- Location
- Australia
Wolf Spider (Worm) (Complete)
- Thread starter The Laurent
- Start date
- Pronouns
- They/Them
I'll try to get an update out on Monday. Just a short Interlude. Just need to have it Beta'd and all.
Yeah Taylor's going to be absolutely mortified. blushing-anime-girl.gif
She wasn't at all comfortable with the idea of Rachel-style courtship in canon and here she's the hapless target rather than a hypothetical persuer.
It's worth noting that I don't think Taylor quite realizes how into Rachel she is at this point. She hasn't been explicitly thinking that "OMG she's so hot" she's been, just happening to notice attractive stuff about Rachel.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
By the way, what did Taylor wear underneath her costume? It's a minor detail for something.
Assembler
Rocking the life
Lenimentus
Ignorant but learning.
Am I the only one who read this as less Bitch being actually interested in Taylor that way, and more her thinking that that's what Taylor wants and valuing the relationship enough to give it to her?
Ruff 1-A
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Ruff 1-A
It didn't matter that Jeff couldn't hear the Eurobeats, because that didn't mean they weren't there. If Amanda kept on listening to that trash when she was supposed to be helping him do important analysis, he was going to throw a fit. Or file a complaint. Either way, it wasn't fair that he was stuck doing all of the real work, and whatever she said about how it helped get her in the 'zone' was all a bunch of nonsense.
He looked around the small, cramped room, and then back at his computer, where he was writing a report.
Two new capes that needed analyzing, and then updating of that analysis, and they were both overdue. They'd really dropped the ball so far, but the PRT Analysis Team would get it done before the weekend, that was for sure.
He wiped his brow, wishing they'd turned down the temperature a little. Would it kill them to use the A/C? Sure, it'd cut down on their shiny-shit budget, but--
He took a breath, trying to rein in the annoyance and the fury. He knew he was like this, he knew that sometimes he could just spiral out into criticism and anger that didn't really matter, that didn't help him with his job.
First cape: Arachne. She seemed straightforward at first, but Jeff had followed a hunch or two, and now the picture he was getting was very different than he first expected. She'd helped out with this Merchant attack, and in doing so she'd impressed Kid Win and Clockblocker (he hated that name with a passion, hated every time he was forced to write it in a report) at least a little bit, enough so that their analysis hadn't exactly been unbiased.
But there was the attack on the E88 earlier, wasn't there? With Hellhound, a member of a minor, petty criminal gang. That seemed like someone who was playing both sides of it, and that's what his report was going to say, and if she would just talk to him, what Amanda's was as well. You always made sure there were at least a few reports for every issue, even if capes tended to trust their own foolish 'gut instincts' over the professional analysis that guided the PRT.
PRT officers weren't going to have powers and arrogance to back them up, they needed to know what the situation really was. And it was bad. If she really was part of the Undersiders, then that meant that there were two new villains in town.
And while her power didn't seem that impressive at first glance, Amanda had at least emailed him a few notes on the kinds of things that bugs could do, and the report by Kid Win, despite being a little given to tangents, had basically summed up how useful her power had been.
Arachne wasn't a cape who could singlehandedly change the face of Brockton Bay, she wasn't going to be toppling Lung or becoming anything too dangerous, in Jeff's professional opinion, but that didn't matter. A single small weight at the right part.
He pushed himself up, standing to his full height of six feet. He was tall, and if he exercised more, he might have even been imposing, but as it stood, he knew that it wasn't his good looks that had put him so high up in the analysts pool.
Amanda was a short, brown-skinned woman who moved as if she had an itch, jittering one way and the next, her rolling chair moving with her as she typed.
He loomed over her until she tabbed to what looked like a video channel and muted the music. "Yes?"
"Have you finished your analysis of Arachne?" Jeff asked.
"Yes. Half an hour ago. I think that her working with the Undersiders is clearly pragmatism. She sees an opportunity, she takes it. She's an indie hero, you know the statistics with those."
"Ah, and maybe you would have been right an hour ago," Jeff said, "but we just got in more data."
The key was to always change the analysis with the data, rather than sticking to an outdated theory.
"What?"
"She worked with the Undersiders in some kind of fight. Three E88 capes captured, and she apparently claims it was just as you said. Just pure pragmatism. But when he asked: 'Is that the only reason you helped him?' that new Tinker-tech of his registered her answer of yes as a lie," Jeff said. "Or at least, a likely deception. What does that say to you?"
"I'm… not sure. Are you saying she's an Undersider?"
"I'm saying that you shouldn't discount that in our analysis, and that if you don't want to look second-rate, you should pay attention to these sorts of things. Agreement is important when we have to push something through, and we need the PRT to understand that she might be hostile."
"Are you sure?" Amanda asked.
"Of course not. We work in probability, but that's what I'm going to put in my report."
"What if she's had positive interactions with them? Reports from the gang members are that during the dog-fighting they worked together well. Which could be a hint of collusion, but it could have led to positive feelings. And collusion itself isn't enough to get her labeled a villain. Not if she's acting outside the law."
"Ah, you're right," Jeff said, wiping his forehead. "But I still think that you're missing the forest for the trees. We need to make sure that it's clear what we want to do."
"And what do we want to do?" Amanda asked.
"Force her to make a choice. Confront her with her links to the Undersiders. I've looked it up, and they have murderers in their midst. Force her to choose between the Protectorate and the Undersiders, or rather the Wards and the Undersiders, and that'd be a feather in Piggot's cap, and you know that she's reasonable to those who help her."
Amanda sighed, whirling around in her chair to look at him more closely. "Yes, but she also wants accurate analysis. Yes, this hardball sort of thing is the Director's specialty, and it's how she got Shadow Stalker--"
Jeff's latest triumph, actually. He'd been the one to suggest confronting her with Miss Militia, that it'd give a chance to see just what she did. And it'd paid off, more or less. His analysis had even been correct that the two of them would share enough that it wouldn't come down to a fight.
"It is. And it's how she'll get Arachne. You yourself said it, her power can be very useful. Imagine if she could track entire gang movements? We can't attack a cape's identity, but if we find out where their men are hanging out…"
"Ah, that makes sense," Amanda said, relaxing a little bit. "I'll make sure to note that in my report. What about the Chemical Tinker?"
"We need to figure out their capabilities, and fast. If we don't, we're going to keep on getting surprise, we're going to keep on running into tricks. Being able to temporarily grant powers is dangerous, especially if they actually knew how to use the powers. We have only one sample, thanks to Cl… the Ward's ability to freeze someone in time, the rest of them had no signs that they'd taken a drug at all.
"Clockblocker?" Amanda said, with a faint smile at Jeff's wince.
"Yes, exactly. Him. The Merchants are now more dangerous than ever, and I think that we should back off the E88, especially if the Undersiders and their newest member are focusing so hard on them."
Amanda was frowning now, though he couldn't quite tell why.
"After all, the E88 is too big to get any quick, easy victories out of. Once we have the Merchants out of the way, the E88 will go too far, do a few too many hate crimes, and they'll be ripe for the picking." Jeff smiled, proud of his idea. This could be a real victory for the PRT, and a feather in his cap as well.
"Is that so wise? If we don't know what the tinker does. You know that Director Piggot likes to keep the pressure up on E88."
"Yes… yes, that is a problem, but I'm sure that we can figure something out, together, to convince her."
"Yes… I suppose we can," Amanda said, and she seemed to be acting a little odd. Distant, in a way he couldn't quite put his finger on.
"Well, I'm going to get back to work. You know what to write, I'm sure, and if you need any help with analyzing the reports, feel free to shoot me an email and I can point to the really important parts that decisively prove what I'm talking about."
"Of course," Amanda said, nodding.
********
Summary of Suggested Course of Action (Jeffery Wiles): "By applying strong and decisive pressure regarding the actions of the Undersiders, Arachne can be recruited as a useful asset. Once the Merchants are out of the way, she can be used to bring the E88's own numbers against them, in a plan outlined above. If Arachne does resist, then it is certain that she's a member of the Undersiders under a classic independent hero guise, and should be treated as such.
The new chemical Tinker is highly troubling, and more study is needed as soon as possible, and should be the primary priority of the PRT forces for the moment."
Summary of Suggested Course of Action (Amanda Wallen): "Keep in positive contact with Arachne, but make sure she understands that alliance with the Undersiders has its downsides. Do release information involving Undersiders re: murder at time most convenient, and continue focusing on the Empire Eighty Eight for the moment, while trying to watch for signs of the Merchant's plans.
Based on an analysis of Skidmark's psychology, he's going to want to push out with his stronger forces, boss. He'll make a mistake sooner, rather than later, and we can catch him out without putting extra effort into it."
********
A/N: Short, but it doesn't need to be long to give the main point, which is that the PRT analysts are thinking/disagreeing on her and her actions, as well as setting up alternate strategies on how to move forward from here.
It didn't matter that Jeff couldn't hear the Eurobeats, because that didn't mean they weren't there. If Amanda kept on listening to that trash when she was supposed to be helping him do important analysis, he was going to throw a fit. Or file a complaint. Either way, it wasn't fair that he was stuck doing all of the real work, and whatever she said about how it helped get her in the 'zone' was all a bunch of nonsense.
He looked around the small, cramped room, and then back at his computer, where he was writing a report.
Two new capes that needed analyzing, and then updating of that analysis, and they were both overdue. They'd really dropped the ball so far, but the PRT Analysis Team would get it done before the weekend, that was for sure.
He wiped his brow, wishing they'd turned down the temperature a little. Would it kill them to use the A/C? Sure, it'd cut down on their shiny-shit budget, but--
He took a breath, trying to rein in the annoyance and the fury. He knew he was like this, he knew that sometimes he could just spiral out into criticism and anger that didn't really matter, that didn't help him with his job.
First cape: Arachne. She seemed straightforward at first, but Jeff had followed a hunch or two, and now the picture he was getting was very different than he first expected. She'd helped out with this Merchant attack, and in doing so she'd impressed Kid Win and Clockblocker (he hated that name with a passion, hated every time he was forced to write it in a report) at least a little bit, enough so that their analysis hadn't exactly been unbiased.
But there was the attack on the E88 earlier, wasn't there? With Hellhound, a member of a minor, petty criminal gang. That seemed like someone who was playing both sides of it, and that's what his report was going to say, and if she would just talk to him, what Amanda's was as well. You always made sure there were at least a few reports for every issue, even if capes tended to trust their own foolish 'gut instincts' over the professional analysis that guided the PRT.
PRT officers weren't going to have powers and arrogance to back them up, they needed to know what the situation really was. And it was bad. If she really was part of the Undersiders, then that meant that there were two new villains in town.
And while her power didn't seem that impressive at first glance, Amanda had at least emailed him a few notes on the kinds of things that bugs could do, and the report by Kid Win, despite being a little given to tangents, had basically summed up how useful her power had been.
Arachne wasn't a cape who could singlehandedly change the face of Brockton Bay, she wasn't going to be toppling Lung or becoming anything too dangerous, in Jeff's professional opinion, but that didn't matter. A single small weight at the right part.
He pushed himself up, standing to his full height of six feet. He was tall, and if he exercised more, he might have even been imposing, but as it stood, he knew that it wasn't his good looks that had put him so high up in the analysts pool.
Amanda was a short, brown-skinned woman who moved as if she had an itch, jittering one way and the next, her rolling chair moving with her as she typed.
He loomed over her until she tabbed to what looked like a video channel and muted the music. "Yes?"
"Have you finished your analysis of Arachne?" Jeff asked.
"Yes. Half an hour ago. I think that her working with the Undersiders is clearly pragmatism. She sees an opportunity, she takes it. She's an indie hero, you know the statistics with those."
"Ah, and maybe you would have been right an hour ago," Jeff said, "but we just got in more data."
The key was to always change the analysis with the data, rather than sticking to an outdated theory.
"What?"
"She worked with the Undersiders in some kind of fight. Three E88 capes captured, and she apparently claims it was just as you said. Just pure pragmatism. But when he asked: 'Is that the only reason you helped him?' that new Tinker-tech of his registered her answer of yes as a lie," Jeff said. "Or at least, a likely deception. What does that say to you?"
"I'm… not sure. Are you saying she's an Undersider?"
"I'm saying that you shouldn't discount that in our analysis, and that if you don't want to look second-rate, you should pay attention to these sorts of things. Agreement is important when we have to push something through, and we need the PRT to understand that she might be hostile."
"Are you sure?" Amanda asked.
"Of course not. We work in probability, but that's what I'm going to put in my report."
"What if she's had positive interactions with them? Reports from the gang members are that during the dog-fighting they worked together well. Which could be a hint of collusion, but it could have led to positive feelings. And collusion itself isn't enough to get her labeled a villain. Not if she's acting outside the law."
"Ah, you're right," Jeff said, wiping his forehead. "But I still think that you're missing the forest for the trees. We need to make sure that it's clear what we want to do."
"And what do we want to do?" Amanda asked.
"Force her to make a choice. Confront her with her links to the Undersiders. I've looked it up, and they have murderers in their midst. Force her to choose between the Protectorate and the Undersiders, or rather the Wards and the Undersiders, and that'd be a feather in Piggot's cap, and you know that she's reasonable to those who help her."
Amanda sighed, whirling around in her chair to look at him more closely. "Yes, but she also wants accurate analysis. Yes, this hardball sort of thing is the Director's specialty, and it's how she got Shadow Stalker--"
Jeff's latest triumph, actually. He'd been the one to suggest confronting her with Miss Militia, that it'd give a chance to see just what she did. And it'd paid off, more or less. His analysis had even been correct that the two of them would share enough that it wouldn't come down to a fight.
"It is. And it's how she'll get Arachne. You yourself said it, her power can be very useful. Imagine if she could track entire gang movements? We can't attack a cape's identity, but if we find out where their men are hanging out…"
"Ah, that makes sense," Amanda said, relaxing a little bit. "I'll make sure to note that in my report. What about the Chemical Tinker?"
"We need to figure out their capabilities, and fast. If we don't, we're going to keep on getting surprise, we're going to keep on running into tricks. Being able to temporarily grant powers is dangerous, especially if they actually knew how to use the powers. We have only one sample, thanks to Cl… the Ward's ability to freeze someone in time, the rest of them had no signs that they'd taken a drug at all.
"Clockblocker?" Amanda said, with a faint smile at Jeff's wince.
"Yes, exactly. Him. The Merchants are now more dangerous than ever, and I think that we should back off the E88, especially if the Undersiders and their newest member are focusing so hard on them."
Amanda was frowning now, though he couldn't quite tell why.
"After all, the E88 is too big to get any quick, easy victories out of. Once we have the Merchants out of the way, the E88 will go too far, do a few too many hate crimes, and they'll be ripe for the picking." Jeff smiled, proud of his idea. This could be a real victory for the PRT, and a feather in his cap as well.
"Is that so wise? If we don't know what the tinker does. You know that Director Piggot likes to keep the pressure up on E88."
"Yes… yes, that is a problem, but I'm sure that we can figure something out, together, to convince her."
"Yes… I suppose we can," Amanda said, and she seemed to be acting a little odd. Distant, in a way he couldn't quite put his finger on.
"Well, I'm going to get back to work. You know what to write, I'm sure, and if you need any help with analyzing the reports, feel free to shoot me an email and I can point to the really important parts that decisively prove what I'm talking about."
"Of course," Amanda said, nodding.
********
Summary of Suggested Course of Action (Jeffery Wiles): "By applying strong and decisive pressure regarding the actions of the Undersiders, Arachne can be recruited as a useful asset. Once the Merchants are out of the way, she can be used to bring the E88's own numbers against them, in a plan outlined above. If Arachne does resist, then it is certain that she's a member of the Undersiders under a classic independent hero guise, and should be treated as such.
The new chemical Tinker is highly troubling, and more study is needed as soon as possible, and should be the primary priority of the PRT forces for the moment."
Summary of Suggested Course of Action (Amanda Wallen): "Keep in positive contact with Arachne, but make sure she understands that alliance with the Undersiders has its downsides. Do release information involving Undersiders re: murder at time most convenient, and continue focusing on the Empire Eighty Eight for the moment, while trying to watch for signs of the Merchant's plans.
Based on an analysis of Skidmark's psychology, he's going to want to push out with his stronger forces, boss. He'll make a mistake sooner, rather than later, and we can catch him out without putting extra effort into it."
********
A/N: Short, but it doesn't need to be long to give the main point, which is that the PRT analysts are thinking/disagreeing on her and her actions, as well as setting up alternate strategies on how to move forward from here.
- Location
- UK
- Pronouns
- They/Them
... I'm a little bitter that this wasn't follow-up on Bitch's proposotion.
Also Jeff is a bit of an arsehole and I'd say he doesn't know what he's in for pressuring Taylor but if he's listened to it just means she'll be labelled a villain. Also he really needs to learn some tact. Is he actually oblivious to the awkwardness of telling his brown-skinned colleague that they can leave the E88 to commit a few hate crimes before really throwing the book at them? Hopefully people listen to Amanda rather than Jeff.
Also Jeff is a bit of an arsehole and I'd say he doesn't know what he's in for pressuring Taylor but if he's listened to it just means she'll be labelled a villain. Also he really needs to learn some tact. Is he actually oblivious to the awkwardness of telling his brown-skinned colleague that they can leave the E88 to commit a few hate crimes before really throwing the book at them? Hopefully people listen to Amanda rather than Jeff.
- Location
- Underground
That's some jumping to conclusions on Jeff's part.
If someone helps you beat up Nazis you're likely to think of them positively, that's only natural.
And confronting parahumans and pressuring them to make choices, 'join us, or get labeled a villain'...yeah, no way that could make someone feel cornered or threatened.
0/10 for analysis, the hack.
If someone helps you beat up Nazis you're likely to think of them positively, that's only natural.
And confronting parahumans and pressuring them to make choices, 'join us, or get labeled a villain'...yeah, no way that could make someone feel cornered or threatened.
0/10 for analysis, the hack.
The guy's pretty obviously a oblivious arrogant macho prick. Note how often his internal monologue self aggrandises himself. Like going on a tangent noting that his six feet of height is imposingly tall. Or his insecurity over parahumans. And his need for control (his coworkers music, Clockblocker, his recommendations). That said it's well documented people like him do great in certain environments like corporations, the military and security services regardless of competence. So makes sense he's there.
Real question, is Piggott gonna be dumb enough to listen to him.
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- Location
- Australia
I... didn't really like this chapter. Maybe I've not been paying attention beyond "YURI!" but it feels jarring to me. Like in tone shift or something and the analysts are morons.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Both of them?
Even Jeff had at least a few ideas that weren't bad, though I didn't show them quite yet.
Edit: But yeah, there is a larger plot going on here.
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- Location
- Australia
Well just Jeff really.
Probably should have, because he's about as likeable as kick to the nads ATM. Like an unreasonable jackass, and any good idea he has will be tainted because he is a massive asshole.
A game is afoot?
BeaconHill
Lost Among Carbon Fields
I had thought that Taylor should already know that Rachel was a murderer, but looking back on it apparently not. She looked up Rachel's PHO wiki page in Ruff 1.2, but that apparently didn't include her murders either in Wolf Spider or in canon. (Which makes no damn sense, but oh well, it's canon.) The first time canon Taylor learned anything about murderers in the Undersiders was with Armsmaster in 3.5, and she wasn't certain Rachel was one of them until 4.1.
Which is a shame, because this throwing a rock into Taylor and Rachel's relationship would be kinda boring and predictable, whereas Taylor responding to PRT intimidation with "yeah, I know" would be hilarious.
I hope Rachel spills the beans before the PRT gets to Taylor.
I think this is excellent advice. I would love to see Taylor go on the run with Rachel.
This interests me. I'm not really sure what could be going on here; I can't think of many people with powersets much like this in canon, let alone in canon's Brockton Bay, and normally we don't get new OC capes if they're not directly related to the main plot in some way. (Which, here, is of course Taylor/Rachel.
) I guess... Hmm. Maybe this is Greg?
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- Pronouns
- They/Them
Unspoken plan guarantee. You'll see given time. Not even that much time, really.
I had thought that Taylor should already know that Rachel was a murderer, but looking back on it apparently not. She looked up Rachel's PHO wiki page in Ruff 1.2, but that apparently didn't include her murders either in Wolf Spider or in canon. (Which makes no damn sense, but oh well, it's canon.) The first time canon Taylor learned anything about murderers in the Undersiders was with Armsmaster in 3.5, and she wasn't certain Rachel was one of them until 4.1.
Which is a shame, because this throwing a rock into Taylor and Rachel's relationship would be kinda boring and predictable, whereas Taylor responding to PRT intimidation with "yeah, I know" would be hilarious.
I hope Rachel spills the beans before the PRT gets to Taylor.
I think this is excellent advice. I would love to have Rachel and Taylor become villains on the run.
This interests me. I'm not really sure what could be going on here; I can't think of many people with powersets much like this in canon, let alone in canon's Brockton Bay, and normally we don't get new OC capes if they're not directly related to the main plot in some way. (Which, here, is of course Taylor/Rachel.
I'm not like most authors, I'm not terrified of OCs.
BeaconHill
Lost Among Carbon Fields
I don't know. I like to think of this as sort of a conservation-of-detail thing – if this new chemical tinker isn't going to matter, or alternately if she's going to fill a role that could be handled perfectly well by a canon character, I don't see why you'd want to spend the extra words describing and introducing her when you could be getting on with the real story you want to tell.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
I don't know. I like to think of this as sort of a conservation-of-detail thing – if this new chemical tinker isn't going to matter, or alternately if she's going to fill a role that could be handled perfectly well by a canon character, I don't see why you'd want to spend the extra words describing and introducing her when you could be getting on with the real story you want to tell.
I'm confused? Why do you think that they aren't going to matter.
This is a romance-adventure, not just a romance/etc. It's street-level cape stuff, and romance. Not or romance.
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Dr. Mercurious
Strangest Person You Know
- Location
- New England
Jeff...Jeff, Jeff, Jeff. Here's a buck; go buy a clue.
Jeff represents fanon PRT, doesn't he?
Jeff represents fanon PRT, doesn't he?
I suppose Jeff is useful in a way; with him and Amanda supplying the full spectrum of opinions, Piggot has the leisure to use any of them and claim to be following a 'recommendation from a specialist'. And, sometimes you need to hear the stupid suggestion from someone else to realize it is stupid.
- Location
- The INTERNET!
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
Jeff seems like the kind of analyst who is very good at viewing people and their behavior through one lens: being a rampaging douchenozzle. For parahumans who behave like rampaging douchenozzles, Jeff is very good at predicting their actions. For paraumans who do not meet that mold, he is less reliable, and often wildly wrong. This is why you have more than one analyst in your local analysis team. I would have actually preferred having three analysts, but I can understand the Brockton Bay PRT being wildly underfunded.
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- Pronouns
- They/Them
Perhaps Thomas Calvert could be #3? I'm sure Piggot would appreciate that.
He really gets into the minds of the gang leaders!
- Location
- Underground
I kind of hope Shadow Stalker goes villain or she gets found out regarding the locker or the death the Barnes covered up just for the egg that would wind up on Jeff's face.
That 'you're either with us or a villain' attitude is really annoying. And Jeff is thinking recruitment and strategy like parahumans are pieces on a board rather than people.
Ugh, I'm already dreading the encounter with the black/white self-righteous hero.
That 'you're either with us or a villain' attitude is really annoying. And Jeff is thinking recruitment and strategy like parahumans are pieces on a board rather than people.
Ugh, I'm already dreading the encounter with the black/white self-righteous hero.