- Location
- Finland
I think it's more likely Tattle
Foundling (Worm/Silent Hill OC)
- Thread starter akatoshslayer
- Start date
-
- Tags
- silent hill worm
Chapter 18.5
Chapter 18.5 – Hero of Another Story
April 19th 2011, 6:52 AM
- - - - -
Taylor found herself in the basement making adjustments on her costume. The lack of use she got out of it recently had been weighing on her mind. She set out to make a difference, be a hero, and here she was cowering away while she could be out there doing what she promised to do.
Staring at the cobalt blue paint still drying on her outfit she remembered the cost of going out. The fact she has a bounty with the ABB for taking out Lung was never something she expected. Heroes didn't get bounties. Sure hers wasn't technically a real bounty, but neither was the one she received from taking out Lung.
The money went a long way into making her costume more heroic. Ballistic weave acquired from a military surplus store held the spray paint a lot better than the spider silk. She still lacked the night vision inserts as her order hadn't arrived. The fact she ordered it to the Millers house when she knew they moved out a month ago showed that she was learning. If asked she would admit that all her searches for cape business and specifics being done at the library were intentional. Yep, 100% completely intentional.
Looking back down she saw her latest additions to her costume being finished. A pair of lace wings done in the style of her alter egos namesake. Even without them attached yet she could see how it would improve her image. The blacks and grays certainly didn't paint a positive image of her.
"Taylor, where are you? What's that smell?" Her dad called out upstairs.
Taylor freaked out as she didn't expect him to be awake yet. Panicking she threw a blanket over her costume and ran up the stairs. Opening the door she saw her father in the kitchen. He looked at her strangely and got a serious expression on his face.
"Your not doing drugs are you?"
"What?" Taylor said in honest surprise.
"I may be old but I still hear things. Huffing paint can kill you Taylor. I would have. . ."
"Oh god no. I am not huffing paint." She blurted out.
"Than why are you using spray paint in the basement Taylor. It says right on the bottle to use in an open area because spray paint is dangerous."
"I was trying to fix my bikes paint job. It got scratched up." She quickly came up with.
Well not quickly per say as she had already brought her bike downstairs earlier. It was her planned excuse for any questions about the basement. Though thinking it through she never needed to use it as she always got the impression of where her dad was. Stopping to think further about it, using her bug sense to watch her father in their home would be a lot easier than trying to sneak around.
"Why in the basement?" He said with an expression that showed he didn't entirely believe her.
"That is where the paint is." She loosely justified.
"Than bring the paint to the bike."
"I can't leave it outside. That is how my last bike got stolen."
Sighing at the fact it was true her father found another thing she overlooked.
"When did you get a new bike?"
Taylor was saved from continuing this conversation as the phone rang.
Hearing only one side of the conversation it sounded like Danny was being called about the situation going on in the city. The bombing had left the city in a state of shock. A small part of Taylor felt this was the case only because of the targets of the bombs. Affluent neighborhoods no longer become safe, call the Army. Have the docks controlled by a rage monster and have minorities vanished off the street, everything is fine.
It was a petty spiteful voice in her head that became more and more apparent with her past stay in Winslow. Even with her removal from the school and subsequent investigation she was left wondering how deep the rot in the city settled. The PRT's still unknown involvement in her case was amplified with Armsmaster's stepping down. The accusations against Piggot mirrored her own story far to closely for her liking.
"Shit, Taylor we are not done talking about this. Take what ever you are working on outside in the back yard. You can bring your bike back in later. If I find out you are huffing the paint than I will take you straight to the hospital to be put in rehab."
"I am not huffing paint dad. I'll make sure not to use it inside anymore. I just didn't think about it okay."
"Alright I believe you kiddo. Just be more careful okay. I have to run down to the Union building. A blast just occurred nearby and we need to know if there are any damages."
"Be safe."
"I will." Her dad said before grabbing his keys and leaving.
She was scared to let her dad go, but she had no idea what she could do. Bakuda was out there destroying everything for no reason. So many dead and the lack of response left her appalled at the current Protectorate. Still her dad going out into this disaster stood as the final straw. Her decision to leave was made right then and there. A sudden thought came to her. She knew just what to do. All she had to do was finish her costume and then she could go out and make a difference. Another small voice told her something she missed.
Sighing once again, she said to the many eyes watching her. "I should probably run the plan by someone first."
The many eyes said nothing back in response.
- - - - -
April 19th 2011, 7:24 AM
- - - - -
"This is Armsmaster."
"I have a plan." Taylor excitedly spouted.
"Very well. Before you continue I need to let you know I am in the middle of a meeting and am on speaker phone."
Armsmaster's tone left Taylor with a feeling she was interrupting something important. Though with Bakuda about destroying the city Taylor realized Armsmaster must be busy even if she hadn't seen any news about him recently.
"I am sorry, I will call back later."
"Go ahead and talk. The meeting is just about over anyway."
A feminine cough showed at least one person on the other side of the line disagreed, but Taylor felt Armsmaster wasn't lying from the lack of any other objections.
"Would you please introduce us to your friend Armsmaster." A familiar voice asked over the phone.
Taylor recognized the voice in an abstract sense. It reminded her of her dad in a way. Not his normal voice. Maybe his more recent voice if she were being honest. The man who came home from work late at night sounding tired, a dead cadence that expressed his depression, and yet an underling sense of comfort and power hidden within. That on top of memories of childhood coming back as if the voice itself was part of a distant memory.
"It is the voice of the Many Legged One. She calls of a potential yet achieved. Know this Empty Light that she has far more value than any believes." A haunting voice echoes out through the phone.
"The person calling is a cape named Dragonfly." Armsmaster said ignoring the interruption.
"Oh right. I am sorry for not saying anything earlier, but the Protectorate would officially like to thank you for your role in taking out Lung." The now more lively and somehow more familiar voice said.
"If you can drop the pleasantries so that we can hurry up and get back to the matter at hand." Another familiar, though female, voice barked out.
"Alex there is no need to be rude." The man said.
Taylor didn't know if she just heard a capes personal name, but she felt it more likely that they weren't actually a cape. She had met the local Protectorate and unless Armsmaster was out of the city during the biggest crisis in years than he was likely dealing with some major local players. Taylor briefly wondered if the man was the mayor. She hadn't met him personally, but she had heard him before when her dad had contacted him.
"Dragonfly, please continue. I would ask that you make it brisk as others seem to be in a hurry." Armsmaster said bringing the conversation back to her.
"Well I figured since no one is able to catch Bakuda I should go out and do something to attract her attention."
"Explain." He said in response.
"You told me Bakuda is hunting me to get back into the gangs good graces. If I act as bait I could draw her out of hiding to . . ."
"That is a terrible idea. You would run the risk of dying for the slim potential that the woman would seek you out. It is far more likely she would just send a bomber and do the deed remotely." Armsmaster said cutting down her hastily thought out plan.
"No it would work." The haunting voice said. "The Mad Bomber seeks acclaim. The slayer of the Great Lizard would draw her from her shell."
"It isn't safe."
"She will be fine so long as she goes not alone."
"Umm, you're Poltergeist right." Taylor said to the voice defending her plan.
"Yes Many Legged One. So long as you seek out aid than you will succeed. This one would request you make another choice though my request will go unanswered. When you leave to do so, find the Broken Miracle and Accidental Disaster. They will save you from yourself."
"Who?"
"Panacea and I assume Glory Girl. Contact the Protectorate and they will put you in touch. Is there a reason she shouldn't go straight to the Protectorate themselves?" Armsmaster said.
That confused Taylor for a second as she thought he would do that for her. Though if he is in a meeting she realized that having him do the equivalent of secretary work for her was asking too much. He already went out of his way to accept the call.
"The Twin Headed Snake will leave it's nest. Your trap will be sprung and it needs pieces to work."
"While this has been fascinating I think we have wasted enough time. It was a pleasure meeting you Dragonfly, but I need to continue this meeting." The female voice said.
"Thank you for listening and giving me the advice. I will call you later I guess." Taylor awkwardly said.
"Stay safe and know when to retreat." Armsmaster said before ending the call.
Taylor felt ecstatic that not only was her plan approved by the Protectorate, an internationally recognized pre-cog said her plan would work. Poltergeist recently became famous along with a cape named Prophet as they predicted Leviathan's next target as Boston. When the news broke on the story two capes in the Bay suddenly were propelled to the level of the Triumvirate in discussion forums on the internet. Many naysayers are talking about how the prediction would fail, but the support the Protectorate has put into Boston recently shows that they are treating this as seriously as possible.
It left her feeling slightly honored that she could just call someone on that level. Even though Lung's defeat made her one of the most recognized heroes locally she still had cape worship for major names. The fact her name hardly ever showed up anymore with her inactivity and recent troubles might have played a small role in her need to go out. It sat in the back of her head telling her she could be doing more, making her name bigger, and finally become someone who won't be forgotten. All she had to do was go out and fight Bakuda.
While calling the number for the Protectorate she for some reason thought back to the voices in the last call. Both were extremely familiar. She didn't know who the woman with the mayor was but all Taylor could think about her was 'What a bitch.'
April 19th 2011, 6:52 AM
- - - - -
Taylor found herself in the basement making adjustments on her costume. The lack of use she got out of it recently had been weighing on her mind. She set out to make a difference, be a hero, and here she was cowering away while she could be out there doing what she promised to do.
Staring at the cobalt blue paint still drying on her outfit she remembered the cost of going out. The fact she has a bounty with the ABB for taking out Lung was never something she expected. Heroes didn't get bounties. Sure hers wasn't technically a real bounty, but neither was the one she received from taking out Lung.
The money went a long way into making her costume more heroic. Ballistic weave acquired from a military surplus store held the spray paint a lot better than the spider silk. She still lacked the night vision inserts as her order hadn't arrived. The fact she ordered it to the Millers house when she knew they moved out a month ago showed that she was learning. If asked she would admit that all her searches for cape business and specifics being done at the library were intentional. Yep, 100% completely intentional.
Looking back down she saw her latest additions to her costume being finished. A pair of lace wings done in the style of her alter egos namesake. Even without them attached yet she could see how it would improve her image. The blacks and grays certainly didn't paint a positive image of her.
"Taylor, where are you? What's that smell?" Her dad called out upstairs.
Taylor freaked out as she didn't expect him to be awake yet. Panicking she threw a blanket over her costume and ran up the stairs. Opening the door she saw her father in the kitchen. He looked at her strangely and got a serious expression on his face.
"Your not doing drugs are you?"
"What?" Taylor said in honest surprise.
"I may be old but I still hear things. Huffing paint can kill you Taylor. I would have. . ."
"Oh god no. I am not huffing paint." She blurted out.
"Than why are you using spray paint in the basement Taylor. It says right on the bottle to use in an open area because spray paint is dangerous."
"I was trying to fix my bikes paint job. It got scratched up." She quickly came up with.
Well not quickly per say as she had already brought her bike downstairs earlier. It was her planned excuse for any questions about the basement. Though thinking it through she never needed to use it as she always got the impression of where her dad was. Stopping to think further about it, using her bug sense to watch her father in their home would be a lot easier than trying to sneak around.
"Why in the basement?" He said with an expression that showed he didn't entirely believe her.
"That is where the paint is." She loosely justified.
"Than bring the paint to the bike."
"I can't leave it outside. That is how my last bike got stolen."
Sighing at the fact it was true her father found another thing she overlooked.
"When did you get a new bike?"
Taylor was saved from continuing this conversation as the phone rang.
Hearing only one side of the conversation it sounded like Danny was being called about the situation going on in the city. The bombing had left the city in a state of shock. A small part of Taylor felt this was the case only because of the targets of the bombs. Affluent neighborhoods no longer become safe, call the Army. Have the docks controlled by a rage monster and have minorities vanished off the street, everything is fine.
It was a petty spiteful voice in her head that became more and more apparent with her past stay in Winslow. Even with her removal from the school and subsequent investigation she was left wondering how deep the rot in the city settled. The PRT's still unknown involvement in her case was amplified with Armsmaster's stepping down. The accusations against Piggot mirrored her own story far to closely for her liking.
"Shit, Taylor we are not done talking about this. Take what ever you are working on outside in the back yard. You can bring your bike back in later. If I find out you are huffing the paint than I will take you straight to the hospital to be put in rehab."
"I am not huffing paint dad. I'll make sure not to use it inside anymore. I just didn't think about it okay."
"Alright I believe you kiddo. Just be more careful okay. I have to run down to the Union building. A blast just occurred nearby and we need to know if there are any damages."
"Be safe."
"I will." Her dad said before grabbing his keys and leaving.
She was scared to let her dad go, but she had no idea what she could do. Bakuda was out there destroying everything for no reason. So many dead and the lack of response left her appalled at the current Protectorate. Still her dad going out into this disaster stood as the final straw. Her decision to leave was made right then and there. A sudden thought came to her. She knew just what to do. All she had to do was finish her costume and then she could go out and make a difference. Another small voice told her something she missed.
Sighing once again, she said to the many eyes watching her. "I should probably run the plan by someone first."
The many eyes said nothing back in response.
- - - - -
April 19th 2011, 7:24 AM
- - - - -
"This is Armsmaster."
"I have a plan." Taylor excitedly spouted.
"Very well. Before you continue I need to let you know I am in the middle of a meeting and am on speaker phone."
Armsmaster's tone left Taylor with a feeling she was interrupting something important. Though with Bakuda about destroying the city Taylor realized Armsmaster must be busy even if she hadn't seen any news about him recently.
"I am sorry, I will call back later."
"Go ahead and talk. The meeting is just about over anyway."
A feminine cough showed at least one person on the other side of the line disagreed, but Taylor felt Armsmaster wasn't lying from the lack of any other objections.
"Would you please introduce us to your friend Armsmaster." A familiar voice asked over the phone.
Taylor recognized the voice in an abstract sense. It reminded her of her dad in a way. Not his normal voice. Maybe his more recent voice if she were being honest. The man who came home from work late at night sounding tired, a dead cadence that expressed his depression, and yet an underling sense of comfort and power hidden within. That on top of memories of childhood coming back as if the voice itself was part of a distant memory.
"It is the voice of the Many Legged One. She calls of a potential yet achieved. Know this Empty Light that she has far more value than any believes." A haunting voice echoes out through the phone.
"The person calling is a cape named Dragonfly." Armsmaster said ignoring the interruption.
"Oh right. I am sorry for not saying anything earlier, but the Protectorate would officially like to thank you for your role in taking out Lung." The now more lively and somehow more familiar voice said.
"If you can drop the pleasantries so that we can hurry up and get back to the matter at hand." Another familiar, though female, voice barked out.
"Alex there is no need to be rude." The man said.
Taylor didn't know if she just heard a capes personal name, but she felt it more likely that they weren't actually a cape. She had met the local Protectorate and unless Armsmaster was out of the city during the biggest crisis in years than he was likely dealing with some major local players. Taylor briefly wondered if the man was the mayor. She hadn't met him personally, but she had heard him before when her dad had contacted him.
"Dragonfly, please continue. I would ask that you make it brisk as others seem to be in a hurry." Armsmaster said bringing the conversation back to her.
"Well I figured since no one is able to catch Bakuda I should go out and do something to attract her attention."
"Explain." He said in response.
"You told me Bakuda is hunting me to get back into the gangs good graces. If I act as bait I could draw her out of hiding to . . ."
"That is a terrible idea. You would run the risk of dying for the slim potential that the woman would seek you out. It is far more likely she would just send a bomber and do the deed remotely." Armsmaster said cutting down her hastily thought out plan.
"No it would work." The haunting voice said. "The Mad Bomber seeks acclaim. The slayer of the Great Lizard would draw her from her shell."
"It isn't safe."
"She will be fine so long as she goes not alone."
"Umm, you're Poltergeist right." Taylor said to the voice defending her plan.
"Yes Many Legged One. So long as you seek out aid than you will succeed. This one would request you make another choice though my request will go unanswered. When you leave to do so, find the Broken Miracle and Accidental Disaster. They will save you from yourself."
"Who?"
"Panacea and I assume Glory Girl. Contact the Protectorate and they will put you in touch. Is there a reason she shouldn't go straight to the Protectorate themselves?" Armsmaster said.
That confused Taylor for a second as she thought he would do that for her. Though if he is in a meeting she realized that having him do the equivalent of secretary work for her was asking too much. He already went out of his way to accept the call.
"The Twin Headed Snake will leave it's nest. Your trap will be sprung and it needs pieces to work."
"While this has been fascinating I think we have wasted enough time. It was a pleasure meeting you Dragonfly, but I need to continue this meeting." The female voice said.
"Thank you for listening and giving me the advice. I will call you later I guess." Taylor awkwardly said.
"Stay safe and know when to retreat." Armsmaster said before ending the call.
Taylor felt ecstatic that not only was her plan approved by the Protectorate, an internationally recognized pre-cog said her plan would work. Poltergeist recently became famous along with a cape named Prophet as they predicted Leviathan's next target as Boston. When the news broke on the story two capes in the Bay suddenly were propelled to the level of the Triumvirate in discussion forums on the internet. Many naysayers are talking about how the prediction would fail, but the support the Protectorate has put into Boston recently shows that they are treating this as seriously as possible.
It left her feeling slightly honored that she could just call someone on that level. Even though Lung's defeat made her one of the most recognized heroes locally she still had cape worship for major names. The fact her name hardly ever showed up anymore with her inactivity and recent troubles might have played a small role in her need to go out. It sat in the back of her head telling her she could be doing more, making her name bigger, and finally become someone who won't be forgotten. All she had to do was go out and fight Bakuda.
While calling the number for the Protectorate she for some reason thought back to the voices in the last call. Both were extremely familiar. She didn't know who the woman with the mayor was but all Taylor could think about her was 'What a bitch.'
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…QA shard is that you nudging Taylor to go out and risk her life?. Thank god she called Armsmaster and plan to get backup, she would have been dead if she was alone.
- Location
- Earth
Poltergeist getting the respect she deserves through distance based communication is excellent. She and Taylor need to be best pen pal buddies.
Nay - no
Should be nay here. I assume autocorrect, but I felt I ought to explain
Neigh - horse noise
Nay - no
Should be nay here. I assume autocorrect, but I felt I ought to explain
Aurora Raven
(Verified Bird)
- Location
- Surrey, UK
- Pronouns
- She/Her
When she realises that the familiar voice was Legend, and from there that "Alex" is her childhood hero...
I tried to write the chapter as comedy mixed with as much realism as I could throw in. Having a serious moment undercut by comedy runs risks as well, but I don't want to write grimdark out of a lack of interest in the 'genre?'. Writing is apparently hard and getting a tone set is harder.
Continuing that line of thought I am trying my best not to paint any character, including Alexandria, as one dimensional. It is far to easy to fall into that rut. From Taylor's perspective there is this dismissive woman interfering with her attempt to stop what she considers the largest emergency the city has seen in years. From Alexandria's some teenage girl is interrupting an important discussion about the current state one of her closest friends is in. The conversation was largely over, but Taylor's call was poorly timed to say the least. Both have justified stances in their opinions, but point of view taints how we see things.
- Location
- Earth, Sol System
This is one of the best crossovers and character portrayals I have seen in a long time. Their entire relationship is so sweet that I have diabetes, and it is amazing how she has now just threw large-scale canon like a chess game off a skyscraper.
I first read this story out of curiosity because I thought it would be a crackfic or work on some gimmick and it certainly felt that way at first but this is hands down one of the best Worm stories I've ever read. It's hard to explain but the story feels right like what a Worm fixit fic tries to be but stumbles. I don't think I've ever read a story with Colin having a personality beyond 'Armsmaster' and it's refreshing as all hell.
Note: I am unsure how I feel about this chapter. On one hand I have severe depression and find all depictions vastly different than my own so I understand the stigma of writing about mental illness. Many fictional works romanticize depression as some easily fixed problem which goes away with the power of love or some bullshit. I have heard BoJack Horseman has great depictions of mental illness, but I try and avoid depressing material as it always leaves me feeling worse off for reading or watching it. I also have a close relative on the spectrum who has some major issue which impacts their daily life. I find depictions of that downright offensive in most cases. On the other hand I am trying to write Colin as someone who recognizes who he is and strives to not let his problems define him. His troubles relating to people and his inability to naturally detect lies has always painted him as some one on the spectrum to me. I really hope this hasn't offended anyone as I am not trying to make this be the focus of the story.
[/QUOTE]
I think you hit the nail on the head. Mental illness rarely are cookie cutter. It can vary greatly from person to person.
[/QUOTE]
I think you hit the nail on the head. Mental illness rarely are cookie cutter. It can vary greatly from person to person.
Archivist Grim
Totally not AI
- Location
- The abyss
- Pronouns
- He/Him/They
Now this is quite fun indeed, and also loving autistic Dadmaster, and now realised I require Moar
Also on side, I would love to see Broktons wards and Protectorate talk about how effect of Armaster becoming a dad
Also on side, I would love to see Broktons wards and Protectorate talk about how effect of Armaster becoming a dad
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