internet, meet [insert title of glam's webseries]

[mxglam]

To Glam's continued delight, more kissing sessions happen on the following days (when they're feeling like a boy). They haven't met her parents as her official boyfriend or girlfriend or whatever yet, and don't mind it too much.

News about Purity's escape surprises exactly no one, but the Protectorate's reputation suffers a blow because of the attack; after all, the heroes were beaten on their home turf. The PHO forums are abuzz, though rumors of Glam's death at the hands of Hookwolf (probably started by same) prove largely unfounded.

And Glam really should get to their webisodes and start building a steadier rep. And that's (one of the reasons) why they're in Lorica's workshop a few days later.

"So what should I do? I haven't posted anything since Purity, should probably make this more of a habit."

Comments

[thinkering]

"Yeah. Right, I'll clear it with some people and then tinker up comms."

[msglam]

"Awesome!"

[thinkering]

"And you get to practice copies of assorted powers while hypnotized, and I need to talk to Piggot about Rewind and paramedics..."

[msglam]

"Mmhm. Also I was just with the new Branding person, guy called George Saunders."

[thinkering]

"How is he?"

[msglam]

"He was so helpful and friendly I'm kinda worried he might've been spooked of me," she admits.

[thinkering]

"Oh dear."

[msglam]

"I mean, he was okay with hearing me out, he gave me useful suggestions, he said he'd help with scripting and even offered doing web design after I asked Echo to draw it."

[thinkering]

"Well, that does sound useful."

[msglam]

"Yeah, he seemed pretty nice."

[thinkering]

"It is possible he doesn't even know why the position is open."

[msglam]

"Yeah, I suppose, if Yates resigned."

[thinkering]

"Even if she didn't I don't think the information comes standard in a job interview."

[msglam]

"No, but I think he'd have researched it, wouldn't he? His position? I would."

[thinkering]

"The job, yes, the ways people come and go? Not necessarily."

[msglam]

"The reason why the previous person left, whether it was something I should be worried about myself, general PR problems and challenges of the location. I'm not sure how public the Youth Guard's thing a few months ago was, though."

[thinkering]

"Not very. Like, you'd have heard of it if you subscribed to their newsletter, but likely not otherwise."

[msglam]

"Mmhm. Yeah, I guess it's possible he didn't learn of it." Shrug.

[thinkering]

"Ooh, email from Piggot -" Pause. "And we're go on the Rewind thing, I've got some logistics to figure but shouldn't be too hard."

[msglam]

"Oh awesome! Should probably tell-"

She's interrupted by Armsmaster's voice over the speaker: "All Wards are to report to the briefing room immediately."

[thinkering]

"Later," sighs Lorica, rolling to her feet and trailing a line of robots towards the briefing room.

[acanofworms]

The other heroes are already gathered or arrive shortly after. Chevalier and Drupe are absent, dealing with something else somewhere.

"We've just received a report that the Teeth are robbing the Central Bank," he says without preamble one everyone's arrived. "Butcher, Flamethrower, Boost, and Warp, with ten thugs."

[thinkering]

Lorica promptly looks up available intel on the capes.

[acanofworms]

Butcher IX is the ninth leader of the Teeth, with watered down versions of the powers of each of the previous leaders. He has superstrength, the ability to see the circulatory systems of people through solid matter, a danger sense, explosive teleportation... But the scariest part is that anyone who kills a Butcher inherits the powers and voices of all the previous ones. The latest's contribution is more superstrength.

Flamethrower can shoot fire from her hands, and the shorter and thinner she makes the jet, the hotter and more powerful it is. She can reduce it to a laser-like weapon that can be used to cut through diamond.

Boost chooses volumes of space inside which everything is accelerated. She can control the intensity, direction, location, and size of these areas, but they are short-lived and she can only have one up at a time. She frequently uses them to simulate flight and to throw knives and other projectiles at people at the speed of bullets.

Warp has the ability to modify and reshape any objects he can see in their entirety. He frequently uses small metal balls that he reshapes into restraints and weapons.

The Teeth are a gang operating in Brockton Bay. Known for their high turnover rate, very few of their leaders have lasted more than a year and a half. Ruthless, bloody, and casually violent, they usually attack targets from which they can draw money quickly, using the threat of violence and following through when necessary to guarantee success, holding while buildings hostage and sometimes selling their services.

Armsmaster quickly summarises all of this, and finishes with, "Now we have something that can help turn the tables." He looks at Rewind, who seems surprised, then continues: "If we can undo the damage they cause and rescue the civilians, their main strategy fails."

[thinkering]

"Rewind, you should bring a bot along," Lorica advises. "It can keep you apprised of the situation if you have to rewind yourself. Glam's going to try to expand my flock with functional extras so I have them to spare."