Kintsugi Plays Fallen Hero: Retribution (ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ …(^_^)…)

Just a nudge to check whether anyone else has a preference on this choice.

 

Let's get the pilot to go away, that seems like it'd be very villainous and scary.

 

Let Carter Feel Trapped

(And maybe like there's a conspiracy against him)

 

don't mind me, just hastily recreating our save file on a new platform because i lost my %&#!@ phone—

A vote of 2–1 says Carter will be getting the "abandonment issues" part of our trauma rather than the "jumping off a building" part.​

> I pause, forcing the helicopter pilot to turn around and fly away.

You pause, throwing your mind to the skies, reaching for the helicopter pilot. It's not hard to catch hold of her mind; it's focused on the building below, on the helipad shrouded in smoke, on the little man waving his arms in panic.

She's worried about landing, the roof might be damaged, and that would kill them both, so you grab hold of that fear and twist it until her shaking hands pull back on the controls, turning the helicopter away.

She doesn't want to die.

Good.

You open your eyes just in time to feel another lurch, a crack running up the wall.

Fuck, it's too late. You hear another creak and realize that the whole structure is ready to come apart around you.

You need to get out. Now. Carter's not worth the risk of getting trapped with Marshal Steel in the vicinity.

Unfortunately, he'll have to do without the "captured by enemies" part.​

> Time To Run

At a safe distance, you watch the spectacle unfold. The fire looks to be under control, but it's obvious that the house can't be saved.

Carter must be dead, the roof collapsed, and you can't find a trace of his thoughts anywhere. Inconvenient. Who had an interest in shutting him up? Was it unrelated to you, or did someone want to make sure you wouldn't get to him? Impossible to say, but you're going to be more careful from now on.

Life is unpredictable. You knew the life of a villain would be chaotic and full of challenges. You need to adapt to that mindset fast.

> For Now, Back To Base

Later.

By the time you reach your destination back in your hideout, you've gone through what went wrong at least ten times in your head. Still, it could have been worse, you are here, free and alive, and that's what counts.

You sure got some new mysteries to unravel, but getting back here drives home the fact that you also need to plan to make some more money. You might have other goals in the long run, but to reach them, you need cash.

In the end, after a lot of soul-searching, you decided how to make your money in the future.

　‣ I'm sticking to skimming, it's safe, and I don't need much money.
　‣ I use my telepathy to defraud the rich; it's a comfortable living.
　‣ I'm a villain now; I take what I want from banks and companies.
　‣ Stealing from criminals is very lucrative but also risky.

Defrauding rich assholes was enough to comfortably support Josie and Barbie, but a full-scale criminal syndicate costs more than that to run. Banks and corporations are the tried and true option for the kind of funds we need; stealing directly from other criminals would net us even greater hauls, but also an exciting new assortment of villainous enemies.​

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.

They have a short, scruffy beard and mustache.

Standard of Living: Josie is comfortable.

Josie Jacobs is a seasoned, tech-savvy tactician.

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

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

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate.

Infamy: 47% / Obscurity: 53%
█████████▒██████████

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: 0% / Fine: 100%
████████████████████

Leadership: 28%
█████▒██████████████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 26% / Anonymity: 74%
█████▒██████████████
Ruthlessness: 36% / Empathy: 64%
███████▒████████████
Daring: 50% / Caution: 50%
████████████████████

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: 83%
████████████████▒███
Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

Barbara's Relationship with Ortega: Flirting.
Ortega's Connection with Barbara: 59%
███████████▒████████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: flirting.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 65%
████████████████████

Lady Argent
Josie's Relationship with Lady Argent: Distant.
Lady Argent's Impression of Josie: 1%
▒███████████████████
Lady Argent thinks Anathema is a cheater.

Marshal Steel
Josie's Relationship with Steel: Former ally.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 24%
████▒███████████████
Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Distant.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 20%
████████████████████
Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

Obligatory check-in to see if anyone has a preference! (If not, I can flip a coin.)

 

I am still Whiplash'd by the mission's collapse and the immediate switch to plotting income source, I feel like I have a preference but am having difficulty articulating it

 

Entirely fair! (Tbh I debated splitting the update into two posts because it felt so abrupt, but I wasn't sure if it would actually help the abruptness so...)

 

I'm pretty sure we stole from the rich in the last game? so I vote for robbing corporations and banks now, because it feels like it's in a similar vein and also because it seems perhaps a bit reckless to immediately start making MORE enemies when we already have the Rangers and like every other hero for that.

 

For me it would help, yeah. Easier to glance and recognize the scene transition that way.

As for voting, I do appreciate the fuck the man energy of escalating the rich we're stealing from. Wouldn't say no to opportunity thefts from other criminals, but they'll be either competitors or employees down the road, so...

 

Wealth will be redistributed to us until morale improves!

(And I'll be less shy about splitting updates for pacing in the future.)​

> I'm a villain now; I take what I want from banks and companies.

You're a villain now; nothing is stopping you from robbing banks when you need money. If you're already wanted, you might as well make the most of it. It's not like banks are innocent; you know their money is tainted with blood. Even if you don't make it your full-time business, robbing a bank lasts you for a good while. Not to mention that it frees up money for your other plans. You need to get back to working on those.

As soon as you clean yourself up.

At least you've got a safe place to do it in, your very own base.

You've been here for two months now, and it's almost starting to feel like home.

　‣ I'm using a temporary base in the tunnels for security.
　‣ It's an abandoned industry building for privacy.
　‣ It's a fake business storefront—I need a cover to make money.
　‣ It's a whole floor in a luxury skyscraper.

Now that we mention it, what kind of base is Anathema operating out of?​

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.

They have a short, scruffy beard and mustache.

Standard of Living: Josie is well-off.

Josie Jacobs is a seasoned, tech-savvy tactician.

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

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

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate.

Infamy: 52% (+5) / Obscurity: 48%
██████████▒█████████

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: 0% / Fine: 100%
████████████████████

Leadership: 28%
█████▒██████████████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 26% / Anonymity: 74%
█████▒██████████████
Ruthlessness: 36% / Empathy: 64%
███████▒████████████
Daring: 50% / Caution: 50%
████████████████████

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: 83%
████████████████▒███
Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

Barbara's Relationship with Ortega: Flirting.
Ortega's Connection with Barbara: 59%
███████████▒████████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: flirting.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 65%
████████████████████

Lady Argent
Josie's Relationship with Lady Argent: Distant.
Lady Argent's Impression of Josie: 1%
▒███████████████████
Lady Argent thinks Anathema is a cheater.

Marshal Steel
Josie's Relationship with Steel: Former ally.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 24%
████▒███████████████
Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Distant.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 20%
████████████████████
Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

As funny as a fake store would be (I vote Ana's Themed Party Planning) let's be sewer dwellers

Also


(read clown corps)

 

>sewer tunnel gremlin

 

Something something forged in the sewers because that's where we first ran away as Anathema?

I still vote fake business, it's henchperson enrichment

 

The allure of the sewer wins out over gainful employment once more...​

> I'm using a temporary base in the tunnels for security.

You've moved here after the attack on the museum and really should be moving again soon, but you haven't had time to secure another hideout of this quality.

Sometimes you wonder if you're paranoid, you could have a nicer time if you settled in somewhere permanent. But that would be exposing yourself. You're not willing to risk being discovered over something as unimportant as comfort.

Have you ever been comfortable? You don't think you have, not even in your own skin. It's easier to deal with the world if you're prepared for it to hurt you.

At least your current hideout doesn't smell of sewage.

You've taken up residence in the labyrinthine underground of Los Diablos. You were lucky enough to come across what was once a service station for the planned subway extension, where you could hook yourself up to the city's power grid. The disused network of tunnels was easy enough to clear out with the help of your nanovores, providing you with secret and secure ways of entering and exiting without drawing undue attention. It's close enough to downtown that it's easy to access, but some of the tunnels are occupied. Squatters live here, homeless people seeking refuge from the elements. They're not a danger to you, just…

　‣ Victims, that's all they are. I try to drive them off.
　‣ Cover, nothing more.
　‣ Unfortunate, I feel for them.

Local Mob Boss Shares Their Thoughts on the Homeless​

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.

They have a short, scruffy beard and mustache.

Standard of Living: Josie is well-off.

Josie Jacobs is a seasoned, tech-savvy tactician.

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

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

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate.

Infamy: 47% / Obscurity: 53% (+5)
█████████▒██████████

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: 0% / Fine: 100%
████████████████████

Leadership: 28%
█████▒██████████████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 19% / Anonymity: 81% (+7)
███▒████████████████
Ruthlessness: 36% / Empathy: 64%
███████▒████████████
Daring: 50% / Caution: 50%
████████████████████

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: 83%
████████████████▒███
Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

Barbara's Relationship with Ortega: Flirting.
Ortega's Connection with Barbara: 59%
███████████▒████████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: flirting.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 65%
████████████████████

Lady Argent
Josie's Relationship with Lady Argent: Distant.
Lady Argent's Impression of Josie: 1%
▒███████████████████
Lady Argent thinks Anathema is a cheater.

Marshal Steel
Josie's Relationship with Steel: Former ally.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 24%
████▒███████████████
Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Distant.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 20%
████████████████████
Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

I admit I'm surprised this gain what power you can and get revenge narrative doesn't include an option to actively recruit here. I guess I'm leaning towards cover or feeling for.

 

>these my bros (feel for 'em)

 

Sympathizing is a good first step to recruitment, at least?​

> Unfortunate, I feel for them.

You sympathize with their plight; you were one of them once. Before Sidestep. Before you had grown bold enough to try to be one of the respectable citizens. Maybe it's only fitting that you're back here.

A different start to a different road.

The lights flash on with a wave of your hand, your armored boots echoing as you enter your hideout. It's cramped, filled with the equipment needed to do the necessary maintenance. It might be jury-rigged, but it gets the job done.

Some people might find the clutter oppressive, but you don't. Space can be as frightening as possibilities. It's not like you had a proper home before.

Home is a strange concept.

　‣ I have moved out of my apartment; I live here full time now.
　‣ I still live in my old shitty apartment.
　‣ I have stayed in my old comfortable apartment.
　‣ I have a new apartment away from my puppet.

(Strikeout courtesy of me; the game doesn't remember what our apartment is like.)

As you may recall, we got Barbara an apartment right above ours to make mental contact easier. Nowadays we can possess her from miles away, but having her nearby might still be handy in a pinch if we need to perform first aid on our body. On the other hand, the proximity might be a risk if we're worried about people connecting Josie to Barbie. Moving away from Barbie could be safer on that front—or if we just want an excuse to change apartments.

Living in our base would allow quick access to Anathema's armor and work materials in a pinch, along with the lifestyle perks of sewer residence. (Whether it's a net gain in security is a matter of opinion: our home would be as secure as our base, but the reverse also holds true, and Anathema's crew would know where they sleep as well as work.)​

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.

They have a short, scruffy beard and mustache.

Standard of Living: Josie is well-off.

Josie Jacobs is a seasoned, tech-savvy tactician.

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

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

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate.

Infamy: 47% / Obscurity: 53%
█████████▒██████████

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: 0% / Fine: 100%
████████████████████

Leadership: 28%
█████▒██████████████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 19% / Anonymity: 81%
███▒████████████████
Ruthlessness: 33% / Empathy: 67% (+3)
██████▒█████████████
Daring: 50% / Caution: 50%
████████████████████

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: 83%
████████████████▒███
Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

Barbara's Relationship with Ortega: Flirting.
Ortega's Connection with Barbara: 59%
███████████▒████████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: flirting.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 65%
████████████████████

Lady Argent
Josie's Relationship with Lady Argent: Distant.
Lady Argent's Impression of Josie: 1%
▒███████████████████
Lady Argent thinks Anathema is a cheater.

Marshal Steel
Josie's Relationship with Steel: Former ally.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 24%
████▒███████████████
Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Distant.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 20%
████████████████████
Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

>new apartment

 

Hm, I do want to be able to do first aid for Barbie if needed, but a new apartment could be good...

 

The first aid would more likely be for Josie, if I wasn't clear! But who knows, maybe Barbie will also need it some day.