Analysis

## Premise

A couple games ago, Tailwind managed to grab an unexpected prize from Yllwyll’s lab: the slime monster Factoid that previously attacked Wellspring City, cut down to a much smaller size. Let’s see what the fox can learn from this slime, shall we?

## Cast

* Tailwind (Tallestnull)
* Factoid (Zen)

## Plot Summary

On a normal weekday after school, Tailwind comes to their shed in the junkyard and spends a moment talking through their to-do list of repairs and looking over a scarce conspiracy board before they start examining their vial of Catalyst-V. Tailwind notices that Factoid is trying to tip its jar over and break out, but it fails. Tailwind sets Factoid's jar on the floor and opens the lid, then begins wondering what to feed a being made of notes and Catalyst. Tailwind figures that Factoid probably doesn't eat traditional food, and pulls a bunch of random stuff out of their bag. Factoid shows some interest in Tailwind's history textbook, which they pick up and hold out toward the slime. Factoid grabs the textbook and starts soaking it in slime.

Tailwind figures that Factoid eats information, and pulls out a few different papers and instruction manuals, spreading them out to see which it prefers. Factoid immediately drops the history textbook in favor of one of Tailwind's old notebooks. Tailwind wonders aloud how Factoid came to be, how the Catalyst-V works, and how its affects on the group are all so different. While Tailwind starts freaking out a little about how the group should've died several times over in the past month, Factoid starts creeping for Tailwind's bag, which has some more notes and postcards inside. Tailwind notices and tries to snatch Factoid out of the bag, then pulls the postcards back out of it. Two of the postcards are addressed to Michelle, while one is addressed to Tailwind. Tailwind instead feeds Factoid a little sketchbook full of hand-drawn maps of Endsville while they snatch away the important papers.

Tailwind starts looking through some of Yllwyll's notes that they got their hands on previously, and Factoid starts oozing towards them. Tailwind reads through some notes from Yllwyll's old experiments, which describe the Catalyst-V as highly unpredictable and mutagenic. Tailwind is very frustrated by the lack of internal logic to the Catalyst-V and how impossible it is to tell what's normal or an outlier for its effects. Tailwind tries out a few common dog commands on Factoid, who does not react at all and just continues heading towards Yllwyll's notes. Tailwind notices that Factoid has been getting bigger as Tailwind has been feeding it their notes.

Tailwind gathers up the notes and walks out of the shed, with Factoid following behind. Tailwind leads Factoid to the obstacle course they set up for Push-Ups for Power-Ups and hops onto the first platform, trying to lure Factoid onto the course to test its dexterity. Factoid tries to follow Tailwind onto the course, but flops and starts falling as they try to cross the first gap. Tailwind leads Factoid back down off the course, then tries to trick it into going into an empty paint can by luring it with the page of Yllwyll's notes they determine to be the least relevant. Factoid does not crawl into the paint can, and Tailwind notices Factoid is inching towards the bridge to Endsville and is less interested in the notes.

Tailwind tries to discourage Factoid from going back to Yllwyll, then takes the notes out of the paint can and puts the can in Factoid's way. Factoid oozes around the paint can without getting in it, and Tailwind tries and fails to scoop Factoid into the can. Tailwind starts panicking a little about Factoid getting back to Endsville and runs to grab a crowbar and their prototype glove gadget. Tailwind scoops Factoid into the paint can using their glove and the crowbar and seals the lid, which has a small window to see Factoid through. Tailwind carries Factoid back to the shed while Factoid ineffectively thunks against the lid. Tailwind puts Factoid away and continues looking through Yllwyll's notes and filling out their conspiracy board. They look for information of how Catalyst-V was found, and the worst-case scenarios of failed experiments. One experiment log mentions a notebook dissolving into liquid when exposed to Catalyst-V, but Tailwind doesn't find other relevant information.

Tailwind takes out their jar of Catalyst-V, adds a small sample to a makeshift Petri dish, and adds some ink from a pen. The Catalyst-V bubbles where the ink touches it, and all of the Catalyst-V in the dish turns a darker green. They put the darker Catalyst-V away in a separate container and turn their attention back to doing requested repair jobs. The camera focuses on the postcards before cutting out, revealing that one was signed Mother, one was signed Father, and one was signed Bro.

## Notes

Tailwind considers calling Shaun to ask what to feed Factoid, but dismisses the idea, knowing Shaun won't be happy about it.

Tallest is surprised that Tailwind is proficient in Deception, and suggests it's because they're good at lying to themself.