- Location
- Missouri
Logically, if they try to kidnap her it stops being an Event and starts being combat, so Taylor gets the win/loss (she might want to be kidnapped as part of a plan!) for the event and everything unlocks.
The Rising of the Shield Heroine
- Thread starter Tale Swapper
- Start date
- Crossover
Logically, if they try to kidnap her it stops being an Event and starts being combat, so Taylor gets the win/loss (she might want to be kidnapped as part of a plan!) for the event and everything unlocks.
- Location
- Topeka Kansas
...aren't there events that start with you being kidnapped?
- Location
- Texas
I don't see why a social event would start with a kidnapping, but if thats how all of your social interactions start off then i have many questions.
HatsuZ
Phantom Thief
- Location
- Over the rainbow!
Only if you're Dinah Alcott.
Tale Swapper
(Unverified Madman)
- Location
- Lost Among a Sea of Imaginings and Dreams
Events are supposed to be like conversations in Mass Effect- everything pauses, and all you have access to is dialogue, personal knowledge, etc. You can't rearrange your personnel, chug a potion (without being incredibly obvious) or swap hats. Taylor can manually cancel events- to punch one person in the face, for instance- but as soon as she does, the Event reads as 'failed', and things resume as normal. Events are also rare; they'll only happen due to quest shenanigans or plot-specific encounters.
Jonn Wolfe
(Verified Sarcastic) (Not a Wolf)
- Location
- Beyond Sanity Since 1971
I definitely like this approach to Gamer abilities.
I have to wonder though, if both Taylor and Shard!Taylor are both wrong about what will happen to Taylor's 'inner sister'.
What if, instead of a death, it's a merger? Meaning, a full absorption of the shard. It sort of happened in canon, but that was more the Shard running things with Taylor's personality tacked on.
If there's a full merger, Taylor will know everything about The Cycle, and have partial insight or root access to other shards. Might be OP, but she will have to be in order to have any chance against Zion.
I have to wonder though, if both Taylor and Shard!Taylor are both wrong about what will happen to Taylor's 'inner sister'.
What if, instead of a death, it's a merger? Meaning, a full absorption of the shard. It sort of happened in canon, but that was more the Shard running things with Taylor's personality tacked on.
If there's a full merger, Taylor will know everything about The Cycle, and have partial insight or root access to other shards. Might be OP, but she will have to be in order to have any chance against Zion.
That was bad and you should feel bad. I feel bad. That was a bad thing.Only if you're Dinah Alcott.
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- Location
- The world inside my head
Question: Does Taylor regenerate HP and/or MP when moving around? In combat? Doing nothing physical? Or are her only recovery sources sleeping and eating?
Just looking at the cost on the Salvage skill and wondering how long it takes her to get it back, roughly.
Just looking at the cost on the Salvage skill and wondering how long it takes her to get it back, roughly.
- Location
- Indiana, US
Even with those limits, this is going to be good for her. Taylor is taller than average with a thinner build, so there's a decent chance she can't find a lot of clothes that are actually her size. If wearing fitted clothes is a step up from clothes that fit, it's two steps up from wearing clothes that sort of fit.
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- Location
- Chile
Does that affect drop rate?
Tale Swapper
(Unverified Madman)
- Location
- Lost Among a Sea of Imaginings and Dreams
She regains MP constantly, and can refill from 'totally empty' to completely full in about half an hour. HP regenerates far slower; she'd need several days without rest to recover her full health. Note that at her current level of the Gamer's Body, sleeping doesn't completely restore HP, though it does triple her natural HP regeneration.
It doesn't affect the drop rate for basic materials- but it does increase the odds of rare drops.
I definitely like this approach to Gamer abilities.
I have to wonder though, if both Taylor and Shard!Taylor are both wrong about what will happen to Taylor's 'inner sister'.
What if, instead of a death, it's a merger? Meaning, a full absorption of the shard. It sort of happened in canon, but that was more the Shard running things with Taylor's personality tacked on.
If there's a full merger, Taylor will know everything about The Cycle, and have partial insight or root access to other shards. Might be OP, but she will have to be in order to have any chance against Zion.
That was bad and you should feel bad. I feel bad. That was a bad thing.
Shard!Taylor herself doesn't clearly remember what it's like before being Shard!Taylor, so it wouldn't be as OP as that. My guess is just better control with her powers. The Gamer's Mind in fact would probably be obtained once they merge.
Another effect might be knowing how power/shards work better, or getting impressions from them. Now this might be interesting as she might prove immune to Jack Slash's broadcaster shard. She might even have synergy with everyone at that point. Byt that's probably too OP.. Or is it though?
Chapter 7: Tutorial 1.7
Tale Swapper
(Unverified Madman)
- Location
- Lost Among a Sea of Imaginings and Dreams
I made good use of my improved agility as I moved through the city streets. Starting at the less reputable pawn shops, I bartered away some of the tools and objects I'd found during my salvaging run. Most sold for a pittance, but I was able to leverage diplomacy (and unlock Barter) in order to make a little more money from selling the less damaged power tools. I made sure to only sell a few objects at each shop, spreading the sales around to be less obvious. By the time I'd finished, I'd accumulated a little over three hundred dollars in cash.
From there, I made my way to a downtown shop which claimed to be the major depot of the Society for Creative Anachronisms. I was a little disappointed in their selection of gear- most of it was either foam or wood. However, a close examination of their maintenance kits allowed me to snag a Shield which provided Armorcrafting, another which provided Bladecrafting, and a third which provided Smithing. Still, that carved off a third of my cash.
Which led to my next dilemma. If I wanted to get Allie internet access, and get my hands on a cell phone (Allie insisted that a means of communication would be essential in my hero career) I'd need to get more money. The parts from those game systems I'd salvaged could be worth something, but there weren't many places I could sell computer parts and get anything like fair price.
I frowned as I looked over at the incongruous store. "Yeah, but it's not like we have much choice. We need tech to get you internet access, and this place should have something that would work that's affordable." I muttered under my breath.
A reasonable flaw in her logic occurred to me. "I'm not a tinker, though."
I froze. "What?"
...I hadn't actually. What was it like, being a supervillain out of costume? Were they as bad under their masks as they were outside of them? Sophia wasn't a hero in person, but she might be the exception, rather than the norm- Aegis hadn't seemed pleased at what she'd done.
Still, I had no desire to have a shock bracelet put on me if I didn't play ball. Sophia deserved it- hell, she deserved prison- but it was still weird that the PRT would try to keep her on the team, rather than take the PR hit and dump her. Keeping a wild dog on a leash wouldn't end well, and neither would trying to hold onto Sophia.
Hesitating, I sighed. "Look, they'll probably have a cheap router. And maybe I can pawn those circuit boards and stuff we got out of harvesting those busted game systems."
Walking forward, I made my way inside the store, its tall sign reading "Operator Errors". The red-headed man at the front counter glanced up at me, before nodding his head. "First time here, girl?"
I hesitated, before moving to the front. "Yeah, actually. Hey, do you buy salvaged stuff?"
He snorted. "I don't deal in consumer electronics, young lady. Still, show me what you have, and I might take a look."
I paused. "I thought this place dealt in electronics and components?"
"Yes to both of them. The thing is, we're a hobby shop, not a pawnbroker or a big box store." He looked me in the eye. "I can't compete with the skinflints and thieves who sell bottom of the barrel crap, or people who can ship stuff halfway across the country, so I don't try. I sell unusual parts, kits, and the essentials for do-it-yourself, as well as hardware repair."
I smiled, putting my backpack down on the floor and discreetly dropping most of my inventory's stack of parts into the bag. "Alright. Look, I went out for a salvage run out in the boat graveyard, found some old game systems. Stripped out the guts. Can you take a look?" I set the stack of parts down on the table.
He glanced down at the parts, sifting through several circuit boards. "I don't recognize these. What system did they come out of?"
Rolling my eyes upward, I frowned. "Umm… the labels were a bit muddy, but I think it was called a Fantastico? Something like that. I didn't recognize the brands…" My voice trailed off at his wide eyes. "Is there something wrong?"
He shook his head. 'Were there any complete ones?"
I shrugged. "The container I got them out of had a leak. And there were some parts inside each which had basically self-destructed. Why?" That last part had seemed a little weird; every device had a box the size of a deck of cards which had been nothing more than burned out wires and crisped circuits. It had seemed a little overkill for patent protection, but what did I know?
The man sat back. "Ten years ago, some supervillain tinker coordinated with a group of corrupt electronics executives looking for a fast buck. Sent out game systems and software designed to hijack communications and steal data. The Fantastico was the main hardware unit, a standalone unit designed to receive data from hijacked computers and funnel it back to the Tinker's systems. They sold it as a game system to spread them across the states." He shook his head. "It didn't work, mainly because the villain- went by Botnet- got killed by a rival, and his tech started breaking down soon after. Most of the parts were confiscated by the Protectorate. Honestly? This stuff is probably fine if it still works, but I can't take it. I don't know its value, and I don't know if it's safe to sell."
I blinked, shoveling the parts back into my bag. "Oh. Sorry to bother you."
"Nah, it's fine." He smiled at me, then glanced around the shop. "Honestly, I'm running on a pretty tight budget. If I wasn't, I'd buy it for my own use."
My eyes rose. "Are they really that interesting?"
The man nodded. "Yeah. Botnet's tech had some 'variable interface broadcast system' which allowed his tech to piggyback on other people's airwaves, but that part was all Tinkertech black box. The thing is, the hardware needed to support his tech was state of the art, not tinkertech. What you've got is something he put together along with a research team; cutting edge tech, maybe fifteen, twenty years ahead of its time when it was built. Dragon reverse engineered it, but it's only available to the PRT and Protectorate, or people with a lot of cash. It uses some exotic components, and it's manufacturing process was really expensive."
Hesitating, I reached in and removed some of the parts. "...how about a trade?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Trade?"
I nodded. "I can't sell these, if you're right. But I just wanted a secure modem, and a decent cell phone for a project I'm working on. I only took the best bits from the container I raided. Show me how to use the parts, and I'll trade you some of the extra for the stuff I need to make what I want."
The man grinned, standing up from behind the counter. "Young lady, I think we can work something out." He extended a hand. "Charles Douglas."
I took it in mine. "Taylor Hebert."
Charles was a dedicated handyman, but more importantly, he was a dedicated old-school tinkerer- someone who loved getting his hands dirty. For him, working with the salvaged components I'd dredged up was an interesting challenge and a chance to start a new project.
One thing that came up relatively quickly as we worked was my current education- or lack thereof. Charles was curious about why I wasn't in class, but he snorted when I gave an edited summary of the events which led to my leave from Winslow.
"Cramming a thousand kids from a dozen backgrounds in one place is always going to be a hot mess. Like a litter of puppies, all tails and paws, right up until one kid does something stupid and the jaws come out. Honestly, I'd aim for homeschooling, myself- but then again, I'm a washed up handyman, so don't go trusting my advice blind."
At the end of our little session, I'd assembled a small testing kit out of a still good board and some odds and ends. It wasn't much, but putting it to work confirmed that the boards and parts I'd brought in still worked. I handed off several devices' worth of parts in exchange for a cell phone and router- both needed some work, but together, we were able to cobble together something workable. Two hours invested, and Charles was shaking my hand out the door, letting me know that if I found anything else interesting, I should swing on by.
Working with Charles also netted me three ranks in the Computer Technician skill, which allowed me to build and repair computer hardware. So far so good, but I still hadn't made any progress on completing any quests.
That changed after I got home. Dropping my new(ish) cellphone into the shield increased my communications options- I could now go into a 'video chat' with Allie or anyone else, and could add and dial up cell numbers through my powers… at least once I mastered the appropriate shield. (Instant Messenger's Guard)
Adding the router provided me with the 'Mobile Hotspot' and 'Data Link' Active Skills- which, when active, allowed me to create an area with free internet access and use my powers to access it. However, they also ate up most of my reserve of SP- meaning I could have internet access or combat skills active- but not both. Until I completed the quest, that is, at which point they were converted to Passive skills.
Allie was overjoyed, and immediately established herself on PHO under the handle 'Formerly_a_Queen'. She also started collating data, and through the open voice box, I could hear her cackling about her newfound information-gathering capabilities. I had to talk her down from trying to hack the PRT systems to find out more about Sophia- and then talk her down again to stop her from stealing money from the E88. Granted, I had no problem taking money from white supremacists, but there were a couple of practical problems. One, I didn't have a bank account, and two, she'd probably be noticed pretty quickly.
I left Allie to her new toys. Moving into the kitchen, I reached up and removed the phone from the cradle. Holding it before me, I hesitantly tapped ten digits, waiting for a few moments as the phone rang.
A soft voice answered. "Barnes residence, Zoe Barnes speaking. Who is it?"
I took a deep breath, letting out a long huff of air, trying to tamp down the tension running through me. Old fears came roaring back, but I managed to push out the words. "Mrs. Barnes? Is- is this a bad time?"
There was a long silence, and for a brief instant I thought Emma had never lied to me. Then a muffled sob came back over the phone. "T- Taylor? Honey, is- is that you?" As I sucked in a breath of air, I heard her pull in her own. "I- Taylor, I can't tell you how much I- I'm so sorry-"
I felt my heart throb as I spoke up. "Dad let me know, ma'am. It's-"
"Don't ma'am me, Taylor." Mrs. Barnes had obviously pulled herself back together. "After what Emma told me- I never thought I'd hear from you again."
I winced, connecting the dots. "Emma lied to you, too?"
"...I wish I could say no, dear. I wish she hadn't." She sucked in another breath, her voice trembling slightly, though I couldn't tell if it was from sadness or rage. "She told me, after those first few days of freshman classes, that you broke it off with her. That you didn't want anything to do with us. Alan- Alan was just glad she was talking again. Took her at face value."
I froze. "Talking again? What happened?"
There was a long pause, then a rattling breath. "Honey… I- I suppose you deserve to know. But- can I ask you to meet me? This is the sort of conversation I'd rather have in person."
I found myself nodding. "I can do that, ma'am."
"Good." Mrs. Barnes sounded tired. "I heard you left Winslow after… that attack." The word was bitten out, as if it hurt her to push it through her teeth. "Please, dear- come tomorrow, mid-day, preferably."
I hesitated. "Um, not that I'm opposed, but-"
"Alan." There was a grim note in her voice. "He knows it's not your fault, but he's been moving between angry and morose since… everything." Her voice fell again. "I'd rather you not see him like this. He's barely holding together."
I nodded. "I'll be there tomorrow."
She sighed. "It's good to hear from you again, even considering the circumstances, Taylor. I wish I'd known to reach out to you sooner. Things- things could have been different."
I nodded. "Yeah. Me too."
As I finished the pleasantries and hung up the phone, I let a sigh slip through my lips. For all that Emma had betrayed me, it seemed like I still had allies in the Barnes household.
Setting my shoulders, I let out a huff of air. There was no point in ruminating over what-might-have beens. I wanted answers, but that didn't mean I could turn back the clock.
I stood up, glancing up at the calendar on the wall. Tomorrow- tomorrow I'd have to tell dad about my powers. Tomorrow morning, I would go look at the forge, maybe-
I stopped cold. I'd go into Merchant territory, and try to build my armor. Untrained, under-equipped, and alone, I'd walk into the worst part of town, save perhaps the Graveyard itself. Without telling dad. And if something happened-
Staring at the calendar, my eyes narrowed. No.
Not tomorrow. I couldn't walk into danger without letting him know.
Dad would know tonight.
From there, I made my way to a downtown shop which claimed to be the major depot of the Society for Creative Anachronisms. I was a little disappointed in their selection of gear- most of it was either foam or wood. However, a close examination of their maintenance kits allowed me to snag a Shield which provided Armorcrafting, another which provided Bladecrafting, and a third which provided Smithing. Still, that carved off a third of my cash.
Which led to my next dilemma. If I wanted to get Allie internet access, and get my hands on a cell phone (Allie insisted that a means of communication would be essential in my hero career) I'd need to get more money. The parts from those game systems I'd salvaged could be worth something, but there weren't many places I could sell computer parts and get anything like fair price.
I frowned as I looked over at the incongruous store. "Yeah, but it's not like we have much choice. We need tech to get you internet access, and this place should have something that would work that's affordable." I muttered under my breath.
A reasonable flaw in her logic occurred to me. "I'm not a tinker, though."
I froze. "What?"
...I hadn't actually. What was it like, being a supervillain out of costume? Were they as bad under their masks as they were outside of them? Sophia wasn't a hero in person, but she might be the exception, rather than the norm- Aegis hadn't seemed pleased at what she'd done.
Still, I had no desire to have a shock bracelet put on me if I didn't play ball. Sophia deserved it- hell, she deserved prison- but it was still weird that the PRT would try to keep her on the team, rather than take the PR hit and dump her. Keeping a wild dog on a leash wouldn't end well, and neither would trying to hold onto Sophia.
Hesitating, I sighed. "Look, they'll probably have a cheap router. And maybe I can pawn those circuit boards and stuff we got out of harvesting those busted game systems."
Walking forward, I made my way inside the store, its tall sign reading "Operator Errors". The red-headed man at the front counter glanced up at me, before nodding his head. "First time here, girl?"
I hesitated, before moving to the front. "Yeah, actually. Hey, do you buy salvaged stuff?"
He snorted. "I don't deal in consumer electronics, young lady. Still, show me what you have, and I might take a look."
I paused. "I thought this place dealt in electronics and components?"
"Yes to both of them. The thing is, we're a hobby shop, not a pawnbroker or a big box store." He looked me in the eye. "I can't compete with the skinflints and thieves who sell bottom of the barrel crap, or people who can ship stuff halfway across the country, so I don't try. I sell unusual parts, kits, and the essentials for do-it-yourself, as well as hardware repair."
I smiled, putting my backpack down on the floor and discreetly dropping most of my inventory's stack of parts into the bag. "Alright. Look, I went out for a salvage run out in the boat graveyard, found some old game systems. Stripped out the guts. Can you take a look?" I set the stack of parts down on the table.
He glanced down at the parts, sifting through several circuit boards. "I don't recognize these. What system did they come out of?"
Rolling my eyes upward, I frowned. "Umm… the labels were a bit muddy, but I think it was called a Fantastico? Something like that. I didn't recognize the brands…" My voice trailed off at his wide eyes. "Is there something wrong?"
He shook his head. 'Were there any complete ones?"
I shrugged. "The container I got them out of had a leak. And there were some parts inside each which had basically self-destructed. Why?" That last part had seemed a little weird; every device had a box the size of a deck of cards which had been nothing more than burned out wires and crisped circuits. It had seemed a little overkill for patent protection, but what did I know?
The man sat back. "Ten years ago, some supervillain tinker coordinated with a group of corrupt electronics executives looking for a fast buck. Sent out game systems and software designed to hijack communications and steal data. The Fantastico was the main hardware unit, a standalone unit designed to receive data from hijacked computers and funnel it back to the Tinker's systems. They sold it as a game system to spread them across the states." He shook his head. "It didn't work, mainly because the villain- went by Botnet- got killed by a rival, and his tech started breaking down soon after. Most of the parts were confiscated by the Protectorate. Honestly? This stuff is probably fine if it still works, but I can't take it. I don't know its value, and I don't know if it's safe to sell."
I blinked, shoveling the parts back into my bag. "Oh. Sorry to bother you."
"Nah, it's fine." He smiled at me, then glanced around the shop. "Honestly, I'm running on a pretty tight budget. If I wasn't, I'd buy it for my own use."
My eyes rose. "Are they really that interesting?"
The man nodded. "Yeah. Botnet's tech had some 'variable interface broadcast system' which allowed his tech to piggyback on other people's airwaves, but that part was all Tinkertech black box. The thing is, the hardware needed to support his tech was state of the art, not tinkertech. What you've got is something he put together along with a research team; cutting edge tech, maybe fifteen, twenty years ahead of its time when it was built. Dragon reverse engineered it, but it's only available to the PRT and Protectorate, or people with a lot of cash. It uses some exotic components, and it's manufacturing process was really expensive."
Hesitating, I reached in and removed some of the parts. "...how about a trade?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Trade?"
I nodded. "I can't sell these, if you're right. But I just wanted a secure modem, and a decent cell phone for a project I'm working on. I only took the best bits from the container I raided. Show me how to use the parts, and I'll trade you some of the extra for the stuff I need to make what I want."
The man grinned, standing up from behind the counter. "Young lady, I think we can work something out." He extended a hand. "Charles Douglas."
I took it in mine. "Taylor Hebert."
--[0]--
Charles was a dedicated handyman, but more importantly, he was a dedicated old-school tinkerer- someone who loved getting his hands dirty. For him, working with the salvaged components I'd dredged up was an interesting challenge and a chance to start a new project.
One thing that came up relatively quickly as we worked was my current education- or lack thereof. Charles was curious about why I wasn't in class, but he snorted when I gave an edited summary of the events which led to my leave from Winslow.
"Cramming a thousand kids from a dozen backgrounds in one place is always going to be a hot mess. Like a litter of puppies, all tails and paws, right up until one kid does something stupid and the jaws come out. Honestly, I'd aim for homeschooling, myself- but then again, I'm a washed up handyman, so don't go trusting my advice blind."
At the end of our little session, I'd assembled a small testing kit out of a still good board and some odds and ends. It wasn't much, but putting it to work confirmed that the boards and parts I'd brought in still worked. I handed off several devices' worth of parts in exchange for a cell phone and router- both needed some work, but together, we were able to cobble together something workable. Two hours invested, and Charles was shaking my hand out the door, letting me know that if I found anything else interesting, I should swing on by.
Working with Charles also netted me three ranks in the Computer Technician skill, which allowed me to build and repair computer hardware. So far so good, but I still hadn't made any progress on completing any quests.
That changed after I got home. Dropping my new(ish) cellphone into the shield increased my communications options- I could now go into a 'video chat' with Allie or anyone else, and could add and dial up cell numbers through my powers… at least once I mastered the appropriate shield. (Instant Messenger's Guard)
Adding the router provided me with the 'Mobile Hotspot' and 'Data Link' Active Skills- which, when active, allowed me to create an area with free internet access and use my powers to access it. However, they also ate up most of my reserve of SP- meaning I could have internet access or combat skills active- but not both. Until I completed the quest, that is, at which point they were converted to Passive skills.
Allie was overjoyed, and immediately established herself on PHO under the handle 'Formerly_a_Queen'. She also started collating data, and through the open voice box, I could hear her cackling about her newfound information-gathering capabilities. I had to talk her down from trying to hack the PRT systems to find out more about Sophia- and then talk her down again to stop her from stealing money from the E88. Granted, I had no problem taking money from white supremacists, but there were a couple of practical problems. One, I didn't have a bank account, and two, she'd probably be noticed pretty quickly.
I left Allie to her new toys. Moving into the kitchen, I reached up and removed the phone from the cradle. Holding it before me, I hesitantly tapped ten digits, waiting for a few moments as the phone rang.
A soft voice answered. "Barnes residence, Zoe Barnes speaking. Who is it?"
I took a deep breath, letting out a long huff of air, trying to tamp down the tension running through me. Old fears came roaring back, but I managed to push out the words. "Mrs. Barnes? Is- is this a bad time?"
There was a long silence, and for a brief instant I thought Emma had never lied to me. Then a muffled sob came back over the phone. "T- Taylor? Honey, is- is that you?" As I sucked in a breath of air, I heard her pull in her own. "I- Taylor, I can't tell you how much I- I'm so sorry-"
I felt my heart throb as I spoke up. "Dad let me know, ma'am. It's-"
"Don't ma'am me, Taylor." Mrs. Barnes had obviously pulled herself back together. "After what Emma told me- I never thought I'd hear from you again."
I winced, connecting the dots. "Emma lied to you, too?"
"...I wish I could say no, dear. I wish she hadn't." She sucked in another breath, her voice trembling slightly, though I couldn't tell if it was from sadness or rage. "She told me, after those first few days of freshman classes, that you broke it off with her. That you didn't want anything to do with us. Alan- Alan was just glad she was talking again. Took her at face value."
I froze. "Talking again? What happened?"
There was a long pause, then a rattling breath. "Honey… I- I suppose you deserve to know. But- can I ask you to meet me? This is the sort of conversation I'd rather have in person."
I found myself nodding. "I can do that, ma'am."
"Good." Mrs. Barnes sounded tired. "I heard you left Winslow after… that attack." The word was bitten out, as if it hurt her to push it through her teeth. "Please, dear- come tomorrow, mid-day, preferably."
I hesitated. "Um, not that I'm opposed, but-"
"Alan." There was a grim note in her voice. "He knows it's not your fault, but he's been moving between angry and morose since… everything." Her voice fell again. "I'd rather you not see him like this. He's barely holding together."
I nodded. "I'll be there tomorrow."
She sighed. "It's good to hear from you again, even considering the circumstances, Taylor. I wish I'd known to reach out to you sooner. Things- things could have been different."
I nodded. "Yeah. Me too."
As I finished the pleasantries and hung up the phone, I let a sigh slip through my lips. For all that Emma had betrayed me, it seemed like I still had allies in the Barnes household.
Setting my shoulders, I let out a huff of air. There was no point in ruminating over what-might-have beens. I wanted answers, but that didn't mean I could turn back the clock.
I stood up, glancing up at the calendar on the wall. Tomorrow- tomorrow I'd have to tell dad about my powers. Tomorrow morning, I would go look at the forge, maybe-
I stopped cold. I'd go into Merchant territory, and try to build my armor. Untrained, under-equipped, and alone, I'd walk into the worst part of town, save perhaps the Graveyard itself. Without telling dad. And if something happened-
Staring at the calendar, my eyes narrowed. No.
Not tomorrow. I couldn't walk into danger without letting him know.
Dad would know tonight.
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HatsuZ
Phantom Thief
- Location
- Over the rainbow!
A Taylor who communicates? Going step-by-step towards a brighter future for herself and others? Finding ways to fulfill her dreams without going into crime or getting advice from Tattletale?
Is this really a Wormfic?
I wonder how good Allie is at hacking things and not getting caught? Does Taylor have to pay for her magic-power phone line(s)?
Is this really a Wormfic?
I wonder how good Allie is at hacking things and not getting caught? Does Taylor have to pay for her magic-power phone line(s)?
- Location
- The world inside my head
Hm. Presumably she got an Observe off on Douglas and didn't see anything, ah, incriminating. Still, she may have a contact now~
Looking forward to Dad Event. (And Zoe, but that looks like it's going to happen after the forge, and, well, something tells me that *something* is going to happen there. Just because. Might not be actual capes, though.)
How is Taylor doing on her quests? She's got all the skills she needs if I'm paying attention (and might have picked up some cloth while we weren't looking), but what do her physical attributes look like at this point, and has she picked up another ability besides Observe and Salvage? (Pretty sure she's only missing one ability for Practice Makes Perfect.) Also, has she seen Insight anywhere?
EDIT: Also also, Free Roaming is done, right? Just wanted to make sure.
Looking forward to Dad Event. (And Zoe, but that looks like it's going to happen after the forge, and, well, something tells me that *something* is going to happen there. Just because. Might not be actual capes, though.)
How is Taylor doing on her quests? She's got all the skills she needs if I'm paying attention (and might have picked up some cloth while we weren't looking), but what do her physical attributes look like at this point, and has she picked up another ability besides Observe and Salvage? (Pretty sure she's only missing one ability for Practice Makes Perfect.) Also, has she seen Insight anywhere?
EDIT: Also also, Free Roaming is done, right? Just wanted to make sure.
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- Location
- earth
Update! Yay! It's really nice to see a communicating Taylor. If I wrote a wormfic that would be the first trope I'd get rid of.
Tale Swapper
(Unverified Madman)
- Location
- Lost Among a Sea of Imaginings and Dreams
Indefinitely. Taylor Hebert was already stubborn, and now she's increasing her Wisdom stat. Even without the Gamer's Mind, she's capable of powering through some serous shit. It'll take a serious system shock to make her stop forging forward.
Taylor does not have to pay for her magic phone-lines. That's all I can explain on the matter.A Taylor who communicates? Going step-by-step towards a brighter future for herself and others? Finding ways to fulfill her dreams without going into crime or getting advice from Tattletale?
Is this really a Wormfic?
I wonder how good Allie is at hacking things and not getting caught? Does Taylor have to pay for her magic-power phone line(s)?
As for Allie, she's not that good of a Hacker (yet). She just has a very fast computer and a lot of extra time on her hands. There's a reason Taylor is trying to keep her from overreaching.
Free roaming is done; its reward was converting 'Mobile Hotspot' and 'Data Link' to passive skills, and the new Ability 'Video Chat' which will see use next chapter. As for stats, Taylor actually needs to level up Endurance a couple of times to complete 'leaps and bounds'. I won't be releasing a full stat chart of our Heroine until the end of the Tutorial; filling pages with info dumps is rarely fulfilling.
Also, Taylor hasn't gotten in the habit of Observing everyone she meets. She still has to whisper it, for one, and she also hasn't accepted the privacy violation she causes whenever she uses it yet.
Taylor has a few abilities at this point- Needle Spray, Pushback, Salvage, Observe, and a few unused abilities. Taylor has quite a few shields unlocked that we haven't seen used yet, which will be added to the infodump after the Tutorial concludes.
Finally, Taylor will talk to Zoe tomorrow, and then go to the forge tomorrow night... so long as she succeeds in the talk with Danny.
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- Location
- Australia
- Pronouns
- She/Her
I adore how Taylor has learnt there are people she can trust. Such a wonderful difference from so many stories.
- Location
- texas
Now we need the roaster teeth shield which makes some other shields unlockable as well as some other brand name despite some not being on that earth
I think that the video chat ability means that Danny will be able to see and talk to Allie. That's going to be interesting...
Tale Swapper
(Unverified Madman)
- Location
- Lost Among a Sea of Imaginings and Dreams
... I'm not certain what 'roaster teeth' is. Do you mean Rooster Teeth?
- Location
- Florida, USA
Everything about this story is so good.
Although with her giving a name, having access to a villain's Tinkertech, and looking for secure and disposable means of communication, . . . I wouldn't be surprised if Charles turned her in to the PRT thinking she might have found something dangerous out in the Graveyard and be trying to fence it to a gang for a quick buck. Which would likely end poorly for her.
Also, good to see her stepping up talking to her Dad. Hopefully Danny will be able to hook her up with some less dangerous methods of getting herself ready.
Although with her giving a name, having access to a villain's Tinkertech, and looking for secure and disposable means of communication, . . . I wouldn't be surprised if Charles turned her in to the PRT thinking she might have found something dangerous out in the Graveyard and be trying to fence it to a gang for a quick buck. Which would likely end poorly for her.
Also, good to see her stepping up talking to her Dad. Hopefully Danny will be able to hook her up with some less dangerous methods of getting herself ready.
HatsuZ
Phantom Thief
- Location
- Over the rainbow!
Some words were cut off at the end here.
Say, the name "Allie" feels like an allusion to me. 'Allie' as in 'Ally'? 'AI'? 'Alien'?
Oh, last question: Does Danny have any experience with any kind of RPGs, like maybe tabletop ones?
Bronze_Moose
Okay at Omake
- Location
- Port Angeles, Washington
Go Taylor, making good decisions!