Aleister swore as his hand burned with agony, Medea looking over it with a frown.
"You're very lucky Aleister, your circuits were close to damaging your skin permanently. Easily fixable for someone like me, but not a pleasant process to go through". The witch spoke, her staff appearing in her hands, lowered down and glowing with green light. "Next time, don't try to use Structural Analysis on a Mystic Code from the Age of Gods".
"It was a freaking chair! How the hell was I meant to know it was magical?". He asked, wincing as he felt his skin restore itself. He was lucky and he knew it, but how was he meant to tell a fancy chair in Medea's workshop was magic? It was a fucking chair!
"And now you'll know not to touch anything in my workshop without permission". Medea smiled, she was fond of Aleister, but he had brought this upon himself.
Spell failed! Improving Structural Analysis right now is a bit hard, as it can already tell mundane things, so magical stuff was next... And Aleister thought it'd be a good idea to test it on stuff around Medea's workshop. An unlucky spin here.
"You want to know more about me?". A surprised Medea asked Aleister, the two of them currently in the basement and looking over some notes the witch had created regarding the Holy Grail. "Very well, what do you want to know?".
"Your likes, your dislikes. Your adventures, I suppose I'm interested in your opinion on the rest of the Argonauts... Besides the obvious one". Aleister quickly added on that final bit when he saw the rage on the witch's face at the mention of the Argonauts, or rather, the thought of its leader.
"Ah, yes I can... I can talk about those. I don't like chatty men, I'm not against men who talk a lot, but when its useless drivel it can get a bit frustrating. Building models is also a passion of mine... Cute girls in cute clothing". She quickly spoke at that last bit, trying to ignore her master's smirk.
"Well I can certainly agree on that last one, especially with such a beautiful woman like you. I'd love to see you in more outfits". He smirked as she blushed, the witch really was weak to honest compliments. "What about your dislikes?".
"Muscles. I liked Heracles, but that man was far to muscular for my tastes, but his personality made up for that minor issue... And pretty boys, who lie and only use others for their own gain, who have nothing to offer to anyone". Medea spoke bitterly, it was rather obvious who she was talking about.
"Well, what about the Argonauts you actually liked? I'll admit Heracles labors were a favorite story of mine as a child". Aleister was truly curious about the Argonauts, why wouldn't he be? They were a story he'd heard dozens of times as a child, in a world they were real...
"The Argonauts were often painted as heroes... But in reality? Heracles was probably the only one of us you could call truly heroic. Atalanta tended to get blinded by her views and beliefs, Castor was aggressive while Pollux went along with it, Caenis was constantly searching for a fight, Theseus tried to keep the peace but often backed out to easily, and Aslepius... Was Aslepius. A medical nut who'd happily watch as we injured ourselves in 'unique' ways so he could improve his own craft, I wouldn't call him evil just... Unique". Medea stared at the roof, her mind lost in memories.
"Sounds like they were quite the characters, I guess myths tended to make them more serious and legendary". The supervillain mused, before noticing something... Strange.
Medea was still staring into the air, but she was starting to giggle with a blush on her cheeks. What the hell...?
"Uhm... Medea? Helllloooo?". He waved his hand in front of her face, causing the witch to return to her senses with an embarrassed flush.
"A-ah, I was just... Reminiscing on better times". She tried deflecting, but he wouldn't have it.
"Sure... It sounded like you were fantasizing about something, or maybe someone instead". He replied, causing the Caster to turn red.
"Guh! Y-yes! I was imagining putting Atalanta and Pollux into some modern dresses! Thats it! Nothing more!". She stomped away, her master watching with a smirk the entire time.
Bond up.
Medea: 4.
"Bounded Fields are a complicated matter". Medea began to explain after Aleister had asked for some tips on said magecraft. "You can have them do many things, even turn them into small dimensions. I'm personally fond of the cursed types".
"What about technology? I know they can ensure people will ignore them, but will that effect technology?". He asked, causing the witch to frown.
"I am... Unsure. My summoning gave me knowledge of the modern world and I'm aware that magecraft can mess with most technology, but Tinker-Tech is another question. Its beyond current technology and may be able to detect or move past my bounded fields". The Caster was unsure, her knowledge of technology was basic, and she had only Aleister's words regarding Tinker-Tech.
"So we shouldn't rely completely on bounded fields to defend our base, or at least if we do, get some experiments on Tinker-Tech done first to try understanding it". Aleister nodded to himself before turning to the witch. "Now, can I get some tips on creating bounded fields?".
"...Master, you have no need to learn how to create bounded fields. Such a thing is easily within my abilities". An annoyed Medea spoke, frustrated at her master ignoring her abilities.
"Ah, forgive me. I didn't think of that".
"I have two ideas for how to protect against these... Master Capes". Medea spat the term out like poison, rather unlike how she often called Aleister master, now she spoke the term as if it had personally offended her... And on some level, it probably had.
"Great, anything would be good right now". Aleister spoke, Master's were one of his worst enemies at the moment, along with Thinkers, Precogs, and Trumps.
"Most forms of mind control work by influencing the brain chemically, even your own hypnosis spell works by using mana to meddle with the brain. Some type of Mystic Code that ensures your mind cannot be tampered with should work to counter that. The other method is a bit more difficult to deal with". Medea held out her hand, creating an illusion of the brain and human body. "Bodily control is much more difficult to deal with because there are so many ways to go about it, telekinesis, chemical... Of course, both of these methods are going with the idea Master abilities are scientific in nature and not something like Aphrodite's Divine Authority".
"...And if it was a Divine Authority?". He asked despite already knowing the answer as the witch gave a bitter smile.
"Then we're doomed, even my greatest spells would crumble before a god's Authority. Thankfully with the lack of mana in this world, the chance we're dealing with something supernatural is extremely low". The witch replied, but there was still an unsure tint to her voice.
Neither of them knew where Parahuman powers truly came from, the idea of it all coming from gods wasn't impossible. The two shared a glance.
"I'll get to work on creating defenses against the first two types".
"I'll make whatever supplies you need".
I have decided Medea could probably create a Mystic Code that'd defend against Master powers, but you'll need to spend an action to create them.
"Big brother, are you Faust?".
"BHAAW!?". Aleister spat out his drink, staring at Natalie in shock. How the hell had she figured that out? Wait no, she was asking, not certain. "What... What gave you that idea?".
"Three things. First, Faust appeared a few days after Mom told you about the Merchants threat. Second, Faust's armor fits your taste, you like dark and menacing things. Third... Faust didn't fight to beat the Merchants, he wanted them to suffer, you have a ruthless streak a mile long". Natalie explained, he mentally cursed. He'd been to hasty.
Only one of her beliefs he could deny, but all three together? He was in a tricky situation. He could tell her the truth, but he wasn't sure she'd remain on his side if he revealed he was a violent criminal, or he could use hypnosis on her to hide the truth and... Possibly alter her mind.
Ah... That was ether a lucky or unlucky spin on that last bit, Natalie's realized or strongly suspects Aleister is Faust. Now the choice is in your hands.