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

Nope, just the basic "ignore Ortega and tell Herald we're sick this week".

 

> I will visit the Rangers, things to do, people to meet.

No use putting it off. Visiting the Rangers is the next step, even if you have to play it by ear and be ready to run if things go south.

You make sure to grab a pair of shoes good for that…just in case.

Fuck, here we go again.

Next chapter: Once more unto the breach of human interaction.​

 

Outside, the sun hides behind a sulfur sheen. The smog is as bad as always now that the Santa Ana winds have died down for the year. The thin ash mixed with the ever-present pollution paints the skies in spectacular shades once the sun sets, but right now, it only makes you feel sick. Artificial. You adjust your shades and walk faster. Now more than ever, you need to move carefully. The stakes are rising with every move you make. Like chess, it pays to be patient when you can and then to move without hesitation when you have to. You learned that lesson many years ago.

Getting downtown by bus is routine, but you decide to walk the last blocks yourself. It gives you time to pick up possible ambushes or anything else out of the ordinary. At least, that's what you keep telling yourself. The truth is that the people on the bus were getting to you. Pressure. Scent. Too many people looking at you.

Are you sticking out? Have you lost it? Or is it just that your senses are so attuned to trouble that you find it everywhere?

You need to calm down. There's no need to get paranoid. There's no need to get overwhelmed.

Focus on what's important. Yourself. Your body. Your breathing. Just keep walking. Try to ignore the people that surround you. Citizens. Humans.

Unlike you.

　‣ I still don't feel fully like myself.
　‣ I'm reminded of how little I have in common with people.
　‣ My shields are fraying fast.

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, with no significant wounds.

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

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

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

Armor Status
Need Repair: 5% / Fine: 95%
████████████████████

Leadership: 63%
████████████▒███████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 34% / Anonymity: 66%
██████▒█████████████
Ruthlessness: 40% / Empathy: 60%
████████████████████
Daring: 63% / Caution: 37%
████████████▒███████

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: 78%
███████████████▒████

Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

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

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

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

Lady Argent respects Anathema's abilities.
Lady Argent's Interest in Anathema: 60%
████████████████████

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

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

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

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

Fascinated that we can just choose fraying shields as the explanation of what looks like a sensory meltdown

I'm leaning a bit option 1, part because trans vibes, part because 2 feels like it sits too heavily on the recent reveal and doesn't match some of the vibes I got of our protag earlier through the story. 3 could also be fun tho

 

I'm good with 1 - 2 doesn't really fit, and I don't want to send Josie into whatever this scene is going to be without mental defenses

 

> I still don't feel fully like myself.

You glance at your reflection.

In every window you walk past.

You're not sure you like your smile anymore.

Your clothes are sticking to your skin, cold sweat, exertion, a feverish shiver, and you just want to claw them off like a snake shedding its skin. But you can't. Keep it together, you idiot. The Rangers' HQ appears like a mirage, like salvation. It will be quiet in there. Air-conditioned.

You've been here enough that it's lost some of its mysteries. You're not afraid of walking in its shadow, but you know you can't relax.

This is the den of the enemy.

The receptionist on duty treats you with a polite smile. You've been seen with enough Rangers to be a more-or-less-trusted visitor. Her name is Anna, you're not sure how long she's been working here, and you don't care. Don't get involved. If she knew the truth, she'd be terrified. She believes in law and order, and you're anything but.

"Welcome," Anna says, customer service smile in place. "Are you here to meet with Herald?"

"Herald?" You blink for a moment before catching the trailing end of a thought. "Oh, he told you about the training."

"And to let you inside whenever you came by." Her smile grows a little warmer; she's fond of him. Like everyone here.

Have you miscalculated? What has Herald talked about? Revealed? You never considered that he might be as open with everyone else as he is with you.

Fuck. That's not good.

　‣ "Is Ortega around?"
　‣ "Would you let Herald know I'm here?"
　‣ "Lady Argent is not out on a mission, is she?"
　‣ "Is the Marshal too busy for a visit?"

Once we're done with our latest bout of paranoia, we should probably tell her who to page. We don't really have the relationship for that with Argent (at least not as Josie), but the rest are fair game.​

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, with no significant wounds.

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

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

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

Armor Status
Need Repair: 5% / Fine: 95%
████████████████████

Leadership: 63%
████████████▒███████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 34% / Anonymity: 66%
██████▒█████████████
Ruthlessness: 40% / Empathy: 60%
████████████████████
Daring: 63% / Caution: 37%
████████████▒███████

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: 78%
███████████████▒████

Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

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

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

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

Lady Argent respects Anathema's abilities.
Lady Argent's Interest in Anathema: 60%
████████████████████

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

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

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

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

>Herald. Gives us an excuse to avoid Ortega but still say we dropped by.

 

Do the expected thing and we've got less to think about?

 

(I'm alive, FYI, I've just had a very busy several days. Bear with me while I get my brain back online.)

 

Thank you for your patience! We now return to our regularly-scheduled and unsuspicious flyboy appointment.​

> "Would you let Herald know I'm here?"

"Would you let Herald know I'm here?" you say, doing your best to sound professional.

"Of course." She nods approvingly. "I'll tell him to meet you in the break room."

"Thank you," you say softly, with the humble look of a former hero that you still wear around here. You've worn it so long it's second nature, taking no effort.

As you walk toward the elevators, you subtly pay attention to your surroundings. It's good to know that you're allowed access like this, even if it's limited to the civilian areas of the building. That means you're trusted, and that means that someone has decided you have earned that trust.

Probably Ortega. It would be just like her to make sure it would be no effort to come crawling back into the fold. It was the same when she was the Marshal. Getting you access. Making sure that your real identity wasn't needed. Sidestep was trusted…and like a fool, that flattered you enough to fall for it. Was that how the Farm finally found you? Why they were there to pick up your remains after Heartbreak? Were there traces of you in too many systems? In too many hearts?

And now you're doing it again.

But things will be different this time. You play by your own rules now, not the enemy's.

In the elevator, you let your shoulders slump. You're almost certainly recorded, and you want nothing out of the ordinary to show.

You're glad that you never agreed to train Herald here, though the Rangers have the perfect facilities for it. Too many eyes and cameras, both for you and for him. Would you have agreed if he insisted? Probably not, and you're grateful that he didn't. If he had, then you wouldn't have been hanging out with him for…is it half a year now? Of training and coffee? Of getting to know each other?

Ridiculous. You're getting to know him, sure, because he's open, friendly, and soft. You, on the other hand, have not really let him peek behind the masks you wear.

It's supposed to be an act. You're supposed to be using him. And yet, part of you wonders if you're using that as a crutch. You didn't need to get this close; he's ridiculously open with his feelings.

Infectious.

You know he's been thinking about asking you out to dinner. A big step, breaking the neutral ground of professionalism. Not worth the risk, of course, and yet…

What would your answer be if he asked? You do have things to celebrate.

This is getting too complicated. You should step back. That would be the smart thing to do. At some point, you need to figure out what you feel about him. He's nice, but that subconscious attraction that's been brewing is awkward. Should you tell him to back off? Or do you secretly like the attention?

You wish you knew; your mood shifts like the wind when it comes to Herald, weighing caution versus friendship versus annoyance. It can't keep going like this forever, that's for sure.

But you know it will be up to you to bring it up.

> The Doors Open As Commanded

Access. You shuffle down the corridor to the break room, wondering where else you're allowed to go. No time to explore right now, but maybe you'll take a chance and get "lost" later, just to see the length of your leash.

Right now, you'll settle for raiding the fridge again. You're not nervous, but your mouth feels as dry as sandpaper.

Small crimes. Another hint nobody notices.

Someone restocked it recently. A few packs of Ortega's favorite beer, the low-alcohol variety for work, leftover takeout, Steel's protein drinks, a few bottles of milk…

Something's wrong. You keep staring into the fridge, trying to figure out what it is. Marked food. A "Do Not Eat" on the leftovers. Every shelf is clearly marked, a futile attempt to keep people from eating each other's snacks.

…Wait.

There is a shelf marked "Josie." And it's not empty.

"What," you whisper softly to yourself. "Fuck."

"If you're stealing my food, drop it right now." Lady Argent's voice is hard enough to make you jump, and you're readying yourself for an attack before you remember that you're a civilian now. Her eyes narrow slightly, and you're not sure she buys it. She leans across and grabs the leftovers, the chopsticks still in the box.

"Always the charmer." You watch her grab a box of leftovers and dig in, impressed despite yourself at how fast she eats. Does she even take the time to chew?

"Whatever…why are you even here?" She eyes you like something the cat has dragged in.

"I'm here to see Herald," you say with a shrug.

"Really? That's weird." She makes a face, her eyes staying on you for an uncomfortably long moment before she looks away.

"What's weird about that? I've been helping him train since he got back on his feet. Don't tell me that's what's bothering you?" Not that you would care, but it would be useful to know if it annoys her.

"I'm not his keeper. We're not together anymore." She gives you a challenging stare. "Now, get out of my hair."

"Or what? You're going to throw me out?"

"You're not worth the effort," she retorts, "I'll leave it to Ortega to try and talk you straight."

"What does she have to do with it?"

"What did I do now?" Ortega's voice cuts through the room, and the two of you turn to face her as one. Did Argent hiss? Maybe.

"None of your business," she snaps.

"Hey, I'm sorry, Angie? I didn't know I interrupted anything…." Her eyes flicker to your face.

"What?" you ask, the challenge clear as you throw yourself against the static of her mind, finding no purchase. "What was that about?"

"I'm just glad you're here. I've been trying to get hold of you for a while."

"I'm not at your beck and call, Julia, you know that."

"Doesn't mean I can't be worried."

"Worried about what? I'm retired. There's nothing exciting happening in my life."

"I certainly hope so."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Anyway, I'll leave you two to your argument," Lady Argent says with a smirk. "I'm out of here."

"We're not arguing," you and Ortega say in chorus, then go back to glaring at each other as she saunters past and out the door.

You can hear her cackle as she walks down the hall, not unlike a hyena.

You both pretend not to hear it.

"So, what are you doing here anyway?" She leans against the doorjamb, trying to look casual, but you can see the wheels of her mind turning. Would it be better or worse if you were able to read her thoughts? Not that you have a choice. Ortega will always be the biggest mystery in your life.

"Waiting for Herald," you admit with a shrug. It's not like it's a secret that you and he are sparring. If you know him, he's told everyone by now. And even if he has tried to keep it quiet, Ortega is too good at ferreting information from the unwilling. You should know.

"He should be around soon; they're just wrapping up." Ortega gives you a thoughtful look.

"Wrapping up what?" You look away. You're not about to trigger some sort of ridiculous challenge. Ortega's too much like a cat; keep eye contact for too long, and bad things happen.

Ortega: looks at us
us, an intellectual: nice try old woman but I wasn't born yesterday​

"Just an interview." There's a faint taste of displeasure to her words. "Poor kid."

　‣ "You've gotten too old for the limelight," I tease.
　‣ "He can handle it," I say, defending Herald.
　‣ "Speaking of Herald…" I'll break things off with Ortega.
　‣ "We've been meeting up for coffee," I confess.
　‣ "I don't know what to do about Herald," I confess.

I like that "I have regular non-violent chats with my protégé" constitutes a shocking confession.​

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, with no significant wounds.

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

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

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

Armor Status
Need Repair: 5% / Fine: 95%
████████████████████

Leadership: 63%
████████████▒███████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 34% / Anonymity: 66%
██████▒█████████████
Ruthlessness: 40% / Empathy: 60%
████████████████████
Daring: 63% / Caution: 37%
████████████▒███████

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: 78%
███████████████▒████

Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

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

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

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

Lady Argent respects Anathema's abilities.
Lady Argent's Interest in Anathema: 60%
████████████████████

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

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

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

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

I kinda like 1 most, teasing her rather than defending him or for no reason I can parse dropping that admission

 

When in doubt, make a crack about Ortega's age.​

> "You've gotten too old for the limelight," I tease.

"It's your fault, you know." You keep a straight face to drive home the point. "You've gotten too old for the limelight."

"Ouch." Ortega theatrically clutches her chest. "Ten years ago, that would have hurt, but now I'm too old to care."

"Good to hear you're coming to terms with your geriatric status." Your words come out sharper than intended, or maybe that was your intention all along. It's getting harder and harder to tell when you really want to hurt someone.

"Can we please not have another argument?" Ortega holds up her hands in surrender. "I just came down for a cup of coffee, not to prove I'm still fit for fight."

"I'm not making you run the gauntlet." You keep holding her gaze, the smile hidden. "Think you can manage a walk across the floor?"

"Now you're making me paranoid," she eyes the kitchen suspiciously, playing along. "If you've booby-trapped my coffee, that means war."

"Do you really think I would stoop that low?" you tease.

"I hope not." The smile is slightly too stiff, but she walks across the floor regardless, looking as if it's made of glass.

>

"Calm down, old woman, you're taking this too seriously." Trust Ortega to take a joke too far. "Your coffee is safe."

"It would make a bad hostage anyway. There's another machine down in the lobby." The coffee machine makes a grinding sound as she pushes the button, and when she turns around, she's all smiles once more. "I'll take the stairs if I have to."

"A little bit of exercise never hurt anyone."

"And I'm at that age when I need it, right?" The twinkle is back in her eye, the smile secure once more. "Thanks for helping out with Herald, by the way."

"Someone's gotta have mercy on him." Your mouth twitches into a semblance of a guiltless smile, enough of one for Ortega to head for the door, satisfied that nothing is wrong. She has no idea, does she? Good. You doubt she'd approve of your plans for Herald.

"Tell Herald to stop running himself ragged. Maybe he'll listen if you're the one telling him."

"Why?" you ask, raising your voice as she heads out of the kitchen. "You never did."

The last word is yours, for once. If you ignore the finger she gives you over her shoulder.

Asshole.

Ah, friendship.​

>

Once you're alone in the kitchen, you rub your eyes hard enough to see spots.

Okay. Ortega is out of your hair for now. Focus on that.

　‣ So many strings to pull, I can't afford mistakes.
　‣ How did my life get this complicated?

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, with no significant wounds.

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

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

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

Armor Status
Need Repair: 5% / Fine: 95%
████████████████████

Leadership: 63%
████████████▒███████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 34% / Anonymity: 66%
██████▒█████████████
Ruthlessness: 40% / Empathy: 60%
████████████████████
Daring: 63% / Caution: 37%
████████████▒███████

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: 78%
███████████████▒████

Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

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

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

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

Lady Argent respects Anathema's abilities.
Lady Argent's Interest in Anathema: 60%
████████████████████

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

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

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

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

>be avril lavigne. WHY'D I HAVE TO GO AND MAKE THINGS SO COMPLICATED?

 

We do spend a lot of time acting like we're somebody else

 

We're watching our backs, like we can't relax…​

> How did my life get this complicated?

How did your life get this complicated? And why do you keep making things worse? All you need to do is stay away from here, cut the ties, focus on your plans, but it's gone too far for that now, hasn't it?

Not so easy to walk away now. Ortega would look. Skulk. Get even more annoying. Right now, the lesser evil is to keep playing the game, keep a straight face, make yourself smile and look something akin to normal.

Just be who they think you are. Hide behind their preconceptions. Be Herald's mentor. Ortega's old friend. Retired hero.

All you need to do is not mess it up. Which you won't.

Besides, there's nothing here to feel weird about. You're training Herald. Nothing weird about that.

Your enemy. He would arrest you if he suspected the truth. At least he'd try. He's too principled not to do something that stupid. And he'd get killed.

Too soft by far. Ortega is right about that. It's become more obvious that Herald does have feelings for you, more than the ones he would have for a mentor or an idol. You wish his mind were better shielded; sometimes, the thoughts you catch are—

"Hi!" Herald's voice, happy, beaming, the unspoken attraction cutting through your mind like a hot knife through butter.

"Uhm…yeah. Hi," you stutter before your brain hitches back into gear. Shields up. "Thought you were busy with those reporters?"

"I'm done now." There's a sigh of relief that you don't need to be a telepath to notice. Like unshouldering a burden he's carried for too long, and now he can finally let himself sink back to the floor, shoulders sagging. "I can see why you avoided the cameras when you were active." The smile is honest, and there are no barbs hidden under the surface.

"I also wasn't a Ranger."

"Still a hero." The smile is bright, and though he looks away, you don't miss the point. You're his hero, if nothing else. Your face twitches in a painful approximation of a smile. You can feel his emotions even through your shields. This is going to give you a headache if he doesn't calm down.

　‣ "I wish you wouldn't call me a hero," I say, with a huff.
　‣ "Better you than me," I say with a smile.
　‣ "Hope they didn't maul you too badly." A clap on his shoulder.

Ironically, this relationship might be simpler if we did ever find him fakin'.​

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, with no significant wounds.

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

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

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

Armor Status
Need Repair: 5% / Fine: 95%
████████████████████

Leadership: 63%
████████████▒███████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 34% / Anonymity: 66%
██████▒█████████████
Ruthlessness: 40% / Empathy: 60%
████████████████████
Daring: 63% / Caution: 37%
████████████▒███████

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: 78%
███████████████▒████

Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

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

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

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

Lady Argent respects Anathema's abilities.
Lady Argent's Interest in Anathema: 60%
████████████████████

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

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

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

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

Admitting we dislike it might just goad him into doubling down on insisting. Deflect with humor!!!! Either 2 or 3

 

2. 3 involves touching him without beating him up, let's Not.

 

> "Better you than me," I say with a smile.

"Better you than me," you say, making sure your faked smile comes across as genuine. It's easier around him; you can pull on Herald's feelings to fine-tune your own, remembering what it was like to have hopes and dreams.

"That's what Ortega said." There's a nervous laugh he's suppressing, not sure if it's safe to joke about Ortega. Did they meet in the hall? Fuck, they did. What did she say? Herald's thoughts are too scattered; he's trying not to think about it.

He's going to give you a headache at this rate.

"Anyway…" You rub your forehead, strengthening your shields, dialing down his mind until it is a soft mumble, a restaurant background you can safely ignore.

"Are you okay?" he asks, immediately worried. "You look like you haven't been sleeping well."

"I never do," you say with a stony face. Sleeping. You do your best to avoid it.

"Haha." The laugh is nervous, and Herald breaks it off as soon as it slips out. "Actually, it's probably a bad time, but I was going to suggest that maybe…," a brief hesitation, and then he pushes on. "You know, we've been having fun, right?"

"We have," you agree, marveling at the fact that he is completely genuine.

"I've been trying to work up my nerve, but things keep getting in the way." A nervous laugh. "Would you like to have dinner with me? Maybe Friday evening? I know it's a bit sudden, and it's okay to say no if I'm out of line…."

　‣ I'll turn down dinner.
　‣ I'll agree to dinner.

Well, gang, what's our position on dinner?​

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, with no significant wounds.

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

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

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

Armor Status
Need Repair: 5% / Fine: 95%
████████████████████

Leadership: 63%
████████████▒███████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 34% / Anonymity: 66%
██████▒█████████████
Ruthlessness: 40% / Empathy: 60%
████████████████████
Daring: 63% / Caution: 37%
████████████▒███████

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: 78%
███████████████▒████

Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

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

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

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

Lady Argent respects Anathema's abilities.
Lady Argent's Interest in Anathema: 60%
████████████████████

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

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

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

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

That he's trying not to think about it keeps casting his nervous laughter here in a different light. What did she say? Is he only nervous because he's going [Date??] hopefully, or......

Anyway, I kinda want to agree just to see if we can get him to let his guard down about whatever she said

 

Ah yes, dinner, the most unguarded of meals. (For him, not us.) Why not?​

> I'll agree to dinner.

"Daniel." You hold up your hand because, in all likelihood, he wasn't going to stop until he ran out of breath and fliers have big lungs. "Friday will be fine." You might need some unwinding. You've been running yourself ragged lately.

"Wow. Sure! Thank you? I mean…it's going to be fun." The smile is wide enough to tease an answering one from you. "Pick you up Friday then?"

"Just give me the address, and I'll be there." You're not about to tie yourself down to his schedule, or worse, have him learn where you live. This way, you can cancel more easily if you get cold feet again.

"Sure, I'll text you." He keeps smiling, and you shake your head.

　‣ "Want to grab a coffee while I'm here?"
　‣ "You look like you could use a workout right now?"
　‣ "I guess I should get going."

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, with no significant wounds.

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

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

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

Armor Status
Need Repair: 5% / Fine: 95%
████████████████████

Leadership: 63%
████████████▒███████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 34% / Anonymity: 66%
██████▒█████████████
Ruthlessness: 40% / Empathy: 60%
████████████████████
Daring: 63% / Caution: 37%
████████████▒███████

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: 78%
███████████████▒████

Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

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

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

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

Lady Argent respects Anathema's abilities.
Lady Argent's Interest in Anathema: 60%
████████████████████

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

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

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

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters