Like Tears in Rain

[PointMaid]

After the hug, Olivia, just rolling with what she knows in her current place, is already wanting to make her family happy.

Well uh.... the good news is I'm really starting to reach out to these foreign investors and I think we're about to be very wealthy. I don't really care about the high life, you know, but I want all of us to be as comfortable as possible.

"I know, honey. I'm just glad you're back. I was going to order take-out for dinner, what do you want?"

"I got a 95 on my history test, mom!"

"...Hey, you want to play a video game before dinner?"

[Mr. Lee Hammer]

To her husband

I think a grilled chicken salad would be pretty good.

To the child who did well on the test

That's wonderful! I know school isn't always easy, but you work at it and it pays off! Really proud of you! I knew you could do it!

To the other child

Sure! What are we playing?

[PointMaid]

To her husband

I think a grilled chicken salad would be pretty good.

To the child who did well on the test

That's wonderful! I know school isn't always easy, but you work at it and it pays off! Really proud of you! I knew you could do it!

To the other child

Sure! What are we playing?

Olivia's husband orders some baked ziti and a grilled chicken salad for take-out.

The first kid just hugs her tighter.

The other kid suggests either Mortal Kombat or Mario Kart.

[Mr. Lee Hammer]

Let's do Mario Kart.

[PointMaid]

Let's do Mario Kart.

They grin and get out the controllers. "No holding back!"

[Mr. Lee Hammer]

Hey, kid, I can beat you any day of the week, Olivia says in a light-hearted tone before giggling. She grabs a controller and they both begin playing.

[PointMaid]

Hey, kid, I can beat you any day of the week, Olivia says in a light-hearted tone before giggling. She grabs a controller and they both begin playing.

Woah! Olivia is good. Very good. Shells avoided and powerups obtained, a very good time. Her daughter is close behind... and comes from behind and bests Olivia's time! Very nice indeed.

[Mr. Lee Hammer]

Olivia is stunned that her daughter managed to beat her in the end. But also proud. She has raised some good children indeed.

Wow! You're just like me at your age! I bet you're the best player in the neighborhood.

She smiles at her daughter and gives her a playful nudge to the face.

[PointMaid]

Olivia is stunned that her daughter managed to beat her in the end. But also proud. She has raised some good children indeed.

Wow! You're just like me at your age! I bet you're the best player in the neighborhood.

She smiles at her daughter and gives her a playful nudge to the face.

"...Most of the time," she admits.

Meanwhile, Olivia's husband comes in, saying that their food has arrived.

[Dookie]

Olivia walks through her portal. She steps onto the grass, and looks up, realizing she's right outside of her home. It's not the most luxurious place, but it's in a nice area, and she can hear the screaming and playing of her children from inside.

As she knocks on the door, her husband opens the door. "...Liv? You're back! How was your trip? I hadn't heard back, so I've gotten a little worried.

---

Helena finds herself outside an office. It's the corporate HQ of Brothers in Arms. It's a show, but working in it isn't always big fancy houses and filming. There's always the tedious parts of it; parts Helena knows that well.

As she walks in, she can see her co-workers well, working and messing around. Sam's doing everything effortlessly, as usual, Too Too's by the water dispenser, etc. Every once in a while, the scene will flicker, revealing fire and brimstone behind the office walls, but you've gotten used to that. Your boss, Audley, is in her office. You don't see her a lot, and you hope you won't have to see her right now.

---

Skelebob finds himself in the lobby of a hospital in DC. It's the evening, and busy; people going back and forth, trying to get to rooms and surgeries and trying to visit family, sometimes even just doctors trying to get their dinner. You've heard from your friend Christine that they serve surprisingly unhealthy things in hospital cafeterias sometimes for the doctors. Nothing you could have dreamed off in the war years, though, so what exactly was the problem?

Speaking of your friend Christine, you see her walking past you. She acknowledges you, but doesn't talk; she knows just as much about how weird a talking skeleton is as you.

'um...hey everyone. I was thinking we could maybe take a vacation somewhere like, not near here. Get away for a while."

[Mr. Lee Hammer]

Olivia is stunned that her daughter managed to beat her in the end. But also proud. She has raised some good children indeed.

Wow! You're just like me at your age! I bet you're the best player in the neighborhood.

She smiles at her daughter and gives her a playful nudge to the face.

"...Most of the time," she admits.

Meanwhile, Olivia's husband comes in, saying that their food has arrived.

Dad's home and he brought dinner! Let's go eat!

Olivia quickly sets up the table in the kitchen and puts the food on the table for everyone.

[PointMaid]

Olivia is stunned that her daughter managed to beat her in the end. But also proud. She has raised some good children indeed.

Wow! You're just like me at your age! I bet you're the best player in the neighborhood.

She smiles at her daughter and gives her a playful nudge to the face.

"...Most of the time," she admits.

Meanwhile, Olivia's husband comes in, saying that their food has arrived.

Dad's home and he brought dinner! Let's go eat!

Olivia quickly sets up the table in the kitchen and puts the food on the table for everyone.

Everyone sits down, tucks in, and eats.

BOB-B buzzes in Olivia's ear, on a frequency only she can hear. ...How heartwarming. Are you going to tell them about the new bodyguard they'll need?

[Mr. Lee Hammer]

Right, right.... so, I got something I need to say. About how I want us to be comfortable. But I also want us to be safe, too. And I've been talking with this agency and I'm hiring us a bodyguard.

[PointMaid]

Right, right.... so, I got something I need to say. About how I want us to be comfortable. But I also want us to be safe, too. And I've been talking with this agency and I'm hiring us a bodyguard.

"A bodyguard, honey? Why would we need that?"

[Mr. Lee Hammer]

Look, you'll just have to trust me on this. I have the feeling we're all about to need one.

[PointMaid]

"...You're kinda scaring me."

"Yeah, mom."

BOB-B also adds something. ...Remember that at some point your alternate self will arrive home. You should not run into yourself.

...Like Jennifer in Back to the Future? You know that's not real, right?

...It's still a THING, MORI-RT.

[Mr. Lee Hammer]

Look, just trust me on this, all right? You all mean everything to me and I don't want to lose you all. Here!

Olivia gives her husband a card to the bodyguard agency.

Take this and call them up and get a bodyguard, please! Please! Just do it!

She gets more and more restless as she looks at the door.

Look, just call them, OK? Get some protection! I.... I need to get outside...

Olivia makes a run for the door outside and

>returns back to the futuristic house

[MadameButterflyKnife]

Sam looks up. "Oh, it's Helena. Nice to see you again, XD. What's this bout a vay-cay?"

[Risdio51]

"I'm flattered by your depiction of me, Shinji. Allow me."

>make a sand sculpture of Shinji's face

[PointMaid]

>make a sand sculpture of Shinji's face

This time it comes out pretty well! And Shinji seems to like it.

[EeveeGirlChey]

Gwyneth was picking herself up off the floor after passing out in the kitchen when she heard about the challenge. She rushes to the living room and sets out cushion and crystals up before taking a seat.

1. Who do you choose to protect, and why? Is there a reason they might be targeted, or is it just you care about them above anyone else?

"Oh, gosh, that's tough to answer.... If I had to choose one, I'd go with..."

Gwyneth meditates on what she plans to say next.

"My entire family. I know, too cliche, almost everyone else here has brought up their families, but who gives a crap? I'm Gwyneth Paltrow! Anyway, I'd protect my family. I think they'd be targeted by all the haters and the trolls online who say that I'm nuts and all that. Like, I can't help that I'm crazy brilliant as a successful businesswoman, that is! They're probably jealous."

2. How do you protect them?

"We'd all go and hide away in Spain, in the city of Talavera de la Reina. I remember spending a year as a exchange student when I was a teen and I learned a lot! It'd do the kids some good to know about my earthly past. Plus, the food, the culture, the people... Aw man, it's amazing."

3. ...Without them knowing that they're protected and that you've been kidnapped by us. You want a real mess? Let our existence and the existence of these timelines get out in YOUR time. You must keep that veil of silence.

"Oh no, uh, well, um... I-I'd have to tell them that the Goopers want me back at HQ because Netflix is talking about giving me another season of The Goop Lab and that I had to go home early. god, That's the best answer I can provide... Namaste."

Gwyneth puts her hands in a prayer and bows her head down.

[Dookie]

Sam looks up. "Oh, it's Helena. Nice to see you again, XD. What's this bout a vay-cay?"

"Well I was thinking we could stay safe, maybe go to Vegas, or the Bahamas...season 1's made enough money for us to do so."

She gets a drink from a water tank.

[Risdio51]

"The sky is beautiful, isn't it, Shinji?"

[PointMaid]

"The sky is beautiful, isn't it, Shinji?"

He looks up, seriously.

"Yeah. Yeah, it is. Even more so than usual."

[Mr. Lee Hammer]

Back at the house, Olivia heads into her room and breaks down crying.

I found I had a family and now I blew that. They must all think I'm a lunatic.