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Goddamn Teenagers (Worm, AU/time travel)

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dc2008 said:
"How is it going?" Taylor's dad asked, peering over her shoulder at the map spread out in front of her.

"Planning my first route," Taylor replied.

"I was thinking, on my way home, a lot of the sewer system stuff is technically public."

"But it's not at the library?"

"That just means you need to do a records request," Danny explained. "I brought home a copy of the forms."
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I see Dr. Weaver is going to pull out the popcorn for when her younger-alternate self finally gets around to putting the fear of Skitter/Weaver in anyone foolish enough to still be a criminal/supervillain in Brockton Bay
 
Regent: "...okay, no, I'm out, I don't do sewer levels!"

Taylor: "Look, Aisha owes me a favor, and as her designated boytoyer I'm calling it in as you escorting me."

Regent: "An escort mission in the sewers?!"

Aisha: "Quit whining, you're not even going in the sewer, just making Merchants hiding down there come out and turn themselves in to get clean."

Regent: "It's the principle of the thing!"

Uber & L33t overhearing this: "...yeah nah, we're with you, even we won't do sewer levels."
 
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Bug Wars
  • Apocrypha
    • dc2008 said:
    "I was thinking, on my way home, a lot of the sewer system stuff is technically public."
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    Don't say 'sewers', say 'bug super-highways'? :)

    And...

    Bug Wars (Omake)

    "Amy? I'd like you to work with 'Impulse'. And, 'Kid Win'. Yes, you are allowed to talk to Aisha and 'Lilac' about motivating methods..."

    "Oh?"

    "Yes. I'd like you to handle the biological side of a new video game, 'Bug Wars'. We'll need to interface bugs, in groups, to video gaming systems. The game environment will be underground, in sewers, and other below ground environs. Three levels of game - free-to-view, bug vs. bug, and bug vs. criminal - restricted entry and supervision of the last."

    A thoughtful pause, a slightly taken-aback Amy. Taylor continued.

    "Maybe... there'll be a secondary, housekeeping element - cleaning-up dead bugs, mess left behind after criminals flee?"

    A longer pause.

    "What do you say?"

    "I'll think about it. And... I'll have to consult my marketing manager.

    Vicky!"

    ---

    AN: I'd like to point out, no Ubers nor Leets were harmed in the making of this omake. (Nor consulted, but that's a different matter.)
     
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  • Apocrypha
    • You thought you were safe, in the bowels of Brockton Bay. No one ever comes down here. Then the bugs came. And, Andy turned-out to be allergic, collapsed.

    Should you be worried about the scorpions moving up, carrying things that say 'Epi Pen!', on the side, in nice cheerful letters?
     
    Ace Dreamer said:
    You thought you were safe, in the bowels of Brockton Bay. No one ever comes down here. Then the bugs came. And, Andy turned-out to be allergic, collapsed.

    Should you be worried about the scorpions moving up, carrying things that say 'Epi Pen!', on the side, in nice cheerful letters?
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    I am now imagining scorpions and crabs with little Red Cross bands on them
     
    dc2008 said:
    I am now imagining scorpions and crabs with little Red Cross bands on them
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    "I'm fairly certain that using the Red Cross symbol for things not allowed by the Red Cross is something they could hold you liable for, but given this is like an insignificant addition to the list of crimes against war, society, and nature that this project would be, it'll be at most a footnote."
     
    readerdreamer said:
    "I'm fairly certain that using the Red Cross symbol for things not allowed by the Red Cross is something they could hold you liable for, but given this is like an insignificant addition to the list of crimes against war, society, and nature that this project would be, it'll be at most a footnote."
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    I'm fairly certain that is a good description of 'Worm' in general...

    Taylor using bug-based video gaming as a monstrous tool of social control? Likely barely makes a blip on the radar. And, maybe, shows she's... not always learning the best of lessons from 'Dr. Weaver'?

    (Look, Lisa. You thought it was bad, you needing to manage Dr. Weaver. But. You also need to manage Taylor. And, the Taylor/Weaver interactions. This is why we think your Power is best called 'Inference Engine', not 'Negotiator'. It is you who needs to figure-out what to do with the inferences, info, you're provided.)

    So. A thoughtful person would ensure some of the scorpions/crabs have green crescents on them? Can't mess too much with people's cultural expectations!
     
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    School Daze, Part 15
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    • "Uh, Vicky?"

    Vicky looked up from her textbook to see her cousin shifting awkwardly in front of her. She was killing time, waiting for Amy so they could head out after school.

    "What's up, Eric?" Vicky replied.

    "Aisha sent me this list of stuff to bring for our jogging thing this weekend," he said, holding out his phone. "Can you look at it? I know she is all prepared but this has to be a joke, right?"

    "Hmm?" Vicky said, taking the phone and skimming down the list.

    "Yeah, this is the one she and I worked on before."

    Eric scratched his head. "How does she carry it all?"

    "Fanny pack for most of it, I think? The knife she has a holster for that goes inside her pants, and the lock picks I think she has on her belt in a flashlight holder?"

    "Uhhhhhh? But flashlight is also on here?"

    "Keychain."

    "Hey, Vicky!" Amy said, coming down the steps.

    "Yo!"

    Amy turned to Eric. "'Sup?"

    "He came for advice on Aisha."

    Amy snorted. "Don't let her run you into the ground, and come up with some fun responses if someone recognizes you and asks what you're doing."

    Vicky rolled her eyes. "Amy, you know he shouldn't troll fans."
     
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    • dc2008 said:
    Amy snorted. "Don't let her run you into the ground, and come up with some fun responses if someone recognizes you and asks what you're doing."

    Vicky rolled her eyes. "Amy, you know he shouldn't troll fans."
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    "No, No. If he doesn't get something witty out first, Aisha will get snarky. I promise it'll be 100% less fit for publishing than whatever Eric thinks up."
     
    Harbor Offensive
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    • "Hello?" Lisa asked tentatively as she opened her door. Dr. Weaver had messaged at the ass crack of dawn, giving Lisa a bare five minutes notice before arriving.

    "Pack a bag," Dr. Weaver said without preamble, entering the apartment. "We're going to Boston, might be a couple days. Here's your cover identity," she continued, handing Lisa an envelope.

    "When do we leave?" Lisa replied, flipping through the envelope's contents.

    "As soon as you're ready. If you come with me we can use the portal, otherwise you will need to make your own way. Business attire," the older woman continued as Lisa hurriedly finished her coffee. "Not your usual work suit, although you should bring that too."

    "Lisa," Dr. Weaver continued, putting a hand on Lisa's arm before she could leave the room. "Wear the armor underneath."

    Well, shit.

    "What are we doing, anyway?" Lisa shouted, as she hurried into her bedroom to change.

    "Gesellschaft is going to have a very bad day," Dr. Weaver replied. "I want us to have a chance to look around before the usual suspects stomp all over the scene."

    "Why the double fake identity, then?" Lisa asked as she put on the armored shirt. "If Accord knows who I am, why not just go in costume?"

    "Lower profile," the older woman replied, "since cape organizations discount non-parahuman analysts. While Accord knows who you are, the Elite do not."
     
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    • dc2008 said:
    "Lower profile," the older woman replied, "since cape organizations discount non-parahuman analysts.
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    This is getting sneaky...

    Also, Lisa? Who can you call in favours from, so you get that concealable personal force-field belt? Even if it's only one-shot, even if it only tanks 90% of the attack, that might just be enough to save you...
     
    Harbor Offensive, Part 2
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    • "Ready," Lisa said, emerging from her room in her least favorite (navy) pantsuit with a backpack and a small rolling luggage. To her own surprise, she wasn't even out of breath, no doubt due to all that dastardly exercise.

    "Hmmm." Dr. Weaver examined Lisa critically for a moment, before reaching over and doing something to Lisa's hair.

    Lisa looked at her reflection in the toaster and grimaced. "I look like shit."

    "You look like an overworked, under-rested analyst," Dr. Weaver replied. "Someone who dresses plainly to avoid drawing attention from male colleagues and, in all likelihood, bosses. Also, nothing like Lilac or Lisa, both of whom are much more vain."

    Lisa did not sputter or pout.

    "You can redo your makeup in the car," Dr. Weaver observed, packing up her files. "Lose the under-eye concealer, at a minimum."

    "I thought we were going by portal?" Lisa replied, trying to keep up.

    "We'll portal from the PRT building," the older woman said, calling the elevator. "Give Armsmaster more readings for his project."

    Upon arrival, the elevator opened to reveal Aisha. Taking in the pair, the younger girl grinned. "Nice costume, not-Lisa!"

    Lisa did not grumble.
    Note: Dr. Weaver likely learned this trick uptime from her Lisa, although as applied to uptime!Taylor it would be more like "wear a little black dress, no one will suspect it's you!"
     
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    • PossiblyEnos said:
    Shoes! Remember to wear sensible shoes to sell the costume, Lisa..
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    Sensible shoes with concealed steel toe-caps. Be ready to use those, Lisa! Practice, even!
    (Yes, Lisa, Aisha will be able to source you suitable combat dummies to train with. They may even make suitable sounds depending on where you strike them! (Like grunts.) "Ow! That was a bit high-pitched!" :) )
     
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    PossiblyEnos said:
    Shoes! Remember to wear sensible shoes to sell the costume, Lisa..
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    Ace Dreamer said:
    Sensible shoes with concealed steel toe-caps. Be ready to use those, Lisa! Practice, even!
    (Yes, Lisa, Aisha will be able to source you suitable combat dummies to train with. They may even make suitable sounds depending on where you strike them! (Like grunts.) "Ow! That was a bit high-pitched!" :) )
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    Shoot. I can't believe I forgot to mention shoes…
     
    PossiblyEnos said:
    The issue is not Nazi stomping. The issue is that nobody would believe the image Dr Weaver wants her to sell if she turns up in a pair of Christian Louboutins.
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    Aisha's advice? Always be ready for Nazi Stomping if you can engineer that into what you're wearing. It only makes sense!

    What look like "men's work shoes", yes, those able to stomp/kick in, double-plus yes!
     
    Harbor Offensive, Part 3
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    • The trip to Boston was uneventful. However, the driver waiting for them…

    Employed by Coil.

    "Uh…," Lisa began, but Dr. Weaver just walked up bold as brass.

    "Working for Valkyrie," Dr. Weaver said quietly.

    Lisa nodded, numbly.

    "Doctor," the man said in a deferential tone as he opened the door for them. "Ma'am," he added as an afterthought, as his eyes slid right over Lisa before fixating once again on Dr. Weaver.

    Parahuman. More scared of Dr. Weaver than Coil. Does not recognize you. Trying not to visibly panic.

    Well isn't that a big pile of 'what the fuck' wrapped in a ball of 'oh thank god'…

    "Should you be wearing a mask, or something?" Lisa whispered, as their nondescript car pulled out of the PRT garage.

    "I was reminded, not long ago, that in this place and time I do not yet have the reputation to which I had grown accustomed."

    Lisa suppressed her first several responses, instead settling on something more neutral. "Oh? Who brought it up?" What idiot encouraged you?

    "Director Piggot."

    Lisa boggled. I suppose even Lady can fuck up…
     
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    • dc2008 said:
    More scared of Dr. Weaver than Coil.
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    Should we wonder how much exposure to Dr. Weaver is required before people get... very cautious about her???

    Or, if parahuman, does their shard 'suggest' to them that... messing up around QA is a really, really, bad idea?

    Or both? Or, all that and there's more going on???
     
    dc2008 said:
    The guy works for Coil. I wonder what Coil told him before sending him out to be Dr. Weaver's driver?
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    I'm sure grenades were not part of the conversation. :)

    Or, scared of Coil, even more scared of what quite obviously scares Coil?

    Coil: You know, some days, I wish she'd just shoot me...
     
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