Current Energy: 20
Current Training: Left Hand of Reconstruction 5/10
Saturday, February 26th, 2011
The Heap, Brockton Bay
"You are different now."
They are the first words Mem speaks to you upon being introduced to your new Emulation, and they are spoken without judgement or concern. You suppose if anyone is going to act accustomed to your frequent shifts in personality and appearance, it would be Mem.
After all, her previous owner had much the same constitution.
"That I am. How have you been?" You ask, dropping to one knee so you are closer to eye level with the girl. You've always had a strange sense of kinship with Mem. Your similar outlooks and histories leave you with the sensation of familiarity, if not outright family. In a certain sense, she is almost a little sister to you. A point you find standing out much more in this emulation than your last, because of your current emulations affinity for children.
And yes, you realize how strange it is that a serial killer would have a fondness for children.
"We have been very busy," Mem says her eyes shifting away from you guiltily. Nevertheless, she doesn't elaborate on the statement.
"Busy with what?" Taylor asks curiously, stepping over to ruffle the smaller girl's hair with one hand. An act that Mem looks equal parts pleased by and annoyed about, her hands hovering halfway up as though unable to decide if she wants to fend Taylor off or not.
"It's a surprise. Trust me you'll love it. Danny says it's okay and everything, so you know it's totally safe," Mun asserts when Mem appears to be having a hard time formulating an answer. She is - quite blatantly - being smug about something, but your Master just rolls her eyes at the child's antics.
The deception is fairly obvious but at the same time, there isn't that much they could get up to that your Master would object to as long as her Father says it is safe.
"Are you two excited for school on Monday ?" Your Master asks, changing the subject and leaning away from Mem as she finally decides to weakly push her hand away.
"I am not." "Eh." The two young girls reply at the same time. Currently, all four of you are in Mem's little research lab, the door leading from it to your master's own lab hanging open so as to serve as an overflow area for all the random pieces of junk inscribed with runes that fill every surface of Mem's own workshop. Mem is currently standing dutifully next to the center island, while Mun is lazing gregariously across the back of a chair nearby. For such a well-organized little girl, Mem's workshop is sort of a hideous mess.
Your Master frowns at them.
"Mem, Ozma ran a school. You have to see the benefit of going to one." She points out.
"Will they be teaching me the most efficient way to terminate my enemies and defend my allies from a pressing existential threat?" Mem queries, her tone somehow even more flat and monotone than normal. Taylor stares blankly at her for a moment, tilting her head to one side and then the other as though genuinely trying to puzzle out an appropriate answer.
"...I mean in my experience, hell is other people so from a certain point of view-" Taylor finally begins to speak.
"Mem, sometimes to make Master happy we have to do things that we consider a waste of time." You jump in, earning yourself a dirty look from your Master. That's fine. You feel like you are better able to speak to the girl on a level she understands.
"Consider - in this world, people who can make sapient life like yourself are considered worse than Salem or the Grimm. If you cannot adequately convince the majority of the people you meet that you belong with them, then Master might come to harm," You reason. Mem takes that in with her characteristic calm, then scrunches her nose in distaste at the prospect.
"I... understand. I will endeavor to fit in with the other... children..." She says carefully, as though she is dragging the words forth with an effort of will.
"I won't!" Mun happily chimes in. Mem glances at her then back to you, searching your face for deception or a lie of some kind. There isn't one, unfortunately, because what you have said is entirely true. Creating sentient life is just on the edge of what your Master could reasonably get away with as a Hero, and even then, only because that life is effectively human in nature. If Mem were a shambling horde of leeches then this would be entirely different.
Finding nothing she can take issue with in your honest, open expression (which is still a scowl somehow, because this emulation has issues), Mem sighs.
"She will," She says tiredly, earning a very birdlike squawk of dismay from her companion.
"Speaking of school!" Taylor jumps in, retaking control of the conversation before shooting Mem a smug grin.
"Wanna help me interview some people I'm thinking about making into Huntsmen?" She says in a conversational tone that immediately sets the Shikigami's eyes to sparkling.
"Nexus! You... ah, wanted to talk to me?" The Asian woman before you asks, her tone skittish and worried, but her body language anything but.
"Yeah, Kim, right? ...are you okay?" Taylor asks, sidestepping the question for a moment to eye the other woman worriedly. She isn't just asking because the other woman sounds uncomfortable. The short Asian woman in front of you is standing like she expects to be ambushed at any second. Her body constantly leaning slightly towards the exit of the room - which she has constantly shifted around in order to ensure she has access to - her eyes dart all around the room as if constantly seeking a threat that isn't there, and she is continuously shooting you in particular short but hard stares that are less fearful and more calculating.
Like every time she looks at you, it is with the sole intent of finding a way to dismantle you with her hands.
It's just a guess of course, but it's a guess you feel is borne out by the superb physical condition the woman is obviously in. Somewhere between a runner and a weightlifter, her biceps are clearly visible through the stretchy fabric of her grey shirt.
"What? No! I mean, yes!" She blurts out, her attention snapping to Taylor the minute she speaks, seemingly flustering the surprised woman.
"It's just, you're kind of... tense," Taylor says, gesturing with one finger in Kim's general direction.
"Oh. Sorry I- I'm just used to keep my situational awareness up. You know cus- you know." She finishes lamely, waving a hand in the air as if to encompass the entire dojo you are currently standing in while Mem and Mun watch curiously from behind your Master's back.
Your Master flinches at the motion.
"Sorry," She says automatically.
"No, no! You totally saved us! Um, you might not remember but I was there on your first night out! When you fought Lung?" Kim offers hurriedly, seeming panicked.
"The group that moved in across the street before anyone else right?" Taylor asks, waving her hand and creating seats and a table out of pure magic before taking a seat. Mem squints at the action with an obvious distaste for the power expenditure but doesn't comment.
"Yeah. We're really thankful for everything you've done." Kim nods along quickly, before hesitantly taking a seat at the magical table. Your Master has been doing that alot recently. Using Magic to replace mundane objects. You aren't sure if that's a good or a bad thing - but it certainly seems to throw other people off their game.
Nothing quite says 'power' like the casual use of a superhuman ability, you suppose.
There is an awkward silence, then Kim blurts out; "I know we haven't really been paying to use the dojo but we've got a collection going and a sort of neighborhood watch thing andwethoughtyouwouldn'tmindbecause-" The poor woman begins to rattle off faster than you can easily understand, causing your Master to lean back and gawk at her.
"What- I don't even keep track of- you know I'm rich right?!" She yells, waving her hands in the air to get the other woman to stop her seemingly unstoppable stream of consciousness speech.
"...Huh?" Kim grunts out in confusion. Mem chooses that moment to speak up.
"Money is worth nothing when there is a cause," She nods along clearly misinterpreting Taylor's statement.
"Oh my god. The most powerful cape in world and she's a moron. Hey mom, I need a few thousand dollars for a personal project. Do you think-" Mun states before a sharp jab in the side from Mem elicits a squawk from her. Taylor, ignoring both little girls, plugs on.
"Look I know you guys have had it rough. I live here too, I grew up hearing about the gangs. To be honest Kim, I don't really need money. Not just because I have a bunch of it. I just literally don't need it." Taylor says with an awkward shrug, as though it pains her to admit that.
"Then..." The woman says, suddenly once more on her guard, her eyes darting back and forth across the room. "What do you want from me?"
"Well, I was kind of thinking of opening a school and giving a bunch of people superpowers, so I thought I'd interview you to see-" Taylor admits easily, then pauses, tilting her head to one side as the room is suddenly beset by a high pitched keening noise that you quickly realize is coming from an excited Kim.
This, of course, prompts Mem to turn towards your Master, prodding her gently for her attention before speaking.
"I like her. She reminds me of Ruby." She says blithely, then tilts her head to one side in thought before continuing, "Only, old enough to drink."
Your Master just sighs in exasperation.