is a dark enough blonde to almost be brown most people don't notice. It's like this dirty dishwasher blonde. The dye probably does do damage. But I haven't noticed it yet. I've been dying it for years. We can totally find some temp stuff while we are out today. And I can help you with it.”

Andy glanced around the place taking it in before she moved toward the end of the line. She looked at what people were eating and tried to see what looked the best. She'd grab a pastry and some hot mocha or a Cafe Borgia if they had it.

”Ooh I like Rainie. That's a fun name. Nice and neutral too, but evokes you in a pleasant way. What do you want to order? I'm thinking one of those fritters and a mocha.” Andy had an idea. She needed to know what April wanted so she could order and say ‘they want x.’ It'd give April a taste of the pronoun. She remembered an old way for new Trans people to test a name too and that was to order drinks under the name they were testing out. This was the perfect opportunity.

Mentally, April added into their itinerary that they needed to hit up a drug store for some hair dye. It’d be fun to play around with some if nothing else, and if she hated it, it was only temporary. Plus, she trusted her brother would be able to fix it if anything really bad happened. “That sounds really fun!! Do you wanna spend the night? Make it into a sleepover sort of vibe?” she suggested. She was having a lot of fun so far talking with Andy and she was more than happy to keep the vibes going.

“Aww, thanks! I think part of it is like - I’ve always been April, so it would feel a little weird trying out another name. I’ve asked my dads to send me suggestions if they have any, they named my brothers but I was eight when they adopted me, so,” she shrugged slightly, before eyeing the case and deciding what she wanted. “Hmm. Probs a white chocolate peppermint mocha - I’m a little basic sometimes - and ooo… those molasses cookies look really good, too.” It was winter and it just felt right. “You’ll love the fritters, they’re so good here. Literally to die for.”

”Sure!” Andy accepted the invitation to sleep over. She had, of course, slept over during the Contest. It hadn’t been necessary, but it had been fun. She liked the idea of being there again. It felt like home.

”I understand the hesitance.” Andy paused for a moment considering. ”When I was little I wasn’t sure if Andy was my name. I was found so little and I didn’t talk much so I didn’t even know how they knew that it was my name. I got a fake ID at one point with the name Andrea on it. The name was close enough to Andy to be easy to claim it as a nickname, that was sort of the point, but it felt weird. Like a jacket that didn’t fit. I only used it a couple of times to get into a club in Rochester. I still have it, though it is very expired now. I don’t know how I got away with it at the time I was like 14, 15. How someone thought I was over 18 is beyond me.” She shook her head laughing a little.

”Molasses cookies are amazing. Also, not basic. Think about it. If you took that drink back to the 1400’s the peasants would accuse you of witchcraft.”

April’s heart fell slightly as Andy told her her story. “Do you like being Andy?” she asked. The line was beginning to clear - they’d be up next to place their orders. Luckily for them, the Kingston-Grays had helped out in the French Quarter enough that they drank for free at this shop. “I can’t imagine you as anything other than an Andy - maybe a Thundering Champion,” she teased gently.

She giggled a bit at Andy’s witchcraft analogy. It was something she’d been thinking about. Their old coach, Nimue, was the Lady of the Lake - every spell she cast was connected to water. And in the fight with the Hex Girls, she’d been awed with the way they combined elemental powers with magic. She was curious about what she could do, if she tried to combine her magic with her control over water. She’d tried scrying once with Nimue during training - but what else could she do? “Well, my Pa is a witch. So I guess they’d be right - assuming being a witch is, like, inherited. Dorian is kinda witchy.”

Andy gave April a flat look at the Thundering Champion joke, but it quickly dissolved into a smile. ”Yeah, I’m definitely Andy. I can’t imagine a different name. And since I met my mother it seems it is my name. I must have been able to tell my rescuers that much. I don’t remember it though,” she shrugs a little.

”Same. I have gotten okay at a few of the spells too. I should have used it more during the Contest, but honestly I am so used to fighting with my lighting that it felt weird to use the magic.

When Andy was finally at the front of the line she started to order. ”I’ll have a Cafe Borgia,” it was available, the heavens smiled down upon her. ”An apple fritter. They’ll have,” Andy hooked her thumb over her shoulder indicating April. ”The white chocolate peppermint mocha and a molasses cookie please.”

April couldn’t stop the huge smile from appearing on her face. It hadn’t occurred to her that Andy would use the pronoun so soon. And they liked it. More than liked it. They loved it. They wiggled their toes in their boots, resisting the urge to jump up and down for a moment. A they. Maybe they wanted to be a they. They pulled out their phone, and shot off a text message to their family -

@Too Many Queers

andy suggested i try out some pronouns today while we’re out and i really like being a they!!! can we try they at home? 💖💖💖

Their phone then started aggressively buzzing as messages came in - keyboard smashing from Danni, and love and support from the dads. They couldn’t resist doing a little hop. “I really really really liked that,” April confessed, once the order was placed. “Like that felt incredible? Is that how pronouns are supposed to feel? Like she always feels so… ugh, y’know?”

Andy had caught the first look of glee on April’s face. Gender euphoria. She had heard some of the other fosters talking about it back in San Francisco, and she was happy to see it on April’s face.

”I honestly don't know from personal experience. What I do know though is if it hurts, or feels uncomfortable it isn’t for you. The fact that it did feel so good is a great sign. Don’t be afraid to try other pronouns too. Some people use ones that are from other languages. Or if you’re daring you can try he. Everyone is different. I know I am comfortable with she/her. I don’t get giddy from it but that is probably because I’ve never felt like it was wrong. I’m glad you like it. I’ll use they for you from now on unless you say otherwise.”

Andy stood off to the side waiting for their drinks and food. ”Gender is weird and complicated and super personal. Sometimes it even changes as you get older and you become more settled in who you want to be. Just like who you are attracted to and how you feel that attraction. Your understanding will change too. It’s been years since I really did any discussion on the subject so keep in mind all my stuff is like twenty years out of date at this point.”

April nodded, listening to Andy attentively. They didn’t know if they were ready to try out he just yet - it seemed almost stressful. And they felt really good so far. They were content to just keep on trying out they, and if it stopped feeling as good, then maybe they’d switch to another one - or even a neopronoun. Their drinks came out a moment later, along with the food in pastry bags. April passed Andy’s drink over to her, before grabbing their own and taking a sip, sighing contentedly. “Y’know, sometimes I forget you’re secretly an old lady,” April stuck their tongue out. “So. You obvi knew my parents. Got any crazy stories about them? The more embarrassing, the better. What was it like in the Underground? And the island?”

Andy laughed at the old lady comment. ”I sometimes realize how much time difference there is from when I was born and when the rest of you were born. Like I met Danni when he was an infant. I wasn't there when he was adopted but I met him shortly after. As for stories, hmm. I wasn't with the MU for a super long time before the island. Like twenty-four hours. It was kind of a whirlwind of bad things happening. I will say though Casper did tell me to punch my prom date in the dick. He also claimed to be the god of waffles. I think that was all in the same conversation too. James was, well, not too different from how he is now. Solid, quiet, caring. I hid in his room the first day. He came in and chatted with me in this quiet caring way. Ben I barely knew. I think I met him like twice and that was mostly during the final battle. Max I didn't know well before the island, but once we were there he sort of took me under his wing. He got me a house warming gift because I moved pretty quickly into Magneto’s. That was kind of him.”

It was a little weird how important those in the MU had become for Andy when she had barely known them to be honest.

“Did they used to be cool? Or were they always lame dads? Sounds like at least Pa and Pops were already dad material. And Appa was a ghost for most of it, right?” April laughed slightly. They knew how much their Papa loved waffles. It wasn’t surprising to hear that he’d proclaimed himself the god of them. On the subject of prom, though, their eyes lit up again as they motioned for Andy to follow them, continuing on to the Riverwalk. “You are going to go to prom, right? Well, junior prom. I’ve already started looking at stuff that might be fun to wear to it - I decided absolutely not a dress. I’m kinda thinking some sort of a tux, but that feels a little basic, y’know? So I want to go for something a little more elevated… I’m thinking I want to practice my ice control a little more, maybe suspend like ice crystals from my ears or something all night. Mutant fashion and all. Do you have ideas yet?”

”Casper came off as cool,” she shrugged and followed April toward Riverwalk. ”I honestly haven't given it much thought. I figure I’ll go with America and Gideon to their prom but we haven’t talked about it. Guess I should send them a message about that.” Andy sent a quick text to the group chat with the three of them [see The Text Log of Andy & Gideon & America].

”As for outfit, hmm, I think I would love to wear a proper prom dress. I’ll probably do the same dress for both if I go to both. It has to be black though. Oh my god, do people still do dresses made of duct tape? I remember that being a big thing for a while.”

“Wait, people did that?” April screeched. “Like taped onto their skin? That had to be so painful! But a black dress - a black dress sounds good. Did you want to go prom dress shopping with some of us? There’s this fashion house in Paris that our family goes to, I bet we could get you something there. Unless you wanted to go with America and Gideon to get something.”

”Oh god no!” Andy yelled back, thankful they were outside. ”Like duct tape wallets. Hold on I’ll show you.” She pulled out her phone and did a quick search for duct tape dresses. Once she had some results she showed it to April. ”See, they'd like layer it.”

She hummed in response to going to Paris. Her immediate response was ‘impossible, too expensive’ and then she remembered she still had a sizable chunk of money even after the Christmas shopping trip, and her investment and savings things she had done. It was weird to just have an allowance basically.

”Hmm, I’ll see what they are thinking about wearing, but that sounds fun. I’ve never been to Paris. I’ve never even been out of the country, except to Genosha... and technically all the times I’ve left the universe. But I don’t know if those count.” Andy sent the group chat with her girlfriends a text.

“Ooo, actually… That’s kinda sick. I love that,” April studied the photo. They’d been playing a lot with the sort of things they wore lately, gravitating somewhat towards things that were both retro and oversized. But the slight shine of the duct tape was interesting, as was the texture. It didn’t look comfortable at all, but they could see the appeal to it. “I mean, I think leaving this universe counts as leaving the country - unless you just went to another universe’s version of America, but even then… that feels different enough, y’know?”

They then grinned, as the water came into view. There was a patio area of sorts outside the Riverwalk Outlet that ran for a while, in addition to an actual trail right up on the water. For a moment, April closed their eyes and just breathed in the air, feeling a little calmer. There was something to the feeling of connection to a large body of water, something that brought stability to them that no other sensation really could. If they’d been by themself, they would have jumped into it, soaking it in and breathing it like it was air. “We can walk right up by the water, or we can hop on up to the outlet and start shopping. Up to you!”

Andy turned her phone from ringing to a vibrate, as texts started coming in from her girlfriends. ”Maybe I should have waited...now I have to explain what the heck Paris and France and Europe is.” Andy mumbled under her breath, but she was smiling. She wasn’t actually annoyed.

She looked up at the water and snapped a photo of it. She liked the water. She missed the ocean.

”When I was a kid I lived near the ocean. It was the Pacific, but I loved it. I’d go to Half-moon bay all the time. I almost drowned in that ocean, didn’t care. I still loved being in it and around it. Let’s go down to it.”

April paused for a moment. “You wanna go in it?” they offered. The last people they’d brought into the water with them had been Leah and Sabine, back when things had been different between them all. They’d promised then it would be a secret place, one where they could be safe from any threat posed by Leah’s father. “I can take us down, bubble you so you can breathe and all still.”

”Yes, please.” Andy started for the way down to the water. She hadn’t been in an ocean in so long. Sure, this didn’t seem to be ‘swimming’ and that was okay. She didn’t need to do that. She just wanted to enjoy it all. She hadn’t gotten water powers, but she had loved the water since she was little. For a long time she told herself that it was because her family had been sailors, or she was part mermaid, or a dozen other things that orphaned kids tell themselves when they don’t know who they are. Now that she had answers...

She looked at her phone again. ”What the fuck Gideon? How do they even let you stay at the school?” Andy rubbed her temple. She shook her head, responded to the texts that had been buzzing in and slid her phone back into her pocket. ”Sorry. I think I understand now why Gideon never graduated. What I don’t understand is how she still attends the school.”

April had been about to sprint to the water, their heart beat syncing slowly so that way every other beat matched the gentle pulse of the waves lapping at the shore. They had one foot off the ground as they spun around, staring at Andy with wide eyes as she claimed she’d solved one of the great mysteries of Margaret Carter. “Okay, spill. I gotta know. Coulson said we all got A’s for the semester - what did she do??? Did she hack into the computer system and change her grades to F’s??? Did Coulson forget she was part of the Arcade stuff??? I know sometimes people forget Gideon’s around because she’s always like - obsessively cleaning her sword and shit and she’s a super senior - like a senior who was held back, not one with powers, although she’s that too so she’s a super super senior but… what the fuck happened there???”

”Well that is to say, I don’t know the exact reason, but,” her phone buzzed again. Andy sighed and took it out. ”She doesn’t know Europe is a continent and just called Coulson, Coulsmith.” She laughed. ”The doubling down on that.” Andy’s laugh was so intense that she had to put her hands on her knees. This was just too ridiculous. She started coughing from the laughter. Andy showed her phone to April. On the screen was a photo of America crashed into a tree.

”I’m sorry. I know it is rude of me to be on my phone right now since I’m hanging out with you. But, this is just too funny.”

“Pshh, it’s fine - if I was annoyed, I would tell you,” April brushed off, as she studied the photo on the phone - and the laughter was quickly infectious. She had to reprocess everything Andy had just told them. Gideon didn’t know Coulson’s real name or that Europe was a continent - and evidently, America had died from laughing too, crashing straight into a tree. It wasn’t long until the giggles were forcing their way out of April too, bringing tears to their eyes. “What the actual fuck, Gideon…” April shook their head.

“I don’t know which one is worse - like you’ve been at this school for five years now and you don’t know his name, but clearly you’ve heard it because you’re half right?? Or the fact that she’s been on this planet presumably her entire life and doesn’t know what Europe is??” She didn’t know how Andy could date someone so head empty. Gideon had to be incredibly talented with kissing or something.

Andy sighed a little relieved. She didn’t want to upset April, especially not the first time they were hanging out just the two of them. “Like I said, I think it makes sense now.” She shook her head a little exasperated. ”Hold on, mind taking a photo with me?”

“Yeah, let’s do it!! Or…. do you want to take it when we’re in the water? I can keep us from getting wet, and it’ll be a killer backdrop. You should see the photoshoot Danni, Dori, and I did freshman year. We got some of those mermaid tails you can wear, and with Danni’s flames under the water… chef’s kiss. Some of our best work.” They couldn’t help but beam. They’d never spoken much to Andy, despite having originally been assigned to the same team - and they were surprised by how easy Andy was to talk to. They should have been hanging out much sooner than midway through the school year - but at least they were talking now.

“Oh, that’s a fun idea!” Andy’s eyes lit up with excitement. “I did a photo shoot with Danni, America and Eli a bit ago. That was chaos. Danni is demanding during those. But it was fun too. I’m sure he told you all about it.” Andy started walking toward the water line.

April giggled. “Yeah, he gets really into them - but it’s always so fun - and so worth it!” they agreed. Once the pair of them hit the water line, April extended their hands out, taking a deep breath. It took a moment for them to connect with the pulse of the waves, but slowly, the water began to part - a small opening that they could walk into, almost like a tiny little cave in the water. Once Andy was safely inside the pocket, April closed it behind them, a bubble of air maintained as they walked down and down, the light around them dimming as small creatures and life came into view. “Isn’t this so fucking cool? We’re in the Mississippi river!” They then wrinkled their nose, as some debris came by. “We’ll grab that on our way back up - people keep putting their stupid fastfood wrappers in here, it’s so annoying.”

Andy looked around with wonder as they entered the water. It was neat. She had done some of the zoo things where you go in the water in a plastic bubble, when she was little, but this was way cooler. She reached up, not quite touching the water.

“Yeah, sounds like a good plan.” Andy wrinkled her nose at the debris. Some things never changed. She held up the phone for a selfie with April. Once that was done she sent it into the chat and then put her phone on silent mode.

“Before starting dating them I basically never paid attention to my phone. That is tempting to go back to.”

“You’re from, like, before phones were really a thing, right?” April asked. “What was that like? How’d you know where your friends were or how to get places? Or if the new restaurant in town is any good? And when you were just lying in bed, what did you do… did you just lie there?”

“I’m not that old.” Andy laughed. “We had phones, but I was a poor foster kid, or a runaway. I didn’t have money for a phone really, not until I was living with the Drummonds, shortly before I met your dads. That was the first phone I ever owned. Before that I didn’t lay in bed much. I’d watch t.v. or play some video games. One of the first foster homes I was in had a Wii. I watched a lot of movies. Or I played outside. I also didn’t have a ton of friends, really I didn’t have any friends. So I didn’t talk with them. And I didn’t have a lot of freedom to move around on my own when I didn’t have a phone. If I did go somewhere we would use this thing called a computer.” Andy said the last part while waving her hands in the air and using a silly voice.

April snorted slightly. “Well, you have friends now,” they grinned. “Even if you hail from when dinosaurs roamed the earth.”

Andy laughed. “Yes, I rode them into battle. And I’m glad to have friends now.” Andy bumped into April lightly grinning.

The rest of the day April and Andy hung out. They went shopping for a bit, grabbing some school related things and a couple outfits for days they would have out of uniform. After that they grabbed some food. The options in New Orleans French Quarter were varied enough they both were stuffed silly. Then after grabbing a box of temporary hair dye the pair of them went back to the Kingston-Grey household. There Andy helped April dye their hair. They then played WhaleFall, the ocean themed board game Andy had given April for Christmas. The rest of the evening they chatted getting to know each other better.

Château de La Lune

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2:45 PM - Friday, July 18th, 2025 - Château de La Lune, France

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@PatientBean@TheMaster99@KazAlkemi@Trainerblue192@kittyluna45@KTostada

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La Lune Family

Elenore La Lune
Richard La Lune
Agatha La Lune
George La Lune
Beatrice La Lune
Lawrence La Lune
Nathan La Lune
Elizabeth La Lune
Gabrielle La Lune
Jeanne La Lune
Lena La Lune

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Elenore could be found in the ballroom; she was almost done with the decorations for the evening. The place is decorated in summery colors of light aquas, lavender, sunny yellows, bright corals, and lush greens. There were large bouquets of white flowers, with green sprigs of ferns. There was a small stage set up, a microphone, and a music setup. It did not appear there would be a live band playing. It was possible that it was planned, or the weather had prevented anyone from coming to the island. There were fairy lights strung around arches in front of each of the doors in and out of the room. Several high tables were placed around the room, leaving room in the center for dancing. Overall, the decorations were beautiful, it wasn’t over the top, but subtle and charming.

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Ralph

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Location: Château de La Lune
Skills: N/A

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”Fifteen,” Ralph agreed. He went into his room and changed out of his wet clothes. He didn’t think he had time to shower; he also shared his bathroom with Brendan and wasn’t certain if he would need it. So he just quickly used the toilet and cleaned up a bit before changing into dry and clean clothing. He didn’t think getting into the party clothes made sense yet. So he went for something more informal.

He waited in the hall for Rhi. Once they joined him, he headed for the bar. Ralph wasn’t exactly sure where they would find the older man, but the family seemed to gather in the bar area. Richard wasn’t in there, but it wasn’t hard to find him as he was sitting in the next room, the library.

The library and the bar were off from each other. The library further led into the center of the building, the ballroom. The library had a spiral staircase reaching up to the second floor. This second floor was not accessible. A lock on the door at the top of the stairs.

Interesting. The room had floor-to-ceiling shelving and a few places to sit and read in comfortable light. There was a large fireplace, currently unlit, at one end of the room. Richard sat near it, possibly just a habit for the colder days when the fire would be lit. His head came up from the book he was reading when the pair of them entered.

”Hello, Richard, I’m Ralph, this is Rhi. I was wondering if we could talk with you for a little bit.”

Richard gestured to the chair across from him. He lifted a glass of what might have been scotch and raised it to them, taking a sip. “Please, do. Welcome to our home,” he said genially.