It's not as fun as Ferris Bueller's, but it's still a day off.


Disclaimer: I am not, in any sense, a legal professional. Do not take this as an accurate representation of the US legal system.

Content Warning: Coil POV. It's necessary in that we need to understand what the fuck he's doing for context and/or plot reasons, but I still feel like I need a cold shower after writing that part.

Speaking of Coil, I'm putting his perspective in the middle of the chapter, for… reasons. Timeline reasons, mostly, but in my original plan for the chapter he was a lot more directly involved at the end than he is now.

So, since it's been a few chapters and no one's noticed, I feel confident in coming out and just saying that the Hodr killed by Leviathan in Oslo is indeed the Hodr that survived Ragnarök. Rip Hodr, poor sod, he never stood a chance.

In other news, I just reread Implacable and a couple of the omakes I like more than the rest to try and match Piggot up a little better with that version. We'll see if that comes across or not.

To the people on ffn who keep complaining about the pacing of this story…feel free to stop reading this story. Like, I'm not forcing you to read this and bitch about it in the reviews.


"So. Ames. What the fuck?" asked Victoria, once the three capes had managed to escape the public eye with their shopping.

"Revel is a cryptic bitch and getting information from her is like pulling fucking teeth," replied the shorter sister, somewhat unhelpfully.

"Okay, cool," said Vicky, somewhat drolly. "What does that have to do with the price of bread?"

Amy rolled her eyes. "I'm getting there. Anyways, so Revel wanted to talk with me about the responsibility she's been given to choose a new god, and she dropped some hints about what situation you might end up in as you inherit, even though I'm not sure how well that matches up to the Norse pantheon given how my personal experience differed from yours.

"Okay," said Taylor, "start with the basics."

"Alright, so based on what Revel says about the information she's been given on the way that the Chinese pantheon chose new gods from vanilla mortals, you should have been knocked out for at least twelve hours, as a bare minimum, as you internalized the power of the god and filtered it through what makes you you to make you a unique god relative to what your predecessor was." Panacea frowned. "You could make an argument about that applying with regards to Taylor, but I'd argue that's more a consequence of the weird extra power source she's hooked into, and I haven't seen anything like that happening with Victoria."

"Hold up a sec," said Vicky. "What do you mean, weird extra power source?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah. Taylor's hooked into both the regular divine power that you're hooked into, albeit a different flavor, and then it feels like there's something else there too. It's like… if a regular god is a power plant, this other thing is like the entire sun."

Vicky blinked. "What."

"Aye, lass, ye have the long and short of it," said Odin. "She is connected to the power that she inherited from me, as well as a legacy older than this planet. Tell me, what do you know about the underlying structure of the universe?"

"A little," said Panacea, frowning. "I know there's something there that we latch onto in order to manipulate the world and exert our divine power, but I don't know what it is or how it works."

Odin nodded. "Better than I'd hoped. Well, that's what Taylor is hooked into. It presents for her as it did for me, as the ability to invoke the Futhark script to manipulate reality in various ways and we refer to it as the Runes. I've heard that it manifested differently for my predecessors, but I haven't been able to talk to any who had different manifestations from me, since Thoth and Gilgamesh, the first two I know were connected to reality in this way, both passed before I inherited."

"Holy shit." It wasn't clear which of the Dallon sisters said this, but given their shared expressions of shock, it didn't particularly matter.

"So… what does that mean exactly?" asked Victoria.

"She is, essentially, the most individually powerful person on this planet, or at least she will be when she fully integrates with the Runes," said Odin.

"That's… wow. It's almost intimidating," said Vicky, cheeks flushing.

"How do you handle the responsibility?" asked Amy, voice low.

"Ultimately, I acknowledge that, while I have more ability to effect change in the world than the average person, I have no more and no less responsibility to improve the world than any person does. I will work to improve the world, but at the end of the day I think you need to acknowledge the fact that you have as much responsibility, if not more, to yourself as to the rest of the world, if for no other reason than because you need to maintain yourself in order to better the world," Taylor said, changing her statement from her own philosophy to what she felt that Panacea should do to maintain her own health.

"It's that simple?" the more experienced healer asked.

Odin chuckled. "By no means, lass. The broad concept is, but the precise execution of that concept is extremely complex, and keeping to this concept is the hardest thing you'll ever do. But it is possible, and that's enough for most people."

No one commented on the wet shine of Panacea's eyes.

"Alright," she said, voice perhaps a little shakier than before, "so back to the topic at hand. So, the way that a 'normal' divine inheritance works is something like this…"


Coil wasn't quite sure what to make of the recent changes to his city.

When he'd heard the initial reports of the cape in mail, he'd written them off as a Tinker and had his men focus on catching her through the usual methods (read: watching junkyards, electronics shops, and other sources of materials). While it had led to his… recruitment of Trevor Medina, it hadn't led back to her.

He had two things to thank: firstly, the fact that Piggot was almost physically incapable of subtlety, so her awareness of Taylor Hebert's identity was entered into the computer system where his Tattletale could get to it, and the fact that the Butcher had decided to hunt her down in civvies, forcing her hand.

He never thought he'd thank either of them for their remarkable brand of gunboat bull in an antique store diplomacy, and yet here he was.

But in the brief time that Taylor Hebert had been active she had had a significant impact on the city.

Technically, the beginning wasn't her fault, seeing as how Vista's realization of the circumstances surrounding her Trigger event had been the main cause of the return of the Teeth, but the causal link was still there even setting aside Volur's cooperation with Vista and Quarrel.

Combining that with Clausewitz breaking his historical pattern of passivity and defensiveness against her (or perhaps just Hookwolf chafing under the bonds of his Master power) and Lung being suspiciously quiet of late, and the impact she'd had on the balance of power in the city was quite palpable, even ignoring the revelations that had come of the events in Canberra.

As a result of the revelations as of that event, he wasn't feeling quite so confident about his plans to press-gang her, between the attention she'd gotten as a terrifyingly powerful healer, the Blaster power strong enough to punch through an Endbringer, the keen mind that had put together a team to give her the chance to use said Blaster power, and the resistance to Thinker powers Accord had told him about.

Perhaps he could get his hands on the new Thinker his sources were suggesting had Triggered recently (the Mayor's niece, which was a bit of a mixed bag, but nothing he couldn't work around) first and leverage her power against Taylor Hebert. In combination with his Tattletale (who might need some… chemical persuasion, but nothing he couldn't provide), he would have access to the strongest Thinker backroom in the city with the possible exception of the combination of Clausewitz and Victor depending on how exactly the Alcott girl's power worked and whether whatever protection Taylor Hebert had against Thinker powers worked against hers.

Even if it didn't, it would still take the burden off of his information network to have such a Thinker who was potentially capable of pulling information out of nowhere, not to mention the chance to leverage her power against the situation less directly.

At least she had provided a lever he could use against Piggot with her revelations about Shadow Stalker's… indiscretions, as well as a potential new cape for his Undersiders, given her flight from her civilian identity and the reaction of the PRT and Protectorate. It wasn't a sure thing, given his current plans for the future of his catspaws, but a certain degree of adaptability was required in a city with the Butcher, superpowered Nazis (especially if the planner in question was black and in a position of power in their civilian identity, as he planned to become), and a somewhat-unpredictable independent cape with enough firepower to punch through an Endbringer. Regardless, the issue was one to confront later, when he had his hands on the girl.

Regardless of the circumstances of the city (and his wishes thereof), he had work to do, so he forced his focus back to the dossiers on his screen, splitting the timeline as he did so.

In one universe, he continued through the information on New Wave to see if they had any new points of leverage for him to exploit against them (and, indirectly, against Volur, given the girl's friendship with the Dallon children).

In the other, he closed the window, and triggered the intercom. "Send him in."

After a moment, the door to his office opened and in walked the suit-clad form of Trickster, known somewhat less publicly as Francis Krouse.

"Mr. Krouse, have a seat. We have much to discuss about the terms of your group's employment under me."


The crack of Judge Myra's gavel startled Taylor out of the trance that she'd fallen into. "Enough!" he boomed, turning a freezing glare onto Piggot. "The PRT and Winslow are being held jointly liable for the attempted murder of Taylor Hebert at the hands of Emma Barnes, Sophia Hess, and Madison Clements, and I award the sum in the paperwork to Taylor Hebert, for her medical bills, pain and suffering, and the damage to her reputation and educational career."

Piggot stood up. "This is outrageous! The cost of the settlement will provide a significant barrier to the PRT's law enforcement duties in this city, and the publication of this court case could destroy the national PRT and the Wards program. I order you to seal the results of this court case, under my authority as Director of the PRT ENE!"

"Madam Director," said Judge Myra, with enough cold fury in his voice that it almost felt like the room chilled a few degrees, "Sit down and be quiet before I declare you in contempt of court. I excused your paperwork submissions last week as not intended to interfere with this court case, but if you persist in this obstructionism, I will have no choice."

Piggot's face reddened, but she didn't speak.

"Good. Now, as a result of this, I believe that Shadow Stalker's probation should be considered violated, based on the evidence, and as such I charge the PRT with bringing her in to stand trial for the attempted murder of Taylor Hebert." He rapped his gavel on the bench. "Court is dismissed. You may be called as witnesses in the trials that are connected to this case, and I suspect that some of the oversight you both answer to might be interested in talking with you," this was directed at the furious Piggot and the rapidly paling Blackwell, "but you are free to go."

It appeared to take physical effort for the corpulent PRT Director to not go on some tirade against Taylor as she left, glaring at the young woman with intensity enough that, if non-capes could impose their feelings on the world with just will and emotion alone, would have had Taylor afraid for her safety. "I hope you're satisfied with yourself," Piggot spat.

"I am satisfied that I finally got the chance to get restitution for the year and a half of hell I've been put through, yes," said Taylor. "Have a nice day, Director."

Piggot stomped out in a huff, followed by the PRT's lawyer, and somewhat less closely by a silent Blackwell and her own legal representation.

"You two go ahead, I have to discuss some of the finer details with Judge Myra," said Mr. Truth.

Danny nodded. "Will do, and thank you very much for your work."

The Heberts both stood up and walked out of the courtroom, causing the Dallon sisters to stand up from the bench they were seated on. "How'd it go?" asked Vicky.

"Well, given the expressions on everyone's faces, I'm going to have to go with some variant of well, at least for Taylor," said Amy. "Then again, I doubt Piggot would have been satisfied with any outcome that went any less in her favor than letting her press-gang you directly."

"I mean… you're not wrong, on either count," said Taylor. "I may not have spent much time with Director Piggot, but from what I've seen she is a singularly driven woman who will almost categorically refuse to let go of a situation until it is resolved to her satisfaction or it is forcibly torn from her hands."

"That's a lot of words to say she's a stubborn, self-righteous bitch who thinks her shit don't stink," said Vicky.

"That too," said Taylor, chuckling as her father and Amy shared an exasperated look.

"Anyways…" Vicky said, moving a little closer to Taylor, "I was wondering if you wanted to celebrate your win at some point this week with me."

"What, like a date?" asked Taylor flippantly.

"I mean… I wouldn't say no if that's what you wanted to call it?"

Taylor blinked, having not expected that and needing to consider her own feelings before giving the Alexandria package an answer.

How did she feel about Victoria Dallon?

The blonde was undeniably attractive, from multiple perspectives given her proportions, muscles and her facial structure. She was also intelligent enough to carry on a good conversation and in the same rough line of work, adding another commonality between them.

All of that (save the attraction) was rationality, however, which wasn't the primary factor in modern romantic relationships.

Taylor hadn't done a whole lot of introspection since inheriting Odin's mantle and some of his memories, at least partially out of fear of what she'd find. For that matter, she'd avoided introspection for long before that, aside from an abstract awareness that she wasn't mentally healthy.

But now… well, she still wasn't normal, not that any cape could be called that, but she was… mostly healthy. The lack of trust for anyone and everyone that stemmed from both Emma's betrayal and the people in power abandoning her was… not gone, but mitigated by something in her connection to Odin or what memories she still had access to, and she had the raw power to deal with the situations now if by no other means than by drawing wisdom from Odin and the Runes, so there was realistically no way for the situation to ever get that bad again unless she stopped trying to change it for the better.

So, she felt at least comfortable entertaining the idea of romance.

As for Victoria… well, the girl was obviously one of the first friends she'd had in years, and somewhere along the way, she'd sort of just started assuming that Vicky'd be there, like she had been in almost all her cape fights thus far. She also felt… something else, for her, but she wasn't sure what it was yet beyond vaguely positive.

So, in short, she wasn't sure whether she was into Glory Girl holistically, but she was more than willing to find out.

"It's a date," she said, and Glory Girl broke out into a grin that lit up her face.


And that's that!

Like I said in the opening A/N, I was eyeing Coil making a move at the end of the chapter (and also potentially the Butcher) but I figured we should let the kids have a chapter or two off.

So, next week is the one year anniversary of me starting this fic. I'll see about getting the next chapter (an interlude, with more sections than I normally add) out by that day.

That's about it, so read, review, enjoy, and have a nice day!