Stories RPG Crossover: Gigacity Guardians 3 Gigacity Gold

Summary

Stories Podcast: A Bedtime Show for Kids of All Ages Episode: Stories RPG Crossover: GigaCity Guardians 3 – GigaCity Gold
Release Date: January 30, 2025
Host/Author: Starglow Media / Wondery

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Introduction and Setup

The episode begins with Jillian Jayes welcoming listeners back to Stories RPG, an interactive storytelling game where players collaboratively weave heroic tales. Joined by Amanda Weldon and Dan, Jillian sets the stage for an adventurous narrative focused on the GigaCity Guardians, a team of superheroes navigating epic challenges in their vibrant metropolis.

Notable Quote:

• Jillian Jayes [01:16]: "Welcome back to Stories RPG, the game that we play to tell stories together."

Character Introductions

The team introduces their characters, each bringing unique strengths to the Guardians:

• Firefly (Amanda Weldon): A high school student and the charismatic leader of the Guardians.

  Quote:

  • Amanda Weldon [01:59]: "I am Firefly. I am a high school student and I'm also a superhero and the leader of the Giga City Guardians."

• Ape Canaveral (Dan): A test pilot transformed into an invulnerable superhero after an experimental engine explosion.

  Quote:

  • Dan [02:18]: "He was blown up at an experimental engine test and now he is invulnerable."

• Animus (Scriv): An office worker turned superhero grappling with newfound powers.

  Quote:

  • Scriv [02:35]: "I am Animus, Office Worker turned superhero, still trying to figure out her powers."

Plot Developments

The narrative resumes from a previous battle against the Megapede invasion, leaving the Guardians in disarray as another team, the Golden Armored Team, takes credit via social media broadcasts. The Guardians regroup at their base, the Lighthouse, to assess their next move.

Key Points:

• The aftermath of the Megapede battle.
• The Guardians’ struggle with public perception and internal exhaustion.
• Introduction of character dynamics and personal struggles.

Quote:

• Jillian Jayes [05:15]: "It was way too Scottish. I'm sorry. I don't know."

Conflict with Tusk Company

Fred Tusk, the antagonistic figure behind Tusk Company, introduces a rival superhero team, GigaCity Gold, claiming to protect the city with transparency and official backing. This move not only undermines the Guardians but also raises suspicions about Tusk’s true intentions.

Key Points:

• Fred Tusk’s charismatic yet dubious presentation.
• Introduction of GigaCity Gold and their flashy, gold-themed heroes.
• Implications of Tusk’s maneuvers affecting the city’s superhero landscape.

Quotes:

• Fred Tusk (via broadcast) [14:03]: "We can't allow unlicensed supers running amok."
• Amanda Weldon [29:12]: "These are extrasolar. They're looking out for Tusk and his financial interests."

Character Dynamics and Emotional Moments

The episode delves deep into the interpersonal relationships among the Guardians, highlighting tensions and alliances:

• Firefly and Dr. Ann: Firefly’s mother, Dr. Ann, plays a pivotal role, showcasing the challenges of supporting a superhero child while dealing with personal fears.

  Quote:

  • Dr. Ann [07:36]: "You can't afford to be careless. It won't save you if you're careless."

• Specs and Personal Struggles: Specs, a key member, grapples with balancing his personal life and superhero duties, leading to a heated exchange with Firefly over missed communications.

  Quote:

  • Specs [31:07]: "I haven't been looking at a lot of these sites as often as I used to, but I didn't think I'd miss it like this."

• Animus’s Ethical Dilemmas: Animus faces ethical challenges with her powers, particularly the temptation to alter others' emotions, highlighting the complexity of her abilities.

  Quote:

  • Animus [15:22]: "And I'm very aware that's a super danger of fact."

Introduction of GigaCity Gold

Fred Tusk unveils the members of GigaCity Gold, each equipped with distinct powers and technologically advanced gear. Their appearance is designed to overshadow the Guardians, creating a rivalry fueled by Tusk’s strategic manipulation of public opinion.

Key Points:

• Detailed descriptions of GigaCity Gold members, emphasizing their flashy costumes and specialized abilities.
• The strategic positioning of Tusk Company in the superhero hierarchy of GigaCity.
• Rising tension as the Guardians question the legitimacy and motives of Tusk’s new team.

Quote:

• Fred Tusk (via broadcast) [17:07]: "These heroes have been trained and equipped with the latest tech and will be working in full communication and collaboration with city officials."

Climax and Cliffhanger

As the Guardians confront the implications of GigaCity Gold’s emergence, Chaos erupts with the sudden appearance of brick-red creatures—sparking alarms and widespread panic. The Guardians must navigate internal conflicts, personal relationships, and the escalating threat to restore peace.

Key Points:

• The Guardians’ strategy to infiltrate Tusk’s headquarters amidst mayhem.
• Emotional confrontations and resolutions among team members.
• A dramatic cliffhanger with impending action against Tusk’s forces.

Quote:

• Ape (Dan) [32:50]: "What are we gonna do about it?"
• Dr. Ann [45:57]: "Welcome to the team."

Shoutouts and Conclusion

The episode wraps up with heartfelt shoutouts from the players, celebrating character development and collaborative storytelling. They acknowledge each other's contributions, particularly highlighting emotional depth and character interactions that enriched the narrative.

Key Points:

• Recognition of distinct character voices and traits.
• Appreciation for emotional and high-stakes storytelling elements.
• Encouragement for listeners to engage and create their own stories through Stories RPG.

Quotes:

• Scriv [49:36]: "Your characters, Michael, each one is so distinct. And the voices you use, it is a joy."
• Amanda Weldon [55:47]: "She worries sometimes, which adds depth to her supportive nature."

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Conclusion

Stories RPG Crossover: GigaCity Guardians 3 – GigaCity Gold offers a rich, engaging narrative that blends superhero action with deep character exploration. The Guardians face not only external threats but also internal challenges, making for a compelling and relatable story. Notable quotes and dynamic interactions provide a vibrant tapestry of heroism, friendship, and ethical dilemmas, ensuring listeners are both entertained and emotionally invested.

For those eager to dive into their own heroic adventures, visit patreon.com/storiesrpg to participate in crafting unique stories alongside the Guardians.

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Transcript

[Jillian Jayes]

Hello.

[Amanda Weldon]

Welcome to Stories Podcast. I'm your host, Amanda Weldon. Today's story is a crossover episode from Stories rpg, our Play at Home Listen and Learn game that helps people of all ages tell amazing stories together. Tune in for a regular episode of Stories Podcast later this week. We have Stories Podcast merch, [e-mail] shop. We're also on Cameo for all of your personalized video message needs. And don't forget to follow us on Instagram oriespodcast. If you send us a drawing of your favorite scene or character, we'll share it on our feed. Now, here's a word from our sponsors. Check out the podcast Mysteries about True Histories Tune in each week as best friends Max and Molly are faced with their latest time traveling quest. It's up to them to use their math and logic skills to keep the troublesome trolls from causing chaos throughout space and time. Can they crack the code before time runs out? Join in on the fun every Thursday. To find out, follow Mysteries about True Histories on Apple Podcasts or wherever you find your podcasts. Thanks. Enjoy the episode.

[Jillian Jayes]

Welcome back to Stories rpg, the game that we play to tell stories together. Today I am joined by the amazing Scriv, Amanda and Dan who are playing Giga City Guardians which is our superheroic story of epic adventure. Giant massive tales of mayhem and you can play it at home. All you gotta do go look up patreon.com storiesrpg if you would like to make your own heroes and play a parallel plot line that eventually will meet up with the heroes in the show. I'd like to just quickly give everybody an opportunity to say hello and introduce your amazing heroes. As always, Firefly, you are our leader, our shining light. Please would you introduce yourself?

[Amanda Weldon]

Hello, I'm Amanda Weldon. I am the host of Stories Podcast and today I am Jillian Jayes. I am Firefly. I am a high school student and I'm also a superhero and the leader of the Giga City Guardians.

[Jillian Jayes]

Woo hoo. Who do you want to kick it to? Are you going to point at Animus or Ape?

[Amanda Weldon]

Let's go Ape.

[Dan]

That's the right choice because I'm Dan playing Ape Canaveral. He is a test pilot extraordinaire. He's got an aviator jacket, he's got aviator glasses. He was blown up at an experimental engine test and now he is invulnerable. That's Abe Canaveral and Scriv. Why don't you go next?

[Scriv]

Thank you Ape. I am Scriv the Bard playing Animus Office Worker turned superhero, still trying to figure out her powers.

[Jillian Jayes]

Champions of the city, defenders of the peace, heroes of justice, the Giga City Guardians.

[Amanda Weldon]

Come on.

[Jillian Jayes]

I thought in your intro, Dan, the one thing you forgot was pantsless. I thought I'd add that.

[Dan]

Oh, yeah. You don't need to wear pants when you're an age.

[Jillian Jayes]

Apparently not.

[Dan]

Legally. Legally, they can't make.

[Scriv]

They can't make you.

[Jillian Jayes]

They can't make me do it. All right. I would like to set canon.

[Scriv]

It's in the lore.

[Jillian Jayes]

That's it. That's it. There's been a court case. You've actually won in court. You have a piece of paper that has been decided in your favor.

[Dan]

Ape v. Pants.

[Jillian Jayes]

That says. Yeah. Can that be. The name of this particular episode is Ape vs. Pants. Victory Ape. Okay, on that note, let's talk a little bit about victories and public opinion. Because when we last left you in the massive crater left by the Megapede invasion, you had just been broadcast on nearly every social network by a series of drones that were hovering above the Golden Armored Team that seemed to get there before you and clean things up with very little help from the Guardians themselves. And today, I'm going to ask you all this is going to be, how many days do you want to have passed? Do you want this to be the next day? Do you want this to be within the week? I want to reveal some things, but I want to know if there's anything in particular you do before the next day. I imagine you're all exhausted and need to go crash.

[Dan]

I feel like we'd have to get Animus settled in, at least a little.

[Scriv]

I would definitely want to share the information that I learned.

[Dan]

Let's do that.

[Scriv]

And explain what exactly it was that I saw connected to those mega megapeedes. I guess we can just kind of say yes, we discussed it. If we don't want to.

[Jillian Jayes]

How about we say back at the Lighthouse. Amanda, what do you want to.

[Amanda Weldon]

Yeah, I think I understand having some time pass so that animus can settle in. But I also don't think too much time has passed because I want to be keeping track of the symptoms from the stuff that's in my veins.

[Jillian Jayes]

Perfect. Okay.

[Scriv]

I think that's the most critical thing right now.

[Dan]

So the next day, it's a Saturday, no school. We're all gathered in the Lighthouse bright and early.

[Jillian Jayes]

I actually think you probably are there late at night. And I will say that, Jillian, your mom has shown.

[Dan]

Same day. I like Same day.

[Jillian Jayes]

I like same day. I think your mom has Been called in as the. As the doctor of the hour, as she always is when you get into super scrapes. So for those of you who don't know the history. Yeah. Jill, would you like to say a little bit about Ma?

[Amanda Weldon]

My mom is named Anne, and she is a doctor, and she is great. And she is really helpful in these kinds of situations when something's gone wrong. And she is. She's really nice. I. She also has, like, a really Minnesota kind of accent, I believe.

[Jillian Jayes]

Oh, okay. All right.

[Amanda Weldon]

That was something that was in the.

[Jillian Jayes]

I'll try. I'll try. Don't. You know I can't do much better than that. I'll do my best.

[Dan]

Yeah. Just think of Bobby's.

[Amanda Weldon]

It's optional. You don't have to really do it.

[Jillian Jayes]

So you're at the lighthouse. The specs is, like, got the launch pad open when y'all come staggering back in, and there's this feeling in the air. It's. The only person who seems untouched by it is. Is Ape. Abe looks like he's. He's having a great time. But the rest of you, there's this, like, silence. It's almost an awkward silence. Animus. You're having trouble because you're really feeling like you want to give Werebear a hug because you know he doesn't feel right. In fact, you know a little bit more than that. You know that he has been unhoused for a few weeks now, and that he ended up at the lighthouse because he didn't want to tell any of his friends that his day job didn't allow him to pay rent. Giga City is an expensive place to live, so he's feeling ashamed on a number of different levels. And you know that, and you're feeling it yourself. And when you get there, your mom is there. Jillian. And she immediately runs over, and she's like, get out of that suit right away, young lady. You know, you. You can't afford to be careless. I don't care if you do have all the super tech that grandpa Jack made. It won't save you if you're careless.

[Amanda Weldon]

I know, Mom. I'm sorry. Thank you for coming.

[Jillian Jayes]

I know, Mom. I'm sorry. Thank you. I know you're playing the sweet card just so you can get out of it. Come on, get that thing off. And then she looks up and she goes, what happened to you, big man? Werebear is kind of scratching at the back of his neck, and he goes, and who's your new friend? Almost Scottish there at the end? Almost Irish. I don't know.

[Dan]

It was very, very Irish. The whole.

[Scriv]

I just want to applaud that accent right here and now.

[Jillian Jayes]

Oh, I'm sorry. That's bad.

[Amanda Weldon]

It was perfect, and I love it. It's amazing. It was perfect, and I love it.

[Jillian Jayes]

Please.

[Amanda Weldon]

Yes, absolutely. 100%.

[Jillian Jayes]

So. Thank you. I appreciate it. So she says, what happened to you, big man? And he, like. He goes, I don't know. One of them little buggers got me in the back of my neck. And he kind of turns. He goes, can you see that? I don't know. Feel like something back there?

[Scriv]

I'm gonna blurt out they injected something.

[Jillian Jayes]

Okay. There's a moment, and everybody turns and looks at you. And immediately, Dr. Ann looks directly, and she goes, you're gonna have to explain a little bit more than that. Oh, that was way too Scottish. I'm sorry. I don't know.

[Scriv]

Nope, it was exactly the right amount.

[Dan]

No, Jill's mom is Minnesot way of.

[Jillian Jayes]

Okay, great.

[Amanda Weldon]

Yeah. Also, it never made sense for her to have an accent anyway. It was just something that I did. But, like, her dad is Grandpa Jack, who's in the story, who, like, hasn't, like, speaks in not that same accent. And then. So it just. It doesn't make any sense at all. So whatever is fine and perfect.

[Scriv]

It's Giga City. You have a mishmash of people from everywhere.

[Dan]

This is a melting pot.

[Scriv]

This is a fantasy world.

[Jillian Jayes]

She looks over at Specs, and she goes, can you figure something out? I don't have all the. An mri, I suppose. She shakes her head a little bit.

[Dan]

I'll save you the time, Doc. My vitals are perfect. Not only that, my vision.

[Jillian Jayes]

40.

[Dan]

40. That's twice as good as normal. You don't have to check me.

[Jillian Jayes]

She looks over at Specs and rolls her eyes. And then she looks back at you, Firefly, and she goes, can you call one of your other friends who's good at keeping him busy?

[Scriv]

Who.

[Jillian Jayes]

Who do you think Ape would. Would normally pal around with? Who's kind of, like, a lot? Maybe Crimson Cannonball, maybe? Who's. Who else is on the team who, like, the Tower twins seem like they wouldn't be, like, pal around? Maybe Riptide. Let's do Riptide.

[Dan]

Yeah, yeah, I can see Riptide.

[Jillian Jayes]

Does that work?

[Amanda Weldon]

Sounds good.

[Jillian Jayes]

She goes. She looks over at Spec. She goes, cole, call Riptide. Go on, you. She waves at Ape, and she's like, you two onto those beds now. A few scans later, Specs is shaking his Head. And he goes. And he looks over at Dr. J's, and he's like, do you want to tell her or. And he looks kind of nervous. And he goes, sorry, Jillian. I just. You know how I get. This isn't good news. You're not gonna like it.

[Amanda Weldon]

Okay, that's fine. Just spit it out. I'm not gonna get mad.

[Jillian Jayes]

Hey, Animus. Yeah, There's a lot of tension in the air right now. Yeah. Specs and Dr. Ann have been looking at some. Some readouts and, like, mumbling to each other. The two of them have been under a couple of hyperbaric chambers. Werebear's back in human form, and they've been arguing with each other and kind of muttering and, like, looking really scared. And you can feel the anxiety pouring off them in waves. They're really worried.

[Scriv]

So anxiety off of the mother and Specs both.

[Jillian Jayes]

And the level is way higher. Like, Specs is more anxious than he was when the alarms went off. You don't know how anxious Dr. Anne usually is. But by comparison. This is the weird part. She was low level when she showed up, so she wasn't that worried about Jillian when she came. For some reason, she was like, oh, yeah, you know, normal superhero. It's okay. She gets beaten up all the time. She's great at this. Now she seems really worried.

[Scriv]

Okay, so I. I was thinking that while they were working, I was going to relay everything I know and everything I saw to them.

[Jillian Jayes]

Okay. What do you. What do you know? What did you see?

[Scriv]

So, explaining what I saw with the one who came close, seeing the forceps, seeing the spikes coming out, thinking back to what I saw in the lab, that now could possibly be part of this. But I don't have enough of the background information to piece everything together.

[Jillian Jayes]

The biggest piece you remember feeling from Wearbearer is, you know, what Werebear feels like when he's. When he's. Well, he was starting to feel like he wasn't himself. And you couldn't put your finger on the how relay that it was a sort of system level. He wasn't. He wasn't in his right skin.

[Scriv]

Something's changing.

[Jillian Jayes]

Something's changing.

[Scriv]

Okay, now, quick question for you, Michael. Do I still feel this, or was it just that snapshot in time? Well, there's not, like, a continuing link there.

[Jillian Jayes]

You're not completely bonded with. Unless you would like that. If you want a constant empathy bond with Werebear, we could make that be the bond that you added to your sheet. Or we could just.

[Scriv]

I Already feel like I overstepped personal boundaries with the first bond. Let's maybe keep it. Maybe I am more attuned. Like, if I focus, I can pick up on it more easily now, but maybe not a constant link.

[Jillian Jayes]

So let's say it's like a radio that you. It's like hearing music in the background.

[Scriv]

I know the channel.

[Jillian Jayes]

You can turn up the volume at any time, and you can listen to channel Werebear, you know, broadcasting on all frequencies anytime you like. It sounds like a little bit of rockabilly and a little bit of.

[Scriv]

I was just thinking rockabilly, a little.

[Jillian Jayes]

Country, some bluegrass, maybe some southern culture on the skids.

[Scriv]

Maybe some random zydeco in there, too, thrown in just for kicks.

[Jillian Jayes]

Some red. Some red Elvises, maybe. Yes.

[Scriv]

Yes. So something is changing them.

[Jillian Jayes]

Yeah, specs. And Dr. J, you say that you, like, walk up and you're like, something is changing them, and they look up at you and the anxiety just washes over you. And Dr. J looks at you and she goes, I don't know you, but what is it you know about my daughter? What happened out there? How do you know all of these things?

[Scriv]

You say, you know, I understand what you're feeling. I promise you I do.

[Jillian Jayes]

She gives you that look of, like, the immediate look people give you when you say, I know how you're feeling. That look of, like, don't you tell me you know how I'm feeling. You can tell Dr. Jay's has put up with people saying that to her and does not like the line. But then there's this moment where she looks at you and she sees in your eyes that you genuinely mean that you know how she's feeling. Like, literally know how she's feeling. Do you want to explain.

[Scriv]

And I'll. I want to try to kind of, as I'm explaining it to her, I want to kind of get a vibe, like, would they respond well? Would she respond well to me, like taking her hand or something or. Probably not, because she doesn't know me, but I want to try to. As I'm explaining things and trying to assure her that I want to help introduce just a little bit of that. Not the same way, like, with the calm down in the first instance, but just introduce a little bit of calm just to help her mind get that clarity.

[Jillian Jayes]

You basically do something that's basically take a breath. I like, by the way, that there is an ethical slippery slope in your power, that basically every time you're talking to people, you are really close to making an unethical decision to alter the way people feel because it's uncomfortable for you to process their emotions.

[Scriv]

And I'm very aware that's a super danger fact.

[Jillian Jayes]

That's. That's a downfall and a half.

[Scriv]

And it probably led to some really awkward situations that highlighted the fact that, oh, this is a thing that I'm doing.

[Jillian Jayes]

I think you're. Yeah, I think you're new to it, too. You're still processing and learning to know when to put the brakes on. So you. There's this moment. There's a beat, Jillian. You. You roll over and you see them sharing this moment, and you can see, like, she's actually taken your mom's hand. Your mom is not a hand holder. And they're kind of staring at each other and looking really intense, but, like, there's like, a moment of calm. Do you want to interrupt this with, like, a. Is somebody going to tell me what's going on? Kind of a moment?

[Scriv]

It might look weird, too, because if I am deliberately focusing, like, on a person or a being, my eyes are probably going to go kind of weird.

[Jillian Jayes]

Oh, I like that.

[Scriv]

I like having that kind of visible, observable thing.

[Jillian Jayes]

Yeah. The pupil dilation where you go. So that's great, too, because a little visual effect goes a long way in a story. Right. A little bit of description.

[Scriv]

Subtle, but it's there.

[Jillian Jayes]

Okay, so, Jillian, you see this?

[Amanda Weldon]

This is. Yeah, this is all great. Like, I mean, it feels like you're having a moment, but also, like, I'm very concerned with what's going on, and I would like to know the answers, so could we please just, like, hurry? Yeah.

[Jillian Jayes]

Specs looks up, and he looks at you, and he goes, oh, okay. And he turns and he hits the thing, and there's a little. There's a screen, and it throws up a helix of reddish molecules. And he goes, so that's. That's the spore. The one your grandma made. Those things were injecting it into people.

[Amanda Weldon]

Gross. I don't like it.

[Dan]

Gross.

[Scriv]

That is such a teenage response. Swirl of emotion and processing. And then outwardly, gross.

[Dan]

I know. The long pause and then gross.

[Jillian Jayes]

Dr. Jay's is like. It's more than gross. It's. It's terrifying. I don't. She kind of puts her hand in her hair, and she goes, this family. And then she starts to cry. You can tell she's having a moment. She. She kind of holds a hand up. She goes, I'm sorry, Jillian, I just need a second. And then she kind of, like, gets it together. And she breathes, and she wipes her eyes a little. And she says, you know, no matter what happened, I kept telling myself it wasn't going to happen to you. And then she says, okay, Specs, so how do we do this? There's gotta be an antidote, right? Specs?

[Amanda Weldon]

Can I hug my mom before we.

[Jillian Jayes]

Yes.

[Amanda Weldon]

I just want to hug my mom.

[Dan]

You roll to hug your mom?

[Amanda Weldon]

No, no. I just get to do it.

[Scriv]

Animus takes a step back, because one thing I will not do is stop someone from feeling their emotions.

[Jillian Jayes]

She lets you go for a moment, Jillian, and she kind of looks at you and she. She kind of wipes your eyes a little, and she goes, we'll figure it out. We. We've done bigger, scarier things, right? Does somebody want to inject the. So is anybody going to mention Tusk Corp moment? Like, who's going to have the, like, I know where we're going next kind of a moment? Like, we need somebody to be like, those jerks.

[Scriv]

I thought. I thought the. That this came from Tusk came out during the. When I was, like, trying to info dump.

[Jillian Jayes]

There's no proof. You don't have, like, you know, you didn't see a Megapede.

[Scriv]

Oh, it's. I think.

[Amanda Weldon]

You think, okay, we think that it's connected, but also, like, we had these golden men, like, that were wearing, like, branded garments. Like, they were, you know, identifiably from Tusk. And, like, the many circumstances of that whole. The Megapede situation, like, felt obviously orchestrated, and it would have to have been orchestrated by these Tusk people. And I agree that. I think a lot of the evidence that we have at this point is, like, circumstantial. But there's just a lot of, like, connections and ties. And then, plus the things, like, the Megapede things already looked like the Scarlet King stuff anyway. Like, it looked like we recognized them, and now we have these spores that are definitely the same material that was created by the. The Scarlet King. So even if. I mean, we probably wouldn't be able to, like, prove it in a court of law, but I think at this point, we can certainly say that Tusk Company is for sure associated somehow with the Scarlet King and the Scarlet King's legacy. And I don't know how I would. I think. I think we're curious now about, like, what their intentions are and how they got here.

[Jillian Jayes]

I would love to jump in here with. With. With Riptide and Abe Canaveral on the couch. So when he pops in, he goes, hey, Ape, what's good? He gives you the big. The big. Like, two high fives.

[Dan]

Oh, yeah. Double high five. And then a double low five. And then there's some extra. Some stuff in there. And I say some hips involved. Hey, Riptide.

[Jillian Jayes]

He goes, so, how's it hanging, my little monkey dude?

[Dan]

Oh, pretty good. Hey, Riptide, do you know why? You know why the fish blushed?

[Jillian Jayes]

He goes. He goes, okay, I'll bite. Why?

[Dan]

Ooh, it saw the ocean's bottom.

[Jillian Jayes]

He goes, you end up on the couch. There's, like, a bunch of, like, palling around. He's like, so Bugs, man. That sounds really lame.

[Dan]

Yeah, they were nerds. But also, listen, those Tusk guys totally sent those bugs, right?

[Jillian Jayes]

Is that what we think when you're saying this? He's already turned on the tv and he's like, dude, check this. There's a live broadcast, and it's on Gigacity Central, which is the Gigacity News Network. And here's what you hear as you tune in. As Riptide points over, you hear Katie Nguyen here for Gigacity News. This was the scene downtown yesterday when a new team of heroes saved the day from a monstrous swarm of brick red megapeds. While the Guardians did make a showing, it was these golden heroes who grabbed the city's social media feeds with their flashy moves and looks. Oh, and this just in. We're going live to the downtown plaza where Fred Tusk of Tusk Company is introducing these new heroes to an adoring public. You guys go live and you see there is a huge crowd. Fred Tusk, who is famous for being an outsized presence and kind of a con artist. Others just say that he's got a big personality, but he is famous for making giant moves and doing risky things and succeeding. He's made unbelievable amounts of money for the city, and he's also made an unbelievable name for himself. So they go live. He's standing on a platform that has been built outside of the Tusk Corporation headquarters, which is a giant double building that is almost as tall as the lighthouse, and it is in gleaming gold, which tends to be his trademark. They tune in and you see him and he says, today's events just prove what I've been saying all along. We can't allow unlicensed supers running amok. Sure, Firefly and their little team have helped the city, but they're not required to. I mean, nobody even knows who they really are, but they could be anyone. And where do they get their income? How do they fund that huge tower, the battle suit, technology. Unlike Tuscorp, whose fundraising is all open and public, these people are hiding. They could be working for anyone. Be anyone. And what about the brick problem? Firefly, if that is Firefly in there, supposedly took out Scarlet King. But now we've got reports of bricks popping up all over this city. And the Guardians? Where are they? At? Tuscorp, we've been tracking the sightings of bricks among us, and we are committed to hunting down those monsters, not letting them run amok in our streets. And that is why I brought together a new team of superheroes. Giga City Gold. These heroes have been trained and equipped with the latest tech and will be working in full communication and collaboration with city officials. They're not just vigilantes with some unknown agenda, but playing at heroes. So, without further ado, let me introduce the members of Giga City Gold. You guys see a raid on the stage behind this guy? All the supers you saw, plus one more. This one. First of all, they all have no mask. All of them have gold on. The guy who you had a particular hate on for Jillian, he's got these enormous boots that go from his knee to the ground. They're almost a perfect cylinder. You can't even see his foot out of them. The guy behind him, the one who he was riding on, Massive, hulking, but almost no armor. The gold is like spandex, and he looks like he is just made of muscle. He looks like a wall. The two twins are sort of leaning against each other. Each of them has a stylish coat. You realize one of them is cut asymmetrically to the right. The other one's cut asymmetrically to the left. And finally, the last person has a giant shock of bright pink hair falling in a really stylish way across his forehead, shaved on the sides, a whole bunch of tattoos, and is wearing a sleeveless vest in gold and crossed gun belts that look like they're covered with video game controllers. Literally, video game control controllers. You're pretty sure those are video game controllers? They look like they're every different kind of controller you've seen, including some retro ones. And they look like they're wired to something clipped at his belt. Tusk turns and introduces the first one. Up. Down. It's all relative with the personal gravity field that lets him choose which way is up. He'll never let the city down. Gyro. Gyro flips in midair, soars up, stops, turns, falls sideways through the air, all the way across and then does the same thing back and lands behind the next person. The giant guy, he says a real heavy 2 ton is the master of his own mass, which means he's tougher than a truck and 10 times as strong, but also light as a butterfly. As you watch, he bounces a bit on the balls of his feet and he lifts off the ground and literally just stays floating there. Doesn't do anything, just hovers there. This massive dude. Then he says, turns to the two twins who are leaning against each other, and he says, who's the fairest of them all? Mira. Or maybe it's Mira, able to leap through reflections and multiply. Mira. Mira is the mistress of mirage. They. One of them touches the other one on the shoulder and literally disappears into the gleaming shoulder pad and then pops out the other side. And then the same thing happens again. They do a little, like, chain, and then they stop. You realize that each of these heroes has something that is reflective on them. And you have a moment of like, oh. Finally, he says, the ultimate tech Ape turns the channel.

[Dan]

You know, I imagine Ape, like, Ape flits on, like, ultimate cornhole for a second, like, just completely oblivious. Like, this kind of is boring, huh? And then everybody shouts him down and changes it back. But, yeah.

[Jillian Jayes]

Jillian, did you have a line there? You looked like you had something. You were like, boom. Hold on.

[Amanda Weldon]

No, I just. I wanted to finish hearing him. I'm not bored, and I wanted to finish hearing about it. So I just. I would yell at Ape and I.

[Dan]

She was in and out of character, man.

[Scriv]

Tell us about the video game controller, dude.

[Jillian Jayes]

Okay, that's actually when they get to the last guy. Specs gets really excited and he's like, wait, no, he can't be. That's totally not. And he says, the ultimate tech hero. Able to connect with any machine, keep this city running at peak efficiency and stop any mechanical menace before it starts. And the top ranked esports athlete, Ellipsis. It looks. Just looks up, and he's been fiddling with something in his hands. And when he gets called out, he just looks up and he goes. He just, like, kind of waves.

[Scriv]

It's like a little finger salute kind of thing.

[Jillian Jayes]

A little finger salute. Very, very casual. Like, I. Oh, I just noticed you were there. And then he goes back to playing whatever game he's playing. And at this, like, Fred Tusk brings it all back and he says, so great. I'm glad we've got the Guardians, but lucky for us, plus, we've also got Giga City Gold looking out for the good citizens of this beautiful city. Thank you everybody and good night. And they cut back to the broadcaster who's talking about the fact that Tusk is working on a vaccine, that many of the people who were in the megapede attack seem to be recovering under the medical care that Tusk has provided. They're working on a cutting edge biotech to try to help them deal with the poison that was delivered by these creatures.

[Scriv]

Are you kidding me? Animus actually stands up and yells this at the tv.

[Amanda Weldon]

I. I think the gig. These, These golden. What are they? What are their names again?

[Jillian Jayes]

Riptide's gonna be the one who's like, Giga City Gold. It's like, it's cool, right? It's got a ring to it.

[Amanda Weldon]

Yeah, because it's all marketing. This is all just like, this is. They are not looking out for the people of Giga City. They are looking out for. For Tusk and the. And his financial interests. Because if he.

[Scriv]

This is what Tusk does.

[Amanda Weldon]

I'm very upset. This is very stupid. I'm very mad. This is. Yeah, because it's just. It's. It's capitalism and I hate it.

[Scriv]

This is exactly what Tusk does. Even before they kicked me out of that lab, I wanted to quit working for them. Everything they do, every research project, every contract, every new department that they open, it's all trying to get more control. I hated it there. I hate it. And now we're seeing this and I'm starting to get really worked up.

[Jillian Jayes]

And everybody. Yeah, everybody in the room is like.

[Scriv]

And there's like, there's wondering if any of that bleeds out.

[Jillian Jayes]

Well, there's. There's a collective intake of breath. Wear Bear is the one who seems most agitated. He's like, he kind of stands up and he's. He gets a little shaggy here. And he's like, yeah, what are we gonna do about it? And he's like, like, kind of like, like you could see the flexing and he's starting to get really.

[Scriv]

And I look over at Wear Bear and think, oh, no.

[Jillian Jayes]

Yeah, you could put a. If you put a hand out, you realize you could calm him down if you could calm yourself down.

[Scriv]

Okay. Okay, I'm gonna have that inkling and go, okay. And just kind of like calm down my breathing a little bit and try to keep an eye on my periphery as like a little personal experiment just to see what happens.

[Jillian Jayes]

Okay.

[Scriv]

He's like, I've got my bracelet. I've got my bracelet. And I'm kind of clicking so you're.

[Jillian Jayes]

Kind of looking around. You know. This is also his own stuff. Dr. Jay holds up her hands and she says, all of you, we need to think about this and we need to consider what we're going to do next. Specs, how are we doing on that antidote? And Specs looks up, and you realize he was texting Jillian. He kind of like, looks a little startled, and then he's like, I've got. I've. I've got it running the sequences. I don't know, it'll take some time.

[Amanda Weldon]

Who. Who is he texting at a time like this? He's been on his phone a lot. He was on his phone before. What's. What is he doing? I'm very frustrated.

[Jillian Jayes]

Are you going to say anything? What are you going to say?

[Amanda Weldon]

Yeah, maybe I'm going to say that. Just like, who are you texting right now, Specs? Like, what's more important than this?

[Jillian Jayes]

He looks like, kind of like embarrassed, and he. He actually starts turning red. Specs is really bad at being embarrassed. And he kind of goes, it's just a friend. She was worried. And then, like, after he says she was worried, he realizes how it sounds and he looks even more awkward and goes even redder.

[Amanda Weldon]

Okay, so Specs, what was she worried about? Did you tell her what we were doing?

[Jillian Jayes]

He's like, no, no, no, no, no, of course not. And he goes, but, you know, there was a megaped attack in the city and, you know, everybody's checking up on everybody. Haven't you checked your phone yet?

[Amanda Weldon]

No, I've been busy.

[Jillian Jayes]

He goes, yeah, no, I don't check my phone.

[Dan]

Phone checks me.

[Jillian Jayes]

Riptide goes, bruh.

[Scriv]

Dang it, Ape.

[Jillian Jayes]

So Specs looks up and he goes, sorry, Jillian, I just. I guess I haven't been able to keep my head straight. He goes, I'm worried, too. I just. I feel really dumb not having any powers. And he kind of looks down and he goes, I mean, I want to help, but I don't always know how.

[Dan]

Ape says, hey, hey, man, I get it. I was once like you. But then I got strong, fast, and smart. And now here I am. So listen, what we get to do, these Tusk guys, they've done. They've done exactly one good thing in their whole career, and that was making the mistake that made me otherwise no good. I say we go in there and we just smash them up. Good old fashioned. Smash them.

[Jillian Jayes]

Hey, Animus, you just heard him say that he was made by Tusk.

[Scriv]

Just exasperation. Just, of course, of Course.

[Jillian Jayes]

So that's where we're gonna. We're gonna leave this, everybody. Dr. J says, first, you're gonna get back in bed, Missy. And she points back at the hyperbaric chamber, and she says, and you, big man. And she. She. She points at Werebear, and she says, the rest of you, you better summon everyone else. We need to have a council. Everybody needs to be there. And Specs, she says, if you've got it running the analysis to do the. The antidote formulation, then maybe you can also check a little bit about social media, do some research, find out anything you can about what they've been up to. Anybody else have any bright ideas? She looks around.

[Dan]

We don't like the smash them idea.

[Jillian Jayes]

Well, I like that she ignores you completely, Ape. She just, like, doesn't even look at you. She says, oh, you'd like to smash someone? You just got here. Calm down.

[Scriv]

I feel adequately chastised.

[Jillian Jayes]

Yeah, There's a heavy Dr. Mom energy coming from Dr. J's. She does not mess. She looks at you and she says, I'm sorry, honey, what was your name? She holds out a hand.

[Scriv]

My real name or. No, no, Animus.

[Jillian Jayes]

She kind of, like, raises her eyebrows and shakes her head a little bit, and she says, well, welcome to the team. And then she says, all right, everyone, off you go. And so everybody starts getting on the horn and calling up the reserves and trying to get a hold of all the Giga City guardians. Jillian, you're put in bed. So is Werebear. You guys are conked out in your hyperbaric chambers. Ape, I don't know what you want to get up to. You seem like the biggest danger is just Ape is going to be like, you know what I'm going to do?

[Scriv]

Like, I've got. I actually want to go talk to Ape.

[Jillian Jayes]

Oh, excellence. And, Jillian, do you have any, like, people you want to check in with on your phone? Before we cut to that scene, do you have anybody you want to text? Like, oh, by the way, your phone does have a message in it.

[Amanda Weldon]

I want to know what the message says.

[Jillian Jayes]

It's Jorge. You have his number from a study group the two of you were in?

[Amanda Weldon]

Sure, yeah. What is. What does Jorge have to say?

[Jillian Jayes]

Crazy news. You.

[Amanda Weldon]

Okay, that's very nice, but I. I don't want to just give it a thumbs up. No, I'm not going to. I was going to. I wasn't going to say that. That would be.

[Scriv]

Leave mon Red.

[Amanda Weldon]

No, I am going to. A thumbs up would just be cruel. I was Going to say, yeah, you. Question mark. No elaboration. And maybe. And I wouldn't maybe spell all those words, like, out all the way.

[Jillian Jayes]

Like, you know, he gives you two thumbs up emojis. And then right after that, he says, got notes? And then there's an uploaded file in K. And then at the end, he says, in case you need them.

[Amanda Weldon]

I. This is very nice. And I. I feel a little, like, overwhelmed because I expect him to be kind of a jerk, but he's not a jerk. And, like, I'm also in a weird mood because of the spores in my body. So I'm gonna do. I. I want to do I now. I want to do a thumbs up. Like, I want to, like, do the. I want to, like, react to the message. Or maybe even. Maybe even. Maybe a heart.

[Jillian Jayes]

You heart the notes. Heart the notes.

[Amanda Weldon]

I'll heart the notes. Heart the notes.

[Jillian Jayes]

That's.

[Scriv]

Yeah, we got a heart react to the notes.

[Amanda Weldon]

Yes. Heart react to the notes.

[Jillian Jayes]

She loves the notes.

[Amanda Weldon]

I love school.

[Jillian Jayes]

I love. There you go. Yeah. Robot nerd, remember? So ape and Animus, this is your. Your moment, Animus. What do you got to say to the. To the ape?

[Scriv]

Hey.

[Dan]

What'S up?

[Scriv]

So I don't know if my badge has been deactivated yet, but I kind of kept it when I left.

[Jillian Jayes]

Riptide leans over and he goes, hey, you're the new kid. I saw you on the tv. You, like, roared at, like, a megapede. It was pretty awesome. He's like, high five.

[Dan]

Yeah, I kind of took her under my wing. No big deal.

[Jillian Jayes]

He goes, what are you talking about, badge dude? Do you have even a costume? Dude, she needs a costume.

[Scriv]

I. I don't. I don't need a costume. It's. It's okay. I don't know if I even really. I was just here to help, I guess. Let's not talk about employment right now.

[Jillian Jayes]

Do you have powers, though? Because you must have powers. You, like, scared a giant mutant bug. Like, that's not, like, an everyday person kind of thing.

[Scriv]

I mean, have you ever tried to roar at a giant bug? Maybe you could do it, too.

[Dan]

Good point.

[Jillian Jayes]

He. He thinks about it for a second, and he. You can. You can tell. It's taking Riptide a while. He's. He's doing one of these. He's like, no. And he goes, see? Next mutant bug I meet, I am totally taking a page from your book.

[Scriv]

You should totally roar at it. He's like, aw, you never know.

[Jillian Jayes]

Like, he goes in to pound it. Do you Pound it back. That's the only question I have.

[Scriv]

Yes, I do.

[Jillian Jayes]

Okay. When you do, he's like. And, like, blows it up, and you have this moment of, like.

[Scriv]

But, like, a split second too late. Cause I'm not quite sure what's gonna follow with the pound, but I just go super awkward.

[Jillian Jayes]

So, Ape, he's totally jacked this conversation from you. You realize Riptide's the kind of guy, he just. He gets involved in everything. He means real well, but I don't know how serious you want to be. Ape. It seems like she's talking about having.

[Scriv]

A badge while this is happening, though.

[Amanda Weldon]

Like, with.

[Scriv]

With the thing. I'm going to pull out the badge so only Ape could see it and go, like, kind of dangle it a little bit. It's like, I still have this, and then put it back in my pocket. Hopefully no one else saw that, but Ape.

[Dan]

I look at her. Ape looks at her, and Ape looks at Firefly and says, maybe me and you should take a walk. And if that walk ends at Tusk headquarters and something gets smashed, that's nobody's fault. It's just.

[Scriv]

I'm not saying we need to do anything big and crazy.

[Dan]

We're just taking a walk.

[Amanda Weldon]

Okay.

[Scriv]

I am kind of worried that they do know my face, though.

[Dan]

We got a whole room full of costumes. Come on.

[Jillian Jayes]

Come on, Paul.

[Amanda Weldon]

Yeah, that's why you need a costume. That's what they're for.

[Scriv]

So does that mean I work here now and I asked Ape that question?

[Dan]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. They haven't officially given me the authority yet, but just talk to the nerds. They'll get you a badge for here. Whatever. It's fine. You. You and me, we just gotta get you a quick mask, and then we should just.

[Scriv]

Okay.

[Dan]

Take a quick look at Tusk and see what we can see. Maybe before they get out of the.

[Jillian Jayes]

Chambers costume montage, we'll do a costume. Okay, so there's, like, a series of, like. Like, you awkwardly coming out from, like, from behind somewhere, wearing a different ridiculous super outfit.

[Scriv]

Thumbs up, thumbs down.

[Jillian Jayes]

Some of them have, like, giant masks. Other ones have, like, weird, like, lightning bolts. There's, like, a whole bunch of stuff. Do you want to settle on a look? Do you want, like, a cowl? I feel like you could do really well with, like, a really big cowl with, like, you know, that covers the head.

[Scriv]

I'm feeling a cowl.

[Jillian Jayes]

Okay.

[Scriv]

And, like, I'm kind of feeling a cowl. Something that I could still be sort of. Because I don't like to draw attention to myself.

[Jillian Jayes]

And you could do, like, the short. The short cowl with, like, you know, like, this piece. And then, like, you know, some, like, structured jackets under some. You can always do belts and straps.

[Scriv]

Sounds pretty cool.

[Jillian Jayes]

Superheroes always do belts and straps. Do you want big, clunky boots? Do you want high boots? Do you want, like, cool skirts or, like, giant clothes?

[Scriv]

I'm a fan of, like, the Doc Marten kind of boots, because my. My usual attention is gonna be, like, blue jeans, T shirt, leather jacket.

[Jillian Jayes]

Okay.

[Scriv]

Kind of thing. Just, like, street clothes.

[Jillian Jayes]

So when you walk out, you've got this, like, big, deep hood. It's got a short sort of, like. It's, like, split right here, and it goes across the shoulders, but it doesn't go any lower than that. And then underneath, there's. It's basically leather. It's a leather jacket, but it's, like, cut so that it's, like.

[Dan]

It's.

[Jillian Jayes]

It's tactical. It's got armor plates built into it. And you.

[Scriv]

Sounds pretty cool.

[Jillian Jayes]

And you've got, like, basically leather pants, which is the first time you've done leather pants but big, clunky boots.

[Scriv]

Yeah, I wasn't. I wasn't sure how I felt about those at first. Actually seems to complete the look.

[Jillian Jayes]

You put them on and, like, when you come out, like, both Riptide and Ape are like, dude, yes. And, like, they seem to think this is a great outfit. But it's up to you whether you want to take.

[Scriv]

You know what? I'm going to take their word for it. And as long as I still got my, like, pockets. As long as I still have pockets and that little charm bracelet, I'm good.

[Jillian Jayes]

Okay. And Cutscene, you guys are gonna be at Tusko, and I'm gonna get you into some trouble so that Jillian can.

[Scriv]

Come eventually go into Tusco.

[Jillian Jayes]

I'm gonna get you into some trouble so Jillian can come save your bacon later. So save us.

[Dan]

We don't require saving, I don't think.

[Jillian Jayes]

Yeah, no, you're gonna be fine. It's gonna be great.

[Amanda Weldon]

Amanda, I think you will require saving. I'm excited to come and save you.

[Scriv]

We will 100% require saving. I mean, but that's okay. And Animus is asking themselves, oh, why did I show that badge? Because I'm an idealist. And you know what? I just had a thought that maybe we could do something, but darn, this is foolish.

[Jillian Jayes]

So, Specs, by the way, while you're in the hyperbaric chamber, Specs has been Looking at social media feeds, and he's talking to you through the. Through the hyperbaric chamber. While you're resting, you're noticing that there are all these social media feeds that have blurry shots of what look like bricks. And there's a lot of posting on different forums about these bricks. Why aren't the Guardians doing anything about them? There's monsters in our midst. Who knows what they're doing to the groundwater. I don't know what's going to happen to my property values if we've got mutants in the city. And there's a bunch of, like, stuff being connected to the brick sightings, but it's weird stuff. And Specs keeps calling up different videos and different, like, threads, and a lot of them are, like, kind of punk kid pranks. There's some, like, some golf course got, like, all of its holes filled in. Somebody busted out a bunch of animals at the local. The local aquarium and set them free.

[Scriv]

At the aquarium?

[Jillian Jayes]

Yeah, the aquarium. One of the weirdest ones is people have been reporting fish in their toilets. There's some weird blurry footage of, like, the camera coming up on a phone. There's a toilet seat, and they flip the toilet seat open and something, like, does a really startling move and the person pulls back and, like, it's gone. And. And everybody's like, there's. There's a whole lot of this.

[Dan]

Gerald, you forgot to flush the toilet.

[Scriv]

Call the plumber again.

[Jillian Jayes]

Yeah, and there's like, you know, on the. On these videos, there's a street. There's like. Like, so you guys are looking at all these feeds and. And Specs. Specs looks at you, and he's like, I don't know how I missed all this. I guess I've been, I don't know, focused on other things. And he kind of, like, looks a little embarrassed, and he's like, but, yeah, it looks like people have been seeing Brick, like, stuff for a while, though. No really good footage.

[Amanda Weldon]

Are they actually. I mean, is this something that he has missed, or is it just that everything's popping up right now?

[Jillian Jayes]

You ask him that, you're like, is this something you missed or is this something that's popping up right now? And he goes, these posts look like they've been legit here for a long time. I mean, these threads have been up for a couple of weeks.

[Amanda Weldon]

And then I'm. That I'm. That I'm disappointed, I guess. But I.

[Jillian Jayes]

Well, he goes. He shakes his head and he goes, abita, I haven't been looking at a lot of these sites as often as I used to, but I didn't think I'd miss it like this. And he's like, especially this sort of thing.

[Amanda Weldon]

Yeah. I feel like specs, I think. I feel like you're preoccupied, I'm sure. I. I kind of feel like whoever you're talking to on your phone, you have, like, kind of a big crush on or whatever. And I just really feel like it's really important for you to, like, focus on what we need to be doing right now, because if this has been going on and you didn't notice it and that's kind of your job, then, then clearly, like, your personal life is getting in the way of you doing the work that you need to be doing, and that's making everyone else suffer, and it's making us look bad. So I need you to, like, step it up.

[Jillian Jayes]

There's a moment of silence, and he's looking at the computer screen and not at you. And then he. He, He. He sort of turns and he goes, that's rich cubbig from you. He goes, you worried about pr? And then he kind of shakes his head and he goes, look, okay, we didn't have a great day, but this is not my entire life. And, yeah, I get it. I got roped into this the same way you did, and we wanted this originally, but I'm in high school. He looks at you. He goes, you're in high school. I don't know what you think your life's all about, but I'm not a superhero. Granted, you got the suit, and you are, but I'm trying my best. And honestly, Jill, I don't ask for much, and I don't do much except this. So, yeah, I got a life, and, yeah, you need to deal with it. I'm sorry I missed this, but I'm not perfect any more than you are. You got a couple of holes in the back of your deck that say you don't always do it perfect either. We're going to try our best. I'm going to look out for you, you're going to look out for me, and I beth up, but don't give me so much for it. And then he kind of turns around and looks, like, really huffy.

[Amanda Weldon]

I feel like the holes in the back of my neck thing is a low blow.

[Jillian Jayes]

Yep. He felt like you're. You're like, you got to get it together was a low blow. It's escalating.

[Amanda Weldon]

I am too angry to talk to him right now because I think that this is one of those things I would have to, like, walk. Specs is very important to me. But, like, right now, I'm just really, really mad. And I don't feel good because I still feel weird iciness in my veins or whatever. And, like. And now I know that there's spores, which is gross. And I just. I'm going to have to walk away from this conversation. But I'm pretty angry.

[Jillian Jayes]

Yeah. The problem is you're in the hyperbaric chamber, so you're like, I am going to walk away from this.

[Amanda Weldon]

And you're like, oh, that's so annoying. Can I mute him? Like, I don't want to talk to him anymore. I need him to be muted.

[Jillian Jayes]

There's a beat, and then he, like. He's like, I'm really sorry. I just. I'm scared, too. I don't want to lose you.

[Amanda Weldon]

Yeah. I don't want to get lost while.

[Dan]

They'Re distracted and very deep in conversation.

[Scriv]

Yep.

[Dan]

You see Ape leading, leading Animus badly. Trying to stealth, but they're so distracted. We know. I think we get by. I'm leading Animus down the back stairwell with the key card in my hand.

[Jillian Jayes]

So how do you want to get to Tusk? Because you're very noticeable, Ape. And now Animus is in full superhero gear and looks like a cross between, like, you know, the Grim Reaper and a biker. So you guys have a. You know, you got a vibe going on. You're not exactly, like, you know, stroll down the street, full on. How you want to get over there?

[Scriv]

This is why I thought street clothes would be better. But it's too late now. The leather pants are on, and they ain't coming back off. Okay. It was hard enough putting those things on.

[Jillian Jayes]

The leather pants are on, and they hate coming back off. I've committed to this life now. Okay, you have made your way through the city. You've been keeping to the rooftops. Ape is really good at doing the leaping, and he's been being fairly reasonable about helping Animus across. You guys show up to Tusk Plaza, and it's near the wharfs, and there are these two gleaming towers. As you get closer, all of a sudden, the building beneath you. You're standing on a rooftop. It shakes. The entire building trembles with the force of a rolling explosion. And behind the giant boom. You hear alarm signals begin to blare from Tusk Tower, and you can see the light of fires in the distance and hear yells, shouts, screams, and sirens. There's a glance beneath you into the alleyway. And a face looks up temporarily. It's brick red. It hisses and then runs down the. All right, shout outs, y'all. Now that we have established that you are at the edge of. Of Tusk Corporation and there is some kind of mayhem going on in the streets below and bricks are involved, it's time to wrap. And it's also time for shoutouts. So please feel free. Holler each other out for the things that you thought were great. We'll add lines. Wherever they think, wherever we think they belong. I would love to hear what y'all are thinking and what. What moments stayed with you in the story. It's a great way to celebrate each other, Scriv.

[Scriv]

Okay, first, I. I know I kind of. We did like a mid game shout out before, but your characters, Michael, each one is so distinct. And the voices you use, it is a joy. Such good voices every time with the mother and son specs. And then as soon as you said Riptide, I had this idea in my head, like, please make them surfer bro. Please make them surfer bro. And you delivered.

[Jillian Jayes]

Well, the name Riptide, when I read it, I was like, oh, well, that guy has a surfboard. We know. Thank you. I'm glad you liked it. I have fun playing all of them. I think Dr. J's is now my favorite. Like, I love playing Big Mom Energy. She's awesome. Like, as a character, she's awesome. I can't imagine, as a parent, what it would be like having a superhero for a kid and trying to be supportive and trying to be encouraging, and then also having to sew them up when they get infected with super mutant viruses.

[Scriv]

Stressful.

[Amanda Weldon]

Yeah. Especially after having lost your father and your husband to similar, like, to this kind of activity. So it'll be really. It's like, high stakes. It's really scary. And she's very, like, generous, I think, with her loved ones.

[Jillian Jayes]

I mean, I'm trying not to access the whole, like, you guys are probably all suffering from serious trauma angle. I'm trying to keep it light, let's keep it heroic, but, boy, it's there. I would love to shout. There's so, Gosh, there's a lot here. Ape. Thank you for taking the first of all. This is a scriven ape. This is like a. This is a crime, animus and ape moment. I love the fact that you two are the first ones to be like, you know, we could just go do this on our own. Let's go. Like, I love that as a subplot, it's Always good for a story when it happens. I love that you pitched it Animus. And I love Ape. I love how you just caught it. We're like, yeah, of course. Let's just.

[Scriv]

Let's take a walk.

[Jillian Jayes]

That was awesome. I loved it.

[Dan]

Amanda, I liked you arguing with the Specs. I think you did a good job. That was intense and I can tell it was hard for you, and so I appreciate that.

[Amanda Weldon]

Thank you. I appreciate it's fun when there's getting, like, high stakes. Emotional content, I think is fun. I also, I will do a shout out to Ape. For as much as I sometimes roll my eyes, I do think that you're jokes and the things that lighten the mood and move things forward are very important and good for pacing and really and always, like, they're always good. Good job.

[Dan]

Ape appreciates the compliments, but he doesn't need them.

[Jillian Jayes]

Amanda, I wanted to say thank you for playing through that scene with Specs with me, because I've been planting those seeds and I love that, you know, I like to, as a storyteller, lean into, Create those emotional moments because I think oftentimes in superheroic fiction and in any fiction, you can get kind of into, like, stuff happens. We react. Action, action. And I want stories to be about people. Right.

[Amanda Weldon]

Yes. I couldn't agree more. And I, I. Yeah.

[Jillian Jayes]

So thank you for being willing. I was like. I was like, oof. I think I want to lean in here and have Specs have his, like, you don't own me moment. And I love that you like. I was like, I'm going to try this and see where Amanda takes it. And I thank you so much for rolling with it and playing back that.

[Amanda Weldon]

Thank you for including it. I really. Yeah. I really love when stories are about people and are about, you know, and I think the superhero stuff is very fun and cool, but I'm much more connected to, like, the conversations and the characters and things like that. So that's. Thank you.

[Jillian Jayes]

To me, a setting is a frame. The people are what's in the picture. And that's. I love that you guys have all leaned into that. There's been so much great, like, bonding. Does anybody have a line they want to. They want to throw out there that they would like added to their sheet or that they think somebody else should get from all the stuff that went down today.

[Amanda Weldon]

Could do. Animus and Ape have a bond in their. In their sheet.

[Dan]

I was thinking that, too. I want to save that for.

[Scriv]

See how it goes first.

[Dan]

I want to see how this. See how this caper goes. Yeah.

[Scriv]

Yeah. I definitely would like to see how that plays out.

[Dan]

I don't know. I think. I think Fireflies bond to Specs needs to change a little.

[Scriv]

Ooh, I agree. Oh, it's evolving.

[Jillian Jayes]

I was hoping for that. I didn't want to, like, pitch it, but.

[Amanda Weldon]

Okay.

[Jillian Jayes]

What do you think? How would you frame this?

[Amanda Weldon]

All right, so it says, specs is my. My wingman and my best friend. And I think that the part that probably needs to change is the wingman part, because I think that sort of implies that he's always following me and doing what I need for him to do. Like, he's my, like, little sidekick guy, but he's clearly, like, demonstrating that he needs more space and the freedom to do his own thing and develop his own life and identity. So I. Maybe. Maybe. I don't know if I want to over complicate it. Maybe we'll just say that Specs is my best friend and kind of, like, cut the wingman part of it, but then not change the rest of it because he's still my best friend. We're having a fight, but he's still my best friend. And I don't want to, like. I don't want to change it too much right now. I wondered. I also kind of wanted to put my mom in for a bond.

[Jillian Jayes]

Please do. Why wouldn't you?

[Amanda Weldon]

My mom is my mom, and I. That's, like, important. And I would maybe just put that.

[Jillian Jayes]

I mean, I almost want something. Like, I always think it's important. I think a lot of people, when they create bond sentences, make the mistake of saying something like, so and so is my friend, which is great, or, so and so is my mom. But there are. As a writer, you know, and whenever you're telling a story, you want those details about a relationship that really bring it alive in the mind of your reader, but also your own mind. Right. That express the nuance of the relationship. So example, if I wanted to put one for. For ape and riptide, I would say bromantic buds with riptide. Or, you know, something like that. Right? There's, like, you guys have a he, like, complicated handshakes with riptide. In your case, with your mom, I might go for something like, my mom always supports me, but it scares her sometimes. Or, but she worries.

[Amanda Weldon]

Yeah, I agree, Michael. And I would. I will. I liked what you said about my mom supports me, but it's. But it's scary for her sometimes, or she worries. I think that that's a good thing to say.

[Jillian Jayes]

Cool. Okay, well, we'll add that bond to your sheet so that it's part of your story, and then that's something that you can lean into when you need a hand from your mom, which, of course, you will always need.

[Dan]

I don't think Ape doesn't have a new line yet, but rest assured, Ape is gonna grow and change.

[Jillian Jayes]

Well, you can. You can have a riptide bromance if you want, you know.

[Dan]

Oh, I should take a riptide.

[Jillian Jayes]

I think that's an easy one. You definitely. I feel like Ape is the sort of perpetual teenager who has sort of brought out the. The, like, adolescent and a lot of the, you know, some of the other.

[Scriv]

Characters, the joy and spontaneity.

[Jillian Jayes]

Oh, there you go. That's a very. That's a kind framing. Yes, there's definitely. Ape brings a certain quality to their joie de vivre. There you go. That's the one. All right, so with that, let's add that one to Apes. That sounds like everybody got a line today, which is amazing. And thank you so much for playing with me. Everyone at home, thank you so much for listening. Remember, you can always play along and learn to create your own heroes, create your own stories. All you got to do is go to patreon.com stories rpg and download today.

[Dan]

Hey, and just remember that stories like the podcast S T O R I e s patreon.com s t o r I e s rpg patreon.com storiesrpg.

[Jillian Jayes]

Thanks, everybody. Thank you so much. It's been so fun telling stories with you tonight. Take care. Bye.

[Scriv]

Bye.

[Amanda Weldon]

Thanks, everybody.

[Jillian Jayes]

Thank you.