blasto, meet official opinions on self-replicating minions

[peterxy]

The PRT catches wind of a strange increase in disappeared domestic animals in the downtown area. Given that the people who live there are the rich and powerful, this is clearly a problem that needs to be investigated and solved immediately. The PRT, of course, agrees that this is of utmost importance, and not just because of precedent about mass abductions of pets, of course not, why would you think that, they are so very worried about Fido, even Scion recognizes the merits of rescuing lost pets.

(Lorica's asked to maybe keep a few more eyes there than she has been.)

Comments

[acanofworms]

Armsmaster nods almost imperceptibly at that, then points at another reporter when the current one takes too long to ask another question.

"You and Glam are often seen working together, and they frequently use their power to help yours, so there's been some speculation on the PHO Forums about you two being an item. How much credence should we lend to such speculations?"

"I would like to remind you that these are underage heroes you're speculating about," Armsmaster says sharply. "And this isn't about teenage gossip."

"It's not about gossip! There are legitimate worries that such relationships may compromise the Wards' abilities on the field!"

[thinkering]

"There's a useful power synergy between me and Glam, just like there is between me and Silica - anyone who can operate at a distance given visual feedback can get use out of a bot on the scene and one near them to allow safer remote deployment. It compounds upon itself because my bot network can use Glam's conjurations as field-modifiable reinforcements."

[acanofworms]

"So the rumors are false?"

"This line of questioning has lost its relevance. Are there any further questions relating to this incident? Yes," Armsmaster points at yet another reporter, who then proceeds to ask something about Drupe's powers. Another one inquires about containment procedures and how the Protectorate plans to handle similar cases in the future, about Blasto's trial, and so on. They seem to have gotten the hint and stay in-topic, and then the conference's over and the heroes go back inside.

As they do, Armsmaster says to Lorica, quietly, "Good job handling them."

[thinkering]

"Thanks."

[mxglam]

And after the heroes are far enough inside the building that the cameras can't track them anymore, they go their respective ways, some to their patrols, others not.

Glam floats after Lorica.

[thinkering]

"I hope you weren't hoping that I'd publicly confirm that we're dating during a press conference about a villain apprehension."

[mxglam]

"Ha, no," they snort. "I mean, sure, the Forums would explode with speculation and I'm not exactly opposed to publicity, but that's not quite the right kind."

[thinkering]

"It is definitely not."

[mxglam]

"Not that I wouldn't like people to know it, you know my feelings about dating you."

[thinkering]

"I'm aware."

[mxglam]

They laugh.

[thinkering]

"I hate those things. The bot was helping me compose responses without getting distracted or accidentally answering a question just because someone asked it." Sigh.

[mxglam]

"I, somewhat predictably, like them a lot. I wish I'd gotten more questions. Or, any questions at all, really. I suppose the one about us dating could've included me but it seemed mostly directed at you, I wonder why."

[thinkering]

"I'd been answering questions already?" she shrugs.

[mxglam]

"Then why did they start with you? Although I suppose being panicked about bot surveillance would do it."

[thinkering]

"Might be because I'm captain. I don't really know."

[mxglam]

"At least they didn't pick on poor Windflower, she looked like she might wilt there."

[thinkering]

"Yeah, I would probably have stepped in if someone had addressed her. Poor kid."

[mxglam]

"I would comment that I think she should probably try becoming a civilian but she really helped yesterday."

[thinkering]

"She's very handy if you need things dead and have a way to contain the poison. Just doesn't come up all that often when you're a hero type."

[mxglam]

"Well, even when you're a villain, doing that would be breaking the unwritten rules ninety percent of the time."

[thinkering]

"Yeah, she'd have to be an extremely scary villain and then someone would shoot her." Sigh.

[mxglam]

"If she knew how to properly leverage her power, though, she might be able to not be shot and she'd be terrifying."

[thinkering]

"I'm glad we find a way to make her feel heroic on occasion, all things considered."

[mxglam]

"Mmhm. I wonder if it might've helped if Armsmaster had made that point to the press, that it was in large part thanks to her that it all worked out."