#arithmetic lad

[fountainpenguin]

RIP Kid Math; you would've loved zoning property for real estate

[fountainpenguin]

I'm sure I've made this post before but:

- WordGirl telling Kid Math to be more careful and he immediately accuses her of being manipulative.

- Kid Math referring to walking away from adults as "getting away."

- Kid Math referring to taking a break for dinner as "giving up."

- Kid Math pushing back when WordGirl tries to give him a secret identity "so people won't worry about him" because there's no point when he doesn't have anyone on Earth to worry for him.

- Kid Math's fantasy is tearing the city to the ground and getting a high-five for doing so. Someone please give him healthy attention.

- Kid Math getting frustrated when WordGirl tells him not to break out of the cage before the commercial break because he'll ruin the audience's suspense so he re-seals the cage and flops over pretending he doesn't have arms. After the commercial break you see he's already outside the cage while WordGirl is still inside waiting for the Narrator's cue to start fighting again.

Kid Math not knowing what "hint" means because he doesn't understand the concept of asking for help. Hey buddy. Are you okay.

Kid Math: I can excuse destroying the city, but I draw the line at lying. WordGirl: You can excuse DESTROYING THE CITY?

[fountainpenguin]

🌆 Heroes' Journey 🌆

WordGirl

Pulling back the curtain on a world where mere mortals possess wild superpowers, with a focus on WordGirl and Kid Math's mentor-apprentice-equals relationship. Heavy consideration on how superpowers affect society, with emphasis on found families, secrets, and the mortifying ordeal of being known.

#ridwork guides

What Is This AU?

A slice-of-life WordGirl period piece that expands on the worldbuilding and character relationships seen in the show. Worldbuilding is thoughtful, lightly angsty, but mostly lighthearted with a goal to avoid infodumping and serious angst.

Give it up for Rex trying to hide his powers while more and more people grow convinced he's only hiding them due to abusive upbringing. Shout-out to Becky juggling his superhero training with her fractured social life.

AO3 Series - Heroes' Journey

WG Character Study Series - 28 Million Degrees

All WordGirl 'fics - Any series

WordGirl blog tag - #Satirical vocab alien child show

Posts about Rex and Becky as a comedic duo - #LexiHexa duo

Tone

Serious, but sprinkled with fluff and general tomfoolery. Cute and goofy moments interspersed with light relationship drama. Blends cartoony vibes and a thoughtful take on the worldbuilding.

Ex: Chuck has a broken foot that takes him out of the villain game while he recovers. Becky has to do homework. Yet we still have the Narrator and featured words :)

Characters

Heroes' Journey is a relationship study focusing mostly on Becky, Rex, and Huggy. Parents, friend groups, and neighbors play supporting roles.

Factor It In spotlights Rose Franklin, Victor Best, Eileen, and Granny May, as I figured they could use some extra love. Most villains show up at some point in the Heroes' Journey timeline.

Ships

Canon-compliant within the show's timeline. For me, this means Tobey has a crush on WordGirl, who doesn't reciprocate. Becky has a crush on Scoops, and Scoops/Violet is mutual. Also, Brent/Miss Question, who I definitely don't call [‽] in my head.

Romantic ships are not a big focus in the series as I prefer emphasis on friendships and rivalries, but you'll see romance in the background. Exposition Guy/Exposition Guy's Wife OTP SWEEP! ... Tim and Sally are there too, I guess.

- I write Becky as asexual with no interest in sex, pregnancy, or kids. She loves romance books and would like a fairytale romance, but... her true love is unlearning guilt, taking breaks, and finding peace with herself, I think :)

- Rex sort of has a crush on her, by which I mean he's convinced it's "obvious" the two alien superheroes will end up together. I see them growing up to have a pretty queerplatonic relationship. As he grows, he also develops a crush on Violet (She's kind to him) and Tobey (He uses calculations to build robots; idk what you expected).

- It's important to me that you know Rex is bisexual and when he's an adult, he will tell you this and giggle because "bisect" is a math term and he thinks it's funny every time he says it.

Setting

Fair City, which I've set in the state of Washington (Spotted owls and sasquatches represent!)

"AlgoRhythm" takes place December 1997 and the main 'fic - Factor It In - opens January 1998. This series may range from as early as Huggy's pilot years and Becky's infancy to as late as their adulthood.

Is It For Me?

If you like Becky, Huggy, Rex, the Narrator, thoughtful character relationships, and deeper worldbuilding about life in a world of superpowers, this series may be up your alley! I strive for canon-compliancy for pieces set during show canon.

I try to spotlight less popular characters in the show. Popular villains like Dr. Two-Brains are definitely there, but I try to give folks like Hal Hardbargain, Timmy Timbo, and the Coach their chance to shine as well (both as villains and civilians).

I have no "Becky's family finds out she's WordGirl reveal planned for this story," at least not in Becky's youth.

Major Themes

Expectations, pressure, stability, control, culture, conforming vs. self-expression, envy, trust, pride, guilt, secret-keeping, growth, self-reflection, moving on, and found family

Plot Highlights

- "AlgoRhythm" follows Kid Math as WordGirl introduces him to the Evil Villains Association at an overstimulating party.

- Factor It In bridges the gap between Rex's arrival in "Kid Math" and his cameos in both his Rex and Kid Math clothes in later episodes.

Other works in this series further develop the relationship between straightforward Rex and wishy-washy Becky, with plots ranging from teaching Rex about life on Earth to teaching Becky about the culture of Lexicon and Hexagon.

- Generally, the vibe is that Kid Math is inexperienced and therefore falls for tricks that don't feel WordGirl, so people try to take advantage of him. He gets frustrated when he doesn't understand why he has to follow certain rules and she gets frustrated by his stubborn pride. Shenanigans occur and require problem solving.

- "Flypaper" depicts The Gang in their late teens and young adulthood. Becky is now in college and left Huggy with Rex, who's Fair City's main hero until she returns. She feels detached and uncertain about where she is in life. Also, WordGirl and Super Why speak on a panel together and I badly need you to know.

Ongoing?

I wrote a one-shot in 2018. In 2023, I posted more content. This series is ongoing with infrequent updates at the time of posting.

- On hiatus & in need of buffer building. Intent to finish.

Warnings, notes, and explanations below so readers can learn more about this AU.

👀 Take a Peek

New here? You might like to start with these:

These character studies take place within this universe, though they're not listed as Heroes' Journey content since they focus on side characters:

- "Your family is doing okay" (G - 4400 words) - First meeting of Exposition Guy (Milo) and his to-be wife (Miah)

- "A penny for your thoughts (Oh no)" (G - 7000 words) - A zero-dialogue challenge with Captain Tangent

- "28 Cities" (G - 25k words) - A one-shot series focused on queerplatonic Rhyme and Reason. A taste of childhood with powers vs. without powers. Ongoing, but on hiatus.

Start Reading

Recommended ways to get into the full AU

"AlgoRhythm"

- Get started with a fluffy piece about Kid Math training under WordGirl, then attending a party so she can introduce him to different villains.

- Intro to basics like character dynamics, superpowers, and how Rex thinks

- Fluff, humor, & found family vibes

- Large cast of characters

🗺️ Worldbuilding

- It's rare to be born with powers, but not unheard of. The determining factor is genetics, as is the case with Kid Potato and the Butcher, or the Bests.

-> In-story, there's a character called the Nightmare King: father of Exposition Guy, the Narrator [and his twin], and Invisi-Bill. Their abilities range from semi-omniscience to invisibility, with the Narrator having both.

- Those who have powers are charmed. Doctor Two-Brains is not charmed as he relies on tech, and neither is Captain Tangent, who replies on a curse and his hook.

- Miss Question is not technically classified as charmed due to receiving her powers from lightning. However, she's found acceptance in the charmed community and she can use the label if she wants to. Chuck IS technically charmed, but doesn't identify with the label because he doesn't consider himself to have powers; it's just part of his family history.

-> Chuck would register as charmed on a blood test while Miss Question would not.

- It can take years for powers to show themselves. Most people show theirs as a toddler or during puberty. It's very rare for someone to spontaneously discover powers as an adult. There is seemingly no limit to the types of powers people can have. 1 power is the standard, but some people have as many as 3. It's very, very rare to have more than 3.

-> Rhyme has about 4 powers depending on how you classify things like super strength and durability alongside her super speed and freeze breath. Her dad has wind powers and her mom had water powers. Her family has a long history of charmed genes while Reason's has a long history of none.

- Charmed individuals may study in public school or in specialized charm schools that tailor teaching and accommodations to better suit them. Becky fears that if her parents learn about her flight and super strength, they'll send her to charm school (away from her friends).

-> Becky and Rex are not charmed because they're aliens; their powers follow special rules. However, Becky is "out" as a charmed individual who can speak with monkeys.

- All Lexiconians and Hexagonians have the potential for superhuman abilities. However, these abilities are nullified when they're on their planets, which contain trace amounts of Lexonite / Hexanite in the soil and ground them like average people.

-> Rex was raised with the intention of leaving Hexagon to pursue life as a hero somewhere else. He has the book knowledge for his powers, but no practical experience until coming to Earth.

- During Factor It In, Rex tries to conceal his powers while moving between foster homes, unaware that his caseworker found out about his quick healing and flight. Miah hints to him several times that she and Milo [Exposition Guy] are "a very charm-friendly household."

-> Flight is a rare ability. Miah suspects Rex may be lying low to avoid being traced by an abusive supervillain relative. Beyond that, she's surprised he would hide his powers, as it's not like they're unheard of in this world.

- There's a lot of depth to my takes on Lexiconian and Hexagonian culture, such as Lexicon being more into exploring nature and hunting or gathering food while Hexagon is more into mechanical things and agriculture. Rex is scared of storms because he grew up on a planet that had weather under control, and it's overstimulating for him.

- Both Rex and Becky have synesthesia. Rex can't read because "that's a Lexiconian's job." Also, Hexagon apparently had unicorns and Becky is jealous. My 'fics trickle details like this in over time.

- Last thing worth mentioning is that Huggy grew up with a lot of simians. Some he's on good terms with, others he has rocky history with, but it's generally accepted that Lexiconian monkeys are very intelligent and make great pilots.

- You can also send an Ask if you want to hear me talk about this world. I tag WordGirl content as #Satirical vocab alien child show

📋 Notes & Warnings

- Canon-typical violence (It's taken seriously and people do get injured, but the vibe is what you'd expect for goofy superhero content).

-> Cuts, scrapes, and wooziness are fair game, but no blood or gore. The most serious injury is probably Chuck's broken foot.

-> You should assume all robots are fair game to be destroyed.

-> No serious injuries or character death. Death mentions are backstory only

- Abuse mentions (Adults suspect Rex ran from an abusive home). However, no on-screen abuse besides the basics like family pressure from the Bests and Doctor Two-Brains having a rough go of it.

-> In "28 Cities," it's implied that Rhyme's dad pushed her superhero training pretty far and that she was emotionally and/or physically abused in the process. Reason only hears about this later.

- Rex has canon-typical morbid commentary (which is funny if you take it as "ha ha logic boy" but you could also read it as "Oh that's super dark Rex wtf?")

-> Ex: wanting to tear down the city

- Rare mentions of death (Ex: Rhyme's backstory ("28 Cities") where it's said her dad is a hero turned villain since his hero work didn't pay well enough to provide for Rhyme after his wife died.

More details about Rex's crush on Becky:

Rex sees himself as "Becky's obvious choice in partner someday" and is repeatedly flummoxed when she rejects his elaborate plans to court her 15 years from now.

Becky's asexual with no desire for pregnancy, but as they get older, people definitely try shipping her with Kid Math. She does go out with him in their teens/young adulthood in "A Little Ambiguity," which is a lovely date where no one has childhood baggage weighing them down.

As years pass, a young adult Becky starts seriously debating if she should "settle" with him because there are just so many parts of marrying Rex that are easier than trying to date other people, like the fact that he knows her superhero identity, doesn't think she's fragile, and he can take care of himself in the event that he's targeted.

-> It's the inherent angst of "I don't want kids anyway and I would really like a companion and he knows me so well, but WOW is he going to be so smug about it and I hate that."

It's this weird QPR where Becky's not sure if she feels "love" in the ways it's commonly defined and she's upset and burned out and lonely. Meanwhile Rex has gone on lots of dates, but always felt like she was the clearly logical option. Ah yes, Lexiconian definition crisis meets Hexagonian practicality.

-> I can't even say that I ship them because I Don't Romantically, but I need to study her chronic wishy-washiness & his refusal to look beyond surface-level understanding of things. Do u see my vision?

- All my WordGirl 'fics

- Want more info? Send an Ask!

You can create works based on this AU. Please cite me and/or the AU as appropriate (i.e. for things very specific to this AU). You are free to expand on ideas you've thought of thanks to my AU as a jumping off point. I'd love to reblog or link things to my AO3 works if I see them!

I write content with morally gray characters. Please don't portray my story events or worldbuilding out of context with intentional malice. As in, I request you do not post things created for the specific intention of bashing me or the AU

[fountainpenguin]

He's so little..... The smallest jellybean...

[fountainpenguin]

Thinkin' about my boys... (I am haunted by them due to rescheduling their queued arts on a regular basis)

[fountainpenguin]

Aspects of Rex's / Kid Math's character I really love

The thrilling sequel to my Becky / WordGirl character post, I guess

WordGirl "plays" with her villains in a way that Kid Math just does. not. get. I love how single-minded he is and how he still doesn't pick up on that attitude despite multiple attempts to explain it to him. In his mind, superhero work is serious business...

He just straight-up crushes Two-Brains' ray gun between his palms with this smug look on his face.

There is not an ounce of fear in his body... Always ready to get his hands dirty fighting crime.

He's constantly beaming and putting his hands on his hips. Service with a smile. The only service he provides is teaching times tables and kicking your butt.

That completely unnecessary spin he does when demonstrating how to add "a million plus a million."

WordGirl tries to call a time out on her battle with Two-Brains to talk to Kid Math and he just floats there with a dopey smile :) He doesn't really "get" calling time outs, but he's also a good boy who's ready to listen and chit-chat.

Got gushy and excited when he and WordGirl found out their planets are in the same solar system. Look at him.

Will cheerfully help you with any math equation regardless of how simple it may be... He might be destructive, but he's not mean. He'd be such a kindhearted math tutor; doesn't make you feel bad. He loves numbers and wants everyone else to love them too. This boy is made of pudding and love. Could kill you in the streets; a cinnamon roll with your math sheets.

WordGirl's backstory is that she snuck aboard Huggy's spaceship and startled him into crash-landing on Earth. Kid Math's backstory is that he took a spaceship for a joy ride. Where did he get it? Can he legally drive? Do his parents know he's roaming space? He answers none of this, but he makes a point to imply he was goofing off slkdjf

The hand motions he makes while acting things out during stories... He makes driving motions, he makes stick-snapping motions; he's great. It really makes him feel like this very visual and emotive person which plays so well against the usual stereotypes of logical people (cold, harsh, rude)... He's a friendly guy who just also wants to piledrive you into the asphalt. Love that for him.

I love the little ways he kicks his feet... I love when he tucks one foot behind his other leg... I love his unique little body language quirks.

WordGirl tries to shoo Kid Math away by saying that Fair City "already has a superhero," while she's dressed as WordGirl, after already stating she's from Lexicon, while she is flying, after Kid Math interrupted "an epic battle between good and evil," and he REALLY looked her in the eye and asked who the superhero she's referring to is sdklfj. The glare she gives him leaves me chortling every time.

"It's ME, you absolute coconut."

He's so brokenhearted when Becky doesn't respond enthusiastically to him showing up at school...

He can see through Becky's civilian disguise and it was so obvious to him that he thought it was a joke.

That one little fist pump he does when Becky's super exasperated with him and starts walking off... His excitement cannot be dampened.

Brags about raisins. That's just... such a weird trait. This child will brag about everything from his home planet to himself to snacks.

He just wants to be praised... Give him attention, plz.

Made a point of clarifying that he was still willing to fight Doctor Two-Brains "even though he has a number in his name" as though he assumed WordGirl would worry about that being a problem.

I feel like there's so much loaded in every line of dialogue... like how he specifically says "Is [Doctor Two-Brains] a villain who has a 'thing?'" which really drives home this idea that Kid Math came to Earth fully prepared for superhero duties; he constantly puts up this image of a guy who knows what he's doing even though it's blatantly obvious that he just bumbles into things and I love that.

He is SUCH a know-it-all but he's also, like. a child. And he's such an interesting foil for Tobey, who's a very emotional character. Tobey is a "hot and reactive" boy genius, Kid Math is a "cool and calculating" boy genius. They would drive each other up the wall, I think.

You never see Rex get angry... He always holds his cool. He doesn't speak up when WordGirl consistently slam-dunks him to the floor. He just quietly picks himself up. He doesn't protest when she shoves him out of frame. He doesn't yell, complain, or break down. Even when he and WordGirl disagree, he'll ask for more information, clearly explain the reasoning behind his thoughts, or he'll switch topics. He's very young, but very non-confrontational... and you get the sense that he'd be proud of that if you told him so because he cares a lot about his image and he has such pride in being logical.

He makes one grumble while defending himself for falling for the "Look behind you" act ("it means there's something notable to see") but he just kinda lets Becky push him around... She's not truly being mean, she's just trying to help, and he just yields to her. She's his guide even though he insists that they're equals :) She's his mentor and friend.

There is so much trust in his heart even though he knows basically nothing about her except the fact that her home planet shares a solar system with his. He's so innocent... Not yet burned by the world.

Kid Math bumbles through his words a lot, but his heart and actions are always good-natured... Certified good boy...

He gushes so much over the idea of being adored... He wants love and recognition, your honor.

His idea of showing WordGirl affection was to punch her, sdljkf... He taps her twice as though making sure she "gets it." She reacts strongly, looking like she's ready to slam dunk him again before the security alarm interrupts. At the end of the episode, WordGirl smiles and returns the gesture by elbowing him twice and I love that parallel. Tap tap.

I really like that moment where WordGirl and Kid Math both flinch and check in with each other after hearing the security alarm... It's such a good way to show that they both have the same powers and they're both trying to be on the same page even though she was literally in the process of yelling at him.

Okay this is less about Kid Math's character and more about the episode, but I LOVE how Kid Math ends up in a mousetrap / goop ray combo trap similar to the one WordGirl faced when fighting Two-Brains for the first time in "Squeaky's Machine." The scene explicitly draws attention to the fact that WordGirl is "too experienced" to fall for the early tricks she used to in her younger days, and it highlights Kid Math's inexperience by showing him falling for those tricks, and he's in the same trap... I just think that was a clever parallel.

I really like the dynamic of the ray gun scene where Two-Brains tries to explain Superheroes 101 to Kid Math and KM just sits there like:

That painful delay where Kid Math is staring down a laser gun that will turn him into goop and it takes a very long moment for him to ask for help sdlkfj

The look of shock on his face combined with his little finger splay when he realizes that WordGirl actually DID save him... Slowly processing how close he just came to death, slowly processing what it's like to have someone there for him... Buddy system.

(Also I think it's funny that the cage the henchmen put Kid Math in is smaller than the cage they put WordGirl in... He is little.)

He's constantly in the "on" number brain... He'll just scream "That's a prime number!" or "Two stores!" or mumble "You just said 16 words" or "That's a fraction!" and I think it's hilarious. He just really, really likes numbers... He is, undeniably, the Living Calculator.

I think it's funny that Kid Math's speed trail is glittery while WordGirl's isn't. I feel like she'd be jealous of his sparkles.

WordGirl tends to fly in squiggly motions but Kid Math flies in arcs... just a little detail that I think is cute. WordGirl is such a flighty, indecisive, back and forth person. Kid Math knows exactly who he is, what he wants, and where he's going.

WordGirl tries explaining why Kid Math needs to be careful and his immediate response is to accuse her of being manipulative... Rex, are you okay? Buddy, lower your emotional walls slkdjf

Okay but. Can we talk about that. Can we talk about how Rex was super hype to see WordGirl at school, he was SO READY to have a friend, but his worldview is so painfully black and white that he can't help calling her out on what he considers immoral behavior.

Rex sees nothing wrong with his destructive "You can't have crime if you don't have a city" ideas but he draws the line at lying. From Rex's POV, this is an episode about WordGirl pulling him from his straight and narrow Hexagonian lifestyle and into the morally gray zone. That's SO funny.

Double fist pump when he gets invited to WordGirl's house.

I cannot get over how perfect it is that he wears his superhero costume underneath his civilian clothes... I know Becky does that too but Rex is so blatant about it and it's such a good design choice. Everything about his outfit is a good design choice- I love how he's so similar to WordGirl but has his own unique style, from his eye mask to the way he flies. He's not just a re-skin of the existing hero... He's his own person with his own life, his own design. He's so good.

The progression of Kid Math's attitude from "Huh??" to "Uh-oh, I'm in trouble" in the different scenes when Becky pushes him off screen... He just looks so much more scared the second time... He knows he's disappointing her but he just doesn't understand why. Help him.

WordGirl gave Kid Math two "Let's talk about why this isn't okay" conversations about him blowing his cover and he still said "There's no reason not to tell everyone" skldjf. It's obvious he respects her and values her and wants to learn, but he also will just... Not Do That.

Rex resisting the idea of a secret identity so goshdang hard..... He absolutely doesn't want to be a "regular kid." Honestly fair.

Him...

He's clearly very smart, including knowing the definitions to several words (which he can even define himself, which a lot of characters in this show don't do)... Tried testing a Lexiconian by quizzing her on a definition with the most smug face imaginable... His response to a Lexiconian named WordGirl correctly defining a word was "Not bad."

idk something about the way Rex specifically uses phrases like "get away" [to walk away from adults] and "give up" [to go home and eat dinner] is very... hm. The fact that he didn't know what "hint" means... Someone please teach this boy that it's okay to ask for help and that he doesn't need to run away; there is such an aura of Big Yikes energy around him...

Realized that WordGirl had a catchphrase, so he attempted one himself and it was just "MATH!"

And he looks so disgruntled when WordGirl brushes it off and tells him he'll figure out something better later sdklfj...

The cheerful way he waves at Two-Brains before their fight.

Rex attempts the secret identity thing and still messes up in every conceivable way. He's actually worse at maintaining a secret identity after WordGirl introduced him to the concept, which he TRIES to tell her by pointing out that for him, "it's easier to just be a superhero all the time," and... man idk.

There's so much we can say about WordGirl trying to force Kid Math to fit inside her superhero box when he clearly doesn't want to. She has this perfect ideal of "peaceful family life" and this separation of hero and civilian identities. She takes those things for granted because she's always had her family.

Rex is new to Earth. He doesn't have the luxury of parents who care about him, but she tries to push these ideas of "Eating dinner in peace" and "So you can sneak away and fight crime without anyone worrying about you" on him anyway...

Rex doesn't need to divide his life and put up a secret identity front. He already has no one worrying about him. He's new to this planet. He has nothing. No one. He doesn't want her lifestyle, but she doesn't try to work with him and help him find something that works for him - y'know, like how there are tons of villains who don't have secret identities and they live perfectly normal lives - and instead she just tries to stick Rex in the "you need a secret identity because I have one and I know best" box... Man, I love their dynamic so much. She has no idea she's playing with fireworks, that Rex could explode over this... He's just polite and sweet and good, even though he totally doesn't want her life and he totally disagrees. Ugh, I love him.

The way he clasps his hands during his one little "Sorry I helped a villain" apology...

He's just so expressive with his hands; we love to see it.

Even though he clearly knows Two-Brains is the enemy, he still follows his instructions... He thrives on "being good."

WordGirl told Kid Math he needs to "build suspense for the audience" and his immediate reaction was to pretend he doesn't have arms. Then he played dead by flopping over, sticking out his tongue, and crossing his eyes. I love him so much.

Offered to get back inside the cage when he noticed WordGirl was glaring at him.

His random backflips... He's so playful...

I'm sorry I just find it funny that WordGirl basically told him to go to his room and chill out... She sent him to his spaceship sdfklj

WordGirl: "If the villains knew my secret identity, they would never leave me alone" -- Kid Math: /rolls eyes

LAUNCHES himself into a scene... just. Springs in. Top speed. His favorite way to enter a conversation.

"Hello there, Earth kids! I'm sure not Kid Math at all!! :) Boy, isn't it crazy that neither one of us is a superhero from the Planet Hexagon?? What are the odds?? :)" Who wrote this dialogue, it's my absolute favorite. He's a child. Rex is so incredibly smart, but he's also just Like That.

He just really loves floating... He'll babble to you and start floating in the air, slowly rotating upside-down. He'll sometimes just go up and then down again... He likes floating. We never see WordGirl doing that, so I love how there's another character with the power to fly and he uses it to, like... express himself. Just part of his body language.

He literally makes this face while talking about his plan to destroy the city and I love him so much slkdjf

He even planned it out, right down to citing "amazing superpowers" as the reason that "No one would be able to stop them." Crying.

Seriously can we talk about the fact that Becky tried to stop him by saying "We can't destroy the city!" and in her mind it was obvious that she was talking about the moral reasons why they shouldn't do that, but Rex literally replied "Sure we can!" because he was only thinking about the logistics... it's so good. Show don't tell me that your alien is a product of his ultra-logical culture. Fantastic. No remarks.

His fantasy of tearing down the city includes him getting a high-five from WordGirl... Someone PLEASE give this boy healthy levels of attention; he wants to be someone's hero so badly.

WordGirl tried explaining that hurting people is wrong and he still wouldn't let the idea go, I canNOT with him... he's such a card.

Specifically, I need to emphasize that WordGirl checked in to make sure Rex was on the same page that mass destruction is wrong and he was like "Sure okay whatever" and then immediately got excited about... an alternate but equally destructive daydream. His little "Oooh!!" and the way he taps his finger against his lips kills me.

He's just such a playful little kid... He painted Violet's nose green for absolutely no reason... He's SO wild and dangerous and I love that, but he's kept in check by his innocent desire to be a playful little kid and I love that too.

Went to art class and painted... a math equation.

That shy little kick he does when Violet compliments him and he stuffs his hands in his hoodie pockets; he is SO weak for words of affirmation... Help him.

"Compliments make Earthlings feel good :) ... Which I am!! An Earthling! Not Kid Math!!"

Every little bit of his body language is SO GOOD...

I like how Becky and Bob have only known Rex for three days and the moment he starts stuttering and hesitating while trying to come up with an excuse for where he was running off to, Bob just... facepalms and Becky winces; they have no faith in this kid slkdjf.

Kid Math thanks Two-Brains for giving him a compliment on his witty banter, then checks over his shoulder to see WordGirl's reaction... She gives him a thumbs up.

All those little moments where he jolts and clutches his fists against his chest.

"Did you know about this?? >:/ " about something WordGirl could not possibly have known about.

Narrator presents two options and Kid Math says "I choose both." Can you even imagine arguing with the all-knowing voice in the sky.

Entire city is about to be turned into goop and Kid Math still stops WordGirl and wants to trade the hero task she gave him with one that he likes better... He's such a CHILD.

I like how we still saw him out and about in his superhero costume during "Time Out With Two-Brains..." just doing his own little thing. Living his best life, didn't give up his dreams.

Also he just has the best little background poses:

After an entire episode of chasing love and adoration, he gets to hear the crowd cheer for him and he's so dang excited :) Good for him!!

Fully owns up to his mistakes, but also never apologizes for anything (apart from the minor suggestion he made to improve Two-Brains' plan...) Man, he is certainly one of the hero kids who has ever been. Disaster of a cinnamon roll.

Anyway I love him.

[fountainpenguin]

Some other fun facts about June 13th and my fanfics:

It's Foop's birthday (Friday the 13th; born 2008)

It's also Kid Math / Rex's birthday on the Earth calendar. Since he was also a Season 7 Episode 1 kid associated with blue, I purposely gave him Foop's birthday. They're buddies :)

[fountainpenguin]

I am very normal about the fact that Kid Math arrived on Earth and the only thing he wanted to tell WordGirl about their home solar system - a place she knows next to nothing about - is that his planet has better raisins.