Another day, another stand-in

The group members watched the situation carefully, many of them taking special note of the apparent mechanics of Carol’s power. It was already fairly self-explanatory, of course, but a visual was always helpful and not something the more meticulous villains in the room would pass up. 

“Well, it’s good to see that bitch on a leash.” Phobia piped up, earning a single, enthusiastic “ha!” from her squadron leader. 

Talia cleared her throat, bringing the attention of the room back to her before another burst of snide comments could erupt. “It’s good to have you, Carol.” She said. “We were worried something rather...violent was due to happen with him. Better that he is sedated in this way, I think. Your company is far more pleasant.” 

“You didn’t run into anything as slimy as him in the Cronenberg world, I hope.” Barbara added. “It sounds rather disastrous, but I bet he chose it because he relates to the beings in there. Maybe he thought he was doing you a favour.”

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Barbara’s eyes slid smoothly along after Carol, tracking the wraith-like girl’s movements as she positioned herself closer to her desk. One couldn’t be too careful around someone whose skin was addictive, after all. Her tone remained friendly despite her heightened caution, however, and she smiled at Carol’s offer. 

“I very rarely shy away from an opportunity to expand my knowledge, dear. I will consider your proposition. In the meantime, do you have the cheetah’s scientific name? I could help you spell it if not. If you need some filler for page count, I will also provide that the word for ‘cheetah’ in Swahili is ‘duma,’ so you could throw that in if you end up a little short.” 

“...Huh...” Doris began to click her fingernails against the shelves.

“Something wrong over there, my Jolly Green Giant?”

“Trying to come up with a witty ‘duma-ss’ comment. I can’t think of anything, though. It’s really disappointing.”

Cheetah rolled her eyes and scoffed, “I can imagine.”

vibrators are WRONG and unnatural the bible said adam and eve not florence and the machine

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“Them?” Doris paused, an eyebrow raised. “You took more than one thing? What else did you take?” 

“Oh.” Barbara laughed, a somewhat victorious sound despite the vigilant feeling that surrounded the room. “You only noticed one thing was missing? How cute of you. I bet I know exactly which one you missed more.”

“You’re cruel.”

“Cruel? Nonsense! Do you not see me helping this poor girl with her homework? I’m the exact opposite of cruel.” She flipped her hair back and eyed Carol again, humour lighting her face. “Now, I resent that I can’t begin to try and read your work, but perhaps I’ll have a fair chance at it some other time. At any rate, if you’re ready to begin, so am I.”

At the other end of the room, a small and rather defeated sounding huff could be heard pushing its way through of Doris’s lungs.

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The feline woman let out a short chuckle and tapped her lips thoughtfully before speaking. “Matching information to a tone - whether your own or someone else’s - is simple enough with ample practice, my dear. Take it from me, after all I can personally attest that our lovely Dr. Psycho only writes about half of his reports. Consider what you have now a rough draft and we’ll tie the rest up nice and pretty. As for the arson, though, I’m not terribly opposed to setting a school on fire. As long as there aren’t any so called ‘superheroes’ involved. The choice is yours, really.” She sat up a bit to stretch her toned arms, but her eyes wandered over to Doris who was still actively scrounging through her drawers. “What are you doing over there?”

“I know you have it.” Doris mumbled, her actions not even so much as slowed by the sudden attention.

“I assure you I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Barbara smirked, the humourous tremor of a lie in her throat.

-our dm, before weve even started the game (via yourplayersaidwhat)

Another day, another stand-in

“E kore koe kei tupato.” Phobia shot back, her voice a steady growl.

Edgar’s own temper was just as quickly struck by Brett’s words and his blue eyes grew intense with rage. “You’re a fucking idiot, kid. Nice Star Wars references, by the way, they make you sound real smart. Not at all like you spent huge chunks of time holed away in someone’s basement rather than actually accomplishing anything in life. I’m sure the world will be glad when you’re dead. Angela was right, you are a nobody. You’ll slip nice and smooth through the cracks, and I’ll enjoy having a hand in that. I might even feel generous enough to let dear Angie have a swing or two at you. Now,” he reached into his shirt then and tugged on a cord around his neck until its length settled outside his clothing, revealing an iron coffin nail that hung at its end, “save it to say I actually do know what fae are. In fact, one of the other people Bree sent to us was also fae. We’ve had some time since her visit to crack open a few books. And might I say she was a just as eager to undermine your double without feeling the need to flagrantly insult the operation at hand and the people involved. Maybe she’s just as ready to get her own, but if the pay off is watching a threat burn out into nothing, well….really that’s just how people work out here anyway. We’re all here on some deal or another, after all.”

For once, Talia raised no argument against Edgar’s fury. After all, she didn’t care for the other man’s mouth much, and would it really be such an injury to Bree if this one died? She couldn’t decide, really, but it was certainly entertaining to watch Dr. Ciszko defend a female member of his team. She wondered if he realised it at all…..No, he definitely didn’t. 

Surprisingly, Brett began to laugh.

They just didn’t realize how fucked they were, did they?

“You think a little iron nail is gonna do shit for dick against what she’s got comin’ your way? Fuckin hell. You popped an implant in your lacky’s brain that I can explode, or did you forget? You must think you’re real clever, yeah? Think you can outsmart a woman who’s got the memories of an entire hivemind in her skull?” He frowned, turning abruptly to face Talia.

“Run whatever diagnostics you have here on this backwater timeline, and when you find the literal cyber demon her kid probably implanted on your intranet, good luck getting him out. She’s playing all of you for suckers and I’m tired of letting her move me along like a good little chess piece. You can either take the advice and knowledge I’m offerin’ up or trust the little half breed who’s scared to death of Bree to give you information she won’t be told and won’t ever possess. Your call.”

“You’re funny to think a single nail is all I have. Don’t ever underestimate me, boy. Even people that think nothing of me know better than that. And do remember that exploding Phobia’s brain will have very poor repercussions for you. Everyone’s got a weakness. And I’ve got more than enough people ready to find yours for me.”

Talia shrugged and sighed. She didn’t desire to give Edgar any more fuel, but sometimes things had to be said. “Dr. Ciszko is correct in his statements. I would not waste my time lying to you on his or his partners’ capabilities. Never assume an organisation lead by two geniuses, a practical God on Earth, an immortal master assassin, and Earth’s most powerful psychic is one that has but a single escape route. I do not appreciate your tone, nor do I think you very clever. Or perhaps Bree conveniently left some key details out of your reports. After all, you said she was using you. Why would she give you the whole truth on what you’re walking into? Regardless, I’m not interested in letting anyone here offer you their cell phones, even if they are already compromised. We have other methods you can use and your work will be very closely monitored. Cross me, and I’ll offer Bree any support I can to keep you right where she can see you.” 

Another day, another stand-in

“E kore koe kei tupato.” Phobia shot back, her voice a steady growl.

Edgar’s own temper was just as quickly struck by Brett’s words and his blue eyes grew intense with rage. “You’re a fucking idiot, kid. Nice Star Wars references, by the way, they make you sound real smart. Not at all like you spent huge chunks of time holed away in someone’s basement rather than actually accomplishing anything in life. I’m sure the world will be glad when you’re dead. Angela was right, you are a nobody. You’ll slip nice and smooth through the cracks, and I’ll enjoy having a hand in that. I might even feel generous enough to let dear Angie have a swing or two at you. Now,” he reached into his shirt then and tugged on a cord around his neck until its length settled outside his clothing, revealing an iron coffin nail that hung at its end, “save it to say I actually do know what fae are. In fact, one of the other people Bree sent to us was also fae. We’ve had some time since her visit to crack open a few books. And might I say she was a just as eager to undermine your double without feeling the need to flagrantly insult the operation at hand and the people involved. Maybe she’s just as ready to get her own, but if the pay off is watching a threat burn out into nothing, well....really that’s just how people work out here anyway. We’re all here on some deal or another, after all.”

For once, Talia raised no argument against Edgar’s fury. After all, she didn’t care for the other man’s mouth much, and would it really be such an injury to Bree if this one died? She couldn’t decide, really, but it was certainly entertaining to watch Dr. Ciszko defend a female member of his team. She wondered if he realised it at all.....No, he definitely didn’t. 

Another day, another stand-in

Phobia was the first to speak. “I don’t know what that was,” she said, “but I’m pretty sure it’s not a form of English I’ve heard before.”

Edgar snickered along with her, but quickly turned his attentions to Brett. “Do give me some credit, if only because no one else will in this awful place. I started this experiment long before Bree’s introduction into the Society and was perhaps overly eager to test it out. But I have spent countless hours on their construction. One can hardly blame me for wanting to see what the early prototypes can accomplish. And, at any rate, I’m also in charge of updating the security system to prevent against the wear and tear Bree’s Psionic signature provides. Once I’ve found the right piece to that puzzle, it’ll be child’s play to apply the same general method to the implants.”

“Yes, and in the meantime, Bree is almost never here.” Talia added. “Even when she bothers to pop into this world, she prefers managing her own affairs rather than being within the Society’s home base. That and we have no plans to have her involved with the experimental group in any missions. Even if we aren’t able to properly update the systems to fight against her, keeping everyone away from her is a simple enough task. And trust me to say that I will not tolerate any attempts to interfere with this particular project. Even an accidental spark will be indistinguishable from treason to me.”

“My Talia Translator tells me that means you can help if you want to, Brett. But if you screw up she’ll hang you from a lamp post with a love letter to Bree tied to your dirty parts.” Edgar chuckled. 

“Fantasy of yours, boss?” Phobia asked, humour returning yet again to her narrow face.

“Gonna follow my normal routine when I’m under interrogation and plead the Fifth.”

“By that you mean squeal like a pig?” Talia shot back.

“Ohh, well if you ask nicely, maybe.”

Another day, another stand-in

The room kept for the most part silent as Brett pieced together his rant. Phobia let out a few disgusted hisses and Edgar laughed at the tail end of it, but ultimately no one humoured Brett’s words. 

“Yes, we purposely left one of the more at risk subjects out of this meeting. Truly, Phobia is here as a representative of the group. Her brain took to the implants with relatively little resistance. We speculate that it has to do with the fact that she already has mind-based Psionic abilities, Her brain is most primed for communication, despite not specifically holding telepathy.” Talia explained, her hands at last allowing the papers to drop back onto the desk and away from her face. “That is what I am to interpret from this report, isn’t it, Doctor?”

Edgar sighed and waved a dismissive hand. “Why, yes, Talia. Though I assumed I wouldn’t have to reassure you on your reading comprehension. Don’t worry, you’re getting it just fine.”

“Why do I even try?”

“Why, indeed?”

Talia cleared her throat and continued with her briefing, despite her desire to do anything but. “Any bugs you conveniently left out?”

“Not any more. That is, they’re not conveniently left out seeing as you’ve asked about them. They’d have only been convenient secrets if they could have remained so, don’t ya think? Anyway, I have to remove and repair the one inside of Sands’ head. But I expected that would be the case. Guy’s a nut. He was bound to short circuit something sooner or later.”

“How long will that take?” 

“Ehh....depends on how many hands I can get to help me keep him down. Kind of hard to keep a guy that can turn into a shadow strapped to a bed. Especially when he refuses to take his little shadow suit off. I don’t even want to think about whether or not he bathes.”

“He smells a little odd. I betcha if he does bathe, he wears the suit in the tub.” Phobia supplied, a small grin lightening her features.

“Oooh.” Barbara laughed. “I’d believe it. I think I’ve seen him sleep in it before.”

“He might be too afraid. You know the bathroom’s kind of bright.”

“It’s settled, then.” Edgar said, pointing a pen at the two women. “We’ll make room in the budget for a black rubber ducky so he’ll feel less intimidated by the big scary lights and the incredibly dangerous soap.”

Talia merely sighed at the lot of them and tucked her face firmly into her palms.

The swimming pool on the Titanic is still full..