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Goddamn Teenagers (Worm, AU/time travel)

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A Reasonable, Proportionate Response, Part 2
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    • "—please stop," Lilac said, interrupting Insight.

    "Hey! I put a lot of thought into those questions."

    "Oh my god, this is exhausting. Just, I don't know, it's a school. She's an administrator. She's white. In this city. Just, I don't know, pull the disciplinary records for every post she's ever had and get a data guy to run an analysis on results and race."

    "Huh," the younger girl blinked. "Do you think she's Empire or something?"

    "I don't know," Lilac said, throwing up her hands and coming close to accidentally knocking off her own hat. "It's the Bay, and a city job. There were, like, a zillion Empire sympathizers there. Even if she's not doing the goosestep in her spare time, maybe some of it rubbed off."

    "Hmmm. I don't want to, I don't know, get Lung after her?"

    "He won't care. She's a school vice assistant deputy paper pusher, nobody cares!"

    "Hey, she oversees like, the entire grade!"
    Note: God, what is wrong with these kids! I certainly was never this bad!
     
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    • dc2008 said:
    God, what is wrong with these kids! I certainly was never this bad!
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    Isn't selective memory a wonderful thing?

    (Was that a Lilac/Lisa comment?)

    I'll point-out Taylor isn't that bad. Most would approve of her. She's (mostly) quiet and polite. OK, being that enthusiastic about bugs is a little unusual, but... What's the worst that could come of it? :)

    Look! She's going in for quite serious keep-fit. Learning about all sorts of weird and obscure subjects. How could that be an issue?
     
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    dc2008 said:
    "Embassy? What country would take a call from someone who's done what I done?"

    The man smiled. "Who else—Argentina."
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    I'm Argentinian, and while I understand that this is a comedy thread and that is not intended as an insult, it still makes me angry that THAT is one of the first things people think about when thinking about my country. Argentina did not welcome Nazis in, the at-the-time president (an asshole who is somehow adored by a lot of the working class people, WHEN HE WAS INCREDIBLY DISMISSIVE OF THEM WHEN HE WAS ALIVE) let them in because they helped him become president in the first place. A family friend who moved to the US said that a work friend of his wanted to come here "to see Nazis". I hate this so very much and that is not even considering that there hasn't been Nazis or white supremacists here in decades because we offered them on a silver plater to the Israeli secret service, the Mosad, during the 80's and 90's. The US itself has more Nazis and white supremacists and yet we are the ones people think about when they think "Nazi hideaway". I implore you to not take the story down that path, please.
     
    MagicExLibris said:
    I'm Argentinian, and while I understand that this is a comedy thread and that is not intended as an insult, it still makes me angry that THAT is one of the first things people think about when thinking about my country. Argentina did not welcome Nazis in, the at-the-time president (an asshole who is somehow adored by a lot of the working class people, WHEN HE WAS INCREDIBLY DISMISSIVE OF THEM WHEN HE WAS ALIVE) let them in because they helped him become president in the first place. A family friend who moved to the US said that a work friend of his wanted to come here "to see Nazis". I hate this so very much and that is not even considering that there hasn't been Nazis or white supremacists here in decades because we offered them on a silver plater to the Israeli secret service, the Mosad, during the 80's and 90's. The US itself has more Nazis and white supremacists and yet we are the ones people think about when they think "Nazi hideaway". I implore you to not take the story down that path, please.
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    Strictly speaking, I don't think I said they were actually going to the embassy, or to Argentina, rather that the person vouching for the sketchy dude was at the Argentinian embassy.

    That said, the Nazis are going to work for a junta (or rather a government that idiot Americans who don't understand the region characterize as a junta which is not always the same thing). Hiring nazis is cheaper, because you eat the reputation cost of hiring nazis. Still, if you already are unpopular there is a certain appeal to hiring as bodyguards a bunch of foreigners who all the locals will hate. Makes the bodyguards more loyal. Knowing you are the second against the wall when the revolution comes tends to do that to people.

    I doubt this government will last very long.

    Separately, yes, Operation Paperclip pulled in more Nazis than went to Argentina. IIRC, Tagg at some point alluded to the US's history of doing sketchy self-defeating shit, and how it was bad. Think it was when he and Kamil were ruminating over cauldron files.
     
    dc2008 said:
    Separately, yes, Operation Paperclip pulled in more Nazis than went to Argentina. IIRC, Tagg at some point alluded to the US's history of doing sketchy self-defeating shit, and how it was bad. Think it was when he and Kamil were ruminating over cauldron files.
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    Well, yeah... "Iet's recruit top SS and other nazi and send them to infiltrate terrorist groups, that can't possibly go wrong" was not one of the better ideas that the US Government came up with.
     
    Power of Friendship
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    • "Hey, Bro!"

    "Yes?" Brian replied. He recognized that tone of voice.

    "Do you want to make a couple hundred dollars? Or, help me make a couple hundred dollars?"

    "What." Open-ended questions were key. Until you got her talking, you didn't even know what questions to ask.

    "So, Alec has a bunch of clothes and stuff he wants me to get him! And while he isn't complete trash at women's fashion, he can't be assed to go himself!"

    "Why is Alec sending you to buy… dresses?"

    "Not just dresses, other stuff too, said it was for a friend who, uh, wouldn't be appreciated by Enforcers and shit."

    "Have you met this, uh, person." It was Alec, he wasn't making any assumptions.

    "Nope! But he said she's got one of those body types that works with a bunch of sizes depending on foundational garments," Aisha said confidently.

    "I distinctly remember you saying that wasn't a thing. I distinctly remember you and Lisa talking about the problems of women's fashion. At length. While I was stuck in the car with you two."

    "Well, yeah, it's Alec, he's up to shenanigans." Aisha rolled her eyes. "It'll be fun! We get a commission! I figure if you don't want to go, I'll get Vicky to take me, or maybe Dinah's dad."
     
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    • dc2008 said:
    I figure if you don't want to go, I'll get Vicky to take me, or maybe Dinah's dad.
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    Why do I suspect the Custodian would get three different wardrobes based on whether Brian, Vicky or Dinah's dad get... drawn into this... activity?

    Also, 'foundational garments'? What sorts of levels of embarrassment are we talking about subjecting Brian to here???
     
    Ravenwood240 said:
    Vicky can keep secrets... After all, Victoria's Secret is a known thing. :)

    Brian has Aisha as a sister; by now, can he even be embarrassed by anything less than a full on public orgy?
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    Magic 8 Ball says... *shake* *shake* 'Yes'.

    Brian's talented, that way...

    (Would things get better if Aisha was placed atop the house? Why? It might result in Character Imp-roof-ment...)
     
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    Science, Mad, Part 2
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    • "Thank you for assisting the Protectorate and the PRT in this matter, Panacea, Impulse, Cherish," Armsmaster said, as Amy sipped her coffee. "I appreciate that this project is outside your normal areas of focus."

    Amy nodded absently, while appreciating her liquid nirvana. Although normal PRT coffee sucked ass, she'd made friends with one of the guys in the motor pool who would hook her up with the good stuff when he was on duty.

    It was an Armsmaster meeting, so she'd make sure to also fill the extra thermos in her bag.

    "Information provided by Mrs. Fleischer confirms that her husband was much more highly placed in Gesellschaft than we had initially appreciated," Armsmaster droned on. "This increases the risk posed by interrogation countermeasures, but also increases the interrogation's priority level. Prior to the arrival of additional experts from The Guild and The King's Men, we will need to ensure we have as complete a view as possible as to the opportunity and threat landscape."

    Amy noticed that Armsmaster's lips weren't moving. Had he tinkered up some bullshit to talk for him during meetings? She didn't know whether to be insulted or envious.

    "I'm already wearing a lab coat," Impulse offered. "We could paint it black, move the lighting bolts around, dye my hair and get me some blue contacts, I could totally a Nazi doctor!"

    Cherish eeped audibly, as everyone turned to stare at Impulse. "That will not be necessary," Armsmaster replied after a pause, his lips finally moving. "The subject is expected to have acquired substantial training in relevant areas. We have to assume that there exist signs, countersigns and the like which he will be expecting and we cannot provide."

    "Could we make him think he died and went to heaven, or hell, or Valhalla, or whatever?" Alec continued. "I could rock a little red dress!"

    Everyone politely ignored the junior trooper snickering into a napkin, as Armsmaster replied. "Mrs. Fleischer could not provide sufficiently confident answers regarding her husband's views on the afterlife. He purported to be of the view that superior Aryan science would solve the problem of mortality before any such concerns became necessary."
     
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    • dc2008 said:
    risk posed by interrogation countermeasure
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    plural?
    (Yes, it's strictly correct, but plural seems to read more smoothly)

    ---

    Alec just wants to use his new wardrobe, doesn't he? Maybe he should ask Armsmaster for a holographic halo projector, and use that with his black-lab-coated Nazi scientist costume idea???

    Holographic angel wings? Could he rock those???
     
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    dc2008 said:
    Armsmaster replied. "Mrs. Fleischer could not provide sufficiently confident answers regarding her husband's views on the afterlife. He purported to be of the view that superior Aryan science would solve the problem of mortality before any such concerns became necessary."
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    Wow, that's some extreme arrogance and racist blinders. I mean "Aryan science" hasn't solved that problem yet, after thousands of years. and it's very unlikely to ever solve that particular problem.
     
    FaerieKnight79 said:
    Wow, that's some extreme arrogance and racist blinders. I mean "Aryan science" hasn't solved that problem yet, after thousands of years. and it's very unlikely to ever solve that particular problem.
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    Tricky... If you count future science, and believe cloning and mind-copy imprinting trumps mortality (which is, yes, highly subject to argument), and don't believe in the relevance of any 'immaterial' components (souls/spirits)... You might, with a squint, be able to see his viewpoint...

    (See Spinrad's The Iron Dream, a novel allegedly wrote by alt Adolf Hitler, the science-fiction author...)
     
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    Changes, Part 2
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    • "What's up?"

    Rolling her eyes, Amy looked up. Seeing no one, she looked left, right, and then behind, where her sister was hovering nervously.

    "Looking at a thing," Amy mumbled.

    "Oh?" Vicky said, scooting forward. "Are those... baby pictures?"

    "... yeah."

    "Oh. Em. Gee! Are those YOUR baby pictures!"

    "Sheesh, not so loud," Amy said sullenly.

    "Awwww, you're such an adorable baby!"

    "I look like a shaved grumpy pug."

    "A cute shaved grumpy pug!"

    Despite herself, Amy snorted.

    "Where did you get this?" Amy's sister asked.

    "Mark. He said sperm donor had them hidden away somewhere."

    "Huh," Vicky said, settling to her feet. She peered over Amy's shoulder as Amy turned a page. "Who's that?"

    "... I think it's my birth mom. She's in a lot of these pictures."
    Note: No snark on this one, just emotional exhaustion.
     
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    • dc2008 said:
    "... I think it's my birth mom. She's in a lot of these pictures."
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    Hmm...

    "OK, she's dead. But. There's all these strange, weird, creepy, cape powers. So. Why can't I talk to... something that thinks like her, talks like she would have talked???"

    Amy can get scary when she gets into problem-solving mode...
     
    Fox and Spider
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    • "So what did you want to talk about?" Taylor asked Lisa cautiously. The blonde had, unsubtly, conveyed a desire to meet privately at the gym. Aisha had winked at them behind Lisa's back and given them a thumbs up, but Taylor was pretty sure she was teasing.

    Lisa carefully locked the bathroom door, then turned seriously to Taylor. "You are using your power for improved awareness of your surroundings, right?"

    Taylor nodded hesitantly.

    Lisa sighed. "Look, I won't ask what happened. I'm sure it was terrible. But, uh, like Dr. Weaver says, power nullifiers are a thing. It might be good to practice without that sometimes?"

    Seeing Taylor's expression, Lisa hastily continued. "Not that you have to stop entirely! You can still keep up, uh, a perimeter monitoring! Make sure you only do it in safe places! And, uh, around trusted people! And, uh—"

    Taylor contemplated telling the other girl that she didn't disagree, just didn't like it, but the impending breakdown was kind of fun to watch. She would have to make Aisha delete the video she was taking with her phone. Girl wasn't as sneaky as she thought she was.
     
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    • Aisha, Aisha. What part of 'Queen of Escalation' don't you understand???

    (I know. No one has ever called this Taylor that. Yet. :) )
     
    Ace Dreamer said:
    Aisha, Aisha. What part of 'Queen of Escalation' don't you understand???

    (I know. No one has ever called this Taylor that. Yet. :) )
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    Taylor could only become Queen of Escalation if Dr. Weaver fails to handle problems as they come up in one short burst of escalation, so finely tuned it can't even be quite recognized as escalation in this world where Dr. Weaver doesn't have a reputation.
     
    Dudeman said:
    Taylor could only become Queen of Escalation if Dr. Weaver fails to handle problems as they come up in one short burst of escalation, so finely tuned it can't even be quite recognized as escalation in this world where Dr. Weaver doesn't have a reputation.
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    Dr. Weaver, on the other hand, is the end result of a long process of escalation, and therefore remains at a more or less steady level until the setting catches up enough to actually match her enough to need more escalation.
     
    The Right Questions, Part 4
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    • Lilac took a seat opposite Dr. Weaver. Despite her best efforts, she could not ignore the delicious, delicious bagel of awesome.

    Dr. Weaver passed over a folder. "Indicators of CUI activity. Please provide feedback by close of business, as we need to progress this overnight."

    Lilac accepted the folder with anticipation. "What's going to happen overnight?" Lilac asked as she opened the folder.

    "It would not surprise me," Dr. Weaver began mildly, "if relevant information were to somehow leak to groups who might react unfavorably to such a foreign incursion. If it's local, perhaps someone like Lung."

    Lisa almost choked on her bagel.

    Dr. Weaver ignored the thinker's distress. "Briefings will go out to PRT, Protectorate and national security contacts for tomorrow's afternoon alerts. A shame that our information security results in such violently-minded groups gaining such information, but what is to be done?"

    Lisa nodded minutely while trying to clear her throat with coffee.

    "Separately, as a purely hypothetical exercise, please consider what sort of gift might be an appropriate welcome for a useful, but distasteful, thinker shifting operations from the Bay to Boston."

    Lisa did not choke on her coffee and anyone who said otherwise was a dirty, dirty liar.
     
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