In situations like this, Yu know exactly who to talk to

Instead of being disheartened, you take courage. Because you know exactly what to do, when you don’t know what to do.

"Don't sweat it. I'm in over my head all the time," you say, squeezing Pearl extra tight before letting her go. “We'll take this to Yutong. She’ll have a way to fix everything in 5 seconds flat.”

Pearl agrees to consult Yutong. The two of you go downstairs again, where you find your geeky friend sitting on the sidelines. She's still tuckered out from her robot dance blowout, and simply enjoys soaking in the action from the sidelines after her big debut.

“Oh good. You found Pearl," says Yu, chipper. She smiles optimistically at Pearl. "Did he give you everything back?”

Pearl kicks at the floor. “Sort of yes, sort of no. We’re working on that,” she says. “He claimed my loyalty and guidance till we figure out how to get his powers under control like, in a sustainable way.”

You share the point-by-point of your power-sharing agreement with Yutong.

Yu listens raptly, leaning forward so she doesn't miss a single word. “What you have is a good solution, it sounds like it’s just not the right scaling," Yutong says, breaking down the problem to its elements. "Pearl, in principle, you agree this is a good control method, correct?”

Pearl shrugs. “It’s a lot better than Chase doing whatever he feels like, whenever he feels like it. But it puts a lot of weight on my shoulders.”

You frown at Yutong. “What did you mean by 'not the right scaling'?”

Yu fixes her glasses. “Well, currently, you have two columns holding up the responsibility for using your powers. You, and Pearl. So, either make the columns stronger, or..." she shrugs "...add more columns.”

You picture the metaphor, two columns holding up a slab of stone that's tipping off the edge. “How do we do any of that, though?"

Yu patiently explains her suggestion. “Either you use your powers to make you and Pearl paragons of willpower and good sense,” she says, “or you add more people into the veto pact. You know, the same way democracy operates: power diluted over more decision-makers limits the ways in which that power can be used.”

Pearl gives Yu a serious look. “Would you volunteer for the job? I get if it's something you're not okay with, but I think you're literally the best girl for the job. Jane, Sully, and Indy don't even come close."

She doesn't need to mull over the proposal for more than a couple seconds. “Sure. If it helps Chase, I can’t really say no, can I?”

Pearl scoffs, and wags her finger. “No no, that’s the problem right there," she says. "What’s the point of adding you to the cabal if Chase already owns your vote? You’re compromised. That’s not going to make this better, it’ll just make it worse.”

“This is... also true,” says Yu, innocently.

Turning to you, Pearl delivers a stern ultimatum. “Give Yu her help back. And whatever that dancing thing was about,” she says. “If you do that, and make her our third veto, then when you give me my stuff back, we'll call it square and forget tonight's drama.”

It's not much of a choice. You do as instructed.

“Sigh. Okay Yu, I relinquish your help back to you, with whatever you want to do with it. And…” you remember Yutong cleaning the bedroom at your command. It’ll really be a shame never to experience that again, but oh well. “...I give you back your ability to do the robot dance. On top of that, I grant you the same veto power I gave to Pearl. Anything I want to do with my powers, both of you have to agree.”

Pearl makes a show of turning your words over in her head, but can find nothing amiss with them. “Permission granted.”

Another subtle pulse of power echoes through the room, centered on Yutong.

Yu sits upright. "Wow. I felt that.”

Pearl demands a test afterward, so you try claiming the couch, and tell Yu to get off. Nothing happens. Pearl grants permission, but still nothing happens. Only when Yutong also says, “I agree to Chase’s claim,” does it become yours, and Yu immediately jumps off.

Satisfied, Pearl nods. “Okay. Now give me my loyalty and guidance back.”

You do so. “Pearl, everything I’ve taken from you is now returned to do with as you’d like.” The two girls agree, and Pearl gasps.

“You actually did it,” she says, her mind boggled. “You gave up ultimate power. Why?”

You give a wan grin, and shrug. “For you, Pearl. Why else? Ultimate power doesn’t mean much if I have to trade you for it.”

Pearl is shocked. Her face heats. “Uh. Oh.” She abruptly clears her throat and turns back toward the party. “Ahem. Let’s get back to it, yeah? See if Sully ate all the pizza yet.”

“Sounds like a plan,” says Yu, merrily joining her.

You smile and go with the girls to enjoy the rest of grad night with loud music and friends.