Well, This is Awkward

## Premise

So the high school's winter formal had a *lot* more excitement than Tailwind bargained for. After everything they've already dealt with tonight, they decide to skip the afterparty and go to Endsville to unwind instead. Unfortunately for them, they won't be spending the night as alone as they'd hoped for.

## Cast

* Tailwind (Tallestnull)
* Roadkill (Zen)

## Plot Summary

It's the night of Winter Formal Introductions, and Tailwind is worn out. They decide not to go to the afterparty at Bronson Tower and instead go to the junkyard, retrieve a bag of snacks and stuff, and head for Endsville. The sky is clear and Tailwind is hoping to stargaze. They head to an abandoned motel and climb the fire escape, pulling out a folding chair they left there before and setting up a telescope. As Tailwind is setting up, they can hear the noises of mutants deeper in the city, and also the sound of Roadkill parkouring around until he lands on the motel roof. Tailwind greets Roadkill, who asks what they're doing here. Tailwind offers Roadkill a soda, which he accepts.

Roadkill asks if the others know Tailwind is there, and they say no. Roadkill asks why Tailwind decided to come to Endsville and asks if they're trying to get themself killed, and Tailwind says they're good enough at sneaking around. Tailwind offers Roadkill a seat, pulling out another chair, and Roadkill asks how many times they've come here before. Tailwind says they've been coming here for years, usually with Goat. Roadkill says it's weird Tailwind wants to come over here.

Tailwind asks if Roadkill has known anyone to die of old age in Endsville, and Roadkill says he hasn't. Tailwind asks about Roadkill getting into fights, and looks him over for signs of injury; they can't see scars under Roadkill's fur, but there's obvious injuries to his ears. Tailwind brings up their thoughts on Catalyst-V giving life to things, mentioning they and the others have been healing more quickly, and asks if Roadkill is sure he's ever killed anything; Roadkill confirms some injuries can't heal, and wounded mutants that might eventually heal are more likely to be eaten than left alone. Tailwind says the new batches of mutants the group has encountered seem less feral than the wild ones in Endsville, and speculates something is different about them. Roadkill says he hasn't really noticed a change.

Tailwind tells Roadkill about the events of the school dance and about Thesis showing up. Tailwind asks what Roadkill wanted to do in life before all the mutant stuff happened, and Roadkill tries to brush them off but admits he didn't really have anything in mind, though he wanted to leave the city. Tailwind says they wanted to fly, to see the world from a new perspective. Tailwind mutters they're sounding like Optic, and Roadkill asks if he should know who Optic is, so Tailwind tells him about their friend. Tailwind starts complaining about how they were just the "guy that could fix things" and now have a lot to worry about. They bring up wondering if Wyllvylle was named after Dr. Wyll, and Roadkill interrupts them to confirm that, and also confirms Dr. Wyll was originally a toon.

Tailwind complains that they know how to work with machines, not people, and they've been trying to understand Catalyst-V to be able to help people, but can't make sense of it. Roadkill says no one in Endsville has been able to understand Catalyst-V in thirty years, and Tailwind says they should still try. When Roadkill expresses that it's not really worth trying to help people, Tailwind asks why he doesn't just leave and go to another part of Einquell. Roadkill says it's easy for them to suggest, and Tailwind says they're more stuck than Roadkill. Roadkill argues about how difficult it would be for him to leave. Tailwind asks if Roadkill has any other plans, and Roadkill doesn't answer.

Tailwind mentions the afterparty and about how Goat hates Mayor Bronson, a vendetta they've inherited. Roadkill asks if they don't want to take advantage of the chance to mess up Bronson Tower, then nat 1's on an Insight check to discern their reaction, and Tailwind says they don't want to deal with all the people at the party. Tailwind says they want to leave town and Roadkill asks why they don't; Tailwind brings up the people that would miss them and how the others in the group are looking to them for answers. Roadkill scoffs at Tailwind calling themself the smart one and brings up that they've some dumb decisions lately. Tailwind claims they at least ask for help when they need it, which Roadkill is skeptical of. Tailwind goes through the roles that everyone in the group has. Tailwind says they don't know how else to help people besides with their brain. They bring up that the group are kids and shouldn't have to be dealing with this.

Tailwind suggests Roadkill's powers might develop and change, which Roadkill doubts. Tailwind wonders why mutants aren't leaving Endsville, and Roadkill says those that want to leave have had 30 years to do so at this point. Tailwind claims to be responsible for the mutant issues, which Roadkill initially rebuffs. Tailwind explains the initial accident, and Roadkill agrees it sounds like Tailwind's fault. Tailwind sarcastically thanks Roadkill, who says he never claimed he'd be a help, and is just here to take their snacks.

As Tailwind complains about the state of things, Roadkill says the fate of Endsville wasn't always a secret, but he figures people don't want to remember it. Tailwind says they haven't seen anything about it in any history books or anything, and is surprised Bronson hasn't tried to take Endsville over. Roadkill says Bronson has tried in the past, but it hasn't worked out for him. Tailwind asks Roadkill if he thinks any of the Catalyst-V mess might be related to any gods, which Roadkill is dismissive of. Tailwind mentions they've been wanting to try to go back to the lab, but doesn't know how to bring that up to the group.

Tailwind brings up the events of Halloween and how weird it was to be incorporeal, and asks the weirdest mutation Roadkill has seen. Roadkill says the group are all pretty normal, and he knows someone that got melded into a building. Tailwind asks some questions about how that works, and Roadkill says he can ask if she'd be up for meeting them. Tailwind says they're not scared of going further into Endsville, and mentions they're surprised they haven't run into mutants on their earlier visits; Roadkill mentions most mutants avoid scrappers since they usually have some kind of defense. Tailwind says they had a taser for a while, and shows Roadkill a slingshot they carried.

Tailwind looks up at the sky, and Roadkill gets the sense they're trying to vent to someone that won't share what they say around, and they're scared of the whole situation. Roadkill is conflicted about whether or not to help, but eventually reassures Tailwind they'll get used to it and they aren't as helpless as they feel. Tailwind brings up that they've been wanting to make something for Lina, and can tell Roadkill likes the idea of her having more ability to defend herself. Tailwind asks if Roadkill needs anything from the other side, and he brushes them off and says Lina handles that. Tailwind brings up the idea of starting gardens in Endsville again, and Roadkill is skeptical and brings up some flaws he sees in the plan; the two argue the feasibility of making a greenhouse to protect the crops.

Tailwind says they consider Roadkill the face of the people in Endsville that need help, and he protests he doesn't need their help, but Tailwind says there are others that do. Roadkill says everyone still around has found a way to manage, and Tailwind says there's a difference between surviving and living. Tailwind says you need to have hope, or else why even get out of bed in the morning, to which Roadkill calls them a "fucking cidiot". Tailwind rolls Insight to discern Roadkill doesn't really care about hope, and figures he has to get up every day or he'll die pretty soon, given his circumstances. Tailwind brings up Roadkill's attachment to Lina, and Roadkill refuses to respond.

Tailwind starts talking about the sky and why the stars aren't visible during the day, and says it's an allegory for needing to get through obstacles to see the beauty of the world. Roadkill asks if Tailwind is high, and they say they're just drained. Tailwind says they should go to bed, and offers to leave the telescope, but Roadkill says that isn't a good idea. They stash their chair and take their telescope, but leave the food for Roadkill. Tailwind considers saying something else, though they think it might ruin the moment, and Roadkill prods them to say it. Tailwind admits they have more Catalyst-V, which Roadkill is indeed frustrated with. Tailwind mentions they need someone more experienced to really figure it out, Roadkill asks if they're asking for help, and Tailwind agrees, frustrated. Roadkill offers to ask around if anyone is willing to help working with Tailwind on figuring out the Catalyst-V, and asks what exactly they're trying to do with it. Tailwind says they want to try and figure out a way to reverse mutations and maybe help feral mutants recover their minds, among other things. Tailwind invites Roadkill to hang out with them if he sees them in Endsville again, and when Roadkill isn't enthused, says they don't need his permission to be there. Tailwind starts heading back to Wellspring City, and Roadkill tells them not to get themselves killed, then takes the snacks and heads off himself.

## Notes

Bronson-brand Lunchables are called Brunchables

Roadkill has to set his soda down to open it, since he only has one hand

Wyllvylle was renamed after Dr. Wyll after he moved to the city and started making lots of great scientific breakthroughs

The roles Tailwind assigns to everyone are:

* Kat - Jack of All Trades
* Nikola - Keeping the team together
* Shaun - the brawn
* Lina - the heart
* Roadkill - the lancer
* Tailwind - the brains

Roadkill has been doing parkour since before being mutated

While Tailwind is listing out the oddities of the group, Roadkill tells them it sounded like Penumbra was metal under her shadow

Tailwind calls Roadkill "old man" and he does not like it