Sharp Dressed Man

Although, Bro and Ruby were not officially romantically involved, they had been sharing the same bed for sleeping purposes. So, Bro was less than amused to find Novio snoring away on his pillow.

"Just what in the hell do you think you're doing, Novio?" said Bro rather loudly.

The tuxedoed trespasser leapt from Ruby's bed and screamed, "NONE OF YOUR BEESWAX!!!"

"This is it!" Bro yelled. "Now you have really crossed the line!!!"

Ruby woke to angry shouting.

And this is not how Ruby likes to be awakened.

"What kind of sick and twisted, tuxedo-wearing, freak are you?!!"
Ruby shouted. "What kind of infantile, degenerate, pervert...?!!"

"The kind who deserves a spanking...?" Novio suggested.


Next: Mia Culpa!

She Blinded Me with Science

That night, while Novio was taking a late bath, he heard a faint voice calling his name. The voice was telling him to put on his tuxedo. Novio knew the voice. It was his old teddy bear..

...Hubbard!

Novio did as Hubbard instructed. He donned his black tuxedo and then entered the bedroom where Ruby was sleeping.

"What's that Hubbard? You want me to get into the bed with Ruby?"

"I don't think I'm supposed to do that, Hubbard........

...what...?

.....well of course I think she's pretty...."

"I'll just lay down here on top of the covers."

"What, Hubbard...? You want me to get under the covers...?

Next: Sharp Dressed Man

Pwned!!!

Both Novio and Ruby were successful in their tasks. Within two hours they had a new computer all set up and dialed in to the internet.

As soon as they had everything setup, Novio screamed, "Firsties!!!" He plopped down in the computer chair and began creating a female night-elf rogue in World of Warcraft. This was not exactly what Bro had in mind for the computer.

Bro made Novio surrender his seat so that Wrill could begin the task of tracking down Mama and Dr. Noory.

Novio growled, "ruckum-scruckum ruckum-scruckum" and glared at Cousin Oliver has he stormed outside.

Cousin Oliver cornered Baby alone in a bedroom.

"I'm sensing a modicum of dismay at my presence here. And I gather there is some concern that I may spill the beans on some big secret you all are keeping. I just want to let you know that everything is negotiable, as long as m&m cookies are on the table.

Next: She Blinded Me with Science

OK Computer

Cousin Oliver could tell that something wasn't quite right. In an annoying, whiny voice, he demanded to see Hera immediately.

Bro assured Cousin Oliver that Hera would be right along. He suggested that the boy take a bath so that he would be all clean when she arrived.

As soon as he heard the tub water running, Bro quickly assembled everyone in the living room for an emergency meeting.

"We can't let this kid talk to anybody outside of this house." said Bro. "Any suspicious stories get out and the men in black will be crawling all over the place."

"We have no time to fool around. We've got to hook back up with Mama and Dr. Noory ASAP. We're going to need the internet to find them. Novio, I want you to go out and find us a computer. Ruby, you get us set up with DSL.

"Baby and Wrill, don't let that little rugrat out of your sight."

Then Bro quickly adjourned the meeting before Cousin Oliver could notice anything suspicious.

As Novio was leaving, he shouted, "When all of this is done, I get to keep the computer!"

Next: Pwned!!!

Sunshine Day

Ruby was quite shaken up by her vision of Rhea in distress.

She walked back into the house and whipped herself up a large batch of Tom Collins.

"I don't know where they are, Bro, and I certainly don't have any idea how to bring them back. Want a cocktail?"

Bro decided to pass on the cocktail and went to bed. Ruby downed her Tom Collins and joined him, but she was far too wired to sleep. She tossed and turned for a bit. But when she saw that the sun was beginning to rise, she decided to get up, take a shower, and start the day.

That is why she was the only one up when there came a quiet tapping at the front door.

A strange boy was standing outside.

"Good morning, kid. You're up awfully early. Is there something I can help you with?"

"Is Hera here? I'm supposed to stay here."

"You're supposed to stay here? Who are you?"

"I'm Cousin Oliver."

Next: OK Computer

Connect the Dots

Wrill suggested that since Ruby is a witch, maybe she could locate Hera and Rhea using Magick. Maybe she could even summon them back somehow. It was worth a try.

So Ruby went out alone into the night and built a small bonfire for scrying.

She added several arcane ingredients: mandrake, horehound, mint, clove, rhubarb, willow, and just a pinch of methane...

Ruby gesticulated gracefully before the fire and sang an ancient family incantation.

She gazed deeply into the crackling flames.

For a long time, she saw nothing but a swirling pattern of fire, coals, smoke, and ash. Then slowly an image began to take shape before her eyes. As the image cleared, Ruby was overcome by a growing sense of horror. That is when she heard Rhea...

S C R E A M ! ! !

Next: Sunshine Day