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.

"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."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"That's not an absolute no on the armor, but it depends on a lot of factors. What do you imagine your place on a team would be, for instance? Fast response, heavy hitter, defensive backup?"

"In my original wing I was mostly fast response, utility support, and defensive backup. My copied versions of blaster and striker specials are more draining to me than their original owners, so heavy hitter would not be ideal. I like to think I'm flexible, though. And I am very fast and maneuverable in the air, I got to four hundred miles per hour on the first steelwing Armsmaster made without even trying particularly hard. It's a beautiful machine."

"I may have already done that, on that forum thing, which I am regretting. It seems like it'd either make people not want to cross me, which is useful, or make me a target, which is not so much. I'd rather avoid further exaggeration if possible. Tch. I didn't have to deal with image in the Witches."

"I didn't wear armor before because it wouldn't help against Neuroi. You have guns here and I might be shot at before the month is out. If looking a bit like Eidolon will convince you to let me wear some armor, then I can look like Eidolon. No dark colors you said, but faint patterning like in that second picture would be nice. My shields have the patterns too."

"I'm versatile and powerful at first, but I don't think I'm quite as world-class compared to some of the people you have on this planet. Particularly with my endurance. The precious metal will help with that, especially if you can get other Witches to charge it for me. Even so, I think I can handle it."

"Excellent. The other downside is that It might not fit so well with your name. Copycat is an unobjectionable name in itself, but it denotes someone playful, maybe even immature, and a follower. Not necessarily bad for a Ward, especially paired with team members perceived as responsible, but it stops working if combined with an overstated costume."

"I care much less about my name than my costume."

"Names are just as important. We could go with something to emphasize the message that you aren't a typical cape—it doesn't matter how true that is, just how well you can sell it—not "Witch" since that has connotations, but something like Mage or Enchantress. The magic angle fits well with the mana you've mentioned. Throw in an adjective. Gold, silver, any gemstone, do you have a color preference? Anything bright."

"Citrines. I had a little statue studded with them as a kid, I've always liked them. Their color is even a little like gold, which would be just gaudy if you made it a costume theme. If Witch won't do, Mage would be better than Enchantress. I'm not out to seduce anyone, which is the connotation that word has to me."

"All right, Citrine works. I'll put some people work on a design proposal, you can tell me what you think."

"I was expecting worse from how the others were talking about you, but at least you have a reason when you don't like my preferences. Have a nice day."

Soon after, she'll receive pictures of a possible costume. White armor and mask, with the latter appearing to be lit. Citrine light, to match the (hoodless) cloak. It probably looks a bit silly, but then, so do most costumes.