Gear
Set Moon to Ramming Speed!
Oh new member, we derailed long ago.
Firebird, a Worm AU/Xover?
- Thread starter chibipoe
- Start date
OverReactionGuy
Verified Sanity
I approve of the appropriate use of fire.
-edit-
Remember kids, fire solves a lot of problems.
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Remember kids, fire solves a lot of problems.
I think some of the disparity regarding Madison stems from her being Browbeat, and either having volunteered to join the Wards, or possibly/probably, have been 'expected' by her parents to do so. Sophia was basically forced in to avoid jail time, which went to show her measure as a person (with the additional context of her other actions/beliefs). Here, Madison doesn't have that mentality, from what little we've been given. Possibly the 'expectation' in and of itself forced her, but I suppose that may come up if she gets additional development.
While her own trauma is subjectively worse than Emma's or Sophia's (or at least, affected her more due to it occurring at such a young age, and from her parents, i.e. people she thought she could trust), at the same time, going along with something because it's easy/expected of you tends to not hold up as an acceptable excuse, especially if you're self-aware enough to know what you're doing is wrong, and don't seem to have any moral quandary around it, but rather, grumble about how getting caught affected your life (and if we as the readers get that direct insight, it tends to highlight that choice).
Not making an effort to be a better person isn't cruel in the same way that Emma is, or violent in the way that Sophia is, but it's not going to engender any sort of sympathy either, especially as we haven't seen Browbeat in action here, and Madison-Browbeat is different enough from her canon counterpart to not let any feelings of heroism/likeability come through via osmosis they way they do (sometimes) with Taylor. She did things that were petty, yes, but her direct line of thought is that their pettiness is what allowed Emma and Sophia to pull off the bigger stuff while keeping Taylor off-balance, as opposed to not wanting things to get worse for Taylor.
Though I am curious on what Madison still felt she needed to 'distance' herself from in her mentioning going along with the bullying. If it's to make sure she somehow stays even further disconnected from Browbeat...now THAT would be a shitty excuse, or a very messed up way of viewing her 'expectations' with distancing her civilian ID i.e. if orders came from Piggot or what not.
While her own trauma is subjectively worse than Emma's or Sophia's (or at least, affected her more due to it occurring at such a young age, and from her parents, i.e. people she thought she could trust), at the same time, going along with something because it's easy/expected of you tends to not hold up as an acceptable excuse, especially if you're self-aware enough to know what you're doing is wrong, and don't seem to have any moral quandary around it, but rather, grumble about how getting caught affected your life (and if we as the readers get that direct insight, it tends to highlight that choice).
Not making an effort to be a better person isn't cruel in the same way that Emma is, or violent in the way that Sophia is, but it's not going to engender any sort of sympathy either, especially as we haven't seen Browbeat in action here, and Madison-Browbeat is different enough from her canon counterpart to not let any feelings of heroism/likeability come through via osmosis they way they do (sometimes) with Taylor. She did things that were petty, yes, but her direct line of thought is that their pettiness is what allowed Emma and Sophia to pull off the bigger stuff while keeping Taylor off-balance, as opposed to not wanting things to get worse for Taylor.
Though I am curious on what Madison still felt she needed to 'distance' herself from in her mentioning going along with the bullying. If it's to make sure she somehow stays even further disconnected from Browbeat...now THAT would be a shitty excuse, or a very messed up way of viewing her 'expectations' with distancing her civilian ID i.e. if orders came from Piggot or what not.
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- Pronouns
- Yes
That's not how I read Madison.
Seems to indicate she had moral issues with what the Trio were doing - and given her background and Trigger event the fact that she can think of her association with them in moral terms, as opposed to pure cost/benefit, or "what is expected" indicates to me she's not a bad person.
greensun
You shall all burn beneath my light!!!
Yeah, she's your average High School bully, the type of person who'll grow up cringe at what they were like when they were kids. Emma and Sophia are... More unbalanced, to say the least.
Eh, I don't know if it's so much a moral issue on Taylor's behalf, as it is a realizing just how messed up Sophia and Emma are, and possibly rethinking her decision to latch onto them for popularity's sake as an 'easy' way to be at the top of the food chain, given how unstable the other two are.
A portion of that may be directed towards her actions at Taylor, but that's not the way it's being sold wholesale (to me, at least). It's being presented as a waste of her time to do the petty things she does, not that she stays petty for Taylor's sake.
]
Were she a normal person, I'd agree. But her being a ward, as well as her huge trigger-related trauma/body dysporia/whatever other related psychoses change things up a fair portion.
Shaithan
Re-class is happiest class
- Location
- The worst part of Germany
I get the feeling that some people have extreme hateboners for the Trio, I generally tend to ignore their posts, their opinions contribute nothing to the discussion.
Granted, in my personal view, Canon Madison is easily the worst of the Trio because there she did join in to climb the social ladder without visible issues herself (mostly due to the lack of characterization). Which doesn't even hold true here, so I can honestly not understand why some people whine that the Trio needs to be punished harshly. I'd guess it's their way of punishing their own bullies by proxy. Something I don't need, I either befriended them or scared them so badly that they spent years afraid of the fact that we were at the same school.
I guess it is about wanting some Karmic Balance, and people wanting to see bullies punished, something I don't really understand, to me most come-uppance for the trio often feels forced, like it has to happen or something. I don't like shoddily executed Karmic Balance in stories, bad things happening to relatably bad people like bullies simply because they deserve it.
But considering your other works, I don't think I have to fear the wishful revenge fantasy writing some people call for.
chibipoe
May I tell you of the glory that is Catradora?
- Location
- Astoria, Oregon
No fear of that. I don't have any interest in revenge fantasy, so, no, that won't happen. Revenge fantasy/porn sucks.
- Location
- Existance
I suppose you've got the benefit of, even more so than canon, Taylor realizing just how little they mean to her.
- Location
- West Michigan
I wouldn't write off the entire genre, because every type of media has at least one superbly-executed example, but we can't all be Tarantino.
- Location
- Switzerland
One man's revenge porn is another man's "justice was done, no more no less" - especially if whatever the punishment is happens as part of a longer story, and is not the main focus of the story . This thread showed how far opinions differ when it comes to the guilt of the trio.
Slumber 1.6
chibipoe
May I tell you of the glory that is Catradora?
- Location
- Astoria, Oregon
1.6
Wednesday Afternoon, third day of the week without Emma.
I stared at scribbled note at the top of the page. Was I really keeping time by how many days were left until I had to deal with Emma again?
"You look entirely too occupied with something," Minako said, drawing my attention to where she sat across the table from me.
"Just thinking about when I'll have to deal a problem again," I muttered.
"Oh, Emma, right?" Catherine asked, sitting down in her usual spot. When I blinked at her, she shrugged. "I asked around since I figured you didn't want to talk too much about it. She seems like a real class act. Grade A Bitch and all that."
"Catherine," Minako chided. "This is the library. Please refrain from being vulgar."
The brunette blinked. "You are giving me flak about language? This is a joke, right?"
"I'm certain I have no idea what you mean," Minako said.
I looked between them, certain this was another one of their private jokes that I didn't understand. I thought they had just met recently, but they seemed to have known each other much longer sometimes. "I have to agree. I can't imagine Minako swearing at anyone."
Catherine glared back and forth between us then snorted. "Both of you are ganging up on me."
"Nonsense," Minako said. "We are in agreement that I could not possibly use vulgar language, that is all."
"You're both impossible!" Catherine protested with a pout. I hid a smile as Minako said something else that got a rise from the other girl while I focused on my homework. I had been pushing hard to get caught up or if possible, ahead so that if they tried sabotaging my homework I would at least be able to save something, somewhere. Listening to them banter while I worked was nice, if still a bit odd.
Every now and then, I caught myself thinking I was going to wake up and things would be back to how they were before, days after days of torment. It was nice to have friends again and not have Emma spearheading efforts to ruin everything for me.
"..and that's why I think Taylor is actually a dinosaur." Catherine's words caught my attention and I blinked.
"Wait, what?" I asked and both of them began laughing. "No, seriously. Why am I a dinosaur?"
"A better question is why wouldn't you be a dinosaur? Personally, however, I feel you are more like a bird." Minako asked. "Our study period is nearly over, however."
"A bird," I said, grimacing. "It's because I've got legs like sticks, right?"
"Ignore Minako, she's being silly. You're a dinosaur because you've been studying so much that I'm surprised you aren't old and grey. You spend all your time in here. I bet your study notes have study notes now." Catherine announced, picking up one of my notebooks and beginning to open it.
"Not that one," I said quickly, snatching the notebook with my drawings from her. "That's… um, private."
"Oooh, this sounds interesting," Catherine grinned. "Taylor's private little journa-ow!" She grabbed the back of her head and looked at Minako, who was looking at her friend sternly.
"You should refrain from pestering Taylor about her private thoughts," Minako told her. "Her art is her own and she will share it when and if she knows."
"Art? You've looked at it?" I said, feeling my voice start to raise. How dare they-
She shook her head. "I have not. But I have seen you in class, drawing when you think no one is looking."
"Oh," I swallowed, holding the notebook close to my chest. "I, sorry, it is private. Maybe someday…"
Catherine grimaced. "No, it's cool. And seriously, sorry. I get ahead of myself sometimes. I'll behave."
I ducked my head. "Sorry."
"Do not apologize," Minako said. "Catherine will behave, as she said. We should head to classes, though."
"I was thinking we could head to the mall and hang out again?" I asked as we gathered our things. "The other day was fun." Catherine and Minako exchanged looks before nodding.
"We've got a few hours, so, sure," Catherine nodded."We'll have to bounce around six though."
I nodded. "That sounds good. I've got algebra, so I'll see you guys out front?"
"We will be there," Minako said and I left the library, heading to the nearest stairwell in a good mood. Hanging around them was fun. The door closed behind me as I entered the stairwell, latching with a click in the same moment a hand caught the collar of my shirt and I found myself slammed against the nearest wall, staring into a pair of angry eyes.
Sophia.
"Knew you couldn't be," she muttered. "Just a stupid girl who doesn't know her place."
"Let me go," I snarled, shoving at her hand. She was stronger than me, though and just pulled me forward and slammed back so I saw stars for a moment.
"You're going to tell her dad there's no problems and then you're going to not breath a word about anything we do, got it?" she snarled.
"You're crazy if you think I'm doing anything you want," I almost shouted, pulling on my power. If I twisted this way… Sophia stumbled back as I shoved, no longer held by her grip. "I am done with your crap, got it?"
She sneered, baring her teeth. "One thing you apparently haven't learned? I don't lose." She took a step forward and I fought to control my apprehension. Cornered in the stairwell like this, I didn't have much room to move and I'd already seen what would happen if I tried to match her strength. But I would be damned if I let her do whatever she wanted to me.
"You know," a voice said from my left, belonging to a familiar face as she stood on the stairs, with another beside her, "there's a benefit to losing."
"You get to learn from your mistakes," Minako finished, leveling the most hostile look I had ever seen at Sophia. "You would be best served by leaving now."
Sophia gave them ugly, if wary looks before turning to me. "You won't be able to hide behind them forever, Hebert." Then, she was through the door and gone. I stood there for a moment, letting my heartbeat settle before I adjusted my collar where Sophia had grabbed it.
"Thanks," I told them.
"Nah," Catherine waved a hand. "S'what friends do, right?"
I sighed. "Asking the wrong person for that." I had been in such a good mood I hadn't even seen Sophia coming. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
"Taylor," Minako said gently. "Are you hurt?"
"Oh, no," I said. "Just kicking myself for-, oh never mind. Late for algebra now, it looks like." The bell rang right after I said that and the two of them exchanged a glance.
"Eh, we're late too," Catherine said. "So, how about we just blow off last period?"
I blinked. "Won't we get caught?"
"Only if it's that hypervigilant guy from Social Studies, the Professor or whatever," Catherine shrugged. "He's got seniors this period and he's on the other end of the building, so we'll be gone before he could notice."
I thought about it for a moment. "Tempting, but I should go to class, late or not. I don't want to get behind again when I just got everything more or less caught up." And I didn't want to leave now, the idea felt like running after what just happened.
"We will meet you outside of your class then," Minako said, staring at me. "In case she thinks to try something again."
"You don't have to," I began.
"Correct, we do not have to," Minako said. "We want to." I stared at them both, oddly touched, then nodded and we started up the stairs together.
It was unusual, Colin thought, to be entering this building while not wearing his usual gear. Odd, he decided, and a bit uncomfortable. He had to shift his hands back a few times, when he noticed that he was reaching for devices he kept stored on his suit. Devices that were most definitely not to be found on one of the suits he wore for teaching.
He almost smiled as a thought occurred to him. Perhaps a micro-mesh suit with a spatial displacement function, that let him conceal items much larger than would normally fit in suit jacket or slacks pocket. There was even a bolt of a tinker produced fabric in one corner of his lab that might work as a starting point.
"Excuse me, sir, this isn-" he turned toward the speaker, one of the security officers at this particular checkpoint into the PRT headquarters. Lou was his name, he thought, as the man frowned and stared at him. "Oh, apologies, sir. If you'll just run your badge at the scanner for verification and we'll be set."
"Thanks, Lou," he replied, swiping the badge. "Is it Lou, right?"
"Louis, but Lou's fine," the man grinned, eyeing the results of the badge scan. "Everything's in order, so you're free to head in, sir."
"Have a good evening," Colin answered, fishing out a notepad and beginning to make some notations about the idea he had for later perusal. A few people threw him looks as he walked past the rows of desks, more than once he saw a frown directed at him before it was replaced by astonishment.
"Good to see you in, sir," one of the PRT officers said.
"Danica," he replied, inclining his head. "Headed to the meeting?"
"Oh, yes sir," she murmured, pushing her glasses up while trying to juggle the stack of papers she had. "I just came from compiling the latest reports on the independents as well as prospects for recruitment. The Empire, unfortunately, picked up a new telekinetic they're calling Rune. Wards-age, we think. She was involved in a three way altercation the other day."
"The other involved party, what and who were they?" he asked idly.
"Oh, a pair of independents," she said, flipping through her papers. "They've been harassing the Merchants with a fair degree of success. The reports from the thinkers peg them as possible Wards candidates. I think I have the file about them… Oh!"
Colin almost stepped back as her efforts at holding the assortment of folders and papers while trying to find one in particular resulted in the papers scattering onto the floor around them. Shaking his head, he knelt down to help gather them up.
"Oh, that isn't necessary, sir," she said, dropping down as well and beginning to gather papers. "You shouldn't have to clean up after my clumsiness."
"It's alright," he said, neatly gathering the papers up into a tidy stack. He glanced at the one on top, which had been what she was about to show him, he thought. "Hanabi and Rockshow? Odd mix of names."
"Oh, those two," she pursed her lips as they both stood. "They were approached by Triumph, but didn't seem interested. The ones that I meant are a couple. Or siblings of some sort. The thinkers weren't entirely sure, with the information we have. A Mover and the other has some sort of surveillance power, I think. I'm not sure what they had classified it as yet though. FreightTrain and Spyglass are their designations."
He frowned. "Sounds familiar, but I don't believe I've met them."
"I'll have more details in the meeting," she said. "I'll share then, if it's alright. No sense in repeating myself more than I have to."
"I can wait," he shrugged lightly. "Anything else of note to report?"
"In town can wait for the meeting," Danica said. "Outside of town, there's some reports about one of those roving thief groups. I think you ran into them once before? A tinker and some others."
He grimaced. "Yes, I remember those four. Irritating, but they're notoriously bad about escaping. They avoid confrontations and getting data for my prediction software is annoying when they will run instead of fight."
"Well, isn't it better though?" she asked. "I mean, not that they get away, but that they don't want to engage in property damaging fights?"
"The last thing we need are more smart villains," he paused then shook his head as he held the door to the meeting room open for her. "Though, come to think of it, I wonder about their intelligence sometimes. One of them is named Chubster, after all."
The room was more than half full as they entered, with the Director already there, looking haggard as she sorted through an array of papers before her.
She's having sleeping issues again. The thought crossed his mind as he surveyed everyone present. Probably a bad episode recently. Colin made a mental note to broach the subject in private, again, of getting Panacea to repair the damage to her kidneys. The last thing Brockton Bay needed was the Director retiring due to ill health and someone less experienced or less restrained taking her place.
"Hey, boss," Assault said, the mask of his costume down around his neck. "Gotta say, clean-shaven is a weird look for you."
"I left my beard at home," he replied without thinking, then sighed mentally. He was never going to hear that end of that. Assault, however, simply stared, speechless for a moment.
"Did.. did you just make a joke?" he asked in a small voice. "You did, didn't you?"
Colin sighed. "Blame it on being around teenagers most of the day."
"I'm scared," he said in a voice that was supposed to be a whisper, but was anything but. "Armsmaster's making jokes. We're all doomed."
"Stop being stupid," Battery said, punching his shoulder. "It's a good thing that he's unwinding a little. I mean, er… you do seem more relaxed, sir."
"Thank you," he nodded, noticing that the Director was staring at him. "If you two will excuse me?"
He didn't wait for either to reply, moving toward the head of the table and the seat beside the Director that was currently unoccupied. Hannah was in the one he usually sat in.
"Director," Colin said, nodding. "Hannah."
"Any developments on your investigation?" Emily Piggot asked.
"Unfortunately not," he grimaced. "Little progress and recent developments are creating obstacles that I have to navigate around."
"You're certain it isn't the Hebert girl, still?" she asked.
"I'm not certain of anything," he said. "I'm leaning away from her being the one, but I can't rule out that she can hide her abilities completely. From what I have gleaned, she's had some personality changes. More assertive and outgoing."
The Director shuffled her papers. "How much longer do you expect you'll need to continue this undercover operation, then?"
"The only stipulation is to provide notice if I have to depart," Colin told her. "Beyond that, I can end it shortly after we find answers. Any developments on Mr. Gladly's condition?"
"We did have a development there," Hannah said, fishing out a report and skimming down it with her eyes. "He remains mostly comatose, but those periods where he isn't, he appears stuck trying to leave and travel to another location."
"So we could be dealing with more than just a pyrokinetic," he mused. "The question is, whether it's the work of the one responsible for the display, or unrelated."
"Find out," Emily said. "I'm not exactly enthused about the prospect of us dealing with a High School with parahumans acting so openly when we know of only one. I don't need to tell you what sort of a situation we could be dealing with if the reason we haven't found anything is that someone got to the one responsible already and are covering their tracks."
"I'm aware, Director," Colin said. "The possibility is one I keep in mind, but I find it unlikely, given the gang presence. You know if one of them had secured this person, they'd be lording it over the others. An outside group, perhaps, but if so, why have we heard nothing? This isn't exactly a subtle power, judging from the display."
"Whatever the case, I want this solved," Emily stated. "Find him or her and do it soon."
"We're ready, Director," one of the aids said before Colin could respond. "Everyone's here." Colin fished his notebook back out as the door closed and began making notes on what the suit he had thought of earlier might need while the meeting officially began.
"We'll see you tomorrow!" Catherine waved as the pair departed, leaving me at the mall. I tapped my foot on the ground, considering what to do with the time I had left. I had already called dad and let him know, so I had another hour to myself before I needed to go home.
After a moment, I decided and turned on my heel, heading for the art supplies store. I wanted to do some more work on the sketches and maybe put some color on them, but I was out of some of the colors I wanted, so I would need to get some more.
"Taylor!" a voice called and I turned to see Vicky waving with her free arm, the other was tangled with the arm of a handsome teenage boy who just looked bemused.
"Vicky, hi!" I called, walking over while noticing that there were several people staring at Vicky like she was the most amazing thing they had ever seen. Her companion, presumably her boyfriend, leaned down a bit and whispered something to her and she rolled her eyes.
"Dean, this is Taylor," Vicky said, introducing us. "I met her last week."
"Nice to meet you," I murmured, shaking the hand that was offered. "Sorry I hadn't called. Just got a cell and with school work, I'd been busy."
"Oh, don't worry about that," she said. "What are you up to?"
"Was headed to the art store for some paint, actually," I said, as they fell into step with me. Dean was quiet, with a puzzled sort of frown on his face.
"You paint and have amazing fashion sense?" Vicky asked, smiling.
"Just in my spare time," I said. "What are you up to today?"
"Oh, just hanging out with Dean," she said airily. "I tried to get my sister to come along, but she didn't want to come along. I swear, sometimes I wish she should take some time for herself instead of, well, never mind. Mind if we tag along?"
"Fine by me," I said. "It's going to be pretty boring, though."
"The alternative is Vicky going clothes shopping again," Dean said, flashing a grin at his girlfriend. "I'd rather spare my wallet today, if it's all the same."
"Oh, pssh, I bet you'd change your tune if I went to try out the skirts," Vicky said. "You certainly didn't mind the last time."
"Guilty," Dean admitted. "But the art store does sound like a nice change of pace, however much I enjoy your modeling efforts."
I shifted my feet, somewhat uncomfortable with the byplay. They were obviously close and I didn't want to feel like a third wheel. "It's alright. It's just in for some red, green, and gold paint. Maybe some black too." I bit my lip as I spoke, pondering. I might want to check my other colors and see if something else would work as well.
"Ooh, I've got this," Vicky said. "I know where they keep the best red. Crimson fire, I think it's called."
That did sound good and I did need to make more friends than just Catherine and Minako. "Sure, if you really want to, I'd like that."
"Awesome!" Vicky proclaimed. "Oh, and we have to go check out the clothes. I saw a jacket after we met the other day that I think would be awesome on you."
"Oh?" I perked up as we walked. The other day when I was clothes shopping with Vicky had been nice and had proven that she had a good eye for fashion, so I didn't doubt her claim. "Let me grab what I need and then we can go check it out."
"And somehow, we end up going clothes shopping anyway," Dean said jokingly. "Try not to kill my wallet this time, please?"
"I won't be too hard on it," Vicky said, grinning. "Now, let me show Taylor where that color is and then we can head over and we'll show her the jacket."
"I've got to make a call, so I'll be out here," Dean said, holding up a cellphone. "Come find me when you're ready." Vicky nodded and followed me into the art store, where I quickly found the green and gold. I thought of my earlier impulse and picked up a tube of black as well.
"And here you go," Vicky said, bouncing into the aisle I was standing in, holding a black tube out. "Crimson Fire, as promised."
"Thanks," I said, looking at the strip of color that indicated what it was supposed to look like when dry. "This.. this is perfect. Thank you!"
Dean was waiting when we left the store, the paints tucked away in my backpack. Vicky ran up and kissed him, unconcerned about the public display.
"Everything okay, sweetie?" she asked.
"Yeah, just class project stuff. Boring stuff, really, I can tell you about it later, if you want." he said easily, though I thought he looked uncomfortable for a moment.
Vicky eyed him for a moment and then nodded. "I'll hold you to that. But! Right now, we're not boring Taylor with whatever nonsense Roy's pestering you about. Clothes?"
"Clothes, yes," Dean agreed quickly, obviously eager to change the subject. "You said you had a jacket you wanted to show Taylor, right?"
"Oh, yes!" Vicky said, turning to me as I raised an eyebrow. "It's black and yellow, but not so much that it would make you look like a bumblebee, more like a gold, really."
I tried imagining it in my head, feeling an image almost taking shape. "Show me?"
"Onward!" Vicky announced, all but dragging us in her wake toward the store this jacket was at. The store turned out to be a smaller shop tucked in one corner of the mall. It sold only coats and jackets and every one of them I laid eyes on was clearly well made.
"Let's see," Vicky murmured, sorting through racks. "Oh, I hope someone didn't buy it… Ah, here!" She fished out a black and gold jacket and held it up for me. I looked it over, looking from one side to the other critically.
"A bit more gold than I like, but…" I began.
"Oh, go try it on!" she said, pushing it into my hands. "There's a mirror in the changing area back there so you can see how it looks yourself."
"Alright, alright," I acquiesced, holding the jacket close and starting toward the back to try it on.
Vicky turned as soon as Taylor was out of earshot and tugged Dean toward a corner, wrapping around him and looking for all the world like she was kissing him. "Okay, spill. What's going on?"
"You know I can't talk about that with you, Vicky," Dean protested. "If you would join the Wards…"
"Nuh-uh," she said. "You know I won't do that. Now spill. You've been looking distracted since… is this about Taylor?"
He looked uncomfortable. "Maybe. She's the girl they pulled out of the locker last month, you know, when that bird showed up?"
"That's her?" Vicky hissed. "And, what, they think she did it? That's absurd. She's nice and hardly the type to go setting the sky on fire."
He shook his head. "I don't know too much, but I'm pretty sure they don't. Tests came back negative is the rumor. But... "
"What?" she asked. "Come on, tell me…" She pressed closer to him, giving him her most winsome smile.
"Ah, jeez, you're relentless," he groaned. "They tested her and she came back negative, like I said. But… when she's standing there, I'm not picking anything up. At all. It's like she's not even there."
"You've had people resistant to your abilities before," she said, grinning. "Take me, for example."
"To the overt part, yes," he said in a low voice. "But I haven't met anyone I can't get at least a feel for their mood from. She didn't even notice when your aura was on earlier."
"You're sure? Not just missing her with all the people around?" Vicky pressed.
"I haven't had that problem in a while, Vick," he said. "I haven't met anyone I don't get a read from unless something's interfering. Even then, there's usually something. This is more like a complete blank space where she's standing. I can follow physical cues, but she's not giving anything at all for me to pick up. It's like bouncing off a brick wall."
"Huh," she bit her lip. "Well, I think you're probably overreacting. I'll keep an eye on her though, but I don't like spying on friends, even new ones." She reluctantly disengaged and adjusted her clothing quickly in case anything was out of sorts, turning to see Taylor emerging from the changing area, looking pensive as she adjusted the jacket that she was still wearing, holding her backpack and the coat she had come in wearing in one hand.
"Well, how is it?" Vicky asked, grinning brightly.
"It is awesome, like you said," Taylor murmured before frowning. "But way outside my budget. Maybe some other time…"
"How much are you short?" Vicky asked, glancing toward Dean, who rolled his eyes.
"Oh, I'll have enough in a few days, and I can come back," she shrugged, slipping her arms free easily. "It's no big deal."
"Nope, it's perfect, like I said, and you are walking out of here with it," she pronounced, deftly snatching the jacket and passing it to Dean. "Consider it a birthday present."
"My birthday isn't until summer," Taylor said.
"A very early birthday present then," Vicky corrected. "Honey, if you would?"
"Fine, fine," he shook his head, looking exasperated but started toward the cashier. "It's just easier to go along when she gets like this."
Taylor blinked, looking unsure. "Why? You both barely know me and that jacket's really expensive."
"Lots of reasons," Dean said easily. "I haven't known you for more than an hour, sure, but I'd like to think I'm a good judge of character and I have more money than I could spend in both our lifetimes. Plus, it makes Vicky happy."
"And I'm encouraging it because your current jacket is all wrong for the clothes you were looking at the other day. You need something stylish, assertive for those." Vicky added, slinging an arm around Taylor's shoulder. "Also, call it an early birthday or a late christmas, whatever. I like doing nice things for my friends."
"You mean you like having me do nice things for your friends," Dean corrected, handing over a black card to the cashier along with his identification.
Taylor shook her head at the byplay between the two of them. "Thank you."
Dean started to say something but his phone buzzed and he grimaced. "You're welcome, Taylor. I'd stick around, but this is probably important so I'll need to go take care of it."
"Class project again?" Vicky asked, looking bemused.
"Roy's a pain," Dean shrugged. "I'll be happy when he graduates."
"Hate to buy you a present and run, but I should probably go help him," Vicky said. "They'll get cleared up faster with another pair of hands."
Taylor hesitantly took the jacket after the security tag was removed. "I… is it something I can help with?"
They exchanged a look and Vicky shook her head. "Roy's a stickler for rules. I squeeze in by virtue of being Dean's girl, but he is very picky about not letting anyone who isn't on the project help otherwise."
"Well, good luck then," Taylor said, clutching the jacket to her chest as they waved and left the store. Bemused, she tucked her old jacket into her backpack and pulled the new one one in its place.
I left the mall in a daze, expecting that someone would stop me at any moment and I'd be arrested and the whole thing that had just happened was nothing more than a prank. By the time I made it outside and there was no one arresting me, it sunk in that this had really happened.
People I barely knew had dropped several hundred dollars on an expensive jacket as a gift. Who even does that? I didn't know what to think. I took a deep breath and pushed it to the back of my mind. I would need to think of something nice to do in return. I sent off a quick text message to Vicky and then checked how my funds looked.
I should probably cash in a few more cards. I bit my lip, thinking. There was a corner store near here that I could turn a few in at. I had some stuck in a binder in my pack. Would the store let me though? I stopped by a bench and made a show of looking at my cellphone while I used my precog to trace ahead and see.
A few minutes later and a headache had me nodding. I would get in and out of the store with no problems. Decision made, I cancelled my precog to let the headache fade. The store was about five minutes away and there was a bus route near it that I could catch to head home after that.
True to my prediction, I was in and out with my new funds tucked safely away in my backpack and headed toward the stop for the bus route. My eyes drifted down to the sleeve of the jacket and I smiled a bit. Even if their gifting it to me was odd, it was a nice coat.
Checking the display on my phone, I almost swore, before turning to look at the schedule pasted on the side of the rain shelter set up at the pick up spot.
"Not running after five on this route?" I read aloud, shoving the phone into my pocket. Back to the mall, then I could call dad to have him come pick me up. I wrapped my arms around my self as a gust of cold wind breezed through. The weird weather had been off and on, odd for this time of year. We almost never saw snow and a few dustings had already hit in the past week, with the weathermen promising more.
The parking lot of the mall stretched out in front of me and I cut across it rather than following the road. It was faster to the closest side entrance that way. Several of the overhead lights were out, casting large sections of the parking lot in darkness that made me frown for a moment before I kept moving.
The only warning I had was the rush of footsteps as I was surrounded on both sides, hands grabbing my arms and another hand that smelled of sweat and something foul that I couldn't put name to clamped on my jaw.
"Not a word, hear?" a gruff voice said, shaking my head so hard that vision spun and my glasses fell to the ground with a clatter. A second later, as I tried to make sense of the man's features, I heard the crunch of the frames breaking as the two men dragged me off. I twisted my arms, panic seizing me as I tried to get free.
"Stoppit right now," the man who had first spoken said. I felt him let my arm go, but the other simply used his free hand and wrenched my right arm in a hold that drew a pained sound from me. I kicked my legs, shouting against his hand and I saw his blurred features twist in fury.
The next thing I felt was a weight slamming into my stomach, driving the air from my lungs and almost bending me double from the impact. Pain filled every sense and I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to shove away from the two men and curl up at the same time. They resumed dragging me out of sight and seconds later I found myself shoved against a dumpster and a wall.
"Please," I choked out, drawing in air while clutching my arms around my midsection. "I don't…"
They ignored me and advanced, one pinning me while the other ripped my backpack away. I tried to grab it back, but the larger one shoved me back while his friend retreated, roughly tearing the zipper open and beginning to toss things out. My notebooks were strewn across the ground carelessly, pages crumpling as they landed oddly. The bag with the paints was torn open and then the tubes cast aside after a moment's examination, followed by my old coat.
Then the folder I had stashed the money in was opened. "Lookee here, Jake. Girlie's got cash, like he said. Must be a grand here, easy."
Money? This was about money? And he said? What did that mean… I coughed as I realized the clerk must have called these guys on me. I had only looked to see if I would get in and out of the store without any difficulty. Stupid!
"Jacket, girlie," the larger one said. "Take it off."
"It's cold," I said, my hands gripping the fabric defensively.
"Don't care," he snapped. "And I wasn't asking. Take it off! It'll sell well, a nice coat like that."
"Hey, Jake," the smaller one said. "Got a better idea. She got this money from playing the cards, Ralph said. Had like five of them and all for high dollars. We make her do that again, if she can. Easy money."
"I dunno, man," he said, staring at me in a way I didn't think I liked. "Think this girl's trouble. Should just take her shit and go."
"No, it'll definitely be easy," the smaller guy said, his eyes drifting to me in a way I definitely didn't like. "We get some of the good stuff from Skids and she'll do whatever we say for a fix."
Skids? I felt the color bleed from my face as I realized who he meant. Skidmark. The leader of the Merchants. Which meant the good stuff was probably… drugs. I shook my head in denial.
"Girlie doesn't like that," the one called Jake said. "What the hell? Let's do it."
"No," I said, feeling cold seep into my bones suddenly, even as I clutched my arms tighter. I wasn't going to be their drugged up plaything! They should fear me.
It was like a switch being thrown. One moment, I was backing further into the corner, hoping it would hide me from Jake's approaching grip. The next, he was pale-faced, backing away as if the most terrifying thing he had ever seen was in front of him.
"Shit, Jake, what's wrong?" his companion asked and I swivelled my head to look at him. The air rippled between us and he went pale as well, dropping the folder and the money he had been taking from it.
"Gods…" the man whispered, scrambling backwards. "I didn't mean it! Honest! Don't… " Both men had more or less collapsed in seconds, whimpering and retreating. I looked between them, frowning at their sudden change in demeanor. I moved forward and they both backed away. Backed away from me. Was I doing this somehow? I focused on Jake, who had been the one to hit me and I watched whatever traces of color remained in his face flee.
"Please, please, oh god, dad, don't," Jake was babbling, clearly not seeing me any longer, but something else that terrified him. I took another step forward and found myself floating. The other man was still staring at me with eyes nearly completely white and I snarled at him, seeing the air distort between us again. Both men shuddered and went limp and the acrid stench that suddenly filled the air made me wrinkle my nose.
My feet struck pavement then, jarring me slightly. I seized a lungful of air and knelt, quickly gathering up all of my things. I threw a cautious look at the two men who had been terrorizing me just moments before. Neither was moving, but I could see their chests shifting slightly, indicating that they were breathing. I pulled my backpack up, clutching it to my chest and ran from there as fast as I could.
Wednesday Afternoon, third day of the week without Emma.
I stared at scribbled note at the top of the page. Was I really keeping time by how many days were left until I had to deal with Emma again?
"You look entirely too occupied with something," Minako said, drawing my attention to where she sat across the table from me.
"Just thinking about when I'll have to deal a problem again," I muttered.
"Oh, Emma, right?" Catherine asked, sitting down in her usual spot. When I blinked at her, she shrugged. "I asked around since I figured you didn't want to talk too much about it. She seems like a real class act. Grade A Bitch and all that."
"Catherine," Minako chided. "This is the library. Please refrain from being vulgar."
The brunette blinked. "You are giving me flak about language? This is a joke, right?"
"I'm certain I have no idea what you mean," Minako said.
I looked between them, certain this was another one of their private jokes that I didn't understand. I thought they had just met recently, but they seemed to have known each other much longer sometimes. "I have to agree. I can't imagine Minako swearing at anyone."
Catherine glared back and forth between us then snorted. "Both of you are ganging up on me."
"Nonsense," Minako said. "We are in agreement that I could not possibly use vulgar language, that is all."
"You're both impossible!" Catherine protested with a pout. I hid a smile as Minako said something else that got a rise from the other girl while I focused on my homework. I had been pushing hard to get caught up or if possible, ahead so that if they tried sabotaging my homework I would at least be able to save something, somewhere. Listening to them banter while I worked was nice, if still a bit odd.
Every now and then, I caught myself thinking I was going to wake up and things would be back to how they were before, days after days of torment. It was nice to have friends again and not have Emma spearheading efforts to ruin everything for me.
"..and that's why I think Taylor is actually a dinosaur." Catherine's words caught my attention and I blinked.
"Wait, what?" I asked and both of them began laughing. "No, seriously. Why am I a dinosaur?"
"A better question is why wouldn't you be a dinosaur? Personally, however, I feel you are more like a bird." Minako asked. "Our study period is nearly over, however."
"A bird," I said, grimacing. "It's because I've got legs like sticks, right?"
"Ignore Minako, she's being silly. You're a dinosaur because you've been studying so much that I'm surprised you aren't old and grey. You spend all your time in here. I bet your study notes have study notes now." Catherine announced, picking up one of my notebooks and beginning to open it.
"Not that one," I said quickly, snatching the notebook with my drawings from her. "That's… um, private."
"Oooh, this sounds interesting," Catherine grinned. "Taylor's private little journa-ow!" She grabbed the back of her head and looked at Minako, who was looking at her friend sternly.
"You should refrain from pestering Taylor about her private thoughts," Minako told her. "Her art is her own and she will share it when and if she knows."
"Art? You've looked at it?" I said, feeling my voice start to raise. How dare they-
She shook her head. "I have not. But I have seen you in class, drawing when you think no one is looking."
"Oh," I swallowed, holding the notebook close to my chest. "I, sorry, it is private. Maybe someday…"
Catherine grimaced. "No, it's cool. And seriously, sorry. I get ahead of myself sometimes. I'll behave."
I ducked my head. "Sorry."
"Do not apologize," Minako said. "Catherine will behave, as she said. We should head to classes, though."
"I was thinking we could head to the mall and hang out again?" I asked as we gathered our things. "The other day was fun." Catherine and Minako exchanged looks before nodding.
"We've got a few hours, so, sure," Catherine nodded."We'll have to bounce around six though."
I nodded. "That sounds good. I've got algebra, so I'll see you guys out front?"
"We will be there," Minako said and I left the library, heading to the nearest stairwell in a good mood. Hanging around them was fun. The door closed behind me as I entered the stairwell, latching with a click in the same moment a hand caught the collar of my shirt and I found myself slammed against the nearest wall, staring into a pair of angry eyes.
Sophia.
"Knew you couldn't be," she muttered. "Just a stupid girl who doesn't know her place."
"Let me go," I snarled, shoving at her hand. She was stronger than me, though and just pulled me forward and slammed back so I saw stars for a moment.
"You're going to tell her dad there's no problems and then you're going to not breath a word about anything we do, got it?" she snarled.
"You're crazy if you think I'm doing anything you want," I almost shouted, pulling on my power. If I twisted this way… Sophia stumbled back as I shoved, no longer held by her grip. "I am done with your crap, got it?"
She sneered, baring her teeth. "One thing you apparently haven't learned? I don't lose." She took a step forward and I fought to control my apprehension. Cornered in the stairwell like this, I didn't have much room to move and I'd already seen what would happen if I tried to match her strength. But I would be damned if I let her do whatever she wanted to me.
"You know," a voice said from my left, belonging to a familiar face as she stood on the stairs, with another beside her, "there's a benefit to losing."
"You get to learn from your mistakes," Minako finished, leveling the most hostile look I had ever seen at Sophia. "You would be best served by leaving now."
Sophia gave them ugly, if wary looks before turning to me. "You won't be able to hide behind them forever, Hebert." Then, she was through the door and gone. I stood there for a moment, letting my heartbeat settle before I adjusted my collar where Sophia had grabbed it.
"Thanks," I told them.
"Nah," Catherine waved a hand. "S'what friends do, right?"
I sighed. "Asking the wrong person for that." I had been in such a good mood I hadn't even seen Sophia coming. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
"Taylor," Minako said gently. "Are you hurt?"
"Oh, no," I said. "Just kicking myself for-, oh never mind. Late for algebra now, it looks like." The bell rang right after I said that and the two of them exchanged a glance.
"Eh, we're late too," Catherine said. "So, how about we just blow off last period?"
I blinked. "Won't we get caught?"
"Only if it's that hypervigilant guy from Social Studies, the Professor or whatever," Catherine shrugged. "He's got seniors this period and he's on the other end of the building, so we'll be gone before he could notice."
I thought about it for a moment. "Tempting, but I should go to class, late or not. I don't want to get behind again when I just got everything more or less caught up." And I didn't want to leave now, the idea felt like running after what just happened.
"We will meet you outside of your class then," Minako said, staring at me. "In case she thinks to try something again."
"You don't have to," I began.
"Correct, we do not have to," Minako said. "We want to." I stared at them both, oddly touched, then nodded and we started up the stairs together.
~~~~~~~~
It was unusual, Colin thought, to be entering this building while not wearing his usual gear. Odd, he decided, and a bit uncomfortable. He had to shift his hands back a few times, when he noticed that he was reaching for devices he kept stored on his suit. Devices that were most definitely not to be found on one of the suits he wore for teaching.
He almost smiled as a thought occurred to him. Perhaps a micro-mesh suit with a spatial displacement function, that let him conceal items much larger than would normally fit in suit jacket or slacks pocket. There was even a bolt of a tinker produced fabric in one corner of his lab that might work as a starting point.
"Excuse me, sir, this isn-" he turned toward the speaker, one of the security officers at this particular checkpoint into the PRT headquarters. Lou was his name, he thought, as the man frowned and stared at him. "Oh, apologies, sir. If you'll just run your badge at the scanner for verification and we'll be set."
"Thanks, Lou," he replied, swiping the badge. "Is it Lou, right?"
"Louis, but Lou's fine," the man grinned, eyeing the results of the badge scan. "Everything's in order, so you're free to head in, sir."
"Have a good evening," Colin answered, fishing out a notepad and beginning to make some notations about the idea he had for later perusal. A few people threw him looks as he walked past the rows of desks, more than once he saw a frown directed at him before it was replaced by astonishment.
"Good to see you in, sir," one of the PRT officers said.
"Danica," he replied, inclining his head. "Headed to the meeting?"
"Oh, yes sir," she murmured, pushing her glasses up while trying to juggle the stack of papers she had. "I just came from compiling the latest reports on the independents as well as prospects for recruitment. The Empire, unfortunately, picked up a new telekinetic they're calling Rune. Wards-age, we think. She was involved in a three way altercation the other day."
"The other involved party, what and who were they?" he asked idly.
"Oh, a pair of independents," she said, flipping through her papers. "They've been harassing the Merchants with a fair degree of success. The reports from the thinkers peg them as possible Wards candidates. I think I have the file about them… Oh!"
Colin almost stepped back as her efforts at holding the assortment of folders and papers while trying to find one in particular resulted in the papers scattering onto the floor around them. Shaking his head, he knelt down to help gather them up.
"Oh, that isn't necessary, sir," she said, dropping down as well and beginning to gather papers. "You shouldn't have to clean up after my clumsiness."
"It's alright," he said, neatly gathering the papers up into a tidy stack. He glanced at the one on top, which had been what she was about to show him, he thought. "Hanabi and Rockshow? Odd mix of names."
"Oh, those two," she pursed her lips as they both stood. "They were approached by Triumph, but didn't seem interested. The ones that I meant are a couple. Or siblings of some sort. The thinkers weren't entirely sure, with the information we have. A Mover and the other has some sort of surveillance power, I think. I'm not sure what they had classified it as yet though. FreightTrain and Spyglass are their designations."
He frowned. "Sounds familiar, but I don't believe I've met them."
"I'll have more details in the meeting," she said. "I'll share then, if it's alright. No sense in repeating myself more than I have to."
"I can wait," he shrugged lightly. "Anything else of note to report?"
"In town can wait for the meeting," Danica said. "Outside of town, there's some reports about one of those roving thief groups. I think you ran into them once before? A tinker and some others."
He grimaced. "Yes, I remember those four. Irritating, but they're notoriously bad about escaping. They avoid confrontations and getting data for my prediction software is annoying when they will run instead of fight."
"Well, isn't it better though?" she asked. "I mean, not that they get away, but that they don't want to engage in property damaging fights?"
"The last thing we need are more smart villains," he paused then shook his head as he held the door to the meeting room open for her. "Though, come to think of it, I wonder about their intelligence sometimes. One of them is named Chubster, after all."
The room was more than half full as they entered, with the Director already there, looking haggard as she sorted through an array of papers before her.
She's having sleeping issues again. The thought crossed his mind as he surveyed everyone present. Probably a bad episode recently. Colin made a mental note to broach the subject in private, again, of getting Panacea to repair the damage to her kidneys. The last thing Brockton Bay needed was the Director retiring due to ill health and someone less experienced or less restrained taking her place.
"Hey, boss," Assault said, the mask of his costume down around his neck. "Gotta say, clean-shaven is a weird look for you."
"I left my beard at home," he replied without thinking, then sighed mentally. He was never going to hear that end of that. Assault, however, simply stared, speechless for a moment.
"Did.. did you just make a joke?" he asked in a small voice. "You did, didn't you?"
Colin sighed. "Blame it on being around teenagers most of the day."
"I'm scared," he said in a voice that was supposed to be a whisper, but was anything but. "Armsmaster's making jokes. We're all doomed."
"Stop being stupid," Battery said, punching his shoulder. "It's a good thing that he's unwinding a little. I mean, er… you do seem more relaxed, sir."
"Thank you," he nodded, noticing that the Director was staring at him. "If you two will excuse me?"
He didn't wait for either to reply, moving toward the head of the table and the seat beside the Director that was currently unoccupied. Hannah was in the one he usually sat in.
"Director," Colin said, nodding. "Hannah."
"Any developments on your investigation?" Emily Piggot asked.
"Unfortunately not," he grimaced. "Little progress and recent developments are creating obstacles that I have to navigate around."
"You're certain it isn't the Hebert girl, still?" she asked.
"I'm not certain of anything," he said. "I'm leaning away from her being the one, but I can't rule out that she can hide her abilities completely. From what I have gleaned, she's had some personality changes. More assertive and outgoing."
The Director shuffled her papers. "How much longer do you expect you'll need to continue this undercover operation, then?"
"The only stipulation is to provide notice if I have to depart," Colin told her. "Beyond that, I can end it shortly after we find answers. Any developments on Mr. Gladly's condition?"
"We did have a development there," Hannah said, fishing out a report and skimming down it with her eyes. "He remains mostly comatose, but those periods where he isn't, he appears stuck trying to leave and travel to another location."
"So we could be dealing with more than just a pyrokinetic," he mused. "The question is, whether it's the work of the one responsible for the display, or unrelated."
"Find out," Emily said. "I'm not exactly enthused about the prospect of us dealing with a High School with parahumans acting so openly when we know of only one. I don't need to tell you what sort of a situation we could be dealing with if the reason we haven't found anything is that someone got to the one responsible already and are covering their tracks."
"I'm aware, Director," Colin said. "The possibility is one I keep in mind, but I find it unlikely, given the gang presence. You know if one of them had secured this person, they'd be lording it over the others. An outside group, perhaps, but if so, why have we heard nothing? This isn't exactly a subtle power, judging from the display."
"Whatever the case, I want this solved," Emily stated. "Find him or her and do it soon."
"We're ready, Director," one of the aids said before Colin could respond. "Everyone's here." Colin fished his notebook back out as the door closed and began making notes on what the suit he had thought of earlier might need while the meeting officially began.
~~~~~~~~
"We'll see you tomorrow!" Catherine waved as the pair departed, leaving me at the mall. I tapped my foot on the ground, considering what to do with the time I had left. I had already called dad and let him know, so I had another hour to myself before I needed to go home.
After a moment, I decided and turned on my heel, heading for the art supplies store. I wanted to do some more work on the sketches and maybe put some color on them, but I was out of some of the colors I wanted, so I would need to get some more.
"Taylor!" a voice called and I turned to see Vicky waving with her free arm, the other was tangled with the arm of a handsome teenage boy who just looked bemused.
"Vicky, hi!" I called, walking over while noticing that there were several people staring at Vicky like she was the most amazing thing they had ever seen. Her companion, presumably her boyfriend, leaned down a bit and whispered something to her and she rolled her eyes.
"Dean, this is Taylor," Vicky said, introducing us. "I met her last week."
"Nice to meet you," I murmured, shaking the hand that was offered. "Sorry I hadn't called. Just got a cell and with school work, I'd been busy."
"Oh, don't worry about that," she said. "What are you up to?"
"Was headed to the art store for some paint, actually," I said, as they fell into step with me. Dean was quiet, with a puzzled sort of frown on his face.
"You paint and have amazing fashion sense?" Vicky asked, smiling.
"Just in my spare time," I said. "What are you up to today?"
"Oh, just hanging out with Dean," she said airily. "I tried to get my sister to come along, but she didn't want to come along. I swear, sometimes I wish she should take some time for herself instead of, well, never mind. Mind if we tag along?"
"Fine by me," I said. "It's going to be pretty boring, though."
"The alternative is Vicky going clothes shopping again," Dean said, flashing a grin at his girlfriend. "I'd rather spare my wallet today, if it's all the same."
"Oh, pssh, I bet you'd change your tune if I went to try out the skirts," Vicky said. "You certainly didn't mind the last time."
"Guilty," Dean admitted. "But the art store does sound like a nice change of pace, however much I enjoy your modeling efforts."
I shifted my feet, somewhat uncomfortable with the byplay. They were obviously close and I didn't want to feel like a third wheel. "It's alright. It's just in for some red, green, and gold paint. Maybe some black too." I bit my lip as I spoke, pondering. I might want to check my other colors and see if something else would work as well.
"Ooh, I've got this," Vicky said. "I know where they keep the best red. Crimson fire, I think it's called."
That did sound good and I did need to make more friends than just Catherine and Minako. "Sure, if you really want to, I'd like that."
"Awesome!" Vicky proclaimed. "Oh, and we have to go check out the clothes. I saw a jacket after we met the other day that I think would be awesome on you."
"Oh?" I perked up as we walked. The other day when I was clothes shopping with Vicky had been nice and had proven that she had a good eye for fashion, so I didn't doubt her claim. "Let me grab what I need and then we can go check it out."
"And somehow, we end up going clothes shopping anyway," Dean said jokingly. "Try not to kill my wallet this time, please?"
"I won't be too hard on it," Vicky said, grinning. "Now, let me show Taylor where that color is and then we can head over and we'll show her the jacket."
"I've got to make a call, so I'll be out here," Dean said, holding up a cellphone. "Come find me when you're ready." Vicky nodded and followed me into the art store, where I quickly found the green and gold. I thought of my earlier impulse and picked up a tube of black as well.
"And here you go," Vicky said, bouncing into the aisle I was standing in, holding a black tube out. "Crimson Fire, as promised."
"Thanks," I said, looking at the strip of color that indicated what it was supposed to look like when dry. "This.. this is perfect. Thank you!"
Dean was waiting when we left the store, the paints tucked away in my backpack. Vicky ran up and kissed him, unconcerned about the public display.
"Everything okay, sweetie?" she asked.
"Yeah, just class project stuff. Boring stuff, really, I can tell you about it later, if you want." he said easily, though I thought he looked uncomfortable for a moment.
Vicky eyed him for a moment and then nodded. "I'll hold you to that. But! Right now, we're not boring Taylor with whatever nonsense Roy's pestering you about. Clothes?"
"Clothes, yes," Dean agreed quickly, obviously eager to change the subject. "You said you had a jacket you wanted to show Taylor, right?"
"Oh, yes!" Vicky said, turning to me as I raised an eyebrow. "It's black and yellow, but not so much that it would make you look like a bumblebee, more like a gold, really."
I tried imagining it in my head, feeling an image almost taking shape. "Show me?"
"Onward!" Vicky announced, all but dragging us in her wake toward the store this jacket was at. The store turned out to be a smaller shop tucked in one corner of the mall. It sold only coats and jackets and every one of them I laid eyes on was clearly well made.
"Let's see," Vicky murmured, sorting through racks. "Oh, I hope someone didn't buy it… Ah, here!" She fished out a black and gold jacket and held it up for me. I looked it over, looking from one side to the other critically.
"A bit more gold than I like, but…" I began.
"Oh, go try it on!" she said, pushing it into my hands. "There's a mirror in the changing area back there so you can see how it looks yourself."
"Alright, alright," I acquiesced, holding the jacket close and starting toward the back to try it on.
~~~~~~~~
Vicky turned as soon as Taylor was out of earshot and tugged Dean toward a corner, wrapping around him and looking for all the world like she was kissing him. "Okay, spill. What's going on?"
"You know I can't talk about that with you, Vicky," Dean protested. "If you would join the Wards…"
"Nuh-uh," she said. "You know I won't do that. Now spill. You've been looking distracted since… is this about Taylor?"
He looked uncomfortable. "Maybe. She's the girl they pulled out of the locker last month, you know, when that bird showed up?"
"That's her?" Vicky hissed. "And, what, they think she did it? That's absurd. She's nice and hardly the type to go setting the sky on fire."
He shook his head. "I don't know too much, but I'm pretty sure they don't. Tests came back negative is the rumor. But... "
"What?" she asked. "Come on, tell me…" She pressed closer to him, giving him her most winsome smile.
"Ah, jeez, you're relentless," he groaned. "They tested her and she came back negative, like I said. But… when she's standing there, I'm not picking anything up. At all. It's like she's not even there."
"You've had people resistant to your abilities before," she said, grinning. "Take me, for example."
"To the overt part, yes," he said in a low voice. "But I haven't met anyone I can't get at least a feel for their mood from. She didn't even notice when your aura was on earlier."
"You're sure? Not just missing her with all the people around?" Vicky pressed.
"I haven't had that problem in a while, Vick," he said. "I haven't met anyone I don't get a read from unless something's interfering. Even then, there's usually something. This is more like a complete blank space where she's standing. I can follow physical cues, but she's not giving anything at all for me to pick up. It's like bouncing off a brick wall."
"Huh," she bit her lip. "Well, I think you're probably overreacting. I'll keep an eye on her though, but I don't like spying on friends, even new ones." She reluctantly disengaged and adjusted her clothing quickly in case anything was out of sorts, turning to see Taylor emerging from the changing area, looking pensive as she adjusted the jacket that she was still wearing, holding her backpack and the coat she had come in wearing in one hand.
"Well, how is it?" Vicky asked, grinning brightly.
"It is awesome, like you said," Taylor murmured before frowning. "But way outside my budget. Maybe some other time…"
"How much are you short?" Vicky asked, glancing toward Dean, who rolled his eyes.
"Oh, I'll have enough in a few days, and I can come back," she shrugged, slipping her arms free easily. "It's no big deal."
"Nope, it's perfect, like I said, and you are walking out of here with it," she pronounced, deftly snatching the jacket and passing it to Dean. "Consider it a birthday present."
"My birthday isn't until summer," Taylor said.
"A very early birthday present then," Vicky corrected. "Honey, if you would?"
"Fine, fine," he shook his head, looking exasperated but started toward the cashier. "It's just easier to go along when she gets like this."
Taylor blinked, looking unsure. "Why? You both barely know me and that jacket's really expensive."
"Lots of reasons," Dean said easily. "I haven't known you for more than an hour, sure, but I'd like to think I'm a good judge of character and I have more money than I could spend in both our lifetimes. Plus, it makes Vicky happy."
"And I'm encouraging it because your current jacket is all wrong for the clothes you were looking at the other day. You need something stylish, assertive for those." Vicky added, slinging an arm around Taylor's shoulder. "Also, call it an early birthday or a late christmas, whatever. I like doing nice things for my friends."
"You mean you like having me do nice things for your friends," Dean corrected, handing over a black card to the cashier along with his identification.
Taylor shook her head at the byplay between the two of them. "Thank you."
Dean started to say something but his phone buzzed and he grimaced. "You're welcome, Taylor. I'd stick around, but this is probably important so I'll need to go take care of it."
"Class project again?" Vicky asked, looking bemused.
"Roy's a pain," Dean shrugged. "I'll be happy when he graduates."
"Hate to buy you a present and run, but I should probably go help him," Vicky said. "They'll get cleared up faster with another pair of hands."
Taylor hesitantly took the jacket after the security tag was removed. "I… is it something I can help with?"
They exchanged a look and Vicky shook her head. "Roy's a stickler for rules. I squeeze in by virtue of being Dean's girl, but he is very picky about not letting anyone who isn't on the project help otherwise."
"Well, good luck then," Taylor said, clutching the jacket to her chest as they waved and left the store. Bemused, she tucked her old jacket into her backpack and pulled the new one one in its place.
~~~~~~~~
I left the mall in a daze, expecting that someone would stop me at any moment and I'd be arrested and the whole thing that had just happened was nothing more than a prank. By the time I made it outside and there was no one arresting me, it sunk in that this had really happened.
People I barely knew had dropped several hundred dollars on an expensive jacket as a gift. Who even does that? I didn't know what to think. I took a deep breath and pushed it to the back of my mind. I would need to think of something nice to do in return. I sent off a quick text message to Vicky and then checked how my funds looked.
I should probably cash in a few more cards. I bit my lip, thinking. There was a corner store near here that I could turn a few in at. I had some stuck in a binder in my pack. Would the store let me though? I stopped by a bench and made a show of looking at my cellphone while I used my precog to trace ahead and see.
A few minutes later and a headache had me nodding. I would get in and out of the store with no problems. Decision made, I cancelled my precog to let the headache fade. The store was about five minutes away and there was a bus route near it that I could catch to head home after that.
True to my prediction, I was in and out with my new funds tucked safely away in my backpack and headed toward the stop for the bus route. My eyes drifted down to the sleeve of the jacket and I smiled a bit. Even if their gifting it to me was odd, it was a nice coat.
Checking the display on my phone, I almost swore, before turning to look at the schedule pasted on the side of the rain shelter set up at the pick up spot.
"Not running after five on this route?" I read aloud, shoving the phone into my pocket. Back to the mall, then I could call dad to have him come pick me up. I wrapped my arms around my self as a gust of cold wind breezed through. The weird weather had been off and on, odd for this time of year. We almost never saw snow and a few dustings had already hit in the past week, with the weathermen promising more.
The parking lot of the mall stretched out in front of me and I cut across it rather than following the road. It was faster to the closest side entrance that way. Several of the overhead lights were out, casting large sections of the parking lot in darkness that made me frown for a moment before I kept moving.
The only warning I had was the rush of footsteps as I was surrounded on both sides, hands grabbing my arms and another hand that smelled of sweat and something foul that I couldn't put name to clamped on my jaw.
"Not a word, hear?" a gruff voice said, shaking my head so hard that vision spun and my glasses fell to the ground with a clatter. A second later, as I tried to make sense of the man's features, I heard the crunch of the frames breaking as the two men dragged me off. I twisted my arms, panic seizing me as I tried to get free.
"Stoppit right now," the man who had first spoken said. I felt him let my arm go, but the other simply used his free hand and wrenched my right arm in a hold that drew a pained sound from me. I kicked my legs, shouting against his hand and I saw his blurred features twist in fury.
The next thing I felt was a weight slamming into my stomach, driving the air from my lungs and almost bending me double from the impact. Pain filled every sense and I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to shove away from the two men and curl up at the same time. They resumed dragging me out of sight and seconds later I found myself shoved against a dumpster and a wall.
"Please," I choked out, drawing in air while clutching my arms around my midsection. "I don't…"
They ignored me and advanced, one pinning me while the other ripped my backpack away. I tried to grab it back, but the larger one shoved me back while his friend retreated, roughly tearing the zipper open and beginning to toss things out. My notebooks were strewn across the ground carelessly, pages crumpling as they landed oddly. The bag with the paints was torn open and then the tubes cast aside after a moment's examination, followed by my old coat.
Then the folder I had stashed the money in was opened. "Lookee here, Jake. Girlie's got cash, like he said. Must be a grand here, easy."
Money? This was about money? And he said? What did that mean… I coughed as I realized the clerk must have called these guys on me. I had only looked to see if I would get in and out of the store without any difficulty. Stupid!
"Jacket, girlie," the larger one said. "Take it off."
"It's cold," I said, my hands gripping the fabric defensively.
"Don't care," he snapped. "And I wasn't asking. Take it off! It'll sell well, a nice coat like that."
"Hey, Jake," the smaller one said. "Got a better idea. She got this money from playing the cards, Ralph said. Had like five of them and all for high dollars. We make her do that again, if she can. Easy money."
"I dunno, man," he said, staring at me in a way I didn't think I liked. "Think this girl's trouble. Should just take her shit and go."
"No, it'll definitely be easy," the smaller guy said, his eyes drifting to me in a way I definitely didn't like. "We get some of the good stuff from Skids and she'll do whatever we say for a fix."
Skids? I felt the color bleed from my face as I realized who he meant. Skidmark. The leader of the Merchants. Which meant the good stuff was probably… drugs. I shook my head in denial.
"Girlie doesn't like that," the one called Jake said. "What the hell? Let's do it."
"No," I said, feeling cold seep into my bones suddenly, even as I clutched my arms tighter. I wasn't going to be their drugged up plaything! They should fear me.
It was like a switch being thrown. One moment, I was backing further into the corner, hoping it would hide me from Jake's approaching grip. The next, he was pale-faced, backing away as if the most terrifying thing he had ever seen was in front of him.
"Shit, Jake, what's wrong?" his companion asked and I swivelled my head to look at him. The air rippled between us and he went pale as well, dropping the folder and the money he had been taking from it.
"Gods…" the man whispered, scrambling backwards. "I didn't mean it! Honest! Don't… " Both men had more or less collapsed in seconds, whimpering and retreating. I looked between them, frowning at their sudden change in demeanor. I moved forward and they both backed away. Backed away from me. Was I doing this somehow? I focused on Jake, who had been the one to hit me and I watched whatever traces of color remained in his face flee.
"Please, please, oh god, dad, don't," Jake was babbling, clearly not seeing me any longer, but something else that terrified him. I took another step forward and found myself floating. The other man was still staring at me with eyes nearly completely white and I snarled at him, seeing the air distort between us again. Both men shuddered and went limp and the acrid stench that suddenly filled the air made me wrinkle my nose.
My feet struck pavement then, jarring me slightly. I seized a lungful of air and knelt, quickly gathering up all of my things. I threw a cautious look at the two men who had been terrorizing me just moments before. Neither was moving, but I could see their chests shifting slightly, indicating that they were breathing. I pulled my backpack up, clutching it to my chest and ran from there as fast as I could.
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Huh. Given that it looks like the Mall is in a decent part of town, I find it a little surprising that Merchants are this far away from the Docks.
- Location
- Internet
Remember that the Merchant's are primarily drug dealers. They can't get to the prime crowds, aka the Kids, unless they leave the Docks and prowl around areas where they can. Like the Mall for example, and the area around the mall.
Just because it's their turf doesn't mean they operate elusively in it, especially since it's pretty canon that they have the turf that no one else in their right mind would want, making it harder to expand their consumer base unless they leave that turf.
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chibipoe
May I tell you of the glory that is Catradora?
- Location
- Astoria, Oregon
Ooops. Well, she does. But we'll just say she has to turn it on and panic overrode logic.
chibipoe
May I tell you of the glory that is Catradora?
- Location
- Astoria, Oregon
No, no she isn't. Partly as super-extensive uses do give her headaches at the moment. However, this instance will have her using it more proactively. Not everyone gets hyper competence right off the bat.
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- Internet
I think we can forgive it just once as long as it's consistant in the future. Not like Marvel is always perfectly consistent with their character powers.