Log:Imaginary Friends, Scene 1

Imaginary Friends 2009/01/07 	 Howl Imaginary Girl Kismet Rapture Yolanda 1

It's two in the afternoon, and the winter sun beats down on Colonial Bay Virginia, a thick fog rolling in from the sea despite the bright orb. It's cooler than usual, and the misty air shrouds the front gate of the Roanoke Institute for Children in white. Standing by the door is a man in a white labcoat, wearing a blue shirt and a thin blue striped tie. He has his clipboard idly settled in one hand, and he gazes alternately at the sky between flicks of his eyes from left to right. His hair is thinning at the edges, and in his lab coat pocket appears to be a small flask. He appears to be waiting for something as all of you approach, and his lip quivers slightly.

Unseen except by security monitors, Kismet makes her way into the facility. She hides not from fear, but simple caution and concern that her appearance might cause distress to the staff for the childrens' sanity.

Howl rolls his spent cigarette in his gloved fingers, crushing it out before he pitches it into a trash can. Man. He's crazy to do this. Out of his mind. But that's what happens when you lose a bet.

A black town car rolls to a stop in front of the Institute. One of the rear passenger doors open, and Dr. Yolanda Simmons steps out. She leans inot the open door and tells the driver that she'll call when she's reaady to leave. She slams the door and turns towards the building and the man in the lab coat.

There's a 'sonic boom' crack up in the sky, muffled by distance to where it's not at all actually 'loud' at ground level. Anyone looking up at that moment would pick out the red-white-and-blue costume worn by Imaginary Girl as she swoops down out of the sky towards the institute. Stopping to hover in the air about two stories up, she puts her hands on her hips and looks around... before finally flitting over to where the man in the white lab coat stands. She stops on seeing Yolanda getting out of the car and waves, calling out, "Hi, Yolanda!", in a cheerful tone of voice.

Rapture walks up the side walk have herd of this place and wanted to see this place for her self and even talk to the staff if they are willing. She stops seeing IG and smiles, "hey there sweetie how are you?"

Yolanda smiles and waves to Imaginary Girl as she descends. Looking around, she spots Howl and Rapture. She smiles. "Interesting turnout for this event."

The man in the lab coat looks up with a smile at the crack and boom, distracting him as he tries to spot something at the edge of his vision, and sees Yolanda getting out of her car. He smiles briefly, if a little nervously. "Uh...welcome..." He manages, his voice filled with a little bit of a quaver. "I'm Doctor Ingersoll. Thank you all for coming." He flicks his gaze to the little group of people outside the gate. "Welcome to the Roanoke Institute for Children." His voice has a slightly nervous timbre. "I invited you here because I need your help with a few of my charges."

Imaginary Girl turns the same smile on Rapture, waving and offering, "Hi!" in greeting to her, as well, before finally flitting down towards the doctor. "Hi!", she repeats to him. After he says his bit, she asks, "What can I do to help?"

Howl arches a brow as he reaches Dr. Ingersoll. "This doesn't sound like your typical entertain the kiddies thing, doc."

Kismet shows herself when she's sure her sudden appearance will not cause disturbance, offering a wave to the Doctor as she steps out from behind Yolanda. "Is something wrong, Doctor?"

Rapture smiles up at Imaginary Girl not freaked out about her any more, "I hope you thought over what we talked about the other day while flying about" She then looks at the man in the white coat, "excuse me do you run this place?"

Doctor Ingersoll says "There are a few of my children who I've promised a special visit from superheroes, and I'm glad you answered." He says. "They...haven't been able to get rid of their imaginary friends. It's a step in the growing up process." He says. "Their parents are paying the institute a lot of money, and I was hoping that, well, you might be willing to show up and give them a little entertainment." He says.

Doctor Ingersoll chuckles. "Yes, Rapture. I run this place." He gives the beautiful lady a pleasant smile. "And you must be Imaginary Girl. I was really hoping you'd show up." He says. "I hoped you'd show up because...well...you're Imaginary Girl and you're real, and you'd really be able to give them a hand." He opens the gate to the Institute. He finally turns to Kismet with a brief gasp. "Sorry...that took a moment to register."

Yolanda nods. "It would be a pleasure to help." She offers her hand for a shake to the doctor as she introduces herself. "Dr. Yolanda Simmons. Afterwards, I was wondering if we might have a chat. There have been some remarkable advances in telepathic psychotherapy since you were at Johns Hopkins."

Howl glances towards Yolanda. "We'll make balloon animals. It'll be fun. I can make a snake."

Imaginary Girl lands, smiling. "I'd be happy to help children, however I can!", she says, hands on her hips, chest thrust out a bit -- a classic and, at once, cliche 'superhero' pose.

Kismet smiles. "Well, now that it has registered, is something wrong, Doctor?" She clasps her hands together, head inclined questioningly. Despite the soft nature of her voice, she is not an easy one to ignore.

"Of course." Doctor Ingersoll says with a smile. "I'm certain that I will have ample opportunity to study all of them, especially that retrocognitive dissociation technique. I am particularly interested in that." He says with an excited tone in his voice. "Doctor Simmons? Everyone else?" He pulls open the gate after putting in a security code, and makes his way in through the courtyard. The courtyard is a beautiful lawn, with several floating cameras spaced throughout it. In the window of the first four solarium, four children are staring straight at you through the glass, big smiles on their faces. Three of them wave, and the youngest one stares hard at Imaginary Girl, and takes a deep breath.

The Roanoke Institute For Children is a large grey house with a perfectly manicured lawn outside patrolled by cute little gardening robots. There is a massive extension on one side for a large solarium that runs the length of the property, but other than that, the large grey slats house a three story victorian home. The windows seem like eyes, the shutters flicking a little bit in the misty air. The paint seems to hold the shutters on, and the whole building seems to creak a little bit as everyone approaches, but it is as if the wind speaks to the house, and the frame is made of sturdier stuff.

Rapture walks with the rest. She sure not going to give up this chance to see the inside of this place. If there is a problem she sure IG can clear things up.

Doctor Ingersoll makes his way up the stairs and opens the door. "Come in." He says. "They've been expecting you, their faces are pressed up against the Solarium window. We wouldn't want to keep them waiting." He says. "Their parents will be here in an hour and a half, so you guys have an hour. I'll have to be in observation the whole time, because technically, I'm their physician. Come on." He beckons, and the door opens. Inside is a waiting room, with a bored looking secretary.

Howl glances up towards the solarium and tips his hat towards the children, but the whole place gives him the creeps. "Or, I could make a worm." He continues to Yolanda. "Or my personal favorite, an /electric eel/."

Walking along with the rest, Imaginary Girl waves to the children at the window, smiling brightly at them as she follows the doctor in through the front doors.

Yolanda follows along, falling into step beside Howl. "Happy New Year, Augustin." She chuckles at his comment. "Really? I'm surprised. A poodle is usually one of the easiest ones to make, right? I'm certain that with all your experiences you've learned something that will be appropriate."

The youngest, a dark haired boy with bluish eyes, stares at Imaginary Girl until she passes from sight. He clasps his hands together and presses his lips against the door in an eager, kissing sigh. He's wearing a tee shirt that reads "I got your Eye in my pocket" and jeans suitible to a five year old.

Doctor Ingersoll stops at the door. "Doris..." He says. "Please buzz us through."

Doris yawns and presses a button. "Gowan, Docktah Ihnghasawl." She drones nasally, and pushes her pointy edged glasses back on her nose. "They're waitin!" She smiles to all of the heroes stepping through the door.

Rapture looks at the boy as she walks by and smiles at how cute he is. she keeps following the group but taken mental notes of everything.

Imaginary Girl keeps following along, still smiling brightly, even offering a cheery "Hi!" to Doris as she passes the woman, waving.

Howl tips his hat to Doris. "Well, my talents don't really extend to clowning."

The Doctor opens the door and steps into the Solarium. "Hey, Imaginary Girl!" Doris says with a smile. "You should see my son...he talks about you awl da time!" She grins, a smile on her beefy, thick face.

Doris smiles to Howl. "Dats good!" She says. "All dose people, clownin' around these days!"

The sun shines into the large solarium from the day above, the slanted roof filled with rectangular windows. The floor is carpeted, and everything in the room is very soft. There are no sharp edges or corners. A pile of pillows rests over by one wall, and there are some very safe toys, trains, stuffed planes, and a few books that are all in paperback. There are paintings on the walls of a crudely drawn forest scene, with lions, tigers, and monkeys. The words "Jungle Hideout" are painted in bright red along one wall, and the air is cool and perfectly controlled.

Imaginary Girl says, "oooooooh!", clasping her hands together up under her chin as she gets her first view of the "Jungle Hideout". "This is my favoritest room in the whole world!", she says.

Rapture looks around and smiles, "my what a pretty room" She looks at Doris and nods to her but lets other do the talking.

Kismet smiles at the feel of the carpet, looking from point to point of the room, the details of the decorations, the toys, the pillow pile.

Yolanda smiles, quietly taking in her surroundings. She's not as impressed as Imaginary Girl, but she's pleased; it's a nice change from the gray gloomy exterior of the Institute.

Howl's nose twitches at the controlled air. He looks around the room, taking it in.

The sun shines into the large solarium from the day above, the slanted roof filled with rectangular windows. The floor is carpeted, and everything in the room is very soft. There are no sharp edges or corners. A pile of pillows rests over by one wall, and there are some very safe toys, trains, stuffed planes, and a few books that are all in paperback. There are paintings on the walls of a crudely drawn forest scene, with lions, tigers, and monkeys. The words "Jungle Hideout" are painted in bright red along one wall, and the air is cool and perfectly controlled.

The four children step back as Imaginary Girl comes into the room, and there's a brief "WOW!" from two of the girls and one of the boys. The little dark haired boy remains silent, his eyes focussed on Imaginary Girl. He glares downcast at the floor. "It's not all that." He says quietly. "She's just a girl." His eyes stare around at the others, and he clenches his fingers, like he's angry. The first girl, a cute little redhead in a green tee shirt, runs up to Imaginary Girl and says "Wow! You're real!" She cries out. "Real, like Georgie!"

(People with Mental Sense only, plus Imaginary Girl because SFX says so) There's a giraffe nearby her. He stands six feet tall and wears a tuxedo and a tophat, and he's carrying a tambourine. He has beautiful two tone shoes and bursts into song as the heroes walk in. "Oh, the weather outside is frightful, and the smiles are so delightful, no particular place to go...let it snow, let it snow, let it snow..." He bows to Imaginary Girl and walks up to her, extending a disturbingly human giraffe-like hand.

The little boy shakes his head coldly and goes over in a corner to sulk. "Mr. Wumbles is gonna KILL your stupid giraffe." He snarls. "Cut him into a million pieces, and spread him all over your room, DRIPPING blood!" (Mental, IG) The giraffe scowls at the boy.

Yolanda closes her eyes for a moment as if to clear them. She looks at Georgie the Giraffe, amazed. To others it may appear that she's looking at empty space.

Kismet soon loses her smile and thoughtfully watches the Giraffe, turning her eyes on the Doctor.

The girl bursts into tears as Toby speaks. "Toby..." Doctor Ingersoll says. "You should know better than to say things like that, especially to Lisa. Mr. Wumbles isn't real, Toby. He's an imaginary friend."

"You suck, Toby!" The other boy says. "Toby the tearjerker! Toby the Bedwetter! Jack Bombem's gonna bomb Mr. Wumbles back to the stone age!" He chuckles."And don't talk like that to my Lisa." He gives Lisa a comforting hug.

(Mental and IG only) Over in the corner, a man in a leather piloting jacket gives Yolanda, Kismet, and Imaginary Girl the scoping of a lifetime, his handsome jaw and cheerful squared off smile like something out of pulp movies. You didn't see him before. "Hey, ladies. Jack's here..."

Howl glances at Yolanda. "The art is good, but its not David."

"Why so surprised?" The giraffe says to Yolanda.

Imaginary Girl smiles brightly at the children. "Oh! Hi, everyone!", she says, reaching out to shake giraffe-man's hand, without even blinking an eye about it. "How're you?", she asks. Then she looks over at Toby, "Now, now... don't be mean!", she says to him, gently. To the other boy, she says, "and you be nice to Toby, too!", wagging a finger at him. She then lifts a hand to waggle fingers in a wave at Jack, too. "All of you be nice to each other. That's the right thing to do, and it's more fun taht way, too!", Imaginary Girl says, to all the children.

To anyone who can't sense the imaginary friends, Imaginary Girl shook hands with... nothing.... of course.

Kismet keeps her mouth shut, not wanting to reveal too much about what she sees. Instead her eyes are on the doctor, "Has anything... unexplained happened around here lately?"

Sitting on a chair, just staring at all the superheroes, is a fat, chubby dark haired eight year old, filling her mouth with potato chips. She's about thirty pounds overweight, and she looks very sad.

Next to her is the hottest teen model you've ever seen, a portrait of skinniness, grace, and blondeness, doing makeup. She's smoking an imaginary cigarette, and her legs are crossed while she wears a skirt so tight that her hips must threaten to break it at every step. "Ohh, damn!" She grins, staring at Howl. "He can't see me! It's not fair!"

Yolanda is still reeling as she responds to Georgie. "I... No, it's nothing. I'm sorry... It's just that I didn't expect you to be here." She looks over at Jack Bombem and glares slightly, to let him know she disapproves of the ogling.

The doctor smiles. "Toby says he lost his imaginary friend." He says cooly. "But we have to keep him for a few more months to be sure. Once that happens, he's free to go. Toby also suffers from a rather unique mental disorder. He was born with moral dysphesia. He can't tell right from wrong. He's a completely amoral child. He'll probably be in and out of mental institutions for most of his life."

Howl glances at the doctor. "From what he says he still seems to believe the imaginary friend exists." He turns back towards Toby. "Like he has to unlearn object permanence."

Kismet frowns slightly. "Would Mister Wumbles happen to be a rabbit in a top hat?" she asks quietly of the doctor.

"Aw... poor kid", Imaginary Girl says of Toby. "Hey... Howl... I think she likes you", she then says to the man, nodding her head at the 'supermodel' imaginary friend - she completely doesn't realize that Howl probably can't see the 'woman'.

"I'll show you permanence!" Toby hisses. "Mr. Wumbles is gonna show you!" His eyes turn narrow, and his teeth grit. "I don't need a doctor! I need Mr. Wumbles to teach these imaginary wimps a lesson!"

Yolanda's tone is sharp, with a slight tone of outrage. "Dr. Ingersoll, I thought your goal was to break the children of their imaginary friends, not to indulge them with these... these performers." She gestures torwards Georgie and Jack.

Howl glances at Imaginary Girl and then at Yolanda. "Hmm?"

"Uhh...yeah." Doctor Ingersoll says. "What do you mean? How did you know he was a Rabbit in a tophat? That piece of information hasn't left the institute." He stops. "Doctor, I hate to break the news to you, but you must be imagining things. I don't see a thing. Are you...imagining them?"

The Giraffe says cheerily to Yolanda "Don't listen to that putz! I'm as real as the next giraffe." Lisa's giggle echoes through the room. Toby walks over to a corner to sit on some pillows and sulk. The other boy grins and says "You mean you can see them?"

Imaginary Girl looks at Yolanda, then Dr Ingersoll, seeming confused. "Uhm... yeah, I can see them. Georgie's right here and.... Georgie! You shouldn't call someone a putz! That's mean!", she says, scolding, to all those who can't see Georgie, thin air. "Anyway... Georgie's here, and Jack Bombem's over there, and ... well, I don't know her name, but the pretty lady's right there", she adds, indicating the position of each imaginary friend. "They're as real as you and me."

The Giraffe adds "Oh...I'm Georgie! The singing giraffe!" He says with some excitement. "That's Jack Bombem, and over there is Stacy. Polly Pooper is sick today, along with her girl." He says.

Jack adds "If you like George's language, you'll love Polly. She curses all the time." He chuckles a little bit. '

Yolanda explains to Howl: "The performers. The giraffe, the model, and... him." She points them out in turn to Howl.

Howl watches Toby go to the corner before Yolanda has his attention again. "There's nothing there, Yolanda. I can't even smell it."

"This is Jim." He indicates the other boy, and Toby glares at him from across the room.

"I wanna be a pilot when I grow up!" Jim says excitedly. "Like Jack Bombem!"

"You know it, baby!" Jack says in a sultry grin to the ladies.

Kismet replies to the Doctor, "Deductive reasoning," as her answer to his question of how she came across the information. "That rabbit brandishes a machete." She looks at Yolanda.

The doctor pauses for a moment. "And where did you...see this Wumbles?" He seems very serious as he turns to Kismet. Toby brightens. (Perception rolls from all)

(Successful perception roll) Toby is smiling with a grin of brilliant joy. It's like the smile that you see on a supervillain just before he's about to cut a rope and hurl an innocent person into lava. "Mr. Wumbles?" He blinks eagerly. "He's alive?"

Kismet puts her hand on the Doctor's shoulder, calmly asking him, "Did Toby say that it was a machete, or did he just say it was a sword or a big knife?" she still speaks quietly, trying to remain discrete.

Lisa sniffles. "Mr. Wumbles is bad." She whimpers. "Mr. Wumbles is sick. Mean like Toby."

Imaginary Girl reaches out a hand at Georgie, asking, "Can I touch your fur?", she asks of him.

"I'm not imagining them!" Yolanda snaps. She takes a breath and then sighs, trying to calm herself a little, "Perhaps we should take a moment to talk, just us grown-ups."

The Doctor says "I can get you a picture if you like." to Kismet. He seems very worried. "And yes, it's a machete."

Kismet nods slightly. "Did Toby name it as such?" She inclines her head. "Or was it concluded by your own observations of the picture you made?"

Howl nods slowly to Yolanda. He catches Toby's grin, hrmming lightly before he turns back to her. But something The Doctor says draws his attention. "How can you get a picture of something that's imaginary? Just a drawing?"

Kismet looks to Howl. "The same way a police sketch artist can make a picture of something without seeing it."

(Mental) Jack looks at Yolanda. "Come on, babe!" He says. "We can trip the light fantastic under the moonlight stars. Just one dance, babe! Just one!"

"Yes. Toby named it." He says to Kismet. "I had Doris supervise him while he drew it. I had an appointment across town. He's a rabbit. With a waistcoat, a pocket watch and a top hat. And a two and a half foot machete. Toby is sick, Kismet. I don't know what to do with him, really."

"Hence drawing." Howl replies to Kismet.

"Cool your jets, flyboy," Yolanda says to Jack. She turns to focus on what Kismet and Howl are talking about.

(Mental) Georgie looks over to Yolanda while Stacy primps prettily in front of Howl. "Yeah...' He says to Imaginary Girl. "You can touch my fur." He wickedly grins. "And if you dance with me, I'll even throw in a few extra toe taps."

Howl huhs at Ingersoll. "Kinda like a pooka."

Imaginary Girl grins at Georgie, shaking her head at the offer to dance, running her fingers through the fur on his arm. "Your fur's so soft!", she says, smiling brightly. To those who can't see Georgie, she's running her fingers up and down in the air.

Kismet nods quietly. "I'm no doctor, so right now, I can only understand what you do about what we're to do." She asks, "Have any of the children in your care exibited knowledge that seems mysterious? Things they would have no reason to know?" She remains discrete about her questions.

(Mental + IG) Georgie reaches out his hand to Imaginary Girl, and draws her into a smooth embrace, there's a whirl of two-steps. Georgie is a really great dancer, he glides across the room with Imaginary Girl on little spat-like hooves, and sings a crooning song from days of old. "Only youuuuuuu....can take my breath...away..."

Toby covers his ears. He seems to be hearing something that he doesn't like. "I hate that racket!" He hisses, his eyes narrowed at Imaginary Girl. "Ohh...ohh...you're perfect."

Yolanda speaks quietly, her words meant mainly for Kismet, Howl, and Ingersoll. "I think... that somehow the childrens' imaginary friends have been manifested as some kind of psychic entities. Kismet and I can see them, because we're sensitive to such things. Perhaps Imaginary Girl too, on some level..."

Imaginary Girl just laughs as she's suddenly swept into dancing by Georgie - of course, to anyone who can't see the giraffe, she's dancing alone. She's certainly more than merely 'sensitive' to these 'psychic entities', from how she's interacting with them. "Georgie! I didn't wanna dance!", she says, laughingly... and steps away at first opportunity.

Doctor Ingersoll nods to Kismet. "Every so often." He says. "I mean, Lisa's learning to sing, but she's not a natural. Jim's got military aspirations and loves planes, but he reads all about them. Toby...well...Toby's very smart for his age. But he's stubborn, like a mule, and he doesn't care about hurting the other children. He's fairly placid today. I told him Imaginary Girl would be coming. He's been very well behaved." He says seriously. "Sandra over there has an eating disorder. Her imaginary friend is Lisa, a supermodel. And Angela is sick today, so, uhm...Polly Pooper, the foul mouthed, pooping parrot isn't here."

"Thank god!" Jack Bombem mutters. "You have no idea what it's like with parrot crap all over the place."

Jim gives the thumbs up to nothing.

Howl nods slowly to Yolanda. "Strange. But not beyond the pale."

(Mental) Georgie smiles a little bit. "That's okay, Imaginary Girl..." he says. "We didn't really have a future together anyway."

Kismet nods. "Has ..young Lisa been exposed to many older movies or musicals?"

"Her grandmother owned everything by Fred Astaire." Doctor Ingersoll says. "So they're all psychics? That's what you think?"

"I'm perfect for what, Toby?", Imaginary Girl turns to ask of the boy, smiling at him as she steps away from the dancing, singing giraffe. "Of course, not, Georgie! You're a giraffe, and I'm a girl!", she says to him... or in reply to nothing and nobody, for those who can't see the friends.

"Or they're possessed." Howl muses. "Again, a pooka. But they're shapeshifters."

Toby smiles. "Perfect for Mr. Wumbles." He whispers. "Mr. Wumbles likes saving the best for last. Soon I'll have the only imaginary friend in the entire world." He smiles eagerly. "But you're the world's imaginary friend, aren't you?" He grins. "That's why we need to get rid of you."

Kismet shrugs slightly. "It's possible. If so, they've all manifested precisely the same previously unheard-of power, which isn't likely. WHere were the kids before they came here? Were their unseen friends known about prior to them being in your care? Why did you look so nervous before we came into this area?"

"THAT'S ENOUGH, TOBY!" Doctor Ingersoll says. "Go upstairs and wait for your parents! Now! I'm going to recommend that you stay here for the next week, Toby. You can't threaten people! It's not right! I don't care if she can turn you into a pretzel! NOW!" Toby gets up from the pillows and walks for the door with a sulk. But he's wearing a smile so wide that all the world can't hide it, and his fists are clenched so hard his knuckles are blue.

"I'm not certain," Yolanda says, answering Ingersoll. "I'm assuming that all of them had their imaginary friends manifest before they came here -- they's their reason for being here after all, right? If that is the case then it's possible they are psionically active on some level, unless there's some other common thread that we don't yet know about."

Howl glances at Ingersoll. "Easy, doc. He's still just a kid. You act like he killed your imaginary friend."

Imaginary Girl pouts at Toby, hands on her hips. She then points a finger at him. "You're a bad, /bad/ little boy to talk like that. And I'm /not/ an imaginary friend. I'm real, in case you couldn't tell!", she says to him as he walks away after Ingersoll's scolding.

Doctor Ingersoll recovers his composure as he looks at Howl. "I'm sorry." He says as Toby sulks off. He turns to Kismet. "I was nervous because everyone else who's ever come in here has been pronounced cured. But these kids are different. And some of them, like Toby..." He shudders. "Well, Toby is...very scary to be around sometimes. Their parents brought them to me because of their unseen friends. They weren't fitting in at school, in Toby's case, he says he saw Mr. Wumbles hack apart a little girl's kitten, but three witnesses saw Toby do it." He says. "And if you had to work on Toby, you'd be nervous too."

Kismet nods. "Were all the kids connected in some way apart from their unseen friends?"

Yolanda takes a moment to quietly observe Imaginary Girl and how she interacts with Georgie.

Imaginary Girl looks at the remaining children, and at each of their friends. "What kinda games do you guys like to play?", she asks of them as a whole, letting the 'grown ups' talk.

"Not really." Ingersoll says. "They were just all brought here. Their parents have donated large amounts of money to the Institute." He says. "I have to take care of them. It's my responsibility."

Jack walks over to Imaginary Girl. "You should watch out." He says to Imaginary Girl. "I hear this Wumbles character's bad news. I'm pretty tough, but even I wouldn't want to throw down with Wumbles. He's strong. Maybe stronger than you. And he can jump a hundred miles or something like that."

Howl watches Yolanda watch Imaginary Girl. "What're you thinking?"

"Really? Well... I'll be careful if I see him, then", Imaginary Girl says to Jack. "Do you know where he is?", she then asks.

Kismet looks thoughtful, and then directs a telepathic scan at Georgie.

Yolanda lowers her voice again. "Out of curiosity... have you recently treated any children with friends who are similar to Imaginary Girl, Dr. Ingersoll?"

Sandra, Jim, and Lisa gather round Imaginary Girl, and the Imaginary Friends come with them. Even the supermodel seems to cuddle up to Jack Bombem a little bit, which cheers him up.

Kismet nods thoughtfully. "Doc, those aren't psychic manifestations in the expected sense." She still speaks quietly. "Have any of the kids talked about a big white pop?"

Doctor Ingersoll turns to Yolanda and says "I've been treating most of them for at least two years. But lately, the incidents have gotten stronger." He says. "There was an incident the other day where there was bird crap on my car. And it was from a parrot. A really large parrot. I can't believe I'm telling you this."

The supermodel chuckles. "Serves him right." She purrs.

"Look at her, Howl..." Yolanda says quietly as she watches Imaginary Girl interact with the kids and the friends. "She fits right in." She looks to Howl's eyes, wondering if he truly gets her point.

"No." Doctor Ingersoll says. The clipboard makes a beep. 'Datacrystal full.' He shakes his head. "No images?"

"Well." Howl replies to Yolanda, looking towards IG. "Her name /is/ Imaginary Girl. And I doubt it's because of what guys imagine with her."

Doctor Ingersoll looks over to Howl and says "That's not something we should be saying in front of children under ten."

"What's that?" Lisa asks Howl.

"See?" Jack Bombem says.

"Yeah..." The giraffe says. "We all love the doc. But he's a putz."

"Do you guys know where Wumbles is?", Imaginary Girl asks of the friends and the children. "If he's that mean and bad, maybe me and my friends should go stop him before him and Toby can hurt anyone else?

"Nope."

The giraffe shakes his head. "If we knew where Wumbles was, we'd be running."

Jim says. "Jack can take him, right, Jack?" Jack shakes his head sadly. "Kid, I'm good, but I'm not Wumbles good."

"Do you guys know where Wumbles is?", Imaginary Girl asks of the friends and the children. "If he's that mean and bad, maybe me and my friends should go stop him before him and Toby can hurt anyone else?" Then she glances over at the group with the doctor? "Well, you shoudn't call him that anyway, Georgie. He's really just trying to help, sounds like. Why don't you just talk to him?"

Kismet returns her attention on Georgie, seeking more information on the pop of big and whiteness. Time's passing since primarily. Whether it happened at the institute or not being somewhat important.

Howl shrugs at Doc Ingersoll. "They have no idea."

"He...can't see us, Imaginary Girl." The Giraffe says and gives her a hug. "See, people like us...we're imaginary. Like you." He says.

Yolanda nods to Ingersoll before saying to Howl. "These children are impressionable. We should be careful about what we say. Also about what we wear.." The last part, she says in Kismet's direction. "Now, what were you saying about a white light, kismet?"

Kismet looks at Yolanda, "I think these kids have known each other from seven years ago. Just a theory, mind you. Georgie has been with Lisa for that long, according to what he thinks."

"I'm not imaginary, Georgie. I'm real!", Imaginary Girl says with a pout, returning the hug. "The doctor can see me, right? So that proves I'm real, right? Anyway... wait... he can't see you? Really... that's wierd!" She turns to look at the others, then at the friends, then back at the others. "Y'all can see Georgie, Jack, and Sandra, right?", she calls over to those in the group with Doctor Ingersoll.

Howl shakes his head at Imaginary Girl. "Nope."

Yolanda says, "Kismet and i can see them, Girl."

"Mr. Wumbles wants to be real." Sandra, the fat girl says. She adjusts the crumbs off her lips. "He wants to be real more than anything."

Yolanda nods to Kismet. "That's important to know."

Doctor Ingersoll says "I think that's all the time we have." He's looking at the children and Imaginary Girl in particular, as if staring off into the distance. "I have to ask you to go now. I have to spend some time with Toby's parents and I need to write it up because they want everything in writing." He sighs. "I don't want to keep the boy here another week."

Imaginary Girl frowns, thoughtfully. "Wait... how come you guys can't see them?", she asks. "Even Yolanda and Kismet can see them... and they're /right here/", she adds, gesturing to the friends with both hands. Then she purses her lips a moment then leans over to whisper in Lisa's ear...

"Yolanda, and I assume Kismet, are psychic." Howl replies to Imaginary Girl. "My nose just works good."

Kismet suggests, still being quiet, "I think I can legally scan the unseen friends. Georgie has a mind, memories, thoughts, dreams of his own. Doc, you aren't dealing with a case of a mental disorder, except maybe with Toby, but I've seen that rabbit."

Kismet asks, finally, "Has Toby mentioned why Mr Wumbles left?"

Lisa whispers softly in Imaginary Girl "Are you sure you want me to just bounce on his toes, honey?" She giggles a little bit and moves over to Howl. If only Howl were imaginary too. Imaginary Girl sees Howl getting the lap dance of his life, and the supermodel is enjoying it. Sandra is whistling and cheering with excitement, while Georgie, Jack, and the little human Lisa gawk in horror.

Doctor Ingersoll mutters. "Oh, god. They're real. I proscribed drugs. I'm ruined." He twitches a little bit. "You've seen the rabbit?"

Kismet nods. "I was hoping you'd deduced that from when I described him. Did Toby mention why he left?"

Imaginary Girl giggles, then blushes and covers her mouth. "No, no, no! Not that! I just wanted you to ... like... hop!", she says, bouncing on her toes. "Like this!" She's looking /right/ at Howl. "Oh gosh, no! Stop!"

"Oh...wait. You mentioned that..." He says. "And Toby said Mr. Wumbles was going to become real. He had a plan for becoming real and he was going to make us all pay."

Yolanda nods agreeing with Kismet's words. "Doctor Ingersoll, we're dealing with something completly different that what was first diagnosed. I think that it would be prudent to keep the children under observation here. Especially Toby."

Howl shrugs at Ingersoll. "C'mon. I think the board will be rather forgiving for a guy who didn't believe in imaginary friendsd." He arches a brow at IG. "I need a smoke."

Kismet frowns. "We... need to find Mr Wumbles. I was seriously hoping I wouldn't have to do that after I saw him."

"I think so, too." Doctor Ingersoll says. "I'll attend to it at once. You guys should probably find Mr. Wumbles."

Yolanda looks away from Howl, shielding her eyes from him with a hand. "Oh, Lord..." she says, exasperated.

Silver Spider (Chandrika) pages: I hope you're laughing as hard as I am.

Imaginary Girl seems to 'catch' what's being said, suddenly. "Wait... You know where to find Wumbles, Kismet?", she asks of the scantily-clad woman. "Lisa!", she then says, looking at Howl again, her cheeks flushing red all over again. "Stop that, please!", she adds, though she can't help but giggle a little at the same time. "Geeez!"

Lisa finishes and walks back to her seat with a swift sashay. Jack Bombem shouts "You go, girl!" He turns to Imaginary Girl and chuckles. "Your turn!" He slips an imaginary dollar into the supermodel's imaginary dress.

The giraffe's tongue is still hanging out of his mouth.

Howl glances at Yolanda. "I know I'm not that handsome. One of these...daemons was doig something to me, weren't they?"

Yolanda chides. "That's enough of that, Jack." She points a finger at Lisa next. "And the same goes for you." She sighs to Howl. "I'll... tell you about it later."

All the children just stare. "I can't believe you did that!" Jim says. "How could you do that, Lisa!" He gives his Lisa a hug and shields her eyes. Sandra just giggles.

Kismet shakes her head. "I don't, but I saw him once. All we need to do is figure out where a pseudo-imaginary rabbit would go to cross over to interacting with our side of the world." She looks at Yolanda, "If you think keeping them here is the best thing for them, then okay. I don't know enough to object based on more than it's a mistake in the first place for them to be here. Especially with Toby."

Imaginary Girl shoots a 'look' at Jack Bombem and sticks her tongue out at him. "I don't dance like that, flyboy!", she says to him, moving back over to join the 'grownups' in their little group. "Sorry... I wanted to know for sure you couldn't see them... and now I know for sure that you can't", she says, directing her words to Howl.

Doctor Ingersoll says "If you think they'd be safer in their homes." He says seriously. "It's what I'm going to recommend. They really should be away from Toby for a few days."

Kismet nods slightly. "Or... the rest of their lives. I'm going to want to consult each of them about their past, which will involve deep memory scans. Is there any way that can be arranged?"

Howl nods. "They all seem...normal maladjusted children. Not that children are supposed to be well adjusted. They're /children/."

Imaginary Girl is quiet for a bit, then turns to Yolanda to ask, "I'm not a mind-reader like you and Kismet are... how come I can see the friends and Howl can't?"

Yolanda says, "Hmm. Really that they stay here isn't completely necessary. I just want to make sure that someone follows up with them, Dr. Ingersoll." She looks to Kismet. "Actually, I was going to suggest that I do the same. Maybe we could work together.""

Kismet looks at Yolanda, "Oh. You're a telepath too?"

Doctor Ingersoll says "I'll have to get parental signatures for that. I can't just authorize psychic intrusion into a group of kids." He says. "The state has laws, and I've already screwed this up by proscribing a few medicines. And I'd really like that, Yolanda."

[To Imaginary Girl] Yolanda says, "It could be for any number of reasons... We may know more after we do the interviews."

Howl tilts his head at imaginary girl. "Why is your name imaginary girl?" He asks in all honesty.

Yolanda blinks at Kismet's question. "Oh, yes... I'm sorry -- I assumed that you knew. I'm a telepath and a psychiatrist."

"I... don't know", Imaginary Girl says to Howl. "I don't remember why I picked it", she adds with a shrug of her shoulders.

Doctor Ingersoll smiles and says "Come on. Let's go, kids. Your parents are here."

"You're gonna keep us away from Toby, right, Doctor Ingersoll?" Lisa says.

Supermodel Lisa whispers "Ohhh, yeah..."

"Yes." Doctor Ingersoll says. "You kids can go home. Toby's going to stay here for a while."

The kids race out, and their imaginary friends follow them. They run out the door and get into expensive cars, looking for all the world like they've been relieved of a great burden. Jack stops at the door and blows Yolanda and Imaginary Girl kisses. "Sorry, toots!" Jack says to Kismet. "You're a little young for me."

Kismet ahs. "Yeah, I suppose it's... reasonable to assume that when no one told me," she offers a friendly grin. "No, Jack, I'm just too unreal." She winks. "Yolanda, you and I should talk very soon."

Night. Toby's room. It's dark, and the lights are off. The windows are cool, and Toby's fingers press against them, while he lets out a little breath. "You're here." He says quietly, and there's a dry shuffle.

"Of course I'm here, Toby. I'll never leave you. It's done."

"The first one?" Toby's eyes narrow and turn to steel with a savage giggle. "Cool."

"Soon they'll know. And she'll know too."

The cold grey furry fingers of a rabbit stroke Toby's hand. "Today, they made her laugh..." And the grinning visage of a yellow toothed rabbit with mad, vicious eyes glares out across Colonial Bay. "Now it's time to make Imaginary Girl cry..."