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

We meant indestructible mentally, Steel. Unless someone's been theseusing your brain too

 

> "Sorry, I didn't think about that," I apologize.

"Sorry, I didn't think about that." You're not one to apologize often, but you do understand spare parts. A body being treated like a machine.

"Apology accepted." Chen looks over at the dogs, then back at you. "You never used to apologize. What changed?"

"Maybe I have more to apologize for now." Your mouth twitches. "But mostly, I don't want a fight."

"Hmh."

"I mean it." You face his gaze head-on, feeling the doubts hovering around him like storm clouds. "I know we're usually at odds, but it's been years, and I'm getting tired."

"Tired." He looks at you as if he could strip away the mask you're hiding behind. "I wonder if tired is the word you're looking for."

"Stop being cryptic." You look back with a deep frown, trying to determine what he's digging at. There has to be something; there always is. Steel doesn't simply chat to pass the time. There's always an agenda, even if you don't understand it yet.

"Am I? I think you know what I'm talking about." The look on his face reminds you of a hundred other discussions turned to arguments. He suggests. You protest. And then the argument is self-perpetuating.

You've heard it all before.

　‣ "Oh, just shut up, Chen," I say, tired of this discussion.
　‣ "Do we have to keep doing this? I'm trying to be nice here."
　‣ "This is depressing. Can't we just watch the dogs?"

a game of 5-D mind chess is definitely what we need at this hour​

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: 15% / Anonymity: 85%
████████████████████
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: 55% (+5)
████████████████████

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Could be useful.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 60%
████████████████████

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

>we came here for dogs, not to be therapized by a guy we don't get on with. focus on the fucking dogs, steel.

 

We're only here for 5-Dog chess tyvm

 

I want an invite to 5-Dog chess......​

> "This is depressing. Can't we just watch the dogs?"

"This is depressing," you say, glancing over at Chen. He's looking at you. Fuck. "Can't we just watch the dogs and hang out?" The smile feels fake, but maybe he won't notice.

"What?" Chen's confusion is evident. Maybe at your smile. Maybe at your words. "Like friends?"

"Well, like acquaintances at least." You're not sure if you're comfortable with that word. Friends. Not just because you're not sure that would describe you, but also because Marshal Steel of the Rangers is technically your enemy. Even if he has a dog.

"That…sounds surprisingly nice." Maybe it's the fact that Chen sounds as awkward as you that helps you relax. At least there are two of you being bad at socializing.

"He's a good dog." Was that your voice? It was. Vocalizing your thoughts. Fuck.

"He is." Luckily Chen doesn't make a thing of it.

And there you sit, in what could almost be a comfortable silence.

Too bad it can't last.

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: 15% / Anonymity: 85%
████████████████████
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: Friendly.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 61% (+6)
████████████▒███████

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Could be useful.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 60%
████████████████████

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

Josie: like acquaintances, because you're not sure you're comfortable with that word

Stats screen: friendly, like friends :)

Very funny timing

 

Right, where were we... Before our emergency dogbrain infusion, we'd gotten a lead from that bug Barbie planted: Hollow Ground's right-hand man was meeting with none other than the mayor's personal aide. Time to follow up.​

A few days later…

Even with Steel's presence, the dog park helped bring you back to some semblance of normal. Enough that you had time to look into Eric Deveraux. The meeting with Jake Manalo was confirmed by scanning the staff going to lunch in a nearby restaurant; they corroborated your suspicions. Deveraux did indeed have a private meeting around the same time Jake entered the building. They also remember the same man visiting repeatedly, though he didn't have a name to the face.

Nor did they have any idea who Jake worked for.

Makes sense. Hollow Ground is an urban legend only the conspiracy theorists believe in.

Not that it matters, you have to deal with this as a real threat. Going up against the kingpin of Los Diablos is one thing, but going up against the city council as well? That would complicate things. The big unknown is whether the mayor is aware of what is going on or whether Deveraux is corrupt and only in it for himself. If it's the latter, removal will fix things. If it's the former, it would only jeopardize your position. You need to find a solution.

The best plan you've come up with is to tarnish Deveraux's reputation so badly that he becomes useless as a tool. That would keep the mayor busy as well, and her reactions will give you an idea of how deeply she's involved. If you tie him up in litigation and character smears until you have a replacement ready, you can turn this to your advantage. It wouldn't be a bad idea to have a friend in city hall. Someone who would be suitably grateful for the promotion. Someone who could protect your organization once it starts growing.

And for a smear campaign, you need a friendly ear in the media.

This is exactly why you have invited one of the sharpest pens the city has, Mia Ochoa. She's been interested in Anathema for a while now, might as well make use of that.

　‣ It's about time someone wrote about me.
　‣ Better I control the narrative than the other way around.

Which means round 2 with the press. How are we feeling about our second interview as Anathema—and a formal one, this time?​

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: 15% / Anonymity: 85%
████████████████████
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: Friendly.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 61%
████████████▒███████

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Could be useful.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 60%
████████████████████

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

I once saw a FH post along the lines of
"What if we did this again, but not as friends this time?"
"You mean... as enemies?"
and it was all I could think of while posting that update.

 

>control the narrative. what are we if not a control freak.

 

We'll show that narrative who's boss.​

> Better I control the narrative than the other way around.

You're not entirely comfortable with this, but you see the logic of creating your own narrative. The media will write about you regardless; this way you have some control over the contents.

The warehouse you picked for the meeting is deserted, and the surroundings are secured. The walls are riddled with cracks from quake damage. Is there a risk that it will come crashing down around you? Probably not, and picking it makes sense. Who would think you would be here? Just to make sure, you've sent Rosie to keep an eye on things from the outside. Spot what you might not. Who knows if you'll need somebody punched before this night is over.

Right smack in the center stands a table and chairs; you might as well make this civilized. You would have brought drinks too, but you doubt she'd trust you enough to taste them, and you can't take the helmet off.

As you finish the last bits of your presentation, you can hear the sound of Mia's bike approaching. A motorcycle is an easy way of getting around, especially in the parts of town not yet rebuilt, like this one. The sound stops, and you hear the creaking of the door as it opens, very, very carefully.

　‣ Turn on the lights, revealing me already seated at the table.
　‣ Quietly slide up behind her, then clear my throat.
　‣ Welcome her like an old friend.

Now, what would be a proper villain-reporter greeting…?​

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: 15% / Anonymity: 85%
████████████████████
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: Friendly.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 61%
████████████▒███████

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Could be useful.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 60%
████████████████████

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

Option 1 has a fun, welcome to my temp-lair energy to it.

2 seems unlikely to get off on a good foot, and 3??? we are saving the old friend line gosh darn it.

 

>welcome her like an old friend
Josie: ...tell her nothing about my life and be baffled that she even cares?

 

"welcome, old friend" "I'm sorry have we met"
anyway yeah I'm voting for option 1 as well

 

> Turn on the lights, revealing me already seated at the table.

With a flick of the remote, you engage the power. There's an audible crackle; you had to rig a portable generator because the wiring was busted. All the lights are out except one, aimed straight at the table, bathing it in light.

You're sitting at the table, relaxed and at ease, but still enough that it takes a moment for her to notice you.

"Welcome, Miss Ochoa," you say once she spots you, gesturing to the empty chair opposite your own. "I trust you had no issue finding this place?"

"No," Mia says, carefully looking around as she walks closer. "Your instructions were unusually clear."

"By all means, have a seat." You gesture toward the chair. "It's safe."

"Roof looks about ready to collapse. The walls are cracked. Is that smoke coming from the wiring?" She looks around, and you can feel her mind judging the risks.

"An astute observation." You're not worried; it just has to last the interview. "I'll make sure to save you if worst comes to worst."

"You're not a killer," she admits. "That's rare in your field."

"Just because I'm a villain doesn't mean I want civilians killed." You gesture to the empty room. "Who am I? LDPD?"

"The LDPD…" You can sense her mind souring; that's not an organization she's fond of. "They are not exactly a defender of the free press," she says with a pained grimace, losing her neutrality for a moment.

Interesting. Her thoughts move fast like hummingbirds, flitting this way and that. Has she…no, she has not run afoul of them. Someone else. A friend? Maybe, there's something there, something deep and tangled with her drive. Maybe it's worth being the interviewer to find out more.

If you can gain her confidence.

　‣ "One of the things I intend to change." I speak with passion.
　‣ "Sounds like you have personal experience." I try sympathy.
　‣ "True freedom is in short supply these days." That's a fact.
　‣ "They protect property, not people." A cynical observation.

Perhaps we should have worn an ACAB pin to this meeting?​

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: 15% / Anonymity: 85%
████████████████████
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: Friendly.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 61%
████████████▒███████

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Could be useful.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 60%
████████████████████

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

>FREEDOM. this is supposed to be the FREE western territory after all, never too early to start with the narrative when we're here for our big debut.

 

I'm feeling either freedom or property

 

Oh, don't get us started on freedom. (…Or do, actually, that's kind of why you're here?)​

> "True freedom is in short supply these days." That's a fact.

"True freedom is in short supply these days." You wish it weren't so, but you can't ignore the facts. "Unless you can afford it."

"And yet they call it the Free Economic Zone," Mia says, shaking her head. "But I guess that's just a name."

"It's the truth; there is freedom here. Freedom from laws. Freedom from restraints. Freedom from consequences for those in power. But like I said, those freedoms are for people that can afford it. Doesn't pay well to be a journalist, does it?"

"No," she admits. "Unless…"

"Unless you agree to write what the people in power tell you to. Like nice articles supporting the LDPD and how they bring stability to the city."

"I know." She makes a little doodle on her notepad. "That's what's so infuriating, I wish…"

"You wish…," you prod, trying to prompt her to give up her secrets without you having to go digging for them.

"It's nothing…," she says, but there sure is something. Could she talk about it? With an infamous villain? You have no ties to the city; rather the opposite. "I guess it's just that someone I know was hurt pretty badly by them." You're picking up flashes, a black man with a wide smile, an apartment filled with files, the memory smelling of pride and disappointment.

"Nothing like police brutality to make people realize they are not the ones being protected." It always amazed you how many people think they matter. You know better.

"It wasn't like that," a pause, "well, not just that." She chews on her pencil, looking off into the distance. "Vernon Browne was a great reporter, and they ruined him."

"The LDPD?" You recognize the name. Wasn't that the reporter that Ortega punched at your funeral? There's got to be more here—time to start fishing. "Did he investigate them?"

"It's more complicated than that." The pause grows long, and then the barrier breaks. She's started telling the truth, and now there's no stopping it. "I can't believe I'm telling you this."

"Who better?" You gesture to the dank warehouse. "It's not like I'm going to tell them."

"I suppose so." Her smile is relieved; how long has she carried this? "It started when he got fired. Very publicly so. Think it was the city council that pulled strings—that or the marshal." You're glad your helmet hides your expression at that little tidbit. So it went beyond punching him? Interesting. "Then it got worse. Targeted harassment by the LDPD. He got arrested on numerous occasions. For failing to obey an officer, if nothing else. Resisted. Broke a few bones. You know what I mean, I'm sure."

　‣ "You think the Marshal was involved?" I ask, neutrally.
　‣ "Doesn't sound like Marshal Steel," I protest.
　‣ "I know exactly what you mean," I say bitterly.

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%
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Leadership: 55%
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Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 15% / Anonymity: 85%
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Ruthlessness: 33% / Empathy: 67%
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Daring: 46% / Caution: 54%
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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: 80%
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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: 59%
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Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 63%
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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: 61%
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Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Could be useful.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 60%
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Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

Neutral - second one is OOC for Josie, third might be one more bit of evidence that the new Anathema has personal beef with the rangers.

 

[adopts carefully-bland "sou desu ka?" voice]​

> "You think the Marshal was involved?" I ask, neutrally.

"You think the Marshal was involved?" You school your voice to neutral. You don't want to influence her reply.

"Not the current marshal," Mia clarifies as if that would make a difference. "The one before. Charge. This was…what is it now? Seven? Eight years back?"

"Right before she retired." Around the time of Heartbreak. Not the best of times for any of you. "So what happened?"

"Vernon was working on something big." She rubs her forehead, still not looking at you. Working, past tense. Is that really the truth? You're not sure she believes the last part. "The way he put it, it would be the biggest scoop of his career. Nothing that big is safe, and he made a bad call. Got the wrong people angry before he had enough proof to do anything about it."

"And one of them was the marshal?" The pieces of the puzzle are starting to fit, one by one. This is bigger than just saying the wrong word at the wrong time.

"Oh yes. Very publicly too." Her smile turns grim. "Charge punched him at a funeral. One of the Heartbreak ceremonies. Broke his nose. Would have done more if people hadn't dragged her off. Vernon always did have the worst timing…."

> He's Not Alone In That

"Sometimes you've got to push to get results." You're resisting the urge to ask what the scoop was. She's talking; you need to be patient. It's hovering close to the surface already. Just another little yank and it will surface on its own. "But it sounds like he bit off more than he could chew."

"That's what he says." She looks up at you but finds no comfort there. Your helmet reveals nothing. "I've tried to get him to tell me what he was working on, but he refuses. Says it's over and done with."

"Doesn't sound like you believe him." You know you don't.

"Vernon was the reason I got into journalism." She looks down at her notepad, and you can feel the frustrated helplessness like a cloud around her. "He's the closest thing I have to a mentor. He might have grown a little…paranoid over the years, but that doesn't mean he wasn't right."

"Right about what?" As gentle as you can.

"I wish I knew." She's telling the truth. Fuck. "All I know is that it's big and connects straight to the top."

"So why is he still alive then? He wouldn't be the first reporter who has disappeared or died in a car crash." You know what happens to people. You've been…if not exactly responsible, involved in operations like that back at the Farm. Helping ferret out the guilty and the dangerous. So many of them died. The roads are dangerous, and overdoses happen.

"Maybe because he was easy enough to discredit." She's been pondering the same; you can feel it. "He never really was a people person, but he had contacts. Important ones. Killing him would have suggested he might have been on to something, ruining his career guaranteed nobody would listen."

　‣ "And you are planning to finish the job he started?"
　‣ "But he's still alive," I point out.
　‣ "Sounds like an interesting person to talk to."

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%
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Subtle Manipulations: 74%
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Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate.
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: 0% / Fine: 100%
████████████████████

Leadership: 55%
████████████████████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 15% / Anonymity: 85%
████████████████████
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%
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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%
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Marshal Steel
Josie's Relationship with Steel: Friendly.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 61%
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Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Could be useful.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 60%
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Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

Stares at these like a cat, but one considering pouncing once it's got a good trajectory, tail lashing behind.

Ortega talks like the guy was just a conspiracy theorist, but she's got her own hopefully unbugged office and board for pictures and notes. She isn't proud she punched him, but she doesn't talk like it was an impulse of the stress back then, she says she'd do it again. She was the one to pull Josie into the game back in the Sidestep days, wasn't she? And now she's been pulling us back into the Rangers' orbit on a few levels, uncannily prone to finding us. It's... strange. I think again of Argent's odd focus, that time we escaped the party. I think of the tip off before we faced Steel. I think of a narrative assembled for us to slot into, ic and ooc.


In the present, I think that Anathema very much wants to speak with him and hopefully finally get some answers. Not sure which of these I like best. 1 pulls attention away from him and to her. 2 feels like it sides with the skepticism, which I don't want us to do - I like us taking "I'm a villain with standards, I'm here for the truth" approach here. 3 feels too pushy, an invitation to be invited to speak with him, but that is what I want to do. But I suspect, if we approach him, he'll finally be killed.