Claw Talk

## Premise

Nikola recently started dating Lina, and Roadkill's not sure if he can trust them yet. He wants to have a talk and let Nikola know what they're in for if they hurt Lina--but it seems like Nikola is already on the same page?

## Cast

* Nikola N. Change (Authorticity)
* Roadkill (Zen)
* Quartz Q. Change (Zen)

## Notable NPCs

* Sentry (Nikola's bird-dog)
* Carolina "Lina" Noticia (cameo as she texts Nikola good morning)

## Plot Summary

Nikola finds themselves in a strange underground tunnel lit by glowing Catalyst-V, partway along a sloping path. They don't remember how they got here, and note that this is weird but don't have a strong emotional reaction. Nikola listens, but can't hear any people nearby. They decide that since there seems to be no risk of getting lost, they'll head deeper, and begin walking along the downward slope of the tunnel. The tunnel gets brighter as more Catalyst-V drips down the walls, and Nikola finds some stalactites of hardened Catalyst-V, some of which have been broken off and taken away. As Nikola stops to look at the Catalyst-V, they realize they shifted into their mutant form at some point during the walk.

Nikola keeps walking down the tunnel as it becomes steeper and starts curving, digging their claws into the wall to keep their balance. The tunnel starts to look strange and warped, and Nikola recognizes it as a similar effect to the Unkani Valley. Nikola continues descending the tunnel and arrives at the end, a small ledge overlooking a deep chasm. There is a dim glow from the bottom of the chasm, and the sound of many footsteps. Nikola peers over the ledge and sees a small crowd of about 30 people holding torches and solidified Catalyst-V following their leader, a woman with long black hair that Nikola doesn't recognize. Nikola looks for a way down, but it is a sheer 45-foot drop; Nikola decides to jump off the edge of the overlook. As he falls, the leader of the group turns to look at him, but no others in the group seem to notice him. As Nikola comes into range to read the group's thoughts, he can tell that they are all focused on their leader and wondering what she's reacting to.

As Nikola hits the ground of the chasm, they wake up in bed in their mutant form. All of the emotion they didn't feel during their dream catches up with Nikola and they start hyperventilating, and Sentry comes over to check on them. Nikola pets and cuddles Sentry, catches their breath, and reassures themself it was just a dream. Nikola offers Sentry treats, and starts heading to the kitchen, but realizes they're in their mutant form as they reach the door and shift back. Nikola gives Sentry some treats and makes some cocoa for himself as a distraction from the dream; he thinks about calling Dima to try to learn more about the Unkani Valley. Nikola does some homework, makes a to-do list, then cuddles Sentry and goes back to sleep once they've calmed down.

The next morning, Nikola texts Roadkill asking if he can talk that afternoon. They get a very short response, and Nikola remembers Lina saying that Roadkill prefers calling to texting, so they call his phone instead and make plans to meet at the bridge after school. After Roadkill hangs up, Nikola and Lina text good morning memes to each other. Nikola has a normal school day, then heads to the bridge. Roadkill arrives a few minutes after Nikola, and Nikola tries to make small talk but Roadkill shuts it down. Nikola can tell Roadkill is trying to be intimidating but is upset because he's shorter than Nikola so it doesn't work well. The two start walking through Endsville as they talk.

Nikola thanks Roadkill for taking the time to meet them, and he says it's only for Lina's sake, and he won't be nice to them if they were to hurt her. Nikola says they want to talk about something upsetting, and Roadkill reluctantly agrees. Nikola says that the day he and Tailwind came to see Roadkill and Lina, Nikola forcibly read Penumbra's mind and saw more than he wanted to, and Roadkill becomes more distrustful of them as they talk. Nikola tries to relate their experience to Roadkill's mutation, but Roadkill rebuffs this. Nikola says they and their friends are still learning their powers, but his own powers pose the greatest threat and he doesn't want to hurt anyone. Nikola says they want to ask Roadkill for something they can't ask of their friends, and says that if they lose control and become a danger, he should do whatever is needed to take them out, though they ask that he tries not to kill them.

Roadkill replays memories of him attacking Penumbra in Media Blackout for Nikola to see and asks if they know what they're asking him to do, and Nikola agrees, saying they never want to hurt Lina or any of the others the way Penumbra hurt Lina, and they're willing to do anything to prevent it. Roadkill says he'd do what Nikola is asking on his side of the river no matter what, but won't be able to do much in Wellspring City, and Nikola says at least their friends will have a safe place to run to. Nikola apologizes for asking this of him when they don't know each other well, and says he's very intimidating and scary and that's why they're asking him. Nikola says they love their friends more than they could be scared of anything, and Roadkill briefly thinks of someone he feels the same about, though quickly redirects so Nikola won't see. Roadkill says he doesn't understand Nikola's mutation or know if it will change, but it's probably a good sign they're considering this possibility. Nikola says they want to make this decision while they know they're of sound mind and themself, and Roadkill jokes about the situation sounding insane, but does agree to do what he can to fulfill their request.

They walk in silence for a few minutes, then Roadkill says it figures that Lina would end up dating someone else who's self-sacrificing. Roadkill asks Nikola to keep an eye on Lina and make sure she doesn't overdo it. The two joke about Lina's sweet tooth, and Nikola tells Roadkill about how well-liked Lina was at the volunteer group, and says she's going to do great things. Nikola switches the topic to Quartz, and asks if it's weird for him that they're her kid, and he says it is. Nikola says maybe in another 30 years he'll meet Quartz's grandkid, and Roadkill changes the topic and asks what Nikola wanted to ask.

Nikola says Quartz is going to yell at him for coming to Endsville against what she told him, and asks for anything he can throw back in her face when she tries. Roadkill says Quartz was in Endsville at least once a week for about a year, and Nikola asks why she started coming over. Roadkill says Wellspring City was much smaller and a lot of kids were sneaking into Endsville at the time, most of them staying near the bridge; Nikola gets sidetracked and wonders about tracking the former visitors down, but Roadkill says he doesn't know much about most of them. Quartz was more adventurous and got herself into trouble, being attacked by a mutant, and Roadkill stepped in, which is how they met. Roadkill says Quartz took his involvement to mean he'd protect her and got even bolder and came over more often. Nikola asks to see where their mom hung out, and Roadkill offers to show them some of her old graffiti, which they eagerly accept.

The two walk to an alleyway where one wall is painted with a scene of a destroyed city grown over with plants, with a quartz crystal in the corner as a signature. Nikola pulls out a paint set and adds a five-cent symbol in an apple blossom to the side of the painting. Nikola confirms that Quartz used Roadkill as a "get out of jail free" card, which he says she sometimes did, and they ask for stories about some of the stuff she got into. Roadkill says she ran around Endsville without fear no matter how many close calls she had, which Nikola is surprised by, saying she was the "be careful" mom. Roadkill says he shouldn't be so surprised, because a lot of time has passed and things change, but Nikola says maybe Quartz hasn't changed that much.

Nikola says Quartz should have tried to do something to make Endsville better, but Roadkill says he doesn't blame her, given she's up against mayor Bronson. Nikola says Quartz actually did an internship working for Bronson, and Roadkill says that was around when she stopped coming over. Nikola says they're looking forward to causing disruptions, and Roadkill says that sounds like Quartz. Nikola starts complaining about the false veneer of perfection over Wellspring City that fails the outcasts, and Roadkill sarcastically says it must be a nightmare living in a city with electricity and running water. Nikola asks if he'd want those things at the expense of being surrounded by Bronson, and can tell that while Roadkill is disgusted by the idea, he wouldn't turn down that deal. Nikola says Lina has plans to change things that they plan to help with, and Roadkill says he can't imagine things in Endsville changing, but also can't imagine Lina not getting her way. Nikola says they choose to be hopeful, and to think they and their friends can do some real good.

Nikola thanks Roadkill for talking to them and says they've had a lovely afternoon, which Roadkill says wasn't really his intention. Nikola asks if Roadkill has their phone number, and tells him not to be a stranger before crossing the bridge back into Wellspring City. Nikola walks back to their grandparents' apartment solemnly, and pulls out their phone to call their mom Quartz.

Quartz is still angry about Nikola going into Endsville when she picks up the call, but Nikola keeps up a cheery tone and tells her he was just talking with Roadkill. Quartz is surprised to hear that, and it throws off her planned lecture. Nikola continues on to say he showed them some of her graffiti. Quartz says she's told them Endsville isn't safe, but Nikola says they can take care of themself and they aren't alone. Quartz says she felt the same, but it only takes one mistake to get hurt, which Nikola acknowledges. Quartz asks why Nikola keeps going over to Endsville, and Nikola asks why she did, and asks if she ever went into the tunnels under the city. Quartz doesn't answer, and asks if Nikola has, which they say they have. Quartz points out the infrastructure of Endsville and especially the tunnels hasn't been maintained, and Nikola says Wellspring City isn't safe either. Quartz agrees and says that's why she went to Endsville, but that wasn't a good decision and isn't something Nikola should be doing.

Nikola says he told Quartz he intended to do something about the city, and going to Endsville is helping them learn more about the situation. Nikola brings up his mother and how he's seen people biased against certain kind of toons, and Quartz says she just doesn't want to see him get hurt. The two say they love each other, and Quartz says she's proud of Nikola for having their sense of justice and wanting to make things right, but scared of what might happen to them because of it. Nikola says they've taken measures to be careful without just relying on Roadkill, though they don't elaborate. Quartz implores Nikola to think of the long term as well as the short term; while the mutants may pose a danger, Bronson finding out about Nikola's activities is also a danger. Nikola says that people will continue to suffer, and Quartz says she isn't telling them not to go over the river, just to be careful.

Nikola asks if Quartz is going to tell her any more about Catalyst-V today, and she says Roadkill probably knows more about it, that she doesn't know much herself, and Nikola should try to stay away from it and not go looking for those answers on his own. Nikola says they won't go on their own, and Quartz is skeptical. Nikola says Quartz has to decide whether she wants Nikola to not do things alone or if she dislikes their friends, and Quartz clarifies that Catalyst-V isn't the kind of problem that's helped by having more people around. Nikola asks if Quartz can tell her the money issue she and his other moms have been fighting about has nothing to do with what's going on in Wellspring City, and Quartz is silent. After a moment, Quartz says that she knows it sounds hypocritical for her to warn Nikola away from things she did herself, but she needs Nikola to trust that she has a good reason, and Nikola says they are trying very hard to do that and he shouldn't be hypocritical either. Nikola tells Quartz that the family has her back and are pretty sturdy, and Quartz says that just because they can make it through trouble doesn't mean she wants them to have to deal with it. Nikola asks how Quartz would feel if he or one of his other moms said they had a problem but refused to ask for her help; Quartz thinks that over and says that she knows they don't want to hear it, but she thinks keeping them and their other moms out of the loop is the best way to protect them, so she will. Nikola protests that he doesn't need to be protected and almost lets slip about his mutant powers, though he catches himself in time. Quartz can tell Nikola isn't telling her everything and has a reason they feel safe that they aren't sharing, and says they're both hypocrites keeping secrets from each other. Nikola says his secret isn't just his secret to tell, and Quartz says her secret isn't just hers either.

Quartz says she knows she hasn't done a very good job, but she was trying to protect Nikola and the rest of the family, and Nikola says they all know she had good intentions. Nikola says he wishes he could trust her with his secret, and asks if she can be satisfied knowing he's safe and she doesn't need to worry so much; Quartz says she'll try, as long as he can be satisfied knowing that she's keeping her secrets to protect him. She says she'll still worry, because he's her son, but won't push him for answers. Nikola asks Quartz to not let things progress to a divorce, saying she can't protect everyone if she pushes Penny away to that point. Quartz agrees that calling Penny's bluff never works, but avoids responding to Nikola's comment about not being able to protect everyone from a distance, and Nikola gets the impression she thinks that distance from her might be a form of protection for them, which Nikola protests. Nikola says Quartz had better not leave, and she says she doesn't want to, but it's seeming like the best way to keep their lives intact. Nikola says that's not the way she raised him, and that his ma and mother have brought trouble home but didn't run off, and that's not how their family does things. Quartz says she supposes Nikola is right, and rhetorically asks who taught Nikola to make such a good argument; when Nikola says she did, Quartz says maybe she did too good a job.

Quartz acknowledges they face things as a family, though she has a hard time applying it to a problem that started before she was married. Nikola notes that everyone else in the family has gotten into trouble while he was growing up except Quartz, and suggests she's not used to needing hemp instead of giving it; Quartz says she wouldn't have settled down if she thought trouble would come looking for her and she's taken measures to distance herself, but says it's harder when everyone wants to know what's going on and get involved. Nikola brings up that Mayor Bronson asked how all of Nikola's moms were when he last saw him, and says Bronson shouldn't have known about his ma and mother if Quartz hasn't seen him in twenty years. Nikola brings up a couple questions he doesn't think his mom will answer, like why she's still in touch with Bronson when she hates him or if this is tied to Endsville somehow, and ultimately asks when was the last time Quartz was in Wellspring City. Quartz says she was there a few years ago to visit her parents, and Nikola remembers that trip, but can also tell that she's also been to the city more recently. Quartz says there are many reasons why she didn't want Nikola moving to Wellspring City, and one reason is that the city tends to get its hooks in you if you aren't careful. Nikola says that while they hate it here, they're thinking of staying, because they want to keep what's going on in Wellspring contained and there are people in the city that inspire them. Nikola brings up Lina as one such person, and says he hopes his parents will like her too, to which Quartz says that if Nikola likes her so much she's sure she will too. Quartz again urges Nikola to be careful, because people who disagree with the mayor tend to go missing. Nikola asks if Quartz might know where these people go, and Quartz says she could make a guess, but things have likely changed in the past twenty years. Nikola grabs a notebook and says that anything helps, and Quartz says some of the more minor offenders were relocated out of the city and forced them to sign some form of NDA and not talk about Wellspring City. Nikola confirms these people are still around elsewhere in Einquell, and Quartz agrees, but says not everyone was treated this way, and she doesn't know what happened to the more serious detractors. Nikola asks if maybe they were sent across the bridge, and Quartz says she doubts it, that Bronson doesn't like having much to do with Endsville. Nikola asks what option that leaves, whether detractors were put under the city, and Quartz says she doesn't know and she hopes Nikola doesn't find out the hard way.

Nikola compliments Quartz's graffiti, saying he asked Roadkill to show him, and Quartz is surprised Roadkill is still around. Nikola says they irritate the hell out of Roadkill, and Quartz says she thinks that's his default state, though admits she might have just pushed his buttons the same way. Nikola realizes that Quartz doesn't know Roadkill is immortal and doesn't age, and clues her in that Roadkill is still seventeen. Nikola says he's stuck on that side of the river, and will be stuck for the foreseeable future, like everyone else in Endsville, and says it's one of many reasons they don't want to walk away. Quartz says she'd be surprised if Nikola knew all that and *did* want to walk away. Nikola says he's thankful to his moms for not making him deal with the same problems they had growing up, and wants to do the same for any kids he might have one day. Quartz says she thought moving out of Wellspring City was the best thing she could have done for her family, but maybe she should have burnt it to the ground, and it's only become a bigger problem once she left. Nikola asks if Quartz is working for Bronson again, and she doesn't answer. Nikola says he hopes that their paths don't cross at a moment neither of them want, and Quartz agrees. Nikola asks Quartz to do him a favor without asking any questions, and requests that she "look before she shoot" when it comes to mutants, which Quartz agrees to. Quartz asks Nikola to be careful, and he says he'll do his best. The two say they love each other and end the call. After hanging up, Nikola cuddles with Sentry for a bit to try to calm down.

## Notes

This FPS includes the ideas for 3 separate FPSes

Nikola makes a note to pay attention to Brittney at school to see if she's okay

Nikola describes adding to his mom's graffiti as "continuing a legacy"

Nikola makes a pun based on their last name being Change, and Roadkill says they have their mother's sense of humor