The little voice in my head was quickly proven correct. While the PRT van showed up only a few minutes later, they also had an entire song and dance to do.

It wasn't that long of a song and dance. They asked me some questions. I gave some hamtastic responses that nonetheless told them all they wanted to hear. One of their younger members snickered, a younger yet one who I swore still had acne called him out on it while trying to indirectly get me to be more serious. I defended the first by informing them that I felt no offense at his amusement. Why would I? After all, going by the cape casualty rates I was probably dead in less then a year, so there was no sense not to have fun with it.

That had started a minor debate over the respective lifespans of protectorate capes vs vigilantly ones but honestly while greater by nearly a magnitude the lifespan of government sponsored heroes was still statistically shorter then your average front line military grunt.

I think that actually helped smooth things out dramatically. Maybe I should have started with it? Who cares, I was tired. Lucky for me they offered a lift to the block I wanted to head to, which actually made it so I shaved off more time then I used.

I really needed to pick up some good travel charms. Adjoran was typically the source to hit up for that, but there was another aspect of Malfeas I could make use of to help things out dramatically...

Provided I had the time to work out how to rage myself into growing wings anyway.

Yozi charms were neat like that.

But that was later stuff. The only thing I really wanted to do at the moment was to just get to the address Parian had told me about.

So it was with wary, unclad heels that I knocked on the door of the address she sent me two, after triple checking that yes, this was the right place.

Really no point of it, the front even had 'Parian's' in stylistic writing on the front window.

I had just rattled my knuckles on the door once when the door opened and a woman in a ceramic mask with golden curls and in a huge intricate dress.

Now normally that sort of outfit was impractical, but when you had the power to telekinetically manipulate cloth, it ended up as something more akin to heavy powered armor.

Add in a dozen mega scale cloth golems of varying scale, each much stronger and tougher then they looked and it was easy to see how the humble entertainer and would be fashionista had managed to remain independent. For all she didn't want to join in the more militant side of cape life, she had plenty of muscle to throw around.

I blinked once, then looked at her, "Hi."

She looked at me. She was wearing a totally face concealing mask and I could still tell. Mostly because she sighed, "Just come inside already."

A tired smile crossed my face, "Thanks. Owe you one for this."

"Yes, you do," she stated in a tone that was all irritation and business. "Coffee?"

"Please," I couldn't help but smile a little. Try as she might to be hard about things, she was a good person.

She stepped aside and let me in.

I noted a bear plush in one corner the size of an actual grizzly. One part decoration, one part security system. Lots of other stuffed golems all over the place.

It was like being in a Tinker's workshop. There was no place where Parian was stronger, better able to defend herself, and vengeful to see turned into a battleground.

The cloth controlling cape moved back and grabbed a pot from a resting machine near by, little porcelain cups lined up on saucers brought over to the front desk where I found a guest seat waiting for me.

I stepped ahead and carefully slid myself into the offered chair as she set it out, "Milk?"

"Just a touch," I agreed.

The drink was pored and I soon found my nose assailed by one of my favorite scents.

"So," she said setting the cup in front of me, "tell me your story."

I looked at her, at the cup, then mentally shrugged, why not? I mean I couldn't tell her everything, but a few facts would help explain a lot.

"It all starts on another Earth, not Aleph, call it Earth Zeta or something," I offered. "An Earth where there are no capes outside of comic books, movies, and bad fan written stories..."