Kintsugi Plays Fallen Hero: Retribution (50 First Therapy Appointments)

I will tilt my vote more heavily to 1 if we need a decision.

 

> "Don't tell me that's a disguise?" I tease.

"Don't tell me that's a disguise?" you tease, keeping your voice low.

"It is," Ortega admits with a sheepish smile. "It works better than you'd imagine."

"You look like a nerd." You have a hard time stifling a laugh.

"A nerd with a beautiful woman on my arm." She looks affronted, trust her to take affront at a barb like that.

"Oh, so that's the plan? Nobody will be looking at you because they will all be looking at me." You're not sure it will work, but what can you do? You're already heading inside, so you pick the table. Not in a corner, there are already people there, so one close to the door will do.

"Let's see what's on the menu." Ortega sinks down in the chair closest to the door, with her back to it. You're grateful; without your telepathy, you prefer to sit so you can see who's coming and going. In this body, anyone can sneak up on you, and you don't like it one bit. "Ooh, they have pancakes."

"Pancakes." You shake your head. Sometimes she's twelve.

Pancakes. c:​

"Well, I'm hungry," she says, looking back at the menu as the server approaches. "Don't tell me you don't indulge on occasion?"

"On occasion," you say, sighing a little because she's got a point. Taking care of this body can be an effort. "But not right now."

"Coffee and some blueberry pancakes, please." Ortega doesn't look up as she orders. "What do you want?"

"Just coffee for now." That's one thing that doesn't change when you shift bodies. Coffee is always calming.

The server writes down the orders and leaves, and Ortega relaxes slightly. You can't shake the feeling that something is bothering her. The question is, is it worth the risk of digging for it?

　‣ "You're normally not this tense. Is everything okay?"
　‣ "So, what is the plan?"
　‣ "I still can't get over the glasses," I tease.

Spoiler: Show Stats

CLASSIFIED

Subject: Anathema

Secret Identity: Josie Jacobs
Gender: Non-binary.
Description: A tall mixed person in their thirties with brown eyes and short and styled curly dark brown hair.

Their sense of style is androgynous, secondhand streetwear, with many piercings in their ears, nose, and tongue. They have a short, scruffy beard and mustache.

Standard of Living: Josie is well-off.
Josie is living in a comfortable apartment.

Josie Jacobs is a seasoned, tech-savvy tactician.

Physical Status
Stamina: You are rested.
Willpower: You feel tired.
Injuries: You are fine, with no significant wounds.

Telepathy
Strength of Mind: 50%
████████████████████
Subtle Manipulations: 74%
██████████████▒█████

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate. They are a known killer.
Infamy: 51% / Obscurity: 49%
██████████▒█████████

Armored Suit
Anathema's suit is a shadow with a mirror for a face, revealing nothing. The cape conceals and obfuscates what's underneath.
In its left hand, the suit has a neutered colony of nanovores, functionally similar to having disintegration touch. The suit is also equipped with telepathic boosters and enhanced speed as well as jump-jets.

Armor Status
Need Repair: 15% / Fine: 85%
████████████████████

Leadership: 59%
███████████▒████████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 38% / Anonymity: 62%
███████▒████████████
Ruthlessness: 40% / Empathy: 60%
████████████████████
Daring: 59% / Caution: 41%
███████████▒████████

Back in the day, Sidestep was known as a vigilante working with the Rangers.

Main Puppet
Name: Barbara
Puppet Status: She is fine, and has no serious wounds.
Description: A tall white woman in her twenties with blue eyes and long straight blond hair.

Allies and Enemies

Charge
Josie's Relationship with Ortega: Friend and ally.
Ortega's Connection with Josie: 76%
███████████████▒████

Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

Barbara's Relationship with Ortega: Eternally flirting. Josie is using Barbara as a spy.
Ortega's Connection with Barbara: 63% (+4)
████████████▒███████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 66%
█████████████▒██████

Lady Argent
Josie's Relationship with Lady Argent: Distant.
Lady Argent's Impression of Josie: 1%
▒███████████████████

Lady Argent respects Anathema's abilities.
Lady Argent's Interest in Anathema: 43%
████████▒███████████

Marshal Steel
Josie's Relationship with Steel: Friendly.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 72%
██████████████▒█████

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: He seems nice.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 64%
████████████▒███████

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

Can't believe Ortega didn't expect barbs from Barbara, smh

It seems... silly? to ask 2 in here, describe our plan while putting our plan in motion, surely no one will overhear. And yet my preference order right now is 2, 1, 3. I don't want to tease about the glasses more (draw attention to their unusualness), and I'm a little wary of just asking if everything's okay when she already admitted there's Spy Stuff as a worry source.

 

I will vote for 2 just because the idea of "we discuss the plan while enacting the plan, this will be fine" is very funny to me

 

Thanks to you guys, I'm picturing Barbie saying this in a stage whisper.​

> "So, what is the plan?"

"So…," you start, leaning forward as soon as the server is out of earshot. "What is the plan?"

"Keep up appearances and have our coffee." Ortega doesn't look around; she just smiles softly at you. "The main course is not here yet."

"So until then, we just…" Out of the corner of your eye, you spot the waitress returning and let your smile widen into camouflage. "It's been a while since we went somewhere new," you nudge her foot under the table to warn her. "Avoiding your ex again?"

"Ah, yes." She catches on, looking down sheepishly. Which also hides her face. Clever. "They would never come here."

Diners: famously useful for avoiding people from your past.​

"I certainly hope not," you say, giving the waitress a smile as she places a steaming mug of black coffee in front of you. Ortega gets her pancakes and thanks her but doesn't look up.

"So, that's one bullet dodged," you say, keeping your voice low as you blow the steam from your cup. "What's next?"

"Don't look right now, but did you see the people in the booth near the counter? At the back?"

"I did," you admit, because you still have your reflexes. If anything, you are using them more now when you can't rely on your telepathy. "They looked…rough." What you don't tell Ortega is that you recognized them. You are fairly certain they work for Hollow Ground.

"They are waiting for the same person I am."

"Who?" you ask, very curious to hear the answer.

"This guy," she hisses, busying herself with the pancakes as the door swings open behind her. You look up reflexively.

It's a well-built Asian man, dressed in a suit too good for this neighborhood. A man you recognize by now, Jake Manalo.

Fuck.

　‣ I show no reaction.
　‣ I reflexively duck my head.

A man we recognize, and one who might recognize Barbie. What do?​

Spoiler: Show Stats (no change)

CLASSIFIED

Subject: Anathema

Secret Identity: Josie Jacobs
Gender: Non-binary.
Description: A tall mixed person in their thirties with brown eyes and short and styled curly dark brown hair.

Their sense of style is androgynous, secondhand streetwear, with many piercings in their ears, nose, and tongue. They have a short, scruffy beard and mustache.

Standard of Living: Josie is well-off.
Josie is living in a comfortable apartment.

Josie Jacobs is a seasoned, tech-savvy tactician.

Physical Status
Stamina: You are rested.
Willpower: You feel tired.
Injuries: You are fine, with no significant wounds.

Telepathy
Strength of Mind: 50%
████████████████████
Subtle Manipulations: 74%
██████████████▒█████

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate. They are a known killer.
Infamy: 51% / Obscurity: 49%
██████████▒█████████

Armored Suit
Anathema's suit is a shadow with a mirror for a face, revealing nothing. The cape conceals and obfuscates what's underneath.
In its left hand, the suit has a neutered colony of nanovores, functionally similar to having disintegration touch. The suit is also equipped with telepathic boosters and enhanced speed as well as jump-jets.

Armor Status
Need Repair: 15% / Fine: 85%
████████████████████

Leadership: 59%
███████████▒████████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 38% / Anonymity: 62%
███████▒████████████
Ruthlessness: 40% / Empathy: 60%
████████████████████
Daring: 59% / Caution: 41%
███████████▒████████

Back in the day, Sidestep was known as a vigilante working with the Rangers.

Main Puppet
Name: Barbara
Puppet Status: She is fine, and has no serious wounds.
Description: A tall white woman in her twenties with blue eyes and long straight blond hair.

Allies and Enemies

Charge
Josie's Relationship with Ortega: Friend and ally.
Ortega's Connection with Josie: 76%
███████████████▒████

Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

Barbara's Relationship with Ortega: Eternally flirting. Josie is using Barbara as a spy.
Ortega's Connection with Barbara: 63%
████████████▒███████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 66%
█████████████▒██████

Lady Argent
Josie's Relationship with Lady Argent: Distant.
Lady Argent's Impression of Josie: 1%
▒███████████████████

Lady Argent respects Anathema's abilities.
Lady Argent's Interest in Anathema: 43%
████████▒███████████

Marshal Steel
Josie's Relationship with Steel: Friendly.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 72%
██████████████▒█████

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: He seems nice.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 64%
████████████▒███████

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

Ducking head = movement, movement is noticeable, and I don't know that Josie would more reflexively duck head than tweak minds, and I don't know that Barbara would reflexively avoid attention rather than cultivate it......

... But the no reaction option gives no hint of whether we just feign continuing conversation or what, and catching attention this early does have fun consequences options....

Undecided, but putting thoughts out.

 

I think showing no reaction is playing it cool. Plus Ortega would probably notice if we recognized the guy.

 

​

> I show no reaction.

You're too good an actor to let that disturb you. Act normally. Keep your swearing on the inside.

You had not considered this might be who Ortega was after, but more importantly, will he remember you? And if he does, what will he make of it? You've met in dangerous places before, so it wouldn't be unfeasible that you might come to a place like this. There is no reason to worry.

Right?

To her credit, Ortega doesn't tense up or do anything else to draw attention to herself. She just continues eating her pancakes, slowly and carefully, one bite at a time. Jake doesn't pay any attention to her, his eyes passing over you briefly, pausing momentarily in appreciation and then in recognition.

Fuck.

You ignore his gaze, picking up the cup of coffee, taking a sip. When you look up again, he has continued his walk over to the corner table.

You sip your coffee slowly, missing your telepathy as you turn toward the window, hoping you might catch a reflection of the interior in it. You spot nothing of interest; the angle is wrong. Ortega might have better luck where she's sitting. Ten years ago, that would have been your spot with your back to the door. A dangerous level of trust for anybody else, but to you, it felt secure. You could sense people before they approached, and your face would have been hidden from people that just walked in. Is that your habitual slouch Ortega is wearing? The way you shrink in on yourself not to get noticed? Just how much attention has she paid to your behavior over the years?

More than you're comfortable with, this is a side of Ortega shown rarely enough that you can almost convince yourself you imagined it before you spot it again. Cautious. Quiet. Clever. You're more used to the bluster and bad jokes. Playing the charming fool.

How much changed after you died? Or was that always a persona to put you at ease? Make you drop your guard and learn how to smile for real? You never really thought about it until you started to interact with her while wearing a different face than your own.

"Now what?" you ask quietly, leaning closer with a smile, as if you were having a private conversation. Which you are, just not about your emotions.

"Give me a moment," she mumbles under her breath before shoveling in some more pancakes. "I'm checking the place out."

　‣ "Just let me know if I need to do anything."
　‣ "He looks like a gangster," I whisper.
　‣ "I'd better not end up in a hospital this time."

Are we helpful assistant Barbie? Awed civilian Barbie? (Guilt-tripping Barbie is currently exclusive to those who were on a date with Ortega when the museum asploded.)​

Spoiler: Show Stats (no change)

CLASSIFIED

Subject: Anathema

Secret Identity: Josie Jacobs
Gender: Non-binary.
Description: A tall mixed person in their thirties with brown eyes and short and styled curly dark brown hair.

Their sense of style is androgynous, secondhand streetwear, with many piercings in their ears, nose, and tongue. They have a short, scruffy beard and mustache.

Standard of Living: Josie is well-off.
Josie is living in a comfortable apartment.

Josie Jacobs is a seasoned, tech-savvy tactician.

Physical Status
Stamina: You are rested.
Willpower: You feel tired.
Injuries: You are fine, with no significant wounds.

Telepathy
Strength of Mind: 50%
████████████████████
Subtle Manipulations: 74%
██████████████▒█████

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate. They are a known killer.
Infamy: 51% / Obscurity: 49%
██████████▒█████████

Armored Suit
Anathema's suit is a shadow with a mirror for a face, revealing nothing. The cape conceals and obfuscates what's underneath.
In its left hand, the suit has a neutered colony of nanovores, functionally similar to having disintegration touch. The suit is also equipped with telepathic boosters and enhanced speed as well as jump-jets.

Armor Status
Need Repair: 15% / Fine: 85%
████████████████████

Leadership: 59%
███████████▒████████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 38% / Anonymity: 62%
███████▒████████████
Ruthlessness: 40% / Empathy: 60%
████████████████████
Daring: 59% / Caution: 41%
███████████▒████████

Back in the day, Sidestep was known as a vigilante working with the Rangers.

Main Puppet
Name: Barbara
Puppet Status: She is fine, and has no serious wounds.
Description: A tall white woman in her twenties with blue eyes and long straight blond hair.

Allies and Enemies

Charge
Josie's Relationship with Ortega: Friend and ally.
Ortega's Connection with Josie: 76%
███████████████▒████

Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

Barbara's Relationship with Ortega: Eternally flirting. Josie is using Barbara as a spy.
Ortega's Connection with Barbara: 63%
████████████▒███████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 66%
█████████████▒██████

Lady Argent
Josie's Relationship with Lady Argent: Distant.
Lady Argent's Impression of Josie: 1%
▒███████████████████

Lady Argent respects Anathema's abilities.
Lady Argent's Interest in Anathema: 43%
████████▒███████████

Marshal Steel
Josie's Relationship with Steel: Friendly.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 72%
██████████████▒█████

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: He seems nice.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 64%
████████████▒███████

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

Leaning a bit towards 1, we're following her lead here partly out of curiosity about her methods

 

Wow, a real stakeout? Tell us how it works!​

> "Just let me know if I need to do anything."

"Just let me know if I need to do anything," you offer graciously. You have no idea what Ortega's play here is, but since this is a chance to push Barbara further into Ortega's business, you might as well take it. Especially since right now, you share an enemy. Or, well, at least a rival. If you can use Ortega, you could save a lot of time and effort.

"Just smile and talk," Ortega mumbles quietly. "Just not too loud. And don't expect me to listen."

"I can do that," you say, shifting into the usual mindless chatter you could channel in your sleep. Small talk. You were trained for things like this; sliding back in the habit is not hard.

Nobody who was paying attention to you would notice anything strange. Just a chatty young woman, sharing pointless gossip with her long-suffering friend, who has heard it all before.

You let your eyes travel over the room, pretending to be focused on Ortega as you fake mindless conversation. There's a discussion going on at the corner table, but you have no chance of picking out what's it about. Somehow you get the impression that Ortega does; it's in the way she cocks her head, the way her chewing stops as the words get heated.

How does she do it? You don't spot any obvious earplugs. Are her clothes rigged with a directional mike? Or is this a new mod? Is it something that she had done after you died? She couldn't very well rely on your telepathy anymore. Now that's new. Interesting. Mods, or something in the glasses? Perhaps a hidden earplug?

　‣ Ortega is more dangerous than I thought.
　‣ I feel a stab of something…sadness? Guilt?
　‣ Look at how hard she is trying to cope without me.
　‣ This explains the readouts I saw at the hospital.

Something else that's changed since we were gone. How are we supposed to feel about that? (We did notice her mods' increased power usage at the hospital, if this is related.)

(For anyone else unsure what tone option 3 is going for, it's "smug".)​

Spoiler: Show Stats (no change)

CLASSIFIED

Subject: Anathema

Secret Identity: Josie Jacobs
Gender: Non-binary.
Description: A tall mixed person in their thirties with brown eyes and short and styled curly dark brown hair.

Their sense of style is androgynous, secondhand streetwear, with many piercings in their ears, nose, and tongue. They have a short, scruffy beard and mustache.

Standard of Living: Josie is well-off.
Josie is living in a comfortable apartment.

Josie Jacobs is a seasoned, tech-savvy tactician.

Physical Status
Stamina: You are rested.
Willpower: You feel tired.
Injuries: You are fine, with no significant wounds.

Telepathy
Strength of Mind: 50%
████████████████████
Subtle Manipulations: 74%
██████████████▒█████

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate. They are a known killer.
Infamy: 51% / Obscurity: 49%
██████████▒█████████

Armored Suit
Anathema's suit is a shadow with a mirror for a face, revealing nothing. The cape conceals and obfuscates what's underneath.
In its left hand, the suit has a neutered colony of nanovores, functionally similar to having disintegration touch. The suit is also equipped with telepathic boosters and enhanced speed as well as jump-jets.

Armor Status
Need Repair: 15% / Fine: 85%
████████████████████

Leadership: 59%
███████████▒████████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 38% / Anonymity: 62%
███████▒████████████
Ruthlessness: 40% / Empathy: 60%
████████████████████
Daring: 59% / Caution: 41%
███████████▒████████

Back in the day, Sidestep was known as a vigilante working with the Rangers.

Main Puppet
Name: Barbara
Puppet Status: She is fine, and has no serious wounds.
Description: A tall white woman in her twenties with blue eyes and long straight blond hair.

Allies and Enemies

Charge
Josie's Relationship with Ortega: Friend and ally.
Ortega's Connection with Josie: 76%
███████████████▒████

Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

Barbara's Relationship with Ortega: Eternally flirting. Josie is using Barbara as a spy.
Ortega's Connection with Barbara: 63%
████████████▒███████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 66%
█████████████▒██████

Lady Argent
Josie's Relationship with Lady Argent: Distant.
Lady Argent's Impression of Josie: 1%
▒███████████████████

Lady Argent respects Anathema's abilities.
Lady Argent's Interest in Anathema: 43%
████████▒███████████

Marshal Steel
Josie's Relationship with Steel: Friendly.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 72%
██████████████▒█████

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: He seems nice.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 64%
████████████▒███████

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

1 or 3, sliiightly leaning 1 if I have to choose

 

Leaning 1 as well

 

> Ortega is more dangerous than I thought.

Ortega is more dangerous than you thought. Planning for a fight is one thing, but if she's dipped into the surveillance side of mods, then all bets are off. You wouldn't even be able to spot her mind and find out that she was watching you.

Is this directional surveillance? Does she have recording capabilities? It would make sense, which means it's not only Steel you need to worry about on that front.

Looks like you need to be even more careful.

"Huh." You doubt Ortega is aware she let that grunt slip out, but whatever it was she heard, it sounded interesting. Or surprising.

You can see the furrow in her brow deepening, dressed like this she's showing her age more. You're not sure how you feel about that. How you should feel. You have changed. She has changed. And it's not just the hair.

This isn't working at all, you came here for a distraction, and all you do is brood. Thoughts are dangerous; you need to do something. You need to do something now.

　‣ I suppress the feeling and drink my coffee.
　‣ I will head to the bathroom; I'll snoop on the way.
　‣ I will call Pelayo to put a tail on Jake as he leaves.
　‣ I fidget nervously; something is about to happen.

Spoiler: Show Stats

CLASSIFIED

Subject: Anathema

Secret Identity: Josie Jacobs
Gender: Non-binary.
Description: A tall mixed person in their thirties with brown eyes and short and styled curly dark brown hair.

Their sense of style is androgynous, secondhand streetwear, with many piercings in their ears, nose, and tongue. They have a short, scruffy beard and mustache.

Standard of Living: Josie is well-off.
Josie is living in a comfortable apartment.

Josie Jacobs is a seasoned, tech-savvy tactician.

Physical Status
Stamina: You are rested.
Willpower: You feel tired.
Injuries: You are fine, with no significant wounds.

Telepathy
Strength of Mind: 50%
████████████████████
Subtle Manipulations: 74%
██████████████▒█████

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate. They are a known killer.
Infamy: 51% / Obscurity: 49%
██████████▒█████████

Armored Suit
Anathema's suit is a shadow with a mirror for a face, revealing nothing. The cape conceals and obfuscates what's underneath.
In its left hand, the suit has a neutered colony of nanovores, functionally similar to having disintegration touch. The suit is also equipped with telepathic boosters and enhanced speed as well as jump-jets.

Armor Status
Need Repair: 15% / Fine: 85%
████████████████████

Leadership: 59%
███████████▒████████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 31% (-7) / Anonymity: 69% (nice)
██████▒█████████████
Ruthlessness: 40% / Empathy: 60%
████████████████████
Daring: 59% / Caution: 41%
███████████▒████████

Back in the day, Sidestep was known as a vigilante working with the Rangers.

Main Puppet
Name: Barbara
Puppet Status: She is fine, and has no serious wounds.
Description: A tall white woman in her twenties with blue eyes and long straight blond hair.

Allies and Enemies

Charge
Josie's Relationship with Ortega: Friend and ally.
Ortega's Connection with Josie: 76%
███████████████▒████

Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

Barbara's Relationship with Ortega: Eternally flirting. Josie is using Barbara as a spy.
Ortega's Connection with Barbara: 63%
████████████▒███████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 66%
█████████████▒██████

Lady Argent
Josie's Relationship with Lady Argent: Distant.
Lady Argent's Impression of Josie: 1%
▒███████████████████

Lady Argent respects Anathema's abilities.
Lady Argent's Interest in Anathema: 43%
████████▒███████████

Marshal Steel
Josie's Relationship with Steel: Friendly.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 72%
██████████████▒█████

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: He seems nice.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 64%
████████████▒███████

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

I'm leaning towards calling for a tail, even though that'll super implicate us if he notices

 

We did come here for intel! Even if we didn't expect it to cross our path quite like this.​

> I will call Pelayo to put a tail on Jake as he leaves.

"I'll be right back," you say, getting a distracted nod from Ortega in return as you scoot your chair back and get to your feet. This is a long shot, sure, but you need to get out of your seat and do something. Maybe you should have suggested you and Ortega go work out; at least that way, you would have got rid of the adrenaline that keeps building.

Ortega clearly thinks that Jake is up to something, so it might be illuminating to put a tail on him to see where he goes next. You wouldn't mind a bit of info. You're going to need all the ammunition you can find if you're going to stick around this town long.

You walk fast, keeping your head down, hoping to remain unnoticed. You count the steps, one, two, three, and then you are past and through the door. You can still feel the eyes boring into your back. Fuck. Did Jake spot you? Are they going to come after you and—

The sound of breaking glass makes you jump, your nerves still all jittery. It's not from in here; it's from outside. The door is muffling the noise, but it can't silence the surprised screams.

What just happened?

You crack open the door and sneak through it, making sure to keep a low profile in case something is wrong.

Something clearly is.

The big window at the front lies smashed into a million pieces, the customers on the ground, cowering like larvae. It's a disturbing image, reminding you of the writhing beach, but this time there is no Nanosurge and no people being eaten alive.

Just the screams.

You keep still, pretending to be another civilian, while your eyes dart around the room. People are down, scrambling for cover, but you don't see any other movement. There's no gas, so you don't think it is an attack; otherwise, they would have been inside already. The group at the back table seems less sure. They have their weapons drawn and are aiming for the window.

There's a hole in the wall over their heads; you can see from the size that it must have been made by something other than a bullet. Whatever the projectile was, it didn't explode. Not an attack then, a warning?

"Barbara?" Ortega's voice, cutting through the screaming. If Hollow Ground's men spot her, there will be hell to pay.

　‣ I shrink back and pretend to be afraid.
　‣ I crawl over to make sure she doesn't do anything stupid.

Would Innocent Civilian Barbie® cower helplessly in place, or try to find her gal pal before she gets in more trouble?​

Spoiler: Show Stats (no change)

CLASSIFIED

Subject: Anathema

Secret Identity: Josie Jacobs
Gender: Non-binary.
Description: A tall mixed person in their thirties with brown eyes and short and styled curly dark brown hair.

Their sense of style is androgynous, secondhand streetwear, with many piercings in their ears, nose, and tongue. They have a short, scruffy beard and mustache.

Standard of Living: Josie is well-off.
Josie is living in a comfortable apartment.

Josie Jacobs is a seasoned, tech-savvy tactician.

Physical Status
Stamina: You are rested.
Willpower: You feel tired.
Injuries: You are fine, with no significant wounds.

Telepathy
Strength of Mind: 50%
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Subtle Manipulations: 74%
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Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate. They are a known killer.
Infamy: 51% / Obscurity: 49%
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Armored Suit
Anathema's suit is a shadow with a mirror for a face, revealing nothing. The cape conceals and obfuscates what's underneath.
In its left hand, the suit has a neutered colony of nanovores, functionally similar to having disintegration touch. The suit is also equipped with telepathic boosters and enhanced speed as well as jump-jets.

Armor Status
Need Repair: 15% / Fine: 85%
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Leadership: 59%
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Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 31% / Anonymity: 69%
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Ruthlessness: 40% / Empathy: 60%
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Daring: 59% / Caution: 41%
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Back in the day, Sidestep was known as a vigilante working with the Rangers.

Main Puppet
Name: Barbara
Puppet Status: She is fine, and has no serious wounds.
Description: A tall white woman in her twenties with blue eyes and long straight blond hair.

Allies and Enemies

Charge
Josie's Relationship with Ortega: Friend and ally.
Ortega's Connection with Josie: 76%
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Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

Barbara's Relationship with Ortega: Eternally flirting. Josie is using Barbara as a spy.
Ortega's Connection with Barbara: 63%
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Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 66%
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Lady Argent
Josie's Relationship with Lady Argent: Distant.
Lady Argent's Impression of Josie: 1%
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Lady Argent respects Anathema's abilities.
Lady Argent's Interest in Anathema: 43%
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Marshal Steel
Josie's Relationship with Steel: Friendly.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 72%
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Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: He seems nice.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 64%
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Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

This could have been a text, we didn't need to go for a walk.......

 

Possible (probably not actual) Josie thought process:
- I could just send a text.
- But Ortega is nosy. If she sees Barbie typing, she'll want to know who I'm talking to at a time like this.
- Obviously I can't tell her the truth. But if I'm too evasive about it, that will just confirm any suspicions she has.
- Maybe I can just pick the flirt option, sidestep the question entirely. That usually works.
- But will it this time? Ortega has been weird today. I don't know if I can count on her to be the same old idiot as usual.
- …Maybe that's the real problem. I can't think straight like this, not with her right there watching me.
- I'll just step out for a moment. That will give me time to make my call—and, hopefully, clear my head.

 

I wasn't around when this thread did the museum heist, would being a Helpless Civilian be in line with the persona Barbie's previously shown Ortega?

 

Went and reread the museum explosion funtime, and looks like Ortega claimed she had
- thought she spotted Barbara around at the gala
- asked one of the nurses to look around the hospital for her
- got up to seek her out Suspiciously Quickly after Josie's visit with her ended
- got surprised / disappointed that Barbie was at the gala with a date (not her)

The general vibe of Barbie's explanations to Ortega was a tired jokey one of, she went to the gala to dress up and have a good time non-serious date, caught up in the explosion and knocked out. No strong Helpless Civilian for Damsel In Distress energy per se - Ortega might have suspicions about our friends (Mortum) and motivations for having gone, but I don't recall if she's mentioned any.

 

Still undecided, but I'd rather get back to keeping an eye on Ortega's methods than play at Helpless Damsel