The diner was pretty nice, nice enough to make me wish I had more then a raggedy, dusty, and somewhat bloodstained set of pants to wear to it anyway.

On the bright side, no one called me on my lack of shirt and shoes. Though that could just be due to my company. Or maybe the monochrome completion and green glowing crossed swords hanging on my brow.

Huh, Monochrome. Should have asked if that name was available when I was in the van. Or hell, even now. I mean I was eating with Armsmaster, the tinker closest running to the vaunted title of 'human swiss army knife'. If he didn't have wifi in that thing I'd eat my non-existent hat.

And I didn't even have the charm for that yet.

But first I think I'd eat some actual food. Which was something I hadn't actually done since I got here. I mean you'd think I wouldn't be hungry given the shit I had just seen but I really honestly was. Probably some combination of base survival instincts and my new Yozi derived impulses.

Or maybe I just really needed food after running flat out, engaging in magically turbo charged super kung fu, and barely avoiding getting killed a few times on an empty stomach.

Either way I ordered a eighteen ounce hamburger after discovering to my joy that that was actually a thing.

Unfortunately my glee was hampered by Armsmaster actually wanting me to listen to him in return for feeding me.

"I'll cut right to the point. You should join the protectorate," he advised me.

I clicked my tongue against the roof of my mouth, "Huh... Okay can you elaborate on that?"

"There are no records of any capes named Malfean," He pointed out. "No costume, not mask, you're so new it'd be obvious even if you didn't literally glow green."

I snorted slightly at that, surprised at the joke. He had a sense of humor? Maybe I got the ID wrong and this wasn't really Armsmaster.

"You probably think you're doing something bold. Fighting without a mask, maybe you think you don't have anything to loose with the physical side effects but trust me. Open capes do not have an easy time of it. Just ask New Wave," he continued not missing a beat.

"Unless I can shapeshift into civilian disguise," there was no point hiding that trick when I'd already shown I could do it before to PRT agents.

That stopped him cold for a moment, "You're a changer too?"

"I'm a lot of things," I replied. "Might as well call me a Trump. I've got more tricks yet and I've barely tapped into a fraction of them."

He didn't look exactly happy about that, but not upset either. If anything he just seemed more determined, "If anything that should make you more interested in joining. The Gangs aren't going to just let you lie. They'll push you in or snuff you out."

A throaty laugh built up out of me. "Man you are going about this completely the wrong way."

That pissed him off a bit, "I'm trying to help you."

"How many capes make it to retirement age?" I asked him. "Of those lucky few who endured the ages or were fortunate enough to have a chance to live their life before being drawn into the madness how many do retire? Capes die to violence Armsmaster. Whether they do so saving people or terrorizing them doesn't change that a whit."

"Then consider what happens in between," He switched tracks quickly pressing on a new angle. "You could do a lot of good in the Protectorate. And Protectorate personnel do live longer, happier lives on average. One day you might have to make the ultimate sacrifice but good friends and colleagues can beat that time back and make that day matter."

I'd give him this much he was hell of a lot more charismatic then I expected him to be. The story I knew my information from was from an enemy of his, I really should have expected that to color things more then I had.

He continued, "You just took on an Endbringer and lived but only because of the openings and efforts of nearly two hundreds more capes. Think about what you could do with a team of people you really knew how to work with."

I considered it, I really did. Still the fact remained I'd already sold my loyalties. Even if I didn't know the dirty little secrets of those in the ranks above I couldn't join simply because the Yozi's dictates would to often run opposed to them.

I shook my head, "I'll admit I like the idea of that, but the Protectorate comes with too many shackles. I have my own ambitions and the corporate nature of the Protectorate means I'd be under their marching orders too much to follow them."

That, it seemed was a dangerous way to put things, as I saw his eyes narrow at me, "Don't get cocky. You might have lasted through the fight, but that doesn't mean there aren't countless people ready to take you down."

I nodded, "Yeah I get that."

"So what's worth taking on those odds?" he asked.

I considered it. I'd been fairly open in hopes that this counted enough as a 'villainous monologue' to bleed off some torment but I also hadn't really said anything.

...In for a penny.

"Well originally I was thinking of running for office, then I realized I'm not a recognized citizen so instead I thought I'd just take on every gang in town until they either knelt down in surrender or the Mayor hands me the keys to the city," I mused with a smirk.

Failing that, I could always just go invade Ellisburg. Still I'd be better off grinding EXP on Nazi's before I jumped into the Goblin swarm.

~You are completely nuts, you know that.~

Thank you.

~You are welcome. This is awesome!~