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Eden's Edge (Worm/Sonnie's Edge [Love, Death, and Robots])
Rajvik_wolfboy
Wolf amongst the stars.
- Location
- Florida
Eye you write good feels, even when they are tear jerkers.
- Location
- Poland
Yeah, it feels like that maybe the only chance for things to get better.
Maybe it's because I just watched a really depressing serial but it feels like this story will end up badly for Taylor, and I really would've wanted for it to end well. Or at least have some kind of happy epilogue, maybe post-Golden Morning, with Taylor reunited with her mom or something...
SolarFlare
(Verified Cape)
- Location
- Brockton Bay, USA
- Pronouns
- She/Her
The next chapter is very fluffy, can confirm.
WhoAmEye
Bunker-Dwelling Cryptid
- Location
- Vault Birb
- Pronouns
- She/Her
i'll be frank but - fuck that. a unhappy ending for taylor after all the shit we've put her through just - it feels like the taylor is suffering meme, which is her suffering for the sake of suffering, and as I've ranted before, fuck that. the lung kill was one example - if taylor's going to have to suffer to get her happy ending, then she's going to get it, because she's paid the price, and I'm not going to scam her out of it.
not saying anything about the ending of eden's edge, if we ever get there (bad habit X-X) but i refuse to have suffering without reason.
edit: or... suffering without payoff. whatever. fuck unsatisfying unhappy endings.
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Kadath
Sinnamon Roll
- Location
- Somewhere
We see so much of Carol, the World's Most Incompetent Mother, in fics that it's refreshing for her to not be a cardboard cut-out and for her to actually be self-aware. You've certainly evoked a powerful emotional response from me given the miasma of icy dread that bowled me over with these two lines.
There's something horrible in remembering that Carol never put the pieces back together right. She knows it, her sister knows it. Something in them died in that room but they still have to keep living. They've got people who are counting on them.
I like this chapter, but danm, you just said what happened to her. And at 12. That is horrific. I mean, I know it was implied, but...wow.
Taliserian
(Unverified Verifiable)
- Location
- ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Why is there no 'onion' reaction? Because there's ninjas dicing onions behind my back right now.
Lab_Accident
A 2D 1D4
- Location
- Your dreams
I said I'd be back later to comment. Well, here I am. Deep breaths.
It's scenes like this, where Taylor picks up on all the hidden pressures in the Dallon family façade from a few loose words or an allusion, and acts (mostly) correctly to help, that you can almost understand Victoria's decision to let Taylor be in charge, she has good instincts. That said, she lacks the both the training and the mental headspace to actually un-screw anyone up (Fun fact, all therapists go to therapy themselves, because you can't help others without working on yourself).
Was this scene written with Ward Spoilers in mind?
Welp, this is a problem. Completely understandable given the circumstances, and something that you'd usually deal with at a therapist's, which apparently they've decided to wait on until things stop blowing up (My best guess? Things won't ever stop blowing up). But having Gay Pride Godzilla be slightly racist is a bit troublesome. Flechette is even an openly gay asian-american cape in canon, so I guess no Flechette for the Rainbow Brigade.
Welp, apparently Taylor plans to drag the entire Dallon household kicking and screaming into something resembling functionality. Next, she will help Mark, by trying to get any combination of Amy and Annette to come up with parahuman-grade antidepressants (which she'd then proceed to take along with Mark, and whoever else needs it). Even if Amy refuses to touch brains, she could help in other ways: by making a tree that gives antidepressant fruits; by creating tiny biological devices that can only be used for the specific purpose of regulating the brain's chemical levels and over which she has no (outside) control; by cooperating with Lilith on a (tinkertech) neurochemical regulator implant, etc.
It's scenes like this, where Taylor picks up on all the hidden pressures in the Dallon family façade from a few loose words or an allusion, and acts (mostly) correctly to help, that you can almost understand Victoria's decision to let Taylor be in charge, she has good instincts. That said, she lacks the both the training and the mental headspace to actually un-screw anyone up (Fun fact, all therapists go to therapy themselves, because you can't help others without working on yourself).
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hellgodsrus
Actual Real Game Dev!
- Location
- Behind You
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Yes, Brandish is talking from the perspective of someone who has cheated on her husband multiple times and feels like she's disgusting scum for having done that.
Lab_Accident
A 2D 1D4
- Location
- Your dreams
Woof. Yeah, I expected about so. Still, that means poor (?) Brandish was put even more through the wringer this chapter. Nobody is having a fun time of things.
@WhoAmEye , your grasp of the fluff-to-angst ratio in this is just perfect, the comedy always makes me bust a gut from laughing, and the drama makes me bust a gut from how hard the gut-punch lands (sorry if the metaphor doesn't make sense).
WhoAmEye
Bunker-Dwelling Cryptid
- Location
- Vault Birb
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Taylor: I keep asking my therapist who their therapist is and then goign to them to ask the same question
Amy: why
Taylor: So I can defeat the final boss with my trainwreck of a life
Amy: .... hey I should try that
Vicky: Both of you are banned from asking your therapists who their therapist is.
Depends: does taylor's useless lesbianism trump her aversion to gangers with their holier-than-thou sneering and red and green outfits?
Taylor: I AM GOING TO STAB YOU VERY CAREFULLY IN THE BRAIN UNTIL YOU FEEL BETTER >:D
YOU HAVE BIG GUTS! THAT MEANS YOU HAVE LOTS OF GUTS TO EMOTIONALLY TEAR UP! RIP AND CARE!
I'm glad you think we have a good fluff-to-angst ratio, but I'm always worried it's leaning too far in one direction. I've seen on reddit people commenting that they've dropped it because too much lesbians, people here saying they almost dropped it because it was so depressing, and in general I am an anxious wreck so... thankyou
Kadath
Sinnamon Roll
- Location
- Somewhere
The first mistake was going on reddit in the first place.
But more seriously this is the best wormfic I've read all year. I want to surgically alter my memories so I can experience all the twisty turns fresh again.
michaelb958
(Verified Michael)
- Location
- Wherever I am, there I am
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
Whatever else aside, ignore those comments in particular. You keep representing you, and everyone else out there who has not had enough represent for way too long.
Fundamentally, different people read a fic for different reasons. Depending on the mood I'm in, I want different amounts of fluff vs. angst. I think overall you've done a pretty good job balancing the two sides of the story, but it is impossible to please everyone. I'd say the first half or so of the story was a little too focused on the "useless lesbians" part in ways that weren't otherwise advancing the story or characters, but more recently there's been a slight lack of it (for very good plot reasons though, so I have no issue there).I'm glad you think we have a good fluff-to-angst ratio, but I'm always worried it's leaning too far in one direction. I've seen on reddit people commenting that they've dropped it because too much lesbians, people here saying they almost dropped it because it was so depressing, and in general I am an anxious wreck so... thankyou
Daylight Savings
WhoAmEye
Bunker-Dwelling Cryptid
- Location
- Vault Birb
- Pronouns
- She/Her
CUTE LESBIANS HAVE ARRIVED
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, and our girlfriend @SolarFlare for being awesome and also betaing! Also special thanks Prime Betas @Tamahori and @32nd_freeze and @Ganurath for being betas and feeding me validation and feedback between updates!
Also, while this chapter was meant to go up yesterday (instead of today at 5am because what is sleeping), I overslept, SV went down for maintenance, and then I stayed up late and @SolarFlare poked me until I updated so thank you to her for Flare and prodding
Enjoy!
Daylight Savings
-.-.-
Lindsay woke up and yawned widely. Lilith's sedation was usually over pretty quick, and her leg had been healed. The scar tissue looked weird, but she'd mentioned it was like a scab. It'd be there until her leg healed naturally, at its newly accelerated rate, and not impact her in the slightest. It was like being whole again.
Assuming her leg didn't become a lizard leg or something. But even then, that could be cool. ...But then she'd need both of them to be that to be balanced. ...Maybe she could get skin like an Asari-
"Flare," Lilith was in the doorway, hesitant. She lacked the intensity she'd had earlier, talking to Taylor. "Lindsay." She swallowed. "Do you - I -" she huffed, taking a seat next to the bed, head in her hand. "Do you know where Browbeat is?"
"I haven't seen them for a while…" Lindsay admitted with a wince. Sam wasn't exactly easy to be found if they didn't want to be, what with the ultimate disguise power. Maybe not ultimate. But it was still pretty good.
Annette nodded. "Right. I also wanted you to meet our - newest employees. As both backup and a show of strength and -" She held herself tightly. The whole situation with Taylor clearly had her rattled, and it was strange and distressing seeing Annette like this. Dressed up in her Lilith costume, the one that oozed sex appeal and confidence - and being the worn down mother she was under it all. "I don't know how long I can keep doing this."
"Hey. You can take a day off or so if you need to. I'm sure that Kurt and Lacey and Alexander and everyone can hold down the fort, especially if I'm back on my feet." Lindsay offered a reassuring smile, reaching up to squeeze Annette's shoulder. "... Hang on, should I be in the full getup for this? Because I still need to get new boots. And a new bodysuit… does just the helmet work?"
Annette thought for a moment, then nodded. "It'll do. Dress… professionally, though. Let's not make a poor impression."
"... I'll wear my finest skinny jeans and flannel?" ...shit. Do I even have professional clothes?
Annette smiled, a little crookedly. "It'll have to do."
"That reminds me. I need to talk to one of the electronics people about integrating comms into my helmet. My walkie talkie melted sometime during the long burst I did that…" That killed Hookwolf… or did it? "... I don't suppose any traffic cameras survived or anything? Things are kinda hazy after I started losing blood. I can remember firing the flare, but… nobody's really told me the details."
"You were seen fighting Hookwolf again after that, around the time my daughter killed Lung. You made it back safe, but we do not know where or how Hookwolf died. Only that he did and this city is better for the loss."
"Yeah, one less Nazi is always good. But… I still feel kinda weird about it… and the fact that I can't remember what happened almost makes it worse… and now that I'm not off my tits on morphine or whatever, I'm kinda worried what the PRT's gonna do."
"They will do nothing." Lilith was back. Straight-backed, cold conviction in her voice. "Bar pay out any outstanding bounties on Hookwolf's head should they determine you ended his depravity." She scowled. "Your father wishes to talk to you about your career choice, but I have informed him that you will not be in any state for that for quite some time. And remember;" Lilith's hand came down on her shoulder, boney and firm. "If you were the one to kill Hookwolf. You did the right thing."
Lindsay swallowed. "He knows? … shit. Not like he had enough to worry about already."
Lilith smirked, something of the woman she'd met that first night creeping back into her expression. "He did enjoy the fact that he would be able to keep an eye on you from now on - and threatened me should I send you out fighting without his approval ever again. I believe we can make this work."
"... I guess on the slight upside I now don't have to worry about him wondering where the money's coming from? And we can claim I have an 'internship'? Assuming I ever get ungrounded that is."
"Assuming that." She smiled again. "Go on. Put Eden's best foot forward."
"I'll do my best, Aunt Annette." Flare tried to return the smirk, although her heart wasn't entirely in it. She still felt bad for stressing her dad out further.
With that, Annette was gone, leaving Lindsay to get dressed properly. Her very best Lesbian Prime outfit, plus the goggles from her helmet. Which… kind of clashed. But it's not like she was actually going to be doing any fighting, and even with two day shipping it'd take a bit for her new suit to get here. She certainly didn't have Parian money. And it wasn't like she could ask Annette - she'd heard her and Alexander talking quietly about funding and the cost of getting set up so fast the other day, when they'd thought she wasn't listening.
It had something to do with the new arrivals. Something about a trade of favours for supplies, maybe. And, well… the Travelers are villains. Not sure I want to be in debt to a villain. Especially ones with a death count. Even though I have one of those now. But he was a Nazi. She bit her lip, before readjusting the goggles and heading to the room where the meeting was supposed to be.
She was the second one there - the first there was one of the Travelers. A young woman in one of those red and black bodysuits they had - she tried not to hold that against them, those were Empire colours but they weren't Empire, they weren't - with a sunburst symbol on the front and blonde hair spilling out from her mask, that kind of fragile white-blonde colour that was really rare. And the girl wearing them definitely could pull off spandex. ...Shit. Am I staring? Has she noticed yet? The goggles are polarized...
She looked up from her phone and - sorta hunched, which felt weird. It was always a little hard to tell with costumes, but she looked like the sort of person who was popular at Arcadia - but she was acting very shy. "Hello?"
"H-hey. Sundancer, right? I'm Flare. It's nice to meet you in person." Assuming her guess about the PHO handle was right, that is. "Sorry you don't get the full look -" Flare gestured towards herself. " - But my undersuit's still ruined and bloody as is one of my boots. Didn't think we needed that kind of awkwardness."
"I-in person. Yes." Sundancer nodded quickly, before pausing. "This is so embarrassing, I called dibs on you as a fellow rainbow cape - and you. More than look the part. It's um. V-very nice. On you. Looks nice, I mean." She gave a little embarrassed smile.
"It's no worries! I mean, you look pretty awesome too. And… I could always use someone to talk to. About stuff. I haven't really had time to find a girlfriend with the whole…" She tapped her goggles. Wait, shit. "I mean, I'm not saying we're already dating. But if you wanted to, I mean…" ...I should just stop talking.
"I mean - you're very pretty, but we have only just met. And things with my team are complicated, and you're a hero." Her hands twisted around each other as her mouth tilted too. "We've had a tough time of it with heroes."
"Nothing new around here. And if the PRT has their way, I might not be a hero any more." Flare grimaced, shoving her own hands into her pockets. "I just… I want to help people. I'm not some morality crusader with a stick up her ass."
"Okay." She bit her lip, then smiled again, tentatively. "I'm Marissa, by the way. My actual name."
"Lindsay. It's nice to meet you." She offered her hand. ...Handshakes were a thing people did at cape meetings, right?
Marissa extended a long fingered hand of her own and shook. "Nice to meet you too." Flare noticed the first and middle fingers had nails that were neatly filed down. Her touch lingered.
"Making friends already?"
Marissa's hand suddenly shot back. "Uh - yes - Kr - I mean Trickster. This is Flare. She was just, um."
The boy in the top hat grinned. It probably was a nice grin, but Lindsay wasn't feeling charitable. "It's cool. Thought I'd be here first, maybe. Apparently not. Nice to meet you, Flare." He tipped his hat, just a little.
"Hey." Flare gave a much less enthusiastic wave this time. "Nice to meet you too." If he makes one 'Milady' joke I'm feeding him his teeth.
"So, while we're waiting for the others, I'm dying to ask," Trickster took a seat, "What kind of boss is Lilith? I've met her myself, of course, but as another leader I understand we put on a bit of a facade for leadership reasons. I want to know what she was like before we arrived."
Not gonna trick me that easy. "Loyal. You help her, she'll do everything in her power to help you. Stab her in the back? Nothing in the world will save you."
He nodded, his hat bobbing a little. "Makes sense. Most powerful capes I've met are like that, though she's got herself set up very fast." He rubbed at his nose. "If we're going to be working together - well, keeping this place safe from actual nazis - " he sounded honestly amazed at their existence, less horrified than baffled; from what was showing of his skin he probably had his own reasons to hate them, " - mind telling me a bit about your power? I don't want any of us to accidentally interfere with what you can do."
"Parahumans.net is pretty accurate. I can create what I call 'pinches', which emit plasma jets." Flare snapped her fingers, winking at Marissa behind the goggles, a jet the size of a lighter flame popping into existence and burning with a soft hiss. "I've got pretty creative in using them."
Marissa's phone had fallen into her lap. She was staring, open-mouthed, at the pinch.
"Huh. Neat." Trickster's eyes were narrowed, but he looked up as the door opened again, this time letting in a four armed green monkey with prominent, branching tusks, and a small giant - no, just a man built like a truck. "Hey guys. This is Flare. Sundancer and I were just talking to her. Flare - these are Genesis and Ballistic."
"Pleasure," said the monkey, somehow.
"... Huh." Flare did a bit of a double take at the sudden appearance of giant monkey. "Well this is gonna be interesting. Pleasure to meet you both." Damnit now I can't talk to Marissa any more.
The thing grinned. Which was weird because by all rights it didn't look like it could. But it did. "Sorry about the appearance. I was moving some boxes."
"Hey, no worries. I'm pretty sure we use Beasties as forklifts these days around here." Flare flopped down onto the couch next to Sundancer. Which was totally a coincidence, and anyone who said otherwise was a filthy liar who lies.
"We noticed. One of them even killed Lung." The giant folded his beefy arms. "Not even sure what we're needed for, because it sounds like you have all the heavy hitters you need."
"Well, there's only one Khanivore, and four of you. That's gotta count for something." Not to mention the chances of getting Lilith to approve of Khanivore's outings are worse than the lottery.
The giant looked unconvinced, or maybe constipated. It was a little hard to tell. Trickster shrugged airily though. "As long as the checks clear, I'm perfectly fine doing work that doesn't need to be done."
"And as long as we stick around, we'll have time for…" Marissa started, before shrugging. "Well, we're not local. Maybe when things aren't on fire -"
"It's the Bay. It's always on fire."
"Maybe you can show me around." Marissa finished with a soft smile.
"...Probably less on fire now that Lung's gone, though. And I'd like that." Lindsay returned the smile, hand inching a bit further from her side on the couch cushion.
Marissa's hand came closer -
Genesis coughed. A body-wracking, sharp rumble. "Sundancer."
"Right, sorry." She hunched again.
Trickster had taken his hat off and was fiddling with it - underneath it turned out he had a lot of thick, black hair. "There any rules Eden has in general? Other than the betrayal thing which is understandable and obvious. I don't want us to step on any toes."
Damnit Genesis. "...Don't do union work if you don't have a union card, no taking other people's food in the break room fridge, and don't kill people if at all possible? ...Also don't antagonize Khanivore. Or make any even vaguely threatening statements about Lillith's family."
"Got it." He nodded briefly, then his lips twitched up. "Well, since you seem to be getting on with Mars there, I'll let you show her around a bit while I help No' and Oliver get settled in."
"Sounds good, let's go." Marissa grabbed her hand and practically dragged her from the room.
Lindsay did her best not to squee, gently squeezing the other cape's hand back. "Sooooooo… What would you like to see first?"
"Your b-" Marissa bit her lip hard. "Uuuuuuuuuhhhhh. Hm. Is it - weird that…" she held up her hand - the one with Lindsay's in it. "... this um. Is this normal?"
Lindsay thought to Taylor's clusterfuck of a love life. "Pretty much, yeah."
"Oh. That's um." She blushed hard.
"I mean… We're both teenagers, in high risk situations, full of hormones?"
"Yeah but - we've known each other for a full five minutes and I'm stopping myself from asking to see your bedroom." Marissa stepped back. "Something's - did Lilith make sex pollen or something? Can she make sex pollen?"
"... Pretty sure she can't, but you never know with Biotinkers. Doesn't seem like the kind of thing she'd blow resources on. If anything she'd be trying to make her daughter less of a useless lesbian. That is, easily swayed by cute girls. Although I'm not really one to talk here." Lindsay bit her lip.
"It's just. Maybe it's just loneliness." Marissa's smile was spasmodic. "Not really seeing anyone other than the rest of the team. I'm probably being very pushy."
"I had school before, but I could never tell them anything about…" Lindsay awkwardly gestured around them. "This. Flare. But the two of us don't have that problem. We're not hiding secrets. So I don't think you're pushy."
"I feel like I am being pushy though." Her face had twisted oddly at the word secrets. "It's. It's probably just, um. Culture. Stuff. I never was very - open. Or out, about. This sort of thing."
"I haven't been outside of safe places either. I mean… This is the Bay. Even if there's one less nazi in it today, potentially by my hand. I bet my grandpa would be proud. I've got his old dogtags back at home on my dresser." Lindsay smiled ruefully.
"Literal… actual Nazis being a political - being an anything movement is something I'm still sort of. Adjusting my brain to."
"The Empire's been around here longer than we have, though." Lindsay frowned. "But - I guess their little branches are more on the east coast than the west or further inland, and you guys are the Travelers." The thought that other parts of the country had it better was just as foreign to her as the idea of actual factual Nazis must have been to Marissa. What would we even do without all this shit going on day after day?
"Yeah. We're - new to this part. Like even in other states, villains robbing banks is sort of a joke - I mean, we're sort of. Mercenaries." She shrugged one shoulder. "We just tended towards doing crime for money because it paid better."
"Faultline does that too. Seems to work pretty well for her… although I don't think she's ever robbed a bank? Honestly not entirely sure what her deal is."
"We're not as major league as she is. Can't really afford to be. But. Hopefully…" Her mouth twitched. She brushed a lock of hair back behind her ear and looked at Flare again. "A-anyway. Where would you like to show me first?"
"Well… There honestly isn't too much to show about the Eden compound really. Plus a lot of it's still an active work site, and I don't think your boots are steel toe." Marissa got another wink. "... we could maybe go to the Boardwalk? The Nazis don't really tend to end up down there, so it's one of the safer areas in the city for us. Since I know that neither of us is really good at hiding…" Lindsay gestured between them.
"Like as a sort of date?" And maybe there was a sparkle of humour in her eyes.
"It could be one. If you'd like that. ...I may be potentially coming into a sizable amount of money if Hookwolf gets a backdated kill order. Or something else if he doesn't. I don't know. But I kinda feel like I should celebrate?" LIndsay's eyes twinkled a little. "How do you feel about greasy burgers?"
"I'm not normally the biggest fan. But I could be persuaded."
-.-.-
"Oh my god." Marissa groaned, slumping down on the couch, cradling her stomach. "I don't think I've ever eaten that much in one sitting before." She paused, leaning her head back. "Um. Nice house, by the way."
Lindsay flopped down next to Marissa, equally limp. "Thanks. It's probably not really the best, though. Things have kinda… fallen behind since Mom left. Dad's been working nights, and I've been out caping…" Indeed, there was a faint layer of dust on the pictures over the fireplace in the living room, and the grey carpet had a faint tinge that indicated it could probably use vacuuming.
"Oh." Marissa looked away for a moment. "I - didn't mean to bring up bad memories." She fidgeted with the edge of her coat. "My dad and mom split up, um. Almost before I was born, actually. So."
Aaaah! "We should probably watch a movie or something." Smooth subject change, Lindsay.
"Something stupid and fun with no traumatic - anything with parents to worry about."
"There's an old Mouse Protector cartoon movie from a few years back. Totally cheesy."
Marissa groaned, but ended up giggling. "Alright. But i'm going to spend the whole time thinking of punny pickup lines. And, um, probably being confused because I don't think I know who Mouse Protector is."
"You've never heard of Mouse Protector?" Lindsay felt like her eyes were the size of saucers. "She's only one of the most famous comedic capes of all time. One of the original Wards team alongside Miss Militia. Her cartoon ran for five years. Disney tried to sue her because her helmet looked vaguely like their logo. And then there was that Protectorate Pals crossover movie..."
"Heh. I never, um. Really got into cape stuff very much. I was always very busy."
"Right. Yeah." Lindsay resolved to hide those old boxes of comic books further underneath her bed. Just in case.
"Not in a - I'm sure it's very interesting I just. Um. My mum had really high expectations about outside academics and doing… all sorts of things, really. I, um, only really had hobbies for myself in the last three years. And the last year or so I've been…"
"My sympathies. ...I'm glad you're happy, at least?"
"Today's definitely been a better day than most I've had, so." Marissa smiled softly. "Thank you, Lindsay. It was - is - a wonderful date."
"Agreed." Lindsay slumped a little, letting her head rest on Marissa's shoulder. "...First one I've had in a few months. I'm glad it was with you."
-.-.-
Frank hung up his jacket and went to the fridge - the TV was on, credits to Lindsay's old favourite cartoon running. There was another girl on the couch with her, both of them seemed to be asleep, leaning on each other.
He sighed to himself. He already needed to talk to her about being a cape, but now he needed to add a shovel talk and the birds and the bees to the list - right alongside coworker fraternization.
Not like there were many places to go to meet people in the middle of a gang war, so - she was probably part of that new team that'd arrived.
He made sure to drape a blanket over them before heading to bed himself.
-.-.-
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, and our girlfriend @SolarFlare for being awesome and also betaing! Also special thanks Prime Betas @Tamahori and @32nd_freeze and @Ganurath for being betas and feeding me validation and feedback between updates!
Also, while this chapter was meant to go up yesterday (instead of today at 5am because what is sleeping), I overslept, SV went down for maintenance, and then I stayed up late and @SolarFlare poked me until I updated so thank you to her for Flare and prodding
Enjoy!
Daylight Savings
-.-.-
Lindsay woke up and yawned widely. Lilith's sedation was usually over pretty quick, and her leg had been healed. The scar tissue looked weird, but she'd mentioned it was like a scab. It'd be there until her leg healed naturally, at its newly accelerated rate, and not impact her in the slightest. It was like being whole again.
Assuming her leg didn't become a lizard leg or something. But even then, that could be cool. ...But then she'd need both of them to be that to be balanced. ...Maybe she could get skin like an Asari-
"Flare," Lilith was in the doorway, hesitant. She lacked the intensity she'd had earlier, talking to Taylor. "Lindsay." She swallowed. "Do you - I -" she huffed, taking a seat next to the bed, head in her hand. "Do you know where Browbeat is?"
"I haven't seen them for a while…" Lindsay admitted with a wince. Sam wasn't exactly easy to be found if they didn't want to be, what with the ultimate disguise power. Maybe not ultimate. But it was still pretty good.
Annette nodded. "Right. I also wanted you to meet our - newest employees. As both backup and a show of strength and -" She held herself tightly. The whole situation with Taylor clearly had her rattled, and it was strange and distressing seeing Annette like this. Dressed up in her Lilith costume, the one that oozed sex appeal and confidence - and being the worn down mother she was under it all. "I don't know how long I can keep doing this."
"Hey. You can take a day off or so if you need to. I'm sure that Kurt and Lacey and Alexander and everyone can hold down the fort, especially if I'm back on my feet." Lindsay offered a reassuring smile, reaching up to squeeze Annette's shoulder. "... Hang on, should I be in the full getup for this? Because I still need to get new boots. And a new bodysuit… does just the helmet work?"
Annette thought for a moment, then nodded. "It'll do. Dress… professionally, though. Let's not make a poor impression."
"... I'll wear my finest skinny jeans and flannel?" ...shit. Do I even have professional clothes?
Annette smiled, a little crookedly. "It'll have to do."
"That reminds me. I need to talk to one of the electronics people about integrating comms into my helmet. My walkie talkie melted sometime during the long burst I did that…" That killed Hookwolf… or did it? "... I don't suppose any traffic cameras survived or anything? Things are kinda hazy after I started losing blood. I can remember firing the flare, but… nobody's really told me the details."
"You were seen fighting Hookwolf again after that, around the time my daughter killed Lung. You made it back safe, but we do not know where or how Hookwolf died. Only that he did and this city is better for the loss."
"Yeah, one less Nazi is always good. But… I still feel kinda weird about it… and the fact that I can't remember what happened almost makes it worse… and now that I'm not off my tits on morphine or whatever, I'm kinda worried what the PRT's gonna do."
"They will do nothing." Lilith was back. Straight-backed, cold conviction in her voice. "Bar pay out any outstanding bounties on Hookwolf's head should they determine you ended his depravity." She scowled. "Your father wishes to talk to you about your career choice, but I have informed him that you will not be in any state for that for quite some time. And remember;" Lilith's hand came down on her shoulder, boney and firm. "If you were the one to kill Hookwolf. You did the right thing."
Lindsay swallowed. "He knows? … shit. Not like he had enough to worry about already."
Lilith smirked, something of the woman she'd met that first night creeping back into her expression. "He did enjoy the fact that he would be able to keep an eye on you from now on - and threatened me should I send you out fighting without his approval ever again. I believe we can make this work."
"... I guess on the slight upside I now don't have to worry about him wondering where the money's coming from? And we can claim I have an 'internship'? Assuming I ever get ungrounded that is."
"Assuming that." She smiled again. "Go on. Put Eden's best foot forward."
"I'll do my best, Aunt Annette." Flare tried to return the smirk, although her heart wasn't entirely in it. She still felt bad for stressing her dad out further.
With that, Annette was gone, leaving Lindsay to get dressed properly. Her very best Lesbian Prime outfit, plus the goggles from her helmet. Which… kind of clashed. But it's not like she was actually going to be doing any fighting, and even with two day shipping it'd take a bit for her new suit to get here. She certainly didn't have Parian money. And it wasn't like she could ask Annette - she'd heard her and Alexander talking quietly about funding and the cost of getting set up so fast the other day, when they'd thought she wasn't listening.
It had something to do with the new arrivals. Something about a trade of favours for supplies, maybe. And, well… the Travelers are villains. Not sure I want to be in debt to a villain. Especially ones with a death count. Even though I have one of those now. But he was a Nazi. She bit her lip, before readjusting the goggles and heading to the room where the meeting was supposed to be.
She was the second one there - the first there was one of the Travelers. A young woman in one of those red and black bodysuits they had - she tried not to hold that against them, those were Empire colours but they weren't Empire, they weren't - with a sunburst symbol on the front and blonde hair spilling out from her mask, that kind of fragile white-blonde colour that was really rare. And the girl wearing them definitely could pull off spandex. ...Shit. Am I staring? Has she noticed yet? The goggles are polarized...
She looked up from her phone and - sorta hunched, which felt weird. It was always a little hard to tell with costumes, but she looked like the sort of person who was popular at Arcadia - but she was acting very shy. "Hello?"
"H-hey. Sundancer, right? I'm Flare. It's nice to meet you in person." Assuming her guess about the PHO handle was right, that is. "Sorry you don't get the full look -" Flare gestured towards herself. " - But my undersuit's still ruined and bloody as is one of my boots. Didn't think we needed that kind of awkwardness."
"I-in person. Yes." Sundancer nodded quickly, before pausing. "This is so embarrassing, I called dibs on you as a fellow rainbow cape - and you. More than look the part. It's um. V-very nice. On you. Looks nice, I mean." She gave a little embarrassed smile.
"It's no worries! I mean, you look pretty awesome too. And… I could always use someone to talk to. About stuff. I haven't really had time to find a girlfriend with the whole…" She tapped her goggles. Wait, shit. "I mean, I'm not saying we're already dating. But if you wanted to, I mean…" ...I should just stop talking.
"I mean - you're very pretty, but we have only just met. And things with my team are complicated, and you're a hero." Her hands twisted around each other as her mouth tilted too. "We've had a tough time of it with heroes."
"Nothing new around here. And if the PRT has their way, I might not be a hero any more." Flare grimaced, shoving her own hands into her pockets. "I just… I want to help people. I'm not some morality crusader with a stick up her ass."
"Okay." She bit her lip, then smiled again, tentatively. "I'm Marissa, by the way. My actual name."
"Lindsay. It's nice to meet you." She offered her hand. ...Handshakes were a thing people did at cape meetings, right?
Marissa extended a long fingered hand of her own and shook. "Nice to meet you too." Flare noticed the first and middle fingers had nails that were neatly filed down. Her touch lingered.
"Making friends already?"
Marissa's hand suddenly shot back. "Uh - yes - Kr - I mean Trickster. This is Flare. She was just, um."
The boy in the top hat grinned. It probably was a nice grin, but Lindsay wasn't feeling charitable. "It's cool. Thought I'd be here first, maybe. Apparently not. Nice to meet you, Flare." He tipped his hat, just a little.
"Hey." Flare gave a much less enthusiastic wave this time. "Nice to meet you too." If he makes one 'Milady' joke I'm feeding him his teeth.
"So, while we're waiting for the others, I'm dying to ask," Trickster took a seat, "What kind of boss is Lilith? I've met her myself, of course, but as another leader I understand we put on a bit of a facade for leadership reasons. I want to know what she was like before we arrived."
Not gonna trick me that easy. "Loyal. You help her, she'll do everything in her power to help you. Stab her in the back? Nothing in the world will save you."
He nodded, his hat bobbing a little. "Makes sense. Most powerful capes I've met are like that, though she's got herself set up very fast." He rubbed at his nose. "If we're going to be working together - well, keeping this place safe from actual nazis - " he sounded honestly amazed at their existence, less horrified than baffled; from what was showing of his skin he probably had his own reasons to hate them, " - mind telling me a bit about your power? I don't want any of us to accidentally interfere with what you can do."
"Parahumans.net is pretty accurate. I can create what I call 'pinches', which emit plasma jets." Flare snapped her fingers, winking at Marissa behind the goggles, a jet the size of a lighter flame popping into existence and burning with a soft hiss. "I've got pretty creative in using them."
Marissa's phone had fallen into her lap. She was staring, open-mouthed, at the pinch.
"Huh. Neat." Trickster's eyes were narrowed, but he looked up as the door opened again, this time letting in a four armed green monkey with prominent, branching tusks, and a small giant - no, just a man built like a truck. "Hey guys. This is Flare. Sundancer and I were just talking to her. Flare - these are Genesis and Ballistic."
"Pleasure," said the monkey, somehow.
"... Huh." Flare did a bit of a double take at the sudden appearance of giant monkey. "Well this is gonna be interesting. Pleasure to meet you both." Damnit now I can't talk to Marissa any more.
The thing grinned. Which was weird because by all rights it didn't look like it could. But it did. "Sorry about the appearance. I was moving some boxes."
"Hey, no worries. I'm pretty sure we use Beasties as forklifts these days around here." Flare flopped down onto the couch next to Sundancer. Which was totally a coincidence, and anyone who said otherwise was a filthy liar who lies.
"We noticed. One of them even killed Lung." The giant folded his beefy arms. "Not even sure what we're needed for, because it sounds like you have all the heavy hitters you need."
"Well, there's only one Khanivore, and four of you. That's gotta count for something." Not to mention the chances of getting Lilith to approve of Khanivore's outings are worse than the lottery.
The giant looked unconvinced, or maybe constipated. It was a little hard to tell. Trickster shrugged airily though. "As long as the checks clear, I'm perfectly fine doing work that doesn't need to be done."
"And as long as we stick around, we'll have time for…" Marissa started, before shrugging. "Well, we're not local. Maybe when things aren't on fire -"
"It's the Bay. It's always on fire."
"Maybe you can show me around." Marissa finished with a soft smile.
"...Probably less on fire now that Lung's gone, though. And I'd like that." Lindsay returned the smile, hand inching a bit further from her side on the couch cushion.
Marissa's hand came closer -
Genesis coughed. A body-wracking, sharp rumble. "Sundancer."
"Right, sorry." She hunched again.
Trickster had taken his hat off and was fiddling with it - underneath it turned out he had a lot of thick, black hair. "There any rules Eden has in general? Other than the betrayal thing which is understandable and obvious. I don't want us to step on any toes."
Damnit Genesis. "...Don't do union work if you don't have a union card, no taking other people's food in the break room fridge, and don't kill people if at all possible? ...Also don't antagonize Khanivore. Or make any even vaguely threatening statements about Lillith's family."
"Got it." He nodded briefly, then his lips twitched up. "Well, since you seem to be getting on with Mars there, I'll let you show her around a bit while I help No' and Oliver get settled in."
"Sounds good, let's go." Marissa grabbed her hand and practically dragged her from the room.
Lindsay did her best not to squee, gently squeezing the other cape's hand back. "Sooooooo… What would you like to see first?"
"Your b-" Marissa bit her lip hard. "Uuuuuuuuuhhhhh. Hm. Is it - weird that…" she held up her hand - the one with Lindsay's in it. "... this um. Is this normal?"
Lindsay thought to Taylor's clusterfuck of a love life. "Pretty much, yeah."
"Oh. That's um." She blushed hard.
"I mean… We're both teenagers, in high risk situations, full of hormones?"
"Yeah but - we've known each other for a full five minutes and I'm stopping myself from asking to see your bedroom." Marissa stepped back. "Something's - did Lilith make sex pollen or something? Can she make sex pollen?"
"... Pretty sure she can't, but you never know with Biotinkers. Doesn't seem like the kind of thing she'd blow resources on. If anything she'd be trying to make her daughter less of a useless lesbian. That is, easily swayed by cute girls. Although I'm not really one to talk here." Lindsay bit her lip.
"It's just. Maybe it's just loneliness." Marissa's smile was spasmodic. "Not really seeing anyone other than the rest of the team. I'm probably being very pushy."
"I had school before, but I could never tell them anything about…" Lindsay awkwardly gestured around them. "This. Flare. But the two of us don't have that problem. We're not hiding secrets. So I don't think you're pushy."
"I feel like I am being pushy though." Her face had twisted oddly at the word secrets. "It's. It's probably just, um. Culture. Stuff. I never was very - open. Or out, about. This sort of thing."
"I haven't been outside of safe places either. I mean… This is the Bay. Even if there's one less nazi in it today, potentially by my hand. I bet my grandpa would be proud. I've got his old dogtags back at home on my dresser." Lindsay smiled ruefully.
"Literal… actual Nazis being a political - being an anything movement is something I'm still sort of. Adjusting my brain to."
"The Empire's been around here longer than we have, though." Lindsay frowned. "But - I guess their little branches are more on the east coast than the west or further inland, and you guys are the Travelers." The thought that other parts of the country had it better was just as foreign to her as the idea of actual factual Nazis must have been to Marissa. What would we even do without all this shit going on day after day?
"Yeah. We're - new to this part. Like even in other states, villains robbing banks is sort of a joke - I mean, we're sort of. Mercenaries." She shrugged one shoulder. "We just tended towards doing crime for money because it paid better."
"Faultline does that too. Seems to work pretty well for her… although I don't think she's ever robbed a bank? Honestly not entirely sure what her deal is."
"We're not as major league as she is. Can't really afford to be. But. Hopefully…" Her mouth twitched. She brushed a lock of hair back behind her ear and looked at Flare again. "A-anyway. Where would you like to show me first?"
"Well… There honestly isn't too much to show about the Eden compound really. Plus a lot of it's still an active work site, and I don't think your boots are steel toe." Marissa got another wink. "... we could maybe go to the Boardwalk? The Nazis don't really tend to end up down there, so it's one of the safer areas in the city for us. Since I know that neither of us is really good at hiding…" Lindsay gestured between them.
"Like as a sort of date?" And maybe there was a sparkle of humour in her eyes.
"It could be one. If you'd like that. ...I may be potentially coming into a sizable amount of money if Hookwolf gets a backdated kill order. Or something else if he doesn't. I don't know. But I kinda feel like I should celebrate?" LIndsay's eyes twinkled a little. "How do you feel about greasy burgers?"
"I'm not normally the biggest fan. But I could be persuaded."
-.-.-
"Oh my god." Marissa groaned, slumping down on the couch, cradling her stomach. "I don't think I've ever eaten that much in one sitting before." She paused, leaning her head back. "Um. Nice house, by the way."
Lindsay flopped down next to Marissa, equally limp. "Thanks. It's probably not really the best, though. Things have kinda… fallen behind since Mom left. Dad's been working nights, and I've been out caping…" Indeed, there was a faint layer of dust on the pictures over the fireplace in the living room, and the grey carpet had a faint tinge that indicated it could probably use vacuuming.
"Oh." Marissa looked away for a moment. "I - didn't mean to bring up bad memories." She fidgeted with the edge of her coat. "My dad and mom split up, um. Almost before I was born, actually. So."
Aaaah! "We should probably watch a movie or something." Smooth subject change, Lindsay.
"Something stupid and fun with no traumatic - anything with parents to worry about."
"There's an old Mouse Protector cartoon movie from a few years back. Totally cheesy."
Marissa groaned, but ended up giggling. "Alright. But i'm going to spend the whole time thinking of punny pickup lines. And, um, probably being confused because I don't think I know who Mouse Protector is."
"You've never heard of Mouse Protector?" Lindsay felt like her eyes were the size of saucers. "She's only one of the most famous comedic capes of all time. One of the original Wards team alongside Miss Militia. Her cartoon ran for five years. Disney tried to sue her because her helmet looked vaguely like their logo. And then there was that Protectorate Pals crossover movie..."
"Heh. I never, um. Really got into cape stuff very much. I was always very busy."
"Right. Yeah." Lindsay resolved to hide those old boxes of comic books further underneath her bed. Just in case.
"Not in a - I'm sure it's very interesting I just. Um. My mum had really high expectations about outside academics and doing… all sorts of things, really. I, um, only really had hobbies for myself in the last three years. And the last year or so I've been…"
"My sympathies. ...I'm glad you're happy, at least?"
"Today's definitely been a better day than most I've had, so." Marissa smiled softly. "Thank you, Lindsay. It was - is - a wonderful date."
"Agreed." Lindsay slumped a little, letting her head rest on Marissa's shoulder. "...First one I've had in a few months. I'm glad it was with you."
-.-.-
Frank hung up his jacket and went to the fridge - the TV was on, credits to Lindsay's old favourite cartoon running. There was another girl on the couch with her, both of them seemed to be asleep, leaning on each other.
He sighed to himself. He already needed to talk to her about being a cape, but now he needed to add a shovel talk and the birds and the bees to the list - right alongside coworker fraternization.
Not like there were many places to go to meet people in the middle of a gang war, so - she was probably part of that new team that'd arrived.
He made sure to drape a blanket over them before heading to bed himself.
-.-.-
- Location
- Earth, probably.
- Pronouns
- None/Any
Well, if nothing else, those were definitely some cute lesbians. Also, Marissa is out here almost dropping the fact that she's from Aleph left and right, c'mon girl.
Ganurath
Literal Enthusiast
- Location
- A Valid Location
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Girl's been blue boxed for two years, and that was assuming she could have a romantic life when her mother was... the vibe I got was one of those parents that tries to experience the successes life denied them through their children.
- Location
- Earth, Sol System, Virgo Supercluster, Earth-1218
Given her inclinations at least he doesn't have to worry about her getting knocked up... until / unless Amy gets involved, but she's still a ways away from either functional bits or spontaneous Madona-fication.
Lab_Accident
A 2D 1D4
- Location
- Your dreams
Obligatory 'hot new couple' joke!
Well, that said, this is super-cute and Flare deserved some love (figuratively and literally). I just hope things turn out fine. I mean, I sympathize with the Travelers, they're not bad people (most of them), but they're in a bad situation and Krouse and Noelle are very dangerous.
Welp. Let's hope that Amy at least helps Jess off of the wheelchair, one of my pet-peeves in Wom fanfics where Panacea and the Travellers join the Undersiders is Amy not healing the paraplegic girl. Well, maybe Jess would refuse because she considers "fixing" herself ableist, but from her POV in Worm canon I don't think she would.
Also, I want more Chris! Even Sophia has had more screentime lately than Taylor's best friend! 😭😭 Particularly now that she killed Lung and the PRT declared her a villain, they'll have a lot to talk about!
Well, that said, this is super-cute and Flare deserved some love (figuratively and literally). I just hope things turn out fine. I mean, I sympathize with the Travelers, they're not bad people (most of them), but they're in a bad situation and Krouse and Noelle are very dangerous.
Welp. Let's hope that Amy at least helps Jess off of the wheelchair, one of my pet-peeves in Wom fanfics where Panacea and the Travellers join the Undersiders is Amy not healing the paraplegic girl. Well, maybe Jess would refuse because she considers "fixing" herself ableist, but from her POV in Worm canon I don't think she would.
Also, I want more Chris! Even Sophia has had more screentime lately than Taylor's best friend! 😭😭 Particularly now that she killed Lung and the PRT declared her a villain, they'll have a lot to talk about!
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I'm guessing that's kinda a large part of the reason he hasn't been around.
Fraternizing with known villains, even in civilian identity, is probably frowned upon. And he's probably being made to gear up/train/coordinate for whatever BS the PRT pulls next.
Anyhow, remind me... but isn't Sundancer, like all the Travelers, likely compromised by the Simurgh? Or is that just Krouse? Cuz I can easily see that ending in tears and flame...
...
Just had the thought that this is all part of the Simurgh's plot to turn female capes into useless lesbians. Guess she'd have to find something to do what with all that time floating in space, and what better way than to make all those ship!fics a reality?
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WhoAmEye
Bunker-Dwelling Cryptid
- Location
- Vault Birb
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Madison: IA IA SHIPPING CHAT FGHTAN!
Simurgh: *descending upon brockton bay* for fucks sake young lady you need to stop stealing my to-do list
Edit: Simurgh's greatest rival/nemesis/challenge is Dragon because she's incredibly straight for Armsmaster
It's a rare case of the Vtuber being the one doing the simping
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Lab_Accident
A 2D 1D4
- Location
- Your dreams
You joke, but the Fallen are over there, worshipping the Simurgh, practicing incest, cuckolding, mind-control sex, and other extreme kinks. Think there's a connection?Madison: IA IA SHIPPING CHAT FGHTAN!
Simurgh: *descending upon brockton bay* for fucks sake young lady you need to stop stealing my to-do list
Edit: Simurgh's greatest rival/nemesis/challenge is Dragon because she's incredibly straight for Armsmaster
It's a rare case of the Vtuber being the one doing the simping
Wolfman217
Oh No! Oh No! Oh No!
- Location
- England
I think they just got the Simurgh confused with Slaanesh
Eyyyyy Hookwolf's death - Useless Lesbians 1: Nazi's: 0
I actually often forget how young the Travelers really are, Krouse and Noelle in particular always seem to age themselves up to late 20's in my head for some reason.