E-mails to 'Yana, Kitty, Alison, and Forge

[x-crowdofone.livejournal.com]

(OOC: These e-mails and the ensuing conversation(s) actually took place the afternoon of Wednesday the 24th.)

To: {expert on weird}
From: {baffled}
Subject: Got a referral for you.

Hey 'Yana, I got kind of a funky phone call from my Uncle Harvey today--he's apparently kind of stuck somewhere in Ohio because his RV is, quote, "possessed or something." Apparently it ran off the road and his toaster chased him out, he wasn't exactly clear, but apparently I'm the official family "weird happenings" guy now so he called me for help. You got anything up the next few days, or could I convince you to come take a look? I figure we could make a road trip out of it, might be fun--and you'd be way more qualified than I would to figure out if he actually does have a possessed Winnebago on his hands. Interested?


To: {the cute one}
From: {the perplexed one}
Subject: Remember my Uncle Harvey?

He's my novelist uncle, the one who tools around in the big Winnie? Apparently he's had some sort of automobile trouble straight out of the Twilight Zone. I'm seeing if 'Yana's interested in heading out there to help figure out what's going on, you want in? Possible roadtrippy fun, plus we're edging into the "pre-college crazy vacation" period.

I have to warn you, though, he apparently broke down somewhere on the Ohio Turnpike.


To: {favoritest adult authority-type figure}
From: {kinda needs a favor}
Subject: This is gonna sound kinda weird.

Okay, I think I've told you about my Uncle Harvey the mystery-novelist Winnebago nomad, right? He called me this afternoon and he seems pretty sure the Winnie's gone Christine on him. I'm asking 'Yana if she's up for driving out there to see if we need to put a stake through its carburetor and bury it at a crossroads, and I asked Kitty along because hey, girlfriend, and also second driver, but he broke down on the Ohio Turnpike so it'd be really awesome to have a third driver just to make absolutely sure we don't succumb to highway hypnosis on the most boring road ever invented and also even though I'm technically an adult now I still feel kinda weird just grabbing people and taking off by ourselves, so having a teacher along would be good, and also, roadtrip! so it'd be fun, and we probably wouldn't be gone for more than a few days, and also, hey, it's life at the mansion here, so distinct possibility it'll end up going really screwy and, y'know, if we have to kick the ass of my uncle's RV it'd be good to have somebody around who's better at that than me.

So are you busy? You can drive the Shelby sometimes! Although if there's gonna be three of us we might wanna take a second car, the Shelby isn't exactly oversupplied with comfiness in the rear seat area.


To: {grand high gadgetmaster}
From: {having a scheduling fubar}
Subject: About the rally this weekend

I know I said I'd go, but that was before I learned I'm having a very strange family emergency somewhere in Ohio. I dunno how long it's gonna take to fix, so I'm not sure I can commit to being at the rally. I'll try to make it, but it all depends on how things go. Sorry, man.

One of these days I'm gonna have to start experimenting with long-distance dupe maintenance. I know it's possible, but I never get around to playing around with the concept, and every so often the laziness bites me in the ass.

Comments

[x-kitten.livejournal.com]

To: [cutely perplexed]
From: [perplexedly cute]
Subject: Re: Remember my Uncle Harvey?

Twilight zone how? I mean, are we talking aliens, alternate realities or possession? Of course I'm coming, just trying to figure out what to expect.

Think we'll be back before the rally this weekend, or should I be making my apologies?

Also, so you know, I hate the Ohio Turnpike. I mean, probably everyone does, but yeah, much with the loathing. It goes on and on forever and never ends and the scenery is almost as interesting as Nebraska. This would be why I usually fly across the midwest.

-Kit

Reply to Jamie

[x-snowflake.livejournal.com]

To: [your relatives are weird]
From: [perfectly normal aside from almost everything about me]
Subject: Possessed RVs are my specialty

That last was a lie. I have never heard of such a thing, so it probably doesn't exist. His toaster chased him? Are we sure it's not just one of our telekinetics reliving their childhood? No matter, it sounds like fun, and I get to leave without getting the third degree on passports and international law and other irrelevant things, so I'll definitely be there. We're leaving tomorrow? Should I bring anything other than money and clean clothes? (Not that, technically, I couldn't just go back for whatever I needed.)

Where's Ohio?

Illyana

[x-crowdofone.livejournal.com]

To: {just plain adorable}
From: {not at all perplexed about your cuteness}
Subject: Re: Remember my uncle Harvey?

Possession. Or a poltergeist. Or something. This is why I'm recruiting 'Yana, I don't know from this stuff. He says his dishwasher tried to eat him.

And I dunno if we'll be back in time--I e-mailed Forge to say "maybe yes maybe no" just to cover bases, and I'm playing it by ear. I mean, it'd be great to be back in time, but how do I know how long it takes to tame a haunted Winnebago, you know?

It doesn't even have the possibility of secretly being an ancient demonic rune, either, like Good Omens says the London orbital highway is. It's just straight. And flat. It's the roadway equivalent of that nasty grey cafeteria tapioca, is what it is.

[x-kitten.livejournal.com]

To: [that would have been 'perplexingly cute' and I've given up on that one as you're nuts and convinced I'm 'adorable']
From: [adorable my left foot]
Subject: Re: Remember my uncle Harvey?

His dishwasher... Well that's a new one.

'kay, I'll drop Forge a note of my own.

I do occasionally come to the conclusion that the Ohio Turnpike is actually a portal to Michigan, but maybe that's just my father's lack of directional abilities. And I think a 'demonic rune' would be more interesting than you really want a highway to be, given that we actually know what demons are like.

Re: Reply to Jamie

[x-crowdofone.livejournal.com]

To: {what about your relative?}
From: {not arguing my family's weird, mind, but pot calling kettle here}
Subject: Well, if you wanted a specialty, that would be a good one.

I wish. But I don't think any of our telekinetics have ever met my uncle Harvey. Yeah, leaving tomorrow, and no, you shouldn't need much more than clothes and money.

Well, something to read, maybe--I'm afraid he got stranded on one of the most boring stretches of road in the country, so there'll probably be dull parts. We can maybe hit bizarre local attractions on the way, though, spice things up a little.

Ohio is west of here, south of Lake Erie.

[x-crowdofone.livejournal.com]

To: {your left foot is just as adorable as the rest of you}
From: {admitting to bias}
Subject: Re: Remember my uncle Harvey?

What does it say about our lives that it takes a maneating dishwasher to bring the novelty?

And yeah, good point. Although I could slap some AC/DC on the mix CD and at least we'd have appropriate background music. :)

. . . Oh, and I'm hoping to get out of here tomorrow, I think I forgot to say. I'm seeing if Alison wants to come along to be our for-real adult and hopefully-unnecessary-heavy-hitter, too. Too bad I already used the Charlie's Angels joke, huh?

Re: Reply to Jamie

[x-snowflake.livejournal.com]

To: [he doesn't count, 'cause I'm technically disowned]
From: [so technically, YOUR family is weirder]
Subject: My specialty is not getting killed, which, if your uncle's RV is actually possessed, might be even better.

It all sounds very novel to me. I must say I have never had the opportunity (or desire) to see Ohio before, so it should be interesting. Anyway, I'll be ready whenever.

[x-kitten.livejournal.com]

To: [cutely biased]
From: [possibly also biased]
Subject: Re: Remember my uncle Harvey?

I think it mainly says that, up till now, we have never had to deal with attack appliances. But it also says that possibly that hole in our lives is about to be filled.

Appropriate background music always good.

Tomorrow? Yeah, tomorrow works. And you don't want to use the Charlie's Angels thing, cause I'm still claiming the part of Alex, and do you really want to start 'Yana and Al debating which of them is the goofy one and which is the 'bad girl'?

Oh, hey, what say I bring Lockheed? Don't really want to leave him here for however long on his own. God only knows what sort of trouble he'd get into.

[x-crowdofone.livejournal.com]

To: {still cute either way}
From: {wallowing in bias}
Subject: Re: Remember my uncle Harvey?

Well, y'know, they say we should strive to broaden our experience. Maybe we should look at the possibility of attack appliances as a good thing.

And you're just tempting me to use the Charlie's Angels joke now. They're ten kinds of funny when they get going.

Sure, bring Lockheed along. Make sure he knows the upholstery wasn't provided in case of dragon munchies, though.

Re: Reply to Jamie

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To: {He totally counts, you still share DNA}
From: {Already said I'm not contesting the weirdness of my family}
Subject: You make a good point.

Interesting, sure, we'll go with that one. I'll grab you tomorrow when we're ready to load up the car(s).

[x-kitten.livejournal.com]

To: [cutest of all cute things]
From: [running out of clever names]
Subject: Re: Remember my uncle Harvey?

Only at Xavier's would broadening our experiences include attack appliances. And you know none of our appliances would dare to attack, cause Mr. Marko would squish them.

Would I do that? -g- Don't answer that.

I'd say that I don't believe he'd eat the upholstery, but, well, he could probably eat anything. Will make sure he knows not to.

Re: Reply to Jamie

[x-snowflake.livejournal.com]

To: [fine, fine, he counts]
From: [but I reserve the right to completely ignore his existence anyway]
Subject: It's a talent of mine.

... cars? If it's just you and me and I'm presuming Kitty, why do we have more than one? What have I not been told?

[x-crowdofone.livejournal.com]

To: {oh good, you too?}
Subject: {possibly getting repetitive}
Subject: Re: Remember my uncle Harvey?

I think it's me. Weirdness follows me around. Norse afterlives, dragons, evil twins, haunted RVs, it's all some sort of weird karma thing or something.

Not answering. (But you so would.)

Thanks. I mean, dragon-gnawed leather interior would be an interesting conversation-starter, but I like it the way it is. :)

Re: Reply to Jamie

[x-crowdofone.livejournal.com]

To: {ha-HA, I win}
From: {respecting your right to ignore}
Subject: You have all kinds of talents, don't you?

Well, I'm asking Alison along as "official" adult and also just in case we end up needing to kill the Winnie. And Kitty just asked if we could bring Lockheed. But we'll be alternating drivers and rotating around and stuff, so it's not like you'll be stuck with them the whole way. Sometimes you'll be stuck with me instead!

[x-kitten.livejournal.com]

To: [Jamie]
From: [the kitten]
Subject: Re: Remember my uncle Harvey?

I don't know, if the weird is following you around, then the scary, creepy stuff must be following me around, cause we had our first invasion before you got here, and I would prefer that to not be the case.



-snicker- I have to admit, I'm fond of your backseat as is, too. Good memories.

[x-dazzler.livejournal.com]

To: Favor Asking Dude
From: Authority Type fibwahahaha!
Subject: I do indeed remember said uncle!

And... thing is, now might not be the best of times for me to vamoose from the mansion. So, am very sadly going to have to decline for now, what with things and bobs falling into place here, but I'll try and find you another authority type figure you'd be able to bring along, if you want another?

Sooooooorry. :/
Alison

[x-crowdofone.livejournal.com]

To: {kittenish}
From: {still lucky}
Subject: Re: Remember my uncle Harvey?

Ah, but you had that whole summer where you were stuck at home and nothing happened, so clearly the scary creepy stuff is following somebody else.

(Small font doesn't count!)

And yeah, those are, aren't they? Kinda too bad we'll have chaperones along this trip, or we could make a few more.

[x-crowdofone.livejournal.com]

To: {very very busy}
From: {aw, shucks}
Subject: He'd sign copies of his books for you if you went . . .

Darnit. Was really looking forward to having you along--but I guess if you're too busy, you're too busy. If you have any inside info on who's not, that'd help a lot, thanks--ability to kill a full-grown Winnebago would be helpful, I don't wanna rule out options until we find out what exactly is going on.

You sure you can't go? 'Yana and Lockheed are both gonna be there, all kinds of opportunities for fun . . .

[x-forge.livejournal.com]

To: [breaker of thermodynamics]
From: [defender of the laws of physics]

Seems to be the week for family stuff. I'll be sure to let you know how everything goes. As I hear it, it's possible for one of your dupes to exist independently at long distance, but don't they try and go evil and kill you if that happens?

Hope everything goes well with the family.

[x-dazzler.livejournal.com]

To: [Has an authority figubwahhhaahaha!]
From: [Got Sent On Vacation]
Subject: Well, actually...

...looks like I'm going after all. Haroun decided I needed time away from well, everything and a break in general before hitting work full time again and he was convincing.

Except for the bit about getting Miles a tattoo while I was gone, but he knows better than to actually really do that.

Sides - tormenting Illyana? How can I say no, really, when you think about it? :D

Alison

[x-crowdofone.livejournal.com]

To: {Packed Off To Ohio}
From: {Very Relieved}
Subject: Woot!

I owe Haroun a cookie, or something.

You can't say no, thus my using it as an argument. I'm clever like that. :)

[x-crowdofone.livejournal.com]

To: {Newton's chosen paladin}
From: {Slimer's second cousin}

Don't actually have a good control sample for how my dupes behave at long distances, when you get right down to it, although I'm pretty sure the torture and brainwashing were most of the reason for the homicidal insanity. Which is why we don't take candy from blue-skinned redheads.

I hope so too.