Functionality
The Scholar
- Location
- At the Library
- Pronouns
- He
Yes, it is one of the greatest pieces of modern cinema.
The only question is: would they make a Kaiju, or a Yeager? Or a weird hybrid like we saw in Pacific Rim 2?
Eden's Edge (Worm/Sonnie's Edge [Love, Death, and Robots])
The only question is: would they make a Kaiju, or a Yeager? Or a weird hybrid like we saw in Pacific Rim 2?
- Location
- Ontario, Canada
Well, as a colab between Lilith and Chevy, Lilith has neural interfacing in her tech tree. While I don't think it will be as humanoid as a yaeger, a cerebrally controlled vehicle is well within parameters.
Ganurath
Literal Enthusiast
- Location
- A Valid Location
- Pronouns
- He/Him
That may be a reason, but it was pluralized, so there's at least one more reason.The reason is Sophia goes to Winslow
PanPan get in the Robot
Taliserian
(Unverified Verifiable)
- Location
- ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Nah. Neural interfacing giant robot built on an organic base. Involving mothers and someone named Lillith? (Edit) Bonus points for the protaganist spending most of their time submerged in reddish liquid.
Now I'm picturing GG as Auska and Taylor as Shinji.
"But what if I don't want to pilot the giant robot?"
"Then we'll just make Panacea do it."
I can only imagine getting to pilot a giant bio mech and punch endbringers while fighting for her life would in fact improve amy's mood. She needs outlets.
Functionality
The Scholar
- Location
- At the Library
- Pronouns
- He
Dammit.
Why cant I give a "funny" and "hugs?!"
Taliserian
(Unverified Verifiable)
- Location
- ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Worm: Where being one of the pilots from Evangelion would be a step up.
Argh! Exciting small update, but I can't decide if the notice is out of date due to the monster fighting stuff or due to some new information about Taylor's memory situation.
It is okay without, but I do sorta wish the chapters had dates at the top to help me keep the timeline straight.
Can't wait for more! Thanks.
It is okay without, but I do sorta wish the chapters had dates at the top to help me keep the timeline straight.
Can't wait for more! Thanks.
Reading through the whole thing is such a interesting mystery exercise dealing with her overprotective mother.
It would be interesting seeing how they help could Amy deal with canon events with different despite Amy being Amy and everyone else pushing.
I do hope Tammi's thing does not lead to the predictable result of everyone in the meeting being attacked.
Anyway onto the latest events, I would think Coil would get involve because he would love the idea of his mortal soldiers piloting monsters that can fight normal cape.
This scene so adorable for the two, honestly this make me really, really wish someone write story of Amy and an female OC grounding her away from her cape/family life or with one of the more sensible capes like Parian or Foil for similar effect instead of the usual hectic pairing.
It would be interesting seeing how they help could Amy deal with canon events with different despite Amy being Amy and everyone else pushing.
I do hope Tammi's thing does not lead to the predictable result of everyone in the meeting being attacked.
Anyway onto the latest events, I would think Coil would get involve because he would love the idea of his mortal soldiers piloting monsters that can fight normal cape.
Last edited:
- Pronouns
- He/Him
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Why not one of each? They are running fighting pits, after all.
Well, that was horrifying. Jesus.
Last edited:
- Location
- Earth, Sol System, Virgo Supercluster, Earth-1218
Nah, she's mentioned as being an on again off again member, so not likely to be spying for the E88.
I had an idea for a QQ worthy story that was basically the opposite...
Basically Amy wants someone to give her life direction, she's bristly and angry because she's responsible for everything. If someone else, perhaps someone with control issues from the other side (*cough* Canon Taylor *cough*) were able to give her a framework to live in she might find it a bit easier.
I'd write it myself, but I'm terrible at writing more than outlines, so I share this idea for you.
Sometime post Leviathan pre-S9 Amy ends up approaching Skitter as someone with strong will and moral fiber, if not 100% Heroic.
Taylor helps structure Amy's life and Amy discovers she likes it, really likes it, when she can relinquish responsibility to someone else.
Amy 'accidentally' initiates something and Taylor shows she's a sexy mistress.
At some point (in my mind it happens as a flashback after Amy and Taylor get together) it's revealed that Lisa wasn't Asexual, her power just didn't like the distraction, but it meant she was pretty much always horny but her power kept pointing out all the gross things until she gets so fed up she blindfolded and earmuffed herself in order to get herself off. (This is also partially why she's so bitchy, she's always horny but her power keeps cockblocking her)
Alec, being a jerk and able to see what Lisa was doing, points Taylor to Lisa's room during one of these times as a joke, but Taylor sees and is intrigued by the bondage gear.
Lisa finds out about Taylor finding out and goes "Hey, two birds*, one kinky situation" and helps teach Taylor BDSM (*Lisa wants to get off, Taylor wants Control)
QQ worthy sexy shenanigans occur throughout, everybody lives happily kinky ever after.
Taylor helps structure Amy's life and Amy discovers she likes it, really likes it, when she can relinquish responsibility to someone else.
Amy 'accidentally' initiates something and Taylor shows she's a sexy mistress.
At some point (in my mind it happens as a flashback after Amy and Taylor get together) it's revealed that Lisa wasn't Asexual, her power just didn't like the distraction, but it meant she was pretty much always horny but her power kept pointing out all the gross things until she gets so fed up she blindfolded and earmuffed herself in order to get herself off. (This is also partially why she's so bitchy, she's always horny but her power keeps cockblocking her)
Alec, being a jerk and able to see what Lisa was doing, points Taylor to Lisa's room during one of these times as a joke, but Taylor sees and is intrigued by the bondage gear.
Lisa finds out about Taylor finding out and goes "Hey, two birds*, one kinky situation" and helps teach Taylor BDSM (*Lisa wants to get off, Taylor wants Control)
QQ worthy sexy shenanigans occur throughout, everybody lives happily kinky ever after.
I'd write it myself, but I'm terrible at writing more than outlines, so I share this idea for you.
Just remember, the original plan was for Pacific Rim 2's hybrid to be made from the remains of Gipsy Danger left in the rift. Like a reverse Mecha-Godzilla scenario where the aliens take the remnants of something mechanical and add biological parts to it. It would've stuck to the Kaiju film references rather than the switch to Sentai team vs Mega-Kaiju that the final film used
What that means is... Dragon/Lilith collaboration suits would be pretty awesome.
Leviticus 4.2
WhoAmEye
Bunker-Dwelling Cryptid
- Location
- Vault Birb
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Sorry about the delay. I have no excuses. Titanfall 2 is on steam and fun as fuck.
Special thanks to my lovely co-author and wife, @hellgodsrus, without whom I would never would have been able to take part in creating half my fics. Prime Betas @Tamahori and @32nd_freeze for being betas and feeding me validation and feedback between updates.
Leviticus
4.2
-.-.-
>wat do you mean still controlling?
<ah!
<you finally replied
<like
<wipiing you and stuff i don't know
<barely heard from you since you got away from her
<thought mbe things would change but
<srry still in panic mode
I huffed as the torrent of rapidfire texts ceased for a moment. How could people touch type so quickly?
>emma i've just been busy ok
<which is xactly the sort of excuse u'd say if u'd been mindwiped or controlled or idk
>I dont know what you want me to tell you
<just talk to me abt how things have been pls?
<reassure me NW has handle on things and am not going to wake up to A over my bed w/ a knife?
>you wont wake up to mom
No. I deleted it.
>you wont wake up to annette standing over you with a knife
>NW has…
>the protectorate has a handle on things, NW is basically on glorified babysitting duty
>which is embarrassing
>but i guess that's life of a villain's daughter?
>it'slike im a free hostage
>still a hostage but still free to go about and do things and its so fcking *weird*
>like am i allowed to enjoy myself while knowing im in mortal/memorial danger at all times???
A long pause, during which the dots of Emma typing appeared and disappeared several times.
<i just get worried because i want to be there for you again and it's hard if you dont talk to me. i want you to be strong like i know you are and can be. i dunno it's complicated.
<GG and P not being bitches? how is living w/ them?
>emma, i know my mom wipes my memories, but im pretty sure she can't insert fakes ones and aside from the whole stalking affair and the seizure on the bus, my freshest memories of you arent exactly kind?
>GG's cool, P's a bitch
>but she's like our bitch so it's
>slightly less not-endearing?
>she's still a bitch but she wont give me cancer for snarking back at least
<i know but it's
<hard to repair things if you don't talk and
<i get panicked that
<things are happening again
>we'll have to meet up sometime but i dunno when's safe
>or if im even allowed to go out anymore given A's arena thing
>I kind of want to know how many times you've tried to reconnect before this one
I took a deep breath. Did I really want to post that one? I hit send before I could second… third guess myself.
<not sure
<a few?
<not super many
<btw been meaning to ask how are NW even storing ur monster body?
<neway it was
<a few times at first
<then back off for a while then
<intermittent stuff i guess
A few times. Okay. I was… ugh. What else was there to talk about with this anyway? I still hadn't solved the mystery of my weekend screaming as reported by Mark, I guess, but I doubted Emma had the answer to that. Worth a shot, at least.
>random question
>did I ever have screaming fits when we hung out
Then I noticed what she'd asked. New Wave with my other body…? Does she not know?
>... NW doesnt have my monster body
>its with A
>its why i said feels like being a free hostage
<yes u did have this scr
<um
<what do you mean they doin't have your body????
<???
>thought we talked about this before - my human body is here but we didnt manage to get my monster body out before A showed up
>though maybe keep this info o yourself because im suddenly not sure if im meant tt be telling you this
My phone started vibrating in my hand. Red Flipflops is calling. I sighed, rolled my eyes, tucked my hair behind my ear, and answered. "Guess calling is a bit cheaper than texting huh?"
"Only if you're on prepay." I could hear her swallow. "I didn't know. I didn't know but it - I knew something had to be wrong. Tell me what happened."
I frowned. "Fine, but you're getting this third-hand because I got my memory of the night wiped."
Her laugh was breathless. "Of course it did."
"Victoria said the date with Abby went well, then we visited Annette's place, busted open the basement, Amy did something to my skin that apparently caused me to sweat snot, then Annette showed up with a monster truck Tinker, claimed she was doing this for a good reason or something, and then, y'know, more or less kicked GG's and Panacea's asses, and made of with my body and tank while GG evacced Amy and my human body. Woke up Monday."
"Monday?" A long, long pause, where all I could hear was her breathing. "Do you know that's what happened is there - is there evidence, actual evidence that's what happened."
"I mean, I could go ask the PRT Forensics team, if you want? Pretty sure Battery's still downstairs." I shrugged. Oh, wait, she wouldn't know that. Meh. Double shrug.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuckfuckfuck! Are you - are you - "
"Emma, calm down. What's wrong?"
Her voice was a sob. "It all makes too much sense no wonder she said it was legal and - I thought we could meet up and talk about stuff, about what happened, especially with - but I need to look into this, but don't trust them, don't - or trust but verify, okay? Trust but verify? Please? I know - I know I don't deserve for you to listen to me, but please, please, please do."
"Hang on -" I sat up. "What makes too much sense? Talk to me, Emma. Don't leave me in the dark like everyone else."
"I don't know how much I can say. Um. What's Annette's goal, what's always been her goal."
"Say everything then." I scowled. "Like - Mark says he heard screaming from my room over the weekend but I wasn't there until Monday. Amy and Vicky - it felt like they were relieved to see me wake up, so it… probably was when I woke up?"
"Victoria texted me on Saturday saying you were awake."
It was like my blood had turned to ice. "... say that again?" My hands were shaking, clenched, the phone almost creaking in my grip.
"I could - she could have been mistaken. I don't know, I need to check - just. Just be careful, Taylor, I'll call back soon - "
"Emma, I swear if you hang up - " I stared at the call ended screen. "Fucking - god - "
Deep breaths. In through my nose, out through my gills. I - was really fucking pissed off with Emma right now. And possibly Victoria and Amy for lying to me. Maybe. I couldn't just rush into their rooms and yell at them until they told me what really happened -
They'd put up with me so far. They'd - done their best to help me. But - can I really trust them? Was I opening myself up to be hurt by someone close to me, a-fucking-gain? That didn't sound right. Fucking again? Better. Worse.
I put the phone down carefully before punching the pillow as hard as I could, baring my fangs. Several times. Fucking - untrustworthy - everyone - stupid - memory shit - ARGH!
Deep breaths. Clenching and unclenching my hands. Claws sliding in and out of sheathes. Trying to think about good things. Abby. Food. Chris. And maybe Victoria and Amy. I didn't know - Emma was weird and twitchy and strange and I didn't trust her as far as this body could throw her but she'd been the one to let me know about Annette. But Victoria and Amy had been weird lately too, and ultimately I didn't have any independent sources verifying what had happened.
But I wanted to trust them. I - I felt like the guy in the pratfall with the rake where he keeps walking into it, all these people close to me keeping on betraying me and I fall for it every time, but I wanted that not to happen, just this once. So I wouldn't - shouting at them wouldn't help. I'd be cunning about this and try and get that independent evidence.
And that meant I needed to go ask Mark some more about that screaming he heard. And - and maybe get Victoria's phone and check that. Or ask the PRT forensics team about what they'd discovered.
And I couldn't be betrayed again, I needed to tell Chris and Abby everything and have them help me. Loyal/pack/mine.
First order of business - I threw some clothes on and checked in the mirror to make sure I didn't look like a raging punk banshee and made my way downstairs for a snack. That - pack thought. That was awkward to have while naked.
"Taylor?" Brandish looked surprised when she saw me coming down the stairs. "Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, I just - came down for a snack and there's something I wanted to ask Battery." I nodded to her - still sitting on the couch, head mostly hidden behind her helmet. "... two things."
"I'll answer whatever I can."
"So the one that just occurred to me is - how do you deal with masks and tan lines?"
Battery seemed taken aback for a moment, before she let out a small laugh. "I can't speak for the others but I bill the Protectorate for my tanning bed usage."
"Heh." I tried to swallow my nerves. "And um. I wanted to get in touch with the PRT Forensics crew and - y'know, see if they discovered or figured out anything from Mom's place."
Battery blinked, opened her mouth, then closed it. "I… think that information is confidential, I'm afraid. The full report at least. I could ask for a summary for you to look over? Or if you have any specific questions I could pass them on."
"Nothing specific I can think of, but - the more I know about what she's done to me, the better I can cope with it." I shivered. "Victoria suggested therapy, but I'm not sure I can really - do anything with that until this is all over and I can be sure Annette won't wipe me again."
"Which we'll do our best to prevent." Brandish's left hand clutched and released at her loose-hanging right arm. "I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to head upstairs for now - Battery and I's conversation is also confidential. I'm very sorry."
"I'll pass your request on to forensics." Battery gave me a small smile. "Hopefully whoever's on duty tomorrow can deliver the summary or an edited report. That okay?"
"That'd be wonderful. Sorry for interrupting." I nodded and headed back upstairs. I set my phone to record and put it next to the pot plant at the top of the stairs - not visible from down there - turned the brightness way down so the light wouldn't give it away, and went into my room, shutting the door behind me.
Trust, but verify.
-.-.-
I heard a van leaving a little while later and quickly darted out to grab my phone before Brandish came upstairs and noticed it. I'd just shoved it into my pocket when the woman came around the corner. "You're still up?"
"Yeah - sorry, bit too anxious to sleep. I noticed the PRT van leaving so thought I could come down for that snack I ended up not grabbing earlier."
She frowned. "Did the society not feed you?"
"Oh uh - no, they did, it's just - I've got a reminder on my phone to eat more regularly since I don't get hunger pains or anything."
"Oh. That's…" She stopped. "Well. What did you eat at the society?"
"Half a pizza and some cheesy garlic bread? I was just gonna make a sandwich." They have all the good things here I want to make the most of it. But I feel guilty for doing that.
"... make sure to have some vegetables with your sandwich. You need good nutrition as well as regular eating. If you haven't been eating much and you simply gorge yourself on food you like - " She cut herself off again. "It ends poorly, in my experience. Regardless. Eat and rest well."
"Goodnight, Mrs. Dallon," I smiled and politely moved aside for her. "Sleep well." I want to give her a hug but she's scary.
Once I was downstairs, I made my sandwich, because I really did need to eat - and some carrot sticks, because why not - and headed back to my room to listen to the recording. Headphones plugged in, of course. It was midnight, nobody else would be up.
Deep breath. My heart was thudding in my chest from anxiety and - the thrill of spying on someone. Not just someone, but Brandish and Battery. Capes. Heroes.
"... billing the Protectorate for tanning beds? Really?"
"...know we… much sun here. Regulation… west." Their voices were so quiet, I was having to strain to hear. "...said before…"
Brandish's voice was clearer, sharper - it helped me pick out her words. "She's… houseguest. She might… better off elsewhere."
"... negotiations… important…"
"...won't allow that." Brandish's voice was snapping, now, ice-cold.
"... not like… your file…"
"We'll coordinate… morrow. Good night, Battery."
It was frustrating how little it had picked up. Even turning up the volume wasn't helping me make out the words any easier.
The sound of me opening the door and picking up the phone heralded the end of my little spying session.
I sighed. Brandish wanted me gone - maybe, it was hard to tell the tone of her voice what with distance and volume - there were some kind of negotiations going on, which Brandish wasn't keen on, and something was being coordinated tomorrow. In other words I had no more information than I'd had before, really. Maybe confirmation that Brandish was uncomfortable about me being in her house, but that much had been obvious already.
The negotiations were potentially more interesting, given the context. With Mom? With someone else for taking down Mom? The PRT wouldn't work with the Empire or ABB, would they? That would explain why Brandish had seemed so pissed off about it though.
I might have hated what M - Annette did to me, but I hated the Empire and ABB more. If only I could manually swap over to my actual body, maybe I could… ask her about it. Or negotiate with her myself.
Then again, if it was a negotiation with Annette… and Battery was responding to Brandish being unsure about keeping me around… then trusting the Protectorate was right out the window. I needed more context, but if information was being hidden from me there didn't seem to be a clear way to get it.
I'd have to - talk to Abby and Chris tomorrow. Bring them in and hopefully use them as backup of some kind. Or just a fresh perspective - another set of heads working on the problem. I was too close to this, too tangled up in it and I didn't want to be like this, I wanted to forget.
No. I didn't want to forget. Not really. Not when I knew what that actually was like. I wanted it to not have happened. To not be my problem anymore.
A girl could hope. But now I had to attempt to sleep because I still had school in the morning.
-.-.-
I woke up in the tank. Again. Fucking damnit. I seemed to be… bigger than last time, at least? Nothing was happening around the lab, nothing really changed - the Beasts in their tanks on the far side of the room hadn't grown like I had, still just dark shadows through the red murk.
For some reason there was a mattress laying across the floor. I spotted Lilith's mask and a vaguely familiar-looking helmet resting on the table closest to my tank. Had - had Annette been recruiting?
I tried to shut my eyes and just drift off again.
-.-.-
I took the bus with Victoria and Amy. Some people were surprised to see us all together - the famous New Wave girls, and the not as famous Scarred Girl sitting next to them and actually holding a conversation - about the New Wave Protectorate Pals episode that had been on TV this morning, funnily enough - without getting threatened with cancer.
Okay that was a lie, Amy quietly threatened me with cancer. When I brought up the cheery voice acting of her rendition on the show. The cancer threat was almost a running joke at this point.
That was also the only part of the conversation that wasn't stiff and awkward. I still didn't know if I could trust them and they were nice to me, but also so different - years ahead in school, richer, more sociable. Victoria was more sociable, at least. Amy seemed content to glare at everyone Victoria paused to talk to.
Victoria was pretty good-looking though, so just occasionally glancing over in silence was - well, was a habit I picked up over the course of the bus ride. Now I had to wonder - did Amy airbrush New Wave? Is that why Victoria's ass looked great in anything and she had amazing abs despite the super strength making exercise useless? Did super strength make exercise useless? I still wasn't sure how her power worked, exactly.
Trying to distract myself, trying to still think in terms of balancing my relationship with Abby and flirting with Victoria and not wondering if Victoria and Amy were working with Annette. They probably weren't. Victoria's panic last night about the news - it'd be difficult to fake that. So maybe they weren't working with Annette, but had their own angle. But what was it?
The thoughts plagued me on the way into school. Where I got to see what the topic of the day was.
In the back of all my classes, in notes passed between everyone, I kept hearing it. Lilith, Lilith, Lilith. People sharing parts of the video with each other, fanart, discussions. Gross comments from the boys, and a few of the girls - I had to squash the part of me that wanted to smash their faces in screaming that's my fucking mother shut up, shut up. The worst part was the tiny voice in the back of my head saying, 'They're right, you know. Annette played up the seduction angle and it worked. She is hot. But also your mother. Awkward.'
There were also the more serious discussions. Comparisons to Nilbog, to Jamestown, comparisons to the now defunct CWL - a superpowered take on wrestling that had fallen through after too many truly violent incidents - or attempt to create 'capeball'. Talking about the rogue laws, or cage-fights, or Hookwolf's dogfighting rings, or too many things and I just -
I had to excuse myself to the bathroom three times. On the third I just stayed there, lid down, feet up on the seat, trying not to have another panic attack. They've already talked about the monsters they want to see taken down. Killed. What will they say if they see me? Will they want me dead too, thinking I'm just another Beast?
I rested my head on my knees until the bell rang, then went to find Chris and Abby.
I could only hope he didn't think I was insane.
-.-.-
Special thanks to my lovely co-author and wife, @hellgodsrus, without whom I would never would have been able to take part in creating half my fics. Prime Betas @Tamahori and @32nd_freeze for being betas and feeding me validation and feedback between updates.
Leviticus
4.2
-.-.-
>wat do you mean still controlling?
<ah!
<you finally replied
<like
<wipiing you and stuff i don't know
<barely heard from you since you got away from her
<thought mbe things would change but
<srry still in panic mode
I huffed as the torrent of rapidfire texts ceased for a moment. How could people touch type so quickly?
>emma i've just been busy ok
<which is xactly the sort of excuse u'd say if u'd been mindwiped or controlled or idk
>I dont know what you want me to tell you
<just talk to me abt how things have been pls?
<reassure me NW has handle on things and am not going to wake up to A over my bed w/ a knife?
>you wont wake up to mom
No. I deleted it.
>you wont wake up to annette standing over you with a knife
>NW has…
>the protectorate has a handle on things, NW is basically on glorified babysitting duty
>which is embarrassing
>but i guess that's life of a villain's daughter?
>it'slike im a free hostage
>still a hostage but still free to go about and do things and its so fcking *weird*
>like am i allowed to enjoy myself while knowing im in mortal/memorial danger at all times???
A long pause, during which the dots of Emma typing appeared and disappeared several times.
<i just get worried because i want to be there for you again and it's hard if you dont talk to me. i want you to be strong like i know you are and can be. i dunno it's complicated.
<GG and P not being bitches? how is living w/ them?
>emma, i know my mom wipes my memories, but im pretty sure she can't insert fakes ones and aside from the whole stalking affair and the seizure on the bus, my freshest memories of you arent exactly kind?
>GG's cool, P's a bitch
>but she's like our bitch so it's
>slightly less not-endearing?
>she's still a bitch but she wont give me cancer for snarking back at least
<i know but it's
<hard to repair things if you don't talk and
<i get panicked that
<things are happening again
>we'll have to meet up sometime but i dunno when's safe
>or if im even allowed to go out anymore given A's arena thing
>I kind of want to know how many times you've tried to reconnect before this one
I took a deep breath. Did I really want to post that one? I hit send before I could second… third guess myself.
<not sure
<a few?
<not super many
<btw been meaning to ask how are NW even storing ur monster body?
<neway it was
<a few times at first
<then back off for a while then
<intermittent stuff i guess
A few times. Okay. I was… ugh. What else was there to talk about with this anyway? I still hadn't solved the mystery of my weekend screaming as reported by Mark, I guess, but I doubted Emma had the answer to that. Worth a shot, at least.
>random question
>did I ever have screaming fits when we hung out
Then I noticed what she'd asked. New Wave with my other body…? Does she not know?
>... NW doesnt have my monster body
>its with A
>its why i said feels like being a free hostage
<yes u did have this scr
<um
<what do you mean they doin't have your body????
<???
>thought we talked about this before - my human body is here but we didnt manage to get my monster body out before A showed up
>though maybe keep this info o yourself because im suddenly not sure if im meant tt be telling you this
My phone started vibrating in my hand. Red Flipflops is calling. I sighed, rolled my eyes, tucked my hair behind my ear, and answered. "Guess calling is a bit cheaper than texting huh?"
"Only if you're on prepay." I could hear her swallow. "I didn't know. I didn't know but it - I knew something had to be wrong. Tell me what happened."
I frowned. "Fine, but you're getting this third-hand because I got my memory of the night wiped."
Her laugh was breathless. "Of course it did."
"Victoria said the date with Abby went well, then we visited Annette's place, busted open the basement, Amy did something to my skin that apparently caused me to sweat snot, then Annette showed up with a monster truck Tinker, claimed she was doing this for a good reason or something, and then, y'know, more or less kicked GG's and Panacea's asses, and made of with my body and tank while GG evacced Amy and my human body. Woke up Monday."
"Monday?" A long, long pause, where all I could hear was her breathing. "Do you know that's what happened is there - is there evidence, actual evidence that's what happened."
"I mean, I could go ask the PRT Forensics team, if you want? Pretty sure Battery's still downstairs." I shrugged. Oh, wait, she wouldn't know that. Meh. Double shrug.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuckfuckfuck! Are you - are you - "
"Emma, calm down. What's wrong?"
Her voice was a sob. "It all makes too much sense no wonder she said it was legal and - I thought we could meet up and talk about stuff, about what happened, especially with - but I need to look into this, but don't trust them, don't - or trust but verify, okay? Trust but verify? Please? I know - I know I don't deserve for you to listen to me, but please, please, please do."
"Hang on -" I sat up. "What makes too much sense? Talk to me, Emma. Don't leave me in the dark like everyone else."
"I don't know how much I can say. Um. What's Annette's goal, what's always been her goal."
"Say everything then." I scowled. "Like - Mark says he heard screaming from my room over the weekend but I wasn't there until Monday. Amy and Vicky - it felt like they were relieved to see me wake up, so it… probably was when I woke up?"
"Victoria texted me on Saturday saying you were awake."
It was like my blood had turned to ice. "... say that again?" My hands were shaking, clenched, the phone almost creaking in my grip.
"I could - she could have been mistaken. I don't know, I need to check - just. Just be careful, Taylor, I'll call back soon - "
"Emma, I swear if you hang up - " I stared at the call ended screen. "Fucking - god - "
Deep breaths. In through my nose, out through my gills. I - was really fucking pissed off with Emma right now. And possibly Victoria and Amy for lying to me. Maybe. I couldn't just rush into their rooms and yell at them until they told me what really happened -
They'd put up with me so far. They'd - done their best to help me. But - can I really trust them? Was I opening myself up to be hurt by someone close to me, a-fucking-gain? That didn't sound right. Fucking again? Better. Worse.
I put the phone down carefully before punching the pillow as hard as I could, baring my fangs. Several times. Fucking - untrustworthy - everyone - stupid - memory shit - ARGH!
Deep breaths. Clenching and unclenching my hands. Claws sliding in and out of sheathes. Trying to think about good things. Abby. Food. Chris. And maybe Victoria and Amy. I didn't know - Emma was weird and twitchy and strange and I didn't trust her as far as this body could throw her but she'd been the one to let me know about Annette. But Victoria and Amy had been weird lately too, and ultimately I didn't have any independent sources verifying what had happened.
But I wanted to trust them. I - I felt like the guy in the pratfall with the rake where he keeps walking into it, all these people close to me keeping on betraying me and I fall for it every time, but I wanted that not to happen, just this once. So I wouldn't - shouting at them wouldn't help. I'd be cunning about this and try and get that independent evidence.
And that meant I needed to go ask Mark some more about that screaming he heard. And - and maybe get Victoria's phone and check that. Or ask the PRT forensics team about what they'd discovered.
And I couldn't be betrayed again, I needed to tell Chris and Abby everything and have them help me. Loyal/pack/mine.
First order of business - I threw some clothes on and checked in the mirror to make sure I didn't look like a raging punk banshee and made my way downstairs for a snack. That - pack thought. That was awkward to have while naked.
"Taylor?" Brandish looked surprised when she saw me coming down the stairs. "Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, I just - came down for a snack and there's something I wanted to ask Battery." I nodded to her - still sitting on the couch, head mostly hidden behind her helmet. "... two things."
"I'll answer whatever I can."
"So the one that just occurred to me is - how do you deal with masks and tan lines?"
Battery seemed taken aback for a moment, before she let out a small laugh. "I can't speak for the others but I bill the Protectorate for my tanning bed usage."
"Heh." I tried to swallow my nerves. "And um. I wanted to get in touch with the PRT Forensics crew and - y'know, see if they discovered or figured out anything from Mom's place."
Battery blinked, opened her mouth, then closed it. "I… think that information is confidential, I'm afraid. The full report at least. I could ask for a summary for you to look over? Or if you have any specific questions I could pass them on."
"Nothing specific I can think of, but - the more I know about what she's done to me, the better I can cope with it." I shivered. "Victoria suggested therapy, but I'm not sure I can really - do anything with that until this is all over and I can be sure Annette won't wipe me again."
"Which we'll do our best to prevent." Brandish's left hand clutched and released at her loose-hanging right arm. "I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to head upstairs for now - Battery and I's conversation is also confidential. I'm very sorry."
"I'll pass your request on to forensics." Battery gave me a small smile. "Hopefully whoever's on duty tomorrow can deliver the summary or an edited report. That okay?"
"That'd be wonderful. Sorry for interrupting." I nodded and headed back upstairs. I set my phone to record and put it next to the pot plant at the top of the stairs - not visible from down there - turned the brightness way down so the light wouldn't give it away, and went into my room, shutting the door behind me.
Trust, but verify.
-.-.-
I heard a van leaving a little while later and quickly darted out to grab my phone before Brandish came upstairs and noticed it. I'd just shoved it into my pocket when the woman came around the corner. "You're still up?"
"Yeah - sorry, bit too anxious to sleep. I noticed the PRT van leaving so thought I could come down for that snack I ended up not grabbing earlier."
She frowned. "Did the society not feed you?"
"Oh uh - no, they did, it's just - I've got a reminder on my phone to eat more regularly since I don't get hunger pains or anything."
"Oh. That's…" She stopped. "Well. What did you eat at the society?"
"Half a pizza and some cheesy garlic bread? I was just gonna make a sandwich." They have all the good things here I want to make the most of it. But I feel guilty for doing that.
"... make sure to have some vegetables with your sandwich. You need good nutrition as well as regular eating. If you haven't been eating much and you simply gorge yourself on food you like - " She cut herself off again. "It ends poorly, in my experience. Regardless. Eat and rest well."
"Goodnight, Mrs. Dallon," I smiled and politely moved aside for her. "Sleep well." I want to give her a hug but she's scary.
Once I was downstairs, I made my sandwich, because I really did need to eat - and some carrot sticks, because why not - and headed back to my room to listen to the recording. Headphones plugged in, of course. It was midnight, nobody else would be up.
Deep breath. My heart was thudding in my chest from anxiety and - the thrill of spying on someone. Not just someone, but Brandish and Battery. Capes. Heroes.
"... billing the Protectorate for tanning beds? Really?"
"...know we… much sun here. Regulation… west." Their voices were so quiet, I was having to strain to hear. "...said before…"
Brandish's voice was clearer, sharper - it helped me pick out her words. "She's… houseguest. She might… better off elsewhere."
"... negotiations… important…"
"...won't allow that." Brandish's voice was snapping, now, ice-cold.
"... not like… your file…"
"We'll coordinate… morrow. Good night, Battery."
It was frustrating how little it had picked up. Even turning up the volume wasn't helping me make out the words any easier.
The sound of me opening the door and picking up the phone heralded the end of my little spying session.
I sighed. Brandish wanted me gone - maybe, it was hard to tell the tone of her voice what with distance and volume - there were some kind of negotiations going on, which Brandish wasn't keen on, and something was being coordinated tomorrow. In other words I had no more information than I'd had before, really. Maybe confirmation that Brandish was uncomfortable about me being in her house, but that much had been obvious already.
The negotiations were potentially more interesting, given the context. With Mom? With someone else for taking down Mom? The PRT wouldn't work with the Empire or ABB, would they? That would explain why Brandish had seemed so pissed off about it though.
I might have hated what M - Annette did to me, but I hated the Empire and ABB more. If only I could manually swap over to my actual body, maybe I could… ask her about it. Or negotiate with her myself.
Then again, if it was a negotiation with Annette… and Battery was responding to Brandish being unsure about keeping me around… then trusting the Protectorate was right out the window. I needed more context, but if information was being hidden from me there didn't seem to be a clear way to get it.
I'd have to - talk to Abby and Chris tomorrow. Bring them in and hopefully use them as backup of some kind. Or just a fresh perspective - another set of heads working on the problem. I was too close to this, too tangled up in it and I didn't want to be like this, I wanted to forget.
No. I didn't want to forget. Not really. Not when I knew what that actually was like. I wanted it to not have happened. To not be my problem anymore.
A girl could hope. But now I had to attempt to sleep because I still had school in the morning.
-.-.-
I woke up in the tank. Again. Fucking damnit. I seemed to be… bigger than last time, at least? Nothing was happening around the lab, nothing really changed - the Beasts in their tanks on the far side of the room hadn't grown like I had, still just dark shadows through the red murk.
For some reason there was a mattress laying across the floor. I spotted Lilith's mask and a vaguely familiar-looking helmet resting on the table closest to my tank. Had - had Annette been recruiting?
I tried to shut my eyes and just drift off again.
-.-.-
I took the bus with Victoria and Amy. Some people were surprised to see us all together - the famous New Wave girls, and the not as famous Scarred Girl sitting next to them and actually holding a conversation - about the New Wave Protectorate Pals episode that had been on TV this morning, funnily enough - without getting threatened with cancer.
Okay that was a lie, Amy quietly threatened me with cancer. When I brought up the cheery voice acting of her rendition on the show. The cancer threat was almost a running joke at this point.
That was also the only part of the conversation that wasn't stiff and awkward. I still didn't know if I could trust them and they were nice to me, but also so different - years ahead in school, richer, more sociable. Victoria was more sociable, at least. Amy seemed content to glare at everyone Victoria paused to talk to.
Victoria was pretty good-looking though, so just occasionally glancing over in silence was - well, was a habit I picked up over the course of the bus ride. Now I had to wonder - did Amy airbrush New Wave? Is that why Victoria's ass looked great in anything and she had amazing abs despite the super strength making exercise useless? Did super strength make exercise useless? I still wasn't sure how her power worked, exactly.
Trying to distract myself, trying to still think in terms of balancing my relationship with Abby and flirting with Victoria and not wondering if Victoria and Amy were working with Annette. They probably weren't. Victoria's panic last night about the news - it'd be difficult to fake that. So maybe they weren't working with Annette, but had their own angle. But what was it?
The thoughts plagued me on the way into school. Where I got to see what the topic of the day was.
In the back of all my classes, in notes passed between everyone, I kept hearing it. Lilith, Lilith, Lilith. People sharing parts of the video with each other, fanart, discussions. Gross comments from the boys, and a few of the girls - I had to squash the part of me that wanted to smash their faces in screaming that's my fucking mother shut up, shut up. The worst part was the tiny voice in the back of my head saying, 'They're right, you know. Annette played up the seduction angle and it worked. She is hot. But also your mother. Awkward.'
There were also the more serious discussions. Comparisons to Nilbog, to Jamestown, comparisons to the now defunct CWL - a superpowered take on wrestling that had fallen through after too many truly violent incidents - or attempt to create 'capeball'. Talking about the rogue laws, or cage-fights, or Hookwolf's dogfighting rings, or too many things and I just -
I had to excuse myself to the bathroom three times. On the third I just stayed there, lid down, feet up on the seat, trying not to have another panic attack. They've already talked about the monsters they want to see taken down. Killed. What will they say if they see me? Will they want me dead too, thinking I'm just another Beast?
I rested my head on my knees until the bell rang, then went to find Chris and Abby.
I could only hope he didn't think I was insane.
-.-.-
Functionality
The Scholar
- Location
- At the Library
- Pronouns
- He
I just logged in to check my notifications, and behold, an update!
- Location
- Massachussetts
I was extremely relieved when Taylor's recording failed to pick up anything of significance.
Also, I have to say that in the exchange with Emma,
That conversation did remind me that Emma stands out as the one person whose motivations remain fairly opaque. I don't know if that is by design or if I'm missing things, but her actions don't make nearly enough sense when considered closely.
Also, I couldn't think of anyone with a helmet that Lilith might have recruited. Was I supposed to recognize it enough to speculate?
Also, I have to say that in the exchange with Emma,
is not really comforting in that context. Maybe work harder on your reassurances, Taylor.
That conversation did remind me that Emma stands out as the one person whose motivations remain fairly opaque. I don't know if that is by design or if I'm missing things, but her actions don't make nearly enough sense when considered closely.
Also, I couldn't think of anyone with a helmet that Lilith might have recruited. Was I supposed to recognize it enough to speculate?
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- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- She/Her
That bit through me for a loop, as well. The best I could think of was Uber and/or Leet.
It would have to be someone who isn't associated with the Protectorate or New Wave, isn't associated with E88 or the ABB, and is someone who Taylor might vaguely recognize. So, that leaves one of the Undersiders, one of the Travelers, Parian, Trainwreck, Circus, Chariot, and U&L. Unless I'm forgetting someone, or this is an OC. Which is entirely possible. Tattletale, Regent, Rachel, Parian, and Circus don't wear helmets, and Taylor has no reason to recognize any of the Travelers, Grue, Trainwreck, or Chariot's armor, so most of them are pretty much out.
Uber and Leet might wear helmets and Taylor could conceivably recognize one of theirs either from their broadcasts or from a game they were doing a show about (since Taylor is already established as a gamer in this). They also have a history of working as mercenaries and are the sorts of people who would think what Annette is doing is cool and exciting to be involved with. I could also see Annette and Sherrel wanting to take a look at Leet's tech and vice versa, so there's reason for something of Leet's to be in Annette's workshop.
Alternatively, Annette might just be making a helmet for herself based off of some piece of media that Taylor has seen before.
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- Location
- Massachussetts
See, my interpretation of (the scant info on) the negotiation is that the Protectorate are talking with Lilith and are open to leaving Taylor in Lilith's care / not contesting custody of one or both bodies. Given her own trigger trauma, Brandish is against leaving either Taylor locked in a basement. So despite being uncomfortable with a houseguest, Carol is on Taylor's side in the poorly recorded conversation.
Granted, I could be way off on a number of things.
Granted, I could be way off on a number of things.
- Location
- Sweden, Europe, Earth, Sol
Great chapter, but to me that was not the most important thing.
And isn't it amazing?
Do you have any idea how salty I am that my computer, for the last two and a half hears has been too shit for me to be able to play Titanfall 2?
And isn't it amazing?
- Location
- Earth, probably.
- Pronouns
- None/Any
It's probably not great of me to think this, but the PRT negotiating with Annette might be a good thing. If she could get access to more resources she might be able to fix the whole "too clear memories make Taylor try to kill herself" thing... which could then have Annette explain why she's been doing what she's been doing. Full disclosure, I'd probably prefer to be constantly mind-wiped than stuck with crystal clear memories of horrible trauma.
Titanfall 2 is, perhaps, one of the few acceptable excuses. The game is, as you say, fun as fuck
Ahhhhhhhhh! Just found this story. Why must everyone be so bad at communicating?!?! I mean sure, I dont know how you would tell her that she tries to kill herself if you tell her details, but ghaaaaa. And telling her that might just make her try and remember more and try and kill herself again.
Annette is still wrong, because she should let Taylor live her own life, and not insert fucking command words, but ahhhhhh, everyone is so bad at this!
Annette is still wrong, because she should let Taylor live her own life, and not insert fucking command words, but ahhhhhh, everyone is so bad at this!
Ganurath
Literal Enthusiast
- Location
- A Valid Location
- Pronouns
- He/Him
It's a well-written Worm fic.