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

Dignity aside, we need to be patient here.​

> I keep my composure, waiting for my chance.

You keep your composure, making sure not to fight against Jake as you're led outside. He's stronger than you, you'll just get one chance to make your move, and this is not it.

Keep your calm.

With one arm forced up behind your back, you're led out into the downstairs bar. The music upstairs will drown any cries; there's no use screaming for help. The bar is half filled, but neither staff nor customers look at you twice. Jake is just a bouncer escorting another drunk off the premises; at least they can tell each other that and then go home with a clear conscience. The ones that aren't in on it already.

Parkfield is not a place for heroes. There will be no shining white knight to stumble in, half drunk, to rescue you from your captor. Nobody in their right mind would want to deal with Jake. With one hand on your neck and the other trapping your arm, you're led toward the side door like the lamb you're trying not to be.

You half ponder abandoning Barbara, but if you do that, you won't be able to use any chance to escape. People slip up all the time.

"Get the door, Larry." Jake keeps a tight grip on you as one of the men at the table gets up to open the door.

"Someone got too much to drink," Larry jokes. "You gonna drive her home?"

"Yeah, get the car started, will you?" Jake's hand has slipped from your neck to your mouth, stopping your protests. You do your best to bite, but it's like chewing wood.

The back door opens, and you're led out into an alley stinking of garbage and rubber. There's a car parked at the end, is it waiting for you?

You start to struggle for real, your feet slipping on the asphalt, but the grip remains firm. You want to punch yourself for being this stupid, but it's too late. You can't turn back time. You should have learned from last time, Barbara might have advantages, but she is also a victim. A victim of whatever accident wiped her mind and sent her into a coma. A victim of circumstance. A victim of anybody strong enough to control her. A victim of you.

　‣ No regrets, she was already a dead woman walking.
　‣ I feel bad, Barbara doesn't deserve this.

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

Armor Status
Need Repair: 5% / Fine: 95%
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Leadership: 63%
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Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 28% / Anonymity: 72%
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Ruthlessness: 40% / Empathy: 60%
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Daring: 51% / Caution: 49%
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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: 78%
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Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

Barbara's Relationship with Ortega: Eternally flirting. Josie is using Barbara as a spy.
Ortega's Connection with Barbara: 63%
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Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 66%
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Lady Argent
Josie's Relationship with Lady Argent: Distant.
Lady Argent's Impression of Josie: 1%
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Lady Argent respects Anathema's abilities.
Lady Argent's Interest in Anathema: 60%
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Marshal Steel
Josie's Relationship with Steel: Friendly.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 72%
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Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Friends.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 67%
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Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

chinhands. all roads lead to rome cars, I see. given we chose "confidence" over "puppet" when we decided to do this in the extra body, I feel like >2 is the more consistent choice.

 

Oh come on, we pick the 'wait for a chance' option and there's no chance? Rude. Oh well. I vote 2 too.

 

I'm intrigued by the implications if they do kill her here and now. That Hollow Ground expects Anathema to get the message of "bring a nice gift" to go with the threat of killing her, somehow? It implies them knowing things about us that we don't think anyone knows - that we were along for the ride and watching the conversation, at the very least.

 

They did say she'd live, but we're probably going to lose the 'no serious injuries' bit of Barbara's status.

 

Hollow Ground is such a bad host. :/

Yeah, I don't think we've seen specific indication that HG is going to break their word on letting Barbie live — I think we just Do Not Trust Like That. (And maybe are kind of panicking at being this helpless.)