endbringer, meet gun

[peterxy]

...Very unseasonable rains can be seen in the distance from the shores of Acapulco.

The Brockton Bay Protectorate starts organizing volunteers to be transported or teletransported in batches to it. Heroes, rogues, villains, anyone's assistance is appreciated. A rendez-vous point is set for non-Protectorate capes wishing to volunteer, and Protectorate capes are informed of the situation via communication devices.

Comments

[mxglam]

"Hmmm... any idea when Chevalier and Director Piggot will want to talk, and what about? And... any tips about talking to the Branding lady?" Better not mention that they already tried and it went catastrophically.

[alicornucopia]

"The Director will want to know more about your powers. She will probably express her disappointment that you did not join before you made a fatal mistake," says Miss Militia. "I doubt you will have trouble with Branding, your name and costume will not offend parents and you are not wearing plaid."

[mxglam]

"Well, mightn't the gender thing be a sticking point?"

[alicornucopia]

"Oh, I suppose it might be. Maybe you should have two different lines of merchandise?" laughs Miss Militia.

[mxglam]

They grin. "That sounds like a great idea!" Too bad apparently not great enough for one Phyllis Constance Yates.

...well, maybe she didn't think of it? They certainly wouldn't have a problem differentiating merchandise for the different aisles, although they're not particularly sure what would be different - their costume is literally white with white on white made of white, and as far as they knew weapons or powers weren't exactly gendered.

Oh well.

[alicornucopia]

Miss Militia is probably smiling behind her bandana flag. "I am sure Phyllis will be amused!" she says, and she moves on through the corridor.

[mxglam]

...they are sure Miss Militia has never met Phyllis Constance Yates. Or perhaps she is less of a butt to non-Wards, or to Miss Militia in particular.

They return to their room to kill time until Chevalier and Director Piggot want to talk to them. Or until lunch, whichever comes first.

[alicornucopia]

It turns out the room is hooked up to some kinda intercom. "Glam, please report to Director Piggot's office," this system says shortly before lunch.

[mxglam]

They jump, and giggle at themself. Okay, then.

Fly fly, knock knock.

[alicornucopia]

"Come in," says Piggot.

[mxglam]

They do. "Hi."

[alicornucopia]

"You might be surprised to hear that your slip last night ultimately did lead to the man's death."

[mxglam]

Wince. "I am not surprised, no. I- I ran into Miss Militia and asked her about it."

[alicornucopia]

"Lorica's reports indicate that you have nonlethal options. Why were you using lethal ones?"

[mxglam]

"It was an accident. I was- planning on going after Mincemeat, and was prepping for it, and used the wrong thing, and it was reckless and silly and thoughtless and stupid and-" They shut themself up, but can't quite bring themself to look at the Director. They killed someone, even if it was an accident they did, they did, it's another person in their conscience and they really need to stop thinking about it or they'll start hyperventilating and none of it is enough, it'll never be enough, they're dead, they're both dead-

[alicornucopia]

"What motivated you to take up vigilante work to begin with?" asks Piggot, frowning.

[mxglam]

A question to focus on, yes, good, that they can deal with. They look at her. "A desire to use my powers to help people."

[alicornucopia]

"And yet you didn't join the Wards until after your lack of discipline claimed a life."

[mxglam]

Sigh. "I was thinking about it. Thinking about my options, pondering what I wanted to do. I- I was between New Wave and Wards, before this happened."

[alicornucopia]

"New Wave is a family organization."

[mxglam]

"That's not part of their stated mission."

[alicornucopia]

"Beside the point," says Piggot, shaking her head. "I hope this is the only wake-up call you need to get your head on straight, Glam. I consider you a probationary member. I advise you to be rehabilitated. Am I making myself understood?"

[mxglam]

"...not really? I'm not sure what-all that entails. I mean, wake up call, yes, obviously, and probationary, sure, makes sense, but what are the actual practical consequences of this and what does rehabilitation look like, day-to-day?"

[alicornucopia]

"I'm so glad you asked," says Piggot. "It means that you do not contravene the authority of your captain, the sworn-in adult heroes, me, or any of the other staff who are here to make you an effective hero and not a well-entertained vigilante. It means you will not indulge your smart mouth nor will you threaten standard humans with power use as you so unwisely did with Ms Yates. You will not, to summarize, insert your judgment, which is demonstrated to be inadequate, where you are not absolutely obliged to make a call on your own. You are here to learn and to make up for some part of what you did, not to play around or get your way all the time."

[mxglam]

"I did not threaten Ms. Yates. I never once even mentioned using my powers on her, and the only time I even remotely referenced them was when I showed her I could change my suit's colour at will. I didn't even explain to her what my powers were, so if she knows them it's not because of me.

"I was trying to talk to her like a real person, and asked her to do the same to me, and tried to understand what she was talking about. She accused me of threatening her when I was trying to reach mutual understanding. I would love to learn, but that is very hard to do if no one teaches me or points to resources I may use to learn. And I absolutely understand that I will not get my way all the time; I have exactly one issue I will not budge on, and that is my gender. I will bend about anything else, just not that."