xp_logs | Angelo and Molly, backdated

Angelo goes to see Molly in the medlab and distracts them both with Rock Paper Scissors, Super Ultimate Edition.

Angelo hadn't found Molly, when he went looking for her on their return that morning, but he had at least found out where she was and that she was in safe hands and going to be fine. Having been cleared to visit, in the evening, he finally stuck his head round the door.

"Hey, Princess."

Molly had borrowed someone's iPad and was playing games on it. She got to wear pajamas instead of a hospital gown too, which was good. Doctor Ghost said she was here for observation to make sure nothing else bad would happen. Her feet were warm but her legs were warm, so she had her toes uncovered. Her stuffed pig, Frank, sat beside her. She had one arm draped over his head.

She glanced up when she heard her name, then smiled and pressed pause on Candy Craze.

"Hi," she said, giving him a wave. "Did you get back okay?"

They were in their brains so it seemed silly to say but she didn't know how else to say it.

"Not a scratch on me", he said, holding up his hands to show her. "Broken arm, big cut, all gone like it was never there. I was worried about you, though, couldn't find you and then they said you were down here."

Molly nodded, covering her face with her blanket. "My brain got broken, again," she said. She didn't like that.

"I hope we don't have to go back there ever again." Even if it wasn't real, seeing all those things and people was scary.

"Hey now." He walked over and sat down on her bed, putting an arm around her shoulders. "We won't have to. I'm pretty sure there doesn't even exist anymore."

"I know," Molly said with a frown. "But what if he makes it up again? With his cannon? I don't wanna fight Marius again. Or evil Kyle. Or Logan. I like everybody good."

"He got what he wanted", Angelo assured her. "He did that whole thing, seems to me, to get his son back in the flesh, and that's done. No reason to make it up again now."

"But he was there during Genosha. And the bad stuff happened there and it was real. What if he gets mad and puts us there for fun?" Molly said. Just cause she could fight didn't mean she wanted to fight.

Angelo sighed quietly and hugged her tighter. "I can't promise he won't, Molly, but I really don't think he will. I don't think Essex does anything bad just for fun, there's always a reason. Not a reason we think is good enough, maybe, but a reason."

Molly made a face, glancing away. "I don't like him," she said softly. Him and his cannon could go live on the moon.

"Yeah, I'm with you on that one. I don't think anybody here really likes him."

"So you guys used to know him? Before he was evil?" They seemed to talk to him like they did.

"I didn't personally, I think we only overlapped by a month or two, and that was nearly ten years ago. Something happened with Ms. Braddock that she probably wouldn't want me to tell you about, that's for her to decide, and that's why he had to leave."

Molly wasn't sure yet about talking to Ms. Braddock. People were jumbled up in her head, some people she'd never really met personally that were other people, her especially. She'd been bad when she first met her, and then she died the next time. It was very confusing.

"Oh," she said. She needed a chart or something to explain how everyone knew each other. So instead of puzzling herself more, she fiddled with Frank's ears and changed the subject.

"Is everyone else okay?"

"Everyone's fine", Angelo reassured her. "I mean... not hurt, anyway, and going to be fine. It was scary and sad, but you knew that."

"Yeah," she said, glancing down. There wasn't much else more to say.

"That's good...that they're okay."

She peered at the borrowed iPad. "You wanna play? You don't actually get real candy if you win, though," she added with a bit of disappointment.

"Aw, that's no fun." He nudged her gently. "How about if you beat me, you get as much candy as you want?"

"I don't think there's two players, though?" Molly said. But that would be fun! "They also have Zombies fighting Plants."

"Well, if there isn't two players, we can just see who gets the highest score and decide a winner that way", Angelo suggested. "Whatever game you pick, you win, I buy you candy."

Molly bit her lip thoughtfully.

"What abooooout, Rock, Paper, Scissors? Super ultimate edition?" Cause there was a bajillion levels to Candy Craze and they'd be playing for days and she kinda really liked candy and kinda wanted it like...soon if she won.

"What if you win?" she said. Her eyes widened. "Please don't tell me I have to eat gross things."

Angelo laughed. "Would I do that to you? If I win... you have to come to my office and do paperwork for a day."

Molly made a face. "I think I'd rather eat the gross stuff. That doesn't sound fun."

It was like homework. Except not.

"That's why it's not a prize", he pointed out reasonably. "You'll just have to make sure you win."

Falling silent for a few moments, Molly finally nodded. "Okay," she said, extending her hand. "And now we shake on it like they do in the movies."

Angelo shook her hand firmly, already planning exactly how to let her win. It would cheer her up, it was in a good cause.

"Okay," Molly said, holding out her hand, her other clenched in a fist right above it.

"Get ready. We also have to sing the Rock Paper Scissors Ultimate Edition Theme Song."

"You going to teach it to me first?"

Molly blinked. "Oh! Right," she said, then nodded quickly. She patted her knee twice, then clapped her hands once, then patted her knee twice, and clapped her hands once, establishing a rhythm.

"Weee...will we will Rock Paper Scissors Lava Frog you! We will, we will rock paper scissors dinosaur robot you!" she sang.

Angelo laughed and joined in cheerfully.