Huh. Maybe? Kinda? Not sure I could put it into words but I kinda feel the shape of it?

It's that... taking something as a drawback means you can't escape it even if you want to. And under those conditions, things that are really nice to have as options, like being able to look pretty even in dire circumstances, can start to get oppressive and uncomfortable. If I saw someone taking Decorative without thinking it through, I would want to warn them that it's harder to live with than it looks, and I think the drawback you're asking for could potentially turn out the same way, because... there's a big difference between being able to be pushed out of your comfort zone sometimes when you want to, and having to live on the edge of your comfort zone even when you'd rather not?

Yeah, that makes sense. Hm. Tough decision, then. And if not this, then what do we do for my drawback?

Good question! What are your thoughts on the drawbacks that haven't been taken? A lot of drawbacks come from a kind of overflow of specialness; are there ways you like to be special that you think you'd handle better than most people if they became a heavy theme in your life?

Ah. Hm. I guess if there could be one subset of specialness you could say I specialize in (;p), it would be the sort of "edgy troubleshooter girl" vibes. Dark and spooky dramatics, rather than cutesy and bright.

I can think about that... do you have any other ideas in the meantime? Are there any drawbacks that all of you weren't sure whether to take and didn't make it into the main list, that you could grab as yours?

Honestly I kinda hate all of the remaining drawbacks except maybe Green With Envy, which just reminds me of fuckin' Slytherin House all over again, people being rivals if they couldn't claim you as their ally, that sorta shit. Or... oh hah. So there's a thing in the story I'm originally from where my hair is sort of permanently wild and messy. And it can be a kind of aesthetic wild and messy, artfully messy, but I never got tidy. What about that?

Interesting! Almost an inverse of Decorative... I don't think they'd necessarily be mutually exclusive, though... let me see. The hardest thing is going to be getting it to cover at least four points, I might need a followup...

Could do one that applies to the rest of my style, like I can be grunge or punk or goth but never chic, never elegant maybe?

Is never being elegant something you see as part of your best life?

The idea that if we ever have to go to a fancy ball, the girls have to make my ball gown sufficiently punk to not count as elegant? That makes me fucking cackle. No more making me look all stuffy and high-society, I'm narratively forbidden from ever being something other than my badass punk self. Like, I could maybe enjoy a touch of elegance if it was wrapped in a layer of goth and punk sufficient to piss off any stuffy noble bitches who see me, it's not the elegance itself I mind, it's the fact that 90% of elegant outfit options block me from looking like me.

All right, I think I can work with that. Let me see...

Name: Signature Style - Grants: +3 ☐
(Requires Style of Sisyphus)
The effects of Style of Sisyphus are inverted. You are now locked in to a single personal style. It can be an established fashion genre, or just the expression of your personal taste in clothing, but it must be something that resonates with you narratively and personally. It will never change, and your clothing, hair, makeup, and other styling will always conform to it, no matter how hard you or others try to dress or decorate you differently. You may find yourself at peace with this style in the long term, or not.

Oh that's fucking sweet. I love it. No one can make me dress up normie-fancy anymore.

She locks those drawbacks in.

Thanks ♡

You're very welcome! ♡

Okay. I think our builds work. The only thing left hanging is trying to see if there's a way to make Sable not burn herself out saving people.

Yes, I've been thinking about that... I think I have something, I'm just not sure it's the right thing.

Name: Work-Life Balance - Cost: 2 ☐
(Requires Time Enough For Love)
You count as your own friend for the purposes of Time Enough For Love.

Oh that's clever. That could help a lot of people, but I think it might not land right for Sable, because she recharges best in the company of others. It's very cool, though.

That makes sense. So what would give Sable more room to recharge?

Making her spend time cozily with people she loves.

I'm not sure I can do a power that makes someone do something; that would be more of a drawback situation. And Time Enough For Love already provides lots of opportunity, so I'm not sure how to facilitate it better... hmm. Maybe we're looking at this from the wrong perspective? What about powers that make it easier to help people, or easier for other people to help you help people?

Oh huh. That might work. Make the process easier and cheaper on her, by costing less of her effort and having more help. Yeah, you might be onto something there.

Let me see...

The girls pass the time carefully sifting through their builds, looking to see if anything stands out for Ruby or Neo to spend on, or any other tweaks they want to make. They unfortunately don't think of anything.

How's this?

Name: Ever Onward - Cost: 3 ☐
(Requires Cotton Candy and I Can Fix Them)
When you reach out to someone with love in your heart, whether to redeem them or just to connect as friends or lovers, your power can spark something in them. If they choose to believe in love and kindness with you, they can draw strength from your companionship, and pass that strength on to those they spark in turn. The effects of this power are subtle, but very far-reaching. Those you uplift with it, directly and indirectly, become better both at living their own best lives and at helping others.

oh. That's lovely. That's gorgeous. Can it work with I Can Help Them too, or just I Can Fix Them?