rogue, meet hero

[peterxy]

Most of the time, patrolling is a dull, uneventful affair, somewhat akin to the Ankh-Morpork City Guard ringing their bells and calling "All's well!" at night.

Sometimes, it's not.

Dauntless was not expecting to run into two unpowered Asian gangs (Japanese and Korean? that's what it looks like at a distance) duking it out in the middle of the street. Granted, it's the evening, and it's not quite the most well-frequented of streets, but still.

He decides to call for backup, not because he wouldn't be able to take them on, but because he's supposed to do that whenever confronting another parahuman or a large number of non-capes, at least until he graduates. He turns the comm on and describes the situation - a bit over a dozen people on each side, arguing and brandishing blunt weapons and in some cases guns - then waits and watches.

Comments

[thinkering]

"The robots? Lots of things, why?"

[mxglam]

"Curiosity. Robots are cool, I have a hard time making those."

[thinkering]

"You're not actually a tinker per se, are you? So that makes sense."

[mxglam]

"I'm not," they agree. "Though I can make stuff that's pretty Tinker." And lo, a small device that makes holograms is on their right palm, showing a still shot of the teleporter they fought the other day.

[thinkering]

"Lot faster than building it would be."

[mxglam]

"Yeah. But I can't really give it to other people or sell it and become really rich so."

[thinkering]

"If you can't figure out how to get rich off cape powers - legally, even - you aren't trying. It doesn't have to be retail."

[mxglam]

They laugh. "I didn't say that."

[thinkering]

"Noted."

[mxglam]

"So, why are you bouncing around all alone in this cold, dark city?"

[thinkering]

"I'm considered responsible and versatile enough to handle solo patrol and didn't ask for company."

[mxglam]

"Ah, yes, patrol. One of the many perks of being a Ward."

[thinkering]

"Mm."

[mxglam]

"Aren't you going to try to convince me to become one, fight the good fight, get all those nice toys and stuff?"

[thinkering]

"They don't pay me to recruit. I'd probably walk you through a pros and cons list if you were a tinker and therefore perpetually budget-constrained, but you're not."

[mxglam]

Pen and a notebook appear in Glam's hands, and they speak out loud as they write: "Pros: if you're a tinker and perpetually budget-constrained, you get help with that. Cons: it's awful enough that even a tinker doesn't want to convince anyone else to join and be miserable together."

[thinkering]

"I don't like the theory that misery loves company. And I'm not miserable anyway."

[mxglam]

"Well, I think it's not unreasonable to want company when you're gloomy and the world's weighing down on your shoulders, the responsibilities crushing your sooouuulll..."

The pen and notebook disappear.

[thinkering]

Lorica doesn't answer that. She just keeps hopping roof to roof.

[mxglam]

They continue floating alongside her. "...hey, sorry, maybe that wasn't a very appropriate thing to say."

[thinkering]

"No harm done."

[mxglam]

"So, uh, any news on teleporter guy?"

[thinkering]

"He hasn't turned up again."

[mxglam]

"And you guys hadn't met him before." That wasn't a question. "That's a dangerous element to have around, leaving a body behind to do nefarious things while he's already ducking other people up is scary."

[thinkering]

"Yeah. The explosives weren't good but they still exploded. Strategy pending."