Island of Misfit Toys 26

[22:39]	`GM	[The sun has completely set now, and a good portion of the residents gather around the bonfire in the back yard. The carcass of the monster has been thoroughly ashed, but wood and other spare garbage keeps the fire going.]
[22:40]	`GM	[Chairs, folding tables, and various heat-able snacks have been procured.]
[22:41]	Ai`	strides forth from the darkness, unannounced, scanning for Wallberg.
[22:41]	Liu	is busy trying to discreetly fill her stomach with as many of the latter as possible, fueled by hunger and nerves
[22:41]	Ransom	eats snacks every so often, cooking them up himself without using the fire.
[22:42]	Ai`	Her uniform is scraped and tattered far more than one would encounter in daily duties, but she makes no note of it.
[22:42]	`GM	[Wallberg is brushing grass and ash off of the discarded gas masks, they having been accidentally kicked to the side.]
[22:42]	Ai`	"Hello, everyone."
[22:43]	`GM	Wally: "Don't know why we even bothered if the Wallys were the only people that'd... Oh, Ai! Hi!"
[22:43]	`GM	[Wallberg waves, not yet noticing her uniform, due to the darkness.]
[22:43]	Ai`	"Hello, Wallberg. May I request your assistance?"
[22:44]	`GM	Wally: "Huh? Oh, sure, what's up?"
[22:45]	`GM	Colonel: "Mr. Ransom, that seems excessive."
[22:45]	`GM	Colonel: "There is a perfectly good bonfire right here."
[22:46]	Ai`	"Please come this way."
[22:46]	Ai`	With that, she steps away from the fire in the direction of the lab.
[22:47]	`GM	[Wally quickly finishes cleaning the masks and follows Ai, now noticing the state of her clothes.]
[22:47]	Ransom	picks up some of the gas masks and heats up his hand, crushing one in his palm. Only after doing so does he turn to the Colonel.
[22:47]	Ransom	"Well, more for you folks, right? Besides, saves me the trouble of leaning forward."
[22:48]	`GM	[The Colonel frowns at the wanton destruction.]
[22:48]	`GM	Colonel: "Does your world not respect personal property either, Mr. Olds, hmm?"
[22:49]	`GM	Wally: "Woah, woah, what happened? Ai, are you okay?"
[22:49]	`GM	Wally: "Your clothes!"
[22:50]	`GM	Colonel: "That was... uncalled for."
[22:50]	Ai`	"I fell. Also, when talking with Kitkat, she accidentally added damage."
[22:50]	Ai`	uses TECHNICALLY CORRECT!
[22:50]	Ai`	"Regardless, I need access to the lab immediately."
[22:50]	`GM	[Wally raises an eyebrow.]
[22:51]	`GM	Wally: "You... fell."
[22:51]	`GM	Wally: "...Did anyone tell you that's a really bad excuse for humans to use?"
[22:52]	Ransom	frowns at the remark.
[22:52]	`GM	Wally: "I mean, look at you! The Colonel's going to, I dunno, yell at you or frown at you or something, if he notices."
[22:52]	Ai`	"No, but I now know. Thank you. Can you help?"
[22:53]	`GM	Wally: "Uggh, yeah, yeah... Why do you need the lab? Gonna try contacting again?"
[22:53]	Ransom	"I was under the impression these gas masks were nonfunctioning; I'll reimburse you if they aren't. Should still have some dollars on me."
[22:53]	Ransom	begins to rummage through his pockets.
[22:54]	`GM	Colonel: "Functioning or not, they are not yours. We don't have a limitless supply of anything here, you know..."
[22:54]	`GM	[The Colonel seems noticeably pensive of that statement.]
[22:54]	Ai`	"I am. I will also download an interaction software upgrade. I promised the next hug I give Kitkat would be 'real'."
[22:54]	Ransom	"E.I. DuPont's chubby little mug should do, right? Only a Red has no respect for the inalienable and enshrined right to property."
[22:55]	Ransom	pulls up a bill labeled for 100 dollars, but as he says the face on it belongs to Du Pont.
[22:55]	`GM	[Colonel Samuelson holds out his palm to receive due recompense, pointless money though it may be. It's the principal of the thing...]
[22:56]	`GM	Wally: "Ahh, heh heh, I get it~"
[22:57]	`GM	[Wally rubs Ai on the shoulder, though more like a pet than a person.]
[22:57]	`GM	Wally: "I'm proud of you, Ai."
[22:58]	Ransom	"There you are, Samuelson. I guess... well, I guess I was a little disappointed this was just a fire under control and the base wasn't threatened. It would've been better than nothing."
[22:58]	`GM	Wally: "But can't you stay a while? Just to, you know, hang out? Humans like hanging out; even the Colonel's not working for once!"
[22:58]	Ai`	simply looks up to Wallberg.
[22:59]	`GM	[The Colonel holds the bill up to the light for a few seconds to verify that it is in fact not any form of legal tender, and pockets it.]
[22:59]	Ai`	"... Upgrading is imperative."
[22:59]	Ai`	But she pauses.
[23:00]	`GM	[He looks sternly at Ransom, with perhaps a hint of sadness in his eyes.]
[23:00]	`GM	Colonel: "I think you will find that this is not the sort of installment where such things should be happening, Mr. Olds."
[23:01]	Ai`	"... Technical conditions allow time before upgrading."
[23:01]	Ai`	Despite this, she does not move, continuing to look at Wallberg.
[23:01]	`GM	Wally: "...Fifteen minutes?"
[23:02]	`GM	[Wally looks hopefully at her.]
[23:03]	Ai`	"That is acceptable."
[23:03]	`GM	Colonel: "How has your... adaptation, been progressing?"
[23:03]	`GM	[The Colonel opts to change the subject to something equally depressing.]
[23:04]	`GM	[Wally nods and leads her by the hand back to the bonfire. On the way he stops and gives her his labcoat, though it's rather too big for her.]
[23:05]	`GM	Wally: "If Walt asks, just tell 'im you're cold."
[23:06]	Ransom	laughs outright.
[23:07]	Ai`	nods.
[23:08]	Ransom	"What can I say? Wasting away has its charms. They always used to say one day we'd win and the war would be over, and then we'd get to do everything we couldn't. No Reds to kill, no armies to the name of Oldsmobile."
[23:08]	Ransom	leans back, picking up another snack.
[23:08]	Ransom	"All good things, eh?... All good things."
[23:09]	`GM	[The Colonel clenches his fist as he hears that.]
[23:09]	Liu	"So you're bored?"
[23:10]	Liu	pipes up, currently on her 15th hotdog
[23:10]	`GM	[The Colonel's fist relaxes, and he walks back over to his chair.]
[23:10]	Ai`	simply watches for the time being, taking 'hanging out' to its loosest definition. She simply collects data, not having been engaged by any of the others.
[23:11]	`GM	[Wally asks Ai if she wants to roast a mashmallow. It's totally educational!]
[23:12]	Ransom	"Good word for it."
[23:12]	Liu	"Find a hobby?"
[23:13]	Liu	suggests, swallowing a moment later
[23:14]	Ai`	accepts, and promptly takes a marshmallow, roasting it. By thrusting it into the fire.
[23:14]	Ransom	"Sounds easy enough, but I've never had one. Guess I never saw the point."
[23:15]	`GM	Wally: "Ahh, waah, no no no, not like that!"
[23:16]	Liu	"The nuns said to try crochet,"
[23:16]	Liu	helpfully offers, gesturing with a half-built s'more
[23:17]	Ransom	"Nuns?"
[23:18]	Liu	"At the orphanage."
[23:20]	`GM	[Wallberg, perhaps too eagerly, pulls the roasting stick out of the fire. The burning mashmallow spins off the stick and lands in Liu's lap.]
[23:21]	Liu	doesn't immediately notice the tiny fire on her skirt
[23:21]	`GM	Wally: "Ahh, Liu! No no, ahh, sorry!"
[23:22]	Liu	"Hm?"
[23:22]	`GM	[Wally jumps up and moves to assist, if Liu doesn't do anything first.]
[23:22]	Ai`	walks over.
[23:23]	Ai`	"I can dispose of that, if you desire help."
[23:23]	Liu	"Dispose of wh-"
[23:23]	Liu	finally notices the fire, leaps up, swatting it off her skirt with a s'more, which sadly does not survive contact
[23:23]	Liu	"Who did that?!"
[23:24]	Liu	roars, suddenly incensed.
[23:24]	Ransom	"Wasn't me."
[23:24]	Ransom	sits in place, looking interested but not alarmed.
[23:24]	`GM	Wally: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I was trying to teach her how to roast!"
[23:24]	`GM	[Wally holds up his hands innocently, though he does not shirk responsibility.]
[23:24]	Liu	"Watch what the fuck you're doing!"
[23:24]	Liu	screeches
[23:25]	Ai`	reaches for the burning cinder, unable to take heat damage.
[23:25]	`GM	Wally: "I know, I'm sorry, I just...!"
[23:25]	Liu	"You just what? Fucked up?"
[23:25]	`GM	Wally: "I, I guess?"
[23:26]	`GM	[Wally cowers, shielding his face from evil eyes.]
[23:26]	Liu	"You guess? You guessss?"
[23:26]	Liu	's slotted eyes narrow dangerously
[23:26]	`GM	Colonel: "Children."
[23:27]	Liu	"What?!"
[23:27]	`GM	[The Colonel voices the word loudly, though not angrily, as if him intervening will magically fix the problem.]
[23:27]	Liu	snaps on instinct. The second she realizes who it was, she wilts.
[23:29]	Ransom	"Do you need them neutralized, Samuelson...?"
[23:29]	`GM	[The Colonel has no sympathy for THIS child, either.]
[23:29]	Liu	"Just try it,"
[23:29]	Liu	hisses under her breath at Ransom
[23:30]	`GM	Colonel: "Children includes YOU, son."
[23:30]	Ransom	"I haven't made a move yet, have I?"
[23:30]	`GM	[The Colonel stands up and joins the more immediate vicinity of the rest of the crowd.]
[23:31]	Ransom	sits perfectly still, but the parts of the chair where he's sitting begin to smoke.
[23:31]	`GM	Colonel: "Ransom, shut up."
[23:31]	`GM	Colonel: "Ms. Long, are you hurt?"
[23:31]	Ai`	steps back, observing once more.
[23:32]	Ai`	"I should learn to roast in a safer environment."
[23:32]	Liu	"Um... let... let me check,"
[23:32]	`GM	[The Colonel kneels down to inspect the skirt, from a respectful distance of course.]
[23:32]	Liu	mumbles, flushing slightly and trying to shuffle away from the others. She doesn't plan to lift up her skirt in front of anyone here.
[23:33]	`GM	[The Colonel skillfully moves himself in between Liu and the rest, giving her only a slight little more privacy. He looks away, understanding the situation.]
[23:34]	Liu	quickly hikes up her skirt, looking for burns. Thankfully, it's just a little red.
[23:34]	Liu	"N... it doesn't look like it."
[23:35]	Liu	replies a bit sheepishly, turning back to the group, now conscious of the large stain around the scorch on the cloth
[23:36]	Ai`	attempts to gather Wallberg again.
[23:36]	`GM	Colonel: "No harm done, then. Please try to keep your emotions under control."
[23:37]	`GM	[The Colonel leans in and whispers to her.]
[23:38]	`GM	Colonel: {"I know you're concerned about them. But that's no excuse. Not even for you."}
[23:39]	`GM	[Wally is quite shaken from being yelled at. He sits in a chair, winded.}
[23:41]	Liu	bites her lip, hard
[23:41]	Liu	gives a very small nod
[23:41]	`GM	[The Colonel pats her on the head.}
[23:41]	`GM	Colonel: "Good girl."
[23:42]	`GM	[The Colonel stands back up and goes over to Wallberg.]
[23:42]	Liu	flushes completely scarlet, and doesn't move from the spot
[23:43]	`GM	Colonel: "Mr. Wallberg, a marshmallow is certainly not something to react so furiously over. Be thankful no harm was done."
[23:44]	`GM	[Wallberg nods with a bashful "Yes sir...".]
[23:45]	Ai`	turns to Wallberg.
[23:45]	Ai`	"Are you alright?"
[23:46]	`GM	Wally: "Y-Yeah, I'm fine... Are, are you?"
[23:46]	Liu	is possibly on the verge of crying, holding back by making an incredibly bitter face, crunched up in a scowl
[23:47]	Ai`	"I am."
[23:47]	Ai`	then looks over Liu, and then towards the lab for a long moment before looking back to him.
[23:48]	Ransom	notes that the Colonel seems to have gotten the situation under control. Having tensed up, he relaxes... for a few seconds. His face turns to a scowl and he moves to throw his s'more to the ground, but refrains. Instead, he leans forward and grasps his hair with his free hand, exhaling once through closed lips and a tightened jaw, allowing fire to escape. He screws his eyes shut, keeping quiet.
[23:52]	Ransom	opens his eyes to notice the chair's started to smoke again, and quickly stands up. He looks around as if trying to find something and being unable.
[23:53]	`GM	[Wally gets the hint.]
[23:53]	Ransom	Malicious destruction of property... malicious... rrgh!
[23:53]	`GM	Wally: "Yeah, yeah, I know... I'll uhh, I'll drive you over."
[23:54]	Ransom	seems to quickly calm down, and addresses the Colonel.
[23:54]	Ai`	"Thank you."
[23:54]	Ai`	promptly follows Wallberg.
[23:55]	Ransom	"Samuelson, if you shot me I'd probably be fine right after, but couldn't you be a professional and try? Maybe your newfangled 21st Century guns have something Browder's boys didn't."
[23:55]	Liu	"No."
[23:56]	Liu	snaps out of her shame to shake her head.
[23:56]	Liu	"No more shooting people!"
[23:56]	`GM	[The Colonel looks rather taken aback by that, his attentions focused on Wally and Ai at the moment.]
[23:56]	Liu	is still sore about Jonah, even if he was totally fine after all
[23:56]	`GM	Colonel: "You will keep that thought for a moment, Ransom."
[23:57]	Ransom	laughs again.
[23:57]	`GM	Colonel: "Ms. Ai."
[23:57]	Ransom	"Might as well. We've got forever on our hands, don't we?"
[23:57]	`GM	[The Colonel walks in their general direction, holding up his hand to stop them.]
[23:58]	Ai`	turns around.
[23:58]	Ai`	"Yes?"
[23:59]	`GM	[The Colonel hands her a card key.]
[23:59]	`GM	Colonel: "You may stop doing this behind my back, now."
[23:59]	Ai`	takes it, looking up to him. She smiles.
[23:59]	Ai`	"Thank you."
[00:01]	`GM	Colonel: "That card also has access to the residence's utility room. You may stop doing THAT behind my back as well."
[00:02]	`GM	[The Colonel's face looks quite weary as he explains this to her.]
[00:02]	Ai`	nods.
[00:02]	`GM	Wally: "Sir...?"
[00:03]	Ai`	"Your assistance is very well appreciated."
[00:03]	`GM	[The Colonel glances at Wally.]
[00:03]	`GM	Colonel: "You have a question, Mr. Wallberg?"
[00:03]	`GM	Wally: "...N-no sir..."
[00:04]	`GM	[The Colonel turns back to Ai.]
[00:04]	`GM	Colonel: "You may wish to know that I trust you no more than I have trusted you for the last month."
[00:05]	Ai`	"That is suboptimal, but acceptable. Nothing will occur to break that trust."
[00:08]	`GM	[The Colonel says nothing more, and goes to continue Ransom's inane suggestion.]
[00:08]	`GM	Colonel: "You were saying, Mr. Olds?"
[00:09]	Ransom	"With respect, Samuelson, I'm sure you heard me just fine."
[00:12]	`GM	[The Colonel stares are Ransom.]
[00:13]	`GM	Colonel: "A 'professional' does not attack unarmed civilians."
[00:15]	Ransom	"I'm not. Matter of fact, crypto folks said that I was officially listed as a weapon of mass destruction by the CPUSA. You can rest on their authority, can't you?"
[00:16]	`GM	Colonel: "If you do not know, know now that I do not rest on it."
[00:17]	`GM	Colonel: "Do you WANT to get shot?"
[00:18]	Ransom	looks down at the ground.
[00:18]	Ransom	"It's like I said before, I guess. It'd be better than nothing."
[00:18]	Liu	"Shouldn't you see a therapist first?"
[00:18]	Liu	volunteers
[00:19]	`GM	Colonel: "Son, living is better than dying. Whoever told you otherwise, I don't care where they come from, they're wrong."
[00:20]	`GM	Colonel: "And I don't care what you believe about where we came from or where we're going, we're here right now, and it's pointless to throw that away like it means nothing."
[00:20]	`GM	Colonel: "Do you understand?"
[00:21]	Ai`	turns to Wallberg.
[00:21]	Ai`	"Do you wish to come or do you wish to remain here?"
[00:22]	`GM	Wally: "Wha? Oh, no I'll still come."
[00:22]	Ransom	"Wrong idea, Samuelson. Everything the Reds tried to kill me didn't work. They captured me once, spent months trying to get me to die. Nothing worked out. It'd probably be the same with you. But if you did, well... it wouldn't mean an enemy, but... it'd be familiar."
[00:22]	Ransom	sighs.
[00:24]	`GM	Wally: "Did you, uhh, want to pick up some new clothes first or anything?"
[00:24]	Ai`	simply looks at him, pausing before walking away.
[00:24]	`GM	[The Colonel sighs as well, shaking his head.]
[00:24]	Ai`	"Clothes are not necessary."
[00:26]	`GM	Colonel: "...If that is how you plan to make your new circumstances feel like home, you had best not."
[00:28]	`GM	Colonel: "Get your head straight, son. Go be bored. Do all those things you couldn't."
[00:29]	`GM	Colonel: "You're far from the only one who wants to live in the past."
[00:32]	Ransom	"The past, huh? Heh. But I thought you said that it didn't go like that here."
[00:33]	`GM	Colonel: "It DOESN'T. So stop pretending like it does."
[00:34]	Ai`	Shortly thereafter, Ai finds car, and shortly after that, she and Wallberg find themselves in the lab once more.
[00:34]	Ai`	After a journey of relative silence, Ai speaks without warning.
[00:35]	Ai`	"May I tap into main power? That will make the process more efficient."
[00:35]	`GM	[Wally shugs.]
[00:35]	`GM	Wally: "I guess the Colonel doesn't much care anymore, so... go, ahead?"
[00:36]	`GM	[Wally still seems confused as to why the Colonel was so blatant...]
[00:37]	Ransom	"Heh heh heh. You sure go out of your way to make it sound easy, Samuelson."
[00:37]	Ransom	turns to look at the fire.
[00:39]	`GM	[The Colonel sits back down and slumps, frustrated.]
[00:39]	`GM	Colonel: "Son, just don't."
[00:39]	Ai`	"Thank you."
[00:40]	Ai`	seeks the same power port as the first time, hooking herself up when ready.