Welcome to Avalon

[Kathara_Khan]

Hey, now, don't leave us hanging like that!!!

Episode sixteen, "It Never Rains On Avalon...", in which things don't really get any better, should be coming no later than... In about a month? Maybe?

[Kathara_Khan]

And now, to clense the palate after all this heavy stuff, something a bit silly:

The Anjos de Rocha in their Halloween finery, as seen in episode 7, "Load Up On Guns, Bring Your Friends (part 2)":

(Click here for the full-size version)

From left to right:
- Diego "Diablo" Ibarrez - as the Devil himself,
- Yuni Iskandar - as a Jungle Princess,
- Patricia Summers - as Octavia Moina,
- Octavia Moina - as Patricia Summers,
- Alex Narahari - as a Weeping Angel (of Doctor WHO fame),
- Nyree Rikoriko - as a Mighty Enchantress,
- Minuette Diane Chryse - as a Slasher Gothic Lolita,
- Morgan Lai - as a Zombie,
- Evangeline Neve - as a Street Urchin,
- Dominique Torres - as a Squalo TAG (yeah, she looks kinda ridiculous here, but that's the best I can do in Kisekae; in story, she sports a very realistic cosplay of the machine).

[Errhile]

Avalon Chronicles
entry #16

“It Never Rains On Avalon...”

Dramatis personae:
Note #1 - Starting with entry #5, only the characters making an appearance (or, in some cases, referred to) in a given episode are listed. A complete list of all the characters appearing in the Avalon Chronicles is available under the link. Beware of spoilers, though, especially if you’re coming in late.
Note #2 - Wherever a nationality / country of origin is mentioned, it describes dominant “cultural / ethnical background trace” rather than actual country / nation of origin (for example, Yuni was born and raised on Neo Terra, but her background trace is Malaysian).
Note #3 - The “#x” notes the episode in which given character made their first appearance.
Note #4 - We now have official character art for the series, collected for your viewing convenience on the GM’s DeviantART Page.

“Anjos de Rocha” (Angels of Stone), The Team:
Alex Narahari - #1 (2. class, 17, Indian) “Bad apple”, school’s bully assigned to the team as a method of correcting her ways (which seems to be working, if slowly - Alex, as it turns out, has her own host of demons). Her father tends to solve any problems (including those caused by Alex) by throwing money at them. Alex is an aggressive, reckless player who shoots too much, and doesn’t think enough. Anaconda TAG.
Dominique (‘Nique) Torres - #1 (1. class, 16, Argentine) Atek and waitress as “Silva’s”, former student of St. John’s High School (a Church-run school for the poor), transferred to the Academy on sports scholarship for the TAG-soft team in #6. A mechanical and electrical engineering prodigy, she is fascinated with TAGs and does “Gunpla” kits of them in her free time. Turned out into the same class as Eva. Initially Lizard TAG, but in #8 swaps it for ‘Ree’s Anaconda.
Evangeline (Eva) Neve - #1 (1. class, 16, Italian) “Princess”, the wealthiest kid in school. Craves for proper behaviour and organized affairs, though the rest of the team are working on her. Team’s captain. Iguana TAG.
Minuette (Minnie) Diane Chryse - #1 (1. class, 16, Australian) Former cheerleader and team’s self-proclaimed “morale officer”. Cheerful and energetic, though sometimes not the quickest mind in the team, definitely (though she speaks a stunning array of languages, at least 5 fluent and several others with lesser proficiency). The only team member (before ‘Ree joined in) to have a sibling (two in fact, both sisters). Her parents own a chain of restaurants. Solid team player. Initially Lizard TAG, in #6 takes over Mako’s Gecko..
Morgan Lai - #1 (2. class, 17, Polynesian) “Sleepy”. Chronically asleep, pathologically lazy and way laid back person. Still, a solid player, calm and precise. Seems to have taken it upon herself to help temper and restrain Alex’ baser impulses - physically if need be. Szalamandra TAG until #7, then swaps for Lizard (formerly Patty’s). Practising Christian, she sings in a church choir, too.
Nyree (‘Ree) Rikoriko - #5 / #6 (as Peanut Gallery / full appearance), (2nd class, 14 - she started school a year early, and then skipped a grade in junior high, Maori) Girl from Morgan’s class, apparently the school’s polymath genius and “mega-nerd” (in Morgan’s opinion). Excellent student but with a troubled past (she was bullied real bad - by Alex as it turned out...). Has two brothers. Joined the team in #7, initially on Anaconda TAG, but in #8 swaps it for ‘Nique’s Lizard.
Octavia (Octy) Moina - #1 (1. class, 16, Brazilian) Successful and gifted musician (cello), but shy and prone to panic when not currently playing. She’s also a very effective player, as long as nobody can see her face (in a TAG or under her paintball mask). Patricia’s best mate. Highest “kill”-count so far. Lizard TAG.
Patricia (Patty) Summers - #1 (1. class, 16, North American) Gifted DJ and known hacker (of a school caliber, like upgrading her grades and the like). Octavia’s best mate. Almost never seen without headphones. Suffers from severe sedatephobia (fear of silence). Average player. Lizard TAG until #7, then swaps for Szalamandra (formerly Morgan’s).

Other characters at Roberto Rocha Preparatory Academy:
Staff:
DeeDee “Ditzy” Alephsdottir - #9 (avatar looks ~20, Nordic) The Academy’s low-level ALEPH subpersona, her duties include filing, mail distribution, drone operations, and assisting Ken on monitoring. While methodical like a computer, she’s not too bright, and even outright scatterbrained at times (however, she was bright enough to note that Diego, as a Nomad, is likely to be at odds with Aleph as such, and therefore she made an effort not to interact with him… or even make him aware of her existence).
Diego “Diablo” Ibarrez - #1 (~60y, looks ~40, Latinoamerican) The protagonist - TAG-Soft team coach, retired CJC TAG pilot, later TAG combat instructor. Died in the EI war and was granted a resurrection thanks to his minor war hero status.
Eric Wana - #1 (~35, Polynesian) TAG Soft team’s chief mechanic. Pedantic and perfectionist (and, oddly enough, somewhat superstitious). Has a Palbot he calls Reksio.
Reksio - #1 Eric’s favourite Palbot, named after an obscure cartoon character.
Yuni Iskandar - #1 (29, Malaysian) PE teacher and TAG Soft coach’s assistant. Very sporty and attractive, goes pretty well along with Diego since they met on day one. Well enough, actually, that their relation had (in entry #4) progressed to “friends with benefits”... Volunteered for the staff paintball team.
Students:
Bianca (Bia) Irene Chryse - #6 (1 class junior high, 13, Australian) Minnie’s younger sister. Fiery red hair, uncouth mouth and a talent for stepping on other people’s toes, which often gets her into trouble - as Diego said, “she’s as sweet as a candied chili pepper”. A total tomboy and skateboard riding thrill-junkie. Is fascinated with TAGs now, but has to wait till she gets to senior high before she can apply for the team.
Frederic “Fred” Ulani - #5 / #7 (as Peanut Gallery / full appearance) (1. class, 16, Polynesian [genetically, Caucasian-Polynesian]). Hardly anybody uses his name in full form - even on most school papers he’s listed as “Fred Ulani”. Another cello player in the school’s orchestra with Octavia. He’s on excellent terms with her, and in Diego’s private opinion, a likely boyfriend candidate - and his prediction comes true, likely somewhen around #9.
Ilya Malinin - #5 (though mentioned earlier) (2nd class, 17, Russian) Star guard on the football team, and Minuette’s boyfriend. 2nd generation immigrant from Ariadna.
Mako Joyo - #1 (1. class, 15, Micronesian) Ex-team member (resigned in #5 - Gecko pilot, and for a time prospective 2IC) - turned out that combat sports weren’t really her thing, plus she was offered captaincy of the school’s basketball team (The Ramjets) once the current captain graduates at the end of current year. School sportsgirl. Very sporty, very active - and thus extremely busy person.
Samantha Silva - #10 (1. class, 16, Brazilian) Same class as Evangeline and Dominique. Dimante’s cronie, meaning whatever applies to Dimante, applies to her as well. Wears (purely decorative) glasses.
Tiana Dimante - #10 (1. class, 16, Latvian) Same class as Evangeline and Dominique. Rich upper class spoiled brat, and a bully who likes showing her “lessers” their place in the school’s social ladder. Eva apparently doesn’t think too highly of her. Diego caught her abusing Nyree, in time to stop it - with some help from Alex - before Rikoriko striked back. As a result, she seems to carry a grudge against the Angels of Stone as a whole, and now engages in bullying by proxy against them.

“Bolo’s Barkin’ Spiders”:
One of the local paintball teams. The “Spiders” are experienced, but not a top-tier team in Belo Horizonte - they play for fun, and are not seriously competitive.
“Bolo” - #2 (mid 20s). Team captain, Academy’s graduate.
“Scythe” - #2 (mid 20s). Field commander.
Other team members include “Tiger”, “Hunter”, “Ape”, “Widow”, “Spectre”, “Mook”, and “Wookie” the Spitfire gunner. Despite the pompous nicknames, they’re all laid back, friendly folk.

Neve family security detail:
Dorothy Smith - #9 (likely late 30s, might be Western European) Subordinate to Roger, doubles as the head maid. Peculiarly pale and deadpan. The name could suggest some relationship to Roger, but more likely is just a cover. Still, in #12, she reveals they actually are married.
Roger Smith - #2 (early 40s, North American) Evangeline’s chauffeur… Officially. In reality, he’s a high-end bodyguard, and commander of Evangeline’s section of the detail.
Belladonna (Bell) Shelke - #12 (mid 30s, Eastern European) Tall, with a body like a gymnast, and a smile like a knife.

Other characters in Belo Horizonte:
Senores Anzamble, Ral and Trowa - #1 (~80, Central American [various]) Veterans of the First NeoColonial War (Fusiliers), now elderly retirees and regular guests at “Silva’s”.
Esteban Silva - #1 (~80, Brazilian) Owner, cook and host at “Silva’s”, old-fashioned eatery with human touch (and spicy South American cuisine).
“Gato” - #6 (~20, Latinoamerican). A peddler in the less-pleasant part of town where the Torreses live. Dominique’s friend, supplies her with made-to-order gunpla parts. Probably a black market contact, too.

Knights of the Round Table:
Avalon-based professional TAG-Soft team. Note - the Knights’ callsigns are attached to position / role in the team, not to a particular person.
The team uses heavily modified, late-series Ramhorn TAGs, stylized to look like mecha versions of medieval-fantasy knights, swords and shields included.
Martin Ricardo - “Bedevere” - #13 (late 20s, Hispanic North American). Observant and intelligent, he seems to be the “brainiac” of the outfit. He’s also the resident “party animal”, following Avalon’s club scene with a passion. Plays in “scout” position.
Risa Ferreira - “Percival” - #13 (late 20s, Latinoamerican). A lady from a jet-set family, classy and well-mannered, nevertheless she has a real devil under her skin. But she can keep said devil from prancing around. Well, unless she fancies otherwise… Plays in “scout” position.



Saturday, December 21st

“ - Please, everyone, I… I have something to tell you. An announcement.” - Eva gulps, pauses to gather herself, and continues in a dead voice: “ - I… I resign. I resign my position as team leader, and... I quit TAG-Soft.”

...What?!

It takes a moment of dumbstruck silence for it to process, but then the girls erupt in a clamor of surprised exclamations, questions, and outright denials.
Eva for her part just stands there, head hanging, utterly miserable, close to tears.

“ - Alright, chicas, settle down, give her some space. Eva?” - Diego asks gently when the others reluctantly quiet down, “ - What did those two cucarachas spring on you?” - there’s no doubt in his mind Dimante and Silva are somehow responsible.
“ - Please, I… Don’t want to talk about it.” - she squirms under their gazes. “ - Not now, not here. Could we go now? …If I may still come to the practice, this once?” - she asks, hope and fear mixed in her voice.
“ - Okay, if that’s the way you want it, but I would be lying if I said curiosity wasn’t killing me. Same for the girls, I’m sure. But I get it.” - it’s obvious Eva doesn’t want to discuss a sensitive topic in a place under constant surveillance. “ - And of course you may come. Though I guess Nyree will be taking command if you’re resigning?” - Eva nods meekly. “ - Right, chicas, mount up. We’ll have to practice restraint for now. Eva’ll explain when and where she’s ready.”

There’s some grumbling from the rest of the Angels, but everyone’s quickly loaded into the Monster, and they set out towards their usual paintball field.

In the cab, Evangeline is seated squeezed in between Minuette and Patricia. She’s still silent, looking down and avoiding everybody’s eyes, and seems shrunken into herself with sadness and anxiety. The others are exchanging distressed looks and shifting uncomfortably, the atmosphere heavy and oppressive with worry. Minnie especially looks close to tears, while Alex is definitely pissed-off again.

“ - Huh.” - Yuni quietly gets Diego’s attention. ” - Looks like Roger is following us today.” - indeed, Evangeline’s big black Griffon limousine, driven by Mr. Smith, is keeping pace with the Monster a little ways behind.
“ - Eva’s probably expecting having to return straight home...”

After what seems an eternity of awkward silence, Eva heaves a heavy sigh, seems to gather herself, and, still not looking up, finally speaks, voice timid and anxious:
“ - I… I need to confess something to you all. Something I should have admitted much earlier… But I was afraid of how you’d react. You see… Tiana and Samantha?… They’re my friends. (…Or at least I thought they were…)” - she adds the last part in a miserable whisper.
There are some distressed noises from the others, but they don’t otherwise interrupt. Well, Alex looks ready to go off on an angry rant, but a hard look (coupled with a hand on her shoulder giving an equally hard squeeze) from Morgan stops her and lets Eva continue.
“ - They were my first, and for a long time only, friends. Before TAG-Soft, I didn’t really have much contact with anyone not in my immediate social circle. There’s enough of us top-wealth kids at the Academy that we can keep only to ourselves if we want to…”
“ - Yeah, I remember.” - muses Morgan, “ - I was pretty surprised to see you apply for the team. Not as surprised as when ‘mega-nerd’ ‘Ree did,” - she flashes a tiny fond smile at Nyree, which is returned, “ - But to see you descend from your ivory tower to actually interact with us was pretty unusual.”
“ - Well, since I’m confessing ugly truths already? That wasn’t exactly my idea in the first place…”
“ - Oh? Whose was it, then?” - inquires Diego.
“ - My dad’s. He and mom actually had an argument about it. Nothing really bad, but… My mother was always a little... Elitist. It’s only recently that I started noticing how much, really. And how her thinking influenced me. I guess I was always a bit of a momma’s girl…” - the rest of the Angels have to good grace not to snigger or make mean comments at Eva, upset as she already is (though in Alex’s case it’s probably due more to Morgan’s hand still on her shoulder). ” - Father was always more open and principled. N-not that mom is a bad person, or anything!” - she hastily adds, “ - She’s just a little, well…”
“ - Stuck up?” - Octavia offers gently.
“ - Yes.” - sighs Eva.
“ - Hey, you’re a little stuck up too, sometimes, but we still love you anyway!” - declares Minnie, enveloping Evangeline in a sideways hug. The rest chorus agreement, with some amusement. Leaved it to Minuette to inject some levity into the heavy mood.
“ - Thank you, I guess…” - Eva clearly doesn’t quite know how to take this. “ - Well, anyway, dad finally put his foot down. He said: ‘Those are not some unwashed, ignorant masses. Those are the people who made our success possible with their work. We may be its architects, but they are the ones who built it with their hands. And they deserve our respect.’” - well, he’s not gonna get any arguments here. “ - So, even though it was already over a month into the school year, and I was already in the Economics Club, I was supposed to join another club or extracurricular activity, with people of other than our own, highest of the high social status, learn to relate to and respect them, and make new friends. I was… Not happy. Not at all. Still, I knew dad ment business, and trying to play for time would do me no good. But none of the school clubs and teams really appealed… I, of course, vented about the situation to Tiana and Samantha, at length. I was really silently hoping that, as my friends, they would offer to join me in whatever club I was forced to decide upon. Having them there would make the situation easier to take…”
“ - But wouldn’t having them there to fall back on when you didn’t want to interact with others undermine the purpose of this whole exercise?” - wonders Nyree.
“ - I guess. It’s completely academic, anyway. Because, while they were of course ‘very sympathetic’, they, again of course, didn’t offer to share in my misery. Why would they? And I would never stoop so low as to just ask them. That’d be like begging! Breaking decorum like that? In our circles it just isn’t done!” - Eva scowls bitterly at herself, “ - So I was on my own... And then, a week later, the school announced reviving the TAG-Soft program. And on the one hand, it sounded a little ridiculous. Not to mention how disastrous the previous attempt was. But on the other hand, it didn’t really sound any worse than any of the other choices - a bit better, actually. One, it would be a small team, so less new, ‘lower class’ people for me to deal with. Two, all of them would be new to it as well, instead of already close knit and cliqued up, resistant to strangers. And three, in a newly formed team, perhaps I could put my natural skill in organization and leadership to use, and secure the captain’s position!” - Eva flashes self-mocking smirk. “ - Being able to order everybody around would make the whole thing so much more bearable…”
“ - ...And then you met us all, and instantly realised what wonderful people we all were, and that you had nothing to fear, and we all became the greatest friends and have tons of fun ever since!” - Minnie bubbles happily, redoubling the enthusiasm of the hug she continued to keep Eva in.
Evangeline looks a little choked up, then gives a very un-ladylike, self-depreciating snort: “ - Right! Not quite, I’m afraid. After our first few meetings? I really didn’t have anything at all flattering to say about you all… The opposite, in fact. And I did say it, to Tiana and Samantha, loudly and in detail.”
“ - Oh ho! Any juicy samples of your, no doubt very insightful, first impressions you could share?” - grins Patty, gently ribbing.
Eva cringes and sinks lower in Minnie’s hug, blushing hard. “ - I’d rather not repeat any of that. It really wasn’t very pleasant... Suffice it to say, you were all exactly what I feared - what I expected - from people ‘beneath’ me… And don’t even get me started on the Coach!” - Diego smirks at that. “ - Though his stock at least rose quickly, as he immediately recognized my obvious leadership potential!”
“ - If you really disdained us so, you were pretty good at hiding it, the few flares of temper aside…” - muses Octy.
“ - I guess. Keeping up appearances is important in our circles, after all. And I did have my ‘real’ friends to vent to afterwards…”
“ - So… When did you change your mind on us? ...Because you did, right?” - asks Minnie timidly, suddenly worried again.
“ - Yes! Yes, of course I did!” - Eva desperately assures, looking up for the first time in this talk, her eyes begging them to believe her, “ - It wasn’t instant, but I was warming up to you fast. I didn’t even notice at first! I think the moment I truly realized I was already thinking of you as real friends, was after the match with the Revolution. When Mako announced her resignation… I was upset, and not just because losing a player would mean difficulty for the team. I was sad, because it meant we couldn’t see and hang out with her as often... And then I realized I would probably feel the same about any of you! From then on, everything was clear. Dad was absolutely right. You weren’t some alien creatures, weird and slightly icky, nor some lesser type of person, beneath my notice.” - Eva cringes in renewed embarrassment. “ - You were, are, people, just like me. People worthy of respect, people that I like, that I enjoy the company of. People I want to be friends with.” - she glances a Dominique with shame and regret, “ - And on that note, I never really apologised for my initial reaction to you, have I?”
“ - Pshah, it’s okay, really!” - ‘Nique waves Eva off with some embarrassment of her own, “ - No big, forgiven and forgotten. I guess I was just an even bigger shock to the system than the others.” - she shrugs equably.
“ - Quite. Luckily, Patricia was there to administer some much needed attitude adjustment.” - Eva sends a small, grateful smile to Patty, who grins in return. “ - I really mean it, you know? We may not be very close yet, and you all may have your… Quirks… Some of which I enjoy less… But Minuette is right: God knows I have my own share of faults for you to put up with... And call me on if need be. And I’m fine with that. I really do consider all of you my friends... And I hope you could me, as well…”
“ - Awww!” - Minnie coos, leaning into the continuing hug and smooshing her cheek into Eva’s. “ - Sure we do!”
Patty places a hand on Eva’s shoulder unoccupied by Minnie, Octy and Nyree reach across to squeeze one of her hands each. All the Angels make various noises of agreement. Well, all but one of them…
Evangeline is left looking very emotional again and takes a moment to gather herself. Then she looks up at the one person who didn’t join the chorus. Alex returns her look, face dubious.
“ - I really do mean all of you. So this includes you too, Alex.” - Eva says quietly. “ - Sure, we’re definitely the least close of the team, and we’re the most likely to get on each other’s nerves.” - Alex’s eye roll clearly spells “no shit”, which actually elicits a tiny smile from Eva, “ - But you’re not really as bad as you want everybody to think. And I don’t think I’m the only one who noticed, either. What you did to Nyree was awful, yes. But you got served your comeuppance, and you took it. And then, when it looked like she had trouble with her family, you tried to do the right thing. It would be so easy to look the other way. And to stay the course, continue being a despicable reprobate - after all, you never really suffered any serious consequences for it, didn’t you? But no, you actually tried - are still trying - to be a better person, and I think that’s an admirable-”
“ - Alright, sheesh! You made your point, Princess!” - Alex interrupts, obviously fighting a blush. Well, it was established some time ago that she doesn’t really know how to take a compliment... “ - Fine, I believe you, okay? We can be friends if you want... But, while it’s all very heartwarming, hearing how you got over yourself and learned to see us ‘poor proles’ as actual people, and how we’re all such great BFFs, could we maybe get back to the point now?” - Alex’s tone belies the harshness of her words. It’s obvious she’s mostly just embarrassed and wants to change the subject - and is actually apprehensive of what she might hear when they do at the same time.
Evangeline heaves another big sigh, the mood turning somber again. “ - Yes, I think we should.”
“ - So, like, all this time, you really were friends with Dimante and Silva?” - asks Patty. Her tone is gentle, even though the unvoiced “while they were tormenting us“ is clear.
“ - I’m afraid so… Or I thought so, anyway. Because… Once I actually started to appreciate you all? I also started noticing how different what I had with them was to what I had with you. And not in a ‘different, but just as good’ way… I realized that, in the three months I knew you, you became better friends to me than Tiana and Samantha were after years of acquaintance. In fact, I think I was never really friends with them at all... Well, maybe once, long ago, at the very start. But we somehow lost it along the way. For the longest time now, we were just… Allies? Social peers? Whatever it was, it always felt so cool, calculated, opportunistic, and superficial. It took the difference I felt with you for me to realize that. And I’m not even going to pretend it wasn’t my fault as much as theirs... Nowadays, we never really shared anything positive. When we ‘hung out’, it was always backbiting our other peers, ranting and venting about whatever arouse our ire at the time, and insincere compliments and sympathy. And always keeping up appearances, with a wary eye on our backs, careful not to expose any weakness that would mean losing face. The study group we have with Nyree, Dominique, and now Alex? That would never fly with Tiana and Samantha. Admitting one couldn’t manage it on their own? Unthinkable. And giving support without receiving anything tangible in return? A sucker’s game. Thinking about it now… It was all just... Sad.”
“ - But then… Why did you continue to be ‘friends’ with them? Especially after they started going after us?” - ‘Nique gives voice to all their puzzlement.
“ - In a way… I felt indebted to them. However shallow and insincere our ‘friendship’ was… They were the first people I ever called friends. We went back so long, for whatever that was worth… Turning my back on them now just didn’t feel right! Even as their plans for the Angels became more and more mean and hurtful, I couldn’t bare to ‘betray’ Tiana and Samantha… Even when it effectively meant I was betraying your trust instead.” - Eva hangs her head in shame again.
“ - Your classic conflict of loyalties, girls.” - summarizes Diego. “ - That’s also why you were so unenthusiastic when we talked about waging PR warfare on them, wasn’t it, Eva?”
“ - Yes… Even if one of those loyalties wasn’t really deserved. I didn’t really have anything good with them… Yet I was so afraid of losing even that, that I risked losing the real good that I did have with the team. I never actually helped them against you… But I didn’t exactly truly try to stop them, either. I tried broaching the subject of you being my friends too, and maybe laying the whole thing to rest a couple of times… But I was so afraid of antagonizing them, I couldn’t make any headway. Especially the second time, after Alex scored her big ‘hit’ on Tiana. She was so furious! I was just so relieved that, for whatever reason, she didn’t demand my help in getting back at you, that I meekly backpedalled, buried my head in the sand, and stayed silent... I’m so, so sorry, girls!” - Eva sniffles a bit, “ - Here I was just now, going on about how I valued you and your friendship, but I really wasn’t being a good friend to you at all!...”
Over Eva’s hanging head, Minuette makes eye contact with everyone in turn, to make sure she can really speak for all of them. Satisfied with what she sees, Minnie gently lifts Evangeline’s face to look her in the eyes:
“ - Eva? It’s okay. We forgive you. All of us.” - the rest - all of them this time - chorus agreement.
“ - But… Why?” - Eva meekly asks, as if not daring to really hope yet.
“ - Because we’re friends, silly! I mean, du-uh! That’s what real friends do!” - declares Minnie brightly, as if it was the simplest thing in the world.
“ - T-thank you…” - this time, Eva is really choked up, a few tears escaping down her cheeks, and she finally returns Minnie’s hug. It takes her a longer moment to gather her composure again. Minuette is happy to give Eva all the time she needs.
“ - You had your reasons,” - chimes in Patty, “ - Sure, your reasons stank,” - she smirks, “ - But if you’re telling the truth, which I have no reason to doubt, you had good intentions, however misguided. You were certainly being a better friend to Dimante and Silva than they were to you. Better than they deserved!”
“ - You know,” - muses Evangeline, melancholy, “ - The saddest part is probably that they didn’t use to be so bad. We may have actually been real friends, once. Maybe I held out hope we could be again. That I could do better with them now that I knew how? But Tiana… I think both her parents are like my mom, only much worse… And Samantha? She’s really not that bad at all, even now. But they were friends with Tiana even before we met, and she basically worships the ground Tiana walks on…”
“ - And lacks the willpower to say ‘no’ to anything Dimante dreams up.” - finishes Diego, nodding. “ - Makes for a very one-sided ‘friendship’, but hella convenient for the privileged side, alright.” - Eva nods sadly.
Evangeline sighs and shakes her head a little, putting thoughts of her two ‘friends’ aside. Surfacing from Minnie’s arms, she looks around at everyone, still a bit anxious, but at least no longer despondent.
“ - Thank you, girls. Thank you so much, for showing me what real friends are like.” - she gives a little laugh, a bit shaky but sincere. “ - It’s all a bit melodramatic and cliche, isn’t it? The ‘power of true friendship’? But you know what? I don’t care. I’m just happy to have met you.”
“ - Yeah, sure. Remember that the next time one of us does something to piss you off.” - snarks Alex, though she’s obviously fighting hard to suppress a laugh. The others, including Eva, don’t even bother.
“ - So…” - Nyree hesitates, afraid to spoil the mood, but feeling she has to ask, “ - Was that what was wrong? You were afraid we’d be angry when we found out about you, Tiana, and Samantha? So now that we’re okay, does that mean you won’t be quitting after all?...” - she asks hopefully. “ - O-oh no…” - Nyree’s face falls, as Evangeline’s mood, greatly improved a second before, takes an instant dive back into the dark hole it was in before they started.
“ - N-no. I’m sorry…” - Eva chokes out miserably, head hanging again. “ - I’m still resigning…”
Minuette redoubles her hugging efforts, as the others exchange newly worried looks.
“ - But what could be so bad?” - Octavia tries gently.
“ - Yeah, spit it out already, Princess!” - demands Alex.
“ - Eva, please, tell us. We want to help!” - urges ‘Nique.
Eva shakes her head weakly: “ - I can’t. And you can’t. Please, I… Not now?...”
Alex sighs in obvious frustration, but otherwise bites her tongue. The others shift anxiously, but also don’t press for now.

Well, the Monster is an academy vehicle. That means DeeDee does have a direct line to it - it’s as if she was there with them the whole time… Not wanting ALEPH, in any of its numerous personas and guises, to know about something they’re discussing or doing is obviously a very new, and even alien, concept to the girls (with the possible exception of Patricia and Alex… And, it now seems, Eva herself...).

“ - Well, we’re here, anyway.” - chimes in Yuni a few moments later, guiding the Monster to a stop. They have arrived at the paintball field. Maybe now they’ll get some answers?

As everyone unloads from the truck, the Spiders, who come to meet them as usual, quickly notice the Angels’ subdued, distressed mood.
“ - Something seriously wrong, Diego?” - inquires Bolo quietly.
“ - ‘Fraid so. We’re having some trouble.”
“ - Anything we can do?”
“ - Not really, but I appreciate the offer. For now, we need to discuss something delicate before we can join you.”
“ - Got ya. I’ll take my merry band through our warm-ups, then. Maybe do a round or two of the field. You take your time and holler when you’re ready.”
“ - Gracias, man. We’ll try not to keep you waiting too long.”

“ - So, Eva. Ready?” - asks Diego, once Bolo and his Spiders are again out of earshot.
“ - Yes…” - truthfully, she doesn’t look too ready, but resigned, no longer able to delay the inevitable. “ - Could we step away? Just with you, Coach?...”
The other girls are not happy at being left out of the loop, but Diego sternly waves them off. “ - If she’s not yet comfortable talking about it with everybody present, there’s nothing you can do but give her space.”
“ - Right. Come on girls!” - Yuni gets their attention, putting on her PE teacher persona. “ - Time for some warm-ups! Let’s join the Spiders. Nyree, as current team leader, you’re setting the pace! Now go-go-go!”
Evangeline watches them depart, eyes wistful, then sighs and turns to Diego.
“ - Right. Let’s do this…”

They walk a little ways away, among the trees. Looks like they’re not going to be quite alone, though. Roger Smith, Evangeline’s prime chauffeur/bodyguard, hung back after parking the limousine next to the Monster, but now joins Eva and Diego for their little talk.
“ - Alright, Young Miss.” - what of his expression Diego can read beneath Roger’s professionally calm face and sunglasses, seems to be at once stern and concerned, “ - Will you explain now, please? What’s wrong?” - looks like Diego wasn’t the only one awaiting this moment.
Evangeline fidgets uncomfortably under the concerned eyes of the two men. It takes her a moment to find her voice. In the momentary silence, the rustle and creak of some tree branches, just above and behind them, seems unnaturally loud. Curious, Diego can’t feel or hear any wind…
“ - You were right, Coach.” - Eva finally admits, “ - It’s about Tiana and Samantha. They… What they did to Minuette? That was the last straw. I just couldn’t take it anymore... Took me long enough.” - she grimaces disgustedly at herself. “ - So yesterday, I finally gathered up my courage and confronted them, really confronted them about their war on the Angels, all the awful things they were doing… Told them I couldn’t keep silent anymore. I’d take everything to the Principal, testify in Minuette’s case, expose them for everything! I don’t care if I get in trouble for knowing and not speaking up earlier. Our ‘friendship’, such as it was, was naturally over... I expected Tiana - it’s her we have to be really concerned about, Samantha is just her crony with no initiative, if an eager one - would be furious… But I never expected this… Tiana… She has a recording…” - Eva gulps.
“ - Blackmail?” - asks Diego, Roger just a second behind him, both scowling hard.
“ - Yes… You see… Before this school year started, just at the end of ‘summer’ break… Me, Tiana, and Samantha, we had ourselves a trip into town… Hit the mall, some cafes, a club or two. It was the most fun, friendly thing we did in what felt like forever, and never since. The memory of us as real friends that I was so desperately holding on to… Except… That evening, we also engaged in a bit of, well… Slumming. Hit up the seedier part of town. Not a club but a dive. Being only sixteen, we shouldn’t have been able to get in, but big piles of money open doors, afterall. Felt so ‘daring, rebellious teenager’...” - Eva smiles sadly at her memories “ - And we didn’t stop there. We…” - she gulps, sending a fearful glance at Diego and Roger, then avoiding their eyes again, “ - We purchased… Intoxicants.”
“ - Alcohol?” - Roger is calm, but there’s a clear edge of reproach in his voice.
Diego just shrugs. At Eva’s age, he was putting away beer like water*, and booze like nobody’s business**. Not his place to judge, even if he had the inclination.

* It wasn’t even illegal for a junior adult on Corregidor.
** Which wasn’t that non-illegal, actually...

“ - At first.” - Eva wilts under Roger’s gaze. “ - But then… To cap the night off in style… We got our hands on… I believe the common name is ‘Liquid Starlight’.” - she finishes meekly, not daring to look up.
Diego can’t recall this particular drug, but he doesn’t indulge much or often nowadays, and never in anything markedly stronger than good old weed, or equivalent. It’s probably too new for Diablo to remember it from his younger, more adventurous days*.

* And, hey, he was on detached duty on Bakunin for a time. You don’t do drugs on Bakunin, you’re considered kinda oddball. Something like being in Matr and never ever touching vodka.

Roger, on the other hand, seems to know exactly what substance Eva is talking about. And it doesn’t make him happy, not at all.
“ - ‘Liquid Starlight’, Evangeline?” - he asks slowly, voice and face stone. “ - ‘Liquid Starlight’, as in a third-stage derivative of Nitrocaine?”
“ - I… I b-believe so, y-yes…” - sniffles Eva, miserable.
Now, this Diego can understand. Nitrocaine is, of course, the famous prime Silk-derivative drug, as incredibly potent as it is devilishly addictive - and, thanks to its Silk-based nature, enormously expensive. Even a third-stage derivative, or D3, of that would be enough for one Hell of a ride through bio-chemically-induced Heaven. Diego was never really able to afford even Nitrocaine-D4 - and even in his adventurous years he had more common sense than to try a D5...
“ - Nitrocaine-D3.” - as Roger slowly removes his shades, Diego notices the bodyguard’s hand shake a little. “ - Nitrocaine. My God, Evangeline! My dear child, do you realize how monumentally, stupendously stupid what you three did was?” - Roger doesn’t really raise his voice, but the reprove, disappointment - and desperate concern - in his tone lashes Eva like a physical blow. The girl is biting her lip, barely holding together, head hung low. “ - How lucky you are not to have gotten addicted? You’re not addicted, are you? ...No,” - he muses, aside, “ - Even a D3 is expensive as all Hell, Dorothy would have noticed such a drain on your allowance… But what if someone found you an easy mark, and slipped you a higher grade, just to get you hooked? Or some sicko dealer fed you the sewage that a D5 is instead? Evangeline, you could have ended up brain-dead, or worse! God, if I thought it would be of any use, I’d put you over my knee right now and give you a solid, bare-bottom belting! And I can’t guarantee Dorothy won’t do it anyway once she finds out. Oh, Eva…” - Roger goes down on one knee in front of his charge, putting his hands on her shoulders. “ - Evangeline, please, look at me.” - he asks gently. Eva rises her head, choking back sobs. “ - Young Miss. Evangeline. Please, please promise me you’ll never do anything so stupid again?” - Roger begs.

Eva breaks down in tears, sobbing out desperate apologies and promises. Roger pulls her into a comforting hug and lets her cry into his shoulder, stroking Eva’s hair and making gentle, reassuring noises.
Diego gives them as much time as needed. Though he muses that Roger is certainly not your standard hired bodyguard.

Eva finally cries herself out, though she stays in Roger’s arms a moment longer, before disentangling herself with a quiet, heart-felt “ - Thank you”. She takes a moment to gather herself again, and tidy up a bit (thank modern technology for tears-resistant make-up!). She looks ashamed, and still worried about the situation in general, but also relieved.
“ - So, Young Miss.” - Roger re-assumes the guise of calm, cool professionalism, “ - The recording Miss Diamante is in possession of?”
“ - Easy to guess, surely. She made it on that night. It clearly shows me when I’m, well… Indulging in the drug.” - Eva cringes and blushes. “ - I was so stupid. Never even noticed she recorded me. It’s been months, and I never suspected she had something like this. To hold on to it for so long - to even make it in the first place - just in case it could be useful to blackmail someone you were paying lip-service to as your friend… It’s just so… Devious. Cold.” - Eva hugs herself, distressed.
Roger, in his subdued way of course, looks agitated again. And this time it’s with anger: “ - When exactly was this, Young Miss?”
“ - July 28th. The last Sunday of summer break.”
“ - Yes, I remember. The one night me and Dorothy were off duty. And who was your designated ‘shadow’ that night?...” - a few quick eye-flickers show Roger accessing a private AR screen. He scowls thunderously. “ - Shelke!” - he barks in a voice of sharp command.
“ - Yes, Boss?” - responds a sheepish voice from directly behind Diego’s shoulder. From where, he was absolutely sure, there was nothing but thin air. Luckily, Diablo is not easily startled! He turns slowly. The tall, lithe form of Shelke, clad in her black field gear, is hanging head-down from a tree branch above, her slightly too-wide smile a little tense. So that’s what made that noise earlier. Still, she’s damn good!
Evangeline, unlike Diego, jumps and whirls around with a startled “ - Whoa!”. She does a double-take at Shelke, who waves at her. “ - How?... Why?...”
“ - Please, Young Miss. You are smarter than this.” - scolds Roger gently, “ - You are the scion of the Neve family, one of the wealthiest, most powerful clans on Avalon, second tier only to the Celestes. You couldn’t really believe we’d let you go anywhere without protection?”
Shelke drops from her branch, twisting in mid-air and landing upright with the casual grace of an olympic gymnast. “ - We’re always near, should you need us.” - she grins at Eva. A thermo-optic camouflage distortion band silently flickers across Shelke’s silhouette, momentarily revealing the trees behind her. Elite skill and state of the art gear - and almost parental dedication to their charge - yeah, Evangeline’s protection detail don’t futz around.
“ - But… Always? Everywhere?!” - Eva blushes suddenly, clearly somewhat distressed by the idea.
“ - Well, no, we don’t literally follow you everywhere.” - Shelke scratches at the back of her head in an awkward gesture, “ - That would be kinda creepy. But we are just outside the door, and we know what goes on inside, just in case!”
Roger clears his throat pointedly. “ - We are getting distracted.” - his scowl is back, restrained, but no less fierce. “ - This should not have been allowed to happen. Even leaving aside allowing Miss Evangeline to gain access to a D3. Such a recording should have never been made, or if it was, it shouldn’t have survived the night. This is an inexcusable neglect of duty, Shelke, and you know it! I won’t even mention that you were her ‘shadow’ yesterday too, when she had that no doubt delightful talk with her two ‘friends’, but don’t for a second think I missed it.”
Shelke wilts, a small blush of shame coloring her cheeks. “ - I’m sorry, Boss…”
“ - I’m not the one you should be apologizing to.”
“ - Yea... Little Miss, the Boss Man is right. I screwed up, big time. We’re not only supposed to guard you from physical harm. Your integrity and image are also in our care. I shouldn’t have let my guard down. I’m sorry I failed you…”
Evangeline sighs, rubbing the bridge of her nose. “ - It would be so easy to shift the blame for the consequences of my own stupidity on to you… And I feel like I should be angry, but, honestly? I just don’t have the energy. This day has been an emotional roller-coaster, and the few previous ones didn’t help...” - she does look tired and wrung-out. “ - Just… Why did you let me do it, then? And why the lapse of attention?”
“ - I know it’s no excuse, not for someone with my responsibility… But I guess, at that moment, I saw too much of my old self in you.” - Shelke smiles sadly. “ - Nostalgia clouded my judgement. I wanted you to have that moment of dumb teenage rebellion, just for yourself. Hell, I was kinda, perversely, proud of you! And as to looking the other way… Well… Nitrocaine, even D3, is potent stuff. First reactions can be rather… Intense. So it was one of those times where I thought skulking in the same room as you would be a bit... Awkward. Know what I mean?” - despite the situation, Shelke flashes a tiny, naughty, teasing grin at Eva. In response, Eva blushes hard. Obviously, she does know. “ - Plus, well, you were together with people who were supposedly your friends, who you trusted... “ - Shelke sighs. “ - A stupid mistake on my part. And one it’s now my responsibility to fix, or go down trying. Right, Boss?” - she turns to Roger.
“ - Precisely. We’ll need to perform a shadow run on the Dimante compound, trace and nuke all copies of the vid. A one person, suicide job.“
“ - ‘Suicide’?!” - demands, Eva, alarmed.
“ - Oh, not literally. Probably.” - assures Shelke, unable to resist a grin, “ - But the agent in question - that being me - is going in with a ‘burn notice’. If I screw up and get caught, the entire thing is on my head, the Neves disavow all connection or knowledge. A real black op. Hmm, it’s like the war all over again...” - she muses with an alarming amount of nostalgia.

“ - Far be it from me to dismiss your obvious concern for Eva’s good name,” - speaks up Diego, “ - But I must admit I don’t quite get what the big deal is? So, a girl from a prominent family got high as a kite on some expensive stuff. From the byplay, I’m guessing high enough that she made an R-rated spectacle of herself. And she got filmed in the act. Oh, sure, the paparazzi will have a field day, maybe week. Then a new scandal comes along to grab everyone’s attention, and the whole thing blows over. No doubt it won’t be very pleasant for her, so it’s absolutely worth avoiding if possible... But at such high risk of an even bigger scandal if the op goes badly south and is traced to her despite all the precautions, and the whole thing gets out anyway? It’s just a dumb kid mistake. Not something that’ll ruin her life and her family forever, is it? Or is that another one of those cultural things in PanO I’m missing?”
“ - Definitely a cultural thing.” - confirms Roger. “ - I think you may have missed it, senhor Ibarrez, because it fell within the time you were KIA. But in the years immediately following the war, PanOceania almost lost an entire generation of youth to Nitrocaine abuse. The problem was escalating for years before that, and a virtual plague of high-profile deaths was the last straw. The purges were maybe not quite on the level of the Gentle Dragon’s war on Triads - less secret prisons and disappearances, I’m sure - but we did have ourselves a merry little crusade. We were always more sensitive about drugs than the Nomad Nations - no judgments, just facts. But nowadays? Nitrocaine carries a stigma all it’s own. Oh, people still use it alright, and everyone knows it. You’re just not supposed to let yourself be caught. If you do, everyone’s against you - for reminding them of the problem as much as anything else. A one-time, childish mistake, with no resulting addiction, will not destroy the Young Miss, true. But it may very well end up branding her for life anyway, and being very bad for continuing family business. We’d rather avoid that entirely. It’s a risk, yes. But if we play it right, even if we blunder, it will not affect the Young Miss or the family.”
“ - Ideally, I won’t get caught before I manage to carry out the deed. And then I’ll just take the fall for the op, with no one the wiser what it was really about. A win-win for the Boss Man, really. After this monumental fuck-up, we’d probably have to re-negotiate the conditions of my employment anyway.” - Shelke shrugs philosophically.
Evangeline looks saddened by this, but can’t really find a way to argue.
“ - Right. Okay, not my place to judge. If them’s the breaks here, then them’s the breaks.” - Diego shrugs. “ - Though I could offer some scathing social commentary...”
“ - ‘Scathing social commentary’, eh? You Nomads don’t think much of civilised society’s stance on drugs?” - teases Shelke.
“ - So who do you PanO folk consider ‘civilized’?” - smirks Diego in response, “ - Yourself, obviously,” - he gives an exaggerated eye-roll, making Shelke giggle, “ - And maybe Yu Jing, if they don’t happen to be eating cats at the moment?”
“ - Hey, man, don’t knock it until you try it!”
“ - Oh, I assure you, I’ve tried a great many things in my time. Some of them would turn even your stomach, I’m sure.”
“ - Yea? Try me.”
“ - Well, there was this time on the Paradiso frontline, one Bakunin quartermaster treated us to a Shas Infusion. You know, those Tequilas with a snake or centipede inside? Like those, only with a Shasvasti spawn embryo. Let me tell you, one of the foulest, turn-your-mouth-inside-out, knock-your-boots-off brews I’ve ever got shit-faced on.” - Diego grins ear-to-ear.
Evangeline turns a little green, and even Roger looks somewhat disturbed. Shelke is very silent all of a sudden, and perhaps a little pale.
“ - We all do what we must to survive.” - she intones gravely, face very carefully blank. She gives a little shudder, pulling together with some obvious effort. “ - Okay, your win, Coach. All the win.” - she smiles again, smaller, but with some real respect in it.
Roger clears his throat again. “ - Please focus. You can compare scores later.”
“ - Right, Boss.”
“ - Alright. So, coming back to Nitrocaine, then…” - muses Diego. “ - Eva, are you the only one in the recording?”
“ - Yes… But it was obviously edited to cut out some parts…” - Eva frowns in thought.
“ - Ha. So it’s possible that the little vibora originally recorded the entire thing, whole comlog surround suite. She obviously showed you only the parts with you in it… But the full original may well include Dimante’s own Nitrocaine-fueled performance as well. And if senorita Shelke could also secure that for us during her run…” - he waggles his eyebrows.
“ - ...We could turn the tables on Dimante with some juicy dirt of our own!” - Shelke lets loose her toothy, slightly creepy smile. “ - I like the way you think, Coach Ibarrez, I like it a lot…” - she extends a hand to Diego. “ - We haven’t really been formally introduced, have we? Belladonna Shelke. Call me Bell.”
“ - Diego Ibarrez. You may call me Diablo.” - Diego returns the smile and shakes.
“ - Coach Ibarrez’s idea is a good one, though it’s doubtful Dimante would be quite so stupid as to keep an unedited copy. Not impossible, but not likely, I’d say. We’ll keep it in mind for a secondary objective.” - decides Roger. ” - Now, we will need to gather intelligence on the Dimante House and their security. This will take some time to do properly and, most importantly, covertly. I don’t expect for us to be ready to move until after New Year, two weeks from now, give or take.”
“ - Wouldn’t Christmas or New Year be an advantageous time to move?” - inquires Diego. “ - If they’re holding some kind of party, with lots of guests, the commotion might be a good opportunity to slip in.”
“ - Yes, for the outer layers of security. But without some solid intel on the ones deeper in the compound, the private parts where we need to go, that advantage would be more than cancelled out. And we need time to get that. Young Miss.” - Roger turns to Evangeline, “ - Do you know of your ‘friend’s’ family’s plans for the holidays?”
“ - They will be having a party on Christmas Day. Tiana would surely expect me to attend,” - Eva scowls, “ - Luckily we’re leaving the planet.” - she looks to Diego. “ - We’re travelling to Acontecimento for Christmas. And I think the Dimantes are leaving for New Year, while we’ll be staying here.”
“ - Not good, then.” - decides Roger. “ - Christmas will be too early for us. And Dimante leaving on New Year will mean all the copies of the video will not be on site, since she’s probably carrying one on her comlog. This would complicate things. Especially if Shelke succeeded but got caught. And even if not, we’d have to hit Dimante immediately as she arrives back, before she has a chance to get home and find out the local copies got wiped. That means getting to her comlog on the move. Technically easier, but conditions may be wildly unpredictable. I’d rather we not risk it if not absolutely necessary.”
“ - Well, you are the experts here. I just bash faces in.” - Diego smirks. “ - I guess, given Eva family’s status, you do have a spin doctor on staff? Will probably want to alert him, so he has time to prepare in case worst comes to worst and the whole thing blows up.”
“ - Yes, forewarned is forearmed, afterall. Giving our PR expert time to prepare, instead of forcing them to react live, is only good sense. Though we’d have to be discreet about it, not to worry the Mr and Mrs.”
“ - Wait… You’re not going to tell dad and mom?” - Eva asks, at once hopeful and ashamed for it.
“ - We will, but only if it’s unavoidable. Otherwise, I hope to spare them the stress. And disappointment.” - Roger explains, voice stern, though not unkind. Eva nods meekly. “ - Right. I think we kept the Young Miss and Coach Ibarrez long enough. Me and Shelke will discuss some more, but you should get back to your team. Thank you for your help, senhor Ibarrez.”
“ - You’re welcome. Let me know if there’s something else I can do. Right, then. Come on, Eva. I’m sure the others are getting worried. Well, more worried. Senhor Smith. Bell.” - Diego nods goodbye to them. Roger returns the nod, Shelke wayes.

Once they see Diego and Eva coming back, the team immediately gather around them, with renewed concerned inquiries.
“ - Okay, girls,” - Diego speaks up, “ - The short version is, Dimante’s got some bad dirt on Eva. It’s probably better you don’t know what it is exactly.”
“ - The less we know, the shorter the interrogation will be.” - quips Patty.
“ - Exactly. Anyway, our sweet Miss Dimante and her crony now have a hold on Evangeline.”
“ - Tiana ordered me to quit the team,” - Eva frowns unhappily, “ - And to stop meeting with any of you at all…” - this is met with dismayed exclamations.
“ - And I expect those will not be her last demands, either.” - cautions Diego. “ - That’s the way it tends to go with blackmail. Once they realize they do have an effective sword to hold over your head, they’ll keep waving it to get more and more concessions. Why wouldn’t they? It’s not like you can do anything about it.”
The girls all look disgusted, angry, and sad. Minnie hugs Eva again.
“ - So this means you won’t be coming to the club today?” - she asks, disheartened.
“ - I’d probably better not.” - confirms Eva glumly. “ - Tiana knows about Patty’s gig - you do advertise in Maya. And she can easily follow all of our social streams. So it’ll be easy for her to check on me.”
“ - We could easily edit those. And ask everybody we know to do the same…” - muses Octavia.
“ - But there will be tons of people from the school there.” - Nyree shakes her head. “ - We don’t know them all. And even if, one slip up could mean the whole thing crashing down with one custom search on CaraLibro.”
“ - This suuucks.” - Patty pouts. “ - Martin - Bedevere - is coming, I’ve sent him an invitation as promised. And he said Risa wanted to come as well.”
“ - Oh. It would have been nice to see her again…” - Eva sighs in disappointment.
“ - What do you say we send her your way?” - asks Morgan. “ - She could visit you at home. Even if Dimante finds out, so what, she can’t blame you for a surprise visit by a friend from a different team, right?”
“ - And you said yourself, keeping up appearances is important in your high-and-mighty circles.” - smirks Alex.
“ - Exactly. And Miss Ferreira is part of that. You can’t exactly turn her away at the door, now can you?” - ‘Nique chimes in.
“ - That… That would work. Thank you, girls.” - Eva’s eyes are a little watery again. She quickly pulls herself together, making a brave, determined face. “ - Alright. The Princess Guard,” - she smirks at Alex, who grins in return, “ - Are on the case. I’m confident they’ll be able to sort this mess out in no time, and I’ll be able to join you again. In the meantime… Don’t let this get you down. You go to the party and have fun. You hear? Minuette? Make sure of it. This is my last order to you as our morale officer, before my forced retirement as commander.” - Evangeline pulls on her best officious, pompous Princess manner.
“ - Oui, M’dame! Entendu!” - Minuette snaps to attention and salutes smartly, though she can’t keep the wide grin off of her face. “ - I’ll do my damnest!”

“ - Alright, girls. I think our practice got delayed enough already. Let’s not keep the Spiders waiting any longer. Get ready to begin.” - orders Diego.
The Angels move to get their gear.
“ - You’re staying for the training, right?” - Nyree asks Eva, concerned.
“ - Yes, just this once more.” - sighs Eva.
“ - Would you like to maybe still be in command, then?”
“ - Thank you...” - Eva gives a sincere but tired smile, “ - But, honestly? I’m too wrung out to be an effective first-in-command today. You take the lead, like the Coach said. But I can be your second?”
Nyree nods, smiling.

Shelke’s presence, conspiring with Roger, is quickly noted.
“ - Where did she come from?” - Patty rises her eyebrows. Evangeline just smiles.
“ - Jeez, her again.” - Alex shivers a little.
“ - Come now, chica. She’s not that bad.” - Diego smiles.
“ - Sure, to you maybe! You’re a Nomad, you’re used to weirdos! She really gives me the creeps… I can’t put my finger on it, but there’s something wrong with the broad!...” - insists Alex.
“ - ...She doesn’t blink.” - concludes Nyree slowly.
“ - What!?”
“ - Pay attention - really pay attention - to her face for a while. She never blinks.”
“ - ...Damn. You’re right! Always knew you were perceptive, Nyree.” - Nyree looks embarrassed at the praise. “ - She really doesn’t blink. Like, at all. And that smile is way too wide… Cree-pee…” - Alex looks properly unnerved.
And it’s true. There are, of course, several possible explanations Diablo can think of, starting with a pair of cybernetic eyes that just don’t need it. Though even such prosthesis/augments should include an appropriate reflex program to do it anyway, exactly to avoid such a “creepy” effect. Maybe Bell deactivated it, because she just enjoys creeping people out? On reflection, this is highly probable...




(continued below)

[Errhile]

(Entry #16, continued)

The Angels definitely underperform in the training matches today. It’s obvious the latest developments lay heavy on their minds. Still, they do manage a fairly respectable showing at least, and are not a complete walkover for the Spiders.
“ - Take it as part of the exercise. As you had to experience playing while exhausted, now you get to train going into action while emotionally shaken. A battle will not always wait for you to be at your best, after all.” - advises Diego.

As agreed, the games end early today.
The girls say their subdued but hopeful goodbyes with Evangeline. Minnie gets emotional again and calls for a group hug. The others don’t let her ask twice (though for Alex it’s - mostly - because of Morgan’s firm hand on her forearm, pulling her in; she looks markedly awkward and embarrassed about the whole thing, especially since her position in the group leaves her squeezed into Nyree...).
Minnie once again vows to honor the Princess’ “last command” and make sure the others have fun in Eva’s absence (well, it should also help keep her mind off of her own troubles).
Eva leaves directly for home with Roger (Shelke disappeared into thin air sometime earlier), while the rest load into the Monster and head for school first, to scatter from there.

The evening comes, and the Angels of Stone, minus Evangeline, meet at the club Patricia will be DJing at today, the whimsically named “Round Square”.

Patty starts the party with a little announcement. Which, as far as Diego can tell from the few of her gigs he attended, is not typical. In her DJ Scratch persona, Patty usually stays mostly silent, while still managing to communicate with the crowd quite effectively using only music. Not today, though. Patty leans to the mike, the lights reflected in her shades turning her eyes into mirror pools of sharp neon glare:
“ - Alright, you peeps. A little warning. Me and my friends are going through some shit lately. Bad enough that one of them can’t be here with us tonight. And it makes me pissed! So, tonight you gonna get a rare treat: you get to listen to the Angry Scratch. I’ve got to work out some stress. So brace yourselves!”
She says noting more, just starts her set, the music definitely angrier, sharper, and darker than usual. Still makes for damn good dancing, though, and the crowd wastes no time in getting into it.

There are quite a lot of familiar faces in attendance. Markedly, the boyfriends of both Angels that have same are here with them.
Minuette managed to finally get Ilya to agree to come with her to one of Patty’s parties. Ho boy. We already knew Mr. Malinin knows his classical dances, but hopping around to Patty’s kind of music? Seeing how happy his attendance makes Minnie, everyone is prepared to risk it really bringing the ceiling down, as she once predicted… Luckily, he manages to avoid doing that, though he’s definitely a sight to behold on the dancefloor!
Fred is here too, to Octavia’s blushing delight. He’s quite the party animal, and his presence also manages to draw out a little more of Octy’s wild side. Not that she had very big problems letting loose at Patty’s gigs before, but it was always kinda controlled still, if earnest. This time, she’s definitely bolder - and managing to do that without hiding behind her dark glasses all the time, as well! Octy’s dressed in that shorts-under-skirt casual outfit Diego and Yuni saw her in when shopping for biking gear, this time with a printed tee stating: “All About That Bass, No Treble”.
“ - It’s a present from Frederic.” - she blushingly admits. “ - I don’t quite get the joke, but I like it…”
Bolo’s Barking Spiders are all here, as well as Octy’s and Fred’s troupe of orchestra friends and their hangers on. Ilya’s sister, tiny Katya, joins that group to Minnie’s cheerleader friends. Mako and the full roster of the Ramjets are in attendance. The Angels’ tech crew make an appearance as well - including Eric himself(!), as they jokingly boast: “ - Dragged kicking and screaming!” from the workshop. As announced by Patty earlier, Martin Ricardo - Bedevere of the Knights of the Round Table - hopped a suborbital flight from Morgana to catch DJ Scratch live. Risa Ferreira, Percival, comes with him. She stays long enough to sample the music, but leaves quickly as the girls explain Eva’s situation, the Knight going on a quest to cheer her younger friend up at least a little.

Minuette does her best to make good on her promise to Evangeline, turning into a real whirlwind of enthusiasm and good cheer, to make sure the girls are having fun despite the dark pall hanging over another one of their own. Minnie’s efforts are mostly successful in that regard, and a genuinely good time is had by all, spirits definitely raised. But it’s still generally agreed that it’s not quite the same without Eva there.

Late at night - or early in the morning, really! - Diego and Yuni leave the club together, having seen the girls and various other acquaintances off, heading for Yuni’s flat. A little together fun time will not go amiss, after today.

The day at least ends much better than it begun.


Sunday, December 22nd

Diego and Yuni treat themselves to a morning of lazing around in bed… Though they can’t keep it up for too long, both being active people used to rising early.

After breakfast (in which’s preparation Diego has become much more helpful since the first time, having had quite a bit cooking practice now), they decide to make a day out of it with a trip to their usual spot out of town. They have a nice motorcycle ride there, and then spend their time running, climbing, exercising, and swimming. They also take along two rented bicycles, for a first cycling lesson Yuni proposed some time ago. As predicted, Diego doesn’t have that much of a hard time with that activity either, though some more practice certainly won’t go amiss.

The evening sees them back at Yuni’s, for some more good food, and some additional activities, less mobile, but no less athletic or fun. They do turn in early today, though, for they must rise very early tomorrow.


Monday, December 23rd

In the wee hours of the morning, Yuni and Diego rise, eat a much quicker and less elaborate breakfast, and head out to the Belo Horizonte astroport. Today, Yuni leaves for Neoterra, to spend Christmas with her parents and brother. She must leave very early, to catch the Circular through Acontecimento, and get there in time for tomorrow evening*.

* GM Note: You might notice, the interplanetary travel times in “TAGs of Avalon” are very short. I’m sure, once we get some canon numbers, it’ll turn out the actual travel times should be on the order of weeks, instead of the 24 to 48 hours they’re gonna be in this game. This is a deliberate and conscious choice on my part. The deviation from canon (with some accompanying technobabble explanations) allows for the kind of game we wanted to have, which wouldn't really be possible with the suspected canon travel times. Then again, you could explain it with a major leap in starship technologies in the post-EI War era, likely having to do with some retro-engineered voodoo tech...

Yuni is travelling relatively light, so there’s no problem for Diego to give her a ride in his motorcycle sidecar.

As they say their goodbyes by the shuttle boarding gate, Diego hands Yuni her Christmas gift (the fancy, high-tech, programmable nano-nail-polish he purchased some time ago through the Nomad trade mission), with strict instructions to be a good girl and not to open it before tomorrow evening.
“ - I’ll try to restrain myself.” - she winks. “ - Sorry I haven’t got anything for you yet… I’ll bring you something fun back from Neoterra. Maybe some snow in a cooler, so we can have a single-snowball fight.” - she grins. “ - Anyway, try to hold down the fort, and not have too much fun without me. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” - Yuni winks again.
“ - Have a good trip, and a good Christmas with your family. Try not to fight too much.” - Diego returns the wink.

A proper goodbye kiss later, Yuni boards, and Diego heads home. He doesn’t watch the shuttle depart - some in the Nation believe doing that is bad luck…

After going back to sleep for a bit, and then his morning workout, Diego spends much of today pursuing information on the Angels’ next prospective opponent, the Bourak Institute of Planetology TAG-Soft team.

Said team is jokingly named Rahat al-Hulqum - after the name of a peculiar sugar and starch gel confection, literally “Comfort for the throat” in Arabic*, though more commonly the team’s name is translated as “Heaven on the tongue”. And it looks like they could prove an interesting opponent.

* While the English term for this kind of sweets is “Turkish Delight”, it isn’t actually a Turkish invention, being present in Arab culture long before the Ottoman Empire.

The team’s coach is an Arabian individual named Sabri bin Basara, known as the “Turtle”, or even “The Genius Turtle”. Diego has never met him personally, though he does believe their units did at least once co-operate on Paradiso, in one of Diablo’s few dirtside tours. He has certainly heard of the “Turtle”, however. One of the big names of the Al-Medinat’s renown Maghariba Guard, an ace TAG pilot and keen commander, famous for his fighting style combining flawless defence and rapid mobility, his “Turtle” nickname at once fitting and ironic. He and his men always seemed to be just where they were most needed, and almost impossible to dislodge once there. Even back then, bin Basara has been slowly getting on in years, though it never seemed to affect his battlefield performance, and he was nowhere near ready for retirement. Now, almost thirty years later, the “Turtle”, having survived the war, looks quite old, if not ancient yet, and has apparently retired from the military and active piloting, but not quite from command and training, going into TAG-Soft. Though it’s interesting he chose the Shahate, and an amateur team at that... However that happened, Sabri seems to have brought with him his distinct piloting and fighting philosophy and style, forging a team excelling in maneuver warfare and staying power.

All the “Heaven” players are older than the Angels, being college-aged, so eighteen plus. But they aren’t really much different, skill-level-wise, from the Human Revolution, as none of the current lineup actually played TAG-Soft in high-school. The team are solid mid league table level contenders. And they will be different opponents to the Revolution for sure. While Cinderblock’s team were pretty much generalists, though with a penchant for close assault, the Turtle’s kids are definitely focused on mobility and defense, with a solid mix of ranged and assault options - no surprise, with their coach’s preferences.

The Institute of Planetology being what it is, the Rahat is also quite a rich, well equipped team. Their roster includes no less than four Magharibas (two Mk.I-s and two Mk.V-s), an Iguana (though not used as a command unit, but a sniper), two Geckos, and, a peculiar curiosity, a Tachikoma*. And their armament looks a bit worrying. The Geckos are both sporting Panzerfausts and FO suites, the sniper rifle is typically loaded with viral ammo, they have a heavy grenade launcher and a missile launcher (unguided, thank the gods!), one of the Mk.I Maghis had its weapon arms rebuilt into brutal looking CCW pincer claws - with built-in plasma carbines(!), and… Lucifer’s Beard, the Tachikoma is toting an E/Marat and a set of E/Maulers. Those people are crazy! Oh, and at least half their TAGs are loaded up with over-clocked ECM and point defense suites. This is gonna be fun, alright...

* Most commonly, if inaccurately, known in the other nations of the Sphere as the Wolf Spider, the Tachikoma is a ”failed” Yu Jing design, built on an arachnid, instead of humanoid, body plan. Created by one of the Japanese armament corporations, it was designed and marketed as “combining the unique design and mobility advantages of the Maghariba with the Gecko’s compact package”. Basically, a mini-Maghi. The State Empire military was not impressed. They saw it mostly as combining the flaws of a Maghariba (awkward shape requiring dedicated berthing facilities and clumsy in boarding actions, a mechanically over-complicated and maintenance-intensive drivetrain, and a control scheme completely different from the standard exo-skeleton-based TAGs necessitating specialist pilot training) with those of a Gecko (little armor, low durability, limited endurance, ability to carry only light armament), to little gain. All the roles for such a TAG could be easily and more cheaply fulfilled by the already available wealth of specialized heavy infantry. Even the ability to easily mount “climbing plus” gear on the lightweight machine was not convincing enough. Of course, though the Chinese would never say so openly, the fact that it was a Japanese product was also certainly a factor... So the State Empire did not purchase the Tachikoma for its army. The Japanese didn’t give up immediately, and the machine saw some limited use, and even a bit of popularity, in police work, emergency services, industry, and on the corporate mercenary market. But the sales were way too low to justify the expense, so production was quickly discontinued, and the Tachikoma became a tiny footnote in TAG history… Until many years later some TAG-Soft enthusiast dug out the blueprints. There’s no rule in TAG-Soft requiring the machines used to have ever seen mainline military service in any army of the Human Sphere - as long as it’s a piloted TAG, it’s fair game. So now, one can occasionally meet a Tachikoma on the sporting field, especially in Japanese Yu Jing teams.

Of the players themselves, three in particular catch Diablo’s eye.
Their lieutenant, a Persian-descent boy known as “Clockwork”, seems to already have made a bit of a name for himself. As a pilot, he seems pretty mediocre, and is not quite too brilliant as a tactician. However, he seemingly excels in facilitating his team’s teamwork. He knows his people perfectly, and is always able to select the perfect person for each task. Under his command the team mesh together like well-oiled cogs in a fine-tuned clock’s mechanism - hence the call-sign.
The other one instantly stands out in all the picts and videos - because of her size. The girl’s callsign is “Titan”, and boy, does it fit her! The young Arabian woman is huge, taller and broader than Yuni, and at least equal to Ilya Malinin. And her countenance, though not as directly scowling as Ilya’s, is similarly foreboding, in a stony, callous way. According to the media, “Titan’s” father was an elite in the Caliphate forces, and one of the recipients of the famous Runihura super-soldier gene-therapy. And, seemingly though a freak genetic accident (because by the treatment’s design it definitely shouldn’t have happened), at least some of the genetic modifications passed down to his daughter… She’s the team’s premiere heavy assault element, riding the plasma-clawed Maghariba. And in that role, she’s absolutely ruthless and shockingly brutal, often leaving opponent she can get to grips with violently dismembered. It’s all simulated with the magic of Augmented Reality, of course, but that doesn’t make it any less gruesome to watch...
The third one couldn’t be more physically different. Average-height and build, though seemingly smaller, because she’s the shortest person on the Heaven team, the Persian girl callsigned “Trickster”. Or, as many opponents seem to have hatefully dubbed her behind her back, “That Bitch”. She’s the pilot of the EM-weapons loaded Tachikoma, and apparently has a way of pulling really nasty tricks on her opponents, ending in their humiliating “demise”. Though, out of her TAG, she seems to be an energetic, cheerful, and sweet individual, if with a liking for pranks. A Haqqislamite version of Minuette, if you will.
One other minor curiosity in the Rahat roster, the North American-descended pilots of the twin Geckos look to themselves be a set of twins, seemingly identical except for gender.

Diego does some thorough research on Rahat al-Hulqum, anticipating a difficult fight. Depending on how things go with Evangeline, the Angels may have to go against the Haqqislam team with only seven players...


Tuesday, December 24th

Christmas Eve dawns bright and clear, but the weather forecast for today predicts heavy rain in the evening. With that in mind, when Diego sets out today, it’s in his car, seldom used since the motorcycle was completed.

Diego spends the day at Silva’s, first working, and when evening comes, simply keeping company with senhor Esteban and the Three Fusiliers.

Dominique of course did not forget her “grandpa” Esteban, and actually works a shift in the eatery today too. Her presence definitely brightens the old-timers’ day. But in the late afternoon, she returns home, to spend Christmas Eve with her mother, and senhor Silva and the others wouldn’t have it any other way.

So, at closing time, the five men make a slightly nostalgic “veterans” (of war, or simply life) evening out of it, sipping beer and just talking about whatever. Seems none of them have any other place to be, nor anybody else to be with, on Christmas Eve.

As Diego finally says goodbye and sets out home in the late evening, rain is coming down hard on Belo Horizonte, the sky a solid mass of dark cloud.

The way home from Silva’s actually skirts a back corner of the Academy. This part of the grounds is fenced off with simple chain-link, instead of the fancy wall they’ve got up front. Thanks to that, as Diego dutifully waits for the lights to change at an empty intersection (Damn you, ALEPH! There’s no one there, and you know it! Why isn’t it green?!), he can see a part of the main parking lot behind the fence, with the Angels’ own hangar in the far distance, barely visible through the downpour and gloom...

And he can also see the person climbing and jumping the fence! (No barbed wire on top! Silly PanO...)

The fence jumper quickly checks their sides and front - but not to the back, so they don’t notice Diablo in his car! - for any possible witnesses, then sets out across the parking lot at a run, splashing through the rain. It looks like they’re heading for the hangar…

Having been a piloting instructor for years, Diego has developed a very good eye and memory for body language. And the way the intruder moves, athletic and brash - as well as the abundant flashes of bare, if darker, skin, indicating a rather skimpy mode of dress - sets off bells of recognition in Diego’s mind. Of course, with this downpour and darkness limiting visibility, he can’t be really sure… But he can easily check.

Diego has his comlog dial Alex’s number, keeping his eyes on the running figure all the while.
And as the first dial tone sounds, the intruder stumbles in surprise, slips on the grass strip between the parking lot and hangar grounds they were just crossing, and takes an inelegant spill facefirst to the muddy ground. Ouch. Good timing, that would have hurt much more on the concrete!
The dial tone sounds out thrice more (and the intruder slowly turns on their back on the ground) before Alex picks up the call - audio only.
“ - Yeah, Coach? What do you want at this hour?” - she sounds a bit disgruntled.
“ - Oh, just thought I’ll check up on you,” - Diego answers casually, “ - Make sure you’re not lying somewhere out in the rain. And to remind you to always check everywhere, including behind you, for witnesses when attempting trespass and break-in.”
His answer is a muffled curse. The intruder - Alex - rises her head from the ground to look through the fence. Diego flashes his car’s high beam lights. Alex’s head falls back down, and more muffled invective can be heard. Alex enables the video part of the connection. She’s lying on her back in the mud, staring up into the pouring rain.
“ - Dammit. Waste of a good masking soft...”
“ - You PanOceanians and you over-reliance on tech.” - Diego shakes his head sadly. “ - The same thing sunk Larasati and her cronies. Tech is helpful, but you gotta think for yourself first, chica.”
“ - Yeah, yeah. Rub it in, why don’t you?” - she sighs.
“ - So what, pray tell, were you doing, when I so rudely interrupted you?”
Alex shrugs. “ - Killing time, I guess? Nowhere else to be today. I thought I’d drop in, re-arrange Eric’s tools a bit for a prank…” - she doesn’t really sound too enthusiastic, or even convinced.
“ - Right. How about you get up, come on over here? Shitty weather we’re having.”
“ - No shit.” - Alex snorts. She gathers herself up and splashes back to the fence.
“ - Need any help? We could call DeeDee, let you out through the gate...”
“ - Nah, I got this.” - Alex starts to climb. As she clambers over the top of the fence, in the still open connection, Diego can hear the sound of ripping fabric and tearing seams. “ - ...Shit. I liked those shorts…” - Alex mutters glumly.
Diego guides the car over, and lets Alex get in. She looks like a drowned rat, splashed with mud and utterly soaked, hair and clothes a mess. The low-riding, high-cut jean short-shorts she favours for casual wear - little more than denim panties, if you ask Diego - are ripped and split down the middle of their (limited area) back. Alex is shivering a bit in the seat, hugging her arms for warmth. Diego turns up the car’s heater, then reaches back, opens the car’s first aid kit, and unpacks the compact anti-shock blanket.
“ - Okay, chica, let’s get you somewhere warm and something dry to wear, before you catch a cold…”
“ - I’m not that cold-” - she tries to deny stubbornly, but interrupts herself with a powerful sneeze, liberally spraying snot on herself and the dash. She favours Diego with a belligerent stare, noisily snorting a string of mucus hanging down almost to her chin back up her nostril.
“ - Obviously.” - Diego deadpans, helping the grumbling girl wrap herself up in the blanket. He puts the car in gear. “ - I have a feeling proposing to take you home is not an option?”
“ - Yeah, don’t bother. There’s no-one there anyway…” - Alex answers in a dead voice, looking away through the window.
Diego nods thoughtfully, and turns the car back to the way home.

He makes one stop on the way, at a convenience-mart.
At this hour on Christmas Eve, all people have finished work long ago, if they even worked today at all. Pseudo-intelligent, automated systems are a different matter. So there’s no problem with making a few emergency purchases, an unfailingly polite and helpful ER shop attendant and their remote assistants on duty even at this day and hour.

Soon, they arrive at Diego’s residential block. Alex is sullenly silent throughout the entire ride, staring out the window.
Diego leads the way to his flat, Alex following silently, soaked boots squishing all the way. Diego notes that, still wrapped in that blanket, and with the air of gloom and resignation she seems to carry about herself, Alex looks very much like the refugees he’s seen in their thousands on Paradiso…
Once inside, she does perks up a tiny bit, looking around with some curiosity at the place her Coach lives*.

* Not that there’s much to look at. Even after retiring and going civilian, Diego hasn’t shaken the military habit of traveling and living light. There’s almost no personal style to the place, no decorations or mementos - it’s more like a hotel room or barracks quarters. Diego could be packed and out of here in ten minutes flat, and that probably only if he took the time to empty the fridge first...

Diego directs Alex to the bathroom.
“ - Sightseeing later, warm and dry first.” - he hands Alex the things he bought: a pretty generic two-piece sweatsuit, in PanO Patriotic Blue, and equally bland sports bra, unisex sports briefs, and tube socks, all in white. He had to eyeball the sizes, but they should fit. Nothing fancy or particularly flattering, but it’ll keep her warm. “ - Towels in the cabinet, soap, shampoo, etc, on the shelf. Throw your stuff into the dryer, take a hot shower and get dressed. Yell if you need anything.”
“ - What if I need you?” - she asks with a naughty smile. Diego can see her heart isn’t really in it, but she obviously feels she can’t let the opportunity pass by, and has to make the effort at maintaining at least some of her “image”.
“ - Then you’re truly out of luck, chica, ‘cause we’re not doing that.” - he deadpans.
“ - Aww, why not?” - she mock-pouts, again without much conviction.
“ - ‘Cause it wouldn’t be fair to Yuni, to name just one reason.” - Diego replies evenly
“ - Oh. Right.” - Alex mumbles. Obviously not the reply she was expecting, and one she apparently can’t argue against, even if she was actually inclined to do so.
Alex goes into the bathroom, and Diego heads for the kitchenette.

Some time later, Alex pads into the small kitchen, looking much better, at least physically. Diego direct her to sit down and hands her a mug of steaming, dark liquid.
“ - Whoa. Strong stuff.” - she shudders a bit after the first sip.
“ - Hot chocolate with chili. Will warm you right up. A bit of a ‘taste of home’ - the legal kind. ‘Course, back on Corregidor, it was a rare treat to get it made with the real stuff, instead of all synthetic… Too strong?” - Diego himself likes it hot like Lucifer’s own breath, but he’s pretty sure he lowered the proportions enough to account for a more delicate palate.
“ - No, it’s fine...” - Alex quickly gulps down half the mug, then slows to savour the second half.

Silence descends again, as Alex gazes into her mug, as if trying to divine the answer to life, the universe, and everything, from the dark chocolate depths.

“ - So,” - Diego prods carefully when he’s sure Alex won’t speak first, “ - No one home?”
“ - ...Nope.” - Alex sighs, “ - Old man’s holed up in his office downtown.”
“ - At Christmas Eve?”
“ - And Christmas Day. And Easter. And Halloween. And Rama Navami. And Sunday. Any damn day of the year.” - she drones sullenly. “ - Important work to do. Always.” - she falls silent again, and Diego starts suspecting she’ll stay silent, but Alex finally continues, voice heavy with weariness: “ - ...How? How am I supposed to compete, Coach?” - she looks at Diego, and he can see unshed tears, held back by stubborn pride, in her eyes. “ - How am I supposed to compete with someone who’s gone?”
“ - ...That’s a tall order, chica.” - he nods gravely.
“ - And I’ve tried. Shiva’s third hand on the left, I’ve tried.” - the floodgates are open now, and Alex keeps talking, glum monotone. “ - He drowns his pain in incessant work… And me, and my pain, could just as well not exist. I’m just another part of the world he wants nothing to do with, ‘cause it took them away. I’ve tried getting his attention, for years now. Being a good girl, just trying to be his daughter, the last thing he got left, didn’t work. So then I’ve thought if I became a problem, an embarrassment, caused a big enough disturbance, he’d at least have to acknowledge me then, right? Fat load of good that did. I just got addicted to the power trip. Bianca Chryse, annoying little shit she is, she was basically right about me. Remember what she said, that one time? ‘The sad, lonely girl that tries to rise her self-esteem by trampling others’? Pretty spot on. Hurting others, making them feel miserable? Was a great way to forget how hurt and miserable I was myself… But I can’t really do that anymore… And he doesn’t care anyway. Not enough to deal with it, with me, personally… He doesn’t want a scandal, sure. But he has people to take care of it for him. And if that’s not enough, he’ll just throw money at the problem until it goes away. Until I go away...”
“ - Sounds like there’s some serious issues at play that were never worked through… Did you two ever get any counseling?”
“ - Oh, he pushed me on to the damn headshrinkers. I guess I should be thankful. I… It’s somewhat possible I wouldn’t be here, weren’t for that.” - Alex shifts uncomfortably. “ - I still hated them. Stopped going as soon as I could. They didn’t care, he was lining their pockets anyway. He didn’t care either. He never went, not as far as I know. Certainly not with me. Too busy, of course. And a strong, prideful man should deal with stuff himself, anyway.” - she snorts derisively. “ - So that’s the last five years of my life, and where we are today. And I hate it. I hate it, because… I loved them too. I still love them. But it’s, he’s, making me hate them too. Because I can never compare, never compete, with the perfect memories. I don’t want to forget them. I don’t want to replace them. Never. But I’d just wish he’d see me too…”
“ - Well…” - Diego hesitates. This is heavy stuff, and a mis-step could be disastrous. But he can’t well do nothing either… “ - Seems like you tried doing quite a bit… But when was the last time you tried talking?”
“ - ...Years ago. I can’t even remember. Somewhere shortly after… You know.” - Alex favours Diego with a very sceptical look. “ - You really think it’d be that easy? Just talk to him?”
“ - Never said it would be easy, no. But you tried everything else, it seems. What do you have to lose?” - Alex furrows her brow in thought. “ - Today is too late already. But tomorrow, take your old man out to breakfast. Don’t take ‘no’ for an answer. Drag him out of the office if you must. It’s Christmas Day, dammit, he can damn well have a meal with his daughter! Dress up a bit for the occasion. Let him see this is serious. Last time you tried talking, you were just a kid. You’re practically an adult now. He can’t dismiss you so easily. Make him see it. Make him listen. And just tell him. Everything you told me now. See what he makes of it then.”
“ - …Huh. Of all the crazy plans… Alright.” - Alex nods decisively. She doesn’t look quite convinced, but that won’t stop her, it seems. “ - Alright. I’ll try that. You’re kinda right, I’ve tried everything else already… Talking it is then. But, dress up for it?” - she rises an eyebrow.
“ - Well, chica, your usual mode of dress isn’t quite ‘family meal with serious talk, on Christmas’ material, flattering as it is to your figure…”
Alex chuckles a bit. “ - Yeah, guess you’re right again. Started dressing like that as part of the ‘bad girl’ image, but it’s honestly grown on me… And it is summer. But alright, something more serious is in order, true.“ - she makes a long exhale, as if letting out tension. She does look quite a bit better now, no longer so despondent and hopeless, having finally shared her troubles with someone, and with a goal in mind. Alex finishes the last of the cooling chocolate, fidgets with the mug a bit. “ - I… Thanks, Coach…” - she mumbles awkwardly but sincerely.
“ - You’re welcome, chica.”
“ - So, Coach?... Do you have a couch I could borrow for tonight?”
“ - An armchair only, I’m afraid. We’ll work something out.”

In all seriousness, Diego acts the gentleman, and parks himself in the armchair for the night, giving the bed to Alex.


Wednesday, December 25th

After yesterday’s downpour, Christmas Day morning promises beautiful weather, Avalon summer in full swing.

Diego and Alex are up early.
Alex just has a quick cup of coffee and gets ready to leave. Big day today… She throws her dried normal clothes into the shopping bag her current ersatz attire came in yesterday and goes on to pull on her shoes.
“ - Tsk, boots are still damp…” - she grumbles. Modern combat boots are made to dry very quickly, but it seems the flooding her pair received yesterday was a little too much for them, and the dryer can’t do shoes.
“ - Sorry, chica, didn’t think to get you a pair yesterday.” - Diego silently muses that, aside from the sandals she wore on Halloween as part of the predatory angel statue costume, and the TAG pilot suit of course, he can’t really recall ever seeing Alex in a different pair of shoes. Those boots must have some serious sentimental value to her, for all that she doesn’t seem to take all that good care of them… Or she just really doesn’t care for deciding what shoes to wear each morning.
“ - No matter, I’ll be home in half an hour… Welp, that’s it, I guess… Wish me luck, Coach.” - she fidgets a bit in the doorway.
“ - Take care, chica. Best of luck. Do call later, let me know how it went.” - Diego tries for an encouraging smile.
Alex nods decisively and sets out.
Diego watches her go. He did all he could for now. Nothing to do but wait. But it sure is another FUBAR family situation...

Diego takes care of his breakfast and morning workout, then decides he needs to clear his head and unwind a bit. To that end, he takes full advantage of the improved weather and takes his motorcycle out. He spends the entire morning driving - nothing really aggressive, his is not that kind of machine anyway. Just a fairly leisurely ride around the many roads around Belo Horizonte.

Close to noon, Diego finally guides the machine back home.
And as he climbs the stairs to his flat, he sees there’s someone waiting for him.
Alex (dressed in casual but nice - and pretty conservative - blouse, skirt, and ankle boots) is sitting with her back against his door, arms crossed on drawn up knees, face lowered and hidden within them. This doesn’t look too good...
“ - Chica?”
Alex rises her head. She isn’t crying now, but it’s easy to see she did not long ago. Definitely not good.
“ - It didn’t go well?” - Diego inquires gently.
“ - No.” - Alex shakes her head, sniffling a bit. “ - It did not go well at all.” - she looks away, staring into space. “ - Started promising. I certainly made an impression. Should have seen his face when I crashed into the office.” - a ghost of a smile flits over her face, dies instantly. She goes on in a dead voice: “ - He was too flabbergasted to resist, let me drag him to a cafe - would be nicer if it was home-made, but I’m not much for cooking breakfast food, and anyway, there wasn’t time to get home. But we sat. And I talked. Told him everything, like you said. And, well, maybe I got a little emotional. Maybe I even stood up, started shouting. And when I didn’t have words anymore… Then he started talking…”
“ - He told you some things too, I’m guessing.” - Diego nods sadly. “ - Maybe got a ‘little emotional’ also?”
“ - Yeah… And, then, well… I thought, if telling him how I felt was not enough… Maybe I should show him instead?” - Alex absently rubs the knuckles of her right hand. They seem a little bruised…
“ - You fed your old man a knuckle sandwich for breakfast?”
“ - Yeah… Didn’t go down too well. And that was it for our little father-daughter talk. I run out. He’s back at the office by now. And I don’t think we’ll be talking again any time soon.” - she finishes, miserable.
“ - I’m sorry, Alex.”
“ - Not your fault, Coach. I thought it was the best idea I had to work with in a while…”
“ - So. Gonna come in?”
“ - If I may. Don’t really feel like being alone right now… Do you have anything strong on tap?” - Alex hauls herself to her feet, unblocking the door, and Diego lets them in.
” - You wanna try to drink the troubles away, chica?”
“ - What else do I have to do?” - Alex shrugs despondently.

They enter the kitchenette. Alex sits at the table, and Diego rummages for some glasses, playing for time a bit.
“ - So, what are you going to do now?”
“ - I’m out of ideas, Coach.” - Alex sighs, the thousand-yard stare back again. “ - Tapped out. And I don’t really got the strength anymore. Well, at least we both know exactly where we stand… And I don’t see how it could change. Maybe… Maybe if I went and disappeared… Maybe he’d feel something then…” - she mumbles darkly.
“ - ‘Disappeared’, chica?” - answers Diego, uneasy, but speaking as calm as he’s able. “ - Doesn’t sound like the best idea. Maybe it’d work on him, maybe not. But it sure as Hell would affect others, and not in a good way.” - he shakes his head.
“ - Others? Like who?”
“ - The Angels, not to look far.”
“ - Yeah, right. I’m so sure they’d really miss me. All good girls like that, I’m sure they’d be so sorry to see scum like me go…” - Alex sniffles miserably.
“ - I’m sorry, ‘good girls’?” - Diego smirks at her. “ - Which ones, exactly?”
“ - Er…” - Alex blinks at him, surprised straight out of her funk. “ - Octavia?” - she points out in a “duh” tone.
“ - Yes, little, shy Octy. Who went behind her parent’s back to join, forged permit and all. Is still the most dangerous thing on the team. And is apparently fond of taking rides, burning road on the back of Fred’s motorcycle, all snuggled up. And who knows what they get up to afterwards.” - Diego waggles his eyebrows. He may be colorizing a bit, but honestly? He really doesn’t think so.
“ - Um. Morgan?” - Alex is less sure now.
“ - Mmm, yes, Morgan. The devout Christian. Sings in her church choir, and all. And offered to come help you, when you declared intention of going to hit Dimante until she stopped moving. ‘Thou shalt not kill’? Which commandment was it, again?”
“ - Nyree?” - Alex tries weakly.
“ - Seriously?” - Diego rises an amused eyebrow. “ - Do I even have to explain? Four words: sniper rifle, wet pants.”
“ - Surely, Minuette…” - Alex quickly moves on, blushing a bit.
“ - Sweet, huggable Minnie. No subtlety whatsoever. No shame either. Way she carries on with that giant of a boyfriend of hers? If she wanted to, I’m sure she could make her own porn vid to make your ears burst into flames, and have tons of fun doing it, too.”
“ - Dominique?” - Alex seems morbidly curious now.
“ - Innocent little gearhead, isn’t she? I’ve met some of her Atek friends. Neck-deep in shady business and black-market dealings. And she knows all about it, but is smart enough not to ask uncomfortable questions. Certainly doesn’t seem to disapprove any.”
“ - Ah, well… Evangeline, then?” - Alex’s really grasping now.
“ - Ah yes, let’s not forget Eva the Oh-So-Proper Princess. ‘My enemy is trying to blackmail me. Instead of going to the police, I’ll have my personal black-ops squad break into their house and destroy the evidence’.” - he chuckles. “ - What, not gonna ask about Patricia, the promising DJ with a sideline in cyber-crime?” - he teases after it’s clear Alex has nothing more to say. “ - So, chica, got any more unexamined preconceptions that need tearing down?”
“ - ...Alright, you made your point, Coach.” - Alex shakes her head. “ - But still… What else is there to do?” - she asks with some desperation.
“ - I’m sorry I can’t offer you a solution. I’d really like to. But going and... ‘Disappearing’... Really isn’t it, of that I’m sure.” - Diego states firmly. “ - Worst comes to worst? You’ll be eighteen soon. Then you can walk away and not look back. Live your life well - the best possible revenge.” - Diego shrugs. “ - You know, for now, instead of sitting holed up here with decrepit old me, wallowing in gloom, maybe you should try for some positive experience. Call up one of the girls, talk for a bit, get a different perspective?”
“ - Yeah, well… I wouldn’t want to dump this pile of crap on one of them…” - Alex is obviously conflicted about the idea.
“ - But it’s okay to dump it on me?” - Diego’s gentle, if crooked, smile makes it absolutely clear he means it as a joke. “ - Besides, I’m sure Minnie, for example, would give you a piece of her mind, if she found out you were in trouble and didn’t ask her for help.”
“ - Well, miss ‘power of True Friendship’ isn’t exactly the one I’d like to talk to…” - Alex mumbles under her breath.
It wasn’t meant for Diego, but he hears and answers anyway:
“ - And why am I absolutely sure it’s Nyree instead?” - he gives Alex a knowing, slightly sad smile.
“ - What?!... But… How?!... I… Umm…” - she sputters, lighting up with a furious blush.
“ - Come now, chica. I’m neither blind, deaf, nor stupid. And I’m sure I’m not the only one, either. I won’t lie, it is a bit fucked up, yes, considering. But for better or worse, seems she is the one you’re trying to be best friends with. With some success even.”
“ - Yeah, friends…” - Alex sighs, looking down embarrassedly.
“ - Go on then. Give her a call. Sure, may turn out she doesn’t want to talk to you… But somehow, I doubt that.”
“ - Right. Okay.” - Alex gathers her courage and has her comlog dial Nyree.

Nyree Rikoriko, as always, answers the call promptly on the second signal, all composed and polite. It’s a good thing Alex and Diego did not start drinking anything after all, because Nyree is wearing her fiendishly eye-bending violet pattern shirt again. There’d be a serious chance of vomit induction…
The Maori girl’s calm does slip a bit when she sees Alex.
“ - H-hi, Nyree…” - Alex waves weakly.
“ - Alex? What... Were you crying? What happened?” - Nyree looks concerned.
“ - Yeah… Listen… There’s some stuff… Could we talk, maybe?” - Alex gulps, nervous.
“ - Of course!” - Nyree nods, smiling encouragingly.

Diego silently slips out of the kitchen.


Which concludes entry #16.

[Kathara_Khan]

Another episode, another illustration.

Here's some more supporting cast, chosen because they're important, interesting, or just because I like them.
A few of those are long overdue for a pic...

(Click here for the full-size version)

As always, if you can't tell who's who, use the link to the full version for descriptions.

[Errhile]

Avalon Chronicles
entry #17

“Parenting 101”

Disclaimer: Be warned, this one contains quite a bit of profanity.

Dramatis personae:
Note #1 - Starting with entry #5, only the characters making an appearance (or, in some cases, referred to) in a given episode are listed. A complete list of all the characters appearing in the Avalon Chronicles is available under the link. Beware of spoilers, though, especially if you’re coming in late.
Note #2 - Wherever a nationality / country of origin is mentioned, it describes dominant “cultural / ethnical background trace” rather than actual country / nation of origin (for example, Yuni was born and raised on Neo Terra, but her background trace is Malaysian).
Note #3 - The “#x” notes the episode in which given character made their first appearance.
Note #4 - We now have official character art for the series, collected for your viewing convenience on the GM’s DeviantART Page.

“Anjos de Rocha” (Angels of Stone), The Team:
Alex Narahari - #1 (2. class, 17, Indian) “Bad apple”, school’s bully assigned to the team as a method of correcting her ways (which seems to be working, if slowly - Alex, as it turns out, has her own host of demons). Her father tends to solve any problems (including those caused by Alex) by throwing money at them. Alex is an aggressive, reckless player who shoots too much, and doesn’t think enough. Anaconda TAG.
Dominique (‘Nique) Torres - #1 (1. class, 16, Argentine) Atek and waitress as “Silva’s”, former student of St. John’s High School (a Church-run school for the poor), transferred to the Academy on sports scholarship for the TAG-soft team in #6. A mechanical and electrical engineering prodigy, she is fascinated with TAGs and does “Gunpla” kits of them in her free time. Turned out into the same class as Eva. Initially Lizard TAG, but in #8 swaps it for ‘Ree’s Anaconda.
Evangeline (Eva) Neve - #1 (1. class, 16, Italian) “Princess”, the wealthiest kid in school. Craves for proper behaviour and organized affairs, though the rest of the team are working on her. Team’s captain. Iguana TAG.
Minuette (Minnie) Diane Chryse - #1 (1. class, 16, Australian) Former cheerleader and team’s self-proclaimed “morale officer”. Cheerful and energetic, though sometimes not the quickest mind in the team, definitely (though she speaks a stunning array of languages, at least 5 fluent and several others with lesser proficiency). The only team member (before ‘Ree joined in) to have a sibling (two in fact, both sisters). Her parents own a chain of restaurants. Solid team player. Initially Lizard TAG, in #6 takes over Mako’s Gecko..
Morgan Lai - #1 (2. class, 17, Polynesian) “Sleepy”. Chronically asleep, pathologically lazy and way laid back person. Still, a solid player, calm and precise. Seems to have taken it upon herself to help temper and restrain Alex’ baser impulses - physically if need be. Szalamandra TAG until #7, then swaps for Lizard (formerly Patty’s). Practising Christian, she sings in a church choir, too.
Nyree (‘Ree) Rikoriko - #5 / #6 (as Peanut Gallery / full appearance), (2nd class, 14 - she started school a year early, and then skipped a grade in junior high, Maori) Girl from Morgan’s class, apparently the school’s polymath genius and “mega-nerd” (in Morgan’s opinion). Excellent student but with a troubled past (she was bullied real bad - by Alex as it turned out...). Has two brothers. Joined the team in #7, initially on Anaconda TAG, but in #8 swaps it for ‘Nique’s Lizard.
Octavia (Octy) Moina - #1 (1. class, 16, Brazilian) Successful and gifted musician (cello), but shy and prone to panic when not currently playing. She’s also a very effective player, as long as nobody can see her face (in a TAG or under her paintball mask). Patricia’s best mate. Highest “kill”-count so far. Lizard TAG.
Patricia (Patty) Summers - #1 (1. class, 16, North American) Gifted DJ and known hacker (of a school caliber, like upgrading her grades and the like). Octavia’s best mate. Almost never seen without headphones. Suffers from severe sedatephobia (fear of silence). Average player. Lizard TAG until #7, then swaps for Szalamandra (formerly Morgan’s).

Other characters at Roberto Rocha Preparatory Academy:
Staff:
DeeDee “Ditzy” Alephsdottir - #9 (avatar looks ~20, Nordic) The Academy’s low-level ALEPH subpersona, her duties include filing, mail distribution, drone operations, and assisting Ken on monitoring. While methodical like a computer, she’s not too bright, and even outright scatterbrained at times (however, she was bright enough to note that Diego, as a Nomad, is likely to be at odds with Aleph as such, and therefore she made an effort not to interact with him… or even make him aware of her existence).
Devil - #3 Diego’s “desktop animal” and AR digital pet (leftover from his CJC days), a cheerful animated devil with all the paraphernalia. Run by a simple pseudo-intelligence, it’s aware of, and can react to its surroundings - usually with comedic effects.
Diego “Diablo” Ibarrez - #1 (~60y, looks ~40, Latinoamerican) The protagonist - TAG-Soft team coach, retired CJC TAG pilot, later TAG combat instructor. Died in the EI war and was granted a resurrection thanks to his minor war hero status.
Yuni Iskandar - #1 (29, Malaysian) PE teacher and TAG Soft coach’s assistant. Very sporty and attractive, goes pretty well along with Diego since they met on day one. Well enough, actually, that their relation had (in entry #4) progressed to “friends with benefits”... Volunteered for the staff paintball team.
Students:
Bianca (Bia) Irene Chryse - #6 (1 class junior high, 13, Australian) Minnie’s younger sister. Fiery red hair, uncouth mouth and a talent for stepping on other people’s toes, which often gets her into trouble - as Diego said, “she’s as sweet as a candied chili pepper”. A total tomboy and skateboard riding thrill-junkie. Is fascinated with TAGs now, but has to wait till she gets to senior high before she can apply for the team.
Frederic “Fred” Ulani - #5 / #7 (as Peanut Gallery / full appearance) (1. class, 16, Polynesian [genetically, Caucasian-Polynesian]). Hardly anybody uses his name in full form - even on most school papers he’s listed as “Fred Ulani”. Another cello player in the school’s orchestra with Octavia. He’s on excellent terms with her, and in Diego’s private opinion, a likely boyfriend candidate - and his prediction comes true, likely somewhen around #9.
Koi Rikoriko - #7 (5th class elementary school, 11, Maori) Nyree’s younger brother, with some serious attitude. Despite being a kiddo, he’s very protective of his sister. Also, his first encounter with Eva seems to have resulted in a case of puppy love on his part…
Samantha Silva - #10 (1. class, 16, Brazilian) Same class as Evangeline and Dominique. Dimante’s cronie, meaning whatever applies to Dimante, applies to her as well. Wears (purely decorative) glasses.
Tiana Dimante - #10 (1. class, 16, Latvian) Same class as Evangeline and Dominique. Rich upper class spoiled brat, and a bully who likes showing her “lessers” their place in the school’s social ladder. Eva apparently doesn’t think too highly of her. Diego caught her abusing Nyree, in time to stop it - with some help from Alex - before Rikoriko striked back. As a result, she seems to carry a grudge against the Angels of Stone as a whole, and now engages in bullying by proxy against them.

Team Members’ Parents:
cpt. Reweti Rikoriko - #7 (middle 40s, Maori) Nyree and Koi’s mother. Active officer in the PanO military (Crocman Regiment), a very strict, hard, and to-the-point person (which probably does make her a pretty strict and demanding mother). The family has long-standing martial tradition - Nyree’s grandfather was a highly decorated soldier on Paradiso during the EI Conflict, though Diego has never seen the man there (again, gramps was a Crocman too, which may explain this a bit ).
Ganesh Narahari - #17 (43, Indian) Alex’s father. Senior partner in the Martinez-Narahari-Menzel law firm, and one of the most expensive - and effective - criminal lawyers on the planet. Uses work as an escape after his wife’s and son’s death, neglecting Alex in the process. Solves outside-work problems by throwing money at them and treats his daughter mainly as a problem to solve.

“Bolo’s Barkin’ Spiders”:
One of the local paintball teams. The “Spiders” are experienced, but not a top-tier team in Belo Horizonte - they play for fun, and are not seriously competitive. Despite the pompous nicknames, they’re all laid back, friendly folk.
“Bolo” - #2 (mid 20s). Team captain, Academy’s graduate.

“Heart Piercers”:
One of the local paintball teams. More competitive inclinations and higher in the league table than the “Spiders”.
“Needle” - #14 (mid-late 20s). Team captain and sniper. Scythe’s older sister. Turned up for a guest performance with her sister’s outfit, to judge the Angels firsthand as potential opponents.

Neve family security detail:
Dorothy Smith - #9 (likely late 30s, might be Western European) Head maid of Neve House, and second-in-command to Roger in Evangeline's security detail. Peculiarly pale and deadpan. Quite motherly towards Evangeline. Roger's wife.
Roger Smith - #2 (early 40s, North American) Evangeline’s chauffeur… Officially. In reality, he’s a high-end bodyguard, and commander of Evangeline’s section of the detail. Very devoted to his charge. Dorothy's husband.
Nemo - #9 / #12 (as unnamed bodyguard / full appearance) (early 40s, Italian) Shortish, stocky, and bald. Definitely not a clownfish, nor an Indian prince. Neve security’s cyber-warfare specialist.

Other characters in Belo Horizonte:
Esteban Silva - #1 (~80, Brazilian) Owner, cook and host at “Silva’s”, an old-fashioned eatery with a human touch and spicy South American cuisine. A widower, and lost both his children with their families during the war. Dominique’s "grandpa Esteban", and very fond of the girl.
Rita Wanagi - #17 (37, Japanese-Indonesian) Ganesh Narahari’s senior assistant. Bleached-blonde ice-queen. Very devoted to her boss - in a very inappropriate way, according to Alex...
Wakaru Rikoriko - #11 (mentioned only so far) (21, Maori) Nyree’s and Koi’s older brother. Very close with and doting on his siblings. Currently attending the police academy.

Elsewhere in the Human Sphere:
Lt. Loyian N’dele - #3 (29, Maasai) Once Diego’s favourite student (and attempted romantic interest, but she turned him down. Very gracefully in fact: they still are friends) in one of his last TAG classes. She was re-trained for remote TAGs, and remains in active service (CJC).
“Frankie” Chryse - #6 (mentioned only so far) (20, Australian) Minnie’s and Bia’s older sister. Graduated the Academy and went on to study environmental engineering and geology at the Bourak Institute of Planetology. Reputedly possessed of a stoic temperament similar to Morgan. “Frankie” is no doubt a diminutive nickname in the same style as her sisters’ and mother’s.

“Human Revolution”:
Bakunin-based high-school TAG-Soft team.
Victor “Cinderblock” Stone - #4 (mid 50s, USA) Coach and combat controller of the “Human Revolution” TAG-soft team, retired Bakunin Jurisdictional Command TAG pilot and former Morlock. Exotic mod: charcoal, stone-like skin, silver wire-like hair, and burning orange eyes. A self-assured, cocky, but quite friendly fellow.

Knights of the Round Table:
Avalon-based professional TAG-Soft team.
The team uses heavily modified, late-series Ramhorn TAGs, stylized to look like mecha versions of medieval-fantasy knights, swords and shields included.
Ernest Mendoza - “Merlin” - #8 / #13 (mentioned / full appearance) (early 60s, Brazilian) Knights’ coach and combat controller. He came to TAG-soft after a career in a mercenary TAG squadron on the corporate contract market.



Wednesday, December 25th

Diego silently slips out of the kitchen, leaving Alex to her comlog conversation with Nyree. That there’s a very unexpected, and frankly somewhat fucked-up, friendship. But hey, if it’s stupid, but it works…

In the meantime, Diego sits down to deal with his Christmas correspondence. And there’s more of it this year than ever before, looks like.

There’s a message from Yuni on Neoterra. She got home alright and managed to beat the wormhole-lag. So now she can look forward to a wonderful week with her family… Yeah, right. This year they’re having a family skiing trip. And on the one hand, Yuni likes skiing, and she doesn’t have all that many opportunities for it on Avalon - no mountains worthy of the name anywhere near Belo Horizonte. But on the other, she can already feel the strain - her mom is in one of her moods again, nagging the kids about maybe finally getting her some grandchildren… And Yuni’s younger brother brought home a girlfriend (traitor!). This’ll get him his share of parental attention, of course, but it also means the pressure is seriously up on Yuni, 29 and still single (as far as they’re aware)… It also doesn’t help that Yuni is quickly finding she doesn’t much care for her prospective sister-in-law, a rather shallow and vapid individual. Anyway, she’ll be back on Avalon late evening on Monday - unless stuff blows up and she has to escape earlier...

All of the Angels have sent in their Christmas greetings. Well, all except Alex, seeing as Diego had the pleasure of her company most of this time anyway.
Evangeline, as announced earlier, sends hers in from Acontecimento.
Of the others, the stand-out is Minuette, who’s E-card comes from Bourak! Seems this year the family elected to go visit the eldest daughter at her current place of residence, instead of her coming home for Christmas. In the attached pict - the three Chryse sisters posing with the Dar el Funduq space elevator in the far background, Minnie beaming, squeezing one sister under each arm, cheeks all smooshed together in the middle - Diego has the first opportunity to behold Minnie’s older sister, the famed Frankie Chryse. She’s predictably dark-skinned - pretty much a must for any resident of Bourak* - and, unlike her siblings, dark-haired; taller than Minnie and quite solidly built. And yeah, Diego can definitely see the resemblance in attitude to Morgan. Frankie has the same calm, disinterested, almost blank look going. Yet, probably thanks to his experience reading Morgan, Diego can spot the tiny shadow of a smile tugging at the corners of Frankie’s lips, directed at her sisters - one of mild annoyance but great fondness.

* Chemically-induced melanin boost if you’re just transient, or (reversible) gene therapy recommended if you want to stay there for any significant period of time. Haqqis had way too many problems with sunburns to not address this issue.

Eric sends his regards from Varuna, where his closest family resides.

Some of the other Academy staff - mostly the prospective members of the paintball team - also chime in with their Christmas greetings.

Cinderblock relays all his team’s best wishes, from Bakunin-over-Fenghuang - looks like the mothership finally moved on from Human Edge. He also sends Diego a reminder (not that it’s really needed, Diego isn’t that long out of the Motherships yet) that the next Krug falls this coming year, and is planned to take place in the Paradiso system in April. So it’s pretty near, both in time and space. And it could be a great opportunity for the Angels of Stone to have their rematch against the Human Revolution, and maybe catch a few more games with some other Nomad teams. Diego will definitely have to look into getting his team there.

The Knights of the Round Table likewise send the Angels a friendly Christmas E-card. Aside, Merlin let’s Diablo know he’s looking into some options for acquiring the recon remotes Diablo asked about, and he should be able to help. That’s good news.

There’s one from Loyian too. It’s a pict of an artistic rendition of the entirety of the Human Sphere, showing a map of the relative positions of all the systems and the web of wormhole connections between them, accompanied by a teasing “Wish you were here!” and grinning smiley face. It’s an old military joke, signifying the person sending the message is on active deployment, the location of which is classified down to the planet. Loyian’s last communique was at least a little less vague, as she sent her greetings from “sunny Svaralheima”... Hopefully she’ll be okay.

Then there are a few more Christmas wishes from some assorted acquaintances, mostly from Diego’s time in the CJC.

Just as Diego is finishing with the messages, having sent replies as necessary, Alex comes out of the kitchen. That was a short talk… Alex is wearing a peculiar look, seemingly at once apprehensive and excited.
“ - Finished already, chica?”
“ - Yeah… We talked a bit, but Nyree thinks this isn’t really a topic for a comlog call. She proposed we meet up and talk about it in person. And then her mom came in, asking what she was up to. So Nyree told her we were planning to meet... And her mom invited me over for Christmas dinner!” - Alex exclaims, in a bit of a panic.
“ - Ah, good. When we last talked, I suggested she might want to do that sometime. You didn’t turn her down, did you?”
“ - You did?! And no, I didn’t turn her down - I was too scared to!”
“ - Great. And yeah, I did - I thought it might do some good, for you and her both.”
“ - Wonderful, Coach.” - Alex sigs. “ - You know they’ll all be there, right? Nyree’s mom, her dad, and her older brother.”
“ - Don’t forget, her grandfather may have dropped by for Christmas...” - Diego smirks.
“ - The one who taught Nyree how to use a bayonet? Great. Just great. They’ll kill me and hide the body!” - despairs Alex, not entirely serious.
“ - At least little Koi won’t help them, I don’t think.”
“ - Yeah, sure. He’s far less hostile nowadays. But I don’t imagine he’ll complain all that much if they decide to get rid of me…” - Alex shakes her head. “ - Well, I better get going. Wouldn’t want to be late. They might take offense, and instead of dinner guest I’ll end up as the main course...”
“ - Yup. Need a ride, chica? Air out your head a bit in my sidecar?”
“ - No, thanks, Coach. I’ll just take the bus. Will give me a bit more time to get mentally ready for this. Gonna be an adventure… At least you know where I’m going, so if I disappear you’ll know where to look.” - she smirks.
“ - Good luck, chica.”
“ - Thanks, Coach. And, you know… For everything.”
“ - Don’t mention it.”

After Alex sets out for her dinner date with destiny, Diego spends most of the day tinkering with the game/simulation software they use for training, designing some new scenarios for the Angels, including simulated opposition based on the Rahat al-Hulqum team.


Thursday, December 26th

After dealing with his morning routine, Diego takes a ride to his and Yuni’s usual spot out of town. This time though, what’s on the agenda is not athletic pursuits, but rather a much more leisurely and relaxed stroll through the woods. There are still paths and places to discover here - a marked change from Corregidor, where Diego lived for so long, he pretty much knows every nook and cranny (that are accessible to someone with his security clearance, anyway - and a few that aren’t...). Despite the colossal size of the Motherships, after fifty-odd years one can pretty much say one had seen all there is to see.

As he’s taking in the sights, Diego receives a short call.
Despite the holidays, some people are still working. In this case, it’s the inspector in charge of the Chryse investigation. He’d like to have a preliminary witness hearing with Coach Ibarrez, tomorrow if possible? Would be done over Maya of course.
Sure, Diego has no problem with that. They set the date for 11:00.

As he’s getting back, Diego decides to call and check up on Alex. Not that he’s really worried the Rikorikos may have done something drastic to the girl who once tormented their daughter/sibling. Nowadays it seems Nyree herself wouldn’t stand for it. But he is still worried a bit for Alex in general. She doesn’t need more drama after yesterday, so hopefully the dinner went well…
“ - Hola, chica. Still in one piece I see?”
“ - Ha ha, Coach.” - she rolls her eyes.
“ - So, how’re you doing? Everything went well?”
“ - Yeah, it went pretty good, actually… Listen… Could I drop by again, Coach? I can tell you everything then, and I’d like to talk with you about some other stuff…”
“ - Sure, chica, you’re welcome to come by.”

So it is that an hour or so later, Alex is back on Diego’s doorstep.
And, miracle of miracles, she again has some actual clothes on, instead of the skimpy, provocative outfit she seems to normally favour. She’s still more-or-less in her “bad girl” theme (and the dilapidated combat boots are back), but her current wardrobe is far less revealing, if still very summery.
She’s also carrying a small sports bag…
Diego invites Alex in. She leaves her bag in a corner of the small foyer, and they move to the kitchen again, to take seats at the table.

“ - So, what’s on your mind, chica?”
“ - You have anything to drink, Coach?” - Alex asks instead. “ - Doesn’t have to be very strong…” - she attempts a conspiratorial smile.
Diego shrugs and goes to retrieve two bottles of beer from the fridge, handing one to the girl. A few brews won’t hurt any, in his opinion. Alex takes a long pull out of her bottle, obviously organizing things in her head before she starts speaking.

“ - So, the dinner thing went rather well. Not that it wasn’t occasionally awkward, and I got my share of hard looks… But on the whole, it was surprisingly pleasant. Scary, sure,” - Alex smirks at herself, “ - Like, Nyree’s mom? You’ve seen her, Coach. I’m very sure she could crush my skull in one hand, like a walnut. And she would, too, if I ever gave her half a reason to. Luckily, that’s off the table now… I hope. Anyway, dinner was good - never had Maori before. And then me and Nyree talked - a lot. She was very supportive.” - Alex looks away with a small blush and a smile, awkward but happy. “ - She also had some good insights to share.” - she turns serious, frowning a bit. “ - Seems the shrinks she had were better than mine…” - she shakes her head, pulling herself back from unpleasant thoughts.

“ - Anyway, I got to see Nyree’s room. I’m sure you’ve never seen a more orderly and neat place, Eric’s tool storage included. I mean, sock drawer organized by pattern, color, and length! But then, it’s Nyree, what did I expect?” - Alex chuckles. “ - And then we just hung out. And before long, her brothers got involved. Those three? They are hella close. Even Wakaru, the eldest, who’s not home much nowadays. Hell, they even have a song about it!”
“ - Really?” - Diego laughs.
“ - Yeah! I think it’s from some old kiddie cartoon. They are really sickeningly sweet together. Koi and Wakaru, they would do anything for Nyree, and she obviously loves them just as much. It’s… Heartwarming to watch. Reminds me of…” - Alex trails off sadly. Not hard to guess that she’s thinking of her own departed little brother. She shakes it off with another swig of beer. “ - We talked about whatever, badmouthed Dimante a bit, goofed around, watched a movie, and played games. We actually spent a lot of time in our training simulation.”
“ - Oh?”
“ - Yeah. We called up all the other girls and had ourselves some matches. Well, all that are on Avalon right now. We didn’t want to stick Eva and Minnie with the bill for an interplanetary real-time connection. Even if Eva could probably easily afford it. But with that blackmail situation we didn’t want to risk Dimante finding out somehow. It sucks, but better safe than sorry…”
“ - And Minnie will likely sulk anyway, for not being invited.” - Diego smirks.
“ - I’ll just buy her some candy for an apology.” - Alex shrugs, grinning.
“ - Yeah, luckily, she’s not at all difficult to placate.”
“ - Yup. So anyway, we had some fun shooting up the training scenarios. Nyree’s bros got into it with us, since we were missing two people anyway. And you know what, little Koi is damn good! Not Wakaru - that guy is hopeless! I think he just sucks at shooter games in general. But the squirt? Could be a serious contender, I feel.”
“ - He certainly has the spirit for it.” - Diego nods. “ - If the TAG-Soft program is still going in five years time, I could easily see him being on the team. If Koi’s still interested, and at least if I’m still running things by then? I’d be happy to admit him. Same with Bia Chryse, really. Building interest early and encouraging future talent is a good thing for any sport team.”

“ - Yeah… Shame I won’t be here to see it…” - Alex sigs. “ - Not unless, like you said, I ‘book’ myself an additional year or two at the Academy…”
“ - I hope you’re not planning to?”
“ - Nah, don’t think so. I don’t think they’d let me, even if I tried. And I’m not gonna. My grades actually got a little better recently, with the Nerd Coven, and stuff. Nothing amazing, but I thought some of the teachers would faint from shock at my finals scores this term! And I wouldn’t want to disappoint all the staff excitedly waiting to be rid of me.” - Alex chuckles.
“ - Expecting Principal Chennault to get wasted in celebration of you leaving, chica?”
“ - Eh, not her, she’s classier than that. But some of the others? Definitely.”
“ - So is that what’s on your mind? Leaving the Academy?”
“ - Yeah, kinda... I actually didn’t go back home yesterday. I stayed at Nyree’s overnight. Had ourselves a little sleepover. I thought it was too girly, not to mention childish, for me to enjoy, but turns out it wasn’t all that bad at all. Kinda fun, really. And Nyree was so excited! Had an activity book, and everything - because Nyree, of course. It was… Cute. Ended up in a sleeping bag on the floor in her room, and we talked into the night… But after Nyree fell asleep, I just couldn’t. Layed there, thinking. About a lot of stuff. But mostly, my old man, and yeah, about what I was supposed to do with my life going forward. I only have a year and a half at the Academy left… What then?”
“ - And did you figure anything out?”
“ - Well… Like you said, I’ll be eighteen soon and if nothing changes by then? Yeah, I can just walk out. I have a college trust fund set up for me. Mom and... Him... Did it back when. It’ll pass under my control once I hit my majority. And it’s a damn good one. I doubt I’ll ever need all that money...”
“ - You never know, chica.”
“ - Sure. But with my scores at the Academy, even if I get better now, I won’t be getting into any of the top universities anyway, so that’s less tuition to pay. So, worst comes to worst, I can live on that and still go to school. But what college to pick? No idea still… But I do know one thing for sure - it won’t be on Avalon. Once I’m eighteen and graduate high-school? I’m out of here.”
“ - Put some distance between yourself and the bad memories?” - Diego finds it encouraging that she’s apparently not thinking of skipping higher education altogether.
“ - Yeah… But there’s one more reason. I actually had one idea about what to do with myself… Coach, do you think I could have a future in this sport? TAG-Soft, I mean?”
“ - You’d want to continue playing?”
“ - Yeah. Try for an university team. Professional after that. Think I’d have a chance?”
“ - I don’t see why not, chica. From what I gather, university teams are always happy to admit players with experience from high-school. Professional would be harder, but if you work at it, I’d think you absolutely have a shot. Hell, if you’re successful, you could end up going all the way, finally running a team yourself.”
“ - Coach Narahari, eh?” - Alex smirks. “ - I like the sound of that.”
“ - Then go for it chica. If that’s what you want to do - and you’re ready to put the effort in, ‘cause you can bet it’s not gonna be effortless - then there’s no reason you shouldn’t.” - Diego nods thoughtfully. “ - One thing though. You should still have a ‘Plan B’. There’s a limited number of TAG-Soft teams in the Sphere. About a hundred all told, about half of that professional. How many players, let alone coaches, do they need, afterall? And there’s still a lot of old-timers like me hanging around. So the competition at the professional level is fierce. You should look into alternatives, just in case. It may feel like defeatism, but it’s just good sense. Go for a university team, sure, but also pick a major that you can fall back on later as a job opportunity, even for a while, when you’re looking for an opening in a professional team. Look for something you like studying anyway, and see where it can get you, employment-wise. The Academy should have some kind of career advisor you could talk to.”
“ - Yeah, there are a few available. Never gave this much thought before, but now the time is getting nigh when I’ll have to decide on something… I should start exploring my options, I guess.”
“ - No immediate pressure yet, but yes, it’s a good time to start thinking about it. And you definitely have my vote for going into TAG-Soft.”
“ - So that’s settled, then.” - Alex takes a long drink of her beer, mostly emptying it.

“ - So what else is bugging you, chica?” - Diego can definitely see that there’s something more on her mind. With the previous topic exhausted, Alex looks a little anxious again, fidgeting with her bottle. “ - Something to do with your baggage? Going on a trip somewhere?”
“ - You and your damn perceptiveness…” - Alex shakes her head. “ - No, not a trip exactly… Coach, could I ask you a favour? A big one?”
“ - Shoot, chica. Can’t guarantee I’ll agree, mind, but you can always ask.”
“ - Well… Could I… Stay here? For a while?” - Alex asks with some desperation. “ - I don’t want to be home. No-one there most of the time - not anyone I’m interested in talking to, anyway… Could I disappear for a bit, hide out with you?” - she gives Diego a begging look.
“ - Sure, chica, I see no problem with that.” - Diablo shrugs equably.
“ - Really?” - Alex blinks, a bit thrown by his quick agreement. “ - Great! Thanks, Coach! I’ll be the perfect house-guest, I promise!” - she eagerly declares. “ - No smoking - I finally managed to quit. No drinking,” - she giggles awkwardly, looking at the beer bottle, “ - Well, unless it’s your treat. And no drugs. I can do chores! Cleaning, shopping, cooking, whatever. I promise not to make a mess! I have my own money, I can pay for whatever supplies I use myself... I can even chip in for the monthly charges for the flat!”
“ - Not a bad idea, that, chica. I think we should actually make it official. Draw up a contract for you renting my spare room. Just in case. Won’t stop the people who’ll really want to read something inappropriate into the situation, anyway... But better to have a little safeguard still.”
“ - Yeah. I’ll try not to make any problems for you, Coach, but idiots’ll be idiots… So, any house rules to observe?”
“ - Not much.” - Diego shrugs. “ - My room is mine. Your room is yours, you can make whatever mess you want in there as long as it doesn’t spill out. The rest is shared space, so keep it orderly. I don’t really need the money from your rent, so if for whatever reason you can’t pay, I won’t hold you for it, but you should try to hold to the contract anyway - good practice for you, for the future. On that note, as long as you gonna stay here… I think you should try to get a job.”
“ - A job?” - Alex frowns, surprised.
“ - More practice. See what it’s like, working for a living.”
“ - Everything is training with you, isn’t it, Coach?” - Alex rolls her eyes, but with a fond smile. “ - Alright. Don’t know what I could do, not much skill beyond busting faces… But I’ll look around, try to find something to do.”
“ - An honest effort is all I’m asking for.” - Diego would be surprised at how quickly and mellowly Alex agreed to this… Except he’s not, really. He’s known for a while that, troublemaking habits aside, the girl responds well to - is in fact hungry for - positive attention. ‘Course, now he knows exactly why... “ - Alright, let’s dust off and air out the spare room… And then head out to get you some furniture.”

The small flat Diego got after moving to Belo Horizonte has two rooms, of which Diego, used to the confined and spartan living conditions of a Nomad, a soldier at that, only occupied one. The other stood unused and bare until now.

Diego and Alex set out for a little shopping trip, for some furnishings for her room, and other necessities tied to having one more person at home, including more food for fridge and pantry.
Most of the shopping is again done by interacting with automated systems. The people are still on holiday, but business must go on!

They buy a bed complete with a set of bedding, a dresser, and a wardrobe, to be delivered later, then move on to miscellaneous purchases.
As they are working their way through those, Diego has an idea…
“ - You know, chica, I think it would be good for you to also experience the responsibility of taking care of something. I’m not gonna force a pet on you… But a potted plant should do fine.”
“ - A plant?” - Alex lifts an eyebrow, dubious, but also intrigued. ” - Trying to see how long it’ll take me to kill it, Coach?” - she smirks. “ - Okay, let’s try it, why the Hell not? Though better go with something easy, like a Bourak cactus...”
“ - Ever took care of a cactus? I wouldn’t bet on it being all that easy. Still, your choice. Pick something out, it’ll be yours afterall. Whatever you want.”

What Alex wants, after perusing her options at a nearby gardeners, turns out to be a carnivorous plant! This particular one is a species of Drosera (Sundew), brightly colorful and quite pretty, actually. An unconventional choice, to be sure, but Alex isn’t exactly known for being a conformist. At least it’s a tame, small, Earth-origin species, not something out of Paradiso, liable to grow up big and aggressive enough to eat people...
“ - Hmm, I think we should give it a name.” - Alex declares, whimsical, admiring her new “flatmate” in its pot.
“ - A name for a plant? I guess... I’m out of ideas, though.”
“ - Nothing jumps out at me right now, either. Well, I’d have one idea, but it doesn’t fit this one. It would really only work for one of those species that attract prey by emulating the stink of rotten meat, and we wouldn’t want one of those at home…” - Alex smirks nastily.
“ - Yes, chica, I’d hope you’d spare the poor thing the trauma of being called ‘Tiana’.” - Diego admonishes, eye twinkling.
“ - Wha?!... How did you know, Coach?”
“ - I know you well enough by now, chica.” - Diego chuckles.

They deal with the rest of their shopping, including supplies for the plant, and head home. There, they spend some time assembling and arranging the new furniture in Alex’s room. She then moves in, stowing the few possessions she brought in the small bag.
After that, as Alex familiarizes herself with the care instructions for her plant, Diego goes about preparing an early dinner. Alex is quite surprised to find out her Coach can cook. Even more so that he’s actually employed part time at a restaurant.
“ - Though that’s pretty much for practice only. There’s a limited amount of that you can do while cooking only for yourself…”
“ - Yeah, no-one to eat it all, right? Anyway, it’s pretty good, Coach.”

For the rest of the day, Diego and Alex entertain themselves, each in their own way.

Later, as they’re getting ready to turn in for the night, Alex lingers in the doorway to her new room, fidgeting. Then, seemingly having steeled herself, she rapidly walks up to Diego, and gives him a quick, awkward hug. Nothing untoward in that one at all - it feels very filial, actually...
“ - Thanks again, Coach. For everything, and stuff…” - Alex mumbles shyly.
“ - You’re welcome, chica.” - Diego pats her shoulder.
Alex, blushing, escapes into her room with a quick “ - Goodnight.”.

After finishing his turn in the batroom, Diego is left with one last task for today before heading to bed himself - sending a message to Yuni, informing her of the newest developments. Should give her a few good laughs...


Friday, December 27th

Diego is long done with his morning routine, including breakfast, before Alex drags herself out of bed. Now, it isn’t all that late in the morning, Diego, by military habit again, being quite the early riser. Still, there’s a bit of irony to it, seeing the crap Alex liked to give Morgan for her sleeping-in habits.
At least Alex wanders out of her room already dressed, if seriously disheveled.
Since she missed Diego making breakfast, Alex has to prepare her own, but she takes it as a fair consequence of her own tardiness and goes about getting her food without complaint.

Their morning is spent in separate pursuits again. Alex is being pretty quiet and unobtrusive. Likely just still recharging her batteries after the last few, emotionally taxing, days. Though she does seem to enjoy just being in some friendly company, even if there’s not much interaction involved.

At eleven, as previously arranged, Diego logs in for his witness hearing. As just a preliminary, it doesn’t take too long or is too involved, mostly just covering the basics of the “Minuette video” incident and it’s background, from Diego’s perspective.

Once he’s done with that, Diego decides to “air out” a bit, and go for another motorcycle ride. He offers Alex a place in the sidecar again, but she politely refuses once more, preferring to laze around at home for now.

Diego is back home around lunch time. And as he lets himself in, contemplating what to do for lunch food, he discovers someone is already cooking. Smells like curry.

The smell and sounds of culinary work are not the only things coming out of the kitchen, though. Loud music is pumping out of a comlog, accompanied by equally loud singing…
Turns out, Alex is not a particularly good singer, but she’s not terrible, either. She certainly can’t hold a candle to Morgan’s trained, smooth voice. But even if it isn’t performance-level by a long shot, Alex’s singing at least doesn’t make one’s ears bleed. Right now, she’s very enthusiastically singing along to an old song:
“ - I’m very well acquainted with the Seven Deadly Sins,
I keep a busy schedule, trying to fit them in,
I’m proud to be a glutton, and I don’t have time for sloth,
I’m greedy, and I’m angry, and I don’t care who I cross!
I’m mrs Bad Example, intruder in the dirt,
I like to have a good time, and I don’t care who gets hurt!
I’m mrs Bad Example, take a look at me,
I’ll live to be a hundred, and go down in infamy!”

“ - Catchy. And fitting. Sound like you’re having fun.”
“ - Oh! Hey there, Coach, didn’t hear you come in...” - Alex is a bit flustered at being caught singing, but not that much. “ - Sorry about the mess. I’ll clean it all up, promise!” - The kitchen is definitely more messy and chaotic than after Diego cooks, but it’s at least not a disaster zone. It looks (and smells) like the food is coming out just fine, with no accidents.
“ - Didn’t know you could cook, either. Curry?”
“ - Yeah. Let’s say you inspired me a bit. Anyway, I learned from mom. She was pretty traditional, liked to cook ‘real’ food. When I was little, I loved helping out in the kitchen… Didn’t have much need or want to cook for quite some time, so I’m a bit rusty. Hope it came out alright. Should be about ready. You like it spicy, right?”

As it turns out, the curry is quite alright indeed. Alex’s culinary skill, fallen into disuse as it has, seems to be not much worse than Diego’s freshly acquired one, if at all. It may not be a gourmet, five-star meal, but it’s very tasty nonetheless, and Diego has absolutely no cause to complain. The opposite, in fact:
“ - This is good cooking, Alex. Very well done.”
“ - Heh. Thanks, Coach.” - Alex is rather pleased with herself. “ - Think I’m good enough to work at a restaurant? Could you put in a good word for me at the place you’re doing your cooking practice?” - she’s joking, but why not, actually?
“ - I could try, if you’d like.”
“ - Wait, really?”
“ - Sure, chica. Why not? Can’t guarantee anything - the place is over-staffed already, so better not to get your hopes up too high - but I can ask. If that’s what you want to do? I certainly think you’d do alright there.”
“ - Hm… Yeah, you know what, I think I’d like to try. It’s not like I have any other ideas for now, for the job thing you suggested.” - Alex shrugs. “ - And I do like cooking... So what the Hell, let’s do this.” - she nods decisively.
“ - Alright then. We’ll see what we can work out.”

So Diego calls up senhor Esteban, to ask if a place for Alex could be found at “Silva’s”. Somehow, the fact that it’s actually “Silva’s” that Diego is employed at hasn’t come up before, so Alex is quite surprised that her Coach is working at the same place as her teammate Dominique used to.
Well, now that her place at the Rocha Academy is firmly secured, by dint of the excellent results of the term finals, even despite her late start, ‘Nique can actually finally return to working at “grandpa Esteban’s” place, if part-time only. Mainly, she’ll be there two days a week, on the weekends - Fridays and Sundays. Of course, that’s on normal school weeks. During various school holidays, like right now, she’ll probably show up every day.
So ‘Nique is there today too, and quickly gets involved in the discussion.
The main problem, as previously stated, is that senhor Esteban doesn’t really need the help. He only employs Dominique, and now also Diego, as a favour, and because he likes the company. Paying an additional part-time employee won’t be any kind of problem. Finding something for them to do, however… Still, provided all three of them won’t try to work on the same day, senhor Esteban thinks it should be manageable. So he’s open to giving Alex a chance, especially if Diego and ‘Nique both vouch for her.
Diego can see Dominique is a bit hesitant, obviously having some doubts about Alex’s suitability for the job… Though they are certainly less than they would be a couple months ago when the girls first met. Alex’s attitude and teamwork has certainly improved a bit since then. So in the end, ‘Nique raises no objections to her teammate becoming her co-worker as well.

That’s settled, then, and Alex’s got herself a part-time job. Or a shot at one, at least, depending on what impression she makes on her first day. She wants to start as soon as possible, so senhor Silva bids Diego bring Alex over the next day.


Saturday, December 28th

Diego drives Alex to “Silva’s” for the morning shift.
Equipped with Diego’s spare biking jacket and helmet, it’s Alex’s first time riding in the sidecar - as it turns out, her first time on a motorcycle, period.
“ - Yeah, Coach, it’s not really my thing, but I think I can understand the appeal somewhat.” - Alex opines as they’re rolling along.
“ - Not your kind of adrenaline rush, eh, chica?”
“ - Nope.” - Alex chuckles. “ - Leisurely rides are right out. And speed for speed’s sake is also kinda boring. I could get behind a race, maybe...”
“ - Not on this machine, though.”
“ - But if you took off the sidecar, you could do some serious off-road instead*. That would be a bit more interesting than straight streets, at least. Anyway, yeah, I see how it could be someone else’s thing. Like, Miss Yuni, she seriously loves that overpowered Beast of hers, right?” - Diego nods at that. “ - But I have serious trouble picturing little Octy on a bike. You sure about that, Coach?”
“ - Quite. They were buying a helmet for her, and everything.”
“ - Still, I’ll believe it when I’ll see it.” - Alex shakes her head, chuckling.
“ - Well, three months ago, could you picture her in a TAG?”
“ - ...Hm. Point.”

* Well, she has no reason to know better, actually - Diego’s bike is intended for off-road shenanigans with the sidecar attached. Sure, maybe not truly extreme motocross feats, like she was likely thinking about, but it still packs a surprising amount of off-road oomph. The sidecar wheel is powered, after all...

Diego drops Alex off with senhor Esteban and Dominique, for her first day at the restaurant. Diego himself won’t be staying for a shift, as things would be too crowded then. So, with a wish to have fun and admonition not start a fight with any rude customers (because that’s his role here!), he leaves Alex to it.

Some time later, as he’s going through his day, Diego’s comlog rings. It’s Bolo, and he has a proposition:
“ - Every year around this time, we get together as many people as we can - which isn’t usually all that many, mind, with all the family obligations, vacation trips, and what not - and have ourselves a big day of shooting. Get as many games in as we can, sometimes a little round-robin tournament, for bragging rights. Just all around fun. And I wanted to see if you and your Angels would be available, and interested in joining in, maybe?”
“ - I’d be very interested myself. I need to ask the girls, but I expect they’ll be all for it, too. Provided they can make it. What day we’re talking about?”
“ - We were able to agree on Monday, with me and my team, the Heart Piercers, and another team, Horizon Watch. They’re kinda between us and the Piercers in ability. A fourth team would come in handy - less downtime for the odd ones out when the others are playing. And the more the merrier.”
“ - If you’re sure we’ll be welcome?”
“ - No need to worry. You know Needle liked you. And the Watch were one of the wavering teams. If the Piercers say the Angels are okay, the others will have no problem.”
“ - I’ll check with the girls, then, and get back to you as soon as I can.”
“ - Looking forward to it.”

So Diego calls up the Angels one by one, to check if they could make it on Monday, and be interested in some paintball, with some new opponents too.
As predicted, all of them are not only interested but quite eager for some action. And, fortunately, Monday is fine with all of them.
Diego holds off with Alex and Dominique - he’ll talk to them after they get off work.
He also skips over Eva, for obvious reasons, though he’s certainly not happy about it, sparing a few unkind thoughts towards Dimante and Silva.

Minuette (back from Bourak and sporting a lovely, deep tan), however, has a different idea:
“ - You know, Coach... Tiana is leaving Avalon tomorrow. The Dimante family will be spending New Year, almost the entire week, in fact, on Neoterra…” - Diego can practically see the gears turning in Minnie’s head. And he can’t say he dislikes the direction of their revolutions... “ - Sooo… How about we thumb our noses at Tiana, and invite Eva over anyway? She can’t disapprove of what she doesn’t know about!” - Minnie grins conspiratorially.
“ - I do like the idea, chica. Because screw Dimante’s blackmailing backside and the donkey she rode in on.” - Minnie giggles-snorts at his turn of phrase. “ - But we must be really careful. Silva is staying here, I presume?” - Minnie confirms with a nod. “ - Then there’s still danger. If she somehow finds out, she’ll surely pass it along to her liege. Plus there’s the social media problem to solve. Last thing we want is screw this up for Evangeline.”
“ - I’m sure Patty can cook up some script or virus to delete Eva out of our social streams from the event. And we’ll all be friends there, right? We can ask everybody to keep the secret...”
“ - Still, check with Mr. and Mrs. Smith first. If they think the risk’s too high, we’d best listen. But if they think it’ll be okay - and they can help make it so - then we’ll go for it.”
“ - Okey-dokey, Coachey!” - Minnie salutes smartly, grinning. “ - I’ll get on it right now!”

Mid-afternoon, Diego heads over to “Silva’s” to pick up Alex.
They both end up staying for lunch, over which Alex tells him about her first day working for senhor Esteban. Seems it went pretty well. No major disasters, no fights, no explosions. Alex is pretty happy with the job, pedestrian as it is - somewhat to her own surprise. And she may have taken some liking to “grandpa Esteban”. Not that she’d admit to any such thing!...
Senhor Silva himself also seems satisfied with his newest employee. He certainly has praise for Alex’s culinary skill. Sure, the girl has her... Peculiarities... But Esteban is able to recognize they mostly have roots in some issues she has. He won’t let Alex walk all over him, but neither will he condemn the troubled girl.
Dominique, in turn, is a bit surprised - and embarrassed about it - that it went as well as it did. Alex was still recognizably Alex - there was snark, teasing, some stubbornness, and hot-headedness - yet it never crossed the line into outright rudeness or unpleasantness. Seems ‘Nique’s lingering doubts about Alex as a work-mate have been put to rest.
On the whole, it looks like all parties are happy with the day’s outcome, and Alex is quite welcome to “Silva’s” little family. She’ll be coming back tomorrow for another shift.

Both ‘Nique and Alex are also delighted at the prospect of some paintball on Monday, and will have no problem attending (not that there was any doubt about Alex).

Some time after they get home, Diego gets a return call from Minuette - in conference mode with Evangeline!
“ - Good to see you, Eva. So chicas, I take it the plan is going forward?”
“ - Yupperooni! Operation ‘Nose Thumbing’ is a go!”- announces Minnie with a delighted grin, bouncing excitedly.
“ - Roger and Dorothy are giving us the go ahead.” - nods Eva, much more restrained, but obviously also happy at the prospect of having fun with her friends again. “ - Unless Tiana has in her employ someone better than my own Guard, who she set up to spy on me - and Roger is betting his position that she doesn’t and didn’t - we’ll be able to keep her from finding out. At least until it stops mattering, anyway. And Nemo - he’s our cyber-and-information-warfare specialist - will have the Maya side of things under control, even if Patricia slips up.”
“ - With Nemo on it, Patty won’t have to do anything, I’d imagine. He’s surely leagues above her in ability.” - observes Diego.
“ - Yuppers! But we’re not telling her that.” - Minnie winks. “ - She’d be disappointed if she didn’t get to help.” - Diego chuckles. Leave it to Morale Officer Chryse to concoct a scheme like that to preserve one of her friends’ feelings.
“ - Okay, then, chicas. See you on Monday, usual place and time.”
“ - Looking forward to it, Coach.”
“ - Bye-bye!”

Looks like score one for the good-guys again. Definitely not unwelcome.
Diego makes a quick call to Bolo, to confirm the Angels will be there on Monday, with a full roster.

Last thing of note today, in the evening, as they are once again just occupied with themselves, Diego sees Alex receive a comlog call.
She looks up suddenly, surprised, and calls up the connection window… Then scowls fiercely, and stabs at the “Reject Call” icon. Then she proceeds to open what Diego is pretty sure is an “Ignore” list, and throws the contact that just tried to call her, and a couple others too, onto it, with jerky, angry movements, glowering all the while.
“ - Something the matter, chica?” - Diego inquires gently.
“ - Nothing important, Coach.” - Alex replies airily. She tries to play it cool, but it’s obvious she’s upset. It’s also obvious she doesn’t want to talk about it, and Diego of course knows better than to pry. Alex will speak to him when she’s ready, and she knows she can, and appreciates it.

Soon, they both head to bed.

Continued below.

[Errhile]

Sunday, December 29th

Alex works her second shift at “Silva’s” today. Now that she knows the way, she heads out alone, not bothering Diego for a ride. Not that he would mind.

Diego uses the time to ride around for a bit, do some more simulator mission editing, research on potential opponents, some backlogged school paperwork, and other personal pursuits.

Once Alex is back in the afternoon, her day having gone quite well again, they go about a late lunch at home. And as they’re working on that, someone comes calling at the door.

Diego goes to see who their unexpected guest is, and is surprised to find Nyree, politely waiting on his doorstep.
“ - Hola, chica.” - Diego greets, opening the door. “ - Something the matter?” - she does look concerned.
“ - Good afternoon, Coach. May I come in?” - she gives a respectful bow.
“ - Sure, Nyree, step right in.”
“ - Thank you. Coach… Do you know where Alex is, maybe?” - Nyree asks as they move into the apartment.
“ - As a matter of fact, I do. Why?”
“ - You do?!” - Nyree blinks in surprise. “ - Only, she’s apparently run away from home, or something! There are people working for her father calling around looking for her!” - she explains, anxious.
“ - Who’s looking for whom, now?” - ask Alex casually, walking out of the kitchen.
“ - A-alex?!” - Nyree does a double-take.
“ - Heya, nerd.” - Alex’s warm smile puts lie to the put-down. “ - Dropped by for lunch? We’re trying our hand at Mexican-by-way-of-Corregidor. We kinda cooked for only two, but I’m sure we’ll make do somehow, if you want to stay...” - the look she gives Nyree seems rather hopeful.
“ - They’re looking for you! A person from your dad’s office is calling people, asking about you! They haven’t called you yet, Coach?”
“ - Not that I know. And I haven’t placed anybody on an ignore list.” - Diego gives Alex a significant look.
“ - I wondered when they would start with that.” - Alex smirks. “ - But why haven’t you tried calling me first, before apparently going out looking yourself?” - she blinks at Nyree.
“ - I did, actually. You didn’t pick up.” - Nyree rises an accusing eyebrow at Alex. “ - I… I got worried...” - she mumbles, suddenly awkward.
“ - Oh, oops?” - Alex blushes a bit, checking her comlog. “ - Sorry about that. I muted all my notifications. Was “in the zone” in there...” - she nods towards the kitchen.
Nyree looks surprised and intrigued, but before she can ask further questions, Diego’s comlog sounds an incoming call. Caller ID reads: “Rita Wanagi, Senior Assistant, Martinez-Narahari-Menzel Law Firm”.
“ - Right. Here they are. Let me take this.”

Diego picks up the connection. He is met with the sight of one Rita Wanagi, a rather severe and cold looking individual.
“ - Good afternoon, miss. How may I help you?” - Diego opens neutrally.
“ - Good afternoon, coach Ibarrez.” - she nods coolly (not correcting him on the “miss”). “ - I’m calling on behalf of my superior, mr. Ganesh Narahari. I’m trying to locate his daughter - Alex, one of your students?” - Diego nods. “ - She hasn’t been home since early on Thursday, and none of her teammates I’ve tried so far have heard from her. Have you, perchance? Would you be able to tell me anything about her possible whereabouts?”
Diego gives Alex a questioning look outside the comm window. Alex frowns, displeased, but has apparently come to some kind of decision, as she nods at Diego decisively, her own look answering his in affirmative.
“ - I could, miss Wanagi. In fact, I can tell you exactly where she has been all this time, and where she still is.”
Before miss Wanagi can finish processing that little bombshell, blinking in surprise, Alex enters the call’s video pick-up area, scowling at the woman, throwing her even further.
“ - Hello, Rita.” - the disdainful inflection Alex bestows on the blond’s name somehow manages to make it rhyme with something unpleasant. “ - Looking for me? Here I am. Happy now?” - she rises a mocking eyebrow.
“ - Alex.” - greets Rita, quickly recovering her cool composure - turning it positively frosty, in fact. It’s rather obvious the ladies have some rather intense, very mutual dislike going.
“ - Before you continue, let’s sit down, maybe?” - suggests Diego.

So Diego and Alex move to Diego’s room, which kinda doubles as the living room during the day, sitting down on his bed, folded into a couch. Nyree, caught up in the proceedings, follows them with a helpless look and perches awkwardly on the edge of the armchair, outside the video feed, staying quiet. Alex doesn’t seem to object to her presence, and Diego follows her lead - it’s really her show now, anyway.

“ - So!” - Alex opens with false cheer, “ - You were looking for me, Rita. Now you found me. Bravo, you may pat yourself on the back. Are we done, then?” - she asks, grinning mockingly.
“ - Not quite.” - Rita is maintaining her icily polite demeanor, but Diego can see it’s taking her some effort. ” - You weren’t home in over three days. Your father is concerned, Alex.”
“ - Concerned, is he now?” - Alex rises her eyebrows, disbelieving. “ - He only knows I haven’t been home because of the house persona’s reports. He hasn’t been there for longer himself. And if he’s so concerned, perhaps he could try calling in person, instead of sending his errand girl.” - she snorts in derision.
“ - Your father is a very busy man, Alex.” - Rita explains in a patient tone one might use with an obstinate child. “ - You can’t expect him to-”
“ - I can, and I do!” - snaps Alex. “ - You can just run along and deliver your report to daddy, that’s a good girl.” - she makes a shooing motion with her hand. “ - I’m sure he’ll oh-so-pleased with your performance. He usually is - you do know so well how to satisfy him...” - Alex’s tone couldn’t be more insinuating if she tried. Diego can see a little muscle on Rita’s temple start twitching.
“ - I’m sure I don’t know what you mean, Alex dear.” - declares Rita primly. If looks could kill, Alex would be a flash-frozen corpse right now.
“ - Suuure, Rita, darling.” - drawls Alex, leering lewdly. “ - An important, busy person like my old man still has… Urges. It’s only natural.” - she shrugs nonchalantly. ” - And you, devoted assistant that you are, always so eager to help with anything he might need...“ - Alex waggles her eyebrows suggestively. In the background, Nyree is looking down, hair hiding face, ears burning red. “ - Don’t try to deny, Rita dear. I know. Enjoying some perks as the senior assistant, are we? So what if he’s still ostensibly in mourning over his wife? It’s just biology, right?” - all pretense of humour slips away from Alex’s face, eyes holding naked disgust. “ - Because Shiva forbid he should need to leave the office for anything. He might have to make a moment to actually talk to people. Like his daughter….”
“ - You should really watch your tongue, young lady...” - that muscle on Rita’s temple is twitching something fierce now.
“ - I’m sure you could offer me some tips on that…” - snorts Alex darkly.
“ - Listen here, you brat-!” - Rita hisses, finally losing her cool.

“ - Ladies!” - interrupts Diego. “ - I think that’s enough sniping, yes? Miss Wanagi, the situation looks clear to me. You’ve done what your superior expected of you. You found Alex. She obviously doesn’t wish to talk to you. Nothing more to be done. If mr. Narahari would like to say anything to his daughter, he’ll have to do so personally.”

Rita manages to recover somewhat from her slip of composure and is about to answer, when something obviously draws her attention on her end of the connection. She looks off to the side, surprised for a moment, then nods, obviously at some unheard communication.
“ - Well,” - she turns back to them, “ - It does look like you’re going to get your wish, Alex, dear.” - she favours Alex with a sub-zero smile. “ - Coach Ibarrez, may I switch the connection over? Mr. Narahari would indeed like to talk to his daughter.”
“ - Please do.”
“ - Goodbye, coach Ibarrez. Alex.” - Rita nods coolly at Diego and sends a last coldly venomous look at Alex, then ends her connection.
She is replaced on screen by the narrow-bearded, dark-spectacled presence of Ganesh Narahari.

This is Diego’s first look at Alex’s father. And, well… Diablo went through a youth on the worse side of Corregidor, Nomad military service, and the EI War. He has, somewhat literally, been to Hell and back. There aren’t many people*, alive or dead, that could begin to hope to truly intimidate Diego “Diablo” Ibarrez. Principal Chennault could be one of them, if she ever truly put effort to it.
Ganesh Narahari looks like he could well be another. The guy has an intense, calculating, chilling aspect Diego would normally associate with true fanatics - the aura of a person capable of unflinchingly committing the worst of atrocities to advance their goals. Perhaps par for the cause for what, word has it, may be the best criminal defense attorney on the planet...

* People, as in “human beings”. AI aspects and aliens are a rather different story. Especially the Shasvastii. They kinda freak Diego out by their very nature. The Morat on the other hand, despite - or maybe because - being the ones to do him in the first time, he considers the least intimidating of the bunch.

“ - Mr. Ibarrez.” - Ganesh nods curtly.
“ - Senhor Narahari.” - Diego returns the greeting
“ - Alexis.” - Narahari then turns to his daughter.
Diego raises his eyebrows a bit, while Nyree actually does a small double-take at the appellation. Seems neither of them knew about this little tidbit.
“ - Don’t call me that…” - grumbles Alex, glancing away in embarrassment.
“ - It is your name. I intend to use it.” - is Ganesh’s cool reply. Alex’s - Alexis’? - lips are a thin line of displeasure, but she doesn’t argue further. “ - So. I would like to get my facts straight first, if I may.” - it’s not a question. “ - Where have you been since Thursday, Alexis?”
“ - Here.” - Alex shrugs, trying for nonchalant irreverence, but it’s obviously she’s quite anxious. “ - I’ve been staying with Coach Ibarrez.”
Mr. Narahari rises an eyebrow slightly, turning a rather piercing look at Diego.
“ - She’s been staying in my spare room.” - Diego shrugs himself, his own nonchalance much more natural. “ - All above the board. I can send you a copy of our sub-rental agreement, if you’d like.
“ - Please do.” - Ganesh nods slowly, still studying Diego intently.
“ - I can assure you, senhor, nothing... Untoward... Has taken place, if that is your concern.” - Diego smiles pleasantly as he sends the requested file over. “ - And your daughter has been nothing if not an exemplarily behaved and genial housemate.” - Diego smirks a bit at that, thinking of Alex’s room.

She has definitely taken his invitation to “make whatever mess she wants in there” to heart, quickly turning the room into a disaster area. He kinda wonders why they bothered buying the dresser and wardrobe, as it looks like all of Alex’s (currently limited) possessions are instead kept out, strewn all around the floor and bed. Still, if that what she likes, no skin off his nose. She certainly kept to their agreement scrupulously, keeping all their shared spaces in perfect order.

“ - I see.” - Ganesh nods thoughtfully. “ - It won’t stop the rumours, should this become public, but that can be dealt with. And thank you for taking care of my daughter, mr. Ibarrez... But your help will no longer be required.” - he declares flatly. Diego nods slowly, face neutral, waiting to see where this will go. Ganesh turns back to Alex. “ - Now then. Alexis... I must admit, our recent… Talk… Has been heavily on my mind those past few days.” - he announces, face and tone inscrutable.
“ - It… It has?” - Alex’s eyes grow wide in surprise.
“ - Indeed. You have given me… A lot to think about.” - Ganesh adjusts his tinted glasses, but Diego is sure it was a save, and the gesture actually began as an unconscious move to rub his chin, in the way of a person who has had it recently punched… “ - And I believe I have reached my conclusions.”
“ - Yes?” - Alex leans forward unconsciously.
“ - Quite. Alexis, I’ve come to believe I have... Severely mishandled my dealings with you. I see now, I should have taken much more interest in your life these past five years. I can’t undo what has already been done, but I fully intend to rectify the situation now, to the best of my ability.” - he declares evenly, face still unreadable.
“ - R-really? You mean that?” - Alex whispers in wonder, eyes glistening. The naked longing and hope on her face are rather painful to see...

“ - If I may, senhor Narahari?” - Diego puts in.
“ - ...Go ahead.” - Ganesh nods, quirking an not-entirely-patient eyebrow at Diego.
“ - Let me just say, I find you coming to this conclusion a very encouraging development. I think it was a long time coming, and it’s good to see it finally arrive.” - Diego nods seriously. “ - Whatever conclusions you reached, senhor, taking an interest in your daughter is a wholly positive move.“
“ - I’m gratified at your approval, I’m sure.” - replies Ganesh glibly. “ - But to keep on track? Yes, Alexis, I am absolutely serious about this. Changes need to be made.”
“ - So… H-how do we go about it, t-then?...” - the girl is getting a little choked up.
“ - You will now return home, immediately, and await my arrival” - Ganesh declares, tone brooking no argument. ” - We will discuss additional details in person, but for now, you should decide which necessities to pack. Once holiday break is over, you won’t be returning to the Roberto Rocha Preparatory Academy. Instead, you will be admitted to the St. Knight Nathaniel Ruiz Academy. All arrangements will be taken care of shortly.”

“ - ...what?” - Alex asks in a small voice, face going very still and very white.

“ - B-But!... That’s a military school! On Morgana!” - exclaims Nyree, shocked.

Diego’s comlog pulls up the information for him. Nyree is, of course, correct. The St. Ruiz Academy, located on Avalon’s main continent, is reputed to be the best military school on the planet, with an outstanding record in correcting problem behaviors in youth… Honestly, this is not quite where Diego was expecting things to go...

“ - It seems we have an audience?” - Ganesh rises an eyebrow.
“ - Yes, mr. Narahari, sir. I’m sorry for eavesdropping…” - Nyree, expression sheepish, moves over to the couch, entering his field of view. She takes an awkward seat next to the suddenly very quiet Alex, glancing at her, face full of worry.
“ - Miss Rikoriko. A pleasure.” - Ganesh’s tone leaves that somewhat in doubt.
“ - Sir, are… Are you really going to make Alex change schools?...” - Nyree fidgets anxiously.
“ - Absolutely.” - he turns back to Alex, face hard. “ - I have determined that the Rocha Academy is no longer a good fit for you. Hasn’t been for a long time. I was aware you have developed severe disciplinary issues, but I have not realised just how severe they were until our Wednesday talk. You have become entirely too insubordinate, obstinate, and disrespectful, Alexis. I will take steps to correct this immediately. The St. Ruiz Academy should be able to make great headway in the matter.”

“ - ...No.” - states Alex simply. Her eyes narrow, fists clench.
“ - Excuse me?”
“ - No. That’s my answer to the steaming pile of bullshit you just spouted. No. I’m not going anywhere.”
“ - You do not have any say in the matter.” - declares Ganesh flatly.
“ - Wanna bet? Why don’t you try making me? Come over here, and try getting me to leave. But bring at least three men. And they better have gas, tasers, tranquilizer guns, and a straightjacket. ‘Cause that’s the only way you’ll be getting me outta here - beaten down, unconscious and restrained!” - Alex growls.
“ - Don’t make a scene, Alexis.” - Ganesh’s tone is half impatient, half patronizing now.
“ - That’s always your primary concern, isn’t it? Me not making a scene, not causing a scandal to sully your precious name. Well tough! ‘Cause I absolutely intend on making a scene. Send your men to try and get me. You’ll hear the scene I’ll make clear across town!” - Alex’s grin is full of hostility.

“ - And if I may, again?” - Diego speaks up. Ganesh turns a decidedly unamused look on him, but nods curtly. “ - If my tenant doesn’t want to leave, I have no reason to turn her out. So anybody who comes to forcefully remove her will have to break down my door... Which I very much intend to take exception to.” - Diego promises with deceptive calm, managing to hold up very well under Narahari’s gaze.
“ - I’m sure that won’t become necessary.” - dismisses Ganesh in a clipped tone. “ - Alexis, childish threats will get you nowhere. Pack your things. This discussion is over.” - he declares with menacing finality.
“ - Oh no, it isn’t. I still have things left to say.” - Alex doesn’t balk. Diego thought he’s seen her pissed-off before - most recently at the Minnie-vid incident. But this is something else. “ - This? This is what you got out of what I said to you? Those are the conclusions you spent the last days reaching? This is your answer, your solution?” - Alex’s voice is a crackling hiss, lashing out with every drop of despair and loathing she can muster. “ - It’s me who's the problem, is it? And you’ll solve it by shipping me off to a fucking correctional facility?! Well, fuck you!” - Alex screams in his face, tears springing up in her eyes. “ - I spent five years trying to get a rise out of you. Five years of trying to get your attention enough to at least get punished. Five years of h-hurting people!” - she chokes a bit, throwing a pained, ashamed glance at Nyree. “ - And you didn’t care. Throw money at the problem, buy off the people I abused, hush it all up. We wouldn’t want a scandal, now.” - a mocking grimace. “ - You had no problem dropping several hundred thousand Oceana for a settlement with Nyree’s parents after I’ve almost driven the girl to s-suicide. But not a word, not a glance to me. But now? Now, I dared to sass you. You personally. You never cared what I did, as long as you could conveniently pay to have it swept out of your sight, out of your mind. But you can’t do that now. Now it’s personal, is it? Because I dared to complain to your face, point at the things you don’t want to think about, at what a fuck-up as a father you are. And you don’t want to hear that, do you? Well, fucking tough, asshole! Because Nyree was right when we talked earlier.” - Alex glances at the other girl. “ - What she said was a revelation to me, but it’s so painfully obvious now: I have the right to be angry. Angry at you. I spent the last five years pissed-off. At the world, at everybody around, at myself. But never at you. Always had a ready excuse for you. It must have been my fault, anyway. Wednesday, I felt like shit! For shouting at you, for the punch. Well, no more! Because you fucking deserved it, and more! So yeah, fuck you!”

“ - This is really unseemly, Alexis. And the language. Your mother would be very disappointed...“ - Ganesh stays outwardly calm, frostily so, but his clipped, steely tone betrays Alex getting to him.
“ - M-my mother?!” - Alex sputters with furious disbelief. “ - You have the gall to invoke mom for this? Are you for real?! Yeah, she’d be fucking disappointed, alright! With you, you fucking jerk! With how you carried on those last five years! Why don’t you think about mom, and who she’d be disappointed with, the next time you bump uglies with Rita?!”
“ - Are you quite finished, Alexis?” - he asks sharply.
“ - You know, I think I am.” - Alex matches Ganesh cold gaze for cold gaze. “ - Finished with you, fucking asshole. Five years now, you havn’t really been a father to me. And you don’t intend to change that. Instead you’ll ship me off overseas, to forcefully fix my ‘severe disciplinary issues’. Because I dared to slug you in the face, which is the least you deserve for how you acted? Fuck that noise. I’m done trying. ‘Cause you’re no father to me, and you’re obviously not interested in being one. Hell, those past three months, those past five days? The Coach was a better father to me then you ever were those past five years!” - Diego blinks. Say what, now? ” - So I’ll be staying here. And you can go rot in Hell!”

“ - That is really how you feel now?” - Ganesh regards his daughter, once again unreadable, fingers steepled in front of his face.
“ - Fucking straight it is.” - she nods sharply.
It seems Alex calmed down now, all cold determination and steely gaze, but Diego can see her hands, balled on her knees, shaking fiercely. Nyree can see it too, and surreptitiously reaches over, taking one of Alex’s hands with one of her own. Alex latches on with a desperate grip, but doesn’t take her eyes off of her father.
“ - If this is really what you wish for, Alexis… It can be arranged.” - Ganesh nods gravelly.

“ - If I may make a suggestion?” - Diego once again interrupts.
“ - I would think you meddled enough in this matter, mr. Ibarrez.” - states Ganesh sharply, obviously losing patience. “ - I’d thank you for staying silent.”
“ - Still,” - Diego forges ahead with some urgency, choosing to ignore Ganesh’s objection, “ - I’d advise you both not to do anything rash now. Don’t go doing something you’ll be unable to take back, should you ever change your mind…” - his tone clearly adds: “when you both start thinking straight again, for God’s sake!”.

“ - Thank you for your input, mr. Ibarrez.” - Ganesh dismisses coldly. ” - Now, Alexis. Let us be done with this... As it is, you’re only seven months away from your majority, anyway. And you’re obviously a highly self-sufficient and resourceful individual.” - he states with no apparent sarcasm. “ - Under the circumstances, getting you registered as an emancipated minor should pose no problem whatsoever.” - his tone makes it clear, if there is some problem after all, he intends to quickly remove it, by money and/or influence.
“ - So, wait… What you’re saying is?...” - Alex blinks rapidly.
“ - You wish to be rid of me. I will accommodate your wish, Alexis, solving my own problem in the process. From this moment on, you are on your own. I will not demand the return of the possessions currently in your holding, purchased with my funds, but that is all you will be getting. You are no longer welcome in my home. From now on, you’re someone else’s problem.” - he declares with finality.

“ - W-wait!” - exclaims Nyree, panicked, eyes jumping between Ganesh and Alex. “ - You’re- You’re disowning her?! Throwing her out?!” - Nyree’s expression turns to offended disgust. “ - She’s proven to be more ‘troublesome’ than you expected... So you’re just dismissing her?! Just like that?! L-like firing an insubordinate employee?!” - she’s clearly close to tears now, piercing Ganesh with an accusing stare - or trying to, anyway... “ - What… What kind of father does that?! What kind of father does that make you?!...”

When Alex has thrown those same words at Nyree’s mother, the effect was devastating. The same cannot be said of this reverse situation.
“ - Miss Rikoriko, do kindly stay silent, and don’t try to interfere in matters that are none of your concern.” - Ganesh doesn’t even spare Nyree a glance, but his tone makes her shrink down, trembling. Alex reflexively bristles at her father, squeezing Nyree’s hand tighter.
“ - I think it would really be better if you didn’t get involved, chica.” - advises Diego, not unkindly.
Nyree nods shakily, swallowing a sniffle.

“ - So… That’s it, then?” - asks Alex flatly.
“ - Yes, Alexis, it is. I’ll get Rita on the necessary file work immediately. From this moment on, we need never interact again.”
“ - Fine by me.” - she grates out.
“ - Excellent.” - replies Ganesh coldly. “ - In that case, there is nothing more to say. Goodbye, Alexis. Mister Ibarrez, miss Rikoriko.” - and with that, he ends the connection.

A brittle silence reigns in the apartment for several long moments.
Alex is very, very still, staring off into the space previously occupied by the AR screen with unseeing eyes. Nyree shifts anxiously, still gripping Alex’s hand.

“ - He… He did it. He really did it.” - whispers Alex in a choked, dead voice. Her shoulders are starting to twitch.
“ - Yes, he did. You got what you wanted, chica.” - Diego nods sadly.
“ - He d-did it.” - Alex sniffles. “ - I d-didn’t think he w-would… “ - her face slowly crumples. “ - H-he r-really d-doesn’t c-care… H-he d-doesn’t l-l-lo-...” - and with that, Alex shatters to pieces, breaking down into wailing, heart-wrenching sobs.

Nyree pulls Alex into a hug, and Diego excuses himself for a bit, to give them space, and to see to their late lunch, now long gone cold.

It takes Alex over half an hour to finally cry herself out and calm down. All this time, Nyree bravely serves support duty. It’s a little awkward, considering the difference in size between the two girls, but Nyree doesn’t let that stop her, letting Alex sob into her shoulder, while hugging the distraught girl and whispering caring, calming words.

Diego comes back as Alex is pulling herself together. Once she has let it all out, it’s a surprisingly quick process.

“ - Thanks… And sorry about that…” - Alex mumbles awkwardly, indicating Nyree’s shirt. It’s soaked from the shoulder halfway down her chest and to the elbow. Not to mention, smeared with some snot...
“ - No problem, really. You needed that.” - Nyree smiles sadly, patting Alex’s hand.

Diego hands Alex a pack of tissues. She accepts those eagerly, blowing her nose and wiping her face.
“ - So. What’re you going to do now, chica?”
“ - Well… Seems I no longer have any other place to go, so… Could I continue to stay here, Coach? Only… Looks like I no longer have any money, either. I won’t be able to pay my rent…” - Alex looks away, embarrassed.
“ - Of course you’re welcome to stay. I told you before, chica, I won’t hold you to it if you really can’t pay. But, my rent is the least of your problems, I’m afraid. What about your Academy tuition?...” - Diego points out gently.
“ - ...Oh. Oh, shit!” - Alex frantically checks her comlog. “ - Shit, you’re right, Coach. December is covered, and it’s over anyway, far as school is concerned. But starting January, I’ll have to pay for myself if I want to continue attending… Shit!” - Alex tugs at her hair in frustration. “ - Once I turn eighteen, I’ll have my college fund… Right?!” - she scrambles to check her comlog again, an edge of panic creeping onto her face. After a few seconds, she breathes a sigh of relief. “ - Right. That’s still in order. It’s legally fully mine, I just can’t use it until the set conditions are fulfilled. Guess that would be too problematic to mess with… But that doesn’t help me now. ...I don’t suppose you’d have a spare… Oh, ten grand or so I could borrow, for the next two semesters, Coach? I’ll pay you back once I have access to my trust fund, promise!” - Alex gives Diego an embarrassed, begging smile.
“ - Well… I would, chica, but… Next three months, I’ll be operating barely above the red line myself, with the penalty payments for Larasati and her crony eating up all my spare Oceana. So I’m afraid I can’t help you, much as I’d like to.” - Diego shrugs, apologetic.
“ - Oh, right.” - nods Alex glumly.
“ - You could drop out. Change school to one of the free ones. Though of course those are lower standard…” - puts in Nyree, obviously in her “analytic mode”.
“ - No way I’m sinking this low.” - Alex growls. “ - That’ll be like giving up, admitting defeat. And I need the Academy to secure my future schooling…” - she glances at Diego, obviously thinking about what they discussed on Thursday.
“ - I don’t think it should be a big problem. With the guarantee of that trust fund of yours, you shouldn’t have any trouble securing a bank loan.” - Diego muses. Alex not wanting to give up is definitely encouraging. “ - Though, as a minor, even an independent one, you’d probably still need to register with Social Services, for them to pledge for you. You’ll probably need to register either way, really…”
“ - Social Services. Great…” - sighs Alex.
“ - Well, you could always adopt her…” - muses Nyree absently.

“ - Erm…” - Diego stalls.
Alex blinks and turns to him. That hope and longing are on her face again…

“ - Oh my. Did I say something wrong?” - Nyree asks in the sudden silence, fidgeting awkwardly.
“ - No, not at all, chica… But, well… I don’t think I’m quite ready to take this so far, not so officially, anyway. Sorry, Alex. Nothing against you, just…” - he shrugs, somewhat helplessly. Nope, he’s definitely not ready for this. And Yuni would probably kill him - with laughter...
“ - It’s okay, Coach. I understand.” - Alex sigs, obviously swallowing disappointment, but at least she’s not angry... Or start crying again.

“ - Well then! I guess it’s a good thing you insisted I find a job, Coach.” - Alex deliberately changes tracks, managing a quite natural smirk. “ - ‘Cause it looks like training has just become the real thing. I don’t want to borrow too much, so I’ll have to work for a living as much as I can now.” - she frowns, face and voice determined. “ - I guess I’ll have to ask senhor Silva for more shifts… How will we manage to fit that in, with me, ‘Nique, and you, Coach?”
“ - We’ll figure something out, chica.”
“ - Hope so.” - Alex sigs. “ - Well. Here’s a new and exciting chapter in my life, alright.”

“ - Well...” - Diego starts carefully, “ - It may still turn out to be temporary. I’m not saying it’ll be necessarily soon… But a time may yet come when you both change your minds about this. Patch things up.” - he points out gently.
“ - Yeah right!” - Alex snorts derisively. “ - Have you met me? And where do you think I got my stubborn side from? It’ll be a cold day in Hell indeed when we take all this back.” - she declares with, a somewhat pained, finality.
“ - If you say so.” - Diego decides not to press the issue. It’s much too early for it, the hurt much to fresh.
Though his little Devil chooses this moment to make an appearance, all bundled up in heavy winter clothing, breathing vapour and stomping his hooves for warmth in the apparent chill, and unsuccessfully trying to light a fire under his cauldron, the tar inside seemingly frozen solid…

There’s one last thing to decide.
“ - So… Should we tell the others? About all this?” - asks Nyree.
“ - I think they should know.” - nods Diego. “ - No sense in trying to keep it secret. And they’ll only worry more when rumors reach them. ‘Cause you can bet a thing like that won’t stay quiet.”
“ - If nothing else, Patty will likely stumble upon the changes in Alex’s files on one of her data-dive larks...” - Nyree muses.
“ - Heh. True. Alright. We’ll tell them tomorrow.” - agrees Alex. “ - Will be quite the story…”

They all mutually decide, having made what plans for dealing with this crisis they could, to stop worrying for now, and just take things as they come.
Diego and Alex move to the kitchen, to finally deal with the re-heated lunch, and, continuing from where they left off before this whole drama started, invite Nyree along. The food is good, helping to restore some of their spirits. And Rikoriko is quite fascinated with the discovery that Diego, and especially Alex, can cook.

Some time later Alex and Diego see Nyree to the door.
“ - Thanks again, Nyree... For being a shoulder to cry on. Literally.” - Alex rubs the back of her head awkwardly.
“ - You’re welcome, Alex. You needed it.” - Nyree gives her a gentle smile.
“ - Didn’t deserve it, though. Not from you…” - Alex looks away, blushing.
“ - Well, you got it anyway.” - Nyree, smile turning slightly impish, pats Alex’s shoulder.
Alex blinks, then smiles back shyly, recognizing her own words to Nyree from a month back. A lot has changed since then…
“ - Goodbye, Alex, Coach. See you tomorrow.” - and with that, Nyree takes her leave.
Alex watches her go for a few moments. Diego’s pretty sure there’s some of that hope and longing in her eyes once more...

As they are getting ready for bed today, Alex again lingers in the hallway when they pass when taking turns in the bathroom. The hesitation is a little shorter today, before she again envelopes Diego in a chaste, slightly awkward, but heartfelt hug.
Diego pats her back reassuringly.
Alex steps back, but not before giving Diego a little peck on the cheek.
“ - Now, don’t go reading anything into it.” - she warns, smile at once mischievous and shy. “ - I definitely don’t want to cause you any trouble. Shiva knows there’ll be enough morons reading too much into our living arrangements. And, well… Not that I think you’re hideous, or anything, Coach… But in all seriousness, you’re definitely not my type. Men in general aren’t my type... I’m flexible, but I much prefer playing on the other side of the fence… And I’m rambling. Sorry.” - she blushes a bit. “ - All I mean is… Thank you. Again. For letting me stay. For not judging. Being there when I need someone to talk to… All that stuff…”
“ - You’re welcome. Again.” - Diego nods seriously. “ - And you know where to find me, should you need anything. Anytime.”
“ - Thanks. So… ‘Night, Coach.”
“ - Goodnight, Alex.” - Diego did make a note never to call her “Alexis”, even in jest. Wouldn’t go over well, one can bet.
Well. At least she hasn't taken his declining the adoption idea as (too much of) a rejection. And Diego has no illusions that, official or not - and whenever and however the Hell it happened! - Alex still most likely regards him as a kind of substitute parent anyway. Which is, honestly, a little scary...

Before going to sleep, Diego sends out a message to Yuni, updating her on the little drama that took place today. She probably won’t respond back, instead giving her thoughts when she arrives back tomorrow evening. And she may well still kill him with laughter… On the other hand, maybe she’ll be disappointed, at the lost opportunity to troll her mom? Yuni’s mother could’ve easily gotten more than she was bargaining for, in the form of an adoptive granddaughter - not a cute baby like she obviously hopes, but a brash and mouthy teenager… Hah, beware what you wish for!

Also, there’ll be some changes necessary, now that it looks like Alex’s stay will be far more permanent than initially thought. For one, there shouldn’t be any more “horizontal dancing” in this apartment…
“ - Lucifer's beard.” - groans Diego to himself, half serious. “ - I’m starting to think like a typical PanO prude. Wonderful.”

Diego is definitely looking forward to tomorrow: just a solid day of paintball fun - not to mention Yuni coming back later - with no drama attached...


Monday, December 30th

It’s Monday instead of Saturday, but otherwise the Angels of Stone observe the same routine before going out to the paintball field as always. Arriving by ones and twos, they gather at their hangar at school, at the usual time.

Most of the team haven’t seen one another over the holidays, Wednesday’s simulator session excluded, so there are a lot of happy greetings (Minnie eagerly and liberally dispensing hugs all around) and catching-up chatter.

Some things are different from routine, though.
Diego and Alex arrived together of course, on his motorcycle. They were the first there, so nobody noticed it yet, but the other girls do register some surprise at Alex being the first of them there.
Yuni won’t be here today - she’ll only get back to the planet in the late evening. So it falls to Diego to drive the Monster this time. Still, shouldn’t be a problem, with the autopilot assistance.
Evangeline arrives, and is eagerly welcomed “home” by the others. But she didn’t come in her usual limousine. Roger is still her driver, but what he’s driving today it’s a smaller, if surely still luxuriously appointed, civilian sedan. Mr. Smith must have decided to go for something less noticeable, for an added bit of secrecy, just in case.

The last curiosity is the once inseparable duo being separated again, with Patty arriving alone, without Octy. Soon, everyone else is already there, Octavia the only one missing. On a school day, this would mean Octy stayed behind to hang out with her boyfriend. But it’s not a school day, and it’s a bit early for a date with Fred…
“ - Yeah, Octy stayed behind, told me not to wait up. I think she wants to make a grand entrance...” - Patricia grins.

They don’t get a chance to grill Patty for what she meant, because Octy does not make them wait any longer.
Everyone’s attention is caught by the approaching whine of a high-performance electric engine, and then Octavia Moina rolls up next to the hangar.
On a racing motorbike.
Now, while it’s not really a full-sized, competition-power “crotch rocket”, it’s not a toy either, but a serious, sporty, very nippy little machine. And it looks quite cool done up in Octy’s “personal colours”, dark charcoal with pink trim and sparse white accents. As does Octy herself, in matching biking outfit, including the six-eyed enclosed helmet, and mini-skirt (though, as advised by Yuni and Diego, she did exchange the biking shorts for full length leather leggings).
Octy pulls off the helmet, revealing a flushed, happy little grin.
The Angels gather round to give rider and bike their deserved appreciation.
“ - Alright, now I believe it.” - Alex grins, with a side glance at Diego. “ - Going full ‘Bad Girl’, eh, Moina? Looking good!”
“ - Omigosh, you look so cute! And cool!” - gushes Minnie, throwing her arms around Octavia.
“ - Nice set of wheels.” - Morgan nods appreciatively.
“ - Ooh, new model floating geometry!” - ‘Nique primarily cares about TAGs, but the gearhead girl can certainly get behind any neat piece of engineering.
“ - Not a bad look for you. The skirt adds that special little something.” - compliments Eva.
“ - Looks like you’re having fun!” - Nyree may not be into motorcycles herself, but she can appreciate one of her friends enjoying herself.
“ - Another convert to the Way of the Motorcycle. Miss Yuni will be so proud.” - Patty teases lightly, clapping a friendly hand to Octy’s shoulder.
“ - Thank you, everyone.” - Octy gives a bashful smile. “ - My parents - Daddy, mostly,” - she giggles, “ - Finally relented. It’s a late Christmas gift. And I only just passed my certification on Saturday…”
“ - And in only a month from your first ride to your own machine. You went for it faster than me.” - Diego muses, smiling.
“ - Well, Frederic’s enthusiasm is infectious, and he is a good teacher…” - Octy is blushing again.

They allow themselves a few more moments of idle chatter and hanging out, but it’s soon time to get moving. Especially as there’s one more thing to take care of...

“ - Right. Coach, why don’t you go get the Monster rolling, and I’ll fill the girls in on our latest developments?” - speaks up Alex.
Diego nods and sets off for the garage, as the Angels gather around Alex with curious faces.

As Diego is carefully bringing the huge truck in front of the hangar, DeeDee suddenly pops up in a comm window beside him, expression urgent.
“ - Coach Ibarrez! I think you should know-! Oh no!… Too late...” - the avatar wrings its hands.
“ - What happened now, DeeDee?” - asks Diego warily.
“ - You better see for yourself, sir...”

Well, he’s already here. Diego climbs down from the cab, to see the girls clustered around, faces a mix of anxious and agitated - and some of them hostile. The center of the commotion seems to be Alex… And a person she’s struggling with.
“ - What’s going on, chicas?”
“ - Oh, hey, Coach. Look what we caught!” - declares Alex with a nasty grin, looking at him over her shoulder. “ - A dirty, four-eyed rat!”
With that, she turns fully around, dragging the person she’s holding onto - by the back of their underwear, stretched up almost to the back of their neck in a vicious wedgie - into view.

Alex’s victim - another girl - is definitely not enjoying their experience. She’s stretched up onto her tiptoes, hands showed between her thighs, all in a desperate attempt to relieve the discomfort. Her face is screwed up, tears of pain and humiliation in the eyes behind her stylish spectacles.
Despite that, Diego can still easily recognize her, even without the AR student name tag which helpfully pops up.

It’s Samantha Silva.

Oh, bother.


Which concludes entry #17.

[Kathara_Khan]

And now another little bonus.
Here is little Octavia "Octy" Moina in her new motorcycling gear (sadly, I can't really recreate the enclosed, six-camera-eyed helmet in Kisekae...):

My, she's huge... Sorry, I don't know how to resize pics in this forum. The bbcode doesn't seem to work...

[Claudius Sol]

Well, Alex seems to have had quite the journey to reach here.

I approve of more motorcycles, as well.

[Section9]

Love the "Wish you were here" and the "be careful what you wish for" scenes! I have a few friends still in the service that I think I'm going to have to share the "wish you were here" joke with, and I can only imagine the pushy mama who suddenly gets a teenaged grand-daughter instead of the cute little grandbaby.

You do NOT want to know what I want to do to Alex's ... paternal DNA source. [expletives deleted] waste of oxygen.

[Kathara_Khan]

Well, Alex seems to have had quite the journey to reach here.

Yup, it's been a journey, alright.
Though I'm a little disappointed Diego chickened out of the adoption idea, the wimp!

I still think the final build up and the "big finale" it's a little awkward from a storytelling perspective, clustered together in just two episodes and a handful of days, but that was the best way I could see to pull it off...

I approve of more motorcycles, as well.

Never a bad thing, more motorcycles, right?

And if we're talking about mechas. You might want to know, I finally decided to maybe check what 'Nique sees in them, so I acquired and built a first Gunpla of my own.
Verdict: those things are pure awsomesouce! I want more!

Love the "Wish you were here" and the "be careful what you wish for" scenes! I have a few friends still in the service that I think I'm going to have to share the "wish you were here" joke with, and I can only imagine the pushy mama who suddenly gets a teenaged grand-daughter instead of the cute little grandbaby.

Thank you, we try.

You do NOT want to know what I want to do to Alex's ... paternal DNA source. [expletives deleted] waste of oxygen.

She'd surely appreciate the sentiment, but she'd insist on bring first in line.

And to be fair to the guy, he can't really help it. Seeing as he is very much based on Gendo Ikari...


Also, it's great to see you guys are still with us. You've been silent for some time, thought you moved on...

And I think that's a good opportunity to get something off my chest here.

Lately, I've been struggling with writer's burnout. I'm pretty close to canceling this entire series. Not the game itself, never that. But the reports... The entire thing is a labour of love. But recently, it's feeling like a whole lot of labour, and very little love.

Thing is, we no longer really need the reports as session notes. Starting next episode, we'll be doing audio recordings of the sessions, so we'll be very well covered in that regard. Sure, this written story form is much more attractive. But creating it is honestly a lot of work... And lately, it's been very unrewarding.

Hardly anybody seems to care. Sure, we got plenty of views on the thread, but those don't really feel very supportive, nor do they really tell me anything. For all I know, It could be the same three people reading the thing over and over, or hundreds coming in with idle curiosity, reading an episode or two, and going "what is this shitty weaboo wankery?" and leaving never to come back.

Some creators don't really care if what they make is really appreciated by anyone. For others, indifference is poison. I'm afraid I'm of the second sort. I'm quickly loosing motivation to go on.

Especially as the reports in a way hold the game hostage. We can't play the next episode before we finish writting up the previous one, 'cause then we'll forget things, and get buried in backlog. Well, the first won't be a problem anymore, and I'm very close to saying "screw it" to the second. I'm a story teller, sure, but a GM, not a book writer. I want to run this game, not write about it...

So, I'd like to ask for a show of hands here.
Are you reading this series? Do you like it? Well, how about letting us know? Click that "Like" button on each episode. Better yet, drop a comment too, even if it's something "inane" like just a "good job!". If you want to tell us you found a particular thing funny, touching, awsome, of even if you think something didn't quite hit the mark, that's even better.
You'd be amazed how rewarding and motivating feedback can be to an "artist" (yeah, I'm using the term loosely here in realtion to myself ).
Even just Claudius and Section9 above pretty much made my day, and made me feel much better about the whole thing. But I'm a greedy cat bastard, I want more.

So yeah, that's how things stand. Thanks for letting me vent.

[Azalod]

Hi, I must apologize for being a rather silent fan of this story .
I love it and when I visit forum this is a first thread that I open to check is there any new episode.
Somehow you manage to fit there all the things that I like in anime.
We all love Mech's but I think the 'slice of life' motives are especially impressive for me. I like watching how main characters develope and grow more and more. At first I was disapointed that there was only a few mech action byt then I sink in the story. I hope that you won't cut this project and I can promise that I will be more supportive fan!

And i'm sorry for my rusty english

[Radek]

Ok guys this is just awesome, like a really good book, where is a subscribe button when you really need it!

[Claudius Sol]

I hope you know you'll always have my support.
It's always a pleasure to see another episode has been added to the story.

[Section9]

Please continue with the writeups!

[Kathara_Khan]

Hi, I must apologize for being a rather silent fan of this story

Hey there!
Great to hear from you. Don't worry about the English.
Glad you're enjoying this little story of ours.
To tell the truth, I myself am sometimes a little disappointed at how sparse the mecha action is. By the nature of the game, having matches happen much more often would feel rather forced. And narrating all the training games in more detail wouldn't be all too exciting, I feel. Good to hear that the slice of life stuff is still good enough between them.
Thank you for your support, and see you (hopefully) in the next episode!

[jherazob]

And now another little bonus.
Here is little Octavia "Octy" Moina in her new motorcycling gear (sadly, I can't really recreate the enclosed, six-camera-eyed helmet in Kisekae...):

Big_Pic

---

My, she's huge... Sorry, I don't know how to resize pics in this forum. The bbcode doesn't seem to work...

Welp, she's adorable! As for the helmet, you could always add it afterwards, it'd have to be designed and added externally to the images created with Kisekae, but you could, or maybe somebody else who's handy with graphical artisty stuff (i'm afraid i have about zero skills in this area, otherwise i'd volunteer), i think the description was detailed enough, plus the bonus of being inspired by Infinity stuff means there's plenty of artwork to draw from.

Well, Alex seems to have had quite the journey to reach here.

Yup, it's been a journey, alright.
Though I'm a little disappointed Diego chickened out of the adoption idea, the wimp!

I don't blame him, i guess i'm a bit of a wimp too

I still think the final build up and the "big finale" it's a little awkward from a storytelling perspective, clustered together in just two episodes and a handful of days, but that was the best way I could see to pull it off...

As far as i'm concerned it worked

I approve of more motorcycles, as well.

Never a bad thing, more motorcycles, right?

And that one's almost exactly like the ALEPH ones

And if we're talking about mechas. You might want to know, I finally decided to maybe check what 'Nique sees in them, so I acquired and built a first Gunpla of my own.
Verdict: those things are pure awsomesouce! I want more!

I blame you for infecting me too, my wallet saw and did this:

You do NOT want to know what I want to do to Alex's ... paternal DNA source. [expletives deleted] waste of oxygen.

She'd surely appreciate the sentiment, but she'd insist on bring first in line.
And to be fair to the guy, he can't really help it. Seeing as he is very much based on Gendo Ikari...

I freaking knew it! At first when reading i had the suspicion of familiarity, but when he did the gesture it crystallized instantly into dislike, as it should. And just because, here's an oddly disturbing video featuring him

Also, it's great to see you guys are still with us. You've been silent for some time, thought you moved on...
And I think that's a good opportunity to get something off my chest here.
Lately, I've been struggling with writer's burnout. I'm pretty close to canceling this entire series. Not the game itself, never that. But the reports... The entire thing is a labour of love. But recently, it's feeling like a whole lot of labour, and very little love.
Thing is, we no longer really need the reports as session notes. Starting next episode, we'll be doing audio recordings of the sessions, so we'll be very well covered in that regard. Sure, this written story form is much more attractive. But creating it is honestly a lot of work... And lately, it's been very unrewarding.
Hardly anybody seems to care. Sure, we got plenty of views on the thread, but those don't really feel very supportive, nor do they really tell me anything. For all I know, It could be the same three people reading the thing over and over, or hundreds coming in with idle curiosity, reading an episode or two, and going "what is this shitty weaboo wankery?" and leaving never to come back.
Some creators don't really care if what they make is really appreciated by anyone. For others, indifference is poison. I'm afraid I'm of the second sort. I'm quickly loosing motivation to go on.
Especially as the reports in a way hold the game hostage. We can't play the next episode before we finish writting up the previous one, 'cause then we'll forget things, and get buried in backlog. Well, the first won't be a problem anymore, and I'm very close to saying "screw it" to the second. I'm a story teller, sure, but a GM, not a book writer. I want to run this game, not write about it...
So, I'd like to ask for a show of hands here.
Are you reading this series? Do you like it? Well, how about letting us know? Click that "Like" button on each episode. Better yet, drop a comment too, even if it's something "inane" like just a "good job!". If you want to tell us you found a particular thing funny, touching, awsome, of even if you think something didn't quite hit the mark, that's even better.
You'd be amazed how rewarding and motivating feedback can be to an "artist" (yeah, I'm using the term loosely here in realtion to myself ).
Even just Claudius and Section9 above pretty much made my day, and made me feel much better about the whole thing. But I'm a greedy cat bastard, I want more.
So yeah, that's how things stand. Thanks for letting me vent.

As you've seen there's people paying attention to the story, not a big crowd but a faithful one
And as you already know i'm in for the rest of the story, as long as it takes, and hope for it to last a while

To tell the truth, I myself am sometimes a little disappointed at how sparse the mecha action is. By the nature of the game, having matches happen much more often would feel rather forced. And narrating all the training games in more detail wouldn't be all too exciting, I feel. Good to hear that the slice of life stuff is still good enough between them.
Thank you for your support, and see you (hopefully) in the next episode!

As far as i'm concerned I'm in for the slice of life stuff and the characters, with the mecha action being cool and interesting but ultimately secondary, so i'm quite pleased.

[Section9]

Just finished a 5-hour long archive binge. This is at least as good as any of the light novels I've been reading.

You do NOT want to know what I want to do to Alex's ... paternal DNA source. [expletives deleted] waste of oxygen.

She'd surely appreciate the sentiment, but she'd insist on bring first in line.

And to be fair to the guy, he can't really help it. Seeing as he is very much based on Gendo Ikari...

Depressingly, I didn't see the semblance. But it's been a while since I watched any Eva, and I have had the misfortune of meeting more than one real-life Gendo Ikari.

[Kathara_Khan]

Just finished a 5-hour long archive binge. This is at least as good as any of the light novels I've been reading.

Aww...

Depressingly, I didn't see the semblance. But it's been a while since I watched any Eva, and I have had the misfortune of meeting more than one real-life Gendo Ikari.

Oh jeeze, a real-life Gendo? More than one, even? indeed.

You'll all be happy to know the next episode should be in development shortly. Due to real-life factors it ended up a shorter game than usual, so the report will also be a shorter one, covering only one day. On the bright side, this means it'll be out much sooner! (I hope...)

[Claudius Sol]

Take your time! No need to rush things if the timing doesn't work out for you!

I hope things go well!

[Azalod]

can't wait !

[Kathara_Khan]

can't wait !

Yes, you can.

Seriously, though, no other choice. Work is being Hell right now, actively sapping my will to do anything in my free time beside sleeping, and maybe mindlessly watching an anime episode or two. But it'll be over soon. Next week - so technically this weekend already - I'm starting my vacation time. Should be able to finally work on writing properly then...

[Claudius Sol]

Take your time!

I can definitely sympathize with the work being Hell!

[Azalod]

Take your time!

I can definitely sympathize with the work being Hell!

Same here ! All I dream about is 1h to paint session with my minis... instead I just go home after work and turn on zombie mode
So no worries you're not alone:)

BTW. what is the name of anime you're watching? I'm looking for some new titles.

[Kathara_Khan]

Thank you for the support!

BTW. what is the name of anime you're watching? I'm looking for some new titles.

If you're looking for something to watch, and you haven't seen it yet, I always recommend "Girls und Panzer", which is the primary inspiration for our own "TAGs of Avalon", and a pretty fun series.
Currently, I'm going through "Gundam Build Fighters Try", the sequel to "Gundam Build Fighters", to which we also owe some spiritual debt. Both original and sequel are worth seeing.

[Section9]

While they're not new titles, I'm watching Last Exile: Fam right now, with Lord Marksman and Vanadis [Madan no Ou to Vanadis] next in line.

[Azalod]

Thank you for the support!

BTW. what is the name of anime you're watching? I'm looking for some new titles.

If you're looking for something to watch, and you haven't seen it yet, I always recommend "Girls und Panzer", which is the primary inspiration for our own "TAGs of Avalon", and a pretty fun series.
Currently, I'm going through "Gundam Build Fighters Try", the sequel to "Gundam Build Fighters", to which we also owe some spiritual debt. Both original and sequel are worth seeing.

I love Gundam's ! need to check it out. "Iron blooded orphans" is amazing series, probably because I like little dark and heavy feal in rpg and films. Not all the time ofc. but sometimes I like dive in something like that.
I will definitely check "Girls und Panzer"

While they're not new titles, I'm watching Last Exile: Fam right now, with Lord Marksman and Vanadis [Madan no Ou to Vanadis] next in line.

I watched "Last Exile" I really enjoy it.

If you didn't see Eureka 7 it's a light anime with mechs, it's fun to watch.

[Errhile]

For me, I guess the feeling of TAGs of Avalon is similar to Full Metal Panic - slice-of-life high school story (with some comedic vibes), and mecha action. And when it is action, it is action. Though while the outer layer is light-hearted, there are recurring serious and sometimes pretty dark & heavy themes in it. More than what I've observed in Girls & Panzer.

So, yeah, I'd say TAGs of Avalon are a good mix between Full Metal Panic and Girls und Panzer.

[Kathara_Khan]

I love Gundam's ! need to check it out. "Iron blooded orphans" is amazing series, probably because I like little dark and heavy feal in rpg and films. Not all the time ofc. but sometimes I like dive in something like that.

Be aware, though, that Build Fighters is a very different universe and series than the usual Gundam fare. That may be why it managed to be the only Gundam series I was ever able to get into...

I watched "Last Exile" I really enjoy it.

One of those days, I have to get to that myself. Because it looks to be straight up my alley. Sweet, sweet tech-fantasy airship action.

If you didn't see Eureka 7 it's a light anime with mechs, it's fun to watch.

I love Eureka 7! (The original series, mind. The spin-off/remake, sequel, and manga I'm not at all fond of...) Still perhaps my favorite teen romance story of all time. As long as one can get over the air surfing, pink explosions, and the fact that the mechs are not really the point, it's quite an awesome, enjoyable ride. And I love how relatable and plain human the characters felt. Even when somebody was being an asshole it didn't make me dislike them, because I always felt like I could understand why they were acting that way, and it was mostly sad...

For me, I guess the feeling of TAGs of Avalon is similar to Full Metal Panic - slice-of-life high school story (with some comedic vibes), and mecha action. And when it is action, it is action. Though while the outer layer is light-hearted, there are recurring serious and sometimes pretty dark & heavy themes in it. More than what I've observed in Girls & Panzer.

So, yeah, I'd say TAGs of Avalon are a good mix between Full Metal Panic and Girls und Panzer.

Yeah, the one thing I can say that I, well, not disliked, perhaps, but definitely felt was lacking in G&P, was the relative lack of slice-of-life stuff. By mostly skipping over the time between the matches, G&P became much a more action-packed and "tight" show. But I for one would still like to spend more time with the characters in everyday settings instead...

But man, I hate Full Metal Panic. Okay, not really the whole series, which definitely has some good things about it. But I came to absolutely despise Kaname Chidori. I have never hated a person, real or fictional, as strongly as I did her. It go so bad, I would experience physical pain from my stomach clenching in rage every time she came on screen. Kind of scary, really. So I dropped it about 2/3 through the first series, 'cause I just couldn't bare putting up with that waste of life anymore. Sure, it never got quite bad enough for me to wish she would just die... But the entitled, spoiled, basic-human-empathy-lacking brat could definitely use to get the f*** over herself, preferably with the help of some adult putting her over their knee...

[Errhile]

Avalon Chronicles
entry #18

“Change of Year, Change of Heart”


Dramatis personae:
Note #1 - Starting with entry #5, only the characters making an appearance (or, in some cases, referred to) in a given episode are listed. A complete list of all the characters appearing in the Avalon Chronicles is available under the link. Beware of spoilers, though, especially if you’re coming in late.
Note #2 - Wherever a nationality / country of origin is mentioned, it describes dominant “cultural / ethnical background trace” rather than actual country / nation of origin (for example, Yuni was born and raised on Neo Terra, but her background trace is Malaysian).
Note #3 - The “#x” notes the episode in which given character made their first appearance.
Note #4 - We now have official character art for the series, collected for your viewing convenience on the GM’s DeviantART Page.

“Anjos de Rocha” (Angels of Stone), The Team:
Alex Narahari - #1 (2. class, 17, Indian) “Bad apple”, school’s bully assigned to the team as a method of correcting her ways (which seems to be working, if slowly - Alex, as it turns out, has her own host of demons). Her father tends to solve any problems (including those caused by Alex) by throwing money at them. Alex is an aggressive, reckless player who shoots too much, and doesn’t think enough. Anaconda TAG.
Dominique (‘Nique) Torres - #1 (1. class, 16, Argentine) Atek and waitress as “Silva’s”, former student of St. John’s High School (a Church-run school for the poor), transferred to the Academy on sports scholarship for the TAG-soft team in #6. A mechanical and electrical engineering prodigy, she is fascinated with TAGs and does “Gunpla” kits of them in her free time. Turned out into the same class as Eva. Initially Lizard TAG, but in #8 swaps it for ‘Ree’s Anaconda.
Evangeline (Eva) Neve - #1 (1. class, 16, Italian) “Princess”, the wealthiest kid in school. Craves for proper behaviour and organized affairs, though the rest of the team are working on her. Team’s captain. Iguana TAG.
Minuette (Minnie) Diane Chryse - #1 (1. class, 16, Australian) Former cheerleader and team’s self-proclaimed “morale officer”. Cheerful and energetic, though sometimes not the quickest mind in the team, definitely (though she speaks a stunning array of languages, at least 5 fluent and several others with lesser proficiency). The only team member (before ‘Ree joined in) to have a sibling (two in fact, both sisters). Her parents own a chain of restaurants. Solid team player. Initially Lizard TAG, in #6 takes over Mako’s Gecko..
Morgan Lai - #1 (2. class, 17, Polynesian) “Sleepy”. Chronically asleep, pathologically lazy and way laid back person. Still, a solid player, calm and precise. Seems to have taken it upon herself to help temper and restrain Alex’ baser impulses - physically if need be. Szalamandra TAG until #7, then swaps for Lizard (formerly Patty’s). Practising Christian, she sings in a church choir, too.
Nyree (‘Ree) Rikoriko - #5 / #6 (as Peanut Gallery / full appearance), (2nd class, 14 - she started school a year early, and then skipped a grade in junior high, Maori) Girl from Morgan’s class, apparently the school’s polymath genius and “mega-nerd” (in Morgan’s opinion). Excellent student but with a troubled past (she was bullied real bad - by Alex as it turned out...). Has two brothers. Joined the team in #7, initially on Anaconda TAG, but in #8 swaps it for ‘Nique’s Lizard.
Octavia (Octy) Moina - #1 (1. class, 16, Brazilian) Successful and gifted musician (cello), but shy and prone to panic when not currently playing. She’s also a very effective player, as long as nobody can see her face (in a TAG or under her paintball mask). Patricia’s best mate. Highest “kill”-count so far. Lizard TAG.
Patricia (Patty) Summers - #1 (1. class, 16, North American) Gifted DJ and known hacker (of a school caliber, like upgrading her grades and the like). Octavia’s best mate. Almost never seen without headphones. Suffers from severe sedatephobia (fear of silence). Average player. Lizard TAG until #7, then swaps for Szalamandra (formerly Morgan’s).

Other characters at Roberto Rocha Preparatory Academy:
Staff:
DeeDee “Ditzy” Alephsdottir - #9 (avatar looks ~20, Nordic) The Academy’s low-level ALEPH subpersona, her duties include filing, mail distribution, drone operations, and assisting Ken on monitoring. While methodical like a computer, she’s not too bright, and even outright scatterbrained at times (however, she was bright enough to note that Diego, as a Nomad, is likely to be at odds with Aleph as such, and therefore she made an effort not to interact with him… or even make him aware of her existence).
Devil - #3 Diego’s “desktop animal” and AR digital pet (leftover from his CJC days), a cheerful animated devil with all the paraphernalia. Run by a simple pseudo-intelligence, it’s aware of, and can react to its surroundings - usually with comedic effects.
Diego “Diablo” Ibarrez - #1 (~60y, looks ~40, Latinoamerican) The protagonist - TAG-Soft team coach, retired CJC TAG pilot, later TAG combat instructor. Died in the EI war and was granted a resurrection thanks to his minor war hero status.
Yuni Iskandar - #1 (29, Malaysian) PE teacher and TAG Soft coach’s assistant. Very sporty and attractive, goes pretty well along with Diego since they met on day one. Well enough, actually, that their relation had (in entry #4) progressed to “friends with benefits”... Volunteered for the staff paintball team.
Students:
Gema Larasati - #12 (2. class, 17, Indonesian) Troublemaking skater girl, leader of a small clique of bullies. She and her gang have apparently been persuaded into doing strong-arm jobs for Dimante, starting with going after Octavia and Alex (and possibly other Angels, too).
Samantha Silva - #10 (1. class, 16, Brazilian) Same class as Evangeline and Dominique. Dimante’s cronie, meaning whatever applies to Dimante, applies to her as well. Wears (purely decorative) glasses.
Tiana Dimante - #10 (1. class, 16, Latvian) Same class as Evangeline and Dominique. Rich upper class spoiled brat, and a bully who likes showing her “lessers” their place in the school’s social ladder. Eva apparently doesn’t think too highly of her. Diego caught her abusing Nyree, in time to stop it - with some help from Alex - before Rikoriko striked back. As a result, she seems to carry a grudge against the Angels of Stone as a whole, and now engages in bullying by proxy against them.

“Bolo’s Barkin’ Spiders”:
One of the local paintball teams. The “Spiders” are experienced, but not a top-tier team in Belo Horizonte - they play for fun, and are not seriously competitive. Despite the pompous nicknames, they’re all laid back, friendly folk.
“Bolo” - #2 (mid 20s). Team captain, Academy’s graduate.
“Scythe” - #2 (mid 20s). Field commander.

“Heart Piercers”:
One of the local paintball teams. More competitive inclinations and higher in the league table than the “Spiders”.
“Needle” - #14 (mid-late 20s). Team captain and sniper. Scythe’s older sister. Turned up for a guest performance with her sister’s outfit, to judge the Angels firsthand as potential opponents.

“Horizon Watch”:
One of the local paintball teams. Located somewhere in the middle of the local league table. Initially dubious of the Angels worth as an opponent, but convinced to give them a chance by the Spiders and Heart Piercers.
“Whistler” - #18 (mid 20s). Team captain.

Neve family security detail:
Roger Smith - #2 (early 40s, North American) Evangeline’s chauffeur… Officially. In reality, he’s a high-end bodyguard, and commander of Evangeline’s section of the detail. Very devoted to his charge. Dorothy's husband.
Nemo - #9 / #12 (as unnamed bodyguard / full appearance) (early 40s, Italian) Shortish, stocky, and bald. Definitely not a clownfish, nor an Indian prince. Neve security’s cyber-warfare specialist.
Belladonna (Bell) Shelke - #12 (looks to be in her mid 30s, Eastern European) Tall, with a body like a gymnast, and a smile like a knife. There’s something uncanny and unsettling about her. Seems she fought in the EI War - the question being, on which side?...



Monday, December 30th

“ - What’s going on, chicas?”
“ - Oh, hey, Coach. Look what we caught!” - declares Alex with a nasty grin, looking at him over her shoulder. “ - A dirty, four-eyed rat!”
With that, she turns fully around, dragging the person she’s holding onto - by the back of their underwear, stretched up almost to the back of their neck in a vicious wedgie - into view.

Alex’s victim - another girl - is definitely not enjoying their experience. She’s stretched up onto her tiptoes, hands showed between her thighs, all in a desperate attempt to relieve the discomfort. Her face is screwed up, tears of pain and humiliation in the eyes behind her stylish spectacles.
Despite that, Diego can still easily recognize her, even without the AR student name tag which helpfully pops up.

It’s Samantha Silva.

Oh, bother.

So much for a trouble-free Monday, it seems.
“ - Alex, don’t kick the lady, you’ll get tired.”
“ - Aww, Coach, five more minutes? You know I don’t tire easily...” - she grins ingratiatingly. Unlike Samantha, Alex is obviously highly enjoying every second.

The other girls look on with mixed expressions, but none of them seem to have all that much sympathy for Silva’s predicament.
Morgan, who in the past was usually the first to try curb Alex’s meaner side, often physically, makes no such move this time, face rather deliberately set in her usual blank, slightly sleepy expression.
Dominique and Nyree are mostly anxious for what Silva’s presence might mean for Eva. Their expressions make it clear though, that they consider Samantha to be getting her just desserts.
Minuette keeps back behind the others. She seems the least hostile of the bunch, but looks to be mostly sad instead, regarding Samantha with some genuine hurt.
Patricia is openly hostile and rather gleeful at Silva’s suffering. If Alex hadn’t gotten to Samantha first, it would quite probably be Patty administering the wedgie right now.
Octavia, as one would typically expect when meeting someone she’s not very familiar with - not to mention not very fond of - is kinda hiding behind Patty’s back. Her expression is not typical, however. It’s restrained and mostly masked by anxiety, but Octy’s eyes hold a surprising amount of hard, cold resentment...
Evangeline looks to be dreading the repercussions from Samantha catching her here. She’s also obviously still uncomfortable with the treatment her former friend is receiving, but makes no move to stop it either.

“ - Alex…” - Diego frowns warningly. Not that he really cares about Silva’s discomfort. Avoiding getting Alex in trouble is a better use of his time.
“ - Oh, all right!” - Alex mock-pouts.
She releases Silva, though she can’t resist one last tiny bit of abuse. Instead of setting Samantha down gently, Alex suddenly lets go, making Silva’s underwear elastic waistband snap against her backside, eliciting a startled, pained squeak.

Silva manages to keep standing, barely, knock-kneed and pigeon-toed, gasping in relief.
“ - So, now that that’s out of the way… Would Miss Silva be so kind as to explain her business at our extra-curricular gathering?” - Diego rises a challenging eyebrow.
It may be petty, or even wrong of him, as a teacher, but he has no intention of coddling the stuck-up brat in the least.

There is a flash of outrage under Silva’s pained, uncomfortable expression, as she realises that Diego doesn’t seem to intend to exact any discipline on Alex, or at least let Silva herself recover from the forced wardrobe malfunction before apparently grilling her over, like it was her in the wrong here… Well, tough.
Samantha herself seems to be well aware she can’t expect any sympathy here. That, plus she seems to find Diego quite intimidating. Either way, her brief flash of temper turns into another pained wince.

“ - I… Just wanted to talk with Evangeline.” - Silva declares shakily.
“ - Of course. That’s why, in the age of the comlog, you had to stalk her, skulking in the proverbial bushes.” - Diego lifts a mocking eyebrow, making no effort to hide his extreme scepticism.
“ - I was not skulking!” - Silva scowls. “ - I was… Waiting for the right moment to step forward! But then Narahari noticed and jumped me before I could do anything...”
“ - Yeah, ‘cause I noticed you skulking, four-eyes!” - Alex grins nastily.
“ - Whatever…” - Silva grumbles. She turns to Eva. “ - I thought it would be better to talk in person, instead of calling… Because I wanted to talk about the…” - she hesitates, obviously fumbling for a less ugly word, then gives up with a sigh, “ - ...Blackmail.” - she finishes, looking away uncomfortably.
“ - Right, so you could give her more demands from your bitch-queen? Get lost!” - Patty scowls fiercely, taking a threatening step towards Samantha, fists clenching.
“ - That’s not it!” - Silva insists, somewhat despairingly. “ - Tiana has no idea I’m here! And I’m not going to tell her, about Evangeline meeting you all, nothing! But I must speak to Evangeline.”
The girls share a round of surprised, suspicious looks.
“ - Well, Eva? It’s your call. Will you talk to her?” - inquires Diego.

Evangeline wavers, uncertain, giving Samantha a long, searching look. Silva shifts uncomfortably.
“ - ...Alright.” - Eva declares finally. “ - I’ll hear you out. But let’s move somewhere more private.”
The others scowl or shake their heads, obviously not liking the idea.
“ - I’d suggest including senhor Smith in that talk.” - advises Diego.
“ - He’s already on his way.” - nods Eva. Indeed, Roger is approaching the hangar at a brisk walk. “ - And, actually… Could I ask you to come as well, Coach?...”
“ - Me?”
“ - As completely off the record as this talk is going to be, I’d still like to have an Academy staff representative along, just in case. Also, you were involved in the matter pretty much from the start, and, well… I’d just like to still have your support. Please?”
“ - Ah. Alright, then, chica. You can count on me.”
Eva gives Diego a grateful smile.
“ - Coach Ibarrez. Ladies.” - Roger Smith nods in greeting as he arrives. “ - Right. I already took the liberty of having Nemo make us ‘dark’. Miss Alephsdottir definitely doesn’t need to know about all this.”
“ - She wouldn’t be too happy, hearing you say that.” - smirks Diego. Harmless as DeeDee seems, there’s no forgetting she’s an extension of ALEPH, and he definitely doesn’t mind tweaking it’s nose a bit.
“ - Undoubtedly. Luckily, however, right now she’s very busy, frantically trying to remember what it was she was doing a few minutes ago.” - Roger gives a thin smile. “ - Now then, we should move somewhere less public. Could we use your office, Coach Ibarrez?”
“ - Let’s go, then. Wait here chicas. We’ll try not to take too long.”
With that, Diego, Eva, Samantha, and Roger move to Diego’s office in the hangar.

As they enter Diego’s office, Roger does a deliberate show of walking around the room and very thoroughly checking it over for any possible taps or other security risks. He finishes by opening the window and leaning out to carefully check outside. Diego half-expects Roger to reach down beneath the sill, and pull up one of the Angels, attempting to listen in, by their ear. But it looks like none of the girls decided to try. Roger finishes his sweep by taking position where he can easily keep the entire room, everyone in it, and all the entryways, in sight. Curiously, he left the window open…

With that little ritual done, Samantha Silva finds herself once more the focus of everyone’s attention. Standing in the center of the room, she throws a slightly unnerved glance over her shoulder, at Roger, looming behind her like a silent sentinel.

“ - Well, then, Samantha?” - Eva, face carefully neutral, brings Silva’s focus back to herself. “ - What is it that you wanted to say?”
Diego himself is content to sit behind his desk and watch for now. The Devil, on the other hand, gleefully stokes the fire beneath his bubbling cauldron of tar, throwing anticipatory glances at Silva.

“ - Right.” - Samantha sighs, seeming to brace herself. “ - See, I am not as dumb, nor as passive and slavishly devoted as everyone thinks.” - she declares resolutely. “ - I can see when antagonizing someone is a bad idea.” - she turns to look at Diego. “ - I know what happened to Larasati and her gang, both officially… And not.” - it’s quite clear what she’s implying here. Diego maintains a neutral expression, not confirming - but also not denying! - anything. “ - I can add two and two together to realize for myself which way the wind is blowing. And, following that… I can see when maintaining old loyalties might not be the best idea.” - Samantha shifts uncomfortably.
“ - So wait. Are you saying?...” - Eva’s eyes go wide in surprise.
“ - Yes. I… I want to change sides, so to speak.” - confirms Samantha. “ - I know your security detachment must be planning some move against Tiana,” - she turns to Eva again, “ - To try seize and neutralize that recording. And I believe I can help. You undoubtedly have your own ways of obtaining info on the security at Dimante House. But every little bit helps, and I was much closer to Tiana than you, for a long time now. I was a guest there quite often. And, inexperienced as I undoubtedly am at intelligence gathering, I do have an eye for detail. There must be things I can tell your people that they don’t know yet. If nothing else, even if you could eventually get this info through your own means, receiving it now could speed up the operation, and the sooner the blackmail threat is neutralized, the better, right?” - she shrugs.

“ - The obvious question now, of course, is: what is it that you want in return, miss Silva?” - asks Diego. Eva is still staring in astonishment.
“ - Right. It would be useless to try to tell you that I don’t want anything, that it’s because I had some big change of heart, and realized how wrong what we were doing was… Nobody would believe that anyway, seeing what reputation we made for ourselves…” - Samantha sighs again, somewhat glumly. “ - Especially since I very much do want something in return. See, destroying Tiana’s recording is entirely in my interest as well… Because I know for a fact that she also has one of me, from the same incident.”
“ - She- She does?!” - Eva is obviously scandalized.
“ - Yes. She doesn’t know that I know, but I was able to check. Couldn’t delete it myself, not without her knowing… I only saw one copy, anyway.”
“ - But why? She hates me now, but you have always been her most loyal friend. Why would she do that to you?”
“ - I was always her friend, yes. Just like you.” - Samantha points out, shrugging. “ - I doubt she expects to ever have to use it… But she’s keeping it just in case. Just like she did with you. And now it looks like she will have a use for it after all, once she finds out I took your side. And I have no doubt she’d do it… So I’d rather not give her the chance. That’s the main thing I want in return. Plus, well, protection. Once she finds out I betrayed her, I’m going to have a target painted on my back, just like you and your team. But I know you all take care of your own, protecting them... Or avenging, if that doesn’t work.” - she gives Diego another pointed glance, obviously not for a moment believing his saintly expression. “ - If nothing else, there’s strength in numbers. I will need someone to watch my back.”
“ - Well, if nothing else, you should be congratulated on your sober evaluation of your situation, senhorita Silva.” - Diego gives a thin but honestly appreciative smile.

“ - The question remains, of course, can we trust you?” - ponders Roger, looking Samantha up and down with hard, judging eyes.
“ - That is a good question.” - admits Samantha, fidgeting uncomfortably under his gaze. “ - One that I don’t have a good answer to, I’m afraid. It certainly doesn’t look good, considering what I’m doing here…”
“ - Well, espionage and counterespionage loyalty games are obviously not my area of expertise…” - puts in Diego.
“ - Right, Coach, your expertise lies in much less subtle games, of the ‘shoot them in the face’ variety.” - Eva can’t resist a little smirk.
“ - Quite.” - Diego returns the smile. “ - Still, I bumped elbows with enough clandestine types over the years to pick up a thing or two. So, taking this logically? Seems to me that, trust her or no, she’s a source. A potentially valuable one, that we can’t afford to simply dismiss because of trust issues. Let’s see what she can give us, and then come back to the question of thrust based on verifying that.”
“ - Agreed, Coach Ibarrez.” - Roger nods at Diablo. “ - I’ll have miss Silva debriefed in full. Then we’ll see how well what she tells us aligns with information we already obtained through our own channels, and what she can add to it.”

“ - That’s fine by me. Not that I really have a choice, do I?” - Silva shrugs. “ - One thing I can tell you on the quick that may be most useful… I’m sure you considered moving this week, to take advantage of the lessened security at Dimante House, while the whole family is away? It may be a good idea. Because I can tell you that the only copies of the blackmail vid are stored on site. Tiana does not carry a copy with her, on comlog or otherwise. She was advised,” - Samantha fixes her glasses meaningly, “ - Not to take it along. There are malicious hackers out there, there are accidents, and unforeseen circumstances... If, for whatever reason, it came out that she was in possession of this vid…”
“ - It would create a lot of inconvenient questions for her.” - nods Diego.
“ - Exactly. So she left it all behind, to keep herself clean, just in case.”
“ - That would indeed simplify matters for us.” - muses Roger.
“ - Plus, there’s the fact that Tiana… Does not exactly enjoy the same level of personal familiarity and devotion from her own security detachment as Evangeline does from hers.” - Silva goes on. “ - They obviously know about Tiana’s grudge, and that she’s somehow leaning on Evangeline. But if they knew exactly what she had and was doing, they’d go straight to her parents, and things would get messy. So she went to some lengths to conceal the exact nature of our conflict and the vid. As far as her people are concerned, it’s just some straightforward schoolyard tiff…"
“ - Which means they are not guarding the objective with the vigilance due it’s true nature. I see. Highly fortuitous.” - Roger frowns down at Samantha. “ - One thing to consider, however, miss Silva. What are the chances that miss Dimante could be expecting the loss of your loyalty, and having prepared accordingly, setting some kind of trap for you, and us?”
“ - As low as to be insignificant.” - Samantha declares with supreme assurance. “ - Tiana is not stupid, of course… But she does have her blind spots. Ones which I happen to know quite well. Especially one, the most glaring of them all. Which I know very intimately, because I have spent the last several years carefully cultivating it ...” - her glasses glint dramatically as she fixes them with a confident gesture. “ - And that is myself.”
“ - ...Touché.” - murmurs Diego, somewhat impressed despite himself.
“ - Though, this is definitely not the kind of situation I was ever thinking about when building Tiana’s trust in me…” - Samantha, confidence fleeing, shifts uneasily. “ - I may be quite high in the local social hierarchy… Certainly higher than all of Evangeline’s teammates… But I’m definitely not in the same league as Evangeline herself, or Tiana. And, well, for someone of my social position, it’s quite advantageous - advisable, even - to be able to… Attach and work oneself into the graces of a higher-placed companion.”
“ - Chica does have a point.” - Diego admits. “ - And it’s certainly not a new idea.”
“ - But lately it’s been becoming more and more clear, that I chose the wrong person to attach to…” - Samantha looks away, troubled.

“ - So now you’d like to ‘attach’ to me instead?” - Evangeline finally speaks up again, face unreadable.
“ - I’m afraid there’s no prettier way to put it, really...” - Samantha fidgets anxiously.
“ - Alright. We’ll see about getting you protection from Tiana. But beyond that?” - Evangeline captures Samantha’s eyes with her own, “ - The kind of relation you had with Tiana does not interest me. I don’t need, nor do I want, no nice way to say it, a crony. But… I might want a friend. Do you remember, Sam?” - Eva smiles nostalgically. “ - The ‘ancient times’, back in elementary school, when we first met? We were friends then, real ones, I think. But we lost it, somewhere along the way. But we could maybe… Try again? If you want to?...” - she gives Samantha a hesitant, hopeful smile.
“ - I…” - Samantha wavers, obviously honestly astonished and touched. “ - But what about your other friends on the team? I don’t expect them to welcome me with open arms…”
“ - They are less than fond of you, true, and we can’t expect that to change anytime soon… But I don’t expect them to be your friends too, and I know they won’t turn on me for being friends with you. We’ll make it work, somehow. But I’d like to try.” - Eva sighs sadly. “ - In truth, I’d like it to be all three of us again… But I don’t think that’s in any way possible now. Nyree could reach out to Alex, even after all the ugly things that happened between them. One day, I hope I could be as noble a person as her, and reach out to Tiana… But that won’t be anyway soon.” - she finishes glumly.
“ - Not that Tiana herself would accept it if you did, now...”
“ - I figure. But we could try?” - Eva renews the smile.
“ - I… I think I’d like that, yes…” - Samantha finally smiles back, shy and a bit shaky, but genuine.

It looks like the girls might have a real moment here… But it’s quickly ruined.
“ - Awww! That’s sooo sweet!” - a new voice declares with amusement, startling the girls. “ - So touching! Don’t you think, Diablo?”
“ - Bell, don’t sit there in the draft, you’ll catch a cold.” - Diego grins.
Belladonna Shelke hops down from her perch on the windowsill where she has just materialized out of thin air, grinning back.
Evangeline manages to mostly keep her composure, with only a mild jump. She seems to have quickly adjusted to the idea of her guards possibly appearing out of nowhere any second.
For Samantha, however, this seems to be a first, judging by her distressed little shriek and the way she spins towards the new voice violently enough to be left flailing to regain balance...
“ - Hi-iii!” - Shelke chirps, waving a greeting. She then turns to Samantha, grin stretching too wide and too toothy. “ - And hello there, little missy. We didn’t have occasion to truly meet yet, but I had ample opportunity to observe and form an opinion on you…” - Shelke declares, voice amused, but with a clear note of menace. Pinned by Shelke’s unblinking gaze, Samantha slowly turns white as a sheet, her only answer a squeaky stammer. “ - So, Boss, a full debriefing, eh?”
“ - Yes. Let’s pick miss Silva’s brain in detail, and see how she can help us.“ - Roger confirms.
“ - Ah, brain-picking. Such fun! At least when you’re not the one on the receiving end…” - Shelke waggles her eyebrows. “ - Care if we borrow your office for a little longer, Diablo?”
“ - Knock yourself out. Just don’t make a mess, please.” - replies Diego, amused.
“ - Pshah! A mess? Of course not! Just tell me where you’re keeping the garbage bags…” - it shouldn’t be possible, but Bell’s grin seems to be getting wider and wider.
“ - Just there, in the supply closet. But I’ve only got 40-liter ones, my trashcan is on the small side.”
“ - We’ll make do, don’t you worry.”
“ - Help yourself, then.” - Diego really shouldn’t be so amused by the whole conversation, and the terrifying effect it’s having on Silva, but he just can’t help himself.
It’s obvious Shelke has not made a positive impression on the girl. But then, that’s not what she’s getting paid for, is it? And she certainly made an impression. One that should assure Samantha’s full, honest, unquestioning cooperation…

“ - Um, Shelke?” - Eva decides to voice a bit of concern. “ - All joking aside, I still would like to be able to talk to Sam again, and try rebuild our friendship. I really mean that…”
“ - Oh, Little Miss, no worries! I’m sure everything will be just fine. Once we’re done here, we’re all going to be the best of friends!” - Shelke assures pleasantly, throwing an arm around Samantha’s trembling shoulders. “ - Of course, I’m sure I don’t have to explain this by now,” - she looks down at Samantha again, voice lowering into a warm purr, “ - That, in the - highly unlikely and totally unbelievable - event of all this being some kind of elaborate setup or scheme, to try to get my Little Miss Eva into more trouble? We definitely won’t be friends then. I will, however, introduce you to some of my other friends. Like this one.” - Shelke grins her most toothy grin, indicating the combat knife holster, affixed, commando style, at her left collarbone. “ - My trusty, long-time companion, mr. mono-knife...”
“ - Lucifer’s Beard, Shelke…” - Diego’s grimace mixes equal measures of amusement and despair, “ - You promised, no mess. Don’t tell me you don’t know what happens in a room when somebody uses a mono-blade…”
“ - Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it! I do know, very well indeed. Kinda miss it, actually… If you do it right, you can imbue the scene with a certain artistry…” - Shelke sighs with a nostalgic, dreamy little grin. Rather disturbing…
“ - Hm. Hexahedron?” - Diego, eyebrow cocked, takes a stab at Shelke’s possible past.
“ - Oh, those guys are pretty good, too.” - she grins back, declining to reveal much of anything.
“ - I think we should all get to work.” - puts in Roger seriously. “ - You two are getting sidetracked again…”
“ - Yeah, any more of this, we’ll end up on culinary topics again.” - smirks Diego.
“ - Well, I could go for a bite right about now…” - Shelke amuses herself by suggestively running her tongue over the tip of a-bit-too-pointy incisor and observing Samantha’s unnerved reaction.
“ - Sorry, no snacks in the office. There’s tea, though. Help yourself.” - Diego indicates his kettle.
“ - Don’t mind if we do.”
“ - And all that talk of food, one of those days, I’m gonna have to invite you to dinner.” - declares Diego, smirking wider.
“ - That a threat, or a promise?” - Shelke smirks back. “ - And I thought you were pretty serious with a girl already? Not that I mind! I’m open to all propositions - and geometric figures...” - she waggles her eyebrows at Diego.
“ - Alright.” - Roger firmly puts his foot down. “ - Please stop trying to scandalize the young ladies. And trying to scare miss Silva, else you’ll end up having to clean up anyway, and it won’t be gore you’ll be mopping up…”
Diego glances at Evangeline. She doesn’t seem all that scandalized. Maybe a little shocked, yes. But mostly, Diego thinks she’s trying not to giggle at their antics. That would surely constitute a serious breach of decorum for a young lady of her position.
Samantha, on the other hand, does really look perilously close to losing control of her bowels at one more sufficiently scary look from Shelke...

“ - Maybe we really should get going, Coach.” - Eva speaks up. “ - We don’t want to be late.”
“ - Guess you’re right, chica.”
“ - Have fun, Young Miss. Don’t worry about miss Silva. And we’re still keeping you covered, of course. Nemo remains on watch. Coach Ibarrez, thank you again for the use of your place.” - Roger nods.
“ - My pleasure, senhor Smith. Though, Bell, I hope you’ll forgive me if I don’t tell you to feel right at home.” - Diego gives Shelke one last grin.
“ - It’ll be alright, Sam.” - Eva assures Samantha. “ - I’ll see you later. When we’re all done, let’s get together and talk?”
“ - Alright…” - Samantha doesn’t look quite convinced she’ll survive her present company to hang out with Eva later, but tries on a hopeful smile. She does seem genuinely grateful for Evangeline giving her a chance.

Their goodbyes made, Diego and Eva move out to rejoin the team.
“ - Well! I can honestly say, I didn’t expect that.” - muses Eva. “ - Hoped, maybe, but not with much faith…”
“ - I was pretty sure this was what was going on, the moment I saw Silva.” - admits Diego.
“ - Really?”
“ - Just a feeling I had.”
“ - Huh. Well, expected or no, I really hope we can make it work. I do like my new friends, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t love to get one of the old ones back…”
“ - Those kind of predictions are rather outside my ability, chica. But I wish you all the best with it.”

When Diego and Evangeline return, alone, the rest of the girls of course beset them with questions. Eva gives them a quick overview of the new situation.
“ - So Dimante’s slimy little crony grew a conscience?” - Patty scoffs.
“ - I’d say more like she finally heard the voice of common sense.” - opines Diego.
“ - And you want us to leave her alone now?” - Alex frowns.
“ - Please do. I don’t expect you all to instantly be her best friends now,-”
(“ - Good.” - Octavia mutters under her breath.)
“ - -But please, at least don’t attack her. She is helping me, and she’s going to be as much a target for Tiana now as any one of us. And I’d really like to try being friends with her again…” - Eva implores.
“ - ...Okay.” - Minnie puts a hand on Eva’s shoulder. “ - If that’s what you wish for, as our friend, then that’s what we’ll do.” - she gives the others a determined look. They all nod in agreement, though some are obviously more unhappy about it than others. “ - And I for one am happy for you, for getting her back.” - Minnie declares with conviction, giving Eva a smile - though it’s still a slightly sad one.
“ - Thank you. It means a lot.” - Eva returns the smile, relieved.
“ - Alright, chicas. Now that’s done with, we should really get going. We’ll barely make it on time as it is. Hop onboard.” - orders Diego.

Diego manages to pilot the Monster to their destination without incident. Autopilot or no, the monstrous truck certainly takes a bit more attention, just in case, than any other vehicle Diablo ever handled before, on account of the sheer power and size. He still manages it just fine.

As they were previously distracted by the business with Silva, Alex uses their travel time to finally clue in the rest of the Angels on her new civil status and housing situation (in an abbreviated form, sparing them the details of her father’s “charming” personality...).
Understandably, the news of her being disowned cause some concern (Minuette envelopes her in a teary hug). Alex, embarrassed (and annoyed, though in a rather fond way), waves them off, downplaying it as much as she can. As she assures, yes, things will be somewhat more difficult now - most importantly perhaps, she’ll have to watch out for her delinquent tendencies, there no longer being anyone to buy her way out of trouble - but she’ll manage on her own. She’s been practically doing that anyway, it’s now just been formalized. She has her college fund waiting, so she’ll be alright for money, if she’s thrifty. She’s even got a part-time job to help with that! And the Coach took her in, so it’s not like she’s homeless and has no one to look after her at all...
The girls (though the emotional Minnie takes some cajoling) understand and respect Alex’s wish of not making a big deal out of it.

The Angels of Stone just make it to their paintball appointment on time. The three other teams are already waiting.
The Angels regular opponents, Bolo’s Barking Spiders, as always greet them enthusiastically. Then it’s time to meet the new people.
The Angels already know Needle, the captain of the Heart Piercers. Now she introduces the rest of her team. They seem to have quite high expectations of the Angels, based on their captain’s observations.
Last but not least, are the Horizon Watch, led by Whistler. One of the teams dubious, but at least not completely dismissive of the Angels’ worth, they are still ready to take Bolo and Needle at their word and give the “new girls” a chance.

Time for some action! The four teams are going to have themselves a simple round-robin tournament. With everybody playing against everybody else once, that means six matches. The location they’re using (a different one to the field the Angels and Spiders make use of in their Saturday meetings, offering much more simulated urban terrain in addition to the forest) is spacious enough that two matches can be conducted in parallel, so that nobody has to sit on the sidelines getting bored. The grand prize is simply bragging rights - but hey, what’s the use of winning, if you can’t brag about it a bit, right?

One thing to note, the commanders of all the opposing teams will be entering the field today, in a classic paintball setup, instead of commanding from behind the lines, TAG-Soft style, like Diablo. This gives all of them an initial numbers advantage over the Angels, but does expose their entire command structure to potential attack.

After a quick randomizer use, it’s determined that the Angels’ first opponent of the day will be the Piercers, while the Spiders are going to fight the Watch.

Diego did a bit of homework, and conducted some Maya research on the Heart Piercers. They seem a well-rounded team, with a good mix of long range and assault options, employing two snipers, a light renade launcher, two forward observers, a spitfire, two shotguns, and a chain rifle. A couple of them have grenades, and one of the FOs also carries a set of mines.

As the match begins, Diego decides to open up with hit and run tactics, to probe the unfamiliar opponent. As it turns out, Needle has the same idea. Several brief, mobile firefights result, leaving both teams with one casualty. Unfortunately for the Angels, Octavia is the first to fall.
The Piercers attempt to set up an ambush next, but Diego anticipates their move, directing the girls into full defensive mode. Forced to attack well-prepared positions, the Piercers fumble their maneuver, with painful results, losing three of their number, including the LGL gunner.
Scrambling to salvage the situation, they attempt to outflank the Angels next. Diablo anticipates them again, sending the Angels on a cautious push to meet the opponent face to face. Despite the Angels numerical advantage, this clash ends in a stalemate.
The Angels then try to break contact and spring an ambush of their own. Needle sees through it, however, reversing the earlier situation, and luring the Angels out to attack a solidly dug-in defence. Morgan and Minnie fall to the Piercers’ guns and mines.
Diego orders a switch back to hit and run harassment, but Needle gains the upper hand again, attempting to crush the Angels with an all-out assault. The girls offer a fierce resistance though, and the result is one casualty on each side, in a curious double elimination - Dominique gunning down an opponent just as he shoots her.
Next, the Heart Piercers go for hit and run themselves. But Diego gains back initiative, having the Angels respond with a slow but relentless advance, beating back the Piercers’ blows and hounding their retreats. The opponent loses another fighter, with no casualties for the Angels.
With only four Angels to three enemies remaining, Diego orders the team into another full defensive maneuver, hoping to force the other team to come to them in a predictable manner. The Heart Piercers oblige, but maintain the hit and run tactics. Well-executed, this is a serious danger to the Angels’ static defense, yet the girls manage it with brilliant aplomb, picking the enemy thrusts apart one by one. In short order, all three remaining Piercers fall, Needle going down last.

Game over. Definitely not an easy opponent and match. The Heart Piercers are left suitably impressed with the Angels of Stone fighting abilities and spirit.

When this was going on, the Horizon Watch defeated Bolo’s Spiders, just barely, after a hard-fought match.

The Angels will be going against the Spiders next, while the Watch takes on the Heart Piercers.

Despite being, league table-wise, the weakest of the Angels’ opponents today, Bolo and his Spiders do have one significant advantage over the others. After three months of weekly gaming, they know Diablo and his Angels, their strengths, weaknesses, fighting style and abilities, quite well. Though, of course, that goes both ways…

Still, in this match the Barking Spiders use their knowledge to the utmost of their ability. Bolo certainly gives his all today, giving Diego a serious hard time with predicting his team’s maneuvers and tactics.
The fighting is tooth and nail, many clashes ending in bitter stalemates. Initially, the Angels are slowly beaten into a disadvantage, losing three members one by one, including Octy again, while only inflicting one casualty in return. Finally, though, the Angels bounce back, slowly gaining the upper hand, and the Spiders start hemorrhaging fighting bodies by ones and twos.
The match concludes after almost a full hour of hard-fought, highly mobile action, with the Spiders wiped out, the Angels not having suffered any more casualties beyond the initial three.

At the same time, the Heart Piercers pretty handily won their match against the Horizon Watch.

The last matches of the tournament will then be Angels vs Horizon Watch, and Heart Piercers vs Bolo’s Spiders.

Diego, of course, red up a bit about the Watch, too. They look to be focused on mid- to long-range fighting, and preferring either a solid defence, or a decisive, committed attack, with little frills. Might seem a little basic, but a well executed straightforward tactic will still beat a clever, but poorly executed one any day… The Watch’s equipment has a lot of rifles, including three marksmen, two spitfires, and a heavy machine gun(!).

This match turns out to be fairly short.
Initially, both teams turtle, going full defensive, forming a miniature front line. The Watch, however, fumbles their deployment, some expert last-second scrambling from their lieutenant saving the team from disaster as the Angels concentrate fire to exploit their error. It still costs the Watch one casualty.
Whistler decides to keep his team dug-in. Diego anticipates this, and sends the Angels into a flanking maneuver. The girls hit hard, putting down another two of the Watch.
The Watch surge into a sudden all-out attack, trying to break the Angels’ momentum. But Diablo outplays Whistler once again, as the Angels shift into full defensive mode once more. It’s close, but the girls stand fast, shattering the enemy charge, inflicting another two casualties, still with no losses on their side. Even worse for the Watch, Whistler is one of the fallen.
It’s 8 vs 3 in favour of the Anjos de Rocha now, and the enemy in loss of command, and Diego throws caution to the wind, ordering a full-on offensive. The remains of the Horizon Watch fight doggedly and valiantly, conducting hit and run actions, but it just isn’t enough. The Angels, feeling victory near, fight as if inspired, and quickly sweep the last three opponents aside.

The Watch are left a little shell-shocked, and duly impressed.

Meanwhile, the Heart Piercers beat the Spiders in good style, though Bolo’s team have certainly made the opponent work for it.

So that’s the mini-tournament over. The win-loss scores being as follows:
Angels of Stone: 3-0,
Heart Piercers: 2-1,
Horizon Watch: 1-2,
Barking Spiders: 0-3.
No tie-breakers needed.

The Spiders lost all three of their matches, but they don’t seem too disheartened. All the opponents were stronger, and none of the fights were anything like one sided, Bolo and his team always making the enemy feel they’ve been in a fight.

The Angels are hailed as the undisputed victors. And to the victor, the spoils. In this case, the occasion to mercilessly brag, which Diablo and his team take full advantage of, though in a very friendly, jocular fashion.

The girls certainly made quite an impression on the two new opponents. Both the Heart Piercers and the Horizon Watch will have no problem whatsoever with playing the Angels of Stone again.

The Angels continue their history of punching above their weight. As Eva relates, she studied the team’s collected stats from their matches, TAG and paintball, and found the Angels pretty consistently perform above what one might expect from their raw ability estimates and statistical analysis. Diego’s leadership plays a definite role here, of course, especially in paintball games - having a professional, experienced officer command the team certainly doesn’t hurt - but even the best commander can only compensate for so much if his soldiers are lacking in ability. The girls are definitely not lacking. They still have a ways to go, but considering how well they’re doing even now with Diablo’s guidance, they seem set to go far indeed.

After the fighting, it’s time for the traditional bonfire and picnic, this time with a much bigger, but no less jovial crowd. Toasts are made (with non-alcoholic beverages... mostly), replays watched, particularly memorable actions and plays lauded (or playfully booed), and the bragging continues.
Among the Angels, the one with most fuel for her personal bragging is Alex. This turned out to be a really good day for her, and she scored quite a few “kills”, usually multiple per game! She’s quite understandable pleased with herself.
Everyone did quite good today, really, pretty much every one of the Angels having some memorable moment, and at least one downed opponent to their name.
The one who had the worst day today is perhaps Octavia. In two of the three matches, she was taken out before she managed to score any “kills” herself. Octy does seem a little bit distracted, and Diego notices a little frown settling over her face when she thinks no one is looking…
At least Nyree deftly distracts Alex from lording her awesome performance too much over the normally highly efficient and deadly Octy. Though admittedly not without a little help from Morgan, and her patented “slap Alex in the back of the head for acting like an asshole” maneuver. Which actually hasn’t happened in quite a while! Even Alex herself comments on it with a bit of tongue-in-cheek nostalgia…
The girls have come quite a long way already, haven’t they?

Speaking of which, there’s another piece of big news today. Some time ago, Patty gave them all a heads-up that she’d likely be playing at least one gig after Christmas, possibly on New Year’s Eve. Now she has confirmation. It’s a bit last minute, but she will indeed play tomorrow night, helping usher in the new year in style… And it will be nowhere else, but at the Blue Moon again! This time, Patty will not be top-billing, but will actually share the evening with at least two other DJs, both of them quite famous… Still, the Blue Moon!
The Celeste family will be holding their annual New Year Gala at their (spectacular beach mansion) summer residence near Avalon’s planetary capitol. But apparently the younger heiress decided to blow off that stiff party, and instead host her own, much more loud and fun gala at her pet project club in Belo Horizonte. And she wants DJ Scratch to help with the entertainment. There’s no way Patty could ever resist agreeing!
And, as previously, Patricia is provided with a whole slew of invitations to give out to whomever she pleases. It is rather last minute, but it turns out all of the Angels have kept their party options for New Year’s Eve cautiously open, anticipating a Patty-party to be incoming.
Well, all of them except Evangeline. Aside even the blackmail situation (which, luckily looks set to get cleared up soon), the Neves, being valued business partners, were obviously invited to the Celeste gala. So Eva planned - was very much expected - to attend that with her parents. Now, however she decides to change plans. What use is being heiress if one can’t misbehave a bit once in awhile, after all? And it’s not like she’ll be in any way slumming. It’s still a Celeste party they’ll be all attending. One can expect quite a slice of the jet-set to be present (plus all the attendant media attention and security presence of course). So Eva’s parents shouldn’t mind too much.
That’s settled, then. Tomorrow, the Angels will be rubbing elbows with high society! The younger, more rebellious - and fun! - part of it, at least. And of course they are free to pass Patty’s invitations along and bring companions. Though, predictably, not all their friends will be able to attend, some having other plans already.
Luna has ordained her party a semi-formal affair, so they don’t have to worry too much over their clothes. Still, at least some of the guests are quite likely to show up in some spectacular attire. Dressing down too much could well make an embarrassing spectacle out of someone. A school uniform probably won’t cut it. ‘Nique looks a bit worried...

All this causes Diego to muse to himself, that the Anjos de Rocha seem to be well on their way to becoming minor celebrities in their own right. The first, and so far only, amateur TAG-Soft team on Avalon; with so far impressive performance; able to soundly trounce a professional team (with a handicap, but still); with increasing media coverage; one of them the heiress to one of the planet’s premier families; another an up-and-coming DJ that won the attention of the planet’s biggest media trend-setter; all now attending said trend-setter’s private New Year’s Eve gala… Yup, the girls may well be on their way to teen stardom. Here’s hoping it won’t go to their heads too much...

Finally, it’s time to head home. Diego drives the Angels back to the Academy, from whence they scatter. He and Alex of course head home together.

Before that, Diego checks his office. All of Bell’s cruel joking at Samantha’s expense aside, he doesn’t really expect anything drastic to have happened (though, if it did happen, he’s sure he wouldn’t be able to tell anyway, Shelke and Roger being far too professional to leave any evidence...). Diego finds the office in perfect order, as expected. Though some tea has definitely been consumed. He’s sure he’ll find out about the results of Silva’s debriefing soon enough, no use in concerning himself with it now.

Late evening, it’s time for Diego to set out for the astroport, to meet Yuni. He rides out on his motorcycle, alone, Alex having declined coming with in the name of, as she smirkingly put it, “giving the two lovebirds some space”.

Yuni debarks the shuttle, looking somewhat tired, both physically (thanks to the trip) and mentally (thanks to her dear family - which looks set to expand by a sister-in-law soon). Doesn’t stop her from giving Diego a big, happy grin.
“ - Well, well. Been having fun in my absence, I hear. I leave you alone for a week, and you almost end up a father overnight.” - Yuni teases.
“ - And with the daughter almost all grown up already.” - Diego grins back.
“ - Highly convenient, eh, skipping diapers and all the other ‘joys’ of raising an offspring?” - Yuni turns a bit serious then. “ - I hope she didn’t take it too hard, you not going through with it?”
“ - Well, she wasn’t exactly overjoyed, understandably. But I think she’ll be okay.”
“ - You’re definitely not ready for a step like that?”
“ - No, not at all, I’m afraid.” - Diego shakes his head ruefully.
“ - I can understand that. Definitely not ready myself.” - Yuni smiles again. “ - Be that as it may, you have a housemate now. Guess we’ll have to change some of our habits, eh?” - she winks.
“ - Or at least change the place we indulge them in.” - nods Diego. ” - Just to not embarrass the girl.” - Yuni snorts in amusement at that. “ - Yeah, yeah, I know - can you even embarrass today’s youth? Especially Alex?” - Diego laughs.
“ - Yup. I remember all too well what I was like at that age…” - chuckles Yuni. She sighs. “ - It’s good to be back. Oh, and I got you a little something.”
“ - Oh?”
“ - Yeah... I suck at choosing gifts for people. And all the obvious things I could have got you, like motorcycle stuff, is already long taken care of… And you’re not the kind of person to be interested in fun but ultimately useless knick-knacks… So I finally raided my dad’s ‘collection’.”
“ - Collection?” - Diego raises his eyebrows.
“ - Yup. See, he’s kind of, how to call it, an alcohol snob. Likes to acquire only the best, and/or most expensive liquor he can afford… And then usually just sticks it in a cellar forever, instead of drinking it, like the good God intended.” - Yuni shakes her head in mock despair. “ - Totally nuts, I tell you. So, I took the opportunity of liberating this one from his wasteful clutches.” - she presents Diego with a bottle. “ - I thought it might meet with your approval.”
Diego looks the bottle over. Apparently, it’s tequila, a fully authentic, traditional one, straight from Mexico on Earth.
“ - Huh. Nice!” - he nods appreciatively.
“ - Glad you like it. Enjoy in good health.”
“ - I do hope you’ll join me in that.”
“ - Oh, gladly!”

“ - You know, I thought of getting one with some ‘insert’, but dad went on a huge rant, on how those are ‘untraditional’, ‘substandard’, and ‘low sort’... I’d hate to hear what he’d think about that shas infusion you mentioned once…” - Yuni giggles.
“ - Well, to be completely fair, that one was a rather extreme case.”
“ - So even among Nomads, some things are considered extreme, huh?” - she teases.
“ - I’d shudder to imagine what Bakunin would sink in a booze bottle, except I know they wouldn't bother with such down-to-earth half-measures.” - Diego shakes his head.
“ - It’s straight to the source with them, huh?”
“ - You know it. Hard chemistry all the way.”
“ - And no ‘middle-men’ methods of consumption, I assume, all straight intravenous?”
“ - Oh, if just that. They have many fun methods of bypassing the liver.”
“ - Sounds interesting.” - she muses jokingly.
“ - You think so? Would you really like to sit your bare ass into a basin of contact drug solution?” - Diego smirks wickedly.
This causes Yuni to dissolve into a fit a helpless giggles.
“ - Woo, man.” - she’s finally able to catch her breath a few minutes later. “ - That doesn’t sound so bad, really.” - she opines with some residual chuckles. “ - I was expecting an enema or something…”
“ - Oh, I’m sure you can get that done, too.” - Diego chuckles.

“ - ...Damn, I missed you.” - Yuni puts one arm around Diego in an affectionate half-hug, leaning into his side with a content sigh.
“ - Would you believe me if I said I missed you, too?” - replies Diego playfully, slipping an arm round her waist.
“ - Shouldn’t I?” - Yuni chuckles, touching heads. “ - So… You think Alex would be very worried if you didn’t come home tonight?” - she purrs, a definite frisky spark in her eye.
“ - I expect she’ll just wish us fun.” - Diego grins back.
“ - Let’s go, then. A week was definitely too long…”
“ - Let’s go, indeed.”

And so they set out from the starport in the direction of Yuni’s apartment. Diego does send a quick message to Alex (with a grinning Yuni leaning into the frame for a quick wave), giving her a heads up not to wait up. Exactly as predicted, Alex comes back with a saucily grinning “Have fun, guys!”.

And so they do.


Which concludes entry 18#.