"Yeah. I've kind of accepted that these things are going to happen, that's just what having powers is like. Especially if I'm going to be a hero. So I should try not to get hung up on it as much. Push forward, you know?"

"Yeah, that's good. You're gonna be a hero?"

"Gonna try. My not-for-your-ears reason to avoid the Wards is still valid, though, which makes things a bit tricky."

"Is it just the Wards or any official hero org?"

"Protectorate too. Maybe some of the other orgs would be alright, I don't know yet. I've only been making stuff for like a month."

"Maybe I could rec you some sites and some forums, so you can talk to people and read up on stuff. You particularly attached to Brockton Bay?"

"I don't think I could leave right now unless I could sneak a lot of tools to some safehouse too. I've been working on making more tools, mostly, it would really suck to lose them. But... I like this city, but if I have to go, I have to go."

"I mean you don't necessarily have to go, it just changes which options you can take if it's a possibility."

"Yeah, I get that. I mean, mostly what I want is a steady supply of parts and supplies. Now that I've got a good set of tools hidden in the basement, if I can find a place to do it, I can build some of the bigger ideas I've had since day one."

"You grok what your specialty is yet?"

"It's weird. I'm not sure if there's some connection I haven't figured out, but it's almost like I have two. Electrical stuff - but not computers - one one hand, and kinetic and movement stuff on the other. The walkie talkies are all category one, and the legs are all category two."

"Why not computers?"

"No clue. I just... Don't get tinkery ideas for computers."

"Huh. Tinker powers are weird."

"Pot, meet kettle. Your power's weirder. Looks like you can just make stuff. Kinda reminds me of that wizard guy."

"—Myrddin? Eh, my theme's more sleek and tinkery but that's by design, I could go with a wix aesthetic I suppose. But yeah I can just make stuff."

"Powers are weird. And good powers feel kind of like cheating. But whatever, I'll just have to be clever with what I do have. Which brings me to another point... Started listening to police radio a while ago, so sometimes I hear 'cape fight on such a street' or 'fire on whichever avenue'. I'm- I want to be able to go and help the next time that happens. But I'm missing a few key parts for the gear I'd like to have before I do that."

"...tell you what, I can go get you parts, and people won't think I'm a tinker. Can't just make you parts 'cause my stuff disappears after a while, but I can hold my own in a fight so I'm safer looking for stuff."

"Yeah, that's the idea! What do you think, two times market value for payment sound fair? Or possibly a device or two if there's something specific and kinda simple that you want."

"...I wasn't expecting to be paid at all, actually."

"Well, I don't like owing favors, so you're going to either get paid or agree to do it for free."

"Yeah, free sounds good."

"Alright then. I'll give you cash for the cost of the stuff, anyway. Should only be a few hundred. If you change your mind, say so, okay?"

"Yeah. Whaddaya need?"

She starts listing stuff. Wire, fuses and capacitors and other small electrical components, electrical solder. A gas tank (as in a tank for holding gases - she names a specialty supplier that does CO2 tanks). Rope. One of the big assemblies from the back of old CRT monitors, but she might reject a few of them until she finds one that works. A few pressure gauges - she has valves, but no gauges, and it would be so annoying to spend hours making those when she can (indirectly) just buy them. And a laser pointer or two, the more powerful the better. Plus a few miscellaneous items.