Chojomeka
Behold! QUEEN MONKE!
Well Taylor with a certain Kitsune was the alternate idea for ConstellationsSo this would be evil-miko Taylor, then?
Yes, I know there's a difference, but that ruins the joke.
Constellations (Worm/Okami)
- Thread starter UnwelcomeStorm
- Start date
wkz
Probably on the other side of the world from you
"Sunny, stop hiding behind me! Come out and greet the guests!"Amusingly this made me think of Taylor in a different miko outfit(Korean) Yes I know it's Ahri and that yes she a fox demon
Dark Mage
Sanity is really overrated...
- Location
- Out of My Mind
>.>So this would be evil-miko Taylor, then?
Yes, I know there's a difference, but that ruins the joke.
<.<
Nah. Just Sunny and Taylor after doing a fusion dance.
Then Taylor's power will be over 9000!
. . .
I'll let myself out.
UnwelcomeStorm
BARK! BARK! BARK!
- Location
- United States
Well Taylor with a certain Kitsune was the alternate idea for Constellations
Correct. The other possibility for Constellations was Taylor getting visited by the Ninetails instead. You can find the trial post here, in my snippet thread.
Aioria
The Gold-fanged Lion
- Location
- Georgia
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-
*wheeze* Deep breath, calm down. *look up*
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-
No but seriously, you'd have to be a monster to actually do this.
There's a fic for that, can't remember the name but it has been done.Amusingly this made me think of Taylor in a different miko outfit(Korean) Yes I know it's Ahri and that yes she a fox demon
- Location
- Australia
Dreaming of Foxfire?
- Location
- Home
I wish that continued, that Bakuda was pretty amazing to read.
Omake: At times like these
- Location
- Germany
Omake: At times like these
Taylor was sitting in her office in the shrine. She prepared some charms for the shrine when Sunny's barking informed her of a new visitor. When she came out of the shrine she was a bit surprised to see a woman with non-asian features. Usually Yuuta or some Baachans would come at this time.
The woman had long auburn hair and red eyes and she wore a long comfy looking dress and with a hat. She stood slightly behind the gate and looked questioningly at her.
"Good afternoon. And please enter the shrine. It is open for everyone." as long as you don't cause trouble was left unsaid but she reserved that line for another hero-villian meeting. Honestly. Sunny barked in approval.
"Thank you Miko and nice to see that you are well, Ammy" said the woman while she slowly entered. talor looked at her confused, a question clear in her eyes. "I am Holo and I met Ammy some time ago.",said the woman with a mysterious smile. Meanwhile Sunny has come close and carefully snuffeled her long skirt.
That at least answered some of her questions. After some quick contemplating she decided the ask the other ones. "Uh, do you mean her when you say Ammy?" Taylor asked while she pointed at Sunny who promptly let out a bark.
The woman made a sly smile, "Yes but that was just a silly nickname I came up and besides she never really liked it." Sunny gave her a playful nudge. " What do you call her anyway? She seems to have taken a real shine at you."
"Well I call her Sunshine, or Sunny for short." Said dog trotted back to Taylor and eyed the woman curiously. The woman let out a small giggle. "That is what I call a fitting name, don't you agree Sunshine?". A happy bark was the answer.
"Anyway, I came here to talk about a few things you if that is okay"
"Of course. Would you like some tee?"
*A bit of story-telling and mindless chatter later*
"I said I came here for talking but it is actually more of a request which I'd like you to fulfill." Holo said while she chewed on an apple piece Taylor had prepared for the tea under Sunny's direction. he had actually turned up this morning with a basket full of fresh apples. Of course Taylor had made sure that the apples were not bought with someone elses money.
"Oh, what is it?" Taylor was quite contend. Holo had thaught her a few things, some even weren't in Sunny's books which she got for her. Holo, in response to Taylor's question, pulled out a little pouch from under her shirt. "I would like you to keep some of this safe in your Shrine." Holo reached in the pouch and pulled a handful of wheat grains and gently put them on the table in front of Taylor. Sunny stood up from his place, quitly walked over and looked at the grains. "They are really important to me so please make sure they are not harmed. But don't worry. They will neither rot nor wither."
Taylor thought it was directed at her but Holo looked at Sunny and she could swear they were having a silent conversation through their eyes.
It ended with something that surprised Taylor. Sunny was bowing to Holo. He also looked really serious. Taylor didn't know what she expected less.
Taylor took it as her cue. "That wouldn't be a problem. We are already having a small collection of treasures which we would grieve to get damaged. I am sure we could arrange something easily."
"Thank you. Thats all." The last part was said quitly. The whole time Holo didn't even once look at Taylor instead watching Sunny. It didn't really bother Taylor that the conversion was held with Sunny at not really her.
"Is there anything else the shrine can do for yo Holo?" Talyor politely asked. Holo considered the question for a bit. "Actually there is. Do you know of a farmer who doesn't use industrial fertilizer and knows how to farm by hand?"
"I am sorry but no I don't know any farmer who doesn't use machines but you can always go to the Dockworker-Union if you showed them what you want them to do. If they have to be farmers I would recommend going to Maine. As long as you don't offend the amish people they would fit perfectly." The answer was mostly a mix of ideas and guesswork but she wanted to help Holo if possible. She seemed like a really nice person and maybe she would tell her some more storys about Sunny.
She thanked Taylor anyway and snatched the last apple piece from the bowl and made her way out. As she said goodbye Sunny was again bowing at Holo but she laughed and said "Don't be like this Sunny, thats not like you. At least not between us. And besides at times like these we have to help each other out. I was merely collecting a favor."
Taylor smiled " I agree with you. At times like these we have to help each other. That is why I reopened the shrine and became the Miko."
"That is admireable of you. But I have to leave."
"Goodbye, Holo"
"Fare thee well, Sunny and Taylor"
Shortly after Holo had left Yuuta came to the shrine but his eyes kept wandering to the streets. "Hey Taylor. Did you get a new visitor?"
"Hello Yuuta.I think so at least. Her name is Holo and she seemed pretty nice. She knew a lot of interesting stuff to"
"Hm, thats great... Say did you... notice something unusual about her?"
Ever since her request she directed not a single word at at me. "No, not really. Did you notice something strange?"
A month or so ago he wouldn't be sure but now he was certain that the woman had wolf-ears. Additionally he swore he did notice an odd movement at her skirt. So he said the only thing he deemed safe.
"No, just a hunch."
A/N: It is at least a year ago since I read either of those work so please correct me if I did a character (or anything else) wrong.
Spice and Wolf is a story that fit surprisingly well and I just made the Omake with the excuse that the faith in Amaterasu was so low she couldn't even manifest her physical form. So Holo needed to help out and she ows her since then.
Also I like to see Taylor with the Hakurei-Syndrom. No matter how strange things are, at some point it becomes normal like:
"Why do all the S-Class threats have to come during lunch. Is there a relation somehow?"
...And now I got this in my head: (Omake: How to beat S-Class Threats)
"RRAAAWWWW" "Noelle eat a Snickers." "MURRRRRDAAAAWWWWWW" "You always become Echidna if you get hungry" *eats* "Better?" "Better. Thank you Krouse"
Taylor was sitting in her office in the shrine. She prepared some charms for the shrine when Sunny's barking informed her of a new visitor. When she came out of the shrine she was a bit surprised to see a woman with non-asian features. Usually Yuuta or some Baachans would come at this time.
The woman had long auburn hair and red eyes and she wore a long comfy looking dress and with a hat. She stood slightly behind the gate and looked questioningly at her.
"Good afternoon. And please enter the shrine. It is open for everyone." as long as you don't cause trouble was left unsaid but she reserved that line for another hero-villian meeting. Honestly. Sunny barked in approval.
"Thank you Miko and nice to see that you are well, Ammy" said the woman while she slowly entered. talor looked at her confused, a question clear in her eyes. "I am Holo and I met Ammy some time ago.",said the woman with a mysterious smile. Meanwhile Sunny has come close and carefully snuffeled her long skirt.
That at least answered some of her questions. After some quick contemplating she decided the ask the other ones. "Uh, do you mean her when you say Ammy?" Taylor asked while she pointed at Sunny who promptly let out a bark.
The woman made a sly smile, "Yes but that was just a silly nickname I came up and besides she never really liked it." Sunny gave her a playful nudge. " What do you call her anyway? She seems to have taken a real shine at you."
"Well I call her Sunshine, or Sunny for short." Said dog trotted back to Taylor and eyed the woman curiously. The woman let out a small giggle. "That is what I call a fitting name, don't you agree Sunshine?". A happy bark was the answer.
"Anyway, I came here to talk about a few things you if that is okay"
"Of course. Would you like some tee?"
*A bit of story-telling and mindless chatter later*
"I said I came here for talking but it is actually more of a request which I'd like you to fulfill." Holo said while she chewed on an apple piece Taylor had prepared for the tea under Sunny's direction. he had actually turned up this morning with a basket full of fresh apples. Of course Taylor had made sure that the apples were not bought with someone elses money.
"Oh, what is it?" Taylor was quite contend. Holo had thaught her a few things, some even weren't in Sunny's books which she got for her. Holo, in response to Taylor's question, pulled out a little pouch from under her shirt. "I would like you to keep some of this safe in your Shrine." Holo reached in the pouch and pulled a handful of wheat grains and gently put them on the table in front of Taylor. Sunny stood up from his place, quitly walked over and looked at the grains. "They are really important to me so please make sure they are not harmed. But don't worry. They will neither rot nor wither."
Taylor thought it was directed at her but Holo looked at Sunny and she could swear they were having a silent conversation through their eyes.
It ended with something that surprised Taylor. Sunny was bowing to Holo. He also looked really serious. Taylor didn't know what she expected less.
Taylor took it as her cue. "That wouldn't be a problem. We are already having a small collection of treasures which we would grieve to get damaged. I am sure we could arrange something easily."
"Thank you. Thats all." The last part was said quitly. The whole time Holo didn't even once look at Taylor instead watching Sunny. It didn't really bother Taylor that the conversion was held with Sunny at not really her.
"Is there anything else the shrine can do for yo Holo?" Talyor politely asked. Holo considered the question for a bit. "Actually there is. Do you know of a farmer who doesn't use industrial fertilizer and knows how to farm by hand?"
"I am sorry but no I don't know any farmer who doesn't use machines but you can always go to the Dockworker-Union if you showed them what you want them to do. If they have to be farmers I would recommend going to Maine. As long as you don't offend the amish people they would fit perfectly." The answer was mostly a mix of ideas and guesswork but she wanted to help Holo if possible. She seemed like a really nice person and maybe she would tell her some more storys about Sunny.
She thanked Taylor anyway and snatched the last apple piece from the bowl and made her way out. As she said goodbye Sunny was again bowing at Holo but she laughed and said "Don't be like this Sunny, thats not like you. At least not between us. And besides at times like these we have to help each other out. I was merely collecting a favor."
Taylor smiled " I agree with you. At times like these we have to help each other. That is why I reopened the shrine and became the Miko."
"That is admireable of you. But I have to leave."
"Goodbye, Holo"
"Fare thee well, Sunny and Taylor"
Shortly after Holo had left Yuuta came to the shrine but his eyes kept wandering to the streets. "Hey Taylor. Did you get a new visitor?"
"Hello Yuuta.I think so at least. Her name is Holo and she seemed pretty nice. She knew a lot of interesting stuff to"
"Hm, thats great... Say did you... notice something unusual about her?"
Ever since her request she directed not a single word at at me. "No, not really. Did you notice something strange?"
A month or so ago he wouldn't be sure but now he was certain that the woman had wolf-ears. Additionally he swore he did notice an odd movement at her skirt. So he said the only thing he deemed safe.
"No, just a hunch."
A/N: It is at least a year ago since I read either of those work so please correct me if I did a character (or anything else) wrong.
Spice and Wolf is a story that fit surprisingly well and I just made the Omake with the excuse that the faith in Amaterasu was so low she couldn't even manifest her physical form. So Holo needed to help out and she ows her since then.
Also I like to see Taylor with the Hakurei-Syndrom. No matter how strange things are, at some point it becomes normal like:
"Why do all the S-Class threats have to come during lunch. Is there a relation somehow?"
...And now I got this in my head: (Omake: How to beat S-Class Threats)
"RRAAAWWWW" "Noelle eat a Snickers." "MURRRRRDAAAAWWWWWW" "You always become Echidna if you get hungry" *eats* "Better?" "Better. Thank you Krouse
"
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Burning Baron
This position needs more entrenching.
- Location
- In here, not out there.
They who are wolves must stick together, after all.
- Location
- Germany
I realised it only after I got the idea. Than I made it as an excuse WHY Ammy is a wolf. I am still surprised about it.
Czlyydwr Llrngwl
"Sell ya a door Learn gull," Czly/Celly for short
- Location
- Where the Beef is
- Pronouns
- Any
For farms that don't use machines you pretty much have to go Amish, and in the New England area that means Maine. I'm not sure how happy they'd be to see a Shinto fertility goddess show up, though, given that their whole thing is being devoutly religious christians...
edit: Well, there's a few other similar sects, but still, devout Christian. Not apt to welcome (what they would consider) a false god.
edit: Well, there's a few other similar sects, but still, devout Christian. Not apt to welcome (what they would consider) a false god.
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- Location
- Germany
Smartass mode: on
There is a difference between use and know. My father knows perfectly well how to harvest wheat with a scythe but he has better means.
And I think he wouldn't mind doing a little favor for a harvest goddess
Smartass mode: off
Holo with amish people... IS THAT HOW S&W TOOK PLACE????
rofl:It just came to my mind when I saw the horse pulling the cart. I know it doesn't fit but lol
I should probably stop derailing this thread. Curse you bad habits!
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goodpie2
Unverified Guy With a Face
- Location
- Earth. Probably.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-
*wheeze* Deep breath, calm down. *look up*
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-
No but seriously, you'd have to be a monster to actually do this.
Have you, by any chance, read @UnwelcomeStorm's other work? Just wondering.
Most New Englanders at least know of the Amish and their life-style choices. Not sure if you want to change your omake to reflect that or not though, but Taylor would likely know that they eschew most industrial and post-industrial technology.Smartass mode: on
There is a difference between use and know. My father knows perfectly well how to harvest wheat with a scythe but he has better means.
And I think he wouldn't mind doing a little favor for a harvest goddess
Smartass mode: off
Holo in Maine... IS THAT WERE S&W TOOK PLACE????
It just came to my mind when I saw the horse pulling the cart. I know it doesn't fit but lol
I should probably stop derailing this thread. Curse you bad habits!
Well, back then they just called them "peasants."Holo with amish people... IS THAT HOW S&W TOOK PLACE????
< --- *knows*
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Chapter 38
UnwelcomeStorm
BARK! BARK! BARK!
- Location
- United States
38
When Battery and Assault reported in, fresh from their rendezvous at the Pawprint Shrine, they found both Armsmaster and Director Piggot had set up a quick debriefing to go over things. While they were both seated at the table, Armsmaster was still buried in the wiring and innards of whatever gadget he was working on this week. A bit unusual to see him so distracted during a meeting; he usually gave such things his full apparent attention. From the look on Director Piggot's face, she didn't much appreciate it either. The Tinker forestalled any comments by speaking up as soon as Battery and Assault sat down, with a gruff, "I'm making up for lost time. Report— how was the meeting?"
"Surreal," both Assault and Battery said at once. The couple glanced at each other and Assault motioned for the heroine to continue first.
"Purity showed up alone, according to Velocity's quick recon of the area. She was agitated, and insisted on speaking with me alone, without Brushstroke or Assault in the room; Brushstroke took Assault outside to wait while we talked."
"And you let her?" Piggot asked.
"It was a simple enough compromise— as Brushstroke pointed out, the building wasn't soundproof and Purity isn't subtle. I agreed so long as we were only a few meters away," Assault chimed in.
"So what did she want?" Armsmaster looked up for all of a second before going back to his tinkering.
"Out. She wants out— not just of the E88, but out of Brockton entirely," Battery took a breath. "And I think she's willing to roll on Kaiser to get it."
That got Armsmaster's full attention. Piggot leaned forward as well. "Explain."
* * *
Battery sat ramrod straight in the tiny office chair, an untouched cup of tea near one hand and the untouched serving tray of deviled eggs between her and one of the most dangerous Blasters in the United States. Said Blaster had dampened her corona to a more tolerable level, and it wasn't quite bright enough to hide her nervous shifts and fidgeting. Purity hadn't touched the tea either, and they sat in strained silence for more than a minute.
"Do you watch much TV? I watch crime shows a lot," was Purity's non-sequitur opening. "CSI: Boston until Accord got it shut down for continuity errors, Law and Order, that sort of thing."
"Okay." What did television have to do with anything?
"Once in awhile, they'll do an episode about organized crime. Sometimes there's an undercover agents, or just an ongoing investigation, but sometimes there's an informant too. Someone who'll agree to testify, and the police have to put them in Witness Protection." Battery stared, disbelief starting to eclipse her nerves. Purity picked up her cup of tea, and the ceramic rattled on the plate from her unsteady fingers. "It's just television, all played up for drama. But… do you suppose that ever happens in real life?"
"I— sometimes, I think." Battery quickly collected her wits. "But I won't speak in hypotheticals, Purity. What did you call me here for?"
"At all, or you specifically?"
Was there a difference? To be honest, Battery was curious. She wasn't the highest-ranking Protectorate member, and her power could be a nightmare counter for Purity in close quarters, which the glass-cannon Blaster had to know. "Both."
Purity didn't answer right away. Her shoulders hunched, and her head bowed a little, and her glowing hands gripped her teacup tightly. "Brockton is a bit against the odds… most of the heroes in this city are men. I asked for you because you're a woman, and you might understand better."
But not Miss Militia, Battery thought.
"Look, I'm not— I'm not asking you to feel sympathy or forgiveness. I've been with the Empire almost my whole life, it's all I know and I've done terrible things. And it's because I know the Empire that I can't do this anymore. I know Kaiser, actually really know him— hell, I married him." Battery's eyes widened. This was… not at all what she'd been expecting, coming here. Purity looked up and huffed a laugh, the sound muffled by a tight throat. "Yeah, not the smartest choice I ever made."
Purity took a harsh breath, and continued, "And maybe this isn't the smartest choice either, but— but I have to do something. I'm willing to trade with the Protectorate. Escape in exchange for everything I know about Kaiser."
Battery had a sudden moment of understanding for Brushstroke's insistence upon tea. It was a very handy prop when you needed to look in control while you desperately corralled your own thoughts. She took a sip and pretended to savor it. "I won't lie and say that's a bad deal. But the Protectorate would need some assurance— like I said before, you're not exactly trusted, Purity. Why should we take you up on this? And why now?"
Purity hesitated, her corona flickering with tension, and Battery saw the Blaster's hand drift over to her stomach. Oh. Oh jeeze. "I told you. I know Kaiser. What kind of man he is, what kind of world he wants to build, and— and—" If she had tried to deny the E88 cape's signs of fear before, there was no doing so now. Purity swallowed heavily and said, "And that's not the world I want for my baby."
* * *
"Shiiiiiiiit," Assault breathed. "That's heavy stuff, if it's true."
"Which we have no way of confirming," Piggot pointed out. "Starting the conversation with TV dramas and then spinning a very TV-drama sort of tale doesn't inspire a lot of confidence."
"If it's false, it's a very long con," Armsmaster said, his tone contemplative. He'd abandoned his tinkering work entirely. "Reports of encounters with Purity started to drop off last December, before taking a sharp dive to almost nothing by March. She's only recently started to be seen more than once a week."
"Implying that she may have already had a baby," Piggot sighed. "Well that complicates things. There's no way she'd cooperate if she knew her child would be taken from her by Protective Services."
"...would they really have to know?" Battery turned accusing eyes on Assault, who held up his hands. "Woah, hold on— I'm not saying just cutting her loose. She mentioned witness protection, didn't she? New identity, new address… it wouldn't be the first time the Protectorate's shuffled someone around and kept an eye on them, is all I'm saying."
"That is a risky sort of leverage," Piggot hedged, "But if she's actually willing to play ball…"
"If she wants to protect her kid, it's a good offer. Even under probation, Protectorate pays well and has good benefits. Put her somewhere quiet and give her a minder for a couple of years, get her used to the idea of being a hero instead of a Nazi? Blaster 8 isn't something you turn down easily."
"And taking out Kaiser would behead the Empire. There's still Night and Fog to worry about, so it will be a bit of planning, but a heavy strike…" Armsmaster mused. Battery, however, shook her head.
"That's something I brought up when she calmed down. Get this— Night and Fog haven't been seen lately, right?"
"Since… July, I think," The Tinker said.
"Yeah. Purity said that, thanks to factional divisions in the E88? Night and Fog answered to her, not Kaiser. And she told them to go into retirement when she filed for divorce. According to Purity, they skipped town already."
"...if that's true, then— with Hookwolf in the Birdcage, Purity, Night, and Fog were the heaviest hitters the Empire had. Kaiser and the twins are dangerous, but for sheer destruction and lethality? If those three can be counted to not show up, that drastically tilts the odds of a raid in our favor." Armsmaster took a breath, one finger tapping in a nervous tic on the table. "If we take out the Empire, that would make Brockton Bay the only major population center in the US with more heroes than villains."
There was a moment of silence at the table. Piggot spoke first, "I'll send out an inquiry, see if there's any reports of similar parahuman powers to Night and Fog sighted recently in other regions. If that comes back negative, then I want Purity brought in for negotiations as soon as possible."
"I'll have Militia start choosing strike teams— we'll want to break as many Empire assets as possible all at once, if this happens." Armsmaster packed up his tinkering and stood. "And I'll see what I have prepared for Fenja and Menja. Dismissed."
"Just a moment—Assault, did you have anything to report?"
"Kinda?" He shrugged. "I had tea with Brushstroke and Good Dog, and she asked if we'd seen anything weird lately. Then she explicitly mentioned Halloween."
Battery's face soured at the reminder. "Maybe they got hassled by giant birds too."
"Maybe. I didn't want to say anything, professional secrecy and all that, but she gave me a couple of those paper slips as a goodwill gift. I'll toss 'em at the Thinktank."
"As aggravating as those reports were, as long as they aren't related to more Good Dog bullshit I'll be happy," Piggot groused. "Alright, dismissed."
* * *
Purity stayed at the Shrine for a while after her meeting. She said she didn't want to be seen leaving around the same time as Battery and Assault, but Taylor suspected that maybe she just needed some time. Whatever the two women had been talking about seemed to have taken a toll on the flying cape. So Taylor made a fresh pot of chamomile tea, and turned up the space heater, and told Purity to take all the time she needed.
"That nice streak will get you in trouble someday," she said.
Taylor turned her thoughts to the previous year. "I think I'd rather be nice and have problems, than be mean and get away with it."
"Heh… well that about sums it up, doesn't it?"
"Sums what up?"
"I'm not even sure," Purity admitted. "But… Taylor. Do you mind if I apologize for something?"
"I… don't think you need my permission?" Taylor looked up, confused, when she heard Sunny's tail start thwapping on the floor. She glanced up in time to see the last of Purity's corona fade, the cape's light leaving behind a short, mousy sort of woman, with a strained smile and slightly red-rimmed eyes. It took Taylor a couple of moments for the connection to click. "Wh— Kayden? You're Purity?"
"Sorry."
"...I guess that explains why Sunny was never bothered." Taylor tried to reconcile the nice, if stressed single mother she'd met with the infamous Nazi cape, who was also kinda nice, if stressed. Maybe it wasn't that big of a leap? People came in all sorts. Still, you never really expected someone you knew to just be a parahuman. Capes didn't go around and just be people, they were larger than life. They didn't go shopping or fuss over crying babies.
Then again… Taylor picked up her teacup and sipped. If the past few months had taught her anything—and they had taught her quite a lot, thanks Baachan—it was that while capes were eminently weird, they weren't always what she expected, either. Like, who would have thought that Oni Lee liked sweets and omelets? That Battery snorted when she laughed, Armsmaster tended to lose track of what he was doing while thinking, Velocity also loved sweets, Purity was a single mother, and Lung was entirely petty and constantly shirtless?
Okay actually that last one was completely unsurprising, but still. There was probably something profound in this mess that Taylor reluctantly called Cape Business. "Okay then."
"That's… it?" Puri— Kayden asked. "Just 'okay?' You are having tea with a supervillain."
"That happens at least once a week." Sunny chuffed at the dumbfounded expression on Kayden's face.
"...my god, no wonder nobody knows how to handle you." Purity rubbed a hand over her face. "Well— Taylor, can I ask for a favor?"
"You can always ask," she replied glibly. "What do you need?"
"This stays between us, okay?" Taylor nodded, and made a go-on gesture. "I don't think anyone in the Empire knows I'm here, but if they do, they will not be happy. Your Sunshine took on most of their capes, didn't she?"
"Allegedly." Taylor shot a look at Sunny, who only turned up the smug and wagged her tail a bit. Taylor wasn't sure she would ever get the full story about that.
"I don't suppose I could hire you two as a bodyguard for a little bit? I can keep an eye on Aster during the day, but… I'd sleep a bit better knowing someone was on guard. Someone that Kaiser was reluctant to touch."
Okay wow Taylor was glad she had a cup of tea in her hands. "I'm not a match for any cape, Kayden. Let me be clear on that. If you want to ask Sunny, then that's her decision."
Kayden turned her pleading eyes on Sunny, who returned them with as somber expression a canine could make. The wolf looked between Taylor and Kayden a couple of times, considering, then gave a cautious nod. The E88 cape sighed in relief. "Thank you."
"Alright… I need to close up the Shrine and I think Sunny wants to take me home, so if you give her your address I think she can meet you there later?" The wolf nodded. "Okay. Be safe going home, Kayden."
"You too, Taylor. Here's hoping it's a quiet night."
When Battery and Assault reported in, fresh from their rendezvous at the Pawprint Shrine, they found both Armsmaster and Director Piggot had set up a quick debriefing to go over things. While they were both seated at the table, Armsmaster was still buried in the wiring and innards of whatever gadget he was working on this week. A bit unusual to see him so distracted during a meeting; he usually gave such things his full apparent attention. From the look on Director Piggot's face, she didn't much appreciate it either. The Tinker forestalled any comments by speaking up as soon as Battery and Assault sat down, with a gruff, "I'm making up for lost time. Report— how was the meeting?"
"Surreal," both Assault and Battery said at once. The couple glanced at each other and Assault motioned for the heroine to continue first.
"Purity showed up alone, according to Velocity's quick recon of the area. She was agitated, and insisted on speaking with me alone, without Brushstroke or Assault in the room; Brushstroke took Assault outside to wait while we talked."
"And you let her?" Piggot asked.
"It was a simple enough compromise— as Brushstroke pointed out, the building wasn't soundproof and Purity isn't subtle. I agreed so long as we were only a few meters away," Assault chimed in.
"So what did she want?" Armsmaster looked up for all of a second before going back to his tinkering.
"Out. She wants out— not just of the E88, but out of Brockton entirely," Battery took a breath. "And I think she's willing to roll on Kaiser to get it."
That got Armsmaster's full attention. Piggot leaned forward as well. "Explain."
* * *
Battery sat ramrod straight in the tiny office chair, an untouched cup of tea near one hand and the untouched serving tray of deviled eggs between her and one of the most dangerous Blasters in the United States. Said Blaster had dampened her corona to a more tolerable level, and it wasn't quite bright enough to hide her nervous shifts and fidgeting. Purity hadn't touched the tea either, and they sat in strained silence for more than a minute.
"Do you watch much TV? I watch crime shows a lot," was Purity's non-sequitur opening. "CSI: Boston until Accord got it shut down for continuity errors, Law and Order, that sort of thing."
"Okay." What did television have to do with anything?
"Once in awhile, they'll do an episode about organized crime. Sometimes there's an undercover agents, or just an ongoing investigation, but sometimes there's an informant too. Someone who'll agree to testify, and the police have to put them in Witness Protection." Battery stared, disbelief starting to eclipse her nerves. Purity picked up her cup of tea, and the ceramic rattled on the plate from her unsteady fingers. "It's just television, all played up for drama. But… do you suppose that ever happens in real life?"
"I— sometimes, I think." Battery quickly collected her wits. "But I won't speak in hypotheticals, Purity. What did you call me here for?"
"At all, or you specifically?"
Was there a difference? To be honest, Battery was curious. She wasn't the highest-ranking Protectorate member, and her power could be a nightmare counter for Purity in close quarters, which the glass-cannon Blaster had to know. "Both."
Purity didn't answer right away. Her shoulders hunched, and her head bowed a little, and her glowing hands gripped her teacup tightly. "Brockton is a bit against the odds… most of the heroes in this city are men. I asked for you because you're a woman, and you might understand better."
But not Miss Militia, Battery thought.
"Look, I'm not— I'm not asking you to feel sympathy or forgiveness. I've been with the Empire almost my whole life, it's all I know and I've done terrible things. And it's because I know the Empire that I can't do this anymore. I know Kaiser, actually really know him— hell, I married him." Battery's eyes widened. This was… not at all what she'd been expecting, coming here. Purity looked up and huffed a laugh, the sound muffled by a tight throat. "Yeah, not the smartest choice I ever made."
Purity took a harsh breath, and continued, "And maybe this isn't the smartest choice either, but— but I have to do something. I'm willing to trade with the Protectorate. Escape in exchange for everything I know about Kaiser."
Battery had a sudden moment of understanding for Brushstroke's insistence upon tea. It was a very handy prop when you needed to look in control while you desperately corralled your own thoughts. She took a sip and pretended to savor it. "I won't lie and say that's a bad deal. But the Protectorate would need some assurance— like I said before, you're not exactly trusted, Purity. Why should we take you up on this? And why now?"
Purity hesitated, her corona flickering with tension, and Battery saw the Blaster's hand drift over to her stomach. Oh. Oh jeeze. "I told you. I know Kaiser. What kind of man he is, what kind of world he wants to build, and— and—" If she had tried to deny the E88 cape's signs of fear before, there was no doing so now. Purity swallowed heavily and said, "And that's not the world I want for my baby."
* * *
"Shiiiiiiiit," Assault breathed. "That's heavy stuff, if it's true."
"Which we have no way of confirming," Piggot pointed out. "Starting the conversation with TV dramas and then spinning a very TV-drama sort of tale doesn't inspire a lot of confidence."
"If it's false, it's a very long con," Armsmaster said, his tone contemplative. He'd abandoned his tinkering work entirely. "Reports of encounters with Purity started to drop off last December, before taking a sharp dive to almost nothing by March. She's only recently started to be seen more than once a week."
"Implying that she may have already had a baby," Piggot sighed. "Well that complicates things. There's no way she'd cooperate if she knew her child would be taken from her by Protective Services."
"...would they really have to know?" Battery turned accusing eyes on Assault, who held up his hands. "Woah, hold on— I'm not saying just cutting her loose. She mentioned witness protection, didn't she? New identity, new address… it wouldn't be the first time the Protectorate's shuffled someone around and kept an eye on them, is all I'm saying."
"That is a risky sort of leverage," Piggot hedged, "But if she's actually willing to play ball…"
"If she wants to protect her kid, it's a good offer. Even under probation, Protectorate pays well and has good benefits. Put her somewhere quiet and give her a minder for a couple of years, get her used to the idea of being a hero instead of a Nazi? Blaster 8 isn't something you turn down easily."
"And taking out Kaiser would behead the Empire. There's still Night and Fog to worry about, so it will be a bit of planning, but a heavy strike…" Armsmaster mused. Battery, however, shook her head.
"That's something I brought up when she calmed down. Get this— Night and Fog haven't been seen lately, right?"
"Since… July, I think," The Tinker said.
"Yeah. Purity said that, thanks to factional divisions in the E88? Night and Fog answered to her, not Kaiser. And she told them to go into retirement when she filed for divorce. According to Purity, they skipped town already."
"...if that's true, then— with Hookwolf in the Birdcage, Purity, Night, and Fog were the heaviest hitters the Empire had. Kaiser and the twins are dangerous, but for sheer destruction and lethality? If those three can be counted to not show up, that drastically tilts the odds of a raid in our favor." Armsmaster took a breath, one finger tapping in a nervous tic on the table. "If we take out the Empire, that would make Brockton Bay the only major population center in the US with more heroes than villains."
There was a moment of silence at the table. Piggot spoke first, "I'll send out an inquiry, see if there's any reports of similar parahuman powers to Night and Fog sighted recently in other regions. If that comes back negative, then I want Purity brought in for negotiations as soon as possible."
"I'll have Militia start choosing strike teams— we'll want to break as many Empire assets as possible all at once, if this happens." Armsmaster packed up his tinkering and stood. "And I'll see what I have prepared for Fenja and Menja. Dismissed."
"Just a moment—Assault, did you have anything to report?"
"Kinda?" He shrugged. "I had tea with Brushstroke and Good Dog, and she asked if we'd seen anything weird lately. Then she explicitly mentioned Halloween."
Battery's face soured at the reminder. "Maybe they got hassled by giant birds too."
"Maybe. I didn't want to say anything, professional secrecy and all that, but she gave me a couple of those paper slips as a goodwill gift. I'll toss 'em at the Thinktank."
"As aggravating as those reports were, as long as they aren't related to more Good Dog bullshit I'll be happy," Piggot groused. "Alright, dismissed."
* * *
Purity stayed at the Shrine for a while after her meeting. She said she didn't want to be seen leaving around the same time as Battery and Assault, but Taylor suspected that maybe she just needed some time. Whatever the two women had been talking about seemed to have taken a toll on the flying cape. So Taylor made a fresh pot of chamomile tea, and turned up the space heater, and told Purity to take all the time she needed.
"That nice streak will get you in trouble someday," she said.
Taylor turned her thoughts to the previous year. "I think I'd rather be nice and have problems, than be mean and get away with it."
"Heh… well that about sums it up, doesn't it?"
"Sums what up?"
"I'm not even sure," Purity admitted. "But… Taylor. Do you mind if I apologize for something?"
"I… don't think you need my permission?" Taylor looked up, confused, when she heard Sunny's tail start thwapping on the floor. She glanced up in time to see the last of Purity's corona fade, the cape's light leaving behind a short, mousy sort of woman, with a strained smile and slightly red-rimmed eyes. It took Taylor a couple of moments for the connection to click. "Wh— Kayden? You're Purity?"
"Sorry."
"...I guess that explains why Sunny was never bothered." Taylor tried to reconcile the nice, if stressed single mother she'd met with the infamous Nazi cape, who was also kinda nice, if stressed. Maybe it wasn't that big of a leap? People came in all sorts. Still, you never really expected someone you knew to just be a parahuman. Capes didn't go around and just be people, they were larger than life. They didn't go shopping or fuss over crying babies.
Then again… Taylor picked up her teacup and sipped. If the past few months had taught her anything—and they had taught her quite a lot, thanks Baachan—it was that while capes were eminently weird, they weren't always what she expected, either. Like, who would have thought that Oni Lee liked sweets and omelets? That Battery snorted when she laughed, Armsmaster tended to lose track of what he was doing while thinking, Velocity also loved sweets, Purity was a single mother, and Lung was entirely petty and constantly shirtless?
Okay actually that last one was completely unsurprising, but still. There was probably something profound in this mess that Taylor reluctantly called Cape Business. "Okay then."
"That's… it?" Puri— Kayden asked. "Just 'okay?' You are having tea with a supervillain."
"That happens at least once a week." Sunny chuffed at the dumbfounded expression on Kayden's face.
"...my god, no wonder nobody knows how to handle you." Purity rubbed a hand over her face. "Well— Taylor, can I ask for a favor?"
"You can always ask," she replied glibly. "What do you need?"
"This stays between us, okay?" Taylor nodded, and made a go-on gesture. "I don't think anyone in the Empire knows I'm here, but if they do, they will not be happy. Your Sunshine took on most of their capes, didn't she?"
"Allegedly." Taylor shot a look at Sunny, who only turned up the smug and wagged her tail a bit. Taylor wasn't sure she would ever get the full story about that.
"I don't suppose I could hire you two as a bodyguard for a little bit? I can keep an eye on Aster during the day, but… I'd sleep a bit better knowing someone was on guard. Someone that Kaiser was reluctant to touch."
Okay wow Taylor was glad she had a cup of tea in her hands. "I'm not a match for any cape, Kayden. Let me be clear on that. If you want to ask Sunny, then that's her decision."
Kayden turned her pleading eyes on Sunny, who returned them with as somber expression a canine could make. The wolf looked between Taylor and Kayden a couple of times, considering, then gave a cautious nod. The E88 cape sighed in relief. "Thank you."
"Alright… I need to close up the Shrine and I think Sunny wants to take me home, so if you give her your address I think she can meet you there later?" The wolf nodded. "Okay. Be safe going home, Kayden."
"You too, Taylor. Here's hoping it's a quiet night."
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Khona Moshr
Pink Flamingo Cabal Healer(they/them)
- Location
- Alabama
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Kayden the entire reason nobody knows how to handle Taylor is because she is basically the high priestess for Amaterasu not a cape so when you treat her like a cape of course she will susprise you with her behavior
- Location
- Wherever
I love the qualifier. So telling.
Accord as
It's not like he seems to be all that secretive in canon, either, so I can totally see people knowing it was Accord.
Now I have ideas for how I should be writing Accord, thanks!
I find it really funny how Kayden/Purity doesn't blink at having to ask the
Ellf
Apprentice Wizard
- Location
- Virginia
Thing is... Even Taylor doesn't realize she's Amaterasu's priestess. All she cares about is serving the community itself. Taylor does realize that Sunny is special, and through helping Sunny, she's feeling special herself.
Man. reading this after rereading Helios today... makes me happy. I wish Helios had continued beyond the start of the second arc. It'd be nice to see Taylor as Ammy's avatar rather than just her priestess.
... Of course, that might be what happens during Leviathan.
- Location
- Canada
Oh Piggot, haven't you learned not to be optimistic about things like that by now?
jwolfe_beta
Semi Genre-Savvy Overlord
- Location
- Canada
She's the one that needs to sign off the paperwork every time the capes get dumped in the M/S tank. So no, she is less then happy about Good Dog.