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Ep 4. Stuck

8/12/22

Brandy and Minty are arguing. Brandy shouts, No, you know our relationship isn't open anymore! Minty says, Calm down, honey! Brandy shouts, You don't get to call me honey after sneaking off to see other people! What do you think this is, Minty? We have a daughter! In the background, thunder booms. Later on the same night, Brandy and Minty are in the car. The GPS reads, turn right to arrive at East Center Ring law firm.
In the divorce lawyer's office, Dragonscale holds out a form and asks, Have you figured out what you two want in regard to custody? Brandy says, We're still thinking about it. Dragonscale says, Alright. Both of you need to sign at the bottom here. In front of Maple Syrup's apartment, Maple holds a sleeping Sugarcube. Brandy says, Thank you, I'm sorry. You're the only person who could come watch her on such short notice. Maple says, It's fine, Brandy. She's my kid, too. But I can't do it again. Brandy asks, What do you mean? Maple says, I'm, moving to Fort Blanket. In Silent Neverland. It's for my job. Brandy, distraught, asks, You'll visit? Maple replies, No.
Back in Brandy and Minty's apartment, Minty asks, What are we gonna tell Sugarcube? Our kid, Brandy? Brandy says, I don't want to talk to you right now. Minty asks, What? Do you want me to leave the apartment? Brandy answers, Sleep out there. We'll figure it out later. Minty is left sitting outside their bedroom, staring at one of Sugarcube's drawings of her, Brandy, and Minty.
One year later, Minty is watching the news on the couch while Sugarcube draws and Brandy cooks. A reporter on TV says, The students attending Middle Ring West High School are currently being quarantined within the building. The police say that there's been an outbreak of some new terrible illness, photos have yet to come out, but a ban on going outside has been issued in Middle Ring. The other reporter asks, Can you believe that? The first reporter answers, I think that's the first time in the Ring's history that there's been a ban on going outside!
The first reporter says, And the weird thing is, half of the parents won't pick up the phone. They said they don't usually have that issue contacting parents. Even some of the big polycules are ghosting the office. Slightly later, the news reports continue, saying, And the mansion is being burned by what seems to be objects from further out in Center Ring. Reporters can't get close enough to ask why there are riots breaking out in High Society. Laboratories are on lockdown. Even later, in front of their large apartment window, Brandy and Minty look out over the city, seeing smokestacks rising from the buildings. A crackling radio report continues, There are ongoing reports, of violent assault, suspect rioting, mutant objects.
Minty looks to Brandy in shock as Brandy turns and starts heading for the door. Brandy says, I'm going to get a bunch of canned food. Minty says, Wait, don't go! Brandy says, I'll be fine. Tell Sugarcube what's going on. Watching Brandy leave, Minty nervously asks, The kid? He stares at the door as it shuts, quiet for a moment, before asking, What do I say?
Minty swings Sugarcube's bedroom door open, saying, Hey, creature. Sugarcube, underneath a blanket fort propped up by a lamp stand, stammers, Uh, uh. Minty says, Yeah, you stole daddy's lamp stand again. It's fine. Don't listen to Brandy. You've just got that crazy monster blood in you. Sugarcube says, But Mrs. Charger said if I'm not a monster then I'm not one. Minty, picking her up, says, What does she know? Sugarcube answers, She's the science teacher! Minty says, Yeah, for the second grade!
Later, Minty is finishing explaining the situation. He says, Right. It's like a bad storm, but your dad had to get groceries. Sugarcube asks, Is he gonna be okay? Minty says, Of course! Of course. Minty says, Here, don't even worry about him right now. Let's make cookies. As they leave Sugarcube's room, the front door slams open, and Brandy comes stumbling into the room. Minty shouts, Brandy? Sugarcube shouts, Dad!
Minty asks, Who tried to kick your ass over a bag of dry crunchies? Brandy sternly replies, Mouth. Sugarcube cries, Dad! Brandy replies, I'm fine. Chill out, Sugar. He lifts Sugarcube to sit on one of his ice cubes. Minty stares at them both, backlit, as Brandy says, We're going to be fine.
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