[Audio]

[steelweb]

...not what I signed up for.

[The audio comes on in the middle of the muttered phrase, but Lin raises her voice so quickly that it could easily be missed.]

All right, people, if you're old enough to remember who your roommate is and haven't been able to find them, odds are they were wandering the city and we were called to pick them up. Officers will be delivering your renegades and making sure everyone is going to be taken care of.

[She sounds tired and edgy, but makes an effort to modulate her tone to something more neutral and soothing. The effect is... questionable. But she is trying.]

If you're lost, sit tight. We're still out looking for people and we'll help you find your way to a good place to rest, and make sure you get some pizza. If you have a phone, you can call us to come get you.

[She recites the number for the police station twice, slowly, so that even little fingers might be able to laboriously write it out. Then her tone firms up, sharpening again.]

For those of you teenagers looking for a part time job, or adults interested in helping, let me know.

[Locked to Koizumi]

Koizumi, report in, if you're able. If you don't answer within three hours I'm looking for you myself.

Comments

[Audio]

[freezespirited]

Good morrow, Ma'am. What's pizza and why is it important?

[Audio]

[steelweb]

[....Great. Now she has to explain pizza. Ok.]

It's bread covered in tomato sauce and cheese. Sometimes they put meat on it. I'm told it's many children's favorite food.

[Audio]

[freezespirited]

Does it keep well? I'd be willing to barter some labor in exchange for some pizza. I'm sure my sister would like it.

[Audio]

[steelweb]

[Now she recognizes that voice. She must be more tired than she'd thought.]

We'll arrange something. You're Jack?

[Audio]

[freezespirited]

[if his tone is anything to go by, he's smiling.] Thank you. ...You know me?

[Audio]

[steelweb]

Or someone very like you. Do you know where your sister is?

[Audio]

[freezespirited]

I hope she's back home. Have you seen or heard about her? Her name is Emma.

[groans]

I can help you out, Lin.

[steelweb]

...R?

[groans]

That would be me. Hi.

[steelweb]

...All right. We need help keeping the kids corralled till we can figure out who they are and where they need to go. Sound like something you can do?

[groans]

Mmhm.
...I mean, yes. Yeah. I can do that.

[steelweb]

Good. Kids age five and below or six and above. Take your pick.

[groans]

Uh. Five and down? I'll go take care of those.
This is kind of a mess, huh?

[text]

[dontmindmepleasecontinue]

[Though confused, his response comes quickly.] You're at the police station?

[text]

[steelweb]

Yes, for now. If you're coming, I'll hold off on my next patrol.

[text] -> [action]

[dontmindmepleasecontinue]

I'll head right over. [Right as soon as he figures out where the station is...]

*****

[He quickly figured out how to bring up a map on his phone, and made his way quickly over to the station. Though he really didn't know why this woman wanted to see him, or how she knew him, she seemed to be in charge and know what she was doing, so it wouldn't do to keep her waiting. Maybe she could tell him what was going on around here.

As he walks into the station, everything looks big and intimidating. He sees what must be the information desk and walks shyly over, standing up on tip toes to be seen over the top of the desk. He clears his throat nervously, and tries to speak clearly and seriously, though his voice comes out more quietly than he'd like.] Um... excuse me, Officer-san. The pretty lady with the scars and grey hair asked me to come here. Do you know where I can find her?

[action]

[librariansheart]

[It had been a very strange sort of day for Sheska, and it is only getting stranger. She'd been briefly mauled by small children trying to hand out lunch, and even her less reserved nerves were rather trampled upon with all the noise in that conference room. And now, just as she finishes a call to one of the patrols, a little head comes up over the edge of the desk and nearly startles her out of her skin.]

Oh! Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't see you there...

[And then it sinks in. As tiny as he was, face rounded before puberty sharpened the angles, this neat, unfailingly polite little boy with the Japanese honorifics could only be one person. She immediately gets up and comes around to crouch closer to his eye level with a smile.]

Koizumi Itsuki? Is that you?

[action]

[dontmindmepleasecontinue]

[He blinks, looking up at this kindly smiling woman who worked in the police station and knew his name. He bites his lip shyly, then nods uncertainly.] That's me, Officer-san. Umm... How do you know my name?

[action]

[librariansheart]

[Her face falls as she realizes he doesn't know her. Of course he doesn't. Not at this age. And she's scared him.]

Oh, I'm sorry, sweetie, I didn't mean to startle you. Ah...

[How do you say this to a ten year old? Cautiously she offers the beginning of an explanation.]

Time is a bit... squishy here. Sometimes it gets mixed up and people from the future, or the past, come to visit. So I've heard a little bit about you. I don't know if it's true, though, so can we maybe start over?

[She opens her hand slowly, palm up, and offers it to him to shake.]

My name's Sheska, and I'm very pleased to meet you.

[tookthename]

Carol Danvers reporting for baby sitting or pick up, where ever you need me.

[steelweb]

[Whether Carol knows her well enough yet to hear the relief under Lin's voice is debatable, but it's there all the same. Lin still trusts her.]

You'll be faster at pick up, and probably spot more than we would on the ground. Or you can be part of the team delivering kids to their proper apartments. Take your pick.

[tookthename]

I'll be in the air in 5 looking for wayward children. Anything you want me to pick up on the way to the station?

[steelweb]

Thanks, that should be enough. Unless you want to pick up more pizza. The little monsters eat faster and messier than roosterhogs.

[tookthename]

Pizza and wet wipes, got it.