"Alright, point number one. You're life is about to get a lot more complicated," I stated the obvious. "I know that's a given but you really should not underestimate just how much this is going to disrupt every other aspect of your life. Time spent being a hero is not time spent at school, working, sleeping or anything else. Despite what comic books might tell you it actually can be profitable via bounties, spoils and public donations but if you want to make a living like that you need to work out the legalities for it." That reminded me that I needed to go bug New Wave for tips on that. Brandish was a Lawyer, and awful mother or not I'd never heard anything negative about her professional skills.
Taylor blinked at me. I didn't think she expected me to explain that.
"The Wards are a good group to consider as well," I continued. "It's not as simple or clean as their public relations division tries to make things of course. Putting aside the fact that it pretty much commits you to running with the protectorate from that point on you loose a lot of options. Your marching orders come from on up and that means the appearance of being a hero will be stressed just as far as actually doing the job. That, plus the inability to decide who and when I'd fight are two of the main reasons I never signed on."
She seemed be listening, though I certainly wouldn't say she was standing listening with rapt attention.
"That said," I continued, "Theyarethe biggest hero team on the planet, with an unrivaled support network. You need back up? You have it. Specialized equipment? They've got some of the best tinkers in the world. They can get you into a better school, teacher support to leave classes for cape maters, public excuses, legal help, a steady, reliable paycheck not dependent on what you can get from your enemies, and medical coverage short only of New Wave," I listed off. "Also, working on raw theory here but I think you could find some genuine friends there. Vista is desperate for a fellow female to hang out with and is a lot more mature for her age then you'd expect. Clockblocker's a hilarious dork happy to talk to anyone. Kid Win has some self-esteem issues due to a mix up in his training but is a nice enough guy," Though that reminded me I needed to get a message to the young tinker about his specialty. "Gallant is an empath who still manages to be nice to people who hate him and Aegis is basically a knight right out of an Arthurian fairy tale."
I finished checking off fingers as I went over wards.
"As for the actual protectorate-" I started.
"Wait," she interrupted, "What about Shadow Stalker?"
"Utter bitch," I stated without hesitance. "In fact I'm tempted to break certain unwritten rules just to warn you about her but odds are if you sign on she won't be a problem for long anyway."
Get the hint Taylor, that's as far as I'm willing to go without leaving the wrong impression of how important these rules are on you.
She seemed a bit taken back, "You didn't mind violating the 'rules' to come talk to me?"
"There's a technicality," I stated. "You've triggered, but you've not taken up a costume. Any gang would still be free to pressgang you into their ranks and while Heroes typically bat a little closer to the meaning then the letter I was not risking that mess. It wouldn't be worth it to you or the world.I'm not worth that mess happening," I stressed.
Though my Exaltation would be...
"That's..." she seemed to hit her snapping point again, "I'm sorry that's just ridiculous why draw the line there!?" she said. "I mean you've already broken the rules right? Why not tell me everything?"
"Bent, not broken and I will bend things for you. I already have," I stated pointedly. "But breaking the rules outright is... bad. There are consequences to it. Look up what happened to the guy who killed Fleur if you want some details."
"So you're scared," she replied.
"Fuck yes I am," I snorted. "I'm also not stupid. Little bit crazy maybe but every cape is. That's just how powers work. You telling me you haven't noticed your master powers imposing the urge tocontroleverything you deal with?" I asked almost casually.
...When did I get that smooth?
"I'm not crazy," she stated in flat out denial teeth strained.
"You were planning to go out in a black and gray suit made of black widow silk and bug chitin as a hero without support or even declaring yourself as a hero and in the belief that your powers aren't nearly as effective as they are in combat..." I stated with an equally flat expression. "That's either stupid or crazy and I'm not doing the disservice of calling you stupid when you certainly are not."
I expected a snap back. Give me some line like 'Crazy is so much better' or something. Instead she snapped back as if physically struck eyes going wide as she shrunk back trying to look smaller.
I blinked.
Oh, right... early season- no start of story Taylor. She didn't have the confidence boost from beating up Lung yet.
Shit.
I sighed, "Okay,Crazyis the wrong word maybe.." I thought at it. "But powers mess with your head. In what little society knows of how capes work it's still a recognized fact that Parahuman behavior tends to go a little...off. Nothing like full blown insanity-" most of the time "-but you get little... quirks. Some are universal, capes get more violent impulses. So does anyone watching a football game, others are more keyed in. Thinkers almost always have a blind spot that really fucks up their plans when they fail to account for it," like I had just done.
She sort of hesitantly looked up at my face again, "What do you want?"
I exhaled reaching up and rubbing a hand through my hair. "To help you... though I seem to be doing a lousy job at it."
There was a moment of significant pause between us as I just gave her a few moments to process everything I said.
"So..." she said breaking the silence, "You... see the future or something?" she questioned.
"More like I knew someone who did," I admitted. "I only know one way things could have turned out and I knocked that train off the rails as soon as I could," I grunted in satisfaction at that. "I know a lot of little useful tibits as a result though," I smirked in a slightly bitter sweet way. "Secrets that could start wars, make, ruin, save or end lives, and, if I'm really lucky, save the world."