Glyph 4: Putting Pen to Paper

Poe Cottage, Monday morning, Oct 24th, 2016

Ah, I see Bianca would get along with Garfield well, a dislike of Mondays. Nina practically bouncing off the walls, oh boy, a morning person. Teasing Morgana about not getting to the fight with the supervillain until it was over, at least Bianca is in a good enough mood for teasing.

“Nonsense,” she replied with a smirk. “A dragon is never late. She always arrives precisely when she intends to.” Then, before I could think of a comeback, Morgana continued, “Besides, the most interesting part was when you kissed Tinker.”

Morgana! Too far with the teasing, Bianca is still trying to process all that. *facepalms* It was an innocent kiss by Janine, stop trying to make it more than it was, Morgana or grumpy Bianca will prank you later.

“About time,” Chessa exclaimed.

Bailey added, “I was wondering if you two would ever hook up…”

My eyes widened even more at that. “Wait… You thought that was going to happen?”

“Of course,” Chessa answered with a smirk. “It was obvious…”

“Tinker has been giving you goo-goo eyes for weeks…,” Zapper explained cheerfully.

Obvious to everyone but Bianca, oh boy. There was a betting pool and Pat won it, good grief, nothing private in Poe it seems.

Laura, Bianca, and Morgana to Mrs. Horton's office, at least it is a break from the current situation for Bianca. Hours of debriefings and lectures on what they could have done differently, arrgggh! They were in a life and death fight for their lives, sometimes you don't think clearly enough to use your best options in such situations. Cherry was blamed for the whole mess, this was in no way her fault, a hit squad after Bianca willing to kill any bystanders and her friends, you do what you have to to survive.

Someone delivered their bags to security last night and Cherry was there to I.D. who they belonged to, I wonder who delivered them. Could it be Ryan Chambers stopping off while here to visit his wife and daughter? And nothing is missing, they got lucky.

Berlin NH, Monday morning, Oct 24th, 2016

Who is this middle-aged man watching a police station and expecting an explosion? Inside man with a coded message, curiouser and curiouser. Clean exit, nice code for the meaning of what each message would be. Complete success, the part about the number of strokes, who did they just kill, and why? Robert Grace Sr. works for Mister Scorn and just had Hardcore and all his men eliminated so they couldn't talk, Scorn is a monster.

And their inside man thinks the Family, the one Bianca is the leader of now, is behind it. So multiple murders and potential framing her and her organization for it. I hope Scorn is taken down hard and permanently when it finally happens. Oh, forgot his name from an earlier part, father of the little scumbag who told about Bianca and friends' trip.

Crystal Hall, Monday late morning, Oct 24th, 2016

Sensei Tolman telling them all how they could have done better, until training becomes pure reflex and instinct, in a life or death fight you can overthink things or try whatever you think will work just to survive even if just for a few moments more. At least she is practical about it.

Bianca is forced to spar with Bacon the whole class, yikes. Out of spell cards, shoot, a lesson to always have more backups or something does sound like something Tolman would do. Aww, I'm sure Janine isn't avoiding Bianca. Shades, take a hint and leave Bianca alone, you come across as creepy. Morgana teases Bianca about making Janine jealous, if Bianca could blush...

Crystal Hall, Monday late morning, Oct 24th, 2016

Melody Sheridan looking for information about the supervillain attack in Berlin yesterday from Bobby Grace aka Crysis, the scum who told his father about the trip. Bobby lying like that, Melody not wanting to know the truth, these two are a pair. Melody talking that way about people getting hurt, I'm not sure if she is a sociopath or not.

Schuster Hall, Monday afternoon, Oct 24th, 2016

Robert Turner, Samantha Everheart, and Geoffery Mazarin all in the headmaster's office to discuss the attack. And they realize all the details that don't add up, including the fact he and his men went after the students when they ran instead of staying to rob the jewelry store like they stated they were there for. Mazarin knows it wasn't the Family who took out Hardcore and his men, smart man.

Mazarin nodded. “I do. As he said, the Family didn’t have time to properly organize a response, and this strikes me more as an attempt to silence Hardcore than as an act of retaliation. Especially not a retaliation from the Family.”

Just how many connections does Mazarin have? Darn, no evidence still, so the investigation goes on.

Monday late afternoon, Oct 24th, 2016

Bianca being extra cautious, with the Spy Kids around and her various enemies at Whateley I wonder if it will be enough. Bianca discovers the Spy Kids found the entrance but didn't make it inside her secret lab. Still too much done not to worry they won't be back. After all Bianca has been through she doesn't deserve this extra stress and worry, the Spy Kids need to be reigned in already.

And she knows it was the Cadets who did it. They screwed up, she can't do anything about Scorn and those he sends after her right now, but she is going to do something about the Cadets' constant stalking of her. Oh boy, weeks to think about what to do with them and trying to break in her sanctuary, her own private lab, is the straw that breaks the camel's back. I have a feeling the Spy Kids are all going to regret harshing her once all is said and done.

Poe Cottage, Monday evening, Oct 24th, 2016

Ouch, 2 days to replace the landmines spells, that is a lot of writing and drawing, she needs some hand braces. Bianca reveals the attempted break-in to her secret lab to Morgana, the Spy Kids make themselves look bad, it is why they need a more hands-on supervisor to reign them in.

Ouch, having to seal the lab completely, the Spy Kids need to be punished harshly for taking away her safe space. Ooo, who else is Bianca bringing in to help get back at the Spy Kids? Marcus sending Bianca more money, yay! Shoot, I wanted to see the Spy Kids lured into boobytraps.

“I just have to be really careful,” I explained thoughtfully. “I want to push back…but I can’t do anything that will escalate things too much…”

Smart, but if they escalate things just take it to a sympathetic member of the staff and say their constant harassment of you is making you wish just to leave Whateley completely to escape them, that will get a response.

Harassing Morgana as well because of her association with Bianca, this batch of Spy Kids is starting to make the Gen 1 group look smart by comparison.

“You know,” Morgana announced with a grin. “All you need now is one of those wide-brimmed fedora type hats…”

“And here it comes,” I muttered to myself.

“Then you’d look like some kind of like the good guy from Spy vs Spy,” she finished.

“And there it is,” I added under my breath. Then I added a little louder, “I was actually expecting a bleached Carmen Sandiego reference.”

Bianca isn't the only one who was expecting that reference, I thought it would be more obvious than the white Spy from Spy vs. Spy.

“Of course,” Cherry said with a broad grin. “I used to babysit his daughter…”

“Really?” I asked, more than a little surprised. I couldn’t imagine Cherry babysitting anyone…or any reasonable parents allowing her to.

Then a sharp laugh came from inside the room. “Yes,” Scrye’s voice announced. “Until everyone decided that the kid was a bad influence on Cherry...

“Hey,” Cherry protested before grinning again. “Get it right. They said we were bad influences on each other…”

Okay, that all but confirms it for me, Ryan Chambers is the father of Karma. Cherry is too young to have babysat his other daughter.

“Computer science?” I asked in surprise.

Scrye gave a wry smile at that. “Surprised that a magic user is taking computer science?”

“A little,” I admitted.

“Magic is not the only way to gather information,” she explained. “I’d be a fool to ignore my other options.”

Scrye is a smart girl, having multiple options for anything is always a good thing. The location of the Spy Kid's clubhouse, Bianca is going after their safe space as they went after hers, that should send a message.

Crystal Hall, Tuesday late morning, Oct 25th, 2016

Morgana, it isn't paranoia if people are actually out to get you and you don't know everyone involved or how they might come at you. Shades incoming, and I would like to know what spell card Bianca just used to lose him. Ah, the old 'look here' spell, so simple yet so many uses.

Aww, Janine is still self-conscious about the kiss and talking to Bianca about it. Giggles, Dodo, and Blackberry, Janine has such an interesting group of friends. Talk about things after class in Janine's workshop, please let it work out. Help from this group to mess with the Spy Kids, this is going to be good.

Tuesday late afternoon, Oct 25th, 2016

An out-of-the-way workshop, smart move, Janine, less chance of creeps stealing stuff from you. The rune wards set-up Bianca has planned sounds simple, yet effective.

Janine’s workshop was actually just a large open room in the tunnels, the perfect place for her to set up her dominos and Rube Goldberg contraptions. She’d kept most of that space intact and clear, except for the complicated domino chain that was half built.

Most of Janine’s actual workshop equipment was set up on the outside walls. There were numerous shelves, each packed full of supplies and equipment. There had to be a dozen large boxes containing nothing more than dominos, and that didn’t even take into account all the random items she’d collected to use in her various chains.

I've watched too many Looney Tunes over the years not to know how truly scary Rube Goldberg contraptions can be. She can make a shotgun that works even better, okay, her power just got a bit more intimidating.

Janine's dad taught her how to use a shotgun, no wonder she likes it. Aww, Janine, you shouldn't be embarrassed for liking who you like, loving who you love. Janine is a cinnamon roll, thinking she offended Bianca by kissing her, not understanding why she likes girls. She must be protected at all costs.

Since words didn’t come to me, I reached out and gently grabbed Janine into a hug instead. I held onto her, tears running down my own cheeks as my emotions broke free and gushed out.

Bianca has been holding in a lot since the loss of her family, she needs this.

“I like girls too,” I awkwardly admitted.

This and the reasons why she can admit this, has me tearing up.

This time, I didn’t bother with words. I wasn’t sure what to say, so I simply acted on impulse instead. This time, I was the one who kissed Janine. For a brief moment, she seemed stunned at this and confused, but then she began to kiss me back.

Yay! I was hoping this would happen, they both need each other.

Poe Cottage, Tuesday evening, Oct 25th, 2016

With curfew I wonder how many students who have never been out after curfew know how many students are still out for one reason or another? Morgana saying Bianca is in too good a mood, I'm guessing she and Janine are dating now. Operation Payback starting tomorrow, goodie, I can't wait to see it go down.

“I was just down talking with Janine,” I explained, doing my best version of a bright blush. “That’s all.”

“Uh huh,” Morgana responded, looking a little skeptical. “Talking. With that goofy grin you had a minute ago, I’d think the two of you were snogging…”

Once again, I was immensely grateful for the fact that my skin didn’t allow for any blushes to show. As it was, I stared at the floor, unable to meet my roommate’s eyes.

“YOU DID!” Morgana exclaimed, bursting out laughing. “You two were making out… Congratulations. It’s about time.”

I squirmed awkwardly. “Just a little…”

To those who really know you, Bianca, you are easy to read. Morgana trying to get details out of Bianca who is glad she can't blush while saying she isn't going to talk about it, good girl. New spell cards for spells she finally ready to start using, hmm.

“I’m putting a few spells on it,” I explained cheerfully. “I’m limited by the materials on hand, but between the coat and lining, I should be able to get three solid spells on this thing… Protection from penetration, impact resistance, and something to block scrying…”

“Maybe something to protect you from rain and cold,” Morgana added.

“I would,” I told her with a sigh. A little magical protection from the weather would be great, especially for an upcoming winter in New Hampshire. “But I’d need better spells and materials. As it is, I could do that…or the protection spells. Not both.”

Rats, always the limitations of resources for something like this. Scotchguard, good idea, keep the protection spell as it is more important.

Crysis and Scorn are playing a dangerous game. Perhaps the worst possible consequence for Crysis' dad would be the withdrawal of Whateley's neutrality protections for his son.

I'd love to see a vignette of Cherry babysitting Karma. The question is not 'would they get into trouble', but 'how much trouble would they get into'.

Very sloppy work on the part of the Spy Kids. If you're in the middle of an investigation, one of the last things you want to do is tip off the subject that you are investigating them. As far as Bianca's revenge is concerned, the possibilities are endless. I would imagine one of her end goals would be to make them feel as violated as she felt at their invasion of her lab. While possibly counterproductive, placing a 'don't look here' glyph on the door of their hideout would lead to confusion - particularly if it only activated when the members were in the area.

Wednesday morning, Oct 26th, 2016

Carrie has a feeling she is being tailed, good! After what she has helped put Bianca through alongside the other Spy Kids she deserves to be on the other end for once. Blackberry, Giggles, and Dodo have all played their parts perfectly. And now Night Gale, make little Mouse paranoid so she goes running to the Spy Kids' hideout for help is part of the plan from what I can tell.

Wednesday late afternoon, Oct 26th, 2016

Aww, Janine, Bianca wants to spend time with you. Bianca worried if Janine is her girlfriend now, oh boy.

I needed to deal with my compromised lab, finish the protection runes on Janine’s workshop, complete all the spellwork on my new coat, get ready for the band trip this weekend which I’d somehow been drawn into, and of course, study for my magic class finals tomorrow.

Good grief, you are going to burn yourself out if you don't pace yourself for all this, Bianca.

3 options for her new lab, that was quick.

Find a new lab, dig out and make her own lab.

“Keep the space I already have,” I answered with a sigh. “I just have to move the door again…and spread the rumor that I’ve moved to a new lab somewhere else.”

Good idea, the Spy Kids will probably believe any rumor they hear about you. The devisor labs, rabbits would be impressed at that confusing warren of tunnels.

Against one wall was a collection of tools. Hammers, chisels, metal tongs… A short distance away was a gas forge…and an old-fashioned charcoal forge. I only recognized those from watching a couple episodes of Forged in Fire on TV. And then, in the middle of the space, was a large and sturdy looking anvil.

Ooo, nice set-up.

This was Smith, a gadgeteer who specialized in metallurgy, metal fabrication…and old-school blacksmithing.

Now that is a great specialization. Not affected by hot metal and able to heat them up by touch so he can work on them, nice.

The blacksmith gadgeteer chuckled, now looking amused. “Yeah, I heard that they asked a couple of their friends to help…and then other people started offering to help too.”

Just how many people have the Spy Kids ticked off?

“Apparently, people like the irony of spying on the Spy Kids,” Smith said, still looking amused. “And some of them think that this game sounds like great fun.”

Okay, that makes sense, who doesn't love a fun game like this when you were a teen.

Janine paid for her commission from Smith with a quarter pound of ebidium, just what other valuable stuff did she have in her workshop area. Nice work on salvaging what she did from all that old stuff. Now, what are those parts for, what is Janine making?

Wednesday early evening, Oct 26th, 2016

Carrie is being followed all day, taking pictures of her, and she is trying to escape to Dickenson where she believes she will be safe. Shrinking down that small to avoid notice, Carrie, you forgot about the animals in the area, the campus does have woods around them. A grey cat tried to pounce Carrie and misses, then pounces again and misses.

till, the cat lashed out and got her, gently bopping her on the top of her head with a paw.

“Tag, you’re it,” the cat announced.

Carrie’s eyes went wide in shock and realization. “Shisa,” she exclaimed, now recognizing the GSD student from Whitman.

Bwahaha, too perfect. And Giggles filmed it all, Carrie's value as a spy just plummeted.

Thursday morning, Oct 27th, 2016

Ouch, Bianca facing off with Bacon again in BMA. A 'look here' spell card and minor explosion card on Bacon's back, and Bianca knocks him out of the ring, very smart fighting. Darn, a trick that only works if the person you are trying to pull it on hasn't seen it before.

Mouse’s eyes flashed with anger. “You’re having people follow me around… Taking pictures of me…and all the other Cadets too…”

Mouse, don't accuse someone without proof just because of your biases against them.

“Why are you having people spy on us?” Mouse demanded. “Why are you having people take pictures of the Cadets?”

“Maybe the next time you want to spy on people,” Morgana suggested with a flat look, “you’ll remember what it feels like.”

There is a saying, Mouse. Don't dish it out if you can't take it. Hehehe, Bianca messing with Mouse like that and Mouse thinking it all about blackmailing them, Mouse isn't that sharp.

Crystal Hall, Thursday late morning, Oct 27th, 2016

Spy Kids at their table in the Crystal Hall and not happy about being spied on, hypocrites. Listening devices and several were placed in their clubhouse, ha! Flipside says he hasn't been spied on, pretty sure he hasn't been involved in the harassment of Bianca.

Perfume gave a light chuckle, followed with a wry smile. “If security cared about following other students and investigating them, then WE would be in just as much trouble.”

“That’s entirely different,” Mr. Blank protested.

“Is it?” Perfume asked, her expression serious. “As much as we aspire towards the intelligence and law enforcement professions, we have absolutely no legal authority. We have no warrants and no official standing. Outside of Whateley, what we do could be considered stalking, harassment, and illegal wiretapping… Outside of Whateley, our tactics would not be acceptable at all… At least, not for any legitimate law enforcement organization.”

“We do what we must to defeat the criminal elements,” Miss Violet pointed out, glaring at Perfume.

Okay, Mr. Blank and Miss Violet both need to be removed from the club right now, they seem to think they are above the law. What Perfume says next makes a lot of sense, Mr. Blank's response proves he needs to be reigned in badly. Bwahaha, my sides. Flipside planted the listening devices in the clubhouse, never saw that coming.

Crystal Hall, Thursday late afternoon, Oct 27th, 2016

Invisible ink for the runes on her coat, ingenious. So many kids helping Bianca without realizing it, at this rate pranking the Spy Kids might become a regular activity at Whateley.

Did Bianca just use 3 different spell cards to boobytrap that metal door for the Spy Kids? Off to Janine's workshop to see what she has set up. A custom-made firearm that looks like a sawed-off shotgun, so that is what those parts were for, cool. Able to use all those different kinds of rounds, impressive. 3 shells and one in the chamber, whoa.

*eyes bug out* That is some strong recoil, need something to compensate for that. PK to handle the kickback, Janine is just full of surprises. More holdouts is always a good idea, a firearm of your own would be great, Bianca.

“You know how every gadgeteer is different? How most of you have different specializations, and while you can do things outside your specializations…they usually aren’t nearly as easy…or as advanced.”

Janine nodded agreement. “Yeah…”

“Magic can be like that as well,” I told her. “Different people have different affinities and specializations, partly based off the magic traditions you follow, and partly based off your own mindset and how you view magic… Well, between the magic tradition I inherited…and my own perspective, I don’t really have any inclinations towards direct offensive spells. You’ll notice that when I started to upgrade after Sunday…” I gestured down at my coat, “my first thought was to improve my defense.”

That explains a lot about why some Wiz mutants focus more on one area or type of spells over others.

Ouch, all those issues with offensive spells. Never shown Janine your built-in fire elemental spell before I take it. I was wondering when we would see Bianca's pistol again, a good idea to have it on her just in case. Smart move, a ricochet from a pistol can be deadly. I hope the next threat isn't worse than Hardcore and his minions for everyone's sake.

Thursday late afternoon, Oct 27th, 2016

Carrie, you need to learn to be yourself and not hope to become like others one day. And you are too easily impressed by older students. The door to their clubhouse doing that, bwahaha, so that is what Glyph set up earlier, too good. Carrie, destroying an inanimate object and harming someone even while just sparring are two totally different things.

Perfume paused and then turned to look at each of them, still appearing thoughtful. “Consider this,” she finally said. “We’ve been tailing her for weeks…now she has people tailing us…”

“Poorly,” Mr. Blank grumbled. “Complete amateurs…”

“We’ve planted numerous listening devices on her,” Perfume continued. “So, she plants some on us…”

“And she has people taking pictures of us,” Carrie offered quietly.

Perfume nodded at that. “We found her hidden lair and tried to break in…” She gestured to the open doorway.

“Tit for tat,” Miss Violet said in realization. “That’s her game here…”

“And her message,” Perfume agreed grimly.

“Then we’re just going to have to go after her even harder,” Mr. Blank firmly announced. “We have to get even for this…”

Miss Violet scowled thoughtfully. “But what of her next reprisal?”

“Exactly,” Perfume calmly said. “Glyph has delivered her message, so I suspect…that, at the moment…she would consider us even. Now, the question is, do we back off for the time being to reassess…or risk escalating the situation even more?”

If you escalate the situation even more you also risk her bringing in all her friends and allies into a war with you, consider that.

Thursday evening, Oct 27th, 2016

Scrye at a meeting with the other Masterminds in their clubhouse. Edward Lowe, the Golden Lion, brings up Glyph. Doma Know, Swandive, Devil's Advocate, and Burst are all there. They like that Glyph is keeping the Spy Kids' attention off them, but wondering why she isn't being more vicious in her actions towards the SK.

Doma Know, you are a fool if you think Bianca had Hardcore killed you don't know her at all.

“And let us not forget,” Edward said, “she is known to have killed a professional hitman in Chicago, and then she mailed the man’s head to his employer. These are not the actions of some naïve and innocent schoolgirl…”

Making a lot of assumptions with little to no information, foolish at best. Why is Bystander suddenly interested, why does this seem like it is very bad?

And Doma Know making more assumptions about Bianca, she must judge people based on her own ideas of how the world works a lot.

This new White Lady is full of contradictions,” Edward said. “This is good reason to continue maintaining our distance…for the time being.”

“She’ll fall into place soon enough,” Doma Know added with a smirk.

Oh, that is going to come back to bite you later on, Doma. Dealing with Glyph, they call themselves the Masterminds, part of a group legacy going back generations now at Whateley, yet they seem to bite off more than can chew by making assumptions and plotting against someone with a lot more resources than all of them have combined. Bystander has taken an interest in Bianca, crud.

Poe Cottage, Friday morning, Oct 28th, 2016

Coffee is not a vaccine for mornings, not if it wears off as quickly as it does. Shades, take a hint and stop harassing Bianca already. If Shades ever harms Janine or tries to when Bianca is around and I foresee an extended visit to Doyle for him.

Okay, how did Lenore get from Chicago all the way to Whateley Academy? Another mysterious animal-form entity at Whateley is like they are drawn there. So Lenore was there to deliver a book to Bianca and leaves right after, now what is inside this mystery book?

Bianca has been through a lot in just a week. The Spy Kids stalked her, harassing her, trying to break into her private lab, her safe space, and getting aid to target them with the exact same things they had been doing to her. Now we have to wait to see if the Spy Kids back off or foolishly escalate things.

Gaining her lab, fixing it up with the help of Janine, all that time together, and finally to see them get together. I'm so happy they have each other now.

The trip to Boston, the life-and-death struggle to survive in the fight against Hardcore and his minions, shows how much they have all improved already in the short time they have been at Whateley. I just hope somehow the staff figures out Crysis was behind telling his father about the trip and thus informing Scorn.

Please, someone, anyone, hit Shades with a clue-by-four so he takes the major 'hints' that Bianca isn't interested in dating him already. At this point, it is painful to watch, both for Bianca having to deal with him, and Shades for being this dense.

Mister Blank using that same line to excuse the Spy Kids breaking the law every time. “We’re the good guys,” Mister Blank blurted out. “She’s the bad guy. It’s as simple as that…” He is going to be shocked when he learns the law and the real world don't work like that. And I can't wait to see it happen.

I can't believe I forgot that Smith was introduced to us in Part 1 of this story. Such an interesting specialization for a gadgeteer. And Janine's new firearm looks like it is going to have a lot of uses.

And now this last part with Lenore showing up and dropping off a book with Bianca. Just what is in the book and why was it so important to have it delivered that quickly? I can't wait for the next story to find out.

Watching the Spy Kids get a dose of their own medicine was a blast. Admittedly, most of the stalkers were rookies, but it certainly would have been a chance for other factions (like the masterminds) to ply their trade with less chance of being singled out. I think my favorite was the short video with Shisa.

Once Bianca learns more about Ebidium, I could see her contemplating the possibilities if she had access to the material. Smith would certainly jump at the opportunity to work with it.

I suspect Bacon got a kick out of the trick that Glyph pulled on him in BMA. He certainly took it better than someone like Mouse would have. Plus there wouldn't have been any point in practicing a tactic you would need to use in a pinch on someone you might want to use it on.

Perfume is definitely the voice of reason within the Spy Kids. If nothing else, the experience is teaching her the consequences of not following the rules. Mouse may also be coming around to her point of view, though I think that's a bit more debatable. Flipside feels like a bit of a wildcard within the Spy Kids. The prank feels harmless on the surface, but might there be a deeper reason? The Masterminds would be well served to keep tabs on that club, and Flipside could be their double agent.

I like the retaliation that Bianca chose to inflict on the Spy Kids. It was a well measured response to their latest volley in her direction. The Imp would approve (though I wonder how often they need a new door for their lair). It's a good thing that they have Perfume in their ranks to provide an accurate read on the situation. Without her, I'm fairly certain that Mr. Blank would chose to escalate the feud. I think Miss Violet would be inclined to follow, if with a bit of reluctance.

The situation with the masterminds is an interesting one. If she had her choice, Glyph likely would have nothing to do with them, but that's not her choice. Even so, I can see her treating them like the Spy Kids if they get too pushy. My take on the situation is that Bystander may end up in a predicament like Esquire did if she tries to user her as a pawn too much. Edward seems to have learned from that situation, though there's a chance that his greed will overcome his caution.