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

Uh, run that by us again?​

> "You punched someone at my funeral?"

"You punched someone at my funeral?" You're not sure what the look on your face is right now. A smile? Surprise? You're also very sure you don't want to think too deeply about it.

"Not my proudest moment," Ortega admits, though she doesn't look ashamed.

"You'd do it all over again, wouldn't you?"

"Of course I would," she admits with a frustrated groan. "He showed up at your funeral, dragging up—"

"Dragging up what?" You have frozen solid, but you keep the faint smile on your face. Don't let anything show. Good thing you've got practice by now.

"He was a conspiracy theorist." Ortega looks away. That's a tell. Is she lying to you? "Started ranting about all sorts of nonsense. I can't remember half the things he said, just that he did it at the wrong time."

　‣ "And so you punched him."
　‣ "Thank you, I suppose."
　‣ "Why is his picture on the board?"

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 calm.
Injuries: You are fine.

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

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate.
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: 0% / Fine: 100%
████████████████████

Leadership: 55%
████████████████████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 19% / Anonymity: 81%
███▒████████████████
Ruthlessness: 33% / Empathy: 67%
██████▒█████████████
Daring: 46% / Caution: 54%
█████████▒██████████

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: 84%
████████████████▒███

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: 59%
███████████▒████████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 63%
████████████▒███████

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: Former ally.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 43%
████████▒███████████

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Distant.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 35%
████████████████████

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

Feeling like Ortega would've started saying, if Josie hadn't interrupted, going by that punctuation.

 

>why the picture? does our nemesis have a DIFFERENT nemesis?

 

Really not answering the main question here!​

> "Why is his picture on the board?"

"Why is his picture on the board?" That's what makes you nervous.

"To remind me not to be an idiot again." Ortega's smile is crooked, but it's there. She's not meeting your gaze. What are you missing here? "I can't afford to make a mess of my life."

"There are worse things to do than punch reporters." The irony is not lost on you.

"I know." She sighs and rubs her eyes. "That's why I need to do better this time. Be better."

"Speaking of which…" This is a good moment to broach this subject. "There's been something I've been meaning to ask you…" You pause briefly, exaggerating the hesitation. You need to sell this well. "Is something going on with the Rangers?"

"What are you talking about?" Ortega looks relieved to leave the past behind for now.

"I can't be the only one noticing that you don't work as a team anymore. You're off on your own investigations, Herald's mostly running press interference, Steel's got his marshal duties, and Lady Argent…" You give her a quizzical look. "She's working with vigilantes?"

"She is," Ortega admits with a grimace. "I can't say I approve, but she does her own thing. I can hardly fault her for it."

"Because you used to do the same." You caught her look; there was no mistaking it. Once upon a time, you were the vigilante.

"There are not many threats that need the whole team assembled, and since I have been busy…" Her eyes shift toward the board, the frown almost too brief to notice.

"You've been replaced."

"Ouch, that's blunt."

"Is it wrong, though?"

"Not really," Ortega sighs deeply. "I guess I've not been the best of teammates. Or friends."

"I'm surprised Chen hasn't already lectured you on it."

"I stopped listening to his lectures years ago. And he's been distracted since his last surgery."

"Something went wrong?"

"He doesn't heal as well as he used to. Age gets to us all."

　‣ "That doesn't sound like you."
　‣ "I told you, you should be thinking about retiring."
　‣ "I know what you mean."

Huh. Usually it's us calling Ortega old.​

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 calm.
Injuries: You are fine.

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

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate.
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: 0% / Fine: 100%
████████████████████

Leadership: 55%
████████████████████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 19% / Anonymity: 81%
███▒████████████████
Ruthlessness: 33% / Empathy: 67%
██████▒█████████████
Daring: 46% / Caution: 54%
█████████▒██████████

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: 84%
████████████████▒███

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: 59%
███████████▒████████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 63%
████████████▒███████

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: Former ally.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 43%
████████▒███████████

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Distant.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 35%
████████████████████

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

well we can't have Ortega retiring, we need our nemesis
I'm gonna vote for "that doesn't sound like you"

 

us when ortega wants to fight us:

us when ortega thinks she's aging:

> "That doesn't sound like you."

"That doesn't sound like you," you say with a laugh. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"Not really," Ortega admits. "I haven't been alright for a long time. A very long time." She gives you a long look, and you wonder if she's talking about the Heartbreak incident. You know you haven't felt right since it happened.

"You and me both." You rub your head. "But there's nothing we can do about it."

"That's fatalistic."

"Says the woman that was talking about how age gets to us all." You give her an amused look.

"This part hasn't changed, though."

"What?"

"You still never let me win an argument."

"Is that really what we do? Argue?" You give her a confused look. Normally she's not this sensitive with your feelings; you've had discussions far louder, and nobody would have called them an argument.

"Maybe. I just…" Ortega pauses, taking a deep breath before she continues. "I've done a lot of thinking lately. Maybe I haven't been as supportive as I could have been." The look she gives you is a long, intense one.

"I'm not made of glass," you say with an annoyed snort. "You don't have to treat me any differently than how you used to."

"But maybe I should."

"It's fine, Julia." You don't bother to hide the sigh. "I'm fine."

"I'm happy to hear that." Her smile is hesitant at first but grows wider once you return it.

It's the same thing every time.

Ortega thinks she is your friend. Or is she right about that? Can you be friends with someone who so clearly is standing in your way?

Apparently, you can. There's no other explanation for the warmth in your gut as she smiles at you. You've been through too much together, and you think that if she knew you were behind Anathema's mask, she might still be your friend. Your opponent, but your friend.

Not that you plan to let her know, that's not a risk you want to take. Not when you can have it both ways. Or three ways, counting Barbara…

Let's see how long you can make it last. For now, it's time to get out of here. You've learned all you need. The team is fractured; there's no greater plot here. You're safe. You can continue with your plans.

Good.

The hug is warm and familiar as you say goodbye. That warmth will stay with you for a while.

 

> At Least The Rain Stopped

Talking with Ortega has left you with a low-level headache threatening to grow in size. Trying to second-guess your own motives, trying to decide whether you have changed or whether you always were like this? Was it all pretend? Or are you just playing with new masks? Not that it matters, you've set your course now. For better or worse.

Putting on your shades, you walk out into the bright Los Diablos sunshine. Now that the rains have passed, the air smells almost clean, and the surrounding buildings cover the street in patchwork shadows. You head to the shady side for some relief from the rising temperatures. A walk will clear your head. Hopefully. You feel like you're on the edge of a thundercloud, your mood turning darker as the skies brighten. Stress? Most likely.

You've helped the Rangers out a few times, but once it's over, you're left with a worse migraine than from multiple body hoppings. Perhaps it's the act of pretending that's starting to chafe.

But you can't stop now.

Getting lost in the city is easy. Almost relaxing. Keeping your eyes on the ground, you focus on your own flesh, walking quietly among the crowds. Strengthening your shields, you let your telepathic powers sink back to their lowest setting, barely a buzz at the back of your head in case someone might attack.

Not that they would. You're just another bland face in the crowd.

Just another nobody.

　‣ I'll head toward one of the parks to get some fresh air.
　‣ I'll stick to the densest crowds, the human hive.
　‣ I'll go and grab something to drink.

Human interaction accomplished! Now that that's sorted, where to next with our budding headache?​

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 calm.
Injuries: You are fine.

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

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate.
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: 0% / Fine: 100%
████████████████████

Leadership: 55%
████████████████████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 19% / Anonymity: 81%
███▒████████████████
Ruthlessness: 33% / Empathy: 67%
██████▒█████████████
Daring: 46% / Caution: 54%
█████████▒██████████

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: 80% (-4)
████████████████████

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: 59%
███████████▒████████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 63%
████████████▒███████

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: Former ally.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 43%
████████▒███████████

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Distant.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 35%
████████████████████

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

Hydrate don't diedrate

 

Let's toast to not making our migraine worse.​

> I'll go and grab something to drink.

You want to find somewhere you can sit down and have a drink after this ordeal, maybe with something to eat on the side. You're not exactly hungry, but your body has its own internal alarm system to let you know when you need to rehydrate. Maybe that's why the headache's there.

Luckily, you're not far from one of your favorite diners.

"What's that?" People on the street stop and stare, and you get ready to run, but they are not looking at you. They are staring at the sky, fingers pointing, and as you look up, you can't stop yourself from groaning.

Herald. Didn't he mention rehab earlier? Did he ditch it just to see you off?

"Leaving without saying goodbye?" Herald says with a friendly smile, hovering overhead, looking disturbingly casual while floating in jeans and a T-shirt, ruffled hair glowing in the sun.

You are not in the mood for his cheerfulness.

　‣ "Aren't you supposed to be in rehab?"
　‣ "What are you doing here?" I ask, looking annoyed.
　‣ "Goodbye." I swat at the sky as if he were an annoying fly.
　‣ I keep walking in silence, ignoring him.

…That doesn't look like not making our migraine worse.​

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 calm.
Injuries: You are fine.

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

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate.
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: 0% / Fine: 100%
████████████████████

Leadership: 55%
████████████████████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 19% / Anonymity: 81%
███▒████████████████
Ruthlessness: 33% / Empathy: 67%
██████▒█████████████
Daring: 46% / Caution: 54%
█████████▒██████████

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: 80%
████████████████████

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: 59%
███████████▒████████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 63%
████████████▒███████

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: Former ally.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 43%
████████▒███████████

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Distant.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 35%
████████████████████

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

...hmm, yeah I don't really want to let the listening-in public know about him being in rehab, even if he IS totally blowing our cover as a completely normal unimportant rando.

 

>fuck this shit I'm out (silently)

 

if it sucks... hit da bricks​

> I keep walking in silence, ignoring him.

You have no idea why Herald decided to follow, let alone what he wants from you. And quite frankly, you do not care. If you are going to interact, it will be on your terms. Certainly not on his. So you keep walking. Maybe he will get the hint and leave you alone.

No such luck. He follows along, still hovering above you.

"Do…" There's a hint of hesitation in his voice. "Do you have time to talk?"

You don't have to read his mind to feel that whatever he wants to discuss is something he didn't want to bring up back at the base. Fuck. This could be useful, you suppose, but is it worth the annoyance?

　‣ "I suppose…." Might as well see what this is about.
　‣ "Business or pleasure?" I ask with a smirk.
　‣ "No." I keep walking down the sidewalk.

On the one hand: potentially worthwhile? On the other hand: Herald + a growing migraine.​

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 calm.
Injuries: You are fine.

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

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate.
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: 0% / Fine: 100%
████████████████████

Leadership: 55%
████████████████████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 19% / Anonymity: 81%
███▒████████████████
Ruthlessness: 33% / Empathy: 67%
██████▒█████████████
Daring: 46% / Caution: 54%
█████████▒██████████

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: 80%
████████████████████

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: 59%
███████████▒████████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 63%
████████████▒███████

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: Former ally.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 43%
████████▒███████████

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Distant.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 34% (-1)
██████▒█████████████

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

I mean, if he's gonna hover over us ruining our cover a little, he ought to dish up something to make it less a problem, right? I vote 1.

 

> "I suppose…." Might as well see what this is about.

"I suppose," you say, trying to ignore the onlookers. Since Herald has made a scene, you might as well agree to see what this is all about. "Though I would appreciate talking somewhere more private." While people are looking at Herald and not you, it's only a matter of time before they start to wonder who you are.

"Oh, of course." He smiles awkwardly as if he has only just noticed the looks he's getting.

If your telepathy weren't at its lowest setting because of the migraine building, you could have reacted in time; as it is, Herald's sudden move takes you by surprise, and before you have time to do more than gasp, you are airborne.

"Fuck!" You almost reach out and take control of Herald to make him land, but instead, you force yourself to keep your cool. This is not an attack, despite triggering all your worst instincts. This is just Herald picking you up and flying off, which is probably an ingrained reflex. You've been around fliers; they tend to be insufferably liberal with the use of their talents.

"Don't worry, I won't drop you." Herald has raised his voice to be heard over the wind, and you realize that you are clinging to him a little too tightly. He doesn't seem to have any issues with your weight, though you're taller than he is.

　‣ If I wasn't this high, I'd elbow him.
　‣ Flustered, I relax my grip.
　‣ I keep clinging; this is too high up.
　‣ I keep clinging; it feels surprisingly nice.
　‣ I panic and faint.

Herald what the fuck

Uh. How're we taking this, team?​

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 calm.
Injuries: You are fine.

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

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate.
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: 0% / Fine: 100%
████████████████████

Leadership: 55%
████████████████████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 19% / Anonymity: 81%
███▒████████████████
Ruthlessness: 33% / Empathy: 67%
██████▒█████████████
Daring: 46% / Caution: 54%
█████████▒██████████

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: 80%
████████████████████

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: 59%
███████████▒████████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 63%
████████████▒███████

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: Former ally.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 43%
████████▒███████████

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Distant.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 34%
██████▒█████████████

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

Wondering if any of those watchful passersby are posting to social media about Herald kidnapping someone off the street, given how startled Josie likely initially looked about it!

Feeling torn between 1, 2, 3 right now.
1 - We're not good buddies with Herald so this was intrusive,
2 - Possibly genuinely flustered by the reactive impulse to take control, even if not flustered by the clinging
3 - We're not used to clambering all over w/o the suit for the relative invulnerability it provides, so screw dignity, it supports the Just A Civilian Now Here vibes

Not really feeling 4 or 5

 

I'll add a vote for 3. Bad Sky Memories.

 

sorry, we couldn't hear you over our titular ptsd???

Spoiler: content warning

suicidal ideation

> I keep clinging; this is too high up.

You keep clinging; this is too high up. You don't trust Herald not to drop you. He's made too many mistakes, even if you have been the indirect cause of most of them. You're all too aware of the fact that you're a lot taller than he is, your legs dangling freely in the wind.

Don't look down. Don't think about the fall. The pain.

The impact.

Below you, Los Diablos stretches as far as you can see. The recent rainstorm has washed it clean of the usual dirt and dust. The Pineapple Express phenomenon has been pushing storms inland for the last few weeks, but now the sky is clear and the city beautiful. Maybe this is the key to understanding people like Herald; up here, it is easier to cling to your ideals, to just see the broad strokes of society and not the ugliness hiding underneath. Sometimes you wish you could be this blind.

But you've tried walking that road, and it didn't end well for you.

Nothing ever does.

There's a feeling building in your gut, a familiar sense of curling panic. Herald's arms around you. Hard to breathe. Heart racing.

Below you, the city is far enough down that it doesn't look real. But it is. If you dropped from this height, you wouldn't survive. This time you'd be dead for sure.

Your gut hurts with a familiar caustic feel. Short breaths. In and out. In and out. Herald's arms around you.

What if he dropped you?

Not that he would, he's a hero. If you slipped out of his grasp, he'd dive to catch you, unless…

It would be so easy to take control of his mind. Make him lose his grip. Slip out. Keep control until you couldn't anymore…

　‣ I shake my head; these are just bad memories.
　‣ Yes…maybe this is for the best.
　‣ I get angry that he'd put me through this.
　‣ Is this really what I want?

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 calm.
Injuries: You are fine.

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

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate.
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: 0% / Fine: 100%
████████████████████

Leadership: 55%
████████████████████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 19% / Anonymity: 81%
███▒████████████████
Ruthlessness: 33% / Empathy: 67%
██████▒█████████████
Daring: 46% / Caution: 54%
█████████▒██████████

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: 80%
████████████████████

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: 59%
███████████▒████████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 63%
████████████▒███████

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: Former ally.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 43%
████████▒███████████

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Distant.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 34%
██████▒█████████████

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

>FUCK YOU HERALD STOP AIRLIFTING PEOPLE WITHOUT CONSENT

 

> I get angry that he'd put me through this.

You can feel the anger bubbling to the surface, drowning the lure of the fall. How dare he put you through this? Put you back there, in that building?

You've moved on. You've repressed.

And here he comes, bringing everything back and he doesn't even know.

How dare he?

As the two of you swoop down toward one of the taller buildings, it takes a moment for you to realize that it's Emerald Towers, one of the expensive apartment buildings downtown. Does he have an apartment here? If so, you wonder why he risked everything to boost himself. It tends to be desperate people that go that route, not the rich. Getting modded is safer if they feel the urge to become more than human.

"Hold on." Herald picks up speed, and you obey. There's no feeling of threat or duplicity from him. You don't want to pry too deeply, but apparently, he just wants to talk.

As you close in, you wonder if he's aiming for an open window, but then he adjusts his course slightly, the dive curving upward so he can land on the still-wet roof with only the lightest of impacts.

Show-off.

　‣ "Was this really necessary?" I brush myself off, annoyed.
　‣ "Taking people for rides like this often?" I smile.
　‣ "Get off!" I tear myself free and walk off in a fury.
　‣ The moment Herald lets me go, I turn and punch him.

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 calm.
Injuries: You are fine.

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

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate.
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: 0% / Fine: 100%
████████████████████

Leadership: 55%
████████████████████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 19% / Anonymity: 81%
███▒████████████████
Ruthlessness: 33% / Empathy: 67%
██████▒█████████████
Daring: 46% / Caution: 54%
█████████▒██████████

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: 80%
████████████████████

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: 59%
███████████▒████████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 63%
████████████▒███████

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: Former ally.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 43%
████████▒███████████

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Distant.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 34%
██████▒█████████████

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

Leaning option 3: distance the moment it's safe and audible anger, because dude.