Previous Post Part 1 Adventures in Parodyverse - Unmoderated Part 2     Anna blinked twice as Magweed and Griffin rolled on the floor laughing in front of her.  There was an empty plastic bucket lying on its side at Anna’s feet, and she was soaked from head to toe.  Not a very good start for entering the entrance hall of the Lair Mansion.     Ã¢â‚¬Å“What was the point of this?”  Anna asked, sounding confused.     Ã¢â‚¬Å“You’re a robot.”  Griffin explained between laughs.  “I wanted to see what would happen if you got wet.”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“I’m completely watertight.”  Anna protested.  “If you would have asked me I could have explained that.”  She then smirked slightly and added, “I won’t rust, or spontaneously multiply, or melt either.”     Magweed stopped laughing and looked at the android.  “Hey, you have a sense of humor!”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“Yeah,”  Griffin agreed.  “Visionary just says half cursewords and looks for a towel when we soak him.”     Anna laughed at the thought of Visionary being doused by a bucket of water.  She knelt so she was looking up at the two kids.  “I have never met children before coming to the Lair Mansion,”  she said.  “Your high level of activity disturbed me at first.  But then I started to listen to you and watch you.  You are far more amusing and stimulating than most adults.”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“I think she’s saying we’re more fun than grown-ups.”  Griffin summarized.     Ã¢â‚¬Å“Yes, I am.”  Anna replied with another slight laugh.     Maggie’s eyes widened happily at that response.  “Hey!  If you go with us maybe dad will let us go to the beach again!”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“Why would he not allow it?”  Anna asked.     Ã¢â‚¬Å“Cause last time we went some crazy old lady tried to hurt Maggie.”  Griffin blurted out.     There was a sudden and heavy silence in the room, as Anna looked at the two kids.  It must have been the first time they dared speak of that moment since it happened.  “I will go with you.”  Anna said.  “And I will not allow anyone to harm either of you.”     Visionary chose that moment to come walking through the front door.  “Wait...what?  Who’s going where?”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“Your children wish to visit the lighthouse beach.”  Anna summarized.  “I will go with them.”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“Wait...why didn’t anyone ask me?”  Visionary protested.  He stared at Anna for a moment before relenting.  They would probably be safer with an android built for battle than with Mr. Epitome.  Or...he cringed as he thought about it...CSFB!  “Okay, they can go if you’re with them.”     Both of the kids cheered loudly and hugged Visionary before holding each of Anna’s hands and pulling her outside.     That’s when Visionary noticed Lara Night standing in another doorway, smiling.  She was wearing a leather jacket, and dressed in a pink long sleeved shirt, blue jeans with a beaded belt, and white canvas sneakers.     Ã¢â‚¬Å“They really like her.”  Lara said.     Ã¢â‚¬Å“Yeah.”  Visionary agreed reluctantly.  “I guess they do.”  His shoulders slumped and he exhaustingly added, “It’s good, I guess...with so many people who want to hurt them...because they’re my kids.  I mean, who better to help protect them than a tireless android with deadly laser eyes?”     Lara smiled at that.  “I bet you feel silly for not trusting her now,”  she said.     Visionary didn’t wonder how she knew he was the last holdout.  Word tended to get around the mansion - and since Lara spoke to Flapjack occasionally, she was near the top of the grapevine.  He nervously rubbed the back of his neck  “Yeah...um...I guess I kind of do.”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“I have something to do in town,”  Lara told him.  “I got an invitation.”  She showed him a red and gold card she was carrying.     Ã¢â‚¬Å“Oh.”  Visionary mumbled.  “The Carnifex.  Why doesn’t he invite me?  Or at least Hatman?”     She shrugged.  “Beats me.  I guess I could find out.”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“So...I noticed you’ve been a little down the last few days.”  Visionary prodded, trying to make small talk.     Lara shrugged once again.  “I have a lot on my mind.  Did some stuff I’m not really proud of to end the Moderator’s reign.”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“Whatever you did,”  Visionary quickly replied, “I have my kids...and Hallie...and everything I care about.  So personally I think whatever you did was worth it.”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“Thank you.”  Lara quickly moved toward Visionary and hugged him with one arm, and then kissed him on the cheek.     Ã¢â‚¬Å“Are you coming to dinner?”  Visionary asked.  “I mean...not on a date.  Not that you aren’t beautiful enough to date, you’re way out of my league anyway...I don’t have much chance with someone so curvy and--”     Lara interrupted him by placing her hand over his mouth.  “I heard about the celebration dinner.”  she said.  “Liu Xi told me, she’s the one who organized it.  Yes, I’ll be there.”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“Liu Xi organized it?”  Visionary rubbed his chin.  “That explains why Kerry said ‘I hope you like Chinese food’.”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“She was teasing you.”  Lara guessed.  “It’s not going to be all Chinese food.”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“Oh.  Right.  I knew that.”  Visionary blushed, but tried his best to cover it up by examining the ceiling.  There were a few cobwebs up there.  “I...guess I’ll see you if you get back.  When you get back, I mean.”  He quickly shuffled toward the hallway of the mansion before he made more of a fool of himself.     He could hear Lara giggle as he left. TO BE CONTINUED? -- Story written and copyrighted (C) 2008 by Jason Froikin, and may not be  --    reprinted without permission.   -- Yuki Shiro designed by Jason Froikin, based on designs by Masamune Shirow --  Liu Xi Xian and the Psychic Samurai are original design by Jason Froikin --  Lara Night is an original creation by Jason Froikin

I'm actually surprised Vizh would let his kids go off alone with Anna.  She hasn't been around the Mansion that long, and Vizh is very protective of his kids.  Maybe he sent Fleabot along just in case.

~Hat~