A Question

[talkyourwayout]

I think this school might need better security. It seems like people come and go basically whenever, doesn't it? I wonder if there's some kind of sign-in sheet somewhere. Of course, it's easy to just fake a signature. [Louie would know. He doesn't have forgery experience, but he's made sure he knows a bit.] The point is that I saw someone around the school, and I think I know who it is. I'm pretty sure. And if it's them, it's probably going to end badly.

Here's the thing: I don't want to just assume someone's up to something. [He knows Webby wouldn't approve. He doesn't think Lena would appreciate the mentality, either. And he's had enough fighting with friends lately.] Usually when I can tell if someone's doing something wrong, it's because I know them. I can see they're acting strange. This is a stranger.

What's the best way to find out what's going on here? If I knew this would happen, maybe I would have taken the espionage class.

[The post is unsigned, and Louie has taken the time to write it neatly - in strong contrast to his usual messy scrawl.]

Comments

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

Do you think they're in trouble, or do you think they're going to be in trouble?

[This one's not signed either, but there's a little frowny face at the bottom of it.]

[talkyourwayout]

No, I think they're going to just be trouble. No "in".

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

Oh. I'd say that might be fun, but...I'm weird and I admit it. But you seem concerned. Is there any way I could help?

[talkyourwayout]

Weird isn't the worst thing to be.

And maybe you can. I'm trying to figure out what I should do about this, but everyone seems to have a different idea about it, and I'm not sure I can just go with my own instincts on this one.

What would you do?

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

Not the smart thing, probably...see if they hung around any areas, try and tail them a bit. I'd probably try to tell the teachers, but if they didn't do anything...

I mean, I'm not entirely sure what else I could do beyond that, but I don't think I could do absolute zero.

[talkyourwayout]

Yeah, I guess if I did nothing, that'd be as bad as helping them do something wrong.

[Which he shouldn't care about, anyway. Ugh.]

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

Yeah. The downside to having free will and a backbone, I guess. Or, alternately, a nose for trouble!

Still, if you need backup at all, you could call on me?

[talkyourwayout]

I guess?

[Wait, does he have a backbone? It's a fair question.]

Sure, thanks. Who's the "me" I'd be calling on?

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

Oh, right. I'm Isabel, I'm in Valhudor.

[Which might explain a lot.]

[talkyourwayout]

Oh, cool.

You know, it'd be nice if there was a way I could write something and have it not show up to everybody who sees the Bulletin Boards.

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

I don't think that's a thing yet. But I mean, there's always having your familiar pass things along and send messages, I guess? I know Chaos is willing to do that for me...and most people won't mess with him, because he's big for a cat.

[talkyourwayout]

Yeah, that's true. It's just that my familiar is a rat, so he's small and can't even fly, so I'm not sure how good he'd be.

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

Dude, think about it, he'd be great! It might take him longer to get there, but rats are clever and sneaky, so he'd probably be sure to stay out of sight and not make a spectacle of himself!

[If there seems like there's a note of admiration there, there is. Isabel likes rats; her grandfather probably still has a colony at his lab.]

I mean Chaos is equally smart, like most familiars, but you can't miss a cat the size of a German shepherd trotting across campus, you know?

[talkyourwayout]

That's a good point. I never gave rats much thoughts before, but they're pretty sharp.

[Louie can't help wondering if that's why he got matched to one for a familiar.]

That is big cat, though. You weren't kidding!

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

I think he's a Maine Coon, or a Norwegian Forest Cat--well, those are kinds of cat breeds where I'm from, they're really big!

But yeah, my grandfather raised rats, so I'm at least familiar with them, even if I've never had any myself.