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[oohforeshadowing]

Let me get back to you, darling.

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[oh_no_matopoeia]

Want to come play around in the enclosure? I feel like we should talk about your file but that we can do it while we're doing something cool.

[oohforeshadowing]

....Alright. Consider me en-route.

Have you read it?

[oh_no_matopoeia]

No. I was gonna wait for you. I bet some people might feel weird about that.

I've got it with me here, though.

[oohforeshadowing]

Hm.

[They sign off for now, but appear around the Enclosure entrance not long after. They've acquired a little pink dress from somewhere, and slightly higher heels than usual.]

[oh_no_matopoeia]

You look nice today.

[Says Miles, politely, as one does when someone has made an effort.]

But I was imagining an obstacle course. Can you do one in those shoes? We could change plans.

[oohforeshadowing]

"Darling," Trouble says, in a tone of voice which is absolutely the equivalent of a gentle pat on the head, then gestures at the control panel. "Do your worst."

[oh_no_matopoeia]

"Okay."

Says Miles, and steps up to the panel, to ask for;

"Can we have some kind of training room please? One where we have to cooperate to get each other through it to the end- like a long form obstacle race thing but set for their physical skill plus mine?"

[oohforeshadowing]

Trouble looks at him askance.

"Aren't you getting us off to a proactive start."

But this might get them a better view of the superpowers, so, not strictly complaining.

[oh_no_matopoeia]

"It'll be fun! And, you'll get to try to piece together which parts of this are my whole thing."

Says Miles, opening the door for them, with a winning smile.

"Besides, I've only been here two months and I'm already super cooped up. I don't know about you but I could use this!"

[oohforeshadowing]

"I've actually been enjoying the rest, darling. Besides, haven't you just been a chipmunk?"

The Enclosure has chosen an outdoor environment, around dusk, pleasantly cool with a slight breeze.

[oh_no_matopoeia]

"No. I was a person. I mostly climbed trees."

A challenge for many, at their scale, but Miles managed. Speaking of which, he looks around them, and says;

"I'm at a disadvantage with nothing to give me height. Can we make for the forest?"

There's a field between them and something mirkwoody.

[oohforeshadowing]

"All right. I suppose you need something to...hang your webs from," they say mildly, and start walking. "How old are you?"

[oh_no_matopoeia]

"Fifteen."

Says Miles, and doesn't rise to the bait of the guess.

"But I've had to do more complicated things than most fifteen year olds. How old are you?"

[oohforeshadowing]

"Twenty....something," they say, with a vague gesture. "I don't exactly have the paperwork, darling. What are most fifteen year olds doing, where you come from?"

[oh_no_matopoeia]

"They're in school."

He admits, with a small wince.

"I still am too. I just also get involved now when things are happening that are a little too weird for the police to handle."

[oohforeshadowing]

"Oh. All the teenagers I've met recently are fighting a war for planetary domination," Trouble says, just in case they don't sound appropriately impressed.

[oh_no_matopoeia]

"Oh good. Then you know we can do it."

He'll take it, honestly. And also, jump forward as something hawklike and whirring electronically swoops down at them to divebomb from above.

[oohforeshadowing]

Trouble is all set to point out that 'can do it' isn't the same as 'can do it well' - but then neatly flips backwards to avoid the same threat.

"Really?"

[oh_no_matopoeia]

Miles rolls, and snaps out a line of web, catching it on the way off. It pivots, and smacks into the ground, mechanical wings beating ineffectually against the sticky web.

"Yikes."

[oohforeshadowing]

"For what it's worth, I feel extremely safe in your company," Trouble chirps, strolling forward for a better look at the webbing.

"What does that...come out of?"

[oh_no_matopoeia]

"There are safety protocols in here anyways."

Says Miles, and folds his hands behind his back. Nope.

"I bet more of these things are incoming?"

[oohforeshadowing]

"Oh, I'm not worried about that. You're my very righteous warden and you'll protect me, darling."

Trouble resumes their saunter towards the treeline, walking in heels like they're barefoot, tail swaying.

[oh_no_matopoeia]

"I mean- I will, but I think-"

Oh shoot, three of the things whir up behind them, in hot pursuit. Miles yelps and starts running after DT.

[oohforeshadowing]

Trouble glances back, watches their movements for a moment, then sighs.

"We can't get seriously hurt in here, according to you. And these things aren't intelligent. So I don't know -"

They double back, and the drones split up, forming a rough kind of pincer movement. Then they swoop in for the attack, Trouble ducks down, and they collide violently.

"...why you're worried."

[oh_no_matopoeia]

"We can't die, but we can lose the game."

Says Miles, hitching his backpack up and putting his thumbs under the straps, jogging to catch up. Trouble has slightly longer legs than him.