LadyMasquerade

“That One Time At Check-In” While Joy went to put some medical supplies in the play area, Maggie covered the check-in podiums on her own. The usual regulars showed up to check their accounts and sign in, with no new sign ups today, so Maggie was there to say hello and collect digital signatures before letting the little ones down into the daycare slide to start their playtime. However, she got to meet Dustin G.'s dad as he adds his name to the roster of approved pick-up guardians. The man seemed pleasant enough, all smiles and dad jokes, and he cooperated with the digital check-in with no problems. Until it was time for a signature. “Alright, Charley,” Maggie chirped honestly, as she put her tablet down on the podium momentarily, “we just need one more thing before we send you off.” Standing on her tiptoes, she looked down to little Dustin with a smile. “Go on down the slide and say hi to Sunny, Dusty. I'll be right there.” The little boy gave a bright smile as he ran to the

A group of managers is called an Illuminati, at least as far as Maggie M. was concerned. And here she was, among her peers as the head of the Pizzaplex called an in-person meeting at five in the morning. The employee auditorium did have the manager of every department present, “bushy eyed and bring tailed” as Maggie liked to say, everyone holding their paper cups of coffee close by. The younger and smaller manager of the bunch was used to rising before the sun, but coming in so early for what felt like a secret club gathering was new. But she nursed her own store-bought brew the same, doing her best to pay attention. Standing on the presentation stage, with no bright lights or slide show ready, was the Pizzaplex's founder, owner, and profiteer, a young upstart named Bryce Alexander. He looked as a young upstart should, with perfect paled skin and slicked back blond hair, bright blue eyes and an even brighter million dollar smile. A perfectly pressed suit and tie, both in pinstripes

((Spamton is pacing back and forth by the entrance to the alleyway, trying to figure out what to do.)) Spamton: I absolutely [hate] this place so $$&#ing much! Should just [quit cold turkey] alleyways forever. There's nothing good lurking in any of them. [Creepy little girls], [hungry, hungry cannibals], and [Nightmare AU] live there now. All dark alleyways have going for them is [certain death]! ((He occasionally glances back in, almost as if to try and find any evidence of Sera coming back. She doesn't. But it's only bit a Cyber City minute, so she couldn't be too far away. Right? But neither was that Snowgrave Noelle. What were the odds he'd run into the reindeer first?)) Spamton: … ((He starts pacing again, looking back out onto the street. The open streets have all the familiar sights and sounds, and thousands of copies of everything and everyone he could name. Why not just walk around and forget about what he saw and what was probably going to happen? Why not just walk away

((We're still in the aftermath of the Mary Sue-level Spamton NEO unit massacre, Swatchlings are hauling the bodies away and life goes on in the city around the current group of heroes. Sera hasn't bothered getting up from the wall that Kris leaned her against, Kris and their Dealmaker are checking Sera over again for injuries, and Spamton is still just kinda there, with the two young Addisons tucked under each arm. He's still in awe of what just happened, where he is and how he got here. There's still so much to take in, and he's only been here... what, four hours? Sera: ((notices Spamton is still nearby and tips her hat back a little so she can give him a small smile)) Hey, thanks for earlier, Mr. Spamton. Spamton: Hm? ((he looks at her)) Sera: If you didn't say anything, this could have ended a lot differently. Spamton: Humph. ((he walks over to her, with her notebook in his hand)) Did you [completely forget] about the time I was NEO? Do you really need a [handy dandy notebook]

Chapter 3 ((Sera wakes up a while later, suspended in the air by a green wire wrapped tightly around her arm by the elbow. It looks dark when she looks around, and she groans in the sore pain in her back and neck. Her shoulder really hurts too, from being hung there like that for so long. She lifts her free hand to tip her hat back slightly over her head to try and look around. She's at the top of the alleyway, but the space above her just continues into more darkness and not the top of the buildings. She seems to be alone in the mess of tangled green wires around her.)) Sera: Ugh... ((she pats her pockets for her notebook, and again can't find it)) Oh no. ((She tries to look down, but the space below her seems to be dark too.) ??? ((How far up is she?)) ((While she tries to get her barrings, a shaky voice from the dark calls to her.)) Voice: [Your] awake finally. ((mutters)) Finally, finally, [Open for business!]... Sera: ((recognizes the voice)) Spamton? ((Someone in the

-Chapter 2- ((Sera takes Spamton to an outdoor Color Cafe, and they sit at one of the outside tables for cake and coffee. Spamton picks at his food, but he eventually has a few bites. Sera is taking advantage of free refills, barely even touching her cake. She's kept quiet as she takes in the scene.)) Spamton: ((looks like he's about to say something)) ((Suddenly, a couple of Swatchable drop from the sky and bounce on the ground making squeaky toy sounds. Spamton panics again and hides under the table.)) Spamton: STOP NO DON'T TAKE MY [Furnishings!] ((The Swatchables look towards the table in clear confusion. Sera is completely calm, raising her coffee cup in cheers)) Sera: Hail to Queen, her Mansion is that way. ((she points in a random direction)) ((The Swatchables twitter on happily and head off to get back to work)) Spamton: ((peeks)) Sera: I guess I'll just cut to the hook. This place could be considered a second chance at a life for yourself. To really do what you want

Prologue: ...Kris...? Kris?! KRIS?!?!?! YOU FILLED YOUR [Inventorium] WITH [Half-Pr1ce Sallamy] JUST TO KEEP ME OUT?! WHAT! THE! [Fifty Percent Off]?! YOU CAN CARRY LIKE 48 ITEMS! [Why] DID YOU DO THIS?! WHY?! [Y]?! [Yellow]?! [Gamma]?! NOT [Cool] KRIS! I'LL BE IN MY [Trailer]! End of Prologue ((A human, Sera, dressed in a long tailed duster, wide brimmed cowboy hat and thick gloves, steps through a completely dark area. She's looking over a small notepad and whispering to it. Words seem to appear on it as she speaks)) Sera: ...Section 1742 looks computer themed, which I'm not looking foreword to. I don't know much about them, barely touched one. Hopefully, the gathered locals can help out a wandering topsider who just wants a little-- ((She's smacked into the side by a small flickering light, knocking her over, and the notebook out of her hands)) Sera: --generWHATTHEHELL?! ((The “light” was the Dealmaker item, which then changed back into Spamton. His shades darken as he