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Grendyne groans and starts pulling on her boots when the alarm goes off. Again. She quick-marches to the broom hangar, sits on her machine and is handed a plethora of loaded weapons by attentive corporals.
"Two flyers in one day? They're getting way too common."
"It's worse," the commander informs them, "South Karlsland got hit with three at once. We're taking Lytee's express and sleeping there. You can sit out if you absolutely need to, but Freya's still recovering so we could use you as a comms relay."
"No, I'll come. I just reserve the right to complain about it."
The 42nd United Forces Witch Wing takes off and assembles into a perfect synchronized formation as Lytee charges her teleport power.
...This is not South Karlsland wilderness.
[note: halfway through this thread I created a unique account for Grendyne. Do not be alarmed by the change in account. -Rockeye]
characterquarry
witchwatcher
"They come out of a giant hurricane that appeared out of nowhere on my world. I suspect they teleported here somehow. I'm not sure there's much you can do to prevent it, if they want to come through to here."
wormcan
"There are capes more dangerous than that, but if there are a lot of those it could get bad. Hopefully helping your world win the war can clear them up; this one has enough problems."
witchwatcher
"I bet it'll work. We think whatever's in the hurricane can only make the things so quickly. And if our problems spill over here, I bet the UDF will send Witches to fight 'em. At any rate, d'you guys have any recommendations for things to do here? I want to have at least one nice relaxing thing before going back to the grind."
wormcan
"Oh, you won't be right away. Especially if you just got back from being kidnapped, they're bound to go easy on you with assignments for a while.
Want to join us at Fugy Bob's for dinner? A bit of a tradition when there's new members."
Want to join us at Fugy Bob's for dinner? A bit of a tradition when there's new members."
witchwatcher
"Sure, sounds delicious! As long as I don't have to eat anything with rice or fish. That's practically all the rations we get on-base."
witchwatcher
"Oh, we have meat and fruits and stuff, it's just that it doesn't keep well. In any case, I'm looking forward to this."
And presumably a delicious meal is had. Gren gets what is suggested to her (preferably including caffeine somewhere) and follows along on the conversation passively for the most part, occasionally asking clarifying questions.
And presumably a delicious meal is had. Gren gets what is suggested to her (preferably including caffeine somewhere) and follows along on the conversation passively for the most part, occasionally asking clarifying questions.
wormcan
Whether the intentional lack of cape business is because they're trying to give Gren a break or just because they're out of costume is not obvious. But eventually they wind down, and disperse to whatever else the individuals have scheduled. Some go home, some are patrolling, Vista is thoroughly bored behind a monitor showing incoming reports and the positions of the patrolling Wards, and some are just relaxing on the Internet.
witchwatcher
For a little while she writes out some notes about the others' powers. Laying out their structure and feel will help her copy them more efficiently, later.
Then she checks if that guy she asked about the forum verifying thing has replied.
Then she checks if that guy she asked about the forum verifying thing has replied.
wormcan
Apparently the normal way to become verified is for the poster to upload a photograph of themself doing whatever most obviously marks them as a cape instead of someone trying on a costume. But sending that request from the email account belonging to the new Ward also works. Her cape status is publicly known.
witchwatcher
Her first act is to post on her costume thread.
Verified! Told you so.
She fills in her profile. Cape name: Copycat. Personal info: Blank. Powers: Flight, blasting, shields, copying. She declines to specify how much she can copy.
A while later, she summarizes the costume elements that she liked best so far as a reply there. Something like a cross between Vista and Shadow Stalker's costumes seems to be shaping up. (And also says she'll be making it herself) Relatively fluid, but plenty of dark colors and armor.
Verified! Told you so.
She fills in her profile. Cape name: Copycat. Personal info: Blank. Powers: Flight, blasting, shields, copying. She declines to specify how much she can copy.
A while later, she summarizes the costume elements that she liked best so far as a reply there. Something like a cross between Vista and Shadow Stalker's costumes seems to be shaping up. (And also says she'll be making it herself) Relatively fluid, but plenty of dark colors and armor.
wormcan
Copying without further detail sounds immensely powerful. Someone reads the profile of the new cape, passes it on to the others, and people start throwing around phrases like "the next Eidolon." The Brockton Bay Wards team already had some unusually powerful members (many of the posters fall into the common mistake of using the PRT ratings like "Striker 7" and "Shaker 9" as a score card) so there's plenty of speculation about what it means that they got her as well.
Her costume is almost forgotten (not quite, it's a large forum and she did just become "the new cape"). Were she as powerful as they think she is, she could fight crime in a clown suit and be taken seriously.
Her costume is almost forgotten (not quite, it's a large forum and she did just become "the new cape"). Were she as powerful as they think she is, she could fight crime in a clown suit and be taken seriously.
witchwatcher
...Maybe she should quell the rumors a bit. She adds the clause 'imperfect, endurance-dependent' to her copying. She says that she'd definitely lose to Eidolon. She'd lose to Lung. She hasn't considered fights with other capes in any detail. She responds to one person asking for details on how the copying works that she'd have to be an idiot to specifically list her weaknesses. She does say that she thinks Vista's power is aesthetically pleasing.
She joined the Wards because it seemed interesting.
She joined the Wards because it seemed interesting.
wormcan
It seemed interesting, so she joined the Wards in Brockton Bay? What is she used to, a war zone? (Yes. They don't know this.) They're exaggerating, but Brockton Bay does have a reputation as a city with a lot of crime, capes, and cape crime. Not everyone takes her clarification on her powers at face value. Capes understating or misleading about their powers is fairly common, though not universal, and someone who really was the next Eidolon would probably deny it.
Some of the questions are more personal, she can give as much or as little information on herself as she wants to. (The exception being that the PRT would rather not publicize that there is an Earth Gimel, so they've asked her let everyone assume she's from this planet.)
Some of the questions are more personal, she can give as much or as little information on herself as she wants to. (The exception being that the PRT would rather not publicize that there is an Earth Gimel, so they've asked her let everyone assume she's from this planet.)
witchwatcher
She answers some of them. She's 17, she likes card games, she's straight but would prefer that nobody play matchmaker, she doesn't want to talk about her family. They may come to the conclusion that she's been living under a rock when she completely misses most popular culture references, though.
wormcan
Some new capes have total amnesia. She's clearly not one of those, but seeming to have lived under a rock isn't all that unusual. (And rule seven on the forum sidebar, which requests not making fun of people for not having seen the latest Internet meme whether or not they could theoretically turn you into paste, is occasionally followed.)
Being unfamiliar with this world's card games will be a bit more attention-getting, to those Internet denizens who think they're asking her about one of her own hobbies. But it can be an unusually insular rock. And of course everyone has popular culture recommendations. There's a history's worth of material she'll never get caught up on.
Being unfamiliar with this world's card games will be a bit more attention-getting, to those Internet denizens who think they're asking her about one of her own hobbies. But it can be an unusually insular rock. And of course everyone has popular culture recommendations. There's a history's worth of material she'll never get caught up on.
witchwatcher
She's actually slightly familiar with card games here. Solitaire and poker were recognizable, and she's read wiki pages of a fair few more.
She's had enough of this for one day soon, though. With a fairly detailed costume design worked out, she emails Aegis and asks where she can get materials to make it.
She's had enough of this for one day soon, though. With a fairly detailed costume design worked out, she emails Aegis and asks where she can get materials to make it.
wormcan
Costumes involve going through the PR guy, whom the Wards all hate having to deal with. Gren could make a costume if she wants to (he suggests a source for materials) but it wouldn't be her official uniform as a Ward or the one she wears on patrol with the rest of them.
witchwatcher
Lovely. She was looking forward to making one, but she's not going to make two for no good reason. Well, it's not like she got to design her old uniform.
She wants to talk to this guy and register Opinions on her costume. Is he available now or will this have to wait until tomorrow?
She wants to talk to this guy and register Opinions on her costume. Is he available now or will this have to wait until tomorrow?
wormcan
Not immediately, but he'll call her in a bit.
"Glenn Chambers, PRT Head of Image. You're Copycat? What can I do for you?"
"Glenn Chambers, PRT Head of Image. You're Copycat? What can I do for you?"
witchwatcher
"Hullo. I'm told my costume has to be run through you. I would like to register opinions on it. I'd like plenty of armor, I can handle the weight, and preferably some silver or gold or gems worked into it touching my skin. It'd let me store power for emergencies, and I'm not trying to be expensive that's just how Witches work. I also have design preferences, but those are secondary."
wormcan
"If the valuables are a power constraint, that part isn't a problem. For my department, at least. You'd be surprised what we tolerate for that. It's the image I'm concerned with. Dark colors like your suggestion imply shadows, secrecy, and draw attention away from you. Not very heroic, and Brockton Bay already has Shadow Stalker. Another hero perceived as the darker type might push the team over the edge into a reputation that's better avoided."
witchwatcher
"Hm, I can see that, very well. Can we at least keep the general - shape? More like Vista, less like Clockblocker? Oh, and you'd better discuss designs for my steelwing with Armsmaster or someone if you don't want me flying an ugly sharp metal brick around."
wormcan
"I'll make sure to do that.
On the shape, it's usually a better idea to use the more defensive costumes only where needed. Visible armor suggests that your shields are weak or unreliable. This may not be true, but it affects your image. Are your shields both strong and reliable?"
On the shape, it's usually a better idea to use the more defensive costumes only where needed. Visible armor suggests that your shields are weak or unreliable. This may not be true, but it affects your image. Are your shields both strong and reliable?"
witchwatcher
"They're strong and reliable unless I'm low on mana. Or if I get taken by surprise. I would strongly prefer to have armor."