The program on the television in front of you is nearly breathtaking with its shamelessness.
. . . having already lost her sister, that day, Gwendolyn suffered two additional losses. First, her husband at the hands of Scarlet Maturity. Second, estrangement from her only other living relative, Justice Unlimited's Châtelet, Opale Houdin-Reyes.
Welp, that's just bullshit.
You needed to ensure that everyone's cover was in place and well-rehearsed. Thankfully, everything went off without a hitch. Even Ellie's story was firmly in place—you didn't trust the girl to effectively sell any story that wasn't mostly true, so it was fortunate her cover required the least misdirection out of any of them: Valiant Silver had built the armor, and she happened to be compatible. Handyman was a long-term agent of yours, Doctor Silver was using advance technology, and Black Swan had been secretly recruited years ago under the guise of an internship.
Good to see Parabola's thing worked. Also, isn't it "advanced"?
Chihiro even obliviously remarked how fortunate Justice Unlimited had been to recruit as many young metahumans as it had! You had laughed it off. You hand Chihiro had been reviewing the broad structure of the interviews, when a production assistant had rushed in and told you to turn on the television.
Ugh. Not Crusade. Also, it's "and".
Her hair was dyed a brilliant orange, the color of natural red-heads, and from her ears dangled her trademark green earrings.
Well, that deconfirms her being Speaker. Thank god.
Crusade!!! You are not allowed the Jojo's references!!!
"Thank you again, Zixuan! The new-look Justice Unlimited, filled with new metahumans, and I get to be the one to do their debut interviews!" Chihiro says, a giddy grin stretched across her face, "I'm gonna be the first to get all their autographs! The guys on Heroes for Hire are gonna lose their minds! Wheeeeeeee!"
She's so happy. I love her already. Prob better in low doses like with Ibis tho.
There is even what you are certain is a pair of your old sunglasses sitting in a display on a shelf.
Where had she gotten those? You lost those fighting the third Father Pious!
???
There's enough of a delay between her reaction and something actually happening that it's a tad awkward, but eventually a white pillar of light flickers into view. Slowly, from the catwalks above, a woman in silver armor descends down the pillar, her blond ponytail drifting behind her as she falls in the reduced gravity. As she sinks, she slowly moves forward, exiting the pillar. Just as she's about to leave it completely, it disappears and a new pillar catches her. This repeats several times until Châtelet touches the ground safely.
. . . several feet wide of her mark. She blushes and rubs the back of her head, rushing to the couch.
Heh. Nice.
That draws a genuine smile from Châtelet. "Thanks . . . I lost some weight."
"And gained some!" Chihiro adds with a meaningful look. She eyes Châtelet up and down with approval, causing Châtelet to blush and let out a small chuckle.
Thank you, Medicant!
Doctor Silver shrugs. "You could piece together who I am if you really wanted too—it's not really a secret. But I'm also not a metahuman."
He holds up his gauntlets again. They are now giving off the same glow as the barriers.
"It's all these babies. They're next generation shield generators designed by Valiant Silver. She never got to finish them . . . so I did for her."
"Oh," Chihiro says sadly, before perking up, "Wait! Does that mean anyone can—"
"They're so, so, so expensive," Châtelet says with a haunted look in her eyes, "And these are the only working prototype. Which is why Doctor Silver needs to be careful."
"Come on, 'Pale! When am I ever not careful?"
"Submit your expense report," Châtelet snaps back immediately.
"I'll finish it—"
"Submit your expense report, Doctor Silver." There is a dark violence in Châtelet's eyes, borne of weeks spent trying to make sense of accounting done by someone whose approach was "whatever, Yazy has more money than God" and then by someone who felt "I have people for that, darling".
…damn, and I thought I made Shelley unhinged,
"Oh, sorry," Châtelet says, blinking, "I let the darkness out for a second there."
In the words of one meme I saw: "Stop letting the darkness consume you bro, you're scaring the hoes."
Are you planning to reopen shops and the PubTrans station in the Apiary, or is that being put on the backburner? — Piggie
"We've filed the application with Ọ̀sanyìn," Châtelet says, shrugging, "The ball is their court."
Oh hey, my questions! Also, damn.
DC 10.
Stat Check: REPUTATION 8. Doctor Silver and Châtelet have a combined REPUTATION 14.
You rolled: 17.
17 - 1 (Châtelet ?? ??????? ????? ???????????) - 3 (Doctor Silver ????? ????? ??????? ???????????) = 13. Success!
??? Who?
Doctor Silver, you were very close to deceased Nora Kim. Can you speak about the state she was in prior to the Movement? —BodyinaBag
Brain.
"Someone planned this," you say, narrowing your eyes, "It's not a coincidence."
Especially since you know Crusade is planning to confront you. They want your team looking angry and off-balanced. You lick your lips and consider pulling out all together.
"Oh no, we're not running away, Zixuan," Chihiro says, reading your face, "Leave it to me. I'll handle this. I'm going to crush them."
I love her so much.
"Terror and trouble. . . ah, forget it!"
A tiny witch stomps onto set, looking grumpy. She's trailed by a large mastiff and has a crow perched on her arm.A tarantula and snake ride on her hat, and Chihiro looks down and realizes there's a black twined around her legs. She squeals and pulls the cat into her lap, where it purrs happily.
So cute!!!
7 + 3 + 5 (Like Sisters) = 15. Major Success!
Like sisters! Yeah!!!
"I was an intern there when I first got my powers," Black Swan says, guilelessly, "Uiara discovered me and trained me in secret. I was about to make my debut when . . . the Movement happened."
Her face falls.
Menagerie Witch's eyes are cold from where she lounges. "Lady Leizi saved me from Le Petit Prince. I'm going to kill him."
"Oh, so she saved you—wait, Le Petit Prince?!"
Chihiro's jaw drops in shock and she mouths what the fuck again.
"Clovis Laurent, I'm coming for you. And that's all I'm willing to say on the matter," Menagerie Witch says, "Now, do the audience questions!"
"I'm coming for you" is a perfect line here.
What do you think is the best thing about one of your fellow teammates? — Piggie
"Châtelet knows how to mind her own business," Menagerie Witch says with narrowed eyes, "And isn't constantly involved in some drama."
She glares at Black Swan out of the side of her eye.
"Yeah! Opale's the best," Black Swan agrees, "And, um. . . Lady Leizi has amazing hair."
"Right?!" Chihiro says, "So unfair."
"So unfair."
"Oh no," Menagerie Witch whispers, "They're multiplying."
"Anway," Chihiro says, pulling back from the 'so unfair' feedback loop. "Next question!".
Oh thank god, they pulled out of that.
7 - 1 (Menagerie Witch ?? ??????? ????? ???????????) - 7 (Black Swan ???????? ????? ??????? ???????????) = -1. Critical Failure!
!?!?
Menagerie Witch, you should be in jail. You are a murderer. How can you have the gall to show up here and ask to be treated like a hero!? — BodyinaBag
Brain.
The No Spin Zone (Now with Spin!)
When Chihiro is present in a scene, or reasonably reachable through remote means, you may re-roll any failed REPUTATION check that relates to public relations. The re-roll is done with advantage and Chihiro adds +3 to the final result.
Oh thank god for her.
Chihiro's the best at what she does because she cares.
She's an absolute godsend.
It's . . . not like her. She's only mean to you, and she's never angry about it. This is . . . have you ever even seen her get mad before?
Nope. Not once. Something's fucking her up…
"I don't know," you say, trying to focus, "But something is seriously wrong with Black Swan."
"Mona? Why? Because she's ragin' worse than my ma did that time my dad blew our Christmas money at the racetrack?"
"No," you say, shaking your head, "Because that's the first conversation we've ever had that ended without her hurting my feelings."
Ah. So that's the full thing.
A slight smirk crosses her lips.
"It's showtime!"
Golden light swallows her body as her clothes are replaced by a dark blue bodysuit. Golden armor encases her body and a holographic, green scarf wraps around her neck. She raises her right arm, palm open, above her head and across her body.
"Valiant Gold, action!"
She pulls both her elbows in, fists tucked against her sides, and strikes a pose.
A third beat of silence passes, and then—
"Whoooooooooooooooo!" Chihiro cheers while applauding.
"Holy schnikes, VG!" Handyman shouts. He thumps her on the back. "I didn't know you had it in you!"
Valiant Gold drops the stance and the eyes of her helmet narrow. "If I'm going to do this, I'm going to do this right."
So cool.
"I only met her once," Valiant Gold says sadly, "Right before the end. She made fun of me and then made me question my sexuality."
Nice.
"Yes," Valiant Gold says at once, "I don't know what some others believe, but I am the power source for this armor. I am its wielder, and I will use it responsibly. I understand what it means to be 'Valiant'," she says.
The unspoken unlike some people echoes loudly.
Silvio is still malding.
Handyman answers first.
"Y'know, Epoxy, oddly enough. She was always ten moves ahead of her opponents. My power's pretty flexible; I gotta learn to think like that.
Huh, didn't expect to see that.
Dear Valiant Gold, I love your suit! It feels far more personal than your counterpart's. If it's not too presumptuous, I have to ask: do you have a motorcycle? And if not, when are you getting one? A Valiant needs a cool ride! I bet Stockpile would never get one. —Signed, a Fan of True Valiants.
Valiant Gold sits up excitedly, and looks over at Handyman.
". . . yeah, okay. Having a motorcycle would count as a hobby," Handyman admits.
Valiant Gold does a small fist-pump in victory.
"Motorcycles are cool," Chihiro agrees, "But not as cool as our next question!"
Motorcycles. Fuck yeah!!!
"Resident," Handyman corrects, "You're an Apiary resident. And my exact age is a closely-guarded secret, but I can say I've started to win the only prize you get for aging."
"Which is . . .?" Chihiro asks. Valiant Gold leans over in interest as well.
"Atrophy!"
Both women groan.
Rhys. Really?!
11 + 0 - 1 (Handyman ?? ??????? ????? ???????????) - 0 (Valiant Gold Ps̵̛̹y̴̰̏c̵̤̎ḧ̵͖i̷͚͝c̷͓͠ ̴̺́I̷̘̾n̸̥͑t̸̚͜ȇ̷̢r̸͈͂f̵͕̔ë̷̫́r̸̙̊ê̴̢n̴͖͊c̵̠͂ȩ̴̀ ̵̓͜D̴̫̈́e̸͉͠t̶̳̓e̸̙͛c̴͓͛t̴͚̅e̵̮͝d̵̲̊.̷̱̓ ̴͔͂C̸̗̀ǫ̵͑u̴͍̕n̶̥̈ṭ̷̽e̸̹̓r̴̨͒ḁ̴͗c̶̘̚t̵̛̠ǐ̸̩n̷̛͍g̸͚̀.̸̢̚) = 10. Success!
???
Then, in an explosion of red light, Valiant Gold leaps high up onto the set, stabbing a blade of psychic energy through the backdrop display. Chihiro gasps in shock as Handyman springs in front of her and guards her with his body. Valiant Gold raises her other arm, shoves it through the hole she just cut, and pulls—
Dragging out the hidden person flying behind it, Seraph of Crusade.
Oh goddamnit.
"Something pinged my suit's protection against mental interference," she says deceptively calmly, looking back at Seraph, "It was her. She's been here the whole time, using her power on us. Making us angry, trying to get one of us to make a mistake. It's why Doctor Silver and Black Swan lost their tempers, why Châtelet clammed up, and why Menagerie Witch was that devastated. She's been messing with our heads."
You little shit.
"What?" Chihiro yells, "I never agreed to that!"
"But I did!" Juan Bonfim walks onto set. "Sorry, Chichi! The suits thought it would be more exciting to keep it a surprise! And to have me here to balance out your . . . conflicts of interest."
"Juan Bonfim, you little shit."
"Language, sweetheart!" he says with a thousand-watt grin, "We're still live!"
Juan, you little shit.
So instead, you examine the two behind him. Joules' face is an open book. He's confused and uncomfortable. He keeps looking between Stockpile and White Hawk, trying to figure out who's cues to follow.
He doesn't know who's in charge.
yikes. I mean, the more he suffers the better but still.
A Takanashi Kiara expy! Yay!🐔
…
How did I not figure that out?!
The interaction they would have had would have set a thousand ships asail. The fanart. The suffering. The
yuri.
You guys really missed out.
Cowards! Cowards all of youuuuuu!!!!!!!!!!