pretoria, meet behemoth

[mxglam]

Glam talks to Armsmaster about the possibility of maybe being given access to confidential files on the Slaughterhouse Nine and is, somewhat predictably, completely shut down, on grounds that the rules are there for a reason. They try sharing their strategies, Armsmaster thanks them for it and assures them he'll look into the raised matter, but they still need to wait until they're a full member of the Protectorate to take advantage of these resources.

And is that supposed to make them more likely to want to stick around? Ugh.

The three following weeks are fairly quiet and peaceful for a change. No major engagements, the Empire Eighty-Eight has been keeping quiet, the various Asian gangs reduced once more to fighting each other, the Teeth haven't yet rebuilt. Blasto, Lung, and Oni Lee are still awaiting trial, though it's likely the tinker will be given a lighter sentence in some parahuman containment center while the other two will be sent to the Birdcage.

And then, somewhat earlier than would normally be expected, telltale seismic activity is registered in Pretoria, South Africa. The capes wishing to help must make their way to New York, to depart in an hour - small aircraft is waiting at the PHQ for the trip there.

Comments

[msglam]

"...this may not be the best conversation for post-Endbringer-victory snuggles. Sorry."

[thinkering]

"It's okay, I get it."

[msglam]

"I haven't really been able to relax about this kinda stuff lately."

[thinkering]

"You took a long while to go under. I was starting to be nervous it wouldn't pan out, actually."

[msglam]

"Yeah... I was like that because I was nervous it wouldn't pan out, kinda? Except that's not all."

[thinkering]

"Mm?"

[msglam]

"I mean, I've been mulling over this and all these possibilities and there was a part of me that didn't want to do the Behemoth thing because then I'd need to do it to Leviathan and the Simurgh and then there'll be the Nine and there's everything else and by that point my brain is dividing into a million."

[thinkering]

"Oh love." Hug hug.

[msglam]

"I didn't sign up to save the world from literally everything except I kinda did and this is taking an unexpected toll on my mental health. I was not- nearly as prepared as I'd thought I was to the logical consequence of low cape life expectancy with respect to my social circle."

[thinkering]

Hug hug hug hug. "- I mostly try not to get that attached."

[msglam]

"Yeah, I know, but that's not a strategy I can realistically implement."

[thinkering]

"Wish I had a better idea."

[msglam]

"I didn't even like Armsmaster, and I think I exchanged all of five words with Velocity since I met him, and I still feel completely wrecked over it."

[thinkering]

Squeeze.

[msglam]

Sigh. "And in the end you did get attached to- at least one person."

[thinkering]

"And my dad. I've been lucky."

[msglam]

"I'm not sure you really had a whole lot of choice when it comes to your dad."

[thinkering]

"Yeah. But still."

[msglam]

"Yeah. But still," she agrees. "...I can't ever lose you. That- would not work. On so many levels."

[thinkering]

"Well, I do try not to die."

[msglam]

Hug. "I know. It just- appeared in my brain and was a very bad thought and I want it to go away now."

[thinkering]

"I'm alive." Snuggle.

[msglam]

"Yeah, and you'll stay that way for ever and ever."

[thinkering]

"...that's optimistic."

[msglam]

"That's a promise, not a prediction."