"Do you think I'll likely be able to go home? If people aren't even pen-paling themselves."

"My guess is no but - there's at least one really powerful cape who might have a power that lets him jump between worlds and if so he could send you home if he can be persuaded to take the time to. Also there are rather a lot of other capes and maybe someone else there is a way to do interdimensional travel - it's shown up as a power at least once, not counting the really powerful cape who might be able to do it as a side effect of being able to do a very wide variety of impressive things."

"But it might be hard to convince anyone?"

"If Rete and you can convince Lorica's dad - than I think he might be able to get the Protectorate to consider having Eidolon - the very powerful hero - stop by. Or, if things work out much more nicely, I can pay someone who has a convenient power a bunch of money to send you somewhere and they won't need to be convinced of anything."

"Why would the Protectorate be interested in me? - also you shouldn't have to spend money on me, you're already letting me snuggle you a truly inordinate amount."

"Lorica's dad works for the Protectorate and he has non-trivial ability to get them to do things he want them to, though the politics on an Eidolon intervention in particular are complicated. I am going to have a lot more money than I am used to having soon and probably it will not take such a big chunk out of it? I'm not sure."

"Is there a specific person you're thinking of getting a price estimate from?"

"No, but there are a few places I can ask around and Tattletale might have a bright idea when she's not recovering from a migraine."

"The kind of bright idea that gives her another migraine?"

"Hopefully not? She doesn't get them without extended power use."

"Did something happen recently that she needed to be on for a long time for?"

"Aftermath of the Leviathan attack mostly - the Undersiders have been trying to keep the city from falling apart. I'm not sure what particular incident tipped her over into needing to take time off."

"Do you guys have unpowered staff - I guess you mentioned an orphanage and that must, but like, more top-level staff."

"Yeah there's a couple dozen mercenaries that also do various other things hench people can do, and civilian staff recruited from whoever is around and competent. I'm allowed to borrow one or two of Skitters while I get set-up though the plan is for me to find my own."

"How do you even hire for that. In search of competent bureaucrats who have gaps in their resumes, or felony convictions, or are otherwise unhireable in the non-villain sector."

"I think right now there aren't really many options for people who are living here. Skitter seems to be creating a local economy by force of will, and assigning people jobs when they seem about right or volunteer or have relevant skills. Tattletale might actually be hiring professionals or just informing people they'd be a good fit and offering them some sort of incentive that will get them to say yes. The others are probably managing based on what Skitter can get running for them, is my guess, but I'm not sure."

"Who're the others?"

"Grue, Regent, Imp, Bitch, and less centrally me I suppose. There are some adjacents like Parian who runs her own part of town with the Undersiders help and the Travelers who are helping with rebuilding some."

"What do they all do?"

Lucien can explain, at least in as much detail as the public already knows.

And eventually May will mention that she is hungry.

Lucien has one of the best stocked fridges in Brockton Bay! Not as good as Tattletale tried to convince him was reasonable as part of his signing bonus but still, there are options for various meals that don't require him to know much of anything about cooking.

May's easy, she will microwave a little personal pot pie. He has to hold her hand while she does this though please.

Yes of course.

Lucien will go for some leftover pasta and tomato sauce. 

She has to talk a little bit less while eating but only a little bit. Having a social interaction matters more than getting through this pie in a reasonable time. Maybe they should make some more progress in War and Peace, she remembers up to thus and such an event.