Constellations (Worm/Okami)

Datcord · Jan 26, 2017

UnwelcomeStorm said:
35

Awww, yisssss....

"Morning, Chessman. You look cheerful today."

Morning? Cheerful? WITCH! He's a witch! BURN THE WITCH!

"Christmas came early, as far as I'm concerned. I'm just off to my workshop now, if you want to hear me ramble on about it."

"It all started when I saw someone dressed in a Santa Claus outfit at the bar I go to...."

when he was feeling ambitious Chessman occasionally asked her to model some for him,

*puerile giggle* And that's when approximately 90% of the PRT started taking up painting....

Miss Militia had wondered, once or twice, if Chessman used his pawns as a general conversation starter, but the ones she'd seen had gotten better detail on the armaments over time, so perhaps it was just a Tinker thing. Or just a hobbyist thing.

No, I assure you, it's a conversation starter. With you. Just you. It's ENTIRELY a Chart thing.

That Chessman kept things stored and displayed in an easy, logical manner was perhaps the best argument against the older hero being a real Tinker.

*snicker* Okay, I laughed.

Look-- see the dragon's neck and mouth?" He picked up a dry paintbrush to use as a pointer, and indicated where the red scales of the lizard head gave way to gold. "She's imitated a light source here, for the fire breath. You can see the highlights and shadows."

For the record, I appreciate Danny's little mini geekout here.

And I told them where they could put their focus testing.

At length. With diagrams. Two of the troopers fainted.

Chessman's previous career had left him a familiarity with bureaucracy, but of a more roughshod sort than the administration--or public relations--would prefer.

To quote from one of his (many) reprimands: "Chessman, in the future, please avoid informing the PR division that you'll 'be glad to stick your foot up their ass so they can see it better, since that's where their heads obviously already are'."

"An apology. Like there's anything I wouldn't forgive her for."

You say that now, but what will you say when you find out Lung's abdicated his position as leader of the ABB to her? (Because he's not a complete idiot and can tell how things are going.)

Also, when are we going to revisit Lung's drunken "You are Union!" thing, anyways?

"Good Dog… stole your credit card."

"It would explain a few things."

"I mean, I thought Taylor had gained a taste for MilkBones, but... things are clearer, now."

"...do I want to ask about the browser history?"

Just... a lot of websites with howling wolves. Like... a LOT.

"I'm certainly not. There are some things fathers are not meant to know."

Danny is a wise man... in some regards.

Miss Militia had been working with the Wards long enough to know the truth in that statement.

She's heard "This ISN'T what it looks like!" enough times to qualify for a World Record, at this point. (Still has five more "That's... that's not mine!" to go, though.)

It looked handmade, and considerably more… old fashioned? Than the ones arranged around Chessman's worktable. The black and white bristles didn't feel like synthetic fibers, more like actual animal hair.

Well. I bet that'll paint a mini REAL GOOD.

"You said she doesn't know about you being a parahuman, right? And she hasn't confessed to being one either?"

"She's oddly insistent on that whole 'I'm not a parahuman' thing, actually."

Taylor's certainly gotten a lot more diplomatic than I'd have ever expected.

I just love how this looks to people from the outside... while we all know that her internal monologue has mostly been "oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck WHY WON'T YOU WEAR A SHIRT oh fuck oh fuck...."

Nobody was sure exactly what Director Piggot was writing in her reports about the local situation, but it seemed a good bet that it was being severely edited.

Her first drafts are usually just "I need a drink." over and over for 30+ pages.

there were plenty of people who would, and some of them would not have a problem with extracting that information from a teenage girl

Oh, I pity the stupid bastards who try THAT. Between Lung and Sunny....

"...she's got a power of her own to protect her, should the worst happen," she said,

Sunny: "Bark!* ("I guess I count?")

Maybe teens weren't the only ones to turn mistakes into disasters.

A push and his own startled turn brought Yuuta face to face with the leering red mask of the Oni.

"You have been busy," Lung's chief enforcer said. "You will explain to me with what, and why it requires assuming the threat of my wrath."

Yuuta will also be explaining what that smell is and why he really would like to change his pants now, please.

"It… it's the truth, Oni Lee-sama. There-- there really was a youkai, and--"

"I know."

Did... did Oni Lee just punk Yuuta? Is THAT what just happened?

The assassin's other hand reached forward and snatched one of Yuuta's wrists, prompting another heart-stopping thud inside the teen's ribcage,

I choose to take this and the earlier description of the blood returning to Yuuta's face to shoddily build a case that, to someone unfamiliar with the context, it looks like Oni Lee is holding his hand while Yuuta blushes. (I'm putting it on The Chart, because I have no shame and am an equal opportunity shipper.)

'Cleanliness is next to godliness,' as the saying went. When she shared these thoughts with Sunny, the wolf chuffed agreeably,

*coffs*
*pointedly glances at the hot springs*

Sunshine could only ever maintain godliness for about 5 minutes, tops.

One day, reality is going to crack that shell of determined ignorance that Taylor's been working so hard to keep intact... and I'm going to laugh myself sick.

"Nothing big, I hope. I just wanted to know if you could send a message for me. To, uh… Battery."

My, my... this sounds a LOT like "Please give Susie this note for me." Has Purity decided that after Kaiser, she'd rather gamble on the fairer sex? Is Taylor about to play winglady for the ex-Nazi? Do you think the answer to EITHER of those questions will stop me or The Chart? (The answer, of course, is 'no.' Team Solar Charged is a go!)

Taylor had a sudden vision of Purity dropping a note wrapped around a brick onto the Protectorate's base.

"Can Battery come out and play?"

And that, at least, would fall under Shrine Business-- facilitating cordial, nonviolent meetings seemed like something a neutral party should do.

Yes. Help Battery and Purity have a VERY cordial and nonviolent meeting, Taylor. Maybe get some Barry White playing? (Look, she's been hanging around the Baachans a lot. Matchmaking is part and parcel of that.)

Miss Militia and Battery were the only women in the Brockton Bay Protectorate roster, and of the two, Battery was blonde.

And, let's not forget: Miss Militia is... you know... "excessively tanned."

"Uh-- sure. Just keep it to yourself, alright? You and Battery."

I... Look, I'm not sure what I'm gonna name it, but it WILL go on The Chart!

She wasn't really pleased with the Empire cape's promise to 'make sure she didn't get cheated,'

Now, the question is... was that displeasure because Purity was suggesting that Asians are sneaky? Or... was it because Purity was obviously suggesting that she was more than willing to death ray anyone who got on Taylor's bad side?

It was a pity it wasn't Spring, there was probably so much material for birds to build nests from by now.

Have you considered learning how to spin yarn? I assure you, knitters go CRAZY for weird yarn and if you started spinning it or just selling it to fiber buyers, you'd never have to worry about your temple budget again.

She was going to have to buy more tea, soon. Shrine Business was never done.

Just start having it delivered by the truckload, Taylor. It'll be easier and cheaper if you buy in bulk.

Ellf said:
Taylor's always known that Sunny was special.

Yeah, but... in an entirely different way.

Gamefreak1ed · Jan 26, 2017

I am honestly shocked that Datcord didn't ship Oni-lee with that yurei that was chasing him or maybe ghost youkai is where he draws the line anyway great chapter UnwelcomeStorm

Ghoul King · Jan 26, 2017

UnwelcomeStorm said:
Miss Militia's eyes crinkled at the edges above her bandana, even as she took a step back to allow the half squad of plastic soldiers continue marching by, each carrying a package.

A: Bandanna, two Ns at the end.

B: There should be a 'to' or something similar in here, eg "even as she took a step back to allow the half squad"

UnwelcomeStorm said:
Anything made by her power tended to take on a greenish tone

I... find this a bit unlikely? It would hamper her ability to pass for a civilian out of costume, and to the best of my recollection there's not the slightest hint of this in canon. The transitional state is a 'green energy' (I've personally always taken this to mean it glows, but I don't think it ever gets mentioned) but that's it, I'm pretty sure.

UnwelcomeStorm said:
It's a Chimera.

I saw this before I saw the description of it -eyes jumping down- and had to fight my disappointment when it turned out to not be an Imperial Guard transport.

UnwelcomeStorm said:
"Or she's sharper than you think. Brushstroke gave you a paintbrush, her own iconic tool, and a model-- your iconic tool. Albeit a monster instead of a tank." She gestured at him with the paintbrush in question. "Might this be a more official statement?"

NO STOP FOLLOWING IN LUNG'S FOOTSTEPS YOU FOOL

UnwelcomeStorm said:
"Good Dog certainly had no trouble identifying E88 capes out of costume. It'd be logical to assume Brushstroke either already knows, or can reasonably expected to find out, the identities of Protectorate members."

Miss Militia, you should know better than this. Not every aspect of a power is under the user's conscious control. Hell, you, personally, have a power with a mind of its own that won't leave you alone, and you don't know what it gets up to when people try take it away, beyond that it comes back.

Now, the concern that other people might assume this is completely valid, but Miss Militia is literally the last person on the Rig I would expect to go there.

UnwelcomeStorm said:
The heroine didn't keep a very deep social life outside of work; she tried to imagine, for a moment, having perhaps nieces or nephews who could fall into the crossfire of a villain's grudge against her.

Thiiiis could maybe use a slight reworking. I initially thought 'the heroine' was alluding to Taylor, and had my mental gears come to a grinding halt when I got to the later parts of the sentence. I basically re-read it twice before I went "Oh wait this is Miss Militia musing to herself about herself."

UnwelcomeStorm said:
When she shared these thoughts with Sunny, the wolf chuffed agreeably, then stayed still so Taylor could continue brushing dried mud and twigs out of her fur. Sunshine could only ever maintain godliness for about 5 minutes, tops.

This made me grin for so many reasons.

SwiftRosenthal · Jan 26, 2017

Ghoul King said:
I... find this a bit unlikely? It would hamper her ability to pass for a civilian out of costume, and to the best of my recollection there's not the slightest hint of this in canon. The transitional state is a 'green energy' (I've personally always taken this to mean it glows, but I don't think it ever gets mentioned) but that's it, I'm pretty sure.

I've seen her depicted as keeping her power in the form of a hairpin (actually a stiletto, but used as a hairpin) whenever she needs to be a civilian. That always seemed plausible enough to me.

At least she doesn't use this as the default state.

karmafalcon · Jan 26, 2017

.... She's a Priestess, she deals with supernatural (Capes count as supernatural) occurrences and has a deity bumming around her place and causing trouble.

.... She's a better Miko than Hakurei Reimu and Kochiya Sanae. Now if only we could give Taylor some spellcards...

ShadowAngelBeta · Jan 26, 2017

Datcord said:
One day, reality is going to crack that shell of determined ignorance that Taylor's been working so hard to keep intact... and I'm going to laugh myself sick.

The real reason Taylor will reach Enlightenment isn't by learning to tune out the world via meditation, it will be by trying to ignore all of this.

Unseelie · Jan 26, 2017

Datcord said:
(I'm putting it on The Chart, because I have no shame and am an equal opportunity shipper.)

Huh, I've honestly never seen Oni Lee being shipped.
But I guess I can get behind this, I had similar thoughts when reading that scene.

In case your chart actually exists, may I see it?
(Should you worry about my sanity, note my title and signature.)

Datcord said:
Has Purity decided that after Kaiser, she'd rather gamble on the fairer sex?

For some reason, I've always imagined Purity as black. A Nazi being bisexual is certainly (well, probably. Slightly.) less outlandish than one being black.

Scify · Jan 26, 2017

Ghoul King said:
A: Bandanna, two Ns at the end.

Both are acceptable.

Ghoul King said:
B: There should be a 'to' or something similar in here, eg "even as she took a step back to allow the half squad"

There is a 'to' right there in your quote.

Unseelie said:
For some reason, I've always imagined Purity as black

... Wut?

Unseelie · Jan 26, 2017

Scify said:
... Wut?

It makes no sense, I know.
My mind is weird.

Terrabrand · Jan 26, 2017

UnwelcomeStorm said:
When she shared these thoughts with Sunny, the wolf chuffed agreeably, then stayed still so Taylor could continue brushing dried mud and twigs out of her fur. Sunshine could only ever maintain godliness for about 5 minutes, tops.

Because Shinto. I like this.

(big emphasis on cleanliness, the Shinto priest in Okami describes your timing as 'immaculate' for this kinda reason.)

Puck McSnuggins · Jan 26, 2017

Junzahkrii said:
Praise the Sun!

Somebody needs to photoshop a chibi Ammy-face onto thta sun...

Torgamous · Jan 26, 2017

Datcord said:
I... Look, I'm not sure what I'm gonna name it, but it WILL go on The Chart!

The most popular battery-powered flashlight brand on Amazon is Maglite.

Ghoul King · Jan 26, 2017

Scify said:
There is a 'to' right there in your quote.

Well, that's confusing, because there wasn't when I was highlighting it to go into the quote. I triple-checked and everything.

Not sure what happened there, then.

Unseelie · Jan 26, 2017

Puck McSnuggins said:
Somebody needs to photoshop a chibi Ammy-face onto thta sun...

I tried.

Edit: Re-uploaded the image.

Pai · Jan 26, 2017

I'm looking forward to the PTR reactions to a handmade invitation getting delivered by good dog addressed for battery.

Shippou · Jan 26, 2017

Unseelie said:
I tried.

Broken image. :eyebrow:

Burning Baron · Jan 26, 2017

StormBlade said:
Broken image.

Works for me.

Terrabrand · Jan 26, 2017

Burning Baron said:
Works for me.

ditto.

Torgamous · Jan 26, 2017

It's like staring straight into the sun.

Ghoul King · Jan 26, 2017

Torgamous said:
It's like staring straight into the sun.

Can confirm: currently typing completely blind.

Evil Plan · Jan 26, 2017

UnwelcomeStorm said:
Footsteps staggered up the cobblestone path as she was finishing, and Taylor's greeting caught itself in her throat. "Yuuta, what happened? You look awful." Oh man, there was a sheen of sweat on the boy's face, and he looked rather pale. Was he getting sick? Taylor glanced once at the near-evening sky, thought about her still-undone homework, and made an executive decision.

"You know what? Come inside, so you don't catch a chill. Then tell me what's happened." She was going to have to buy more tea, soon. Shrine Business was never done.

So is this a freak-out over Taylor talking with Purity? Or is this something to do with his talk with Oni Lee?

StormBlade said:
Broken image.

You on mobile? It took a second or two to load for me, by once it did it was fine.

Torgamous · Jan 26, 2017

Evil Plan said:
So is this a freak-out over Taylor talking with Purity? Or is this something to do with his talk with Oni Lee?

Oni Lee. Yuuta is way too jaded to be bothered by Purity.

ThePastryKing · Jan 26, 2017

karmafalcon said:
She's a better Miko than Hakurei Reimu and Kochiya Sanae.

Taylor is a more traditional Miko, whereas Reimu and Sanae solve their problems with moar dakka. It's only logical in a world filled with "incidents". Although, the fact that both Taylor and Reimu invite heroes and villains to their shrines for tea and snacks at the same time is an amusing coincidence.
(we got the escalation worm demands though)

Puidwen · Jan 26, 2017

Datcord said:
because I have no shame

Gee, I would never have guess.

Datcord said:
reality is going to crack that shell of determined ignorance

Reality has called in sick in Brockton Bay.

defenestrator · Jan 26, 2017

How do you escalate in Tea Time, though? Longer awkward silences to force the other party to speak first? Stronger tea brews? The floor mats just a little too uncomfortable on the knees?

Constellations (Worm/Okami)

I will sing you the giggle of my people.

In the wrong place at the right time.

(Verified True Fae)

It always starts with a lighthouse.

(Verified True Fae)

the Ordainer

Aspiring Gynoid

(Verified True Fae)

Kitsune Trickster

This position needs more entrenching.

the Ordainer

Aspiring Gynoid

Not nearly so nefarious as my name signifies

Aspiring Gynoid

Burnt Butter