Log:Imaginary Friends, Scene 4

Imaginary Friends 2009/01/10 	 Kismet 4

The Coberson home is a beautiful piece of work, with a garden in the back yard and two Luxor Alphaville Luxury Sedans out front. The two story home rests peacefully in Colonial Heights, and the sun beats down cooly on the winter afternoon. There's a thin sheet of snow on the ground from last night, and the air crackles a bit in the wind.

Accompanying Yolanda, Kismet uses the front doorbell. She has added a couple of decorative shiny bands to her ankles and wrists, giving her a less naked look than before.

Mrs. Coberson opens the door with a raised eyebrow. She's a pleasant looking woman in her early forties who is wearing one of those "Neovironmental Dresses." It's colored a sky blue, and she says "Oh...my god. Uh...may I ask what's going on?"

Kismet lifts her hand to wave, friendly smile, "Greetings, Mrs. Coberson! My name is Kismet, and I'm here to speak with you about your son Jim." A motion to the woman she accompanies, "You may have heard of Dr. Simmons?"

"Oh, yes..." She says. "The police told us you'd be coming. Come right in." She smiles as she moves inside, leaving the door open. Her husband is sitting in the living room, and you can see him in his Neovironmental toga, which is purple. He's watching a football game.

Kismet enters at invitation, attention on the decor and giving all the impression of a teen girl with no experience in doing anything professional. "So what have you been told about concerning Jim's stay in Dr. Ingersoll's care?"

Mrs. Coberson says "Well, it's our understanding that the police think that Jim has some sort of psychic ability. Unfortunately, he's rejecting all our teachings of peace and love, and wants to join the army." She says. "We don't understand how it could have happened." She makes her way into the foyer and motions for you to have a seat. "We've been nurturing and loving parents."

Mr. Coberson smiles. He's a thin, rail like man with coke bottle glasses, and he crosses his legs. "It's a pleasure to see you. Jim spends a lot of time with his "Imaginary Friend" and we just want him to adjust.

Kismet glances around to see if she can't spot signs of Jack, listening as well. "Well, his friend is a lot less imaginary than you might at first think. I know this might be prying, and I know you would be very concerned if I were to ask to scan Jim's mind, but within the last few years, has anything very strange happened to Jim?"

Mr. and Mrs. Coberson look at each other. "Well..." They seem a little confused. "Nothing that doesn't always happen in Colonial Bay. We were in the mall when supervillains attacked it once, and of course, during the whole ACE business, Jimmy was only three."

Kismet smiles. "Not everyone in Colonial Bay exhibits the sort of potential that the children in Dr. Ingersoll's care do. What ACE business do you speak of, relevant to Jim?"

"We were near Starguard headquarters when ACE attacked it." She says seriously. "We were evacuated, but Jimmy saw a lot. You can still see the pictures on TV of Silver Spider fighting Megamite sometimes."

Kismet ahs. "I was thinking of events that may have interacted directly with Jim. I can't rule anything out yet, but it seems unlikely that witnessing something would have quite the effect I've seen." She looks thoughtful, "I might need to speak with Jack, too."

Silver Spider says, "Speak...with Jack...?" She says to her husband. Mrs. Coberson looks a little flustered.

Mr. Coberson says "Why not? She's not going to hurt Jim, Marissa." He looks to Kismet and says "We want our son to have a normal life. How can he possibly have a normal life with a militaristic imaginary friend who wants to go to China and bomb them back to the stone age?""

Kismet shrugs slowly. "Well, I'm really not sure how to answer that question. However, I might be able to get to the bottom of Jack's obsession."

"Okay." Mrs. Coberson says. "If you want to go upstairs and talk to Jim, that's fine. He's probably playing with model airplanes or doing his homework. Other than therapy, he's very smart."

Kismet elects to withold the question of therapy and smarts being mutually exclusive, "Alright then. Feel free to observe." She stands, moving upstairs with ease, listening for sounds of conversation.

As you approach the door to Jim's room, you can hear Jack Bombem's voice. "Hey, Jim." He says quickly. "Make sure you double-check those wing struts. It might not fly if they're not glued right."

"I got it, Jack."

"You're a good kid, you know that?"

"Jim, Jack?" Kismet knocks lightly on the door, "My name is Kismet. We met a few nights ago. If I can I'd like to speak with you both."

"Let her in, she's a knockout!" Jack says cheerfully.

Jim opens the door and Jack is standing behind him. "Kismet!" He says. "You came back! Jack said you'd come back!"

"You know how it is with me and dames!" Jack winks and steps aside.

Jim moves into the room. He's working on building a Fokker D-VII out of balsa wood. It's a hard model plane to build for an adult, let alone a nine year old.

Kismet smiles, "Good day to you both." She moves into the room at the apparent invitation, careful where she steps. "That's quite the model you're working on," she offers, not familiar with them personally. Her attention is soon on Jack directly, "Have you heard about Polly yet?"

Jim says "Yeah. Polly's dead. Mr. Wumbles got her. Jack said he's not gonna let that happen."

"Nope..." Jack says firmly. "If that Rabbit comes in here, I'm gonna kick his pansy tail all the way back to china and stuff his guts with RDX, I will. Jim's a good kid. I'll keep him safe. Don't you worry, Ma'am."

Jim sniffles a little bit.

"Don't worry." Jack says, and a tear rolls down his cheek. "Polly's in a better place now."

Kismet smiles. "Well, we want to stop him too." She watches Jack, thoughtful. "I just need to figure out a few things. Jim, do you remember when Jack stopped being only part of your imagination?"

Jim thinks about that for a second. "Jack's been around since I was three." He says.

"Well, about that." Jack says. "I was really around since he was two and a half and he got on a plane for the first time, but I waited a little bit, you know? It ain't right to scare a boy." He says. "Now when you get older, you can join the army, and really fly, and then one day we'll get those stinking Chinese Tyrants and that "Ruled by Communists and Emperors bullshit," and we'll bomb them back to the stone age and put a real democracy in charge." He sighs. "I'm sorry, ma'am. I shouldn'ta talked in front of a lady like that. But no offense, his parents are wimps. The kind of wimps who let the good old USA get the floor mopped with it and let some other guy take your best girl."

Jim says "Yeah. They're pussies."

Kismet nods slightly to Jack. "Did you know Georgie before Jim met Lisa?" She decides not to comment on the boy's or Jack's attitudes. It is by no means her place to interfere in that.

"Nope." Jack says as Jim puts on a breather mask to do some glue work. "Look at this kid. He's growin up right. He stays safe all the time when he does the glue work, and he's done it all on his own. Stinking Neo-enviro whatever the hell they ares..." He says.

"Don't say that about my dad!" Jim says angrily.

"And he's got spunk, too, this kid. He'll be good in a fight one day. Mark my words." Jack grins. "The giraffe's a crooner, that's for sure. Can I smoke?"

Kismet replies, "I honestly can't see harm in doing so." She asks then, "Are you able to move things, Jack?" SHe has her expectations about the answer, but finds no reason to discount possibility.

Jack says "Sometimes..." He says. "Usually, I can't affect the real world at all, unless a gorgeous dame like you is in danger, or the whole USA is in trouble." He says. "If someone actually attacked the whole US at once, I might become real, like Imaginary Girl. Then I'd show those bastards." He adjusts his pilot's cap and gives Kismet a wink.

Kismet seems intrigued. "What happens when you do need to protect a gorgeous dame?" she asks, charmed enough by the terminology to sport an amused smile. "Does anyone see you that wouldn't normally?"

"Well, Mrs. Coberson didn't see me pull the ladder out of the way, and the other thing I can't tell you about." He says. "It ain't right in front of the boy."

Jim continues to work on the model plane. "I got it!" He says. "I got it, Jack! Look!" Jack looks over. "That..." He says. "Is some mighty fine glue work. I think that one's gonna fly, Jim!" He gives the boy a thumbs up.

Kismet decides to see how well mental contact with Jack goes, gently using her ability. Questions she doesn't know how to ask better seem to be easier to answer in this way. Whether Jim and Jack share thoughts, on some small level being foremost.

Jack and Jim have a link, but it's not as strong as the link between Georgie and his girl. Jack is a lot tougher and a lot more capable than the giraffe, though.

Kismet takes a deep breath, trying to sort out everything she just learned. "Ladder out of the way of what?" she asks.

"Oh, a ladder was going to fall on her, because she was messing around in the basement, and cleaning up stuff that was too heavy for her to move, so I grabbed it real quick and righted it." He says.

Silver Spider says, "Now the next time you get into my head, you might want to not pry so deep, you know? I'm just Jack, you know? I'm a simple guy. I got rules.""

Jack grumbles a little bit "Now the next time you get into my head, you might want to not pry so deep, you know? I'm just Jack, you know? I'm a simple guy. I got rules."

Kismet nods. "I'm sorry Jack. Everything is just a little confusing and I seem to be getting no answers." She asks a telepathic question, << How strong would you say Polly was? >>



"Polly was pretty strong." Jack thinks for a moment and looks over at Jim. He's spraying the model plane with sealer. "I love that kid. He's gonna turn out all right."

"But yeah, Polly was strong. I'm not as strong as Polly, but I've got real fighting skills. I can box, and wrestle, and I'm a damn good shot with a gun. I may not be able to get rid of Wumbles, but he'll know he's been in a fight.'

Kismet nods slightly, << Are there rules to how you interact with each other? >>

"Well, there are rules among gentlemen." Jack says. "Lisa's not the kind of girl who likes those rules, but she's not my type and makes her mad. Wumbles usually just sat in a corner and talked with Toby. That kid gives me the creeps."

Kismet nods again, thoughtful. << Would the rabbit stand a chance if two of you were in the same place to face him? And how far are you able to roam from Jim? >>

"Lisa can't fight. She's a model." Jack says. "I mean, if Wumbles liked girls, she might, but Wumbles is a rabbit. He eats vegetables. And he hates meat."

Kismet nods. "There might be safety in numbers. Would that be possible, Jack? Even if the kids aren't near each other?"

"Not sure..." Jack says. "I mean, what would probably happen is that Wumbles and I would fight, and George and Lisa would run." He says. "Remember, Wumbles wants Imaginary girl. The rest of us are just means to an end."

Kismet nods. "I think he would have a harder time when he meets her. Tell me, Jack, are you able to find the others if you want to? Do you feel some kind of connection with them?"

"Usually, I gotta see them." Jack says. "It's like normal people." He grins. "And don't tell Mr. Coberson about Mrs. Coberson. A man's got to handle himself in these situations."

Kismet nods. "I won't interfere, because it's not my place to. I have a lot of experience with discretion." She offers her hand to Jack, "Until next time." THe same is offered to Jim.

The boy and Jack both shake your hand. "Thanks, Kismet." Jim says. "You're really cool."

"None of that 'cool' stuff." Jack says. "You're a straight shooter."

Kismet smiles. "Just... plan a way to survive, Jack. You know what the rabbit wants, and he's got an idea of how to accomplish it. If we can avoid that, I think we'll all rest better." She nods to Jim, "Keep up the good work." With that, she waves, and begins to depart from the Coberson household.