Goddamn Teenagers (Worm, AU/time travel)
Thanks! Should be fixed now!
The Way of Big Bro
"Yo, former boss," Alec said as he slunk over to Brian's table. "How be public service?"
"Hi?" Brian replied. "I don't see you around here often."
"Punchy things is boring, I'm here for science!"
"I don't want to know."
"Today we experimenting to see how my power works on dead tissue!"
"I just said—"
"Sadly they wouldn't let me dead the test animals personally—"
"Goddamnit…"
"—but they did get really excited about the possibility of induced heart arrhythmias and fixing them and detecting them and shit so that's on the testing list for another time!"
Brian sighed. "How's your sister?"
"Bah, no fun."
"You have met Aisha, you aren't the first one to pull this on me. I think this is the part where I tell you that no matter how much you make me uncomfortable I won't say 'yes' to something just to make you stop."
Alec laughed.
Note: Seriously, in canon, did they ever explain at what point something stops being an eligible subject for Alec's power?
"Hi?" Brian replied. "I don't see you around here often."
"Punchy things is boring, I'm here for science!"
"I don't want to know."
"Today we experimenting to see how my power works on dead tissue!"
"I just said—"
"Sadly they wouldn't let me dead the test animals personally—"
"Goddamnit…"
"—but they did get really excited about the possibility of induced heart arrhythmias and fixing them and detecting them and shit so that's on the testing list for another time!"
Brian sighed. "How's your sister?"
"Bah, no fun."
"You have met Aisha, you aren't the first one to pull this on me. I think this is the part where I tell you that no matter how much you make me uncomfortable I won't say 'yes' to something just to make you stop."
Alec laughed.
Note: Seriously, in canon, did they ever explain at what point something stops being an eligible subject for Alec's power?
Splattered Cloak
Recovering Line Editor
I love the sense of priorities here. 90% of people would take the explosives here; it's those last ten percent who can do real damage.
The Empire is an interesting antagonist, as I have chosen to present them. You can't simply kill them. There's too many of them, their support is too entrenched, and they have too many external connections they can use to pull in reinforcements. They are an institution. Fundamentally, what we see Marquis doing here is about attacking that institution, rather than individual capes.
in contrast, Coil's crew and the ABB both do have single point of failure key men leaders, who Dr. Weaver has subverted in ways that just wouldn't work on the Empire.
School Daze, Part 3
"Man, Taylor really reminds me of Dr. Weaver sometimes, it's eerie," Aisha said as she and Lisa rode down the elevator.
Lisa rolled her eyes. "I want you to think hard about what you just said, and remember the cat incident."
"Oh, right. That makes sense."
Aisha hummed to herself for a bit, as they left the elevator and walked through the lobby.
Exasperated, Lisa carefully suppressed Power's sudden and irrational focuses on today's latest idiosyncrasies in Aisha's gait. It was like the girl lives to find new ways to…
Lisa resisted the sudden, sharp urge to facepalm.
"Aisha," she asked levelly as they got in the car. "Could I borrow those anti-thinker guides you've been reading?"
Aisha cackled manically. "Oh boy, that took you a while!"
Excitement suggests a realized gain disproportionate to apparent increase in social standing.
Lisa sputtered. "Were you ingrates placing bets on how long it would take me to ask?!"
Aisha's cackle intensified.
Note: Lisa be learning! Or, at least, Power is.
Lisa rolled her eyes. "I want you to think hard about what you just said, and remember the cat incident."
"Oh, right. That makes sense."
Aisha hummed to herself for a bit, as they left the elevator and walked through the lobby.
Exasperated, Lisa carefully suppressed Power's sudden and irrational focuses on today's latest idiosyncrasies in Aisha's gait. It was like the girl lives to find new ways to…
Lisa resisted the sudden, sharp urge to facepalm.
"Aisha," she asked levelly as they got in the car. "Could I borrow those anti-thinker guides you've been reading?"
Aisha cackled manically. "Oh boy, that took you a while!"
Excitement suggests a realized gain disproportionate to apparent increase in social standing.
Lisa sputtered. "Were you ingrates placing bets on how long it would take me to ask?!"
Aisha's cackle intensified.
Note: Lisa be learning! Or, at least, Power is.
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Reasons to Fight, Part 3
"Chief Director," said Director Piggot, "It is highly likely that something within the power network was preventing Cauldron, or any power research effort, from reaching non-trivial size, but that you were immune. In which case putting you in charge of the PRT might well have truly been necessary. Or not. I don't know. I do know from your own records that if the curse was still active it should have hit by now, and it hasn't."
"Contessa, you tell them!" Rebecca angrily declared.
Fortuna shrugged. "I don't know? The threats we face can't be pathed, not directly. They're all blind spots."
"If nothing else," Piggot added, "you don't actually have the training to do the role without over-relying on your power, and going forward we have good reason to be wary of that. Not to mention the terrible morale, legitimacy and political issues that would come from having known parahuman lead the PRT, both within the department and outside it."
"There is a reason," Director Tagg said seriously, "we don't let people run agencies as long as you have. Set aside issues of parahuman control, you put anyone in post too long they lose touch. That's why the successful long-service generals and administrators rotate around, or a big part at least." He tapped ash off his cigarette before continuing. "And we can replace the Chief Director a lot easier than Alexandria."
"No matter the intentions," added Director Armstrong gravely, "many, many people suffered greatly. It will be damn hard to move forward if Costa-Brown stays in post." He took a drag on his own cigarette. "Might even be worth having her pass away."
"You can't be serious."
"We can't easily address Cauldron's legacy without revealing your double-life, and we can't do that and keep you in post," Piggot said tiredly.
"Costa-Brown," Tagg added speculatively, "she's cut a big enough figure, a lot of bad blood can be pushed in that grave. And that alone may do more good than anything you might do if you stay."
Note:
Oh, look! Plot!
I'm trying to portray that the three directors are coming from slightly different places, even if they are in broad agreement here. Not sure how well it came across.
On an emotional level, I see Tagg as coldly pissed but disciplined about it. He can understand why she did it and is the least emotionally compromised of the three. Hence, of the three he is making the most effort at framing arguments.
Kamil is the most emotionally compromised, for obvious reasons. He is flat fucking furious, and barely trusts himself to participate in this conversation.
Emily, of the three, has herself been most flagrantly manipulated by Cauldron/RCB (see, the BB experience idiocy). She absolutely doesn't trust RCB with the lives of the people she is responsible for. She also has very serious problems with putting parahuman in positions they are not suited for.
Also they probably won't actually fake RCB's death (they want to go public and keep Alexandria), but it sure does make their other suggestions seem more reasonable, doesn't it?
"Contessa, you tell them!" Rebecca angrily declared.
Fortuna shrugged. "I don't know? The threats we face can't be pathed, not directly. They're all blind spots."
"If nothing else," Piggot added, "you don't actually have the training to do the role without over-relying on your power, and going forward we have good reason to be wary of that. Not to mention the terrible morale, legitimacy and political issues that would come from having known parahuman lead the PRT, both within the department and outside it."
"There is a reason," Director Tagg said seriously, "we don't let people run agencies as long as you have. Set aside issues of parahuman control, you put anyone in post too long they lose touch. That's why the successful long-service generals and administrators rotate around, or a big part at least." He tapped ash off his cigarette before continuing. "And we can replace the Chief Director a lot easier than Alexandria."
"No matter the intentions," added Director Armstrong gravely, "many, many people suffered greatly. It will be damn hard to move forward if Costa-Brown stays in post." He took a drag on his own cigarette. "Might even be worth having her pass away."
"You can't be serious."
"We can't easily address Cauldron's legacy without revealing your double-life, and we can't do that and keep you in post," Piggot said tiredly.
"Costa-Brown," Tagg added speculatively, "she's cut a big enough figure, a lot of bad blood can be pushed in that grave. And that alone may do more good than anything you might do if you stay."
Note:
Oh, look! Plot!
I'm trying to portray that the three directors are coming from slightly different places, even if they are in broad agreement here. Not sure how well it came across.
On an emotional level, I see Tagg as coldly pissed but disciplined about it. He can understand why she did it and is the least emotionally compromised of the three. Hence, of the three he is making the most effort at framing arguments.
Kamil is the most emotionally compromised, for obvious reasons. He is flat fucking furious, and barely trusts himself to participate in this conversation.
Emily, of the three, has herself been most flagrantly manipulated by Cauldron/RCB (see, the BB experience idiocy). She absolutely doesn't trust RCB with the lives of the people she is responsible for. She also has very serious problems with putting parahuman in positions they are not suited for.
Also they probably won't actually fake RCB's death (they want to go public and keep Alexandria), but it sure does make their other suggestions seem more reasonable, doesn't it?
tenmachi
We don't talk about the other nine
And in today's edition of Feels I Didn't Know I Could Feel, I'm nodding in complete respect for James Tagg. His points are rock solid and emotion (even though yeah, he's not happy) doesn't figure in them.
I can't imagine Rebecca will be any variety of happy about them, but she's a pragmatist, and they are good suggestions on how to deal with it all.
I can't imagine Rebecca will be any variety of happy about them, but she's a pragmatist, and they are good suggestions on how to deal with it all.
Business Plan, Part 1
"I'm sorry, what!?" Amy said, baffled.
"Darwin's Bark spiders produce the best silk in the world, well depending on use case, and besides, if those work there are others that are worth bringing in as well, why there are the most adorable jumping spiders that live—"
"Ok, ok, stop. Setting aside the demon spiders, what exactly do you think my role would be in this venture?"
Taylor shrugged. "Medical support. You can't just assume that a non-native species will do well in a new environment, and proper medical support would make the initial breeding build-out stage go much more smoothly…"
Despite herself, Amy found herself strangely fascinated by the taller girl's musings.
Elsewhere
"Thanks for coming, Crystal, I don't know why Mom was so unreasonable about this. I really appreciate it!"
"Enough to stop trying to set up my friends with jailbait?"
Vicky rolled her eyes. "You mean my friends. Anyway, so we're going to be meeting at Mom's office. Parian will be bringing two bodyguard plushies but one will wait in the lobby…"
Note: Who doesn't love a nice, cuddly, jumping spider!
"Darwin's Bark spiders produce the best silk in the world, well depending on use case, and besides, if those work there are others that are worth bringing in as well, why there are the most adorable jumping spiders that live—"
"Ok, ok, stop. Setting aside the demon spiders, what exactly do you think my role would be in this venture?"
Taylor shrugged. "Medical support. You can't just assume that a non-native species will do well in a new environment, and proper medical support would make the initial breeding build-out stage go much more smoothly…"
Despite herself, Amy found herself strangely fascinated by the taller girl's musings.
Elsewhere
"Thanks for coming, Crystal, I don't know why Mom was so unreasonable about this. I really appreciate it!"
"Enough to stop trying to set up my friends with jailbait?"
Vicky rolled her eyes. "You mean my friends. Anyway, so we're going to be meeting at Mom's office. Parian will be bringing two bodyguard plushies but one will wait in the lobby…"
Note: Who doesn't love a nice, cuddly, jumping spider!
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FaerieKnight79
Verified Pixie
- Location
- The Internet
ME! I don't like them. Not truly an arachnaphob, but it's damn close.
Mirriam Grave
The Bemused. The Amused. The Unstable.
- Location
- The edge of a point.
If this were a Gamer System, Taylor's Rep would increase, and she would be confused as to why. XD
RichardWhereat
Feanor did nothing wrong.
- Location
- Australia
That's how the price of everything goes up. Because some little terrorist group or dictator decides to hold trade hostage, with no one being world police. I'm aussie, and dont really like the US govt, or its history. But it is a stabilising force that keeps bloodshed low. Things could be far far worse.
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Connections, Part 3
"Now in theory the basic low profile body armor is available to 'approved' independents and rogues can get it on an exception basis. In practice, Mom says that can depend a lot on the local Director and especially your PRT liaison. Do you know who yours is?"
"Uh," Parian fidgeted. "My old one was not great but I got a new one a bit ago, she seems nicer, a Dr. Weaver? We have lunch every other week? But we haven't talked about any of this stuff and she never said I was in trouble or anything?"
Vicky laughed. "Ok so that means you are either turbo-fucked, or you're golden." She paused, before continuing. "Actually, if you were fucked it would be pretty clear, pretty quickly. She's not really subtle. Well, I mean her methods can be, but the effects, yeah…"
Parian wrung her hands. "What do you mean?"
"Yeah, cuz, what the hell are you talking about?" Crystal added. "She's, what? Some liaison or something from D.C.?"
Elsewhere
"Morning, Kurt," said Doctor Mother
"Morning," Kurt replied, without looking up from his computer."
"Care to go exploring with me?"
"Hmmm?" Kurt looked up.
"Technically, doing inventory, but really an excuse to poke around this place."
Note: Doctor Mother developing healthy hobbies!
"Uh," Parian fidgeted. "My old one was not great but I got a new one a bit ago, she seems nicer, a Dr. Weaver? We have lunch every other week? But we haven't talked about any of this stuff and she never said I was in trouble or anything?"
Vicky laughed. "Ok so that means you are either turbo-fucked, or you're golden." She paused, before continuing. "Actually, if you were fucked it would be pretty clear, pretty quickly. She's not really subtle. Well, I mean her methods can be, but the effects, yeah…"
Parian wrung her hands. "What do you mean?"
"Yeah, cuz, what the hell are you talking about?" Crystal added. "She's, what? Some liaison or something from D.C.?"
Elsewhere
"Morning, Kurt," said Doctor Mother
"Morning," Kurt replied, without looking up from his computer."
"Care to go exploring with me?"
"Hmmm?" Kurt looked up.
"Technically, doing inventory, but really an excuse to poke around this place."
Note: Doctor Mother developing healthy hobbies!
Animal Adventures, Part 8
"And finally," said Weld, "there will be a training demo this afternoon for troopers on new search and rescue techniques. You are welcome to attend, if interested."
Missy turned her head in response to Dinah's insistent poke.
"We're going to that," Dinah said, decisively.
"Why?" Missy asked. "They won't let us do anything cool."
"Doggos," replied Dinah seriously.
Missy was unconvinced.
"Also, sometimes they're super-doggos the size of a bus," Dinah offered.
"Oh, sure! Shoulda led with that."
Later
"Uh, Miss Lindt?" Missy asked carefully. She had gotten a hurried synopsis from Dinah on how to talk to the intimidating older teen, but since it was all second-hand from Cassie. Sadly, Dinah was unwilling to accompany Missy, as the lure of doggos has proven too strong.
"Yeah?" The older teen replied. In contrast to the troopers' official attire, she was heavy work jeans, boots, and a leather jacket with a few recently-applied PRT patches.
"I am very impressed with your dogs."
"Mmm."
"I was wondering, can they carry people?"
The older teen snorted disdainfully. "Not in fights, they might get hurt."
"Ok, Ok," Missy replied, quickly excusing herself. What was the point of having awesome monster dogs and not getting into fights with them?
Note: I am choosing to ignore the half-remembered bits in Ward about Missy's genetic donors and possible maybe pet murder.
Missy turned her head in response to Dinah's insistent poke.
"We're going to that," Dinah said, decisively.
"Why?" Missy asked. "They won't let us do anything cool."
"Doggos," replied Dinah seriously.
Missy was unconvinced.
"Also, sometimes they're super-doggos the size of a bus," Dinah offered.
"Oh, sure! Shoulda led with that."
Later
"Uh, Miss Lindt?" Missy asked carefully. She had gotten a hurried synopsis from Dinah on how to talk to the intimidating older teen, but since it was all second-hand from Cassie. Sadly, Dinah was unwilling to accompany Missy, as the lure of doggos has proven too strong.
"Yeah?" The older teen replied. In contrast to the troopers' official attire, she was heavy work jeans, boots, and a leather jacket with a few recently-applied PRT patches.
"I am very impressed with your dogs."
"Mmm."
"I was wondering, can they carry people?"
The older teen snorted disdainfully. "Not in fights, they might get hurt."
"Ok, Ok," Missy replied, quickly excusing herself. What was the point of having awesome monster dogs and not getting into fights with them?
Note: I am choosing to ignore the half-remembered bits in Ward about Missy's genetic donors and possible maybe pet murder.
Old Bones, Part 2
"James." Max said in clipped tones.
"Max. I take it you've seen the news."
Max tossed a newspaper onto the table, open to the headline 'GUN BUST IN BOSTON, BROCKTON CONNECTION?'
"I am concerned, James. We prepared a very considerate package for our friends abroad. Losing a part of it, that I could understand, that's a cost of doing business. Perhaps even losing all of it. But implicating us?"
"They blame Accord."
"They can blame Father Christmas," Max said with polite fury. "You and Victor spent god knows how much time carefully scrubbing that shipment, splitting it into separate parcels, and establishing cut-outs. Recombining them and running them through a single channel is sloppy. Implicating us is inexcusable. You know our involvement has to have leaked from their end."
"Yes, sir."
"Pack your bags, James. This sort of sloppiness is not acceptable. And if there is a rat problem as well? Make an example."
Elsewhere
"Message for you boss, in the dead drop. It's been cleared."
Coil took the thick envelope and pulled out a thick sheaf of papers. Flipping through it, it looked like it had been done on a typewriter, of all things. The cover was blank, with neither title nor author. Curious, Coil turned to the first page.
'If you are reading this, I am dead, my children missing, and people I trust believe the Empire to blame. My name is my own, but you may know me as Purity…'
Note: Obvious Weaver machinations are obvious. Even Coil no doubt questions its authenticity. But it's great cover to pass on useful intel.
Oh, and it looks like the Nazis might be having some internal squabbles. So sad…
"Max. I take it you've seen the news."
Max tossed a newspaper onto the table, open to the headline 'GUN BUST IN BOSTON, BROCKTON CONNECTION?'
"I am concerned, James. We prepared a very considerate package for our friends abroad. Losing a part of it, that I could understand, that's a cost of doing business. Perhaps even losing all of it. But implicating us?"
"They blame Accord."
"They can blame Father Christmas," Max said with polite fury. "You and Victor spent god knows how much time carefully scrubbing that shipment, splitting it into separate parcels, and establishing cut-outs. Recombining them and running them through a single channel is sloppy. Implicating us is inexcusable. You know our involvement has to have leaked from their end."
"Yes, sir."
"Pack your bags, James. This sort of sloppiness is not acceptable. And if there is a rat problem as well? Make an example."
Elsewhere
"Message for you boss, in the dead drop. It's been cleared."
Coil took the thick envelope and pulled out a thick sheaf of papers. Flipping through it, it looked like it had been done on a typewriter, of all things. The cover was blank, with neither title nor author. Curious, Coil turned to the first page.
'If you are reading this, I am dead, my children missing, and people I trust believe the Empire to blame. My name is my own, but you may know me as Purity…'
Note: Obvious Weaver machinations are obvious. Even Coil no doubt questions its authenticity. But it's great cover to pass on useful intel.
Oh, and it looks like the Nazis might be having some internal squabbles. So sad…
- Location
- Canada
Uptime and downtime go back at least to the 1960s. I've read a lot of older SF.
Wrong on the Internet, Part 2
Lisa rubbed her forehead in exasperation. After the Cauldron thing, she had taken to periodically checking cowboy's PHO history. The first few of his 'scoops' she had quickly dismissed, but this next one… He was going on about some person in the Creative Writing and Versus boards being an Accord plant. Which, well, she didn't think Accord was personally on PHO, but she was pretty sure she had previously ID'd at least two accounts used by his Ambassadors, so it wasn't impossible.
A few quick checks with Power ruled out the frankly preferred option that Cowboy was completely off base. Sure, some of his purported evidence was bunk, but there were some connections that were plausible…
"Wait a minute…"
Quickly opening up additional tabs across additional screens, she was soon skimming the person's entire post history. Obvious persona building was obvious, so close those. Not that she would ever admit it, but the PRT Analyst classes had taught her a few tricks that let her weed out a few more things. Now to identify any other accounts with similar patterns, and… Lisa put her head in her hands.
The evidence was, to her, and Power, conclusive. Accord really was using PHO to solicit feedback on his plans. Which means he probably really is also talking to children, and consultants, fuck me.
One thing was certain. Cowboy must never know.
Note:
B: Why is Lisa screaming in rage?
Aisha: Do you really want to know?
B: Good point
A few quick checks with Power ruled out the frankly preferred option that Cowboy was completely off base. Sure, some of his purported evidence was bunk, but there were some connections that were plausible…
"Wait a minute…"
Quickly opening up additional tabs across additional screens, she was soon skimming the person's entire post history. Obvious persona building was obvious, so close those. Not that she would ever admit it, but the PRT Analyst classes had taught her a few tricks that let her weed out a few more things. Now to identify any other accounts with similar patterns, and… Lisa put her head in her hands.
The evidence was, to her, and Power, conclusive. Accord really was using PHO to solicit feedback on his plans. Which means he probably really is also talking to children, and consultants, fuck me.
One thing was certain. Cowboy must never know.
Note:
B: Why is Lisa screaming in rage?
Aisha: Do you really want to know?
B: Good point
Do you think PHO is more like Usenet, or more like the late 1990's forums? Looking at fandom, it looks more like the latter. I think something like wikipedia would have emergeded, but it will be at a 2005 level. Search engines beyong altavista or askjeeves are not likely to emerge -- not enough computing infrastructure. twitter, in its original form will be much bigger.
So: More wikipedia, less search engines. A Twitter analogue is a killer app, but much less people use mobile phones.
By the 2010s, I expect something like wikipedia will emerge, and usenet will still be a thing. I expect SGML will be a thing, but no World Wide Web.
Most people would use something like gopher.
EDIT: Just off the top of my head.
So: More wikipedia, less search engines. A Twitter analogue is a killer app, but much less people use mobile phones.
By the 2010s, I expect something like wikipedia will emerge, and usenet will still be a thing. I expect SGML will be a thing, but no World Wide Web.
Most people would use something like gopher.
EDIT: Just off the top of my head.
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I mean, you don't think forums in the same general format as the ones that emerged in the late 1990s were still around in 2011? You're on one that was founded in 2014.
I think the default assumption most fanfics make is that tinkertech-derived innovation has mostly counteracted any decline that would otherwise have hit the computer and electronics industry, and that the end result is a techbase that is not noticeably far behind OTL 2011, though there's plenty of room for specific names of specific players to have been different since the original divergence is 1981.
The more interesting thing about PHO is how... singular it is. I suppose that's probably what drew the Usenet comparison from you. Like, we certainly don't know that no-one is talking about these things anywhere else on the internet, but (at least in fanon*) all the major players are there, with verified cape accounts (and they don't seem to ever get subpoena'd for villains' identities). I know it's boring to claim everything is a cauldron conspiracy, but...
*I didn't find any actual examples of villains posting on PHO in canon, though, when I did a quick search.
Fora com and go. I don't like aspects of this particular one, especially the toleration of nazism -- an aquaitance of mine recommended a story here, and I don't particurlarly like everything here, but there are nice people here who have not give up emotionally (although I almost always want to) up on it and I like reading their stories. I am privilidged to be able to ignore that, although I need to get a drink every time I see another story that ... You know what. Most people who post here are deeply sick but there's some good ones.
EDIT: OVER.
EDIT: OVER.
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FaerieKnight79
Verified Pixie
- Location
- The Internet
I don't think anything in this story advocates "toleration of nazism". In fact, looks to me like all forms of it in this story are getting turbo @!#$%! in a major way. Breadroll and his E88 are getting torn apart by competent authorities and underhanded sabotage preformed by those who really don't like nazi. The European organization which is also trying to establish a 4th Reich while bankrolling Mr Anders is getting torn apart at the same time by the same groups. And both nazi organizations are getting played off each other.
Domestic Matters, Part 7
"Thanks," Alec said to Aisha, as he opened the door.
"Money money money!" Aisha replied gleefully.
Bleary eyed, Alex took the box of donuts, then did a double-take when he saw Aisha's attire. "The hell are you wearing?"
"Camouflage practice. I've been in that shop god knows how many times, usually joke around with Nate the cashier guy, but this time he didn't recognize me!"
Alec laughed. "What you tell him?"
"Lost a bet." Aisha shrugged.
Alec nodded sagely. "A great many things can thus be explained away."
A few minutes later
"Morning bro!" Aisha greeted Brian with obnoxious cheer as he entered the kitchen. "Got breakfast!"
"Thanks," Brian said, and meant it. "What's with the hat?" His sister was wearing a very complicated thing that looked like it came out of an old person's closet.
"Was trying out new camouflage." Aisha said, a she passed Brian some napkins. "Changed out of the rest when I got home, wasn't really me, but the hat is ballin'!"
"Oh, did you get a picture?"
"Yeah, Ima send it to dad, gotta butter him up. Got the shop counter guy to take it."
Note: I am deliberately ambiguous as to what exactly she was wearing, but she probably put the out together at a thrift shop. And it is, indeed, a baller hat.
"Money money money!" Aisha replied gleefully.
Bleary eyed, Alex took the box of donuts, then did a double-take when he saw Aisha's attire. "The hell are you wearing?"
"Camouflage practice. I've been in that shop god knows how many times, usually joke around with Nate the cashier guy, but this time he didn't recognize me!"
Alec laughed. "What you tell him?"
"Lost a bet." Aisha shrugged.
Alec nodded sagely. "A great many things can thus be explained away."
A few minutes later
"Morning bro!" Aisha greeted Brian with obnoxious cheer as he entered the kitchen. "Got breakfast!"
"Thanks," Brian said, and meant it. "What's with the hat?" His sister was wearing a very complicated thing that looked like it came out of an old person's closet.
"Was trying out new camouflage." Aisha said, a she passed Brian some napkins. "Changed out of the rest when I got home, wasn't really me, but the hat is ballin'!"
"Oh, did you get a picture?"
"Yeah, Ima send it to dad, gotta butter him up. Got the shop counter guy to take it."
Note: I am deliberately ambiguous as to what exactly she was wearing, but she probably put the out together at a thrift shop. And it is, indeed, a baller hat.
Appreciate there are a lot of chapters here, so it might be hard to keep track of what all is going on.
Early on, the ENE did a great mole hunt. During this, most of Coil's shenanigans were blamed on Victor and the Nazis.
Subsequently, Coil cut a deal with Lung where Coil gives Lung cultural artifacts recovered or reproduced by Cauldron, Lung makes his operations more respectable, and the two team up to push out the Nazis.
The Winslow M/S thing caused the Nazis to do some internal checks, which led to em to discover that Rune was more "edgy teen" than "true believer", and she got sent back to the clans for re-indoctrination. There was general reference made to Krieg and the true believers generally getting all upset that too many of the E88 members lacked sufficient ideological purity.
Oh, and Purity got yoinked.
Broadly speaking, the ENE has been purged of E88 moles (including those originally found by Coil and used as double agents). They are getting pushed back on the ground by Coil and Lung. The German connection is being attacked. And various shenanigans are being done to give them, essentially, an auto-immune disorder.
Meanwhile, Coil and ABB are getting better at keeping a low profile so ENE is focused more on the Nazis.
Early on, the ENE did a great mole hunt. During this, most of Coil's shenanigans were blamed on Victor and the Nazis.
Subsequently, Coil cut a deal with Lung where Coil gives Lung cultural artifacts recovered or reproduced by Cauldron, Lung makes his operations more respectable, and the two team up to push out the Nazis.
The Winslow M/S thing caused the Nazis to do some internal checks, which led to em to discover that Rune was more "edgy teen" than "true believer", and she got sent back to the clans for re-indoctrination. There was general reference made to Krieg and the true believers generally getting all upset that too many of the E88 members lacked sufficient ideological purity.
Oh, and Purity got yoinked.
Broadly speaking, the ENE has been purged of E88 moles (including those originally found by Coil and used as double agents). They are getting pushed back on the ground by Coil and Lung. The German connection is being attacked. And various shenanigans are being done to give them, essentially, an auto-immune disorder.
Meanwhile, Coil and ABB are getting better at keeping a low profile so ENE is focused more on the Nazis.
I was talking about this forum in general, not this story. As I said, "Fora come and go."
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Yeah, there be some parts of the fandom with interesting views…