[Fugly Bob's Burgers]
It was a snowy winter noon. Perfect for hot food.
In the middle of Brockton Bay's greasiest burger joint, I stood in line to order food like a regular person- discreetly glancing at the ketchup-red booth table with Dragon and the former Cauldron members.
They had yet to recognise me, especially Dragon. Our little game has been afoot for more than a minute now, and she has been actively searching for me in the crowd. Just a harmless little game... with a Dragon in french maid play on the line. However, my sexy AI girlfriend's chocolate brown eyes did glance over at me in suspicion from time to time.
Meat-mimicry Protocols active at 100% maxload
Shift weight from foot to foot, feigning feeble organic muscles. Excrete a drop of moisture at the back of my neck, feigning human perspiration. Stretch left shoulder, feigning muscle fatigue. Crack knuckles, feigning the presence of inefficient synovial fluid in my joints. And finally, sigh while glancing at the people in front of the line with annoyance and contempt. For the last part, I didn't need to feign it: my contempt for the restaurant's service inefficiencies and the long line of meatbags in front of me was real enough.
That seemed to be enough to convince Dragon. She turned her gaze elsewhere- scanning the entrances and glossing over three very familiar girls entering the premises before peering out the window in search of me outside. But now, it was those three girls that I was concerned over: Glory Girl, Panacea and Taylor. All in civilian wear.
With luck, things were hopefullynotabout to become interesting.
"I can't believe how cheap things are getting." Taylor Hebert told Glory Girl and Panacea as they all fell in line right behind me.
"You can thank Dragon and Magos for that." Glory Girl muttered as an aside- her eyes focused on the menu board. "Really threw everyone a bone by buying up the farms out in the sticks and running them better. Except for people with diets of course, much easier to lose track of calories and overeat now."
Taylor just hummed in consideration.
"Even if my allowance stayed the same, I could probably afford to eat at a restaurant everyday instead of cafeteria food. And that's insane for me."
"But I thought Dan- er, your dad, is getting paid really well?"
"Didn't used to be like that." Taylor absentmindedly waved off before her eyes grew comically wide as she spotted the menu changes. "Oh god, even Fugly Bob's has a French item now. Is nothing sacred from the French anymore? A 'French Onion Burger?' Brise du Matin cheese? Thyme in a burger? And what the hell is a pickled courgette?!"
"No one is forcing you to eat the French burger, Taylor." Glory Girl patted the lanky girl's shoulder. "But I tried it before and it was alright."
"Don't mind if I don't." the taller girl just sighed back, "I have been gulping water and nutrients out of a hose for the past three weeks, but I still wouldn't eat that French abomination even if it was the only solid food on the menu."
"It's alright, we'll get something solid in you. I got this." Glory Girl smiled at her new friend before tapping my shoulder. Oh boy, here we go.
"Hey, my friend just woke up from a coma, would you mind if we cut ahea- Hey! You're that guy I saved that one time from the Merchant a month ago."
"I'm surprised that you remember me." I answered honestly.
"It stood out because it happened uptown." the blonde shrugged- a cocky grin on her face, "Never really see that happen. Like at all."
"Thanks again for the save, Glory Girl." I acknowledged her help, "But sorry, I can't give up my place in line, I have people waiting for me."
I refrained from glancing at Dragon's table and giving myself away. She was definitely watching and maybe listening in. But I had more immediate problems as Glory Girl's pink lips visibly frowned. I didn't want to use my Logis Acceleritas, just in case Dragon could see any outward indication of its use, but I'll certainly be found out if Glory Girl throws a punch and finds that my insides are a bit too metallic to be human. So, in an echo of our first meeting, my{Logis Acceleritas MK. IV}filled in the blanks.
Is still a violent hot head with anger issues.
Still doesn't like how I don't Ooh and Awe at her presence.
Notable increase in aura effects, tenseness in various muscle indicate increasingly aggressive disposition. Is not taking my rejection well. Used to having her way, especially since existing rebellious 'My way or the highway' attitude reinforced by mercenary corpo-cape work. Exacerbated by low opinion of unpowered people due to her parahuman supremacist ideals.
Ideal Vector: Allow her to air her perceived grievances first.
"It's fine, Vicky. Standing in line like everyone else is just right." Taylor told her- also sensing that things were turning ugly.
"No, it's not." Glory Girl snapped, and Panacea was just muttered 'Fuck, here we go again.' under her breath as Glory Girl stepped up into my personal space with all her disgusting C-cup fat-sacks and smooth protein-based skin... then jabbed my chest with a finger. Every other person in the restaurant, even Dragon's table was staring at the brewing altercation now. Likely Glory Girl's 'It's-a-Shaker-Effect-not-a-Master-one-I-swear!' effect at work.
"I don't know what your problem is with me." she tried sounding patient, but ended up just growling, "I was just asking you to do the right thing for my friend here. Especially since you owe me. That doesn't just make you inconsiderate, but also a bit of a douchebag."
That was the singularly most egotistical way of viewing the conversation so far... and something that definitely wouldn't be occurring if she knew who I was. However, it was very problematic since she was watching the proceedings and thinking of she should step in, and I wasn't about to lose out on French Maid Dragon. However, I had a secret weapon in my pocket.
"I'm sorry, I didn't realise that I was being so rude." I apologised with just the right tone and inflection suggested by my{Logis Acceleritas MK. IV}to begin convincing her, "Let me treat you and your friends as a way of apologising."
Because unlike the heroes during the ransom exchange, Ididgo out carrying a wad of cash with me.
"You don't have to do that!" Taylor protested, her tall and stick-thin frame stepping between Glory Girl and me.
Socially stunted human female, aged 15. Notable hero worship indicates naive idealism. Will immediately capitulate against an extrovert with ostensibly good intentions.
"I insist!" I shot a friendly smile at her. "That was a dickmove- being insensitive about your recent medical condition and everything. It's the least I can do."
"Ah... ok." the tall girl shrank back, her brown eyes flickering in my direction every so often. Meanwhile, Glory Girl just looked unimpressed.
"Bribing my friend with food doesn't make us okay." She spoke in a flat tone- staring at me with her baby blue eyes as her aura pulsed with power. Damn, she won't even take an apology seriously.
"Maybe.." I began before lowering my voice to a very low whisper, "... you should just let it go,Antares."
Expression, fearful and shocked. Glory Girl caught by surprise and consequently emotionally vulnerable.
Ideal Vector: Hammer at her weakness. Threaten her employment. Threaten her newfound freedom. Threaten her disregard for the Unwritten Rules.
"You were coming on too strong with your Shaker Effect there." I warned her- voice still in a soft whisper, "Someone might construe it as an out-of-costume attack. Friendly fire at that. Watch where you're blasting or I'll have to forward a complaint to a Chloe."
Glory Girl visibly winced at that.
"Sorr-"
Frightened body language indicate Glory Girl suitably chastened.
Ideal Vector: Offer escape from awkward social situation (aka, offer friendship.)
"You don't have to apologise, misunderstandings happen." I sighed before shooting her a wide smile, "We got off on the wrong foot, but I'm serious about treating you, your sister and your friend to lunch. Like I said, it's the least I can do."
Victoria seemed taken aback by the sudden change in pace before smiling brightly too.
"It's a deal!" She chirped- holding out her hand. "Victoria Dallon."
I shook her hand.
"Aoicus MacHann." I 'introduced' myself. MacHann, Aoicus. Machannaoicus. Mechanicus. It was a veil-thin disguise, but maybe having a fake Irishman's name will give me some fake Irishman's luck.
"Oh! One of those exotic Irish names." Glory Girl giggled- having bought it completely. Let's go, Ireland!
"And yours?" I looked at the two very powerful women- still girls- who may or may not be hating my guts for one reason or another. Wonderful.
"Amy Dallon." Her burnt-out sister and future rapist grunted- staring at me with those suspicious brown eyes as I distinctly avoided touching her. The turtleneck and open winter jacket hung on her fairly thicc frame. Frizzy brown curly hair spilled out of her pulled up hood. Her face was heavily freckled and I had to wonder if how attractive a freckled body would look.
"Taylor Hebert." the Queen of Escalation and bad ideas mumbled. With some luck, she won't see me as one of those unfair authorities to be taken down. She was much heavier dressed than even Amy- practically swaddled in thick winter gear and making her stick-thin frame actually look filled out. One can almost say that she had a nerdy-type of cute with her lush black hair and thick frame glasses... if they were into meatbags.
"Yeah, lunch is on me." I shot them both a smile, "Order what you like."
"So, uh..." Glory Girl stammered- her blue eyes looking away as she tried to find the words. Words that my{Logis Acceleritas Mk. IV}supplied to me instead.
Wants someone to connect with her over her corpo side job. Unsure how to broach the topic.
'Unmasking' inevitable. Best to establish rapport with important employees now. Also, Dragon will approve.
Ideal Vector: Make friends with the meatbag(s).
Ugh... Again?
"I was the cavalry, just in case things got out of hand." I revealed to Glory Girl, and it was technically true to an extent. I usually had a few Chloe-Skitarii with Arc rifles ready to bring down the lightning if things got unfair. More than just ensuring that we always won in the corpo scene, Glory Girl was my way into officially making New Wave as the Mechanicus' exclusive corpo cape group.
"You were?" She said- her blue eyes widening mild surprise, "Mago- er... the boss said something about having backup, but he never mentioned who specifically."
"It says something about how well of a job you do that you never actually saw me."
"So, how long have you been watching me?" She grinned, and I replied immediately.
"I've had your back since your first... outings."
It had been around two days after the Assault on the Cauldron Compound that I started employing Glory Girl as a corpo cape. Desperate for some money after all her stuff burned down with their house, she came to me- looking for a medium-to-long term gig to recoup her losses.
And as luck would have it, it was exactly around that time that I was in need of capes with discretion. The North American cape scene had been rapidly changing even before the debrief three weeks ago. With the Elites hemorrhaging capes and talent, competing corporations began gobbling up capes, and that meant corpo-cape fights.
My competitors had the remnants of a supervillain corporation that once had half of America in their pocket, I had Glory Girl. I was her backup, her accountant, her trainer, her coach, her 'guy in the chair' and most importantly, her employer that held her ten year contract.
"You've been with me from the start?" the blonde heroine gasped- her eyebrows raising to her hairline in disbelief, "No way!"
"Yes way." I nodded sagely. "Remember your first fight? I'd bet that wind-controlling girl down in Atlanta is still having trouble sitting down after a kick like that."
"Alright, alright. You proved you were there." she chuckled sheepishly, "The cameras weren't even rolling anymore by the time I did that... What did you think of the actual fight though?"
She played it coy- her blue eyes glancing at me through the blonde curls of her hair as she smiled nonchalantly. But my Logis Acceleritas told a different story.
Fishing for compliments. Desperately wants the social validation and recognition that she usually receives in her Glory Girl persona. Especially from her new corpo-cape 'peers.'
"What do I think about how you handed that veteran team their asses on a silver platter on your first 'match?'" I replied, "Amused at how everyone was surprised that you did so well on your first time."
"What, and you weren't?" She elbowed with a smug grin- hiding her relief.
"Iwasn't surprised." I shot her a confident smile, "Everyone else just seemed to have forgotten that you're a veteran in your own right."
"Now you're just saying that!" Glory Girl giggled.
"I'm not." I shrugged nonchalantly, "You honestly do good cape work."
It was true. For all her flaws, Glory Girl was an effective cape- having gotten her powers young enough that she was thoroughly familiar with the mechanics of her power's strengths and weaknesses. She was reckless due to her forcefield, but with good money on the line, she has been willing to learn.
Several hours of training and obstacle courses, she got a hang of basic tactics: when to apply her strength to pressure an opponent, when to take an attack head-on to catch someone off-balance and when to use her speed to adjust her positioning on a constantly changing battlefield.
For everything else, her helmet's onboard HUD connected to a Chloe supplied her with all the punchy one-liners, opponent information and periphery strategies she needed.
None of it fixed her personality problem, of course, but it did make her fight very well. She was wasted patrolling the streets of Brockton Bay- she was practically made for the straight-up fights of the corpo-cape scene, and worth every dollar of the tens of thousands that I pay her in my opinion.
"It's unfair that you know so much about me, but I don't know much about you." Glory Girl said as she nervously curled a blonde lock around a finger subconsciously.
"Go ahead and ask." I shrugged.
"Okay..." Glory Girl hummed, thinking up a question before finding one and smiling at me, "How are you liking Brockton Bay? I'm 99% sure you're not local."
"Progress has been steady, but there's still a lot of work left to be done."
"What makes you say that?!" She gasped- blue eyes wide in disbelief, "Have youseenthe before and after comparison pics?"
"Yes, and it won't be enough seeing as we're about to have amassiveinflux of people moving into the city." I nodded- mentally going through the several thousand construction plans.
High density low-cost housing, commercial zones expansions, the upscale residential area for Dragon's planned chateaus neighbourhoods, the low-density riverside commercial zone to please tourists, more subways and of course, the Big Project. But for what Dragon and I had built so far?
"I suppose what the city has right now is beautiful."
"It is, right?!" Glory Girl laughed before aiming another question at me, "Okay, second question. What made you get into our line of.. Uh... hobbies?"
Now that was an interesting question... I never did ponder why I wanted to save humanity.
"Just felt like I was supposed to." I answered. 'For the Emprah!' would also have sufficed as answer, but she would not have understood why that half-rotten, gold-obsessed, totally-not-a-god giant stuck to a golden throne in the future was a pretty stand-up guy... So to speak.
"Really?" She pouted, "Not for personal reasons like money or family or-"
"For personal reasons... I suppose I did it to find love?" And by love, I meant the wet and silky robussy kind.
"I see..." Glory Girl murmured with a small smile- her voice so soft that I wouldn't have heard it if I didn't have enhanced hearing. She shifted a bit to stand closer. "Thank you for looking out for me during my fights."
"You've had it in the bag for a while now." I deflected it back at her, "But rest assured, you'll have someone watching your back if things go unfair."
"If you keep saying things like that..." She trailed off to smile up at me.
Lust for how humble and dependable you are.
She thinks you're the one.
Lust.
What? Glory Girl was into this faux-meat body? But all I did was talk to her like a normal coworker?!
Explain,{Logis Acceleritas MK. IV}!
Pupil dilation. Heart rate rising. Body language increasingly open. Omnispex scan show release of sexual hormones. Panties now absorbed 8.12% of required fluid content before leakage. Sexual Attraction/Arousal confirmed.
Reconstructed psychological model suggest Glory Girl is enamoured to whirlwind romances. Addicted to the initial endorphin rush of a new relationship. Likes being swept off her feet, however, her Shaker aura emasculates any men not immune to it like her on-and-off boyfriend, Gallant. Glory Girl is what is called 'easy'... for the 0.00001% of the global population with the appropriate countermeasures to her Master aura AND fits her otherwise low standards, of which I am a part of. Finds unknown cape (Me) attractive due to mysterious and dependable nature.
Due to narcissism, misinterpreted 'find love' comment as me pining after her. Thinks that I 'signed up' for Magos' employ just to be with her. Has woven a whole love story in her head.
Heavily romanticises mask culture in direct opposition to her cape family's ideals of transparency. Easily bored with relationships. Requires an anchor to aid in rendering her emotionally stable.
Fiercely loyal to those she sees as friends and family. Simple but robust moral code. Actively wishes to do 'the right thing.'
Hideous meat-female, completely unfuckable.
Too right.
How can she ever compete against a perfect machine? I stared at Dragon for a moment. Olive green winter coat covering her incredibly gorgeous frame that was practically made from pure sex. I should know, I built that body. Her generous and adjustable bust filled out her black undershirt. Soft brown hair of the best synth-weaves bouncing down in wavy lusciousness past her slender shoulders. Flawless light caramel features and creamy soft skin that could withstand calibres of up to 40mm.
And perhaps, best of all, she was a genuinely good person through and through.
I can already see this sexy AI in a french maid outfit. And all I need to do was smile and nod through Glory Girl's inane conversation, order my food, then sit down beside the sexy AI, and I'll have won the bet.
Can't get any easier.
"For fuck's sake Vicky..." Amy grumbled as she watched as this 'Aoicus' guy got flirted on by her sister.
She knew her sister well enough to know that Vicky had four stages to her Love Life: the lovey-dovey 'It's-just-like-the-first-time-tee-hee' with Gallant, the argumentative 'What-is-wrong-with-you? Don't-you-care-about-how-I-feel?!' with Gallant as their relationship goes downhill and culminates with a messy breakup, the post-breakup 'I-miss-him-so-much-Amy!' sulking about Gallant, and that short period of time where Vicky seems to get over him as she looks for a new boyfriend... before inevitably ending up with Gallant to start the cycle again.
It was so accurate that Amy would have set her watch to it, but this time, things were different. By sheer dumb luck, this shithead caught Vicky at the fourth phase and actually managed to impress her enough for her sister to consider it. Amy didn't know what he whispered to her, but it made Vicky look genuinely scared for a moment before immediately building bridges with her. And now, Vicky was all giggly and shit.
Amy held back a deep frown as she immediately figured out who he was...
...They were dealing with one smooth operating Irish playboy.
She was tempted to 'accidentally' brush her hand against his and give him a severe case of the bowel runs and maybe some male pattern baldness. But for some reason, he wasn't flirting back. Either he was taken, gay or dense as all fuck to not be able to see how Vicky was into him, but whatever his deal was, Amy was grateful. The fucker better keep it that way if he wants his shit in working order.
The new girl- Taylor- wasn't faring so hot either. For someone so tall, she was very skilled at blending into the background as she looked like a kicked puppy. She'd join her if she could give more of a crap- nothing sucks more than having a day out with friends only to have one of them run off to hook up with someone they just met. The two of them were now more of a third wheel to this now.
"Hang in there." She whispered to Taylor who stiffened in surprise as if she had expected everyone to have already forgotten about her. "Hopefully, he'll fuck right off after buying us lunch."
"He seems nice. I don't want to be rude about it..." Taylor whispered in return as they looked at the backs of the 'happy couple.'
"If he doesn't, I'll flip him off."
"You meantell him off." Taylor ventured, and Amy just shrugged.
"I know what I said."
"You're not what I pictured when people talk about Panacea."
"Join the club." Amy rolled her eyes- having got that comment a lot, "Unlike me, this fantasy Panacea that people have in their heads has an astounding amount of shits-to-give. 'I just wanna help evewyone~', 'My heals awen't good enouf, but I'll do my vewy best.~' Feh, fuck that noise."
But she knew she couldn't be too certain, so she brushed her hand against Vicky's just to check if she was being mastered or anything, and... Nope, nothing that she could tell was her being mastered, but what she did find however... was that Vicky was soaking wet. Like 'I'm ready to suck and fuck in the alley behind Fugly Bob's' levels of soaked.
Amy chewed on her lower lip as she imagined that. Her back against a grimy alleyway and pushing her naked sister onto her knees, long blonde locks gripped in her fist, those kissable lips and tongue smashed against her cooch, and those baby blue eyes staring up at her. Fuck... Her sister was such a sexy little slut.
"Amy, you're kinda drooling." Taylor pointed out, and Amy nodded sagely- glancing briefly at that bubbly jeans-encased cake wiggling excitedly in front of her.
"Yeah, I'm feeling prettyhungryright about now."
"Something up?" Her sister asked as she leaning closer against him- making Amy grind her teeth.
"Nothing." He smiled back, "Just thinking what I'll have."
"Me?" Vicky asked in the most innocent and sexiest voice Amy had ever heard her talk in and it madehersoaking wet. "Hey, are you free later today?"
"I'm meeting my girlfriend." Aoicus revealed out of the blue, and Amy didn't know whether to celebrate or get angry from how her sister's heart seemed to shatter in a million pieces right before her eyes.
"Oh.. that's... that's great." Her sister muttered in a cheerful, but hollow voice. "Any girl would be lucky to have you."
Oh no... here we go again.
'Vicky, don't!'
Her sister was going to accuse him of leading her on or something like that. It happened only once before when she clicked with this itinerant pretty boy rogue- well another pretty boy rogue- and it wasn't pretty.
His face that is after Vicky was done with him. It was the most practice Amy had gotten reconstituting someone's ruined face before, also the most fun she had in a while with her powers. But that was in private, if Vicky went on a rampage on some guy's face in public...
"It's our first time meeting face-to-face in a way." he continued- seemingly just in time to stop Vicky from going apeshit, "She doesn't even know what I look like."
Her sister perked right up at that.
"She doesn't, does she now?" Vicky murmured in a tone of voice that Amy recognised to be her 'I've got a sneaky plan.' voice. And as much as she loved her sister, all her 'sneaky' plans involved being as subtle as a missile straight through the roof. With herself being the missile, most of the time.
'VICKY, DON'T!'
Taking out a pen and her white handkerchief, Vicky jotted down her number in red ink before kissing the handkerchief- leaving a pink kiss mark with her lipstick just underneath her number.
"Well, if it turns out that she isn't what you expected, or you think it won't work out..." Vicky winked as she held out the handkerchief. "...Call me?"
'Aoicus, you better fucking accept that handkerchief, you don't know how badly Vicky will take to being rejected! Not even I will be able to heal you if you're reduced to a bloody smear on the ground!'
And as if he heard her thoughts, he accepted the proffered handkerchief. Immediately, concern that her sister was going to go on a rampage gave way to the realisation that her sister practically found a new boyfriend. With Gallant, at least Amy knew that there was no real chance of it actually working out between them; the same can't be said about this new guy.
Amy's vision turnedred.
'You actually fucking accepted it?! You're fucking dead, you Irish twat. DEAD. You're going to wish Vicky just pulverised you after I'm done with you! If I can't fuck my sister, then neither can you! Say hello to my little friend, erectile dysfunction.'
She reached out to tap him on the neck.
"Uh... Amy? Are you alright?" Taylor asked- patting her shoulder, just enough to bring her back to her senses and not ruin her life by giving someone ED and supercancer in public.
Grumbling under her breath, Amy lowered her hand and stuffing it back in her pocket.
"Yeah, Taylor. Just rainbows and butterflies." she mumbled..
"You sure?"
"Rainbows and butterflies."
Vicky wasn't done. That handkerchief was only the setup to her actual move, and Amy can only hope that Aoicus wasn't meeting his girlfriendhere.
Fucking Aoicus, fucking Taylor, fucking stupid sexy Vicky.
(A few minutes later)
Rebecca stared in shock with the rest of the table as someone finally sat down in Magos' previously agreed upon seat.
And the person that did was definitely not who they expected.
"I... think you have the wrong table." Rebecca hesitantly said- her brown eyes taking in every detail of the stranger.
Spoiler:Mechanicus Fuccboi
Blond, male, fair-skinned, conventionally attractive and in his mid-late teens. This can't be Magos. There was no conceivable way that he could be. Warm in jeans and a plain red hoodie, the person before them was the kind of person you see starring in family-friendly sitcoms or headlining a teenage boy band.
In contrast, Magos held zero concerns about how he looked- his earlier, horrendously mechanical appearances being proof of that. He would not care enough to make himself a conventionally attractive teenage male unless... he was already one before he triggered. But still! This couldn't be-
"Don't make me cover you in confetti again." he warned her- referencing what he did to her during his Assault on the Compound. No one knew about the confetti apart from Magos and Dragon.
"MacHann, Aoicus..." Dragon murmured, the brunette was staring at the newcomer seated beside her- likely having run it through her database of faces.
"Yes... Mechanicus." he winked at the AI who had suddenly looked very nervous. "I win our bet!"
"Uh, about that... you're of legal age, right?" Dragon stammered, and Rebecca had to agree. It looked like a severely improper relationship. Dragon looked like a woman in her late twenties... Magos barely looked eighteen. The stares were going to be inevitable.
"Says the AI who is barely ten years old." He pointed out to her, unbothered by all of this. But for her part, Dragon very clearly was bothered.
"I'd counter that you know full well that a human year is roughly equivalent to 15.551 in my AI years, but that will only make me look even worse. And..."
Her eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"... you didn't answer the question."
"Why? Afraid that you had very thorough sexual relations with a minor this morning?" He teased the panicking AI, "Don't worry, my completely legitimate government-issued ID says that I'm 18. And besides... the age of consent in Canada is 16."
"Please stop." Dragon whined- burying her face in her hands, "...you seemed so much older in your full cyborg form."
"Iamstill a full cyborg- I can assure you that I am 100% meat-free right now." He corrected her with a pleased smile, "Besides, you're the one who wanted to see what I looked like before I stopped being fugly and pathetic."
Rebecca bit her lip. No one could have ever called him ugly, he looked like the type of boy her younger self would have pined after.
"You're handsome..." Dragon admitted- voice slightly muffled through her palms, "... but I feel like I'm breaking age of consent laws here."
"And you're worried that you may be into that sort of thing?"
Dragon didn't answer. At least, if you don't count the high-pitched keening whimper of deep embarrassment as an answer.
"I'll be honest..." Magos began- as he took a bite out of his burger, "... I do occasionally miss the flavour of food from time to time."
His every action seemed to be laced with inhuman grace. Even as he folded up his own fugly bob's crown and placed it on his head, it made him somehow look as regal as any real world prince- likely more so. Paper crown settled on his blond locks, he smiled down the table and at Fortuna who was still wearing her own crown, and they shared a mutual giggle of childish delight.
"You're just some dumb kid." Doctor Mother commented, "That explains so much."
At that comment, all the mirth bled from Magos' face- leaving only a gravely serious expression.
"But we all had to grow up quickly, didn't we?" He muttered- just loud enough that only those at the table could hear, "The weight of our duties meant that we had no other choice. We did not have the luxury of doing anything but endlessly working towards our goal, no time to doubt ourselves and no time to enjoy life like others more blissfully ignorant. All because we knew that one day soon, we were going to push the button to initiate the battle for mankind's survival and possibly condemn a few billion souls as necessary casualties for this war... One that we may very well not even win. Innocence and naivete has no place here... How right am I, Doctor?"
"...I retract my accusation." the older woman whispered with a nod like a fencer acknowledging a fair hit, "Yes, you're right: It made us all into men and women in our own right. And it would seem that you were no different."
"Actually no, it didn't." He grinned, "What made me into a man was Dragon. Quite thoroughly at that."
Dragon whined.
"While my girlfriend is coming to terms with her attraction towards younger men..." He began, His blue eyes focused on them one by one. "I'm going to have to say no. I'm not promoting you back into humans just yet."
Mind, Body and Spirit. Separated and so painfully far apart.
When asked how he was able to do it, Magos would only answer that it was 'Necron Technology.'
Regardless, somehow and someway, it allowed Magos to not only remove their brains, but also excise their souls out of their bodies for study, and now, they just... existed. Autonomous meat puppet prisoners of Magos.
Their brains and souls stored in separate labs somewhere in his grand manufactorum. Their neural impulses pinging across several kilometres, and their powers repressed or outright not working when their brains were separated from their bodies. Their souls- whatever it was made of and however it worked- was completely isolated from them.
What they are now are just meat puppets without powers, brains and souls. Ghosts in the machine, perhaps less than that; and it was no way to live: The world was numb, the colours less vibrant, but worst of all was the cold. The soul-deep cold never went away, and it always felt like she was minutes away from freezing to death.
Rebecca tugged her winter coat closer. Their only comfort was deluding themselves that they were warming themselves in thick clothing.
"You need every pair of hands to help you against Scion." Doctor Mother pleaded- warmly gloved hand gesticulating over the table just as she did the weeks before. And this time, Magos didn't just laugh in their faces, instead he actually looked like he was considering it. And Rebecca took it as a good sign.
"I already know his 'weaknesses', and I currently have ways to exploit it." He revealed.
"Then why haven't you?"
"Because we only have one shot." Magos shrugged, "And the probability of failure is still too unacceptably high, and none of the backup plans are anywhere near ready. So, in the meantime, this dumpster fire that we call the current situation needs to keep rolling down this hill for just a bit more. Lest Scion be alerted and everything will be all over for humanity."
"But we've been doing the same thing!" Rebecca protested, "We've also been gathering resources and manpower so that we can achieve the same goal! What makes you any different from us?!"
He stared at her, and the comparison between him and Hero was practically unavoidable now. They even looked vaguely similar out of their suits.
"Many things, but the biggest one would be that I know that Scion isn't the end, he's the beginning." He spoke, very softly, "And unlike you, I've been planning accordingly."
"What do you meanScionis just the start?" Rebecca whispered- taken aback and frightened of the possible answers to the question. But instead of answering, the blond teen in front of them just shook his head in disappointment.
"The rabbit hole goes even deeper than just him. And to think, you were struggling to find ways to handle just him." He said- not bothering to elaborate, "No, you're not ready to know, and I'm not risking it all just to satisfy your curiosity. Rest assured, there is a very good reason why I'm withholding the information at the moment."
"Even from me?" the brunette AI whispered. Apparently, even she was also being kept out of the loop.
"Even from you." Magos smiled sadly, "But Iamtaking steps in steps so that it'll be safe to know eventually."
Dragon sighed as her brown eyes glanced at them one by one.
"I think you should let them help, Magos." She quietly spoke up on their behalf to their surprise, "Mostly for your own sake, you're carrying the world on your shoulders and you're not letting anyone help."
"PRT is of limited utility to use now. The world has no need for the hero worship culture that it has." Magos agreed, "It's something that we can easily replace with- say- waifu worship."
"Magos." Rebecca urgently whispered his name- leaning forward on the table. "You have to listen. I've kept up with your changes that you've been making with your Costa-Brown gynoid, and I have to say that you can't keep doing what you're doing. The society we set up can't function long without its hero worship culture."
"I doubt it, but..." Magos frowned- his blue eyes meeting her brown ones, "...Make your case. I'll listen at least."
But before she could, the local 'Alexandria package' heroine- Glory Girl- stopped by their table.
"Hey, Aoicus." She waved, "We're heading home to eat with the fam, but I'm glad that we talked."
"No problem, Vicky." Magos smiled back.
"You must be his e-girlfriend." The Dallon girl smiled at Rebecca, "He's pretty cute in real life, right?"
Rebecca couldn't help it: the smug, condescending smirk that the younger girl had on was annoying the shit out of her. And out of the corner of her eye, she saw Magos frowning.
"Vicky, that's not-" He tried to point out, but Glory Girl interrupted him with a wide smile.
"Hey, I think I accidentally gave you my old number, here's my new one." She said as she pressed a piece of white cloth into his hand while glancing right at Rebecca's eyes- a smug smile on the younger heroine's lips. "Call me, okay?"
She gave Magos' shoulder a soft squeeze.
"Sorry about interrupting your meal." She waved to the rest of them before locking eyes with Magos, "See you around, Aicus."
The young Brute glanced back at her again with that smug smile- flicking her hair over her shoulder as she walked off. And Rebecca felt a sting of annoyance at that. Did she just got dragged into a stupid teenage love triangle? And more importantly, was she the one considered to be the least attractive one in the group?! No, she was not doing highschool again.
But Dragon was apparently more annoyed.
"What did she mean by that, 'Aoicus'?" The AI demanded in a flat tone, "I thought you paid Glory Girl to act as a decoy to throw me off. You didn'tactuallyflirt with her, did you?"
"Of course not!"
"Then what did she just hand to you?"
"This?" Magos asked as he pulled out the piece of fabric from his pants' pocket, "It's just her phone number written on the back of her handker-"
The delicate white triangle of fabric unfurled.
"-Panties."
"Yes, I can see that." Dragon calmly noted.
"...Fucking Vicky."
[The 'Munitorum' Mall, Brockton Bay]
Sophia Hess can't say that she'll miss the old Lord's Street marketplace.
"Old Brockton Bay was shit anyway." She muttered to herself.
That collection of rickety wooden stalls lining an asphalt road compared to this 16 hectares worth of brightly-lit, air-conditioned mall? It was no contest. Besides, most of the stall owners just transferred to the basement level anyway if anyone wanted to buy/sell cape merch, custom t-shirts, Fate Impact accounts or used electronics.
But at the same time, she can't help but feel a bit of elitism in this new mall. She guessed there was no avoiding it up here on the fourth floor where all the luxury brands were: Swiss watches, golfing equipment, jewellery, leather bags and designer fashion.
She just kept her eyes forward as she ignored the weird looks of the well-dressed people strolling along with their uniformed 'domestic helpers' who carried their shopping for them.
Walking by them, she just held her chin high as she straightened her white winter running jacket and green track pants, her black sneakers squeaking on the polished marble tiles as she carried her own damn bags of purchases.
Assholes. Yes, she was well fucking aware that this place was far beyond the means her Ward allowance would allow.
"Why the hell did Emma ask to meet here anyway?" Sophia sighed.
Ducking into some designer fashion store that Emma's text had named, Sophia let out a low whistle as she passed by the racks. The pricetags on the majority of the clothing was something whack: $400 dollars for a fucking shirt, $1000 dollars for a skirt.
Worst part was that she knew that this was still on the cheaper side compared to the other stores here. And there, at the back end of the carpeted store was Emma Barnes herself holding up a $4,000 mink fur coat as if she was seriously going to be buying it.
"Someone's a big spender today." she teased as she walked over.
"Sophia! Glad that you can make it!" Emma smiled as she gave her an excited hug.
"Yup, chipper mood alright." Sophia chuckled. "What's happening, Emma?"
"Dad's going to sue Carol Dallon for not paying what he's been owed." Emma bragged excitedly- dollar signs in her green eyes, "We're talking hundreds of grand here, maybe even millions!"
"But doesn't Brandish work for Magos?" Sophia pointed out. "Going against the de facto owner of Brockton Bay doesn't sound like a bright idea. I mean, this is his mall that we're standing in right now."
"Yeah, but you know how billionaires are." Emma waved off as she admired in the mirror how she looked with the mink fur coat, "When you're swimming in that much cash, it's easier to just throw money at problems. It's pretty straightforward anyway: Magos employs Carol who owes Dad who has me as his daughter. The money is as good as mine."
Sophia had to take some time to process that brand of logic.
"Maybe, but I don't think your dad is going to give it all to you." She said slowly.
"Last time he had a big payday, he spoiled me, sis and mom." Emma nodded with a smile as if she thought about that already, "I'd be happy with just $200,000; but I definitely won't say no to $500,000... or a million dollars. You think I should get this Mink fur coat, or do I go all out and get the sable fur coat?"
... The things that (imaginary) money does to people. Sophia just knew that Emma was going to have a rude wake up call in the near future. Well, she needed it. Might as well just sit back and enjoy the show.
"Hey, Sophia! Hey, Emma!" Madison piped up as she arrived- the brunette walking over to them in her casual denim jumpsuit. "So, why are we meeting up in snooty rich people central again?"
"Alan is suing Brandish for money she owes him." Sophia explained to her, "Emma here thinks she'll get a hundred g's from the settlement."
"$200,000. I won't settle for anything less than that." their redheaded friend harrumphed.
"That's great!" Madison happily chirped before leaning closer to whisper to Sophia, "Are we going to do anything about her? She looks like she's lost it."
"What can we even say at this point? She looks like she needs reality to come and wake her up instead of us."
"Yeah, I get what you mean, Sophia. But shouldn't we call Mr. Barnes for this? I mean... isn't that kind of worrying?"
The both of them watched on as their friend glanced between two different fur coats before shrugging and placing both onto the cashier's counter. Swiping two different credit cards to pay for them both while humming happily.
"I guess...? Don't even know why we're even trying." Sophia sighed as she and Madison walked out the store for some privacy before pulling out her phone, a black Mechanicus Vox-Caster mini. "Hey, Chloe? Call Alan Barnes."
"Calling Alan Barnes... " the Operator-Chloe replied in an easy tone right before the phone began to ring. It took only about two before the other side picked up.
"Hello, Sophia. How can I help you this wonderful noon this January?!"
"Hi, Mr. Barnes." Sophia greeted the lawyer, "I'm calling because Emma got this idea in her head that your family is going to win big in that settlement, and she's acting all giddy. And I mean really,reallygiddy."
"Oh, let her be! She has the right to celebrate! This is an open and shut case after all, I doubt it'll even reach court!"
"It won't?" Madison spoke up- confused. "So, you're not actually going to win the money?"
"..."
"AHAHAHAHAHA! Oh, Madison, you're so funny!"
"Of course we'll get the money. Don't be preposterous. Magos is just going to settle it with us out of court, and we know how generous robots can be- what with all their charities and direct aid! Now if you'll excuse me, I have to finish taking this Porsche 911 for a test drive."
The call ended with a click- leaving both Madison and Sophia to stare at it in exasperation.
"So that's where she caught the hype from." Madison sighed as she shook her head.
"Yep."
"Hey, Emms. Want to grab something to eat?" Madison invited their friend just as she walked out of the store with her two new fur coats.
"Sure!" their clueless red-headed friend grinned before laughing out loud, "All this shopping worked up my appetite and I can't bring myself to care about my diet right now! Hahahaha!"
Emma took point, a spring in her step as she strutted like she was some Las Vegas highroller or some Hollywood superstar- leaving Sophia and Madison to trail behind.
"Still, I can't help but think about it." Madison told Sophia, "I mean, I'm no lawyer..."
"Neither am I." Sophia quipped.
"...But what if Mr. Barnes is right and they're going to walk away rich from all this?" Madison insisted, "Magoshasbeen pretty loose and fast with his cash... I mean, even my family got a pretty big handout from him. I don't think it's too far of a stretch to say that he'll just pay Mr. Barnes off to make this whole thing pass by without a fuss."
"I guess you have a point." Sophia just shrugged, "Unless Magos suddenly finds a reason to get really angry at the Barnes for some reason, I think they have a good shot at seeing it happen."