Read aloud to me alt Taylor

by Kahlil Johnson

Dnd

36. Undertale

1.1

[ DESTINATION ]

͠[̀ AG̢R͏EE͢MENT́ ]

[̕ ̵T͖̬͘R͕͍͓̠̼̙͈A̝̬̯̗͜J̧̞E̛̗C͕͖T̶ͅO̢͖̤̩̘͉R͟Y]̹͕̦

[Ȃ̛̭̫͔̱̞ͥ̌̔ͫ̈͟G͑̽̀̎̔̏̄̆͂͑ͦͭ͒ͨ̚͜͏̮͎̥͕̰̲̦̮̦͉́R̨̿̀ͯͪͣͯͯ͌ͥͧ͆̉ͮ͏̢͡͏͙̲̹̬̻͍̗͖̺̮̙͍̹̤͈͎̟Ȩ̴̸̬̙͕̬̖̥̙͙̗̪̯͇͎̲͍̺͉̓͐̓́̀̚-̶̲̤̤͇̝̠͌ͬ̑̊̂̒̒

͎̮̺̊̀̚͡P̶̞̮̫̲̒ͮ̄ͧ̓͟͡a̞̩̜̥̥̥͙̼̳̋ͤ̉̌̕r̵̡͈͚̲̖̥͚̳ͧ̈ͤ̓̂ͣả̹͉̙̥͕ͭ̔̅͊ͩ̓͌s̹̩̭͇̻̏̂̓͊͘i̛̗̻̤̺̓ͦ͆̌ͣ͒ͥ͐͝t̖̯ͫ͂̒ͫͬe͚̩͊̓͂ͨ̃͋͛̉͌̀s̜̪̭͂̅͗͂ͥ͞?͚̈̀

̺̗̦͚̳͎͖̙͌̚͘H̸̶̔ͤͦ̑̀͏̬͓̹̻̲ï͚͎̝͇͓̓ͣͧ̓̑ͪ́l͉̮̯̇̌̔̍̋͂͒l̠̮̪͍̔͗a͔̫̭͖̳̖̖͍̺͌͒ͣͦ̀̚r̀̀͏͞͏̼̞̠̳̣̗̟̠i̲̞̤̞̝͓͔͈͓ͧ̊ͫ̕͢͢o̳̤̬͊ͦ͂u̲ͥ̋̀s͔̾̌̈ͫ͜ḻ͖̭̣̭͓̯ͥ́̓́y̷̦͉̏́̔ͯ̈́ ̬̗̘̼͈͙̥̿̔ͣ̌ͣ̽͂s̨͍̙̭͉̯͓͉̮̑ͤ̇̓ǐ̗̱̉̾m͔̻͖̺̥͇̀ͦ̆͒͂̑͋͟ͅp̸̪̪͈ͯ̈ͦ̉ͨ͡͠ḻ̦͋ͤͦ͒͐̉́͊̎͞ȩ̻͈̩̜̼̑̽͒̕,̪̝̭̤͇̮̳͎̭̑̆̅̉̈́̕͝

̖͔͍͇͍͊̊̃̽̀D͇͓̼̱̙̦̂̄ͩi̴̼̼͖͍͈̭̒ͣ̃̑͌̀s̵͇̘̩̉ͮ̑ͭ͋̚̚ͅǵ̟͓̰̦̞ͮ̑͑u͖̺͗̆ͩ̀̋͒s̸̟̹͔̝̖ͤ̈ͣ̆ͣ͗͑̄͢t̢̛͈̦̮͇͇̘̜̳ͮ̇̎̀͊i̠̖̱̬̝̫͎͂ͪ̇̉̓͠n͙͚͍̠̲ͧ̀ͭg̛͖͖͎͉ͪ̂̽̎͑ͮ̋̄l̡̪̣̯̖̖̙̈̑͂ͮͨ̾ͯ̀͢y̐̽̾̍̐̊̏́͏͓̗̻̩ ̙̰͌͐͢s̷͎̞̙̟̑͆̃ͬ͊̍͟í͕̇̒̽ͮͦ̒̾̌͝n̩ͬͮͭ̐̅̚g̟̣̼̠̜̰͎ͥ͊͒͡ḻ̮̬͖ͭ̾̊̆̾ͣ̔̚ͅȩ̴̻͙̉̊-̧̢̙̣̯̗ͭͣ̐̊͘m̵͈̜͓͙͍̿̉ͦ͂ͨ̃̀̀ī̸̡̹̫̤̳ͬ̿̿̌̆̑ņ͔̙̲̊̎̔̅͢͞d̨͇ͮͫ̔ͯ̑̈́ͩ̚͢ẹ̵ͧ͋ͭͯ̄̿̓ͨ̍͘ḏ̴̟͆̄̈́,̧̗̘̙̮̯̪̠̫͑̊͌̈̀̉̅͜

̮ͣ̀ͥ̇͐͑ͅT̨͍̮̪͍̅̿͛ͦ͛ͨͥh̛̫͇̦̖̙̱̗̯ͦ͢ȉ̬̝̳̖̮͍̫̠̔̈͛͌ͭ̔̎s̨̛̜͇͔̗̦̖̣̊̂̓͗̇͑̕ ̧̹̅̄ͦ̽̕ŏͥͭ͏̩̱͓͓̜n̷̖̦̜̭͎͌̇̀͛̈́ͥ̃͢ḛ̫̪͚̼̯̠ͤ ̲̼̼̍̍́͠w̵̺̳̟͈͔̬͇̋̒̓̌͢ͅi̷̗̥͍̜̳̻̯ͮ̊͑͗̌̑ͯ͜ͅl͋ͥ͏̘̺͕̜̺͙̹l̨̝͎̼̠̪̣̠̮ͭͣͨ͂͠ͅ ̞͉ͭ͂ͥ̈̚b̑̐̅̋ͤ͗ͧ͏̡̜̩͚͕̠̲͈͎e̟͔̠̻̫ͯͪ͟.̵̶͓̗͓̟̖ͦ͝.̡͕͇̗ͨͤ͐̒͂͗͑͘.͚͍̬̻͎̪̃̿͆̃

̖͙̲͑V̷̛̪̌̈̑͗̚e̯̣͈͔͂̑͊͛ͨ͞͠r̸͕̦͙̩͈̭͇̀ͪͮ̐̽̍̚͘y̛͈̤̩̘̻͋̅͆̃͛͟,͓̭͎̋̐̏͛̃ͨ͐ͩ̓ ̵̩͖̋͒̐̿̑̎ͩ͛͐v͉̱̦̮̳͙̰̬̾͑͊ȩ̝̣͈ͮ̔̇̏̐̑̑̕͡ŗ͙̩̹͓͙̍̓̉̐̄ͩÿ͍̳́ͩ̈́̀͠͝ͅ,̩̪̯̜ͫͯͅ ̢̻̟̿͆ͬ͌̐ͥ̋̎ì̡͕̈́ͩ͗̀̀n͎͇̉̑̈́t̨͕̪̦̙̪̉ͨͪ̈ͦ͂̊̍́͠ͅe̫̥̬̱͈̐͗͐̀r̸̶̗̄̿̑̐̐̓͗̚̚͟e̵̗̯̱̙͙͔ͣ̊ͤ̊̆̓̀͟ṣ̸̙̖̃̿͒ͨͪͦ̿̓͂ţ̥̣͇͉̞͙̑͐̽̋̃̈i̹͋ͪ̉̌̽͞͝n̴̨̪̘͖ͥ̊͗ͬ̈̒̚g̘̺̝̲̻ͭͫ͡.̝͇̗́̐ͫ̀

GREETINGS!

What was that? A voice?

Consciousness left me, as these too joined many of my frantic thoughts.

Voices only insulted and taunted anyway, even as I desperately called for help.

"Taylor, Taylor! Wakey, wakey, don't wanna be late for school!"

For a moment, I felt pure annoyance and misery boiling in my stomach. Then it turned to shame as Dad smiled down at the groggy mess that was Taylor Hebert.

"Still having trouble getting up? You... aren't having any nightmares, are you?"

I did, sometimes. Coffins from Hell posing as school-lockers left ugly impressions.

"No, no... couldn't sleep well from excitement is all, I heard the Wards are going to visit the school today."

A lie, at least it made him smile.

"Still a cape-geek, huh? Still my little owl... Well, I'll go and make breakfast!" He left, and I let myself collapse on the still-warm pillow.

Wards' visit... it was a thing, yet I found it really hard to get excited enough to lose sleep over some fancy teenagers showing-off their fancy tricks to a handful of other teenagers.

In truth, I just couldn't muster enough motivation to move or even open my eyes as the alarm clock blared on, for five minutes.

Eventually, I threw myself off the bed, and stumbled towards the wrinkled clothes I left tangled on my desk yesterday, putting them on as I made my way to the bathroom, forcing myself to perform the routine of brushing teeth and such almost on auto-pilot.

Hmm... my hair was getting rather oily and gross... eh, not bad enough to bother with showering right-away. What good would having nice hair do for me anyway?

•••

Dad tried making pancakes for breakfast, but we ended up going for cereal for reasons he refused to share.

Good, cereal was easier to deal with.

Then I had to leave the comfort of my home, and hop on the bus which served as Charon's boat, taking money in exchange to bringing me to hell. Where I would get hunted, chewed on, and spat back out by three bitches who acted as one.

Just another day in the life of Taylor Hebert, who would never get a Hercules to deal with Cerberus, since the gods hated me...

Okay, enough with analogies, it was getting eerily accurate... in my head, at least. But if there were gods, they probably did hate me.

•••

After suffering through what must have been the worst thing they could ever throw at me, I made the mistake of hoping that things would get better.

After all, you couldn't kill what was already dead, right? Well... everything is possible with enough hard work and dedication as long as you were not Taylor fucking Hebert. For me, those only served to emphasize the futility of my actions.

No, I wasn't sprawled on the floor in a ratty public bathroom crying as bottles' worth of juice and soda still dripped from my hair.

Instead, I did that while blankly staring ahead, since I was simply too emotionally-drained to shed any tears, as I kept asking...

Why, why, WHY? Just WHY!?

What the hell did I do wrong?

Knowing that I wouldn't get any answers, I half-heartedly dried myself with the cheap 'tear to a million pieces on contact with anything damp' towels, and dragged myself to class.

Which made me question why I was doing so, knowing that I would never get anywhere meaningful in life at this rate.

Dad, maybe?

Yes, dad... he would be devastated without me... probably...

•••

They say that school is a micro-kosm for life. With it's groups, tasks, responsibilities, social circles... you get the idea. Which didn't give me much to look forward to.

And my unnamed position (victim didn't even begin to cover it), gave me a certain understanding on three simple facts.

First; justice, karma or whatever you called it was made-up, just as many things were. And had as much significance as a child's belief in Santa.

"Where are you going Taylor?"

Emma, Sophia, Madison... they almost killed me, and were still going strong with their campaign, without even a proper slap on the wrist, while I was scarred for life and waved off. AND NOTHING CARED.

Second; even with all my problems, it was dauntingly easy to justify the apathy of the authority figures. At least to themselves. After all, who cared about just one awkward girl while students were openly gang-members and their death-threats usually came through.

"Oh, going to watch the Wards? Geez, you're still such a cape-geek."

Which did not provide any comfort by showing me how there were worse things around, only driving home how pathetic and irrelevant I was.

Third; humans were monsters and ultimately selfish. Maybe all, maybe some, I had no idea. But we had the capacity for a ridiculous amount of cruelty, and didn't even need to justify it. Always putting ourselves, our amusement, first. For example, even as the Endbringers systematically chipped away on civillisation, people would rather seek their own fortune instead of uniting against the real threat.

"Wouldn't you like to be a hero too? Fight like Eidolon, fly like Alexandria... well, they would probably throw you in the Birdcage just for how pathetic you are..."

And it was very confusing, since I was human too, and didn't feel any particular need for making others suffer expect in retaliation... maybe there was something wrong with me? I have never been anyone else other than myself, so maybe I had something seriously wrong with me which I didn't even notice. Would explain the hero to villain ratio, at least.

I ignored Emma, as she tried but failed to insult me from parahuman angle, as I had long given up on dreaming about things like that.

The amount of people who filled the gym's decrepit seats somewhat surprised me, even if most of them were empty by a wide margin.

And since the only reason I was here was to get the hell away from my tormentors, I left as soon as Madison followed Emma inside, walking hastily to the bus stop. Glorified magic tricks followed by some inspirational speeches and signing autographs weren't worth the risk of getting humiliated in front of the Wards.

What was the point of making 'HEROES' do lame seminars anyway? They had better things to do, like fighting crime. And I just couldn't see how Tom the skin-head would have a change of heart from seeing them fooling around.

Well... what did I know? They at least did something... while I was just another powerless mortal.

Yes... surely heroes knew what they were doing, no doubt! Just ask the nazis who had been there for two generations, or the army of drug-addicts, or the...

...just think happy thoughts Taylor. Like punching Emma. No, no, don't imagine getting punched back!

...

Even my imagination betrays me.

•••

I lay exhausted on the barely-comfortable couch, even if I hadn't done anything taxing. Still, the exhaustion was frustratingly real.

There were hours until dad would come back, I had already half-assed today's school assignments, TV had nothing interesting, our computer was crap and sleep would only serve to bring tomorrow faster.

At least, that's how I saw it, I knew that my perception of things wasn't "glass half full" lately. Yet knowing didn't change anything at all.

So with that, I convinced myself to take a walk, as much as I wanted to fuse with the couch. Otherwise, I might have gone crazy alone with my thoughts. Not that my sanity was holding all too well to begin with...

My boredom against my laziness, only one emerged after a clash of wills... so exciting.

Doing anything else than being miserable at home was rather unusual from me, and our neighborhood wasn't the nicest of places, the sort where a smart person would go out at least with some pepper-spray... I wasn't stupid, just too indifferent to the situation. So there I was, a teenager with nothing better to do than aimlessly stumbling around, with no way to defend herself if someone noticed the easy target. And it still didn't feel as bad as school.

The weather, at least, was unusually nice for the time of the year.

There were almost no clouds, letting the sun make the world much, much more vibrant. While a chilly breeze created a pleasing contrast. Some birds were cheerfully chirping, colorful flowers bloomed...

HAHAHAHA!!

Just kidding, the sky was an impenetrable mass of dark clouds, making the dreary streets even grayer, and the air vaguely smelled like car exhaust as winter-cold felt like teeth on what little skin I had exposed.

Ahh...

What do teenage girls do in their free time? Go shopping? Hang out with friends? Go to movies?

I... wanted none of those things.

Then... what did I want?

To be happy? If so, should I just join the hordes of crack-addicts?

For dad to be happy? I... didn't feel like I could help him much on that front. He had never been the same without mom... Yet he put on a smile while around me... how long until he was sick of pretending?

Help? I wanted help... I constantly asked for it from school's administration at first, only to be ignored and turned away. I screamed for it, figuratively, as teachers and students averted their gaze and literally when I was shoved into that locker... yet nobody came. Or did so only to enjoy my misery.

I... did I want it all to end? I was so weary, so tired... Things only got worse as time went on, why the hell should I go through with that? No friends, no goals, no means... There was no happy ending for me...

Heh... good thing I decided to take a walk, really cleared my head.

"Hey, you!"

I jerked to a stop, momentarily surprised by how far from home my directionless shuffle got me. Then looked around in confusion only to find the street empty barring some hobos at a far-away corner.

"Up, here!"

I looked up, and felt confused as much as I did after seeing Emma hanging with Sophia after the summer camp.

Why the hell was Glory-the Next Alexandria-Girl talking to me?

The question must have shown on my face as she looked at me somewhat sheepishly and...

"Well... it's unusual to see girls my age roaming around in places like these, so just wanted to check. Hypocritical, I know... You aren't up to bad stuff, are you?"

She didn't say the last bit completely seriously, neither she was purely joking. Making me uncomfortable... also, talking with a flying person felt weird.

"You got me... I was on my way to kick puppies and steal candy from children, you foiled my evil plan, whatever will I do now." Sarcasm, at least, came easily. I still have some sense of humor... yay. I also made a hero giggle, add it to my resume.

"Nah, I was just left without much to do when Wards visiting the school cut the classes short. So I decided to take a walk."

She looked around the poorly-taken-care-of street. With large crags on the ground and trash in every single nook.

"Yeah... perfect place for a walk. Not everyone can live in nice neighbors, I guess."

She then descended and landed next to me, standing a good bit taller than me with the combination of my slouch and her heels.

"So... don't like the Wards?"

I shrugged, then looked at her uncertainly.

"Umm... don't take it the wrong way but... don't you have better things to do?"

Great job, I'll make all the friends in the future like this.

But the New Wave's poster-girl just smirked and looked at me curiously.

"Well, at least you're not all over me like some people... And no, I don't really have anything important to do. Patrols are usually boring, since criminals who don't know when to hide are already off the streets, like natural selection. And I can't beat people up just for wearing gang colors."

We kept walking in silence, and I felt extremely awkward. At least I didn't have to worry about not having a can of pepper spray anymore.

"Do you... always take walks with random people on the street?"

Such a great conversation so far.

"More often than you think. But it's usually with girls from my class, their friends and family or my cousins' friends and such. You just seemed nice enough. Umm... want me to walk you home? Just in case, it's getting late."

"S-sure."

We talked and joked during the whole way. Usually about light-stuff like clothes and movies... She even shared some stories, from her uncle Neil accidentally sending the Thanksgiving table flying to hero Manpower casually wrecking one of Squealer's vehicles with a simple backhand.

It felt so... nice and normal.

"Well, nice meeting ya! Don't be shy to call! And don't give that number to just anyone, or I would have to change it again." With that, she flew off, leaving me standing in front of my house, still confused and shaken.

Almost robotically, I climbed the stairs, slipped in some comfy home-clothes and laid on my bed. Processing the last hour and making sure it was not just a weird dream.

So... there were some nice people around after all... or maybe she was just faking it, have to look good for PR, right?

But she seemed so...

Yes, just finish that thought, the last time I trusted things to be good ended with me hospitalised for a week.

Damn, damn, damn it all...

I went to sleep, confused about what to think of all this. Confused about the fading warmth from the inane chat with the heroine...

It probably meant nothing at all. Some weird thing coming from being human at best.

Even if she was genuine, even if she considered me a friend, what difference did it make? She would just run away from the mess which I called my life.

Hiding the stick, showing the carrot, then using them both to gouge my eyes out.

This whole thing... it was just a fucking taunt.

I should... just give up. Yes... there was nothing to care about... nothing at all, why hurt myself like this? I was beyond help! I should... just lay here until the end of time.

•••

"Kiddo, you still sleeping? It can't be healthy, you know... come on, can't miss the bus."

Just... let me be, damn it. Things will be exactly the same today anyway.

•••

I was on the school's roof, one of my dwindling "safe spots" to eat my lunch, a simple sandwich, in peace.

It wasn't the best of places to eat, as the weather was still too cold and the place was filthy with dust. At least there was room to pace and think... not that thinking would do me any good.

Just... why were they so dedicated?Why did they actively hunt me. Were half the school's population sadists? It didn't make sense. They should have at least gotten bored after one and a half years. It confused me, if nothing else.

Clink...

The door... and the main trio... I'm not even surprised.

"Oh, look, it's Taylor, such a coincedence!"

Talking as if we were still friends... why she did that I still didn't know. She probably thought it still pained me, somehow. As if I would grieve losing such a person's friendship.

"Hmm... you didn't invite her? Should we send her away?"

"Oh, so rude Madison! Of course she can stay for my birthday, I'm her closest friend."

Oh... right. How could I ever forget.

Then Sophia closed the door and casually leaned against it, blocking my only escape, Madison started going through some bags she had with her, which was very alarming, and Emma came up to my personal space with a side-hug as if it was the most normal thing.

"You didn't forget my birthday, did you Taylor? Ah, don't worry, there are plenty of presents to go around. Geez, you have been so absent-minded lately, maybe you should get some professional help."

Yeah, clearly I was the mentally bent one here.

I almost said that out loud, but held with a sour expression on my face. The faster she got over her thing, the better.

"Oh, you look upset. What's wrong?" She smirked, probably feeling confident in her following words. "Are you going to cry yourself to sleep for a week straight?"

I froze. Nowadays, her words usually went right through me. But this...

I hated Emma, but I hated her for so long that only cinders remained from my hate. This... this reignited it with a vengeance. The first real emotion I felt since the locker.

This bitch... thought that she could tear my life apart, violate all the secrets I shared with her, almost kill me and then dare to think she would get away with it? Dared to act like she was a human being? Well I might not have much left, but there was something I could easily take from her right now as we stood awfully close to the edge of the roof. It would be justice, if the world's order dictated the lack of it, I would get it myself!

I let out a heavy breath, almost shaking. As much as I felt like it was, murder couldn't have been the answer.

Then Madison strolled our way, with a gift-box in hand. Saying... something I couldn't translate to anything meaningful as I was still fuming from my mental outburst.

Then, she opened the box in front of Emma as if she was offering a crown to a queen. And inside was...

...my mother's flute, it couldn't have been a fake, I would recognise it anywhere.

T-they repaired it, just to... just to torment me with it.

I bit my lips hard enough to draw blood. Emma was saying something with that smug expression of hers. And I was still too out of it to percieve whatever she was saying as something other than gibberish.

Then I returned her hug which she still maintained, gripping her shoulder tight enough for my knuckles to turn white. And dragged her towards the edge.

She realized what I was doing and screamed, Madison screamed something too, and tried to pry my arm off. Without thinking I kneed the smaller girl in the gut and then on the chin, with surprising amount of ferocity. Then returned to dragging Emma. Oddly, she didn't even resist me much, sporting a haunted expression as she muttered stuff under her breath.

Then as I was pushing her out of my life, Sophia came and grabbed her from the opposite side, pulling her back, her grip stronger than mine.

Well... fuck that.

Seeing that I couldn't beat Sophia with arm-strength alone, I added my body weight... all of it.

But Emma finally snapped out of whatever she was going through and joined Sophia in her efforts to keep us from falling.

Damn it, I wouldn't let her win again!

I trashed, pulled and pushed, yet I was too weak and light... then Emma managed to slip from my hold, and my head shifted skywards as I felt myself falling... only to abrubtly jerk to a stop.

I craned my neck, and was moderately surprised to see Sophia Hess gripping me by the shirt, her expression satisfyingly panicked.

Almost on instinct, and maybe from spite, I still pushed away, and she had to let go to keep her already fickle balance. And my fall resumed as if it didn't stop in the first place.

...

With surprising clarity, I thought on what I just did. Feeling very, very foolish.

What was going to happen now?

The trio would go on with their lives after suffering the inconvenience of a few questions, and probably forget about the suicidal weirdo in a few months.

Dad would probably give himself to his job, and grieve until he realized how pointless it was.

And... nothing else, I didn't know many people. My death would be so... inconsequential... Well, maybe Glory Girl, would be a bit sad, then go back to being a hero, as if nothing happened.

While I... what was going to happen to me? Burn in hell? Cease to exist?

I... didn't want it to end like this. I didn't want to lose so patheti...

I could think no more as my body met the ground.

Greetings!

Last edited: Jan 21, 2017

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KindaApatheticButNice

Jun 18, 2016

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KindaApatheticButNice

KindaApatheticButNice

Everything is dumb, but still important

Jun 20, 2016

#31

1.2

W-what?

I looked around in panic coming from being in a completely unknown situation. Standing on nothing in a featureless dark void, where I still somehow could see myself clearly while facing a... weird person?

They looked young, my age at most. Slender, but not awkwardly so without being as tall as me. Wearing dark-brown pants, old-fashioned shoes and a matching dress-shirt. The latter mostly obscured by the bright-green sweater with tan-colored stripes going over it. And their hair was hazel-brown, hanging above their shoulders, ending with asymmetrical bangs before obscuring their face.

I would consider them cute, or pretty... the same way I would consider a painting to be so. Since some things were... off, about them, bordering on the uncanny valley. Features too sharp, the blood-red eyes too striking, skin too pale, almost-glowing in the surrounding dark, cheeks too rosy... artifical, as their perfectly smooth skin showed no signs of having blood or veins running under it other than the permanent flush.

All along with various other oddities and proportions making the person in front of me look vaguely inhuman.

Instinctively, I stepped away, searching for a way out and trying not to think of my suicide.

Well, that's not the way to greet a new friend at all. But you wouldn't know better, would you? Of course not, a friend isn't something you would be comfortable with anyway. Yet greetings are important, come now, don't be shy!

Their voice was too sweet and cheery to be genuine, disturbingly so, and had a slight accent which I couldn't place. The glee they (he, she... it?) spoke with was somewhat reminiscent of Emma's when she was confident in getting a reaction out of me... but lacked any actual hurtful intent, which I wasn't sure if it should be reassuring.

Then I realized that they were actually waiting for me to reply, watching me without blinking, those unnaturally red eyes looking not at, but through and inside me, their blatantly fake smile seemingly painted on with their too thin, too pale lips.

"H-hi?" I paused, something felt off as I spoke, like trying to walk after watching TV for too long. "Who are you? What... what do you want?" I knew that those weren't the thing you should say to a creepy and potentionally murderous parahuman (what else they would be?), at least not in that tone... but not knowing what the hell was going on didn't keep me calm and collected.

Luckily, they didn't seem offended as their unnerving smile remained plastered on... however, them standing completely still in one spot, not even breathing and never breaking eye-contact wasn't a particularly friendly gesture to begin with.

S-stop with that expression damn it, a normal person would start having cramps by now!

Who am I? I'm me, of course, Chara. But what I want is more relevant, and actually quite simple, in comparison.

They raised their hand to point at me, the motion feeling as 'off' as everything else about them.

I want you, and many things which are yours.

Unsurprisingly, the boundless cheer made the words even more sinister. And the endless void suddenly began feeling like a small, poorly-lit closet.

Your passion, your hate, your hurt, your struggle, your Determination, maybe your soul... I want to experience life again. This void gets rather dull, you know.

T-they were crazy too, weren't they?

Just my luck, instead of dying properly I end up getting abducted by a super-powered psycho who was probably going to steal my likely-dead body (?) and use it like a meat-puppet for some sort of twisted pleasure.

Give me all that, make things interesting for me, let me share your tale. And in exchange... I will make you powerful. Powerful enough to never truly lose again, enough to be the greatest and most beloved hero, or the most terrifying villain, spoken in the same breath as the Endbringers. A great improvement on your previous position if you ask me.

The dissonance was nauseating.

Having the appearance of what would many consider of a child, and speaking about power with some sort of reverence... just, why? Were they trying to be as terrifying and alarming as possible?

And... were they serious? Could I... become a hero like... Alexandria, like Legend, like Eidolon? This... was just ridiculous, I was just a weak, pathetic girl who dealt with bullying by committing suicide after a failed murder-attempt.

Maybe... I was the crazy one. Having delusions about getting powers as I lay dying somewhere.

"What's the catch?" Even in a dream, I wouldn't take such a shady offer.

Nothing much. My constant presence in your head, the psychological problems coming with having the power of a god and being above most consequences... and theoretically, I could just force myself in and take your soul, your body for myself. But I wouldn't do that, we are having this conversation after all, aren't we?

...what was up with the talk about souls?

And if what they were saying was true...

Come now, what do you have to lose? I'm saving your life here, and making it much more worthwhile. You should be thanking me, I could be making this offer to literally anyone else. Hmm... maybe your mentally troubled former best friend would appreciate me more. Even if she is scum, it could be interesting...

"NO!" Emma wouldn't get any (imaginary?) superpowers, not even over my dead body. The bitch didn't deserve it.

Then I felt the sudden urge to run away and hide, as 'Chara' closed the distance between us with a few long steps, heels clicking sharply with each, their smile impossibly managing to become even more europhic.

Yet I stood still, paralyzed almost, as they came to a halt a step before invading my personal space.

You must have misunderstood.

The phrase was delivered with the same unchanging, joyful tone they had with their every other word, and their facial expression didn't even change from that ominous smile. Yet, something about it made me step away... they kept the distance static, with steady steps as I backpedalled.

It's nice to see you having some sort of backbone when not in a situation where the notion of powerlessness is beaten into you. Hilarious, really.

Maybe if I stopped moving, they would too, but I wasn't certain or brave enough to try finding out.

But even with not much left to actually lose, you're even more powerless than ever here. I was serious when saying how I could be making this offer to anyone else.

Something about that hurt, making me stop from some sense of indignant pride, just as they did.

You're nothing special, just the first person I happened to find in this unfortunate world. One, who desperately called for help. And I happen to have a soft-spot for cries like that. So now...

They extended their hand, palm open for a hand-shake. Looking too much like a demon offering a Faustian bargain.

...stop stalling, and decide whether you want to die a total loser or not.

They stood still, completely, as they had before, waiting.

I sighed... this was the smart thing to do right? Even if I said no... they would just find someone else, unless they were bluffing, which I doubted, as I couldn't have been anything special.

And... I could be a hero, a great one, if what they said was true. Could I risk someone else taking the offer and becoming a just as horrible villain? Wouldn't that be selfish?

Just as they said, I had nothing to lose.

Their skin was icy-cold as they gripped my hand.

You will be a great partner, I can already tell.

Then my knees gave out as I felt a burning sensation coming from my chest, along with an intense red glow illuminating the darkness, making my partner look much more menacing, as if steeped in blood, still smiling like nothing happened, still holding my hand.

Ooo, a red one! Such a coincidence, mine was too, when I had it.

I could only stare, gaping like a fish, as their other hand went to my chest, through my chest, and gripped the glowing thing, right where my heart should have been.

I had another nightmare after that, about the locker. Just as vivid, if not even more so. I almost thought I was still dreaming when I woke up in a painfully familiar hospital room.

Then I remembered how I jumped from Winslow's roof, how I pushed away from Sophia's grip, how I genuinely tried killing Emma... No wonder I was in a hospital... but a jail-cell would be more fitting.

W-what was wrong with me? Escalating to murder... I wasn't that sort of person, was I? Only the villains went for revenge like that...

If I was more lucid, I would have realised that none of my current injuries could have come from a fall.

"Taylor... TAYLOR?! Oh thank god kiddo, I thought that... Ah, here, the nurse said you would need water."

Deja-vu didn't even begin to cover it...

The room, my dad's words, the antibiotics lining the shelf...

Then something clicked and my eyes widened as realisation dawned upon me. Was it not just a weird dream?

"D-dad... What happened?"

His face turned sour, hiding the anger burning underneath. Pain, however, remained clear as day. I felt sick, seeing that expression again.

"They found you trapped in your locker, along with... filth. You had cuts and infections, and showed signs of psychosis, they..."

I stared blankly ahead. Were... the last months of my life undone? Just like that?

M-maybe, all of that was a dream instead. And I was waking up just now. Would explain meeting Glory Girl...

Really? You find living through Inception more beliavable? I offered you power, didn't I? And this is just the most basic application of it.

The familiar voice not-whispered in my ear. Still inhumanly sweet and cheerful.

Last edited: Dec 20, 2016

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KindaApatheticButNice

Jun 20, 2016

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KindaApatheticButNice

KindaApatheticButNice

Everything is dumb, but still important

Jun 21, 2016

#60

1.3

After the (repeated) stay at the hospital, after three days of antibiotics, a visit from that despicable lawyer and the pain of watching dad dealing with the fallout... I was home again. In my room, thoughtful.

Saving and Loading, that was my (our?) power. Like a damn video-game character.

It was so simple to say, some circles used the terms so widely, in fact, that most people never stopped to consider how broken it was. Yet in the real world...

'The power of a god'...they weren't kidding.

And I could provide you even more. Maybe another Save-slot, maybe magic or something very special... for a price, of course. Starting with your soul and body, it would be boring otherwise. But let's focus on what's important... What will you do?

My... partner had a point, what was I going to do?

How did one become a hero anyway? I could go and join the Wards... but my experience with teenagers so far left me distrustful and wary of them.

Hmm, a hero? Start small, and work your way up, maybe? Let people know how powerful you are and then do whatever you want? We don't really have to be patient, but you don't even have a costume, or a name, for that matter.

At least, and somehow, as a disembodied voice, they were way less unsettling. And just less unsettling in general, having toned down a bit on the 'always super happy' way of speaking. Maybe it was the leeching off of my emotions thing at work. They mentioned it a few times.

Now that I think of it... shouldn't I be more concerned about a voice in my head? Granted, I had other, actually hurtful problems.

Ahh...

I already felt tired. Thinking about repeating the torment of school while also maintaining a second persona...

What would you even do with an education? Just make your living by cheating for lottery numbers or something.

...

Unless you want to go Carrie on them. You can always start over after doing so... and do it again.

Just... no. For both of them. I have to be responsible with my powers, or I'm no better than the maniacs like Lung and Kaiser. And I'm pretty sure there are thinkers checking if someone is gaming the system.

I suppose you won't rob a bank for at least the thrill of a perfect heist either? Well, you don't get it yet, but you will. Your actions don't have to be remembered, or have consequences anymore. To an extent, that is.

I'm just... not that kind of a person. I would rather forget about those bitches instead of confronting them for some sort of revenge.

Maybe, maybe not. My point still stands, you don't have to waste time with school. And don't even give me the 'can't let dad know' crap. Just tell him how you literally can't lose. Secret plots aren't good for a family.

They were right... social norms and my insecurities would just end up hurting or hindering me.

Then my door opened, and dad leaned in, still looking exhausted from the whole ordeal with the hospital.

"Taylor, I'm going to get some groceries, want anything?"

Chocolate!

"Chocolate?"

"Sure thing kiddo! Don't overindulge yourself though, don't wanna get fat. Anything else?"

Me fat? Well... I already had this ugly pot belly making me look like a suspended frog... I should probably take up jogging. Would be useful for heroics too.

Also... chocolate?

Stop stalling.

"Dad... I...have to tell you something."

I breathed deeply with anxiety, feeling the odd sensation of my 'power' working, a tingling somewhere feep in my chest... Let's get this over with.

Sensing the serious atmosphere, dad closed the door behind him and sat down next to me on my bed, gently hugging me... it felt nice.

"What is it honey? Don't want to go back there?"

I gulped, probably making him more concerned with how red I was turning.

"I... want to take up jogging."

"Oh? Sure. We will get you some pepper spray too, and maybe a horn. Just in case. Good idea, would help with stress and all... That's it?"

"Y-yeah."

He left. And I could feel the unimpressed gaze drilling holes in me.

...Loading.

Daniel Hebert knew that he wasn't the best, or at least the most proactive parent. Sure, he loved his daughter, and would do anything she asked of him. But as the energetic chatterbox, morphed into a silent wallflower... he didn't know what to do, or even think about it. And ended up assuming it was her growing up.

In hindsight, he should have suspected bullying, as Winslow wasn't the nicest of places, teeming with gangs. All signs were there... but ignored as he gave himself to work day after day. Assuming that he would be notified if something like that really happened to her.

Yet his Taylor only nodded weakly and remained silent when he asked if that was the case, going through her hospital stay with that odd and concerning detachment.

"Dad... I... have to tell you something."

So when his only daughter came to him with such uneasiness, he was filled with a sense of duty. Today, he would be someone she could rely on.

He closed the door, thinking that the added privacy would make her more comfortable, and sat next to her with a loving hug.

"What is it honey? Don't want to go back there?" He wouldn't, in her position... those hyenas, he was still fuming at the 'settlement' Winslow offered.

Oddly, Taylor was way calmer than she was a moment ago, yet still a bit fidgety.

"The school? Well... I don't think I actually have to. Dad... I'm a cape."

The world came to a stop.

And he thought that her indulgence in her sweet tooth after so long would be the oddest thing today.

Capes, for Danny, were a far-off reality nowadays. As his only interaction with them was their distant, yet threatening presence in the gangs they were affiliated with. Thankfully kept in check by the Protectorate patrols. Not that it would be hard to get around them...

Of course, he knew that his late wife used to be a sort of henchwoman for Lustrum, and he had spoken to some vigilantes who roughed up some gang-members getting brave enough to make trouble near his workplace (none of them are around anymore)... but those didn't prepare him for the blunt confession.

So he took another moment to gather his thoughts, feeling just as lost as his daughter had been at first.

"Oh..."

He knew of the trigger events, from being in the 'cape capital' long enough. And he felt shame, for being completely useless at preventing a thing like that.

"So... what is it? Your power, I mean."

Please be something the gangs wouldn't be interested in. I heard enough horror-stories about kidnapped tinkers.

"I can Save and Load... like a video game character. So... I literally can't lose unless it's totally impossible to win."

"R-really?" The implications took a moment to sink in. He wasn't sure how to feel about them.

"Two of your workers were late to work today, from a popped tire, the frontal right one... you told me in another timeline."

"Oh..." Was the only thing he could say, the only sound he could make.

Anne would know what to do, stop being useless, you idiot!

"That's... incredible. Should I call the PRT? Get you into the Wards?"

She shook her head, and his fears resurfaced.

"I want to accomplish something first. At least get a costume and a name. And maybe bust someone of note. A villain, at least. Can't be too hard... I can try as much as I need to." She paused, biting on her lips. "I... can't get myself to be near people my age... not... not after that. Not without a reputation to get behind. I'm just... sick of being a target..."

He tried not to panic at how casually she spoke of fighting... madmen. His shame intensifying from her developed trust issues.

She didn't trust even me...

And still hoped that he was just having a weird dream.

"The school?" He tried, aiming to steer the conversation where he wasn't lost and confused.

She smiled... really smiled.

How long has it been...

"I don't want to go there anymore, too many bad memories." She gulped, and pointed at her desk. "There... in the second shelf, read the journal."

How many times will the world turn upside down?

He read it.

Every single page, every single word, every single name... it was painful, he was shaking before even finishing the first half... yet he pushed on.

It was a bullying campaign alright... a vicious one, day in, day out, from her former best friend.

And he didn't suspect a thing for almost two years, not until it was too late.

Rage joined his shame. He wanted to rant, to scream, to kick and punch the walls... yet what good would that do? He only terrified Taylor with his outburst at the hospital.

Alan will bleed for this.

He pushed his anger back, now was not the time.

"T-taylor... I... will get you to Arcadia, or something. I..."

"It's okay, you don't have to worry, or bother. I know it sounds wrong but... the smartest thing to do would be to drop out." She paused, waiting for an answer, with some apprehension.

After a thoughtful moment, he spoke. Choosing his words carefully.

"I get it... if your power is what you say it is... you wouldn't really need any proper education." She gaped in surprise, not expecting the instant acceptance.

"BUT... after you're comfortable enough to talk with the PRT, we will enroll you to Arcadia. Everyone knows that the Wards go there, and even if you don't join, they would probably make some exceptions. Heh..." He smiled, it was not a happy one. "Maybe even get them to help us sue those bastards."

She moved to protest, but he didn't let her.

"Taylor... I know that you probably don't trust anyone. But... people need to be around their peers, believe me, I know from experience. And if you don't get to see the good side of the people... you would probably try keeping yourself isolated forever." She still gaped, surprised by the unexpected arguement. "Besides, leaving teenagers to their own devices for whole days can't end well, you would die from boredom, at least." He ruffled her hair, earning an indignant squeak.

He had experience with people, years of it... and he knew how damaged they could get. And he would be damned if he didn't put that experience to good use.

"I will... see if I can extend your leave from school for another week. Then we will... handle it as it comes."

Right now, he really needed to work off his temper.

That one went well... didn't know he was a psychologist.

Me neither.

Now, let's load again so we can see his face when we tell him how you already took revenge on the whole school. For future reference.

No... I won't be going to Winslow or anywhere near them. I have better things to do.

Not even to learn why she did what she did?

I paused, my breath hitching.

No... no, I just don't care what she does anymore.

Hmph... weirdo. Oh well, we will see what happens when one of them gets in our way. You already tried killing her, remember?

It had been a few days since the awkward talk with Dad.

Since then, I had set up a running routine, started looking up capes and gangs in and around Brockton Bay, and might have made some suspiciously helpful calls to both the PRT and the police about gang activities, but still had no headway in costume department.

I sighed, then tore, crumbled, and threw away another page from the notebook.

Coming up with a good costume, while unsure about the available options, was hard.

I didn't need armor, not really, but it would be useful to add in the future. By the same account, I could pull a cape off, and if it got stuck on something... it literally never happened.

And the PRT could refine whatever I ended up using if I joined the Wards. But they would probably throw me into a safe room in a command-control position... I didn't like the sound of that.

I sighed yet again at the latest design I came up with.

BEHOLD!!! It's the Edgemaster, sharper than Kaiser's crown, darker than Shadow Stalker's shadow form. They will tremble before her... the little kids, that is. Everyone else will probably laugh.

Not... helping.

I came up with the name.

You bastardised your oddly-fitting, weird surname...

'Dreamer', that's what we decided on. It was vague while also alluding to my power... which I wasn't planning to reveal to everyone, it wouldn't end well... maybe even force me to start over from the locker, that's if my partner was interested in doing so. Otherwise I would just... die, for real this time. But they assured me they wouldn't get bored of me so soon...

Also on their suggestion, I was trying to come up with a costume that gave-off a 'magician', 'fortune teller', or 'fairy tale' vibe. It wasn't working.

"Why are there so many spikes." Dad asked, looking at my latest design.

"I... wanted to make it look like a rose... after my mom."

"Aww, that's sweet honey... but demon horns? And what's up with that mask?"

"That's a tiara! A-and those are petals." The former was actually inspired by Glory Girl... I never actually met her, not in this life, now that I think of it. That made me a bit sad. Maybe... I would see if we could be friends.

Dad looked at me bemusedly with a brow raised, then chuckled for a good while, as I made my displeasure known by crossing my arms and huffing.

"Okay, okay... This... isn't working." He got up, putting on his jacket. "Let's go to the Market, we might find something useful or inspiring there."

Good idea... the living room was getting messy with discarded papers anyway.

The Lord's Market was the place where you could find all sorts of stuff. Ranging from hand-made sculptures, to various antiques and of course, tons of clothes, jewelry and accesories with dubious quality and questionable legitimacy, as anyone could set up shop at the available stalls. Which was good, since not many questions would be asked for whatever we ended up buying.

For middle and lower-class, it was also a good alternative for the Boardwalk, where you might get thrown out for not being fancy enough. But it also lacked the Enforcers, which meant higher gang-activity. Not that they dared doing anything too avert so close to Brockton Bay's sole tourist trap.

"Found anything yet?"

"Maybe... let's keep looking."

I was mainly keeping an eye out for scarves, shawls, hoodies, shades and such. As straight-up buying a mask would probably make who the cape wearing it was too-obvious.

There were already some which would do... but not much more than that.

Then I came to a halt as I caught the sight of some wool shawls displayed at a stall. Bright green, with tan stripes. The colour wasn't quite right, but...

You want to cosplay as me? Heh...hehehehe...

I was about to laugh along and walk away... then I remembered our first meeting, and their drawing-like, uncanny, yet oddly pretty and somewhat adorable visage...

Maybe it wouldn't be so unsettling on an actual mask, and I was already going to use their name...

"Dad! Found it!"

Normally, during the weekends, I was content to waste away at home with nothing to do.

But my effective weekend has been going on for far too long, and I was itching to go and do something other than making phone calls whenever my latest Save and the news were timed conveniently... Dad was right about the boredom bit.

I could go jogging again... which I would, probably. But I wasn't exactly in the mood right now.

Or I could work on my costume some more. I actually managed to produce a prototype after several Loads to get over my low skill at sewing. But as is, it looked like...

Something a serial killer would wear.

I was going to say children's birthday entertainer.

Something a serial child killer would wear.

...I based it on you.

I'm neither denying, nor confirming anything.

Well... that's not worrying at all.

At least it couldn't be said that I had no friends... I think.

Then I found myself standing way more alert and straight as the latest of my 'alternated news' came on.

Originally, it was about Stormtiger roughing up some policemen busting an illegal fight club.

Of course, I notified the PRT of that.

Now it was about Stormtiger and Hookwolf tearing their way through PRT squads, leaving bodies behind. Brutally injuring Aegis, who was patrolling nearby, narrowly surviving thanks to Clockblocker. Assault and Battery apprehending Cricket wasn't even a pyrrhic victory as she got broken out by some strategically placed explosives before even arriving at a temporary holding cell. The prime suspect was Victor.

A total disaster...

It was close-ish... I could take a cab and then change into my (creepy) costume in some alley... make sure that the heroes won in a more direct manner.

Mmm... it's happening~

My excitement, was apparently enough to bleed off on them too, not sure what it said about me... but I was going to make a difference tonight!

Well, evening.

"PRT hotline, what's your emergency?" A woman's voice which I grew somewhat familiar with. Having heard it a few times before during my many calls, some of them a few times over.

"It's me again, Dreamer."

There were sounds of shuffling, and button pushing, wasn't sure what to make of that.

"Go on." Was the nerveous reply. I wasn't exactly known for good news.

I breathed, sorting through my words.

"A police bust on an Empire fighting rig will go wrong, at Southernmost Downtown, Stormtiger will be there."

"Thanks, we will notify them and send appropriate help. Anything else?"

Well, here goes.

"Hookwolf will reveal himself and go on a rampage after getting cornered, along with Cricket, multiple casualties. Aegis, most notably... he would survive, but barely." She was silent for a moment. I picked up before she could recover.

"I will make my way there to prevent that. My precognition... can make sure that everyone gets out okay, if I use it in the field. Unless it's literally impossible."

Yes... precognition... that's what they called it, and I had no good reason to object.

They mentioned it while giving a hastily put-together Wards pitch after I told them that I was under eighteen, apparently, they rated me a Thinker 7, currently.

"Thank you... for your assistance. We will see to it."

Now... time to get an awkward taxi ride, then change into my costume even more awkwardly. Then... win.

A brutal fight is coming, this is your chance to prove your worth... you're filled with Determination.

Last edited: Aug 27, 2016

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KindaApatheticButNice

Jun 21, 2016

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KindaApatheticButNice

KindaApatheticButNice

Everything is dumb, but still important

Jun 23, 2016

#102

1.4

The fight-pit, looked just like any other residential building from the outside, but probably had seen some illegal 'renovations' to make room for Hookwolf's preferred entertainment.

Currently, no one was going in or out, other than the occasional skinhead look-outs. Thankfully, they didn't look hard enough to get suspicious of the various parked vans around the area, dismissing them either as plumbers and such they were disguised as, or just assuming they were for the Empire's other dealings. While in reality, they hosted PRT squads, all geared up, wary, yet ready. A normal police squad would bust in and apprehend the criminals... but indoor cape fights never ended well, usually ending in the building collapsing under all the power getting carelessly thrown around, often damaging the surrounding structures too in the process.

Another such van, a bit farther out than the others, currently contained four capes, waiting for a fifth.

Assault, a striker who could re-direct kinetic energy in various ways, which proved very effective with how creative he could get.

Battery, often seen with him, and synergised well both in power and teamwork. Having the ability to become stronger and faster by 'charging' herself while standing still.

And sitting across them were the two Wards, Clockblocker and Aegis.

Former having the power to temporarily 'freeze' objects and people in time, often ending fights before they could even begin. While the latter was a flying brute, an 'Alexandria Package', who could survive his head getting blown off by using his pancreas as a back-up brain, while his original regrew, which still confused many neuro-scientists.

Four of them together... wouldn't be enough for the villains they would face, especially with the restrictions imposed on the Wards to appease the Youth Guard. Understandable, yet still damning for a Hero.

Knock, knock

Then the door opened with a creak. Their ally, whose presence in-person was rather surprising, but nontheless had proven herself reliable over the last week with the information she provided over calls finally arrived.

"Greetings!" She exclaimed, excited and eager to work alongside the renowned and estabilished heroes.

Her costume was obviously home made, yet not laughably so. It wasn't optimal for combat either... but it didn't really need to be.

It consisted of dark-brown boots, pants and a darker, untucked dress-shirt. Their colour contrasting with the bright-green knee-length hooded cloak with two large, horizontal tan stripes going over it at chest and shoulder levels, held together around the neck by a cheap, heart-shaped gold coloured brooch. Yet there were imperfections where the cloak showed signs of having been sewn together by an unexperienced hand, if one were to look closely.

Completing the outfit, of course, was the mask, framed by the long, dark curls and shaded by the hood.

It was a rather simple thing, made from thick, white cardboard-like material, bent slightly to better hug her face, worn slightly askew, and had a wide smiley-face painted on with a black crayon, with dark lenses hidden within the large, narrow 'eyes', while the upper portion was cut to resemble a crown, similarly painted with a yellow crayon.

"Hi... See, I told you that with Halbeard around, we would get our Joker-expy sooner or later. But no, you thought that Assault is an immature man-child. Who is laughing now!"

"Oh... is it really that bad?" She slumped, sounding dejected.

"Wait... you weren't trying to make us think that you were here to murde... OWW!" He clutched his ribs, reeling from the sudden elbow blow.

"Ignore him. It's nice to have you Dreamer, come in." Battery stood, offering her a hand to help the girl in and a small ear-phone for communications. She took her seat next to Clockblocker, who slided closer to Aegis.

He must've been shy.

"It's unusual to work with independents in this manner, especially since precognitive thinkers aren't a commodity." The older woman continued. "That aside, could you explain your powers so we know what to expect? Thinker powers are rather variable."

"O-of course. Well..." She hesitated."...I can see a few hours into the future, that's what I've been doing the past week, watching news and other broadcasts then calling them in."

Assault whistled.

"Damn, actual future-sight? Half our thinkers will eat their hearts out. They usually don't get much more than hunches, gut feelings or hot & cold nonsense. Armsy too, the guy may hide it, but I know..." He then coughed awkwardly under his partner's withering glare. "So... what brings you out here, forgot to pay the phone bills?"

"Umm... Well... Hookwolf and the others were... are(?)... going to... kill people? A-and I wanted to help but now that I think of it it's kind of my fault for getting the PRT here and escalating, but the other option was letting them get away and now people might die, so I... maybe shouldn't have..." She paused when Aegis tapped her shoulder.

"It's okay, we came here because that's the right thing, not because you forced us."

Dreamer looked at him, expression hidden by the prepertual smile, then averted her gaze as if remembering something unpleasant.

"Well, she is here to help, right? I see no problem here." Clockblocker added, now less skittish.

"T-thanks..."

Their stake-out went on with sharing stories about their older fights, awkward first days as heroes, the narrowly avoided choices of the PR department... it was pleasant.

"...and then I had to do monitor duty for a week." Clockblocker laughed as he finished reciting the memory, and turned to the girl chucking alongside him. "You know... creepy mask aside, you've been pretty cool so far. Come and meet the others too after this mess is done, a new friend would be nice."

"Friends..." She exhaled, uncertain, yet hopeful. "... yeah, that would be nice."

Bullets are loud... but less painful than I expected. Still terrifying.

I'm not using everything available, the troops can benefit from me... they miss too many nazis.

Need more foam... but then she always hears it coming. What's up with that cage-helm anyway?

The mass of blades filled my vision, I could only stare as the metallic wolf slammed into me, knocking me aside, bleeding. Con-foam couldn't hold him more than a minute.

More nazis... surprised Battery... won't next time.

Hookwolf was faster than I thought...

Clockblocker reached out from his hiding spot... a blade of air took his hand clean off, Stormtiger must have seen him while Battery was away, then another came for me, forcing me to Load before I could.

Huffing with unprompted annoyance, she then got up, and moved to get outside, gesturing the others to follow, which they did after a moment of hesitation.

"They will be dispersing in seven minutes, Hookwolf will come out with the other capes and four unpowered members in eleven, tell them that an ambush is impossible while Cricket is with them." She started pacing. Proposing her plan as if reading from paper.

This... this is not what I expected.

That's a weird way to spell explosive decapitation. Don't worry, you will get used to pain and death, they always do.

Aegis was floating high in the air, directly above the entrance of the building from which Empire members and sympathisers emerged periodically, some limping, some in bad enough shape to get carried.

The Wards weren't supposed to take proactive roles, especially against known Birdcage-worthy murderers such as Hookwolf... yet involving precognition might give points to the arguement of this being a reactive action. Still, his role could be passed as minor on paper, he would get a slap on the wrist at worst.

Then he spotted the three distinctive figures, just as when he was told he would, going through the street in costume without a care, showing the Empire's flag and confidence, along them were who he supposed to be the 'winners' of whatever they did in there.

Hookwolf, Cricket and Stormtiger... they and their underlings were considered a sub-group of sorts within Kaiser's organisation.

Running dog and human fights, peddling lower-end drugs and collecting protection money from the outer edges of the Empire's territory where the economy was worse... they were the border-raiders, doing unsavory work away from the leadership for the so-called Emperor, allowing him to preach the notion of 'saving the civillisation' unhindered.

Liars and monsters with delusions.

Carlos thought, as he dropped the foam-grenades he had been holding. Of course, Cricket noticed the approaching projectiles, giving out a hurried warning before they could go off mid-air, turning into a falling and expanding blanket, easily catching the unpowered thugs. The same, could not be said about the real threats.

Hookwolf exploded into a whirling mass of metal. Blades, hooks, saws... all wickedly sharp and some serrated. He didn't bother taking the form he was named after, shedding and regrowing parts of himself, preventing the hardening foam from trapping him, this was a trick he had experience with, it wouldn't take a minute before he would be completely free.

And Stormtiger simply leapt out of the way along the cage-wearing woman, keeping the foam away by slashing upwards with blades of turbulent air. Easily blowing off the light substance.

"What the hell is this!?" He bellowed. "Do we need to remind you why not to mess with us? You... URGH!"

He was knocked down as Battery rammed into him with an inhumanly fast charge, hard enough to break a few ribs, an arm, and maybe give a concussion, yet not quite enough to take him out, as he unsteadily climbed back to his feet.

Cricket attempted to cover the aero-kinetic as he recovered, yet had to leap away as Assault dropped down from above, answering the woman's glare with a casual smirk as the dust cleared. Knowing that this wasn't a good match-up for her.

Meanwhile, the goons still in the building found themselves unable to leave, as all exits were covered with containment foam, and the ones who were already outside were found and detained by the PRT's troops with surprising ease, even the ones who were inconspicuous, easy to mistake for civillians were caught before they could get their knives and guns out to cause trouble.

"There, from that alley. Seven skinheads, all armed with guns. They don't know what exactly is going on here, get the drop on them before they force Battery to back-off."

The happy-looking cloaked figure directed the squad of armored men, then took a moment to look around her.

Assault was handling Cricket, and Battery was already restraining Stormtiger, while none of the armored officers were injured.

Victory was close, and she was determined to see it through.

We've almost got it. Keep trying, he won't be getting better.

With unerring confidence, she walked towards the remaining threat, speaking at the ear-piece under the mask, then shouted.

"Hey! Super-furry! How does it feel to be taken down by a teenaged thinker whose only experience is a weeks' worth of phone-calls?"

With a final screech of metal on metal, the mass of sharp edges assumed the signature vague shape of a wolf, bare of his restrains, looming over everything in sight.

"Did you see this coming, you stupid bitch? You will bleed for this!"

He spoke with the sound the metal made, angry at his allies being easily dealt with, but still confident in his own abilities.

"Yes, actually. Go on, I know exactly how you will be running away. I will find you, you coward!" There was no hesitation, only confidence in saying the right thing.

It was a weird sight, a giant monster being threatened by a normal-looking person smiling up at them.

"Hrrrr... Wrong guess!"

He leaped with surprising speed, his immense form blocking off the setting sun, but his target started dodging out of the way long before he landed. Walking backwards while still facing him, the drawn smile mocking the notorious villain. Then she got out of another lunge's way just as easily, ducking as he lashed out with some hooks emerging from his side with impossible reaction-time, fiddling with something under the cloak as the beast grinded to a halt behind her, readying for another attack.

Hookwolf dashed at his prey one last time in frustration, changing his form to cover a wider area, leaving no room to dodge... but it was already too late as a human-sized blur got the girl out of his path, leaving him to collapse on top of an expanding mass of foam, then was frozen in time and covered in even more foam before he could react.

"Don't you love it when things go according to plan!" She cheerfully announced. Dizzy and mentally exhausted as Battery held her.

AN: Did I manage it decently? Not sure about a lot of things in this one...

Last edited: Jul 23, 2016

592

KindaApatheticButNice

Jun 23, 2016

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Threadmarks Omake: Coil's shard vs. Chara

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KindaApatheticButNice

KindaApatheticButNice

Everything is dumb, but still important

Jun 23, 2016

#119

Cj1of4 said:

Yup Coil's shard make's two sets of predictions and figures out which one Coil would pick as the 'real' timeline and feeds Coil info from the 'second' timeline in real time. Works great until someone does something that the Shard has no way to predict in the real timeline, like going back in time.

Edit: Now I'm imagining Coil's shard as a frantic scientist rushing through all their charts and graph to figure out why this test came out with the answer BLUE rather then the length of the object it was trying to measure.

Click to expand...

[SIMULATION]

[PREDICTION]

[ERROR]

[ERROR?]

[QUERY]

)

339

KindaApatheticButNice

Jun 23, 2016

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Threadmarks 1.5

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KindaApatheticButNice

KindaApatheticButNice

Everything is dumb, but still important

Jun 27, 2016

#130

The PRT dropped me a few blocks away from home, and I stowed away the mask and the cloak in a backpack, replacing them with my old coat.

Sure, they would have an idea about where I lived... but it was way less awkward than taking another cab, and couldn't hurt me in a meaningful way anyway... right...

As I walked home, the reality of what was happening around me sunk in.

I... I fought alongside real heroes... against real and dangerous villains. Really dangerous... I died to them... watched others die to metal, air and gunshots... but I won, I won easily, even easier from the outside... and nobody got hurt.

I... I won... and I could... I could...

Suddenly, I felt tired. Would I have go through that everytime I did something as a cape? Making sure that nobody got hurt... the Endbringers attacked routinely, after all... that's... that's what a hero should do... right? Even right now, people were...

Urgh! Just stop! Feelings are nice, all the reason for me being here, actually. But dealing with crippling inadequacy for not being a saint and devoting your every waking hour to 'help' people is not something I would enjoy. Don't go there, I would seriously leave.

B-but...

But what? You're only human. And you don't really care about all the pain and suffering beyond simple empathy after getting screwed over yourself. No one can without going crazy. And that's okay! Just go home and stop thinking about being like that golden weirdo.

I stopped, wearily leaning against a dirty wall, thinking. Now unsure about the voice in my head. They wanted me to just... not care? To not do the best I can?

Oh~I see... you are still a self-deprecating, maybe even suicidal wreck. Why else would you want to work yourself to dust like that? Don't deny it, your feeling are mine too, partner.

...

Just go home and stop thinking. You can always decide what to do with your life later. Just focus on how you took down a bunch of murderous super-nazis, or the effectively never-ending chocolate bar we have.

T-thanks...

Of course, dad was waiting for me, probably worried sick when his daughter wasn't home after he got back from work. Me wearing the pants and the shirt we bought for my costume didn't help either.

"Taylor... what did you do?" His voice was barely containing the storm of emotions underneath. It pained me.

And I couldn't avoid him or lie to him to keep him from worrying like I did with the school, the pictures of the cape who helped taking down Hookwolf would be all over the place soon enough.

"Umm... there was an incident. I... wanted to be there so no one would get hurt."

"An incident? Like, a burglary?"

"Yeah... something like that."

"Taylor..." He paused, shameful and uncertain. "...I know that I haven't been the best parent..."

"D-don't say that! It's not true!" I cut in.

Well, he did fail to notice your suicide-inducing depression while hiding in his own little world of routines, or somehow decided to act like it was normal. Funny how useless he is for how much he loves you.

It was hard to tell how serious they were with the constantly amused and mocking tone they spoke with, but what they said made something choke and scream inside me.

That would be resentment, I like how it feels. But you should deal with it. Avoidance doesn't seem to work out for you.

Dad paused, brows furrowed with sorrow, then continued from where I interrupted.

"...but I want to help you now. Please... be honest with me so I can do so."

...this is going to be a long talk, at least for me.

"...after that Armsmaster arrived, put Hookwolf in a cage, and drove off with him... Then I stuck around a bit more, which took no time at all in reality, to see where Victor set up traps to rescue Stormtiger and Cricket, and now I'm here. A-and I didn't even get injured through the whole thing! Well, expect the bruising from when I had Battery tackle me... but she was surprisingly gentle."

This is the conversation he would remember, me answering his question about what happened, not the mess when I tried to have a heart to heart with him.

He stood still, face blank, leaning his elbows on the kitchen-table for support. Then he shook his head with a deep sigh.

"Fighting the Empire's capes and winning... heh, you sure aren't taking things slow... I'm worried Taylor... I-I don't know what to do, what to say, what to even feel..."

Such a shocking revelation.

...not helping. And what else is he supposed to do? This isn't a common situation.

"I don't know what to feel either dad." I said almost absently.

I didn't, but for a different reason. Knowing that I could start over again anytime anything went wrong made everything seem less real, almost like a lie, if I dwelled on it.

Should I be allowed that? Taking away and reshaping people's lives? Was I playing with them right now? What did it all mean?

I... might need therapy at this rate, and that was the least of my mental issues.

I doubt that any psychologist has training to deal with that kind of nihilism, if you could call it that... but try finding something else to worry and care about maybe? It usually works.

...just don't think about how I can rewrite reality on a whim? Damn it, I'm too young to have an existensional crisis.

Your attitude isn't helping either, not exactly an optimist. Hah, I get it! You're a moody teenager in the end... that therapy might be useful, on a second thought.

"...then she walked up to Hookwolf, called him a furry, made him jump onto a foam grenade, and didn't even get touched or lift a finger during the whole thing, it was awesome! Oh, and Halbeard put him in a cage as if he was an actual dog, PHO will be having a field day with this." Clockblocker told the story once again, this was the third, to Vista and Triumph this time, who were just back from patrol, resting at the living room-like area of the Wards' quarters.

"Damn... well, guess if she joins the Wards, you guys' records as captains will be spotless. She seriously did all that? I thought she would be a behind the scenes sort with all the phone-calls." The current captain was genuinely impressed.

"Oh, have you asked her how likely she is to join? And... she isn't like Shadow Stalker, is she?" Missy asked hopefully, excited yet wary with how the latest girl-Ward turned out. She wasn't... what she hoped for.

"Nah, she was nice, but a bit creepy with the get up. Probably didn't notice until it was too late. And I didn't really get to talk with her much about joining. What about you Carlos? You were with her the last time I saw."

The older teen shrugged.

"Battery asked her, she seemed warm to it, but didn't give a definitive answer. But I'm hopeful... also worried, if the word gets out, she will face a recruitment push or maybe even a head-hunt harsher than most tinkers get. The Empire especially isn't known to live down defeats."

They were silent for a moment.

All of them heard about how independents usually ended up, and they didn't even have to be exceptional.

"Geez, way to ruin the mood. I'm already looking forward for your turn at leadership. You'll be getting double the dose of bad jokes as punishment."

"Oh great, you gave him an excuse. I'm almost glad that I'm graduating now. And don't even..."

The gladiator-themed hero was cut off when his PRT issued phone buzzed from recieving a message, simultanious with Aegis' and Clockblocker's.

"Guess Piggot wants us for the meeting. Well, see you later Missy, sorry for ditching you, and Clock... behave yourself, the Director will be extra pissed-off with the Quo getting shaken up."

Director Emily Piggot waited as the last of the capes attending took their seats. The two Wards who had been at the fight, and their team-leader. The rest of the table was filled by the full Protectorate, all the way from the Rig, barring Dauntless and Velocity who were on patrol while the rest were occupied by a few high-ranking officers, and the Deputy Director.

Today's events were significant enough to warrant all of their presence. Kaiser losing what could be considered a whole faction of his Empire, both in powered and baseline members wouldn't be without consequences. If not that, the other gangs would be on them like sharks smelling blood at the sign of weakness.

Her scowl deepened at the thought.

Can't even have a proper victory.

"Armsmaster, could you recap for those not caught on with the events."

The head of the PENE stood, speaking with factual, curt sentences. The man's often-alienating efficency was convenient for occasions like these.

"Earlier today the independent hero known as Dreamer, whose activities until then were limited to calling-in crimes in or pre-progress, contacted PRT's emergency services, informing us about the wherabouts of an Empire fight-pit along with Hookwolf, Stormtiger and Cricket's. Unexpectedly expressing a desire to cooperate, which she delivered." There were faint hints of satisfaction and excitement in his words, only apparent to those closest to him.

"With her helping to coordinate both the PRT and Protectorate forces, we managed to arrest all three of the mentioned capes along with thirty six unpowered affiliates. All delivered to holding cells without issue, again with her support, foreseeing any ambushes. I delivered Hookwolf to another facility outside the city myself, given his record of breaking out. He should be sedated and on the way to the Birdcage as we speak." The pride in the last statement however, was obvious to anyone observant enough.

"Thank you, Armsmaster." Her words did not contain any actual gratitude. "Ideas on her powers and possible ratings?" This bit she already knew about, having discussed it beforehand, and was one of the reasons for her uneasiness.

"According to her and her actions, it's likely that she can accurately predict a few hours into the future, including the results of any of her own actions. She also showed no limits on the amount of times she could do so. Assuming that there aren't any other inhibitions or conditions for her abilities, I would rate her a Thinker 8 at least, Thinker 10 at most."

Ten... it wasn't a common rating, neither was eight, and would make them consider a nuke strike in any other category of powers. Granted, her previous rating of seven was close to the latter, but it was made with a ton of assumptions. This... this was a confirmation.

The implications took a moment to sink in, already assuming the worst.

Someone who couldn't lose... almost comparable to the likes of Eidolon, if not for the lack of pure destructive potential, yet it was easy to remedy that with some resources and allies.

"Why so wound up? Even if her power is the worst of what we assume, she is still a hero, isn't she?" Assault was glaringly contrasting with his relaxed attitude.

Battery sighed when he gave her a meaningful look. "She seemed to be willing to join."

"I have to agree, there is room to be optimistic." Miss Militia opined.

"My social profiling programs indicate that she genuinely wants to help, they also suggest a supportive approach." Armsmaster added.

The Wards nodded along too.

Emily looked down, it wasn't voiced, but she had been around long enough to know what this was.

The polar opposite of assuming the worst; Hope... and it almost always lead to either disappointment or tragedy.

Hero, killed by a still-undefeated cannibalistic mass-murderer.

Sphere, now called himself

Mannequin.

Dauntless, his power had rapidly diminishing returns.

Even Lung, when he drove off Leviathan, many more could be counted still.

And now Dreamer, if she could replicate what she did with Hookwolf, a perfect operation with no casualties against an Endbringer... they would pull out another trick and kill her too, like they always did.

Last edited: Jul 23, 2016

566

KindaApatheticButNice

Jun 27, 2016

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Threadmarks Interlude A

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KindaApatheticButNice

KindaApatheticButNice

Everything is dumb, but still important

Jul 3, 2016

#157

Interlude A:

Emma lazily dragged herself out of the bed, groggy despite it being almost noon, suffering for abusing her access to the internet way too late into the night. Not that it mattered, it was Sunday, so nobody cared about sleeping well. Not teenagers, at least.

Texting while half-heartedly brushing her teeth, the redhead couldn't help but feel wary.

-Still cnt come to hang out with us?

-Nah skin-heads r goin nuts Asians n methheds not helping eithr. Someone has to go out n smack em down.

Gang-violence was never really low in Brockton Bay, with their presence being felt even in schools. And when things heated up and there was blood in the water... it brought up bad memories.

No, no! I survived what they could give. Nothing to fear, I'm stronger than that. I proved it. Stronger than even her. Heh, the cow was apparently going to run away for another week, if the secretary's niece was to be believed.

The contradiction in that statement wasn't a sign of mental health.

knock knock knock

"You gonna be hogging the shower again?" A barely awake voice, slightly muffled through the door.

"Yep! Sorry sis, late by minutes again." She playfully took care to sound much more energetic than she actually was.

"Ugh... I'm setting an alarm or something next time. You take your coffee with sugar and milk, right?"

Aww, she was way too nice.

"Yeah, thanks sis! Umm... could you drop me off at the Boardwalk, have a friend waiting for me. I would take the bus but..."

"Sure, no problem. Had to get some art-stuff there anyway."

Heh, her sister was the best.

"I know that I'm a fountain of niceness, but don't make me bring it all the way up here, I will spill something and make a mess eventually, and you know how mom gets."

She grumbled, setting the steaming cup in front of the mirror next to numerous make-up supplies.

"Oh, sorry. Just can't get the right colour to go with the new blouse, you know." Emma replied from the chair, not taking her eyes from the mirror as she carefully put on some lipstick.

Anne looked at her sister dryly, taking a sip from her own drink.

"No I don't."

She didn't care as much as her sister did for make-up and dresses or the like. Regularly dealing with paint getting all over her since the middle-school made 'not giving a damn' much more convenient. That was what she would tell if asked, anyway. People left it at that much quicker when given an excuse.

Not that she couldn't look pretty when needed. Emma's looks were enough to do amateur modelling, and Anne was a little bit shorter, narrower, less curvacious version of her, while having similar hair usually wrapped in a bun, and a thinner face. Which overall, made her look like the younger of the two.

"Shouldn't you? Isn't this like painting too?"

"Oh, I meant that I always get it right the first time when I try. Well, guess not everyone can be as great as me."

The younger sibling snorted, almost smearing her face with the artifically coloured chemical. "Yeah sure."

"Well, take care. Meet back up here in an hour?"

"Hmm... is one and a half okay?"

"Eh, I can distract myself, sure." She gave her sister a quick side hug. "See you later." Then walked off.

"Later!"

The air was pleasantly chilly on her skin as she made her way to a cafe she and her friends frequented, a fancy place with a theme of 'homey', they even had a red-brick fireplace inside.

She smiled as she spotted Madison at an outside table, idling with her phone.

"Hey!" She greeted, plopping across her on the plushy chair. "Texted Sophia this morning, had track-stuff to deal with. But just us will be fun too."

The petite girl shrugged. "Sure, she didn't seem to enjoy these anyway." And pretended to look at the menu card, absently chewing on her cheek from the inside.

"Uhh... did something happen? You do the auto-cannibalism thing when having to deal with a geography test or something just as bad."

"D-don't make it sound so gross!" She gave the redhead a half-hearted glare, unable to keep it while laughing. Then went back to looking unsure as she winded down. "I just... don't feel good about things. Now, don't get me wrong, but didn't we... go too far with the... locker thing?"

The redhead stared blankly. "What?"

"I mean... she got hospitalised. I-I'm fine with pranks and all... but I have a friend whose mother is nurse... and she talked about cuts, blood-poisoning, at least a dosen antibiotics..." She trailed off as Emma motioned her to stop.

"Geez... don't go having a guit trip on me, it was like you said, just a prank. A-and if things were as serious as you said they were, why aren't the Heberts suing the school? They must have laughed it off, just like we should. The loser will be back on her routine in no time." And it's her fault for being such a target.

"If you say so..." She didn't seem convinced, not yet, anyway

"Well... that ruined the mood, now excuse me as I go and stare at what cakes they have."

"The menu is right here... and they always have the same stuff." Already, she was trying to sound chipper as if nothing was wrong.

"It's not the same, duh! Where is your sense of wonder? Unlike you, I want to have something else than strawberry cheesecake once in a while, and looking at prettied up food in person is good encouragement to try them."

"...sure. I will keep that in mind."

Hey, isn't that the gremlin you punted?

I almost choked on the piece of chocolate I was re-eating when I saw Madison Clement innocently sitting and playing with her phone.

Then felt nauseous for laughing as I remembered what happened on that roof... it was not funny, not at all.

Someone screamed while I screamed internally, pushing, shoving, almost clawing at her with my grip, purely fueled by hate, everything feeling too right...

Then prepared to turn back and spend my celebratory day-off (mandatory, thanks to dad) somewhere else when I spotted the approaching alpha-bitch.

No, no, no. Don't back down, this is an opportunity. The girl completely froze when you grabbed and dragged her around, something is obviously wrong with her... I say we push her other buttons, get to know her better, and find which one self-destructs... for future reference. And I really want to find out what made her turn on you so hard, don't you?

I froze... this could be my chance to find out why... maybe even my chance to...

No, screw that bitch. I wouldn't be friends with her again even if it turned out that she was being Mastered. The wounds she gouged on me by reaching the deepest parts of my heart were too deep for that.

Well... no matter what happened, it couldn't hurt, not really.

She already got me to the point of suicide once... and I would still gladly take her with me, out of spite.

Deciding to face the traitor fills you with Determination. Indulge yourself.

Emma froze in what was mostly confusion when she saw Madison now sharing the table with the girl she belatedly registered as Taylor Hebert. Casually chatting while the smaller girl seemed to be decidedly uncomfortable.

"Ah, there she is! Maddy, could you give us some privacy. Not to be rude, but..."

"N-no, it's okay." She cut off, voice shaky with uncertainty and noticably apologetic. "I... had stuff to do anyway!"

"See ya! We still have a lot to talk about." There was no reply as Madison hurried off. "Hmm... she seemed uneasy with something. With me of all people, and we have known each other for almost two years... What do you think it could be about, Emma?" The casual tone and the light smile were so forced, that they were almost irrecognisable as such. To the still standing girl, it was disturbingly reminisctent of the little happy chatterbox she used to be friends with.

W-what? Why is she talking to me like that? Why does she look so smu-

"Staring is rude you know. Why don't you sit down? You look weak on your knees."

Emma flinched at the way she said the word, then angrily strolled and sat across her.

"What the fuck are you doing here Hebert?"

The brunette ignored her as a waiter came by, looking unsure until the smiling girl nodded, setting down some plates and glasses before leaving.

"Oh strawberry, wonderful each time. Madison has good taste... well, at least in food." She stared right at her. "I wouldn't consider you a good friend, would you?"

Emma forced herself to smirk, trying to regain a semblance of control.

"Are you going cry about how we used to-"

"Not at all." She paused, taking a bite from the cake. "What I meant was about how... well, you're freaking out over seeing me here, you're too fragile to be reliable. It actually makes me worry about you."

"WHAT!"

"Shh, you're making a scene. The Enforcers here might tolerate pathetic wrecks like you here, but don't take their hospitality for granted." She winked, still smiling. "But you're a big girl, you should be mature enough to not do that, despite your... issues."

Emma bit back a scream.

Seeing her here, talking like this, like she was having the time of her life... it was wrong. Not right at all. So very very wrong. She was supposed to be broken and miserable.

"What... are you doing here?" She managed to spit out, barely keeping her thoughts in order.

"Oh that?" She winked again, sticking her tounge out like a little child. "I'm here to hurt you!"

Her smile shifted, not cruel, but now genuinely amused. "I was hesitant at first... but turns out that I'm not above something so petty."

She leaned back, wiping her mouth with a napkin.

"Let's see if I can make you cry yourself to sleep for a week straight."

Oh, you're not running away? At least your survival instincts are very consistent.

She was just saying stuff...

I meant what I said, you're a pathetic wreck. Really, you should be locked up in a mental ward somewhere. Who the hell upholds a bullying crusade for every single day for years anyway? You're clearly damaged.

The prey always talked, Sophia said so too.

Yes broken... and you couldn't move on like I did with mom, obviously. Look at you, shaking from a few words.

S-she wasn't...

And whatever happened to you, a mugging or something? Happens every single day in this shithole, and all those people move on too, they don't remain victims like you.

She survived... she survived... Sophia said so too...

Oh, and honestly, this place is getting worse, you go to Winslow, you know how they parade around their gangs like sports-teams. And rich pretty girls like you are their food. The gangs', I mean. Heh, if things get really bad, you won't be safe even in school.

W-what did she know! She was prey, everyone knew that!

And when it's your turn again, maybe you will struggle and scream, or freeze like you are doing now. But chances are, no matter what you do...

No... she would fight... she wouldn't be like that...

...no one, will come to save you this time. And you'll be just another unfortunate loss, probably found in a ditch somewhere. You would be helpless, against a world where justice is an empty promise. Trust me, I know from experience, so I will give you some advice...

"Ems... sis... What's wrong?"

...go throw yourself off a roof.

"Hey, cut it out, you're freaking me out!"

Well, see you later, I have more important things to do... or not see you, ever again, if you do the smart thing.

[DESTINATION]

[AGRE-

She fainted, just for a few moments.

She didn't speak besides nodding as a half-hearted reassurance as Anne guided her to her car, blankly stared ahead during the whole ride, and shut herself in her room the first chance she got, then made a phone-call.

"What is it survivor? Kinda busy here."

"S-soph, I... really need you right now•

"What the fuck? Uhh... I mean... sure, will be there in a few."

"...then she told you to go and kill yourself... then left."

Emma nodded.

"Are you sure it was really Hebert... right, stupid question. And after that you... triggered?"

Emma nodded again.

"...DAMN IT, stop acting brain-dead! This is pissing me off!"

She flinched at the sudden burst, then forced herself to drop the pillow she had been hugging and sat straighter.

"Sorry... it's just... everything feels wrong. And the things she said were..."

"...complete bullshit. She probably got brave after hearing about the shit you went through and had a good poker face. You know how she pretends to ignore us in school, so she put on a stupid smile to look confident instead."

The redhead perked up, already tricking herself into believing that it was the truth, desperate.

There was no unshakable certainty, it was a farce the loser put on.

She wasn't hung up over that day, she fought back and moved on.

She was not helpless.

And many more.

Memories are unreliable, after all.

"You're right, I'm... freaking out over nothing... yeah."

"That's the survivor I know and like. See, you're already stronger for it. Now..." She smirked. "...show me."

"What? ...oh, right."

Looking around the room for a bit, she then got off the bed and pulled one of the curtains to herself, folding it open.

Then a part of it, a circular, large chunk, turned into a shadow-state Sophia immediately recognised, changed size up and down for a while, put her hand through it and out, then shrunk it into nothingness, the curtain looking the same as it did moments before.

"Huh, second-gen... that explains how you got it so easy..."

She walked up to the curtain her friend was still holding, motioning her to use her power. Then inspected the 'hole' herself.

"Huh, this could have some potential... can you close it while someone is going through?"

"Uhh..." She looked uncertain. "...maybe? I closed a notebook on a notebook, both got torn apart or partly stuck together."

"Neat, we gotta test that shit out. The range, the size, the duration... Well, I'll figure out a time and place to do that. Have to go now, Piggy will be asking questions if I show up too late. Take care, predator."

Emma almost squeed at the new nickname.

The rest of the day was uneventful, except for her family asking if she was okay, their concerns were easily evaded by some smiles and nods. Their daughter was just fine.

And now it was late, yet she couldn't sleep, too excited for what tomorrow would bring.

I can be like Sophia... like Shadow Stalker. I can fight...

It still felt unreal, having powers.

I meant what I said, you're a pathetic wreck.

And she said that it had potential, she could make a difference. Prove that she wasn't prey and...

Huh, what's that smell... flowers? Are they pollinating? Is that why it's so dusty?

Her mind must've been playing tricks from excitement, so she shrugged off the sudden aroma and went back to trying to sleep. Tomorrow couldn't come fast enough.

tak tak tak

She jumped at the noise of something like nails tapping on glass. What was that?

tak tak tak

It was more insistent this time. She got up, and pulled apart the curtains blocking her window.

"Sophia, is that you? Are we going already?" But there was nobody there.

She felt nerveous, in the dark and with a sound she didn't know the origin of.

I-it's probably nothing, I should...

TAK TAK TAK

She flinched, then froze when she realized that the sound was coming from the mirror of the make-up cabinet behind her.

The stool in front of it was empty, which was a relief.

Nope, I must be dreaming or something. I'll just ignore the spooky noise and the mirror. I have watched enough horror movies to do that.

So she followed her own advice, pulling the plushy blankets over her with some urgency, trying to get comfortable again. Facing away from the cabinet.

Then she found herself biting her lips as the door creaked open.

"Emma.."

And now she felt silly, it was just Zoe.

"...are you awake? What was that tapping?" There was a click as she flipped the lightswitch.

"Oh, I'm not sure..." She sat upright, leaning against the wall, blushing from the embarrassment of being scared like a little girl.

I have powers, damn it! I shouldn't be so jumpy in my own room.

"Maybe it was a bird or something? Well... just wanted to check. You okay by the way? I know that you said you were, but you freaked out pretty badly back at the Boardwalk."

Yes, of course. She now felt really stupid. It was just a curious little bird hitting her window with it's harmless little beak. That must've been it.

"I'm fine... just stressed and tired."

"Yeah, high-school can be intense... well, good night, and sleep well, you have school tomorrow. Also, open the windows, it's too dusty in here." The older sister turned off the lights, closing the door.

"Night."

She briefly thought about how nice a night-light would be right now, then laid down once again.

Fuck, I must be nerveous! A damn bird is making me imagine ghost-stories. And seriously, where did all this dust come from?

She chose to ignore it, too exhausted, a couple of sneezes weren't worth the bother.

Tak Tak Tak

Getting up almost-furiously, she was intent on chasing away whatever was messing with the window.

Then stopped, still as a statue, afraid to take a breath.

There was someone in the room with her.

So it was the mirror. She thought absently.

She couldn't make out much in the dark, but they had their back to her, facing the mirror and... putting on make up?

Okay, calm down. Either I'm still dreaming, or a weirdo with powers broke into my room. It's okay, I have powers too, and I can call...

Her thoughts screeched to a halt, as she found the inhumanly red eyes staring through her in the dark.

Greetings! Now don't scream again, bodies will be inconvenient this time, and besides, I'm here in the name of friendship!

Last edited: Nov 13, 2016

455

KindaApatheticButNice

Jul 3, 2016

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KindaApatheticButNice

Everything is dumb, but still important

Jul 12, 2016

#212

2.1

We were standing in front of the PRT building, towards noon, sunlight reflecting off the glass exterior, giving it a somewhat surreal look. Here, I would be making a choice that could impact the rest of my life. Yet all I could think was...

Damn it, damn it, damn it! What if they don't like me, maybe we should just go home. God, what if they know how much of a bitch I could be, what if Emma suspected that I'm some sort of a thinker and already told them, are they waiting to arrest me for that? If notwhathappensiftheylearn,whatiftheyarelike...

You're just signing up for a lite hero program for teenagers. And the two we met were friendly, it's unlikely that it will be like the hell-pit you called school. Now, please stop making me feel gut-wrenching dread, it gets annoying.

You don't even have guts... I think. I'm not even sure what you are, now that I think of it... why did I not question anything about you before?

Pretty sure it was an abstract fear of offending me -currently your only friend- into leaving you, or the possibility of learning something you wouldn't like, both of which are now suppressed by the sheer awkwardness and paranoia you feel from meeting people your age under yet another authority. Are we done stalling yet? Standing here is boring.

...don't say it so cheerfully.

I looked up as dad put a hand on my shoulder.

"Taylor... we don't have to do this today if you feel uncomfortable. No one is forcing you to do anything." There was a strain in the way he spoke. It has been there for a while now, maybe ever since mom died, and became more apparent after my re-stay at the hospital and the following confession about being a parahuman... well, I wasn't sure if I actually was one, but that didn't change much. I was making him worry and break more and more. Which was the primary reason why I went along with this, I think. I wasn't exactly thrilled with it, neither was my partner, but I hoped that he would be more at ease after today, knowing I was going to be relatively safe.

You were looking up that murder-angel yesterday, Endbringers aren't safe now, are they?

I bit my lip and sheepishly looked down, shaking my head, then noticing how it must have looked, I pretended that I was doing that at what dad just said, feeling incredibly awkward and a little guilty, even if it wouldn't matter until approximately one and a half months... when the Simurgh would descend on Canberra.

Only if I paid more attention to what happened there, I didn't even have the exact date, it was embarrassing, neither could I just tell them about it, they thought my power worked only for a few hours into the future, which was how I effectively used it, as I wasn't planning on taking another trip to the locker... and the winged thing might change targets just to make me regret even trying anyway. Damn it, I was derailing again.

"No, let's just go and get this over with. They gave us an appointment anyway, not showing up would make me look bad."

"Hello, I'm Daniel Hebert, me and my daughter were here for a... special tour?" He must have felt as awkward as I did, handing the reception-lady a piece of paper with some numbers scribbled on it, a security code given over phone when we called the PRT to ask about joining. It reminded me of spy movies, wearing pre-determined clothes and hiding my costume in plain sight in a bag... and now my head-mate (soul-mate?) was humming the Mission Impossible theme. Wait... not just humming... are those instruments I'm hearing? How even...

Magic.

Oh sure, that explains a lot.

A bit less nervous, I looked around the lobby as dad and the lady went through some other security questions.

Unlike most other government buildings, the PRT's had a lot of work put into it to look pretty, with modern decor and floors polished to perfection, since it was also a tourist attraction for people who were into capes, made most evident by the gift shop occupying a big chunk of the room.

I thought that those were pretty neat, selling the local heroes' merchandise including the independents like New Wave, making for great mementos and giving the city a sense of pride for housing them. Some people went out of their way to go on tours and collect their favourites. I still had that Alexandria figurine laying somewhere from when mom visited Los Angeles on a job trip... heh, wonder what she would think of the possibility of me having my own line of toys and products.

Armsmaster underwear.

Or maybe I should ask them to keep my existence a secret, just in case.

As we were mentally discussing what we should call our brand of chocolate (Sweet Dreams sounded like a knock-out drug, and Charalate made no sense without context), a guide arrived, a plain man with a balding head, to take us further inside the building, walking us past the fully armored PRT guards, (moderately imposing with their blank visors and impressive arsenal, which made me question how the hell I managed to order a squad of them around), past confusingly identical halls, towards an elevator with a rather unique design, where the guide who so far has been reassuring my dad about how reliable and beneficial the Wards program was, addressed me directly after calling the elevator down.

"You'll be meeting the Director shortly, there are stations for changing into costume with disposable masks if you wish." He spoke with the respectful and pleasant tone I usually associated with a salesmen... which he kinda was, if I thought about it and squinted. The way he spoke with dad sounded a lot like smoothing out a deal.

"No, I'm good." Sitting in a room with dad and the person who arguably had the most vital position in the city with a home-made mask and cloak on didn't seem comfortable, and I didn't see a point in keeping my face hidden in this situation.

Thinking about it, I smiled to myself, being able to afford acting so carefree after all that time at Winslow was... was...

Aww, you're welcome.

Of course not even five minutes after that, I found myself trapped in a minefield of a conversation.

Facing Emily Piggot felt like being judged by an executioner right under the blade of a guillotine. The woman had the air around her which made people sit straight and pay attention, which was a really bad idea under the mentioned decapitation tool.

It wasn't literally that bad, of course, mostly exaggeration on my part, but my lack of experience at handling something so serious along with the example set by Principal Blackwell didn't help.

"Thank you for your cooperation Ms. Hebert, new capes usually try staying independent, and statistically they are unlikely to be successfull, I assure you this is the right decision." The way she said it wasn't reassuring at all. And Armsmaster standing in the corner with an unchangingly neutral frown like some sort of ceremonial guard didn't help either.

She doesn't seem to hate you specifically, I think that's just her default expression.

Without my partner, I would have probably curled up and let my dad do all the talking for me. Instead, I managed to nod firmly (stiffly).

"T-thanks..." Despite my spirit, she didn't seem impressed.

Was that a pun?

Huh? Oh... spirit... are you actually... nevermind...

Yes, I am one, or close enough. There isn't anything I know of quite like me, which is fortunate. You can ask whatever you want, you know. I'm not a very sensitive person, literally lacking a soul here.

How does that even work, aren't emotions just about the brain releasing chemicals?

To some extent. I can take over your body, and use your brain however I like, and yet the things I feel would still be what you feel, as your sentience stays with your soul, which I assume wouldn't be pleasant without consent. There are more details and advanced explanations if you want, but it would take a while.

So unsettling and educational... and since we are already at it; why are you so... smiley?

That's just how I have always dealt with existensional dread. Also, you should be more focused, first impressions are sticky. Unless we cheat, of course.

My away-mindedness must have shown with the expressions I was making, as the Director coughed heavily to draw my attention, making me flinch at the annoyed glare, two stacks of papers were placed in front of her now, one for me and one for dad, probably identical, and I was pretty sure Armsmaster was staring at me more intently than he had been before.

"Uhh... sorry, spaced out a bit." Which I would rather keep at, this felt way too tense... I was too used to staying at home and making simple phone-calls, I realised.

And fighting nazis? You were less intimidated then.

I was somewhat detached during the whole thing, like watching through a monitor. Shouldn't you already know that?

I'm not you, silly. I don't react to things the same way you do, despite knowing and feeling the same.

Not wanting to deal with the present really got us to know each other better, I noticed.

Such an optimist.

"These are the forms and NDA's you need to sign for joining the Wards program and to transfer to Arcadia, which you will have to take an exam at the end of the month. Triumph will handle the scheduling and other specifics as your team captain until his position is taken over by Aegis. Take your time to read, the conditions are flexible if needed."

I mostly skimmed through them while dad actually took his time to read and ask about the details. Simply not caring enough to bother.

That reminds me, maybe you should look at the shrink stuff, I still think you need that therapy. Hearing voices and all.

Heh, no thanks.

I don't really mind either way, but shouldn't you be more considerate about your mental health? I have no moral compass or impulse control and yours aren't in the best conditions either, that can't end well.

Why, what's wrong with me?

...are you seriously asking?

I sighed and flipped through the pages, feeling a bit annoyed at how often those undone months and the attempted murder/suicide got brought up.

Do I even need to say anything about that statement?

Yeah, good point, you can lay off the sarcasm now... but thanks, seriously.

"About that mandatory therapy... can I get extra?"

Not exactly sure how it would help, but what did I know? There had to be some reason that psychologists were still around.

"All done? Finally!" I exclaimed and immediately felt the urge to slap myself for behaving like a child, but dad's insistence on looking over every sentence to the letter was very tedious, not that I blamed him, I knew how he got screwed over by paperwork before.

"Yes, that would be all. You can go home now or take the elevator down to start settling with the Wards, there is already a room reserved for you, Triumph will help you with that."

I sighed, and-

"But before you go, may I have a word with you?" Her eyes shifted towards dad. "In private, if possible."

I looked at dad for guidance, and he shrugged to himself after looking thoughtful for a moment.

"What would that talk be about?"

"Her powers and plans for the future, nothing legally binding." I swear the woman had no other tone than 'tired and frustrated'.

Could you..

Already Saved.

I wasn't going to necessarily use it, but the assurance was nice.

"It's okay Dad, I will handle it."

He smiled at me and ruffled my hair playfully before walking out, probably to wait outside the room. Leaving me alone with... wait, she said private!

"Umm, are we going to keep pretending Armsmaster isn't there or..." I finished my attempt at humor lamely, feeling extremely self-conscious yet again.

"Is his presence a problem?" She raised an eyebrow, lowering it when I nodded. "Good."

Then the Director leaned sideways to go through one of the drawers on her desk, pulling out a dossier with my name on it, holding it to show me before going through it, and I was ready to believe that she was doing it so slowly just to unnerve me.

"The first of January." That startled me after the periof of silence.

"What?"

"That's when you got hospitalised after a rather suspicious incident at school, and during the same week, Dreamer began making her calls. Are those related?"

I shifted, trying to see if there was a portal hidden beneath the seat to take me away, feeling uncomfortable talking about that day.

"Yes... that's when I got them. Powers, I mean."

She hmmed in agreement, still going through the folder.

"That's a very short time-frame. Most capes don't even get a costume so soon after getting their powers, and don't go fighting villains so soon after being hospitalised on top of that, unless they could heal quickly, which I assume you don't. What was the hurry?"

Huh... good question.

"It... felt longer to me?" Making days worth of research in one sitting helped and being able to check on every simultaneous event helped, but that wasn't all, was it?

"And there were no charges pressed after the event which was traumatic enough to be your trigger. In other words, the worst day of your life."

More like the worst years.

"It was my word against theirs, as it had always been from the beginning and we had no money while one of their dads was a lawyer... I would rather not deal with anything from there and move on anyway. Just... forget everything."

"I see..." She scribbled something on a blank piece of paper then put my file away, fixing her glare on me once again.

"With all those in mind, why would you become a hero?"

There was something else in her voice for once, genuine curiosity, which only made me stare blankly in confusion.

"The system failed you, in a way that could make heads roll. Most in your position would have gone on a rampage, end up in a gang, maybe become a rogue or at least stay independent, yet you are here."

I looked down, thinking, well aware of her waiting for an answer.

"It... was the right thing to do?"

Well that was pathetically weak and almost a lie. Try again.

They were right... maybe before the original post-locker hell those words would have more meaning. Yet as I was now... my drive was almost not there. I had been crushed and beaten and powerless without hope for far too long.

"I... feel responsible with how lucky I got."

Getting brought back from death just because I was the one they noticed first, enduring so much and knowing how there were people out there who suffered like I did... but this wasn't quite it.

"And... I want to belong somewhere."

This one felt right.

That time Glory Girl simply talked to me, Clockblocker calling me a friend... my partner being there...I needed that.

All I did was because they were nice to me... it was almost funny.

...

Which made me wonder how I would have ended up if Victoria didn't show me what I could have... I should re-meet her, sometime.

"Interesting... that'll be all. Dismissed."

At least this one makes sense. Emily thought.

AN: Taylor is a moody wreck with problems who gets a lot of mood-swings. Also, feedback please?

Last edited: Dec 17, 2016

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KindaApatheticButNice

Jul 12, 2016

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KindaApatheticButNice

Everything is dumb, but still important

Jul 18, 2016

#245

2.2

Getting out of that office and leaving those two behind was a huge relief, the whole experience was stressful and a bit confusing. Why was Armsmaster there if he wasn't going to even say anything and just stare at me? It was creepy.

Maybe he was recording and analysing? Who knows what he crammed into that helmet. Of course, you can always find out.

Hahaha... No, I'm not going through that again.

I don't know what it said about me that I was more enthusiastic about going up against armed nazis over and over rather than facing a stern government worker once more but-

It says that you have a great disregard towards your own wellbeing, are awkward, and somewhat indiligent. Personally, I would go over that interview a bunch of times to find out what they are really like. But moving on and avoiding the bother works too.

That sounded more ominous than usual...

"Hi there, you must be Dreamer. I'm Triumph, but you probabably already know that. Oh, umm... you don't mind me seeing your face, do you? Newbies usually go around in costume at first."

A rich and powerful voice drew me to reality, coming from... damn, he was as built as Aegis, are all heroes so good-looking?

"Idon'tmind!" I blurted out, finding it hard to tear my eyes away without the distractions like supervillains around. How were teenagers allowed to wear something so tight? Not that I was complaining...

You're practically drooling already, and this time there is no mask to hide it... you know what, we can recover. Saving! Get your flirt on!

WHAT THE F-

Shush! No whining, I want him seduced in under five tries~

...you just find this hillarious don't you?Suddenly playing matchmaker... Well, I can't anyway since I'm pretty sure the guy has standarts, and I won't be anywhere near them while still looking like an upright frog and a stereotypical nerd. Not to mention; DAD'S RIGHT THERE!

"Uhh, yes dear?"

I face-palmed when I realised that I was agressively pointing at dad, then had to restrain myself from face-palming again when the first one ended up being too loud, going for a rigid twitch instead.

"Is she... okay?"

Great, I made my future team-leader think I was crazy.

Just take me back already.

Hmm... nope.

WHAT! What do you mean 'nope'?

Tell them that your power causes you to vividly daydream from time to time instead.

The hell is wrong with... Why?

You weren't exactly subtle during the interview, at least Halbeard will be suspicious about what goes through your head with how he was watching us chat. It's also a good excuse for future slip ups if you don't want to bother with do-overs.

Huh... that's actually smart. Embarrassing for me from many angles... but smart.

"I'm fine, really. I just..." I waved my arms in what I thought to be a reassuring manner as I struggled to form the lie. "...see a lot of stuff from my power and it gets a bit intense sometimes when I'm not concentrating."

Dad looked at me questioningly while Triumph nodded knowingly.

"It's not unusual for thinkers and such to have troubles with sensory overload. They tend to get used to it after a while or learn to control it. I wouldn't worry about that, power-testers will handle it."

"Oh... and when is that?"

He waved his hand in a so-and-so motion, shrugging.

"Sometime between this or the next week, the PR guys will take you after that and then you will be getting ready for your press release, proper costume and all, enjoy your freedom until then." He chuckled to himself, which was muffled by his ornate lion-helm. "But enough of that, I'm supposed to show you around and get you settled. Let's go down and meet the others who are still here, unless you would like to go home for today? "

I glanced at dad and then back, fighting the urge to just go and avoid any further social interactions.

"Sure... I would love to."

My breathing felt suffocating to me behind the poorly-made cardboard mask as the spacious tinker-tech elevator seemed way more cramped and claustrophobia-inducing than it actually was, simultaneously drawing from and bringing forth some particularly bad memories.

Breathe, there's nothing to worry about. You still have me even if they turn out to be jerks, anyway.

Despite my partner's constant support from even before entering the building, a part of me still feared that this was going to end up as yet another Winslow, fueling my current discomforts.

I knew it was silly, all the heroes I met so far were nice, especially the three Wards. And even Dad was satisfied enough with Triumph that he found it agreeable to leave me with him and wait at the lobby, probably thinking I would be more comfortable without an old man around as I met my peers. Which I appreciated, but it certainly didn't help with my thoughts on rejection and betrayal.

...yet I couldn't help but reluctantly feel hopeful and excited.

"Don't worry, you will fit right in. Clockblocker has been practically setting up a fan-club for you all this time, telling everyone how you took down Hookwolf without a scratch."

"R-really?" I asked with some disbelief. Someone talking about me without my knowing was usually for nasty rumors. Not that I thought Clockblocker to be that type, he seemed kind and easy-going, even trusting me enough to throw himself at a murderous mass of living metal and still call me a friend before parting ways.

He's also a comedian, so I see nothing to complain about.

"I... I couldn't have done that without his and the others' help. And I did get bruises from when I had Battery tackle me."

There was a ding, and we entered yet another plain corridor, those got confusing, with how the elevator seemed not to move at all.

"And modest too, what's not to like?"

I looked down, not knowing how to respond other than a breathed out 'thank you', which led to an awkward period of silence lasting until we stopped in front of a sturdy-looking gate, where the Wards' captain spoke as he entered some code to a keypad.

"We will have to wait until that..." he gestured towards a blinking yellow light. "...turns green. Lets us mask up when someone comes to visit."

Great, more time for me to imagine how horribly wrong things can go.

"So... what's up with the costume? Don't really see a theme with crowns, cloaks and similey faces."

...I really should've seen this question coming at some point.

"Just... uh... I... used to have a friend who smiled a lot and really liked dressing like this... but with a sweater!"

Don't laugh at me from inside my head!

"Uhuh..." He didn't look convinced, but seemed amused. "And he, or she were also royalty?"

"Exactly!" Wait, this sounded even more implausable. "...they were an internet friend... from some small European country."

Smooth.

"That's... a unique thing to base your costume on... what happened to them?"

"They died... a while ago, from... uh..."

Buttercup poisoning.

"...buttercup poisoning?"

"Buttercup poisoning? Is that a thing?"

At least he wasn't taking this seriously anymore.

"Yes... it's horrible." Mom once told me about that when she saw Emma dare me to eat some flowers. It wasn't pretty and that was the kids' version.

I was spared from further bullshitting when the gate finally opened with a surprisingly smooth motion, leading to a large area which seemed to be a cross between a teenagers' living room, an office floor, and a police station.

Of course, my thoughts were mostly on it's occupants.

"Come and meet the others too after this mess is done, a new friend would be nice."

The words which planted the seed of hope driving you here echo through your mind, filling you with Determination.

...do you really have to make it more grand than it already feels like?

Yes.

Again with the instruments? I don't need dramatic music on top of everything damn it!

I was following Triumph into the room as I was having the mental arguement, welcoming whatever distractions I could get. Fuck! I am just meeting some people and freaking out at every step of it. What was wrong with me?

Likely some sort of PTSD from, you know, years of getting screwed over by a whole school of teens and teachers. I suggest that you don't let those scum win. So start acting like someone with the whole timeline under their control should already.

Yes... yes, right.

Missy paced around back and forth in the common area of the room, alternating between skipping with anticipation and an unsure shuffle, mentally going through possible scenarios about the new likely addition to the team... or the replacement, more aptly, she thought sourly, with how recently Shadow Stalker ran off.

"...you seem excited." Dennis dryly remarked, having paused the game he was playing with Carlos.

They were actually supposed to be studying right now, per Arcadia's rather unique program reserved to a largely random group of students, which totally wasn't implemented to let the Wards go around and play hero. But they were already dressed in full armor for the welcoming, and reading textbooks while waiting like this didn't seem appealing.

"Of course I am, we're finally getting another girl and this one might not be a total psycho!"

"Wait, shouldn't us dudes be more excited abou- AWW! AW! Sorry! I just had to!"

Missy nodded and let go of his ear, trying to keep her face straight. Warping space itself for just this was petty and childish, but too satisfying.

"What about you, meat shield-bro? What do you think of our new bullshit-tier friend?" He recovered quickly, too used to the phsical abuse that doubled as an in-joke at this point.

"Says the guy who can win almost any fight by playing tag and create immovable objects at whim."

"Hey, I wasn't the one who managed to finally make some sort of progress at our 'job'. When was the last we caught someone worth noting and actualy kept them caught let alone a whole faction?"

Carlos didn't argue against that.

It had been a soul-crushing and barely tolerable status quo until now, where the PRT and the Protectorate combined were outnumbered, simply unable to keep up with both the powered and the unpowered gang members who ended up escaping or rescued back to the streets at the slightest opening, nevermind all the times where the 'Heroes' could only uselessly go over the police reports where the Brockton's Finest ended up facing off against yet another villain they were painfully powerless against.

Soul-crushing, and it only got worse the more he thought about it, and that's all he had been doing lately, so close to inheriting the team's leadership, even with those issues not being their actual responsibility to solve, not yet anyway.

"Sheesh, don't make the serious, brooding face! Just say 'she seems okay' or something."

Then their attention was drawn by the beeping noise and the lights flashing yellow, prompting them to go and fetch their masks.

"Oh, they're here! Clockblocker, don't ruin it!"

"Hey, I already made my first impression, which means I'm pretty much free to screw up however I want! But you on the other hand..." He quickly brushed his hand against her as Vista was busy fixing her visor, freezing her for an undeterminate amount of time. "...should really think fast about how you make yours."

"She will murder you for this, you know that, right?"

"Eh, I'll be fine, creating immovable objects at whim here. Besides, it's funnier when even I don't know the timing of the punchline."

"Exactly, you won't see the punch coming." Aegis snarked back, shaking his head disapprovingly yet smiling all the same.

Shortly after, the lights turned green before fading into their regular whitish hues, and their team leader strolled in with a tall girl following shyly behind him, dispairing with the drawn-on smile, then she paused, seemingly psyched herself up, and continued much more confidently.

"Greetings!" She lingered on the still inactive space-warper for a while. "Again, I suppose... N-not that I'm unhappy to see you two! I just..."

"Expected more unfamiliar faces? Yeah, just give Vista here a minute or so. Gallant may show up when he is done spoiling his girlfriend, and Kid Win... well..." The blank-masked Ward snickered lightly, compensating for the lack of facial expressions with added gestures. "He ended up abusing caffeine and skipping sleep tinkering for far too long and is now at home on a sick leave."

Then he paused, looking sheepish. "I mean, it's kinda horrible. But I know the guy and he seemed to be having the time of his life. It's a tinker thing."

"Oh... interesting."

Then Aegis piped up, carrying on the conversation.

"So what have you been doing since we last met? Still making phone calls?"

"Uhh, a bit. I've been on some sort of a break, after spending the whole week home... it was unhealthy, apparently."

"It's good to-"

He was cut-off as Vista unfroze and was startled by the -from her perspective- suddenly appearing smiling figure, letting out a tiny shriek with a jump. Then proceeded to elbow Clockblocker furiously in a less protected section of his armor, leaving him wheezing without breath.

"Hi, I'm Vista! Nice to meet you. Please tell me that this idiot didn't cause you to decide going villain or something without me around!"

Dreamer too, was startled by the unexpected introduction. Glancing worriedly at the gasping Ward who gave her a thumbs up.

"No, umm... I still have no reason to be anywhere other than here... no good reason, at least... Aeeei!?"

She awkwardly returned the hug the much shorter girl gave her, looking unsure and uncomfortable.

"Ah... sorry about that. Just happy to have another girl on the team, finally someone to possibly relate to, you know..." She stepped away upon noticing the caused discomfort, but kept smiling when the older cape didn't seem to be seriously offended.

"I understand, I think. Well, not exactly since I had no friends to begin with but... uhh... just... nevermind." The taller girl then returned to using her wooly cloak as a blanket, trying to vanish under it.

"Oh... well... really nice perfume by the way! Very natural and flowery!" She tried to drag the conversation somewhere more innocous, conciously noting the subjects Dreamer shied away from.

The 'thinker' in question seemed to blank out at that, heat bobbing slightly to herself, expression unseen, and not responding to the others' questioning glances.

"She uhh-" Triumph began, but didn't get to finish.

"Yes perfume... it's buttercups... thanks for noticing!"

"-tunes the world out due to her power from time to time, you know how some parahumans get, but it doesn't seem as drastically mind-altering as some other cases."

"Heh... she day-dreams... get it?"

See, a comedian and a proof that great minds think alike.

I hate you and my life for not noticing that pun earlier.

Last edited: Nov 26, 2016

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