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Headful_of_Eyeballs · 08-09-2026, 07:24 PM

Get some pizza and play some boardgames, nice and simple

08-10-2026, 02:53 AM

hell yeah party time!
- Whack Stretch back and fourth like it's an air hocky puck
- Roast marshmallows in Minerva's mouth
- Frond T-shirt teirlist by committee
- Sidewalk chalk doodle on Eerie
- Ring toss onto Filigree's spikes

***skinstealer*** · 08-15-2026, 07:46 AM

LAST TIME...on SPACE CASE!
The Shooting Stars won their first gym challenge- physically stable, but mentally wiped. Hopefully a fun night in helps them get their heads on straight...

Route 3 is no simple affair, though! How will our heroes plan ahead? Find out...on SPACE CASE!

EPISODE 10: A Rocky Voyage Begins!

Your mind is like a VCR-

The tape rewinds.

Hi, I'm Fern!
I live down- yeah! Down the street.

My mom knows-

Yeah, higher! I can do it-

It'll totally fly from here-
You got the wings perfect!

Look, mushrooms-!
These ones aren't poisonous, I read about it in the book you gave me-

The other day, I found this-

Let's come back here again, just us, okay?

Why are you crying?
Oh, no-

They're just mean. You would never-
You're my friend, never mind those guys-

My mom keeps asking me what I want to be what I grow up-
Ohh....well, that's stupid!
I think you should be whatever you want!

Uh huh, I remember-
....oh! Wow!
I never thought about that before-
I guess it's kind of like my mom, right?
Gotta think about this...
Being a boy sounds kind of fun-

He's soooo cool-
He said he can-
Yeah!
Incredible, right?
Full moon and everything-

Good to see you two didn't chicken out-

Not many girls your age would be so brave-
Shows you're-

Not much further-

Don't worry.
It'll be-

Just count to ten-
I-It-
It's not so bad-
i'm scared, i-
we just
have to do what my mom says
count to ten

They're-

Over here-
Get the chief, comb the-

What the hell's wrong with her?!-
Who fucking cares, just-

Can you hear my voice?
We're losing her.

Get her to the OR-

We just need a minute, just a minute-
This is a breaking story-
The community wants to know-

Do you remember his-

We can't help you unless you tell the truth.

She doesn't know anything-
Bullshit. She has to-

....

You're not going back to school.
You should have thought about that.

Don't guilt me-

Do you even-
Everyone's talking!
You were on the news!
Do you know how many people ask-

This is all your fault.

Your eyes snap open as you gasp for breath.

Minerva's wings are wrapped around you, keeping you safe-

....you stop mid-oncoming sob, the bat snoring with her mouth wide open. It's- glowier than you remember, more like something lit by a candle than any maw you'd seen.

....cute....

Wait-

Had she slept?!

Ohh, no. You've made her fucking diurnal.

What have you done.

Congratulations, your traumatic panic attack has now been interrupted with a brand new panic attack about defying the natural order- all while you grip her like a life raft, still not ready to detach from her fuzzy body just yet.

Her nice, fuzzy...soft body...

Your face sinks back into her chest, sighing as you let yourself feel the slight breast tissue there. You have no idea how long it would stay like that- while the guilt of your hubris lingers in your mind, you're too tired and freaked out to really-

An enormous snore snaps you out of it.

Oh.

Right.

The sleepover.

FROND: Gotta say, Eerie-
FROND: You are not wrong about this pizza.
EERIE: Best place in the city.
EERIE: Was scared as hell it'd close with Osteo barging in-

She takes a huge chomp out of her slice, cleanly biting off half in one go.

EERIE: But SOME kinda justice prevails.

Filigree's more...nibbling....? At their own slice, their ring shaped mouth pinching and pulling off little pieces before letting the "bites" dissolve in their mouth.

FILIGREE: Mmf-

They swallow the presumed mush.

FILIGREE: I wish my family went out to eat more-
FILIGREE: Never got stuff like this back at the quarry.
EERIE: What, complaining about homemade food?

The bellsprout shrugs, sampling the crust this time.

FILIGREE: Didn't say my folks were good chefs.

Minerva, meanwhile, is staring down the pizza slice on her paper plate with wide eyes.

STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: .........
STRETCH: Min-
MINERVA: I can do it.

Minnie fidgets, trying to figure out how to approach.

...She'd been trying to navigate picking it up for the past ten minutes.

EERIE: Last I checked, you can't pick up a pizza with your brain.
FROND: Ooh, but what if she could?
FROND: Psychic type moves would be SO useful on our squad.
MINERVA: ......

She pokes at it with a claw, making a brief face at the cheese sticking to it.

STRETCH: Minerva.

Your golbat companion looks over at you with the saddest, wettest expression.

STRETCH: Do you
STRETCH: ....want a tip.

She lights right back up.

MINERVA: O-oh!
MINERVA: Y-
MINERVA: Yes, I-
MINERVA: I want to figure this out myself, but-
MINERVA: ....perhaps a little point in the right direction could help.

You move in closer, holding your hands out-

-and folding in every finger aside from your middle and indexes.

STRETCH: You don't have a huge range of motion-
STRETCH: And no thumb.
STRETCH: But-

You spread your fingers apart, and then back together.

STRETCH: Pinching.
MINERVA: R-right!
MINERVA: Yes, I-
MINERVA: I know that plenty, of course...
MINERVA: But picking things up, when they're flat on a surface, and thin-
MINERVA: It's...rather difficult without pulling it off an edge first.

She pokes at the pizza again.

MINERVA: If I do that, it'll simply go everywhere-
EERIE: ....never ate pizza back at the family manor, huh?
MINERVA: Oh, no-
MINERVA: I-

She taps her claws against the plate.

MINERVA: No, I never did.
MINERVA: My family preferred more- liquid diets.
FROND: Did you drink blood?
STRETCH: frond
FROND: Like, just blood?

Minerva blushes, looking incredibly embarrassed.

MINERVA: A-and soups!
MINERVA: Teas...
MINERVA: ....and more soup...
FROND: Blood soup?
MINERVA: O-only sometimes!

She pulls into her wings, only for Frond to beam.

FROND: Awesome!!
FROND: I can't eat much easy either-

He waves his featureless hands.

FROND: Lotsa slurping and stuff big enough for me to hold between 'em.
FROND: Burgers and sandwiches are the best, because I get all the flavors and ingredients without needing a fork!
FROND: We're like two peas in a pod!

The golbat eases up- and you're unable to hold back your own sigh of relief.

MINERVA: Well-
MINERVA: Maybe you could-

She looks back at you, and you nod.

STRETCH: Better to learn from.
STRETCH: Someone more experienced.

Maybe it's the exhaustion, but...

You let yourself savor the feeling as you watch them figure out pizza logistics.

.....

........you feel a lot less enthusiastic about the event with your brand new morning stomachache.

You scoot, peering over the top of Minerva's wings. Eerie is crashed on the other bed, snoring with her full mouth open. That- she should probably see someone about that. You make a mental note-

For fuck's sake, are you playing doctor now to your team? First day of having a badge and you're already doting on them.

Okay.

Alright.

It could be worse.

Eerie is asleep, and- looks like Frond and Filigree went out somewhere. Their things from last night are still here, so- likely just getting their bags from their other rooms...

You have survived your first time sleeping in the same room as other people outside of Minerva in years- and you've only been doing this whole, thing with her, for a few days.

Allllriiiighty.

cool.

....you aren't sure if waking up from a nightmare or a wet dream would have been worse.

Equally viable options.

Eugh.

You consider staying inside the comfortable burrito. You could just live here forever- or at least until people get back-

Someone knocks on the door, and you scramble out of her grip, Minerva making a little grumbling "oof" in the process.

Thankfully, she doesn't wake, and you manage to bullshit a casual sitting position at the end of the bed.

Filigree walks in first, Frond following-

A tray of coffee cups in hand.

He lights up when he sees you, but stays quiet- pointing to Eerie and Minerva as he sets the cups down-

-and then gesturing to the door, and the tray.

You sigh- his request clear.

You grab your jacket.

STRETCH: ....
FROND: .......

You sip at your coffee- still hot, but not burning.
....he either timed it perfectly, or got your preference on accident.

You think about how he calmed you down during the gym, sighing into your next sip.

FROND: Feels like way longer than it has been, huh?
STRETCH: ...hasn't even been a week...
FROND: And yet here we are!

You can see him watching you out of the corner of your eye.

STRETCH: Nn.
STRETCH: .....

It doesn't feel bad, though.

Weirdly.

STRETCH: .........
STRETCH: thanks.
FROND: For?
STRETCH: ....the dark ride.
FROND: Oh!
FROND: I mean- cmon, dude.
FROND: .....

He taps his hand against his knee, trying to figure out the wording.

FROND: .....you needed it.
STRETCH: I-
FROND: And I did too.

You blink.

FROND: Kiiiinda left me hanging all these years, yknow?
FROND: Go through hell together and you just-

He gestures in the air.

FROND: -gone in the wind.

....

Oh.

STRETCH: I-
STRETCH: I never-
FROND: I know! It's alright.

His tone is shockingly light.

FROND: I'm not, like...mad about it.
FROND: ....I just wish-

His smile grows just a bit strained-
-and yet still not upset with you.

FROND: If I have to be stuck on that night, I don't wanna have to be alone for it.
FROND: And I extra didn't want you to be.
STRETCH: ......

There's a bit of wetness at the corners of your eyes.

STRETCH: .....how much did they show?

It's Frond's turn to sigh, tapping his knee harder now.

FROND: Less than I'd have expected-
FROND: ....but more than I'd like.
STRETCH: Shit.
FROND: Nothing anyone could trace, not unless they were reeeeeally determined.
STRETCH: Or familiar with the incident.
FROND: yyyyyeah that is an issue.
STRETCH: They'll.
STRETCH: Recognize me anyway.
FROND: .....
FROND: With the waivers-
FROND: I-

He shakes his head.

FROND: Suture was right.
FROND: We lucked out.
STRETCH: ....you made. Requests. Then.
FROND: I'd be an idiot not to!
FROND: ....you did too, right-?
STRETCH: Nn.
STRETCH: Yeah.
FROND: That's something.
FROND: Something's good!
FROND: Something, is-
FROND: gooood.
STRETCH: .....
FROND: ......
STRETCH: How much time do we have?
FROND: I give our parents 48 hours.
STRETCH: Workable.
FROND: I sure hope so-

He snickers.

FROND: I told Mom I was just going hiking.

You look at him incredulously.

STRETCH: You LIED
FROND: hehehehe
STRETCH: To YOUR mother?!
FROND: heheeeeehehhehe
STRETCH: You NEVER do that!
FROND: Been ten years, bud!
FROND: Maybe I've been corrupted by dark forces.

...a decade

right

it

really has been that long.

Frond notices your grimace.

FROND: Hey.
FROND: I proooomise.
FROND: They're the fun kind.

Your lip twitches, threatening an actual smile.

STRETCH: Right.

The center doors slide open, someone bursting through-

FILIGREE: S-
FILIGREE: STR-
FROND: Whoa, whoa, where's the fire-
FILIGREE: You guys have to come back NOW

You give Frond a brief look before throwing out your empty cup, zooming down the hall with your teammates in tow.

You can already hear the loud voices from inside the room, your antennae back as you burst in.

MINERVA: Unbelievable!
EERIE: Look, you saying in my shoes you wouldn't have-
MINERVA: Of course I wouldn't!
MINERVA: That is, so, so-
EERIE: Say it!
MINERVA: Reckless!

A slight growl sneaks into your voice as you wedge yourself between them, the barrier pushing both mons back.

STRETCH: Step off.
STRETCH: Can someone-

You notice Frond staring slack-jawed at the room's TV screen.

It's footage from Eerie at the bar, shitfaced and talking to some kind of reporter- a nasty feeling curling up in your gut as you hover just above the end of the nearest bed.

EERIE: And I mean-
EERIE: If ANY of those Osteo goons wanna tussle-
EERIE: I'll take them on!
EERIE: Can't do [*#(@^] now that I'm in the league-
EERIE: I'm calling you aaaalll the [#*&#$] out!

You put your head in your hands.

STRETCH: please tell me you didn't do what i-
EERIE: Oh, so now you're gonna lecture me too!
STRETCH: Yes. A little bit.

You drag your fingers down your face as you look back up.

STRETCH: Please.
STRETCH: Please, please, please-
STRETCH: You realize that is challenging a gang.
STRETCH: Formally.
EERIE: ...the fuck you mean?
STRETCH: You have.
STRETCH: Effectively.
STRETCH: Issued a rivalry
STRETCH: WITH AN ENTIRE ORGANIZATION
EERIE: Okay, so?
EERIE: I took the same classes as you, dude-
EERIE: There's no, fucking, regulations on that!
EERIE: It's just for the camera stuff!
STRETCH: I'm AWARE
STRETCH: But did you not consider, there may be a bit of an issue here, when they apparently rule over entire. Cities.
STRETCH: And. Kill people?
STRETCH: You just issued a rivalry with murderers?
EERIE: Yeah, and what of it?

She huffs, storming over to you and letting out a warning growl.

EERIE: Those murderers took years of my life away!
EERIE: You saying you wouldn't do the same in my shoes?!

don't worry it'll be over soon-

FROND: KNOCK IT OFF!

Frond swats at Eerie's arm, not able to do a proper grip.

FROND: We shouldn't be fighting!
FROND: We all came here with issues!
FROND: What's done is done, alright?!
FROND: Can-
FROND: Can we just, shut up, and talk shop?!
FROND: Okay?!

You don't realize you're baring your teeth until Frond shoots you a desperate look.

You cover your mouth with a hand, trying to steady your breathing.

STRETCH: ....
EERIE: ..........
STRETCH: ....sorry.
EERIE: .............yeah.
FROND: OKAY!
FROND: Eerie. Minerva. Filigree.

He points to the three of them, one at a time.

FROND: You all live here.
FROND: How bad is this.

Minerva sucks air through her teeth, making a nervous whine and avoiding eye contact.

FROND: Okay, so, not good.
FILIGREE: We'll-
FILIGREE: ....

They sigh, waving a leaf in defeat.

FILIGREE: It's bad.
FILIGREE: But Frond's right, what's done is done.
FILIGREE: ....

They wrap their leaves around themself, shrinking.

FILIGREE: ...I...kind of don't blame you, Eerie.
FILIGREE: Team Osteo's-
FILIGREE: It's been bad for years.
FILIGREE: I can't imagine what it was like being under their thumbs.

Your chest hurts, guilt starting to creep in.

EERIE: THANK you.
MINERVA: It-
MINERVA: I-
MINERVA: I also understand, just-
MINERVA: These are not the kind of people you want to goad!
EERIE: What, so you wanna let them bully you forever?

Eerie's look is...oddly morose, not the aggression you would have expected.

EERIE: That was me shooting my mouth off before I found out about your family, alright?
EERIE: But, like-
EERIE: You were running from 'em when we first met, that's enough for me to figure out something's up.
EERIE: You gotta want a little revenge, right?

Minerva's ears flop, clicking her wing claws together.

MINERVA: ...what I want...

MINERVA: isn't always a good thing.

Suture's words sting in your mind.

STRETCH: ...We'll handle it.

Everyone turns to you, surprised for likely different reasons.

STRETCH: ...
STRETCH: ....no other choice.

The gloom gives you a look, his face grave.

No specifics need to be said.

STRETCH: We all came here with issues.
STRETCH: They're going to come up.
STRETCH: That does not
STRETCH: Mean
STRETCH: We should exacerbate them
STRETCH: ....but the last thing we need is.
STRETCH: Fighting like this.
STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: Get something to eat, clean up, regroup.
STRETCH: Then we make a plan.
EERIE: ....aye aye, cap'n.

Pick your clothes out- travel gear, shit you won't mind getting dirty. Tank top and jeans will have to do it, your hoodie way too warm for the full sun you're about to deal with.

Brush your teeth. Get the scuzz off. Habit you're going to have to build, especially when it's not going to be as viable on the road.
Do your stretches- haha, funny.
Get in the shower, start cleaning up your fur-

The door opens, panic jolting through your body.

MINERVA: S-sorry-

Your golbat companion peeks in, avoiding looking fully at you- but even then, you can tell she's in her underwear, the curves from yesterday still very there.

MINERVA: ...is it okay if I join you?
MINERVA: I don't want to hold things up-
STRETCH: H
STRETCH: Y

You shakily raise a thumbs up.

It's hard to believe you had taken a locker room shower together yesterday, if you could even call rushing to wash off that mess of fluids in less than ten minutes that. The day had felt impossibly long, and while you're still wanting to leave before the sun gets too high-

It's a lot different seeing each other like this, unpressured.

Her chest is still mostly smooth, the fat added on from your strange escapades adding just the slightest bit of breast tissue- you'd read about how heavily golbat weight fluctuates years ago- for no reason, none, absolutely not- but it was impressive all the same. Now that you're less freaked out about having done it to her in the first place...

She catches you staring, making an amused giggle.

MINERVA: You really like it?
STRETCH: ...y. Yeah.
MINERVA: I know it's not a lot-
STRETCH: ...s'pretty.
MINERVA: ....

She pats you on the head, fumbling for the obligatory provided loofah.

It's clear this is hard on her, even with the pouf coming with handy adjustable loops for those without thumbs. She can only reach so many spots-

MINERVA: s-shoot-
STRETCH: ....

You reach out for it, Minerva blinking.

MINERVA: Oh, I-
MINERVA: You don't have to-
MINERVA: I, I should be able to-

You keep your hand out, sighing.

She relents, handing it over with soft, guilty eyes.

You start on her back, having her sit in order to reach up her neck and head.

STRETCH: ....you're used to jets, aren't you?
MINERVA: ....y. Yes.
MINERVA: Or baths.

You furrow your brow.

STRETCH: ....why didn't you pick a room with those?

She shrinks her shoulders forward.

MINERVA: It-
MINERVA: costs extra

Ah.

MINERVA: I, well-
MINERVA: I can get by well enough-!
MINERVA: Y-you know, perfume does-
MINERVA: It's quite helpful-!

Her voice cracks, clearly embarrassed. You linger around the base of her neck, making sure to work some pulses into sore spots.

STRETCH: ....we're competing now.
STRETCH: We'll have money.
STRETCH: We'll. Get you a better room next time.
MINERVA: ....
MINERVA: please don't tell the others
MINERVA: I- they think I'm-
STRETCH: ...yeah.
STRETCH: I won't.

Once she's sufficiently scrubbed down, she shuffles so you can get her front-

-immediately seeing your conspicuously placed hand.

You avoid her eyes, gritting your teeth.

STRETCH: S
STRETCH: sorry.
MINERVA: Hehe...
MINERVA: It's alright...

To your horror, she scoots forward, her head...at a very convenient height.

MINERVA: I did want to reward you for being my hero once again, yesterday...

She opens her mouth, just enough to see the warm glow inside.

You take a shaky breath.

STRETCH: M-minerva, I-
STRETCH: we still don't know what this would do if you swallowed it
MINERVA: ...maybe just a little, and then you pull out?

Ohhh that is

a mental image.

okay.

STRETCH: Y-
STRETCH: your face-
MINERVA: Mhm!
MINERVA: It'll wash right off, right?
STRETCH: Y.
STRETCH: Yes...
MINERVA: So?

You nod, unable to resist.

STRETCH: I-if it feels weird-
MINERVA: I'll stop if it does. I promise.

You are wholly unprepared for the feeling of that fire type heat directly on you, having to clap a hand over your mouth and lean forward, one arm braced against the wall. She can't exactly provide a lot of suction, but the warmth-

God, even more than that- looking down at her is killing you.

It would be so easy to-

To just-

You settle for massaging her ear with your un-braced hand, not wanting to grab anything too hard. She makes a soft hum in response, pleased-

To your embarrassment, you barely last any time at all, not even enough to fully process it, before tapping for her to pull away. She leans back, a strand of drool following-

-only for you to get off on her face, the golbat closing her eyes as half of it lands, half of it floats.

MINERVA: H-hmmmhm....
MINERVA: You were really pent up, weren't you~?
STRETCH: I-
STRETCH: N.
MINERVA: It's okay....

She smiles, even more delighted as you help wipe her face.

MINERVA: I'm just happy to help!

You glance down, seeing her just as worked up.

You

Uh

I mean, it's-

She did this for you, you want to return the-

Your head feels fuzzy as you gesture for her to stand, taking over her own kneeling position.

MINERVA: Oh-!
MINERVA: I-
MINERVA: Oh, that's...
STRETCH: I-
STRETCH: ....want to help too.

Okay. Okay okay okay.

Okay this is

Yup

okay

You open your mouth, feeling unpleasantly devoid of saliva.

It's fine
it's
fine

You can-

You get maybe two seconds into putting your mouth on her before the gag reflex kicks in, your heart pounding as you jerk away.

When you can bring yourself to look up at her, her expression is nothing but worried-

...especially as she dabs at the tears at the corners of your eyes.

MINERVA: Shh...

She helps you back up, the warmth in her voice ever-present.

MINERVA: ...it's okay.

You're hugging her before you can stop yourself, trying to catch your breath.

STRETCH: I wanted to-
MINERVA: Shh....shhh....
MINERVA: You're okay.

Her wings wrap around you, steadying your breath.
Neither of you talk, just holding each other.

You definitely do not make good time on that shower

but today, that's going to have to be okay.

STRETCH: Right.

You roll the map out on your room's table, team huddled around.

STRETCH: Who's got navs?

Filigree, Frond, and Eerie raise their hands.

EERIE: Does mine count if it's shit?
FROND: It get GPS?
EERIE: Sure, if you hold it up high enough.
STRETCH: ....better than me or Minerva.
STRETCH: We'll want to make sure no one is on their own without some kind of phone.
FROND: No getting lost anywhere scary!
STRETCH: Or losing communication.
STRETCH: This'll be more open wilds than Viridian and the routes surrounding it.
STRETCH: More chance of falls, weather issues-

Minerva's looking at you with wide eyes.

FILIGREE: ...Minnie, have you never been-
MINERVA: Ohh, haha-
MINERVA: I mean-
MINERVA: Of course I've-

She taps her wing claws together.

MINERVA: ...no.
FROND: For what it's worth, me n' Stretch have only ever been as far as Mt. Moon.
EERIE: Huh.
EERIE: Guess I can't talk big, I've only been out through Route 3 a couple times.
FILIGREE: The quarry's off on a side trail, but...
FILIGREE: Yeah.
FILIGREE: My dad said the people at the Lunar Institute were, weeeeeeeeeelll-
EERIE: Nuts.
FILIGREE: ....yyyyep.

You sigh.

STRETCH: The Lunar Institute-
STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: Nn. Not getting into this.
STRETCH: Point is.
STRETCH: It's unknown territory.

You point to Frond's nav.

STRETCH: Buddy system.
STRETCH: Minerva and I will always have to be with someone-
STRETCH: ....until we buy our own.

Minerva looks even more antsy at that.

STRETCH: Which I am sure we can find a good deal on.
STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: Along with getting separated-

You trace a finger over the length of the route.

STRETCH: It's a winding hike.
STRETCH: Rocky, not a lot of trees.
FROND: In other words-
STRETCH: No cover.
STRETCH: Camping in tents is going to be...

You raise your brows, thinking over your word choice.

STRETCH: Problematic.
EERIE: ....

The rhydon says nothing.

FILIGREE: ....what about caves?
FILIGREE: Mines, uh-
EERIE: ...and get poisoned-?

They shake their head.

FILIGREE: It-
FILIGREE: It was a specific-
FILIGREE: It was a whole thing.
FILIGREE: ...not a bad idea to be cautious, though...
STRETCH: Caves are our best option, as well as anywhere we can wedge ourselves into.
STRETCH: Might have to take shifts overnight.
FROND: There's five of us-
FROND: We can make it work, right?

You nod.

STRETCH: Not ideal.
STRETCH: But doable.
STRETCH: Once we get through Route 3....

You tap the mountain at the end of the trek, the paper rustling as your pulse makes contact.

STRETCH: Mt. Moon Lunar Institute.
EERIE: ....really no other way through?
STRETCH: How much does a flight for five cost?
EERIE: Point taken.
STRETCH: Anyway.
STRETCH: The Lunar Institute has protected travel routes inside the mountain-

You squiggle your finger around.

STRETCH: Until-

Pointing to the other side.

STRETCH: We exit on Route 4.
STRETCH: Hills. Farmland.
STRETCH: Easier-
STRETCH: ....even if it comes down to renting space at somebody's place.
MINERVA: ....you can do that?

Frond nods.

FROND: Huge market for room and board for travelers.
FROND: Some farms even run market stands out front!
MINERVA: Oh!
MINERVA: That sounds lovely, actually...

For the first time during this meeting, she gets a cheerful smile on her face.

STRETCH: Necessary, too.
STRETCH: Route 3 takes a few days travel, Mt. Moon as well-
STRETCH: ...the same for Route 4.
FILIGREE: How long are we looking at on the road?
STRETCH: Over a week.
EERIE: Eesh.

You count on your fingers.

STRETCH: Rations for big meals.
STRETCH: Supplement with foraging, scavenging-
STRETCH: And buying, trading, bartering, with local merchants.
FILIGREE: ...but-
FILIGREE: Route 3 doesn't have merchants like the mountain and 4 do, right?
STRETCH: Mm.
STRETCH: Right.
FILIGREE: ....and...we're closest to Pewter right now-
FROND: ....

Frond makes a particularly stressed hum.

FROND: Well!
FROND: I mean-
FROND: Maaaaybe the Osteo guys will be-
FROND: Busy?
EERIE: With what, bashing in skulls?

He shrugs into the air, lost for words.

EERIE: ....

The rhydon huffs, guilt sneaking into her expression.

EERIE: ...yeah.
EERIE: .......sorry.
STRETCH: ....The point is-
STRETCH: Brutal journey ahead.
MINERVA: Well-
MINERVA: I've heard that The Lunar Institute can be quite accommodating to travelers!
EERIE: Tradeoff for being full of nutjobs.
EERIE: They call 'em lunatics for a reason.
FROND: Ideally nice ones!

You give Frond a quick glance, the gloom nodding back at you.

STRETCH: ....any questions.

No one says a word.

STRETCH: Get any last minute rations and gear.
STRETCH: Double check your rooms, sign out of the center.
STRETCH: We leave in 20.

Things from Stretch's past are starting to stir...but surely they'll be fine out on the road.

Still...suggestors, I have to ask- what do YOU think Stretch fears? Find out what terrors away our protagonist, next time....on SPACE CASE!

DanZapman · (This post was last modified: 08-16-2026, 12:57 AM by DanZapman.)

(08-15-2026, 07:46 AM)skinstealer Wrote: Still...suggestors, I have to ask- what do YOU think Stretch fears? Find out what terrors away our protagonist, next time....on SPACE CASE!

Watching Minerva undergo the same sort of experience that forced Stretch's traumatic evolution and explicitly knowing it's being done to her because she befriended it. Build a bit on the Pewter gym's mirrors.