Last Stronghold of Shatterbucks

==Fortress Wei==
Liu's bigger apartment's furnished with a "yay! I have little brothers!" mindset so Jin gets a racecar bed (he quite literally gets star eyes), Hu gets a hammock, and Cheung sleeps in a top bunk. The carpet in their room is super-seriously-extra-comfy for the rest of the time. Min's room is the former solarium. 
==Cold==
===Cereal===
(Formerly "Scratchy Throat")
“You’re up early,” greets Liu.
Min grunts, “Too hot, too cold, too hot, too cold, gave up,” and plunks into a chair. 
"Cereal?"
"Thanks," she croaks.
Liu hands her a bowl. "Do you know Jihu sleepwalks?"
Min nods and swallows. "We all do. 'Cept Seti 'cause she's sane." 
"I don't think it's a problem of sanity."
"I display semi-refined problem solving skills and can make 300 cups of coffee; Liong reenacts battles as seen by LOCCENT."
"I think that's unusual but not grounds for insanity."
Min just goes back to her cereal. 
===Cold 1.2===
(Formerly "Seeing Stars")
By lunchtime, stars sprinkled her vision, sounds feel like nails, and the sore throat spreads down through her lungs into a deep, wet chest cough. 
===Cold 1.3===
(Formerly "Hurts More")
Around supper, nasty, green stuff starts coming up, everything hurts, and each time she jostles her head, red-hot tent stakes drive themselves deeper into her brain.
“You feeling OK?” Setsuko asks finally.
“Think I’m gonna go to bed early,” Min rasps.
“Mind if I take your temperature first?”
Min waves dismissively. “I’m fine,” she insists. “Just a little tired.” She stands, steadies herself on the sofa, and walks carefully to the washroom. Two aspirin, a cool facecloth, and clean teeth later, Min plods to her (and now Setsuko’s) room and Liu flips her onto her bed, Setsuko ducks around, plants a knee on Min’s chest, and sticks a thermometer in her ear.
“Can you get--?”
Liu leaves in search of pillows.
The thermometer beeped.
“101.4.” Setsuko frowns. “How were you yesterday? And I want petty complaints.”
Min wheezes.
“Right. Sorry.” Setsuko sits down beside her.
“Lights were bright.”
“Like ‘stab-y’ bright?”
“Yea.”
Liu comes back with two pillows, one with racecars and the other with clouds.
That hurts more than the coughing, actually.
“Put them back!” Min snarls.
Setsuko forces her back down. 
“I will tomorrow,” says Liu, “once I can buy more.”
“Would it help if I leant you my pillow?” asks Jin.
“I don’t mind if you use mine either,” adds Hu.
Min stops struggling. “It won’t smell right anymore.”
“I know,” says Liu, switches with Setsuko, and gently lifts Min’s head. “You’re a bit clammy.”
“Facecloth,” croaked Min.
Setsuko eases it away and stacks bedding under Min’s pillow. “I’ll come check on you in a couple hours, OK?”
Min just sighs.
==A Threatening Email==
===Or Else! 1.1===
「From: Yeung T M (yeung4tmin3@tang.cn)
To: H Gottlieb (archie@drsg.kiwi)
Sent: Monday, March 3, 2025 @ 06:04 NZT (02:04 HKT; 18:04 GMT) from Last Stronghold of Shatterbucks! Sha Tin District, Hong Kong
Encryption: None
Subject: 」 A THREATENING EMAIL
This is a THREATENING EMAIL to Doctor Geiszler that we (Setsuko, Liông, and I (because of course this is Mǐn)) will KICK HIS ASS should he not make you proper tea. We may also move in with you buuuut we'll save desperate measures for desperate times. 
 
Bye!
- Totally Mǐn
===Or Else! 1.2===
From: H Gottlieb (archie@drsg.kiwi)
To: Yeung T M (yeung4tmin3@tang.cn)
Sent: Monday, March 3, 2025 @ 12:30 NZT (08:30 HKT; 00:30 GMT) from New Zealand Environmental Research Station, Puanga-Rua, Waikato, New Zealand
Encryption: None
Subject: RE: A THREATENING EMAIL
「Good morning, Miss Yeung, 
 
I believe one of your cohorts broke into your email; a change of password may be prudent. 
 
This morning Marvin should have accompanied Newton downstairs; alas he stayed in my suitcase and my Kollateralschaden's attempt left something to be desired. The toaster is proving quite temperamental; I may install a CPU so our "hacker friends" can help. They've already started filling Newton's tablet with receipts and I'm sure they would love to be more involved in their preparation. 
 
It appears that no matter how far away you are 'Tim' refuses to shake. Newton has taken to calling the three of you 'Tim and her Terrifying Friends'.
 
He assures me the island is quite beautiful. I've enclosed pictures such that you may come to your own conclusions. 
 
Best regards, 」
H Gottlieb
===Or Else! 1.3===
「From: Yeung T M (yeung4tmin3@tang.cn)
To: H Gottlieb (archie@drsg.kiwi)
Sent: Monday, March 3, 2025 @ 13:12 NZT (09:12 HKT; 1:12 GMT) from Last Stronghold of Shatterbucks! Sha Tin District, Hong Kong
Encryption: None
Subject: 」 RE: A THREATENING EMAIL
「Please tell Doctor Geiszler I curse him to befall the wrath of a thousand rabbits and be forever without a holy hand grenade. Miyahira however, thinks 'Tim and her Terrifying Friends' is a fantastic band name. She's trying to figure out who takes what part as their current front runner can't sing. 
I second the motion to install a CPU on the toaster. Do we count as the majority yet or would "our hacker friends" like in on the action? Miyahira's going to give Doctor Geiszler another day; I don't know if that means she's catching the next plane or waiting until tomorrow morning. 
I will hide my tablet tonight such that Liông can't spring another 'good morning' on you. The doctor hopes he'll stop worrying about missing his shift and waking himself up in a few months. Doctor Lightcap, on the other hand, hopes I'll continue making coffee in my sleep for quite a bit longer so she can continue scanning my brain (I'm not sure what to feel about that). 
There is a certain... forlorn beauty to the countryside. Definitely says 'post apocalypse'. Rather a fitting place to heal the world from its effects. 
Best regards, 」
Yeung T M
==So Long and Thanks for All the Tea==
===So Long 1.1===
From: H Gottlieb (archie@drsg.kiwi)
To: Yeung T M (yeung4tmin3@tang.cn)
Sent: Wednesday, March 5, 2025 @ 17:53 NZT (13:53 HKT; 05:53 GMT) from New Zealand Environmental Research Station, Puanga-Rua, Waikato, New Zealand
Encryption: None
Subject: Really Should be ‘Tea’
So Long and Thanks for all the Fish
===So Long 1.2===
「From: Yeung T M (yeung4tmin3@tang.cn)
To: H Gottlieb (archie@drsg.kiwi)
Sent: Wednesday, March 5, 2025 @ 18:43 NZT (12:43 HKT; 06:43 GMT) from Last Stronghold of Shatterbucks! Sha Tin District, Hong Kong
Encryption: None
Subject: 」 Re: Really Should Be ‘Tea’
I passed along your regards. Liu and I are getting there, Liông’s happily maintaining the appliances, and Miyahira would like to say "Thank Heavens one of you knows what you're doing." 
Best regards,
Yeung T M
==Softly==
(Think of me, think of me softly~)
===Burning 1.1===
Fwump
""Seti.""
Fwaump
""Seti!""
"Mmmmĭn? You OK?" Setsuko reaches out, smacks her fingers on the nightstand, finds her mobile, knocks something to the floor, and--
""My ears are burning.""
She finally cracks open an eye, peers at the baby monitor except her nightvision sucks so she presses the display. 
From across the room, Mĭn's ear lights up too, purple-pink from the sensor. 
"You still have a fever. Your everything is burning." Setsuko drags her arm back beneath the blankets. 
""Seti?""
"Go back to sleep, Mĭn." 
""Can you give me back Emperor Jaune?""
"Not Typhuun?"
""Don't be silly; even if I could throw a Jaeger she would smoosh you--""
Fwaump 
""That was Fred.""
"Merrrr!" 
THwump
""Thank you."" Blankets rustling. ""Good night, Seti, good night, Fred, good night, Typhuun, good night, Usagi, good night, Emperor Jaune.""
Setsuko reaches out, smacks her fingers on the nightstand, finds her mobile oh please don't say that was the tablet ... 
The something is the tablet. 
Setsuko leans over, whacks her head on the nightstand, finds a sock, brushes the--
Tablet retrieved, she pushes herself up on her elbows, blindly taps out a message, makes very sure to send it, sticks the tablet under her pillow, and drops face-first back to sleep. 
===Softly 1.2===
From: Yeung T M (yeung4tmin3@tang.cn)
To: C Lightcap (lightcap@pneuma)
Sent: Thursday, March 6, 2025 @ 8:19 NZT (04:19 HKT; 16:19 EST; 20:19 GMT) from Last Stronghold of Shatterbucks! Sha Tin District, Hong Kong
Encryption: None
Subject: 
I'm Miyahira Setsuko, nurse for the former Shatterdome. We've spoken a few times before, specifically about the 'Tapeworm' incident and the myriad of Ghost Drift issues. Min said to contact you if any particularly odd brain thing occurs. 
Min mistook Typhuun for Typhoon HELP 
4:19am, temporal lobe 39.1C she threw Fred but not Typhuun 'i can't throw a jaeger silly youll get squished' WHAT DO I DO??? 
===Softly 1.3===
From: C Lightcap (lightcap@pneuma)
To: Yeung T M (yeung4tmin3@tang.cn) 
Sent: Thursday, March 6, 2025 @ 10:08 NZT (18:08 EST; 22:08 GMT) from NYC Convention Center; New York, New York; Mar, Tues 4, 2025 @ 19:35
Encryption: None
Subject: Re:
Good day, Miyahira, 
It sounds like Min’s mixed up or merged the representations of Typhoon and Typhuun in her head. It’s probably a just another kind of hallucination or she’s a bit scrambled, but keep me posted. 
- Caitlin
PS Excellent use of form letters
==March The Care and Feeding of Squishies 101==
===Names===
Mǐmǐ?
I remember Wei Cousin. They are related. 
Wei Cousin is Small Cousin. Wei Cousin is Mǐmǐ.
Yes.
typhoon_daisy: mǐmǐ
typhoon_daisy: this is big sister Shaolin. 
typhoon_daisy: she wants to meet you. 
gone_roguing: hello. Boubou said I could call you Small Cousin. I am confused. 
Mǐmǐ is Small Cousin. 
Small Cousin is Mǐmǐ. Small Cousin is Wei Cousin. Wei Cousin is Mǐmǐ. 
Mǐmǐ is Tang Min. Mǐmǐ is Min. Mǐmǐ is Tim and Timmy. Mǐmǐ listens to many names. 
Small Cousin has many names. Small Cousin listens to many names. I will remember. 
typhoon_daisy: mǐmǐ
typhoon_daisy: big sister wants to say hi
typhoon_daisy: mǐmǐ?
typhoon_daisy: why are you not answering?
typhoon_daisy: mǐmǐ? 
Mǐmǐ?
MǐMǐmǐmǐ
That is an echo. I remember echoes. Echoes echo when a space is empty.
>terrified/horrified shriek<
MIMI!!
===Comments===
Oh my. 
Yea... 
Do I spy Shaolin inadvertently feeding Typhoon's worries? 
Yes, yes you do. And she's so proud of herself for remembering too >__< 
On a hivemind note, I tried to write something on this same theme (Typhoon worrying her electronic head off about Min's health and Shaolin struggling to figure out what's going on) last night as another "Good Morning, Shaolin" conversation. 
Go hivemind! Am I awed or slightly wary? 
At whom did Typhoon worry? Or rather, did I miss any ideas? XD Oh hey, that's the chapter 3 you were talking about! 
===Unplugging===
The baby monitor crackles and Setsuko's running down the hall before the first cry wails. 
Mǐn clutches at her head, coughing and crying, as she thrashes uselessly in the covers. 「It's all hot! It’s too hot and I don’t like it!」
Mǐn’s phone chimes.
 
「Mǐn, Mǐn, I know it hurts, I'm sorry.」 Setsuko pries her arms free, gives them Typhuun to grip instead, and gets a sunbeam in the eye for her trouble. 「Aha! I bet the light woke you up! I can fix that.」 Go, blackout curtains! 
While Mǐn doesn't struggle much as Setsuko tucks her back in, tears still fall and she gives off the same helplessness as some of the kids in the 'Brain Malfunction' recovery ward. 
Mǐn's mobile chirps.
「You're quite sick , remember? But ....」 She checks the baby monitor and the pop behind it. 「You're getting better. Try drinking a bit, ok?」 
Mǐn leans over Typhuun and sips tentatively at the straw. Good thing, too, as a cough tears from her chest and keeps the gingerale spitting to a minimum (just her chin along with some green gunk but that's why Setsuko has tissues at the ready!). Mǐn tries again, and again, and again, until the can echoes. 
~like a great Typhoon~
「Nicely done, babe, high five.」 
Mǐn touches her head to Setsuko's hand. 
「Close enough. Want another pillow?」 
Mǐn's mobile chirps. 
Mǐn's thumb peeks from under her elbow. 
「One pillow, coming right up!」 A few minutes later, Setsuko returns with a nice squishy specimen. 「I think Liu went a bit overboard, personally. There's enough--」 Squees--「We can totally build a pillow fort!」 
Mǐn’s lungs make another bid for freedom. 
「When you're better, of course. How's that?」 
「Good--」 
More green stuff. 
「Thanks--」 
Delightful. 
Mǐn’s mobile chimes. 
「What is their problem?」 Flips it open. 
typhoon_daisy: mǐmǐ why won't you answer??????
Yeung_TM: Mǐn's asleep. 
gone_roguing: It is lunchtime. People do not sleep at lunchtime. I am confused. 
Yeung_TM: People sleep at lunchtime if they're sick
gone_roguing: Small Cousin is sick. I remember. 
Yeung_TM: yes. small cousin is sick and miserable and trying to sleep through the icky parts. 
gone_roguing: i do not remember icky. 
Yeung_TM: 'icky' means to feel gross, yucky, or sick. why would mǐn sleep?
gone_roguing: Small Cousin sleeps to not feel icky.
Yeung_TM: you go girl! will you two let Mǐn sleep now?
gone_roguing: I do not remember 'you go girl'. I am confused. 
Yeung_TM: exclamation of pride. you reached that conclusion all by yourself and that's awesome. 
gone_roguing: Thank you. I cannot let Small Cousin sleep. 
Yeung_TM: i don't care. Mǐn needs rest or she won't get better. 
typhoon_daisy: mǐmǐ can't be gone
Yeung_TM: she's not gone, she's right beside me. 
typhoon_daisy: i can't see her i can't feel her i can't hear her i can't tell if she's there
Yeung_TM: hang on
.
「To: Wei L
From: Mǐn
Subject: Webcam?
That can of worms I mentioned the other day is convinced that Tang Min will disappear if they can't see her. Anything you can do?
- Setsuko」
.
「To: Mǐn
From: [blocked] 
Subject: Re: Webcam?
Threaten to unplug them? 
There's a camera on the tablet. 」
.
「To: Wei L 
From: Mǐn
Subject: Re: Webcam?
What would that accomplish?
Right. Duh.
- Setsuko」
.
「To: Mǐn
From: [blocked] 
Subject: Re: Webcam?
We'll talk later. 
I'll be home in a bit and we'll trade off. 」
.
「To: Wei L 
From: Mǐn
Subject: Re: Webcam?
>thumbs up<
- Setsuko」
.
Yeung_TM: how's this?
The webcam light blinks on. 
typhoon_daisy: i can see mǐmǐ sleeping. sleep well, mǐmǐ.
gone_roguing: Boubou is happy. Small Cousin is sleeping. I will let Small Cousin sleep. 
Yeung_TM: have fun guys, don't be too creepy. 
gone_roguing: i am not tacky. i am not creepy. 
Yeung_TM: I think, daisy, you need help with adjectives. 
gone_roguing: tacky is not an adjective.
Yeung_TM: pretty sure it is
gone_roguing: tacky is a person. siqi says so. 
Yeung_TM: right. you sound like you're a little fried so I'll drop this for now. Later, guys. 
typhoon_daisy: byebye seti
gone_roguing: Good bye Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence. 
Setsuko doesn't quite know what to think of that.
 
==Who Knows==
===Meta===
Waaaaitaminute. Does Setsuko know what Typhoon and Shaolin are at this point? Is that why she's asking Liu what good threatening to unplug them would do? 
Setsuko doesn't have a flipping clue. It's a Ghost Drift issue. The Ghost Drift is weird. What's more to think about? 
The mystery deepens. /That's/ gonna be a fun day for Seti. Shaolin's awkwardness is going to make things very, very interesting. 
How often is Seti just gonna default to "oh it's just a brain injury" and when will she hafta add "yea, that was weak."? It occurs to me Min probably doesn't know about Shaolin at this point either, but oh the dramatic irony! 
Liu, on the other hand, knows everything. He's been weighing the pros and cons of having words with Typhoon for a couple days. 
Of course Liu would know. I actually wouldn't be all that surprised if he turns out to know all about Hermann. 
Daiyu knows something's up, Hannibal thinks Daisy's yet another Tang brat, the universe is clubbing Siqi over the head with a giant neon sign (Siqi's not getting it), and Liong... For Shaolin to be a living thing would be that hope he never talked about that is too wonderful and too terrible to even consider wishing for, and then it happens and he doesn't know if it's the best thing or the worst thing in the world. And Liu has all Daisy's official papers ready as well as the adoption forms (and knows he's going to do the same for Shaolin but he won't admit it yet). 
Yeah, Min would have no reason to know Shaolin is there yet. Oh god. That's going to be fun, too. 
And the dramatic irony!!! George RR Martin said one of the things he kept in mind was how slow and how well information travelled. I gotta say it's a really fun thought (even though we're dealing with limiting information). Turns out there's a lovely grace period between influenza and pneumonia. "I'm feeling a hell of a lot better," says Min. "Let's get going!"
===Uh, Never===
April 2025; Hong Kong, China
“We have to talk,” says Liu. 
“How fast can we get Siqi a new identity and spirit her out of the country?” asks Min. 
“If Hannibal goes after her he’s in for a shock.” 
“You’ve already taken care of things?” 
“She can take care of herself; you know that.” 
“I may be inheriting your paranoia.” 
“I recognize your attempt at hedging, maybe even distraction, and choose to ignore it.” 
“That’s even more patronizing out loud.” 
“And yet you thought it was a good idea, like trying to hide the AI in your head. When were you planning on telling me?” 
“Uh, never?” 
“You hoped I wouldn’t find out.” 
“Maybe?” 
You really thought that. 
“Which, in hindsight, was probably a really dumb thought to think.” 
No really. 
“Can I go feel dumb somewhere that’s not here?” 
===Strange===
"Uh, Daisy, not a cousin?" 
"No."
"Okay then." Setsuko wanders off, only to return a moment later. "An AI named Daisy Stanley?"
"'Daisy Halderson Stanley'. Not sure where her sense of humour came from." 
"She's calling herself 'HAL' as in "I'm sorry Dave, I can't let you do that" HAL." 
"Yes. You're taking this awfully well." 
"I've been living a Godzilla movie for 10 years. This... this is somewhat easier to swallow than the giant flying lizard turducken." 
"I don't think I've ever heard that sentence before." 
"Yay linguistics." Setsuko wandered off again, murmuring, ""Lizlizarden? Replizen?"" 
And then she came back. "Is there a Dave in this situation?" 
"No." 
"Are you sure? 'cause Min's kinda been messed up, like, a lot." 
"The five of them--Daisy included--are the kindest, most intelligent people I've ever met. That doesn't mean they're not a bunch of idiots." 
"Right." Setsuko leaves the doorway. 
And then she comes back. "Isn't that victim blaming?" 
"Cheung, Hu, and Jin took a huge risk in Drifting the two of them. Someone should be dead. But if they didn't, we wouldn't have Daisy." 
"That makes sense. I don't think that's a transitive verb though." 
"Your prescriptivist is showing." 
"Goddamnit I thought she was gone for good. I need to exorcise myself now." 
"Will I be able to sleep?" 
"Right, that's a thing people do. Sorry about that, 'night, Liu."
"Goodnight, Setsuko." 
"And thanks."
"You're welcome." 
===Stuffies===
>file into "Correspondence"< 
3 March 2025; Hong Kong, China
It may come up if she's got a fever- 
"Hey, Seti, all the stuffies are talking again."
O_o "Again?" 
"Oh yea, they do that sometimes. Like, like back when the Shatnerdome *yawn* was closing, my 
*yawn* Typhuun plushie told me she loved me and I was awesome." 
"You are?"
"Yup. She said I was her squishy and I'd always be her squishy and she'd love me for ever'n ever." 
"I think the Disney music went to your head. Just a thought. I'm going to put on... Ukrainian Hard House! 
That's what solved the problem the last time! Maybe the stuffies won't be so chatty when you wake 
up." 
"Oookay. I love you, Seti."
"I love you too, Min." 
"I love you, Fred. I love you, Typhuun. I love you, Usagi, I love you, Emporer Jaune..." 
To: C Lightcap
From: Yeung T M
Subject: Min's plushies are talking to her HELP
Good afternoon Doctor Lightcap, 
I'm Miyahira Setsuko, nurse for the former Shatterdome. We've spoken a few times before, specifically about the 'Tapeworm' incident and the myriad of Ghost Drift issues. 
Min has a fever of 102.3 and she's having conversations with her plushies. While one of them is a Crimson Typhoon doll, I'm kinda freaking out a little. 
Thank you for your time, 
Miyahira S.
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