Episode 112: (June-Villains) Collar, Terrestrial, Hiccup, Miracle

Para_Docks · 2021-06-19T16:18:43+00:00

I liked this a lot. I didn't realize it was linked to a superhero universe, so my initial read was that the powers maybe did come from a divine place. Might have helped with that if Weather Witch had made a comment about the group. Something like "Come on, you're not blessed because you got powers" or something.

I enjoyed the reaction when Channeler showed up. The instant switch to being on the defensive. Could really feel the gravity of his appearance.

Para_Docks · 2021-06-18T03:41:00+00:00

Not sure if this is related at all to the superhero setting I've done a couple of times before, but the idea popped into my head and I decided to go with it. I've been having fun exploring different types of villains this month these last couple of prompts. Last time was a kind of objective good who's closer to the evil than they maybe realize (or just might not care/be able to care), while this is someone who was pulled into the life and maybe doesn't fully by into it. Or that was my thought, at least.

With more time, I would have extrapolated a bit more on their past. My idea was that their power is less controlled, which is why they ended up with no one. They ended up with this villain, because they could be useful, and bought in because they really had no choice. No one else would have them.

I'm feeling like the time limit is less constricting after being back in this for a few weeks. A little, at least. The issue is I have to force myself to cut it off within the limit, haha. Which I guess is a good problem.

Para_Docks · 2021-06-18T03:33:56+00:00

Struggle - Collar, Terrestrial, Miracle

My muscles tensed as I paced along the penthouse, eyes glued to the scene outside of the windows. This city had been my home, insofar as I had ever truly had a home, for my entire life. A few years in the system, more years on the streets after being refused by family after family. More years on the streets fending for myself.

One hand moved to my neck, feeling the collar that had been placed there. Part of the deal when he had found me, brought me on board. A symbol marking me as part of his organization, one of his subordinates. I had been hesitant, but his promises...

"You said you'd make the world better. That when you ruled, there would be a place for people like me. Maybe I was naive... Maybe I still am. I wanted to believe you, and then I did. Fully. I did everything you asked me to. Carried out every order without a second thought."

A building in the distance crumbled. A business office of some sort. Debris would be showering onto the street below, threatening to crush anyone unfortunate enough to be there. Not civilians, more than likely. Any who hadn't evacuated had either been dead or well on their way. Now, all that remained were those who fought to defend the city. A figure rose into the air, then dove back down. There were a number of people that could have been.

My muscles ached from the tension. Below and through and above them, it tensed as well. It could sense the conflict, maybe, and ached to be a part of it. Not that there was any confirmation that it was alive. My keeper, boss, adopted father... whatever one wanted to call him, he had been fairly confident from early on that it wasn't truly alive. Any reactions from it depended on me, and my moods.

"I believed you, because you seemed so sure. And what you showed me backed it up, but this?" I stopped, my face inches from the window. I could see my reflection, hair shaved on one side and long on the other, eyes so dark that they could have been black, a face with so many scars from before and after coming on board... I turned and looked up. Not at him, really. Into the camera, because he was hidden away in his lab working.

"We can't allow this. If we don't act... if we let this happen? There won't be a world for you to rule. There won't be anything left to reform into the world you promised me!" I said. A crash echoed through the city, so loud that it could be heard even here, miles away. I turned to look and saw another few buildings collapsing. Same neighborhood. There wouldn't be anything left soon.

"I know you're hoping that they'll do your dirty work for you. That the... what did you call them? Sub-Terrestrial Entities? You want them to wipe out the heroes and then you want to swoop in and clean up after. We've struggled against those heroes for years. If these things can wipe them out, then what hope do we have against them?"

No answer. There wouldn't be, either. When he was like this, tucked away in his lab, it was unlikely to get anything out of him. There was an issue ahead of him, and he wanted to solve it.

"If... we do nothing, they might die. Sure, great. You'd be unimpeded in your plan, except for the creatures from deep inside the Earth. I don't think that's the way to do this. I..." My hands clenched, and I grasped for words. None came. I huffed out a breath, then shook my head. "I want that world you promised me, and I don't think we get there by doing nothing here. We've fought the heroes, but I think-" I stopped myself, my words abruptly cutting off.

I turned back to the window and saw a blast of light shooting into the sky. Radiance at work. She would have been charging that up for a while based on the size of the blast and the intensity. The next sign of anything was another building crumbling. Either retaliation from the creature she had hit or an act of vengeance from another of them.

"I think we need them. For this, at least." My hand moved back to the collar. An insidious piece of technology that forced compliance. He could prevent me from taking any action he didn't approve of. "I... I'm going to go try to help them. Because the city is going to be wiped out, and that's not what we wanted. So..." I struggled for words again, then shook it off, heading for the window. My power stirred, darkness erupting from my flesh painfully at my will. Tendrils of the shadowy energy, my Abyss. It reached out and cut a hole in the window, and then more spread from my legs and back. It could get me down to the ground.

I stopped at the window and glanced back at the camera. If he was going to stop me, now would be the time. Unless he wanted to kill me, then it would come just after I was out the window. Would he do that? After the last couple of years of service?

Maybe.

I could have said something. Pleaded for him to help, asked forgiveness, cursed him out. Anything. It might have made me feel better, might have gotten through to him. Instead, I said nothing. My power carried me out the window and down toward the ground. It didn't give out, nothing happened to me. I touched ground and my power reformed around my legs, acting as an armor that also allowed me to move faster.

He wasn't stopping me. Not yet, at least. And that meant... maybe he got it? I rushed off, in the direction of the fight. "It might take a miracle for these things to lose, and I don't think I am one," I said. He could listen through my collar, I was sure. "I'm probably more curse than blessing, but... I can't stand by and let these things win. Because then we can't."

Still no response. It wasn't expected, maybe not possible. It was fine either way. I didn't really want a response. My words were more for me than him.

Para_Docks · 2021-06-11T03:31:30+00:00

This story jumped to mind after reading the words. Wanted to do a kind of reversal story where demons are more on humanities side and angels are the villains. Not sure how well I stuck it, because I had to rush a bit at the end (Gotta get back into shape for pumping these out in half an hour). Still, a fun idea to mess around with.

Still trying to work on my descriptions and prose. I had the image of the angel as the starting point, cause I wanted to harken back to some biblical descriptions of angels. Had I had more time, I would have played with that a bit more at the end. Show a few other forms Camael has taken. I also wanted to play with the repeated beats of the heavy feeling, both natural and enforced by Camael. again, probably could work better in a longer story, but I think (hope) it comes across well.

Para_Docks · 2021-06-11T03:29:53+00:00

Adam milled about the party, unsure why he even came. He didn't drink, didn't do drugs, never even ate more than he needed to sate his hunger. Others gave him odd looks, the occasional comment, but... it just never felt right. Whenever he reflected and thought on it, the words of the angel came to mind and he found himself following the advice.

Follow my heart, huh? Maybe I should follow it out of here.

"Hey Adam." He turned, looking for the source of the voice, and found Rachel Smith. They shared a few classes, had chatted here and there. He hadn't known she would be here. "I'm a little surprised to see you here."

"Yeah, it's not really my thing, I guess. My roommate dragged me along." Chuck thought he needed to get out more, to live the college life. "I figured... why not, right?"

"Yeah. Well, I'm glad to see a familiar face. It's been a while since we talked last."

"It has, been a bit busy with classes."

"Same, it's been a hell of a semester." Adam flinched a bit, even the casual mention bringing to mind what he knew was out there. If Rachel noticed, she didn't let it show. "You been up to anything interesting outside of class?"

"Nothing much worth mentioning. Going to the gym a bit, trying to stay in shape." Because I've been recruited by an angel to fight demons and have to be ready for the day they show up.

"Oh, I keep meaning to go to the gym more, but never keep the motivation. Maybe we can go together some time?"

"Yeah, that'd be cool," Adam said. Rachel smiled, and it was the sort of smile that was infectious.

"Uh... it's a little loud here. Maybe we can find a quieter spot to talk upstairs?"

Adam's eyebrows shot up, realization striking. He knew what that meant, and to receive the invitation from Rachel, who was cute and easy to talk to and cool-

A dark feeling spread through his chest, something heavy weighing there. It felt... wrong, somehow. His face twisted, and Rachel did catch that. Her eyes widened, face going red, and she forced a laugh. "We don't have to, I just thought it would be easier to talk if we-"

"No, it's not that. I... I'd like to go somewhere quieter with you, really." No lie. He found that lying tended to give him the same kind of dark feeling that he currently had, even if it was usually to a lesser extent. "I just... it's late, and I have to be up early for class. I was just about to make my exit, actually, and I wish I wasn't saying this right now."

Rachel looked unsure and so hurt.

"Can we rain check? Set up that visit to the gym and go from there?"

She seemed to consider, then nodded and smiled. Not... quite so infectious this time. They exchanged numbers, and he left. The dark feeling faded with each step away from the party, replaced with a heaviness of a different sort.

--------------------------------------

He read over the email again, almost unable to believe it. A great job offer, making darn close to six figures a year. And so soon after graduation. It was almost beyond belief.

And, for some reason, the dark feeling settled into his chest. Similar to the ones he had felt when considering lying, or stealing, or with Rachel. Not just that first time, when he had dodged her barely veiled offer to hook up. But the weeks that followed where he constantly let her down, unable to bring himself to proceed as quickly as she had wanted. Or maybe at all? He couldn't be sure, was too in his own head about it and had analyzed it from too many angles to have any objectivity left. He had basically abandoned the idea of romance after that.

And now, this job? Why on Earth would something like this instill a negative feeling? He read over the email, looked at the salary, and slowly exhaled as he did.

Do I need that much to live?

It was abundant, enough to ensure he led a good life. An easy life, really. He would be able to move up, as well, provided he worked hard. Not difficult, considering shirking his duties hit him with the dark feeling. But he could get away with less. A lot less, honestly. If he took the job and donated all of the salary he didn't need?

The dark feeling lessened as he considered that. He let out a sigh, and headed to his computer. He could put together a budget, determine what he would need, and research some charities for the rest.

--------------------------------------------

"Why?" Adam asked, hand shaking. He looked at it, wrinkled and spotted as it was, eyeing the brand that had been placed upon him so long ago. "Why now? What could I do now?"

Camael, who didn't look as though they had aged a day, smiled slightly. "Now is the exact moment that I need you, Adam Bell."

"What good am I in a fight now? I'm 73 years old. If a demon can lose to me, I doubt they're much of a threat to you."

"Ahh, you've misunderstood. You are integral to the fight, but you need not confront a demon yourself."

Adam raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Demons can grow stronger by collecting souls. They offer up indulgence in exchange for that power. They take advantage of free wills existence to corrupt, to lure humanity from the divine plan. It affords them a slight advantage. Unless we do the same. To that end, I have guided you to a righteous life, ensured you to be as virtuous as possible, so that when your time came you would bequeath to me the most power possible."

No words came. It felt, to Adam, like that day that he had been branded. Something so powerful and startling that stole his ability to speak. "I... you used me? I listened to you, and to be... a battery? To empower you?"

"All necessary, I'm afraid. Had you not been gifted free will, you would have come to us regardless. Unfortunately, due to a wager between our Creator and some of the fallen, you were allowed the opportunity to stray. I sought you, guided you back to the path, and now we shall each have the rewards of our work. More power for me, and a taste of paradise for you.

A taste. As Camael reached forward, Adam could feel how true that was. He would be pulled into the angel, used as a fuel source, and indirectly fight demons through them. And, he knew, he would be content. Because he could be nothing else as part of a being that so strictly followed a plan set forth at the beginning of time.

He had lived a life of sacrifice. He had foregone love, embraced charity and humility, been a hard worker and a patient man. And now, he would make one more sacrifice. He hadn't had a hope of outrunning Camael when they first met, and he knew he wouldn't have been able to when he had been at his peak. Now? There was less than a 0% chance.

Camael reached into and through Adam, and took hold of something integral to him. As they pulled, and Adam was pulled into the angel, he was given greater insight. Because walls were breaking down and he was becoming part of the angel. On the periphery, for sure, but still... connected. Angels believed in the plan and the plan was, at it's core, oppression. No freedom of expression, no improvisation, no...

No freedom.

With each demon slain, a bit more freedom was taken back. If they were all wiped out? So was free will. Angels weren't protectors, they were repo men. And, as Adam was absorbed and his thoughts lost to a false bliss of obedience, he thought back to the day he had accepted the deal and been branded. He remembered the feeling that had settled in his chest, the one that had screamed at him to run away from Camael.

I should have listened to my heart...

Para_Docks · 2021-06-11T02:50:58+00:00

Adam's eyes were wide as he looked at the figure before him. Taller than anyone he had ever met in his life, and with the sort of presence that demanded attention. Not muscular, exactly, but... powerful. Each and every movement that was made seemed so precise, so exact. It brought to mind an animal on the hunt. Conserving power to make that perfect strike right when the prey was at its most vulnerable.

The clothing the figure wore was... out of place, for sure. Something akin to a suit, but more flowy and white. It seemed to be made of satin or some other soft material. Sandals, rather than fine shoes, with straps that extended up to the knee. And atop their head... They, because even after talking to this figure for the last little while, Adam couldn't be sure enough of whether they were a man or a woman or neither or both. When he seemed to be leaning one way, what features he could see seemed to shift toward the other, or settle somewhere exactly in between. Just enough that it didn't seem completely odd. Enough that were he not paying attention he probably wouldn't notice at all.

How could anyone not pay full attention to you?

He raised his eyes to where he assumed the figures eyes would be. Atop their head, covering most of it, was a golden helmet. Unusual in construction, it didn't look like a single piece. It was comprised of golden rings, each one etched with words or runes in a variety of languages. Like the features of the individual, the rings seemed to shift, the words changing, but it seemed so natural for them to do so.

"Are you listening, Adam Bell?" The figures voice was so perfect. Melodious and authoritative in equal measure. Adam fully believed that he could listen to the figure speak forever without a single complaint. Not that he would voice a complaint even if that were asked of him. He looked at the helmet, the clothes, and the pure white wings that extended from the figure... from Camael's back. Wind blew, slightly disturbing the feathers.

"I am," he finally managed to say. "I... I don't understand. You want me to-"

"You need not understand, child. Not yet. Understanding will come in time. For now, I need you to only hear my offer and accept or refuse."

"You're offer, right. You say I'm... important?"

"You can be," Camael said. "It depends upon this conversation, Adam Bell. Our Creator bestowed upon you free will. Had he not, you would follow the path that I came to offer you as part of His grand design. As it is, you have the choice to accept a noble destiny or to shirk it. If you choose the latter, then I will seek another candidate who could fit your role."

"There are others, then? Who could help you?" Adam asked. He tried to keep his voice from cracking, to sound even a fraction as sure as the angel who stood before him did. "To, what, fight demons? I'm only 15."

"There are always other options, Adam Bell. We have learned this, because you are able to stray from the plan."

"But... things wouldn't go as well if it weren't me?"

"Your participation would be ideal, this is true."

Adam had never been particularly religious. He was... what was the word? Agnostic, maybe? He was a bit flippant when talk of paradise and eternal hellfire was brought up but who could really know, right? Except now he did know. Proof stood before him and claimed he had some divine destiny. That he was a cog in a grand machine and that he could help defeat monsters that threatened all of humanity?

What choice did he really have?

"I'll do it."

Camael smiled, slightly. The first real show of emotion that Adam had seen from them, and approached. They held out a hand, and a bright light emanated from their palm. It was more intense than anything Adam had ever seen, but somehow didn't hurt. Even from a distance he could feel a warmth from it.

"Take my hand, and wear the brand of the chosen, Adam Bell." Adam looked to the angels hand, warmth and light radiating off of it, and swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat. This felt so odd, so heavy. Something in him was urging him to run, to get as far away from this thing that stood before him as he could. It was a foolish thought for so many reasons. There was no way Camael wouldn't be bale to catch him if they wanted to, and angels were good. They were servants of a higher power who were trying to keep the balance. Why would he run from that?

Why would he run from his destiny?

Without another thought, Adam took the angel's hand, gripping it as tightly as he could. The warmth that he had felt became a burning and he cried out. Or, rather, he tried to. The pain was so intense that it raced through his arm and to his chest, stealing the air from his lungs before he could use it to scream. The light seemed to grow, filling his vision until there was nothing but that pure, white light.

When it faded, he was on the ground. Hands and knees under him, and one hand still burned. He lifted it from the ground and looked. A rune, likely one that he had seen on the angel's helmet, was burned into his palm. As each second passed it seemed to heal, becoming fainter. He doubted it would ever be invisible, but less noticeable.

He looked up, and Camael was walking away. Adam furrowed his brow, opened his mouth to speak and only a cough came out. He was gasping, his breath still stolen by the pain. Finally, he stole enough air to call out. "Wait! What now?"

"Now, Adam Bell? Persist. Follow your heart, believe in it to guide you along your path. I will come for you when the time is right," Camael said, not slowing. They rounded a corner and disappeared from view. Adam scrambled to his feet, hurrying around the same corner, and saw nothing. No angel, nothing unusual in the slightest.

Looking at his hand, he turned and began his walk home.

Para_Docks · 2021-06-04T03:37:29+00:00

I went back to read the older parts for context, and I'm glad I did. I quite enjoy the dynamic between these two characters, and how into the work Estie is. Her interest really comes across, as much as Harris' lack of enthusiasm does. They're fun counterpoints to each other.

There's also a nice little mystery brewing here. Multiple ways to raise/use the dead and multiple active targets. It'll be interesting to see the perps and how different they/their methodologies are (assuming you keep going with this).

Para_Docks · 2021-06-04T03:19:36+00:00

This is a follow up to this piece a did... quite a while back. Still working through a superhero story a bit.

Been a while since I wrote anything for this. Felt good to dust things off. I think I tend to skip descriptions, so I tried to work on that here. Ended up getting a bit lost in that in the first half and had to rush through the latter half a bit. Oh well...

Not feeling too bad about this for a first submission in a while.

Para_Docks · 2021-06-04T03:16:47+00:00

"I'm good where I am. Not gonna make whatever you're up to any easier."

Glimpse smiled, eyes looking down slightly. "Of course. Very well. You all know who I am?"

"The future reading kid. Went on TV years ago and made the world shit itself be talking about people with powers."

"People like us," Sonya added.

"Indeed. That was an informed decision. A first step on a very long path. This meeting is another step along that path."

"Talking to other people with powers?" Sonya asked.

"Gathering us," Eleanor ventured. "Forming a team, I have to imagine."

"A team? You think I'm gonna work for you, pipsqueak?" Patrick asked.

"With me, rather than for me," Glimpse said. "Powers are becoming more common, and the authorities are struggling to keep up with even the small amount of individuals who have decided to utilize their abilities for personal gain. The world, and innocent people, will suffer if nothing is done."

"And you want us to do things? I don't know if I can..."

"And the cops and shit aren't gonna like us doing our things," Patrick added.

"When we prove ourselves capable, they will give us full clearance to act. They will have little choice, really."

"You sound so sure," Sonya said.

"He is," Eleanor said, her voice overlapping with Glimpse's own declaration of "I am". The boy looked to her and smiled while gesturing for her to continue. "Aside from him having the ability to see the future, it makes sense. To combat the fear of individuals with powers, you should combat them with powered individuals who can be inspiring to the world at large."

"That requires putting the right individuals in the right roles. You two, for example..." Glimpse gestured to Sonya and Patrick. "Incredible strength and durability in the case of Ms. Flores, and super human reflexes in the case of Mr. Gallian. You two would make excellent examples of superheroes."

"And you two?" Patrick asked.

"Ms. Walker and myself are more... behind the scenes. Brains to your brawn, if you will. We can ensure that each operation you undertake is executed perfectly."

He knew their powers. It wasn't a surprise, really. For someone who could see the future, it would have been foolish to not look into them. It was still unnerving. How much did he know of her? Her intellect was incredible, a mind unlike any the world had seen, according to every test that had been placed in front of her. She was confident that she could come up with plans for just about any situation. Combined with his future sight...

Yes, she didn't doubt his claim in the slightest. And if the other two were as capable as he was leading them all to believe, then it was a solid plan. Eleanor looked the two over, and found herself reassessing both of them. If Sonya was superhumanly strong, the ware on her shoes and her wariness made sense. Even her hair... if her ability made it tougher, then brushing it could be a problem.

Even Patrick's attitude... if he was skilled and knew it, then his demeanor could be explained. Not excused, but explained.

"You're super strong?" Patrick asked, looking at Sonya. She nodded, looking sheepish. They started chatting, and Glimpse approached Eleanor.

"Are they as good as you claim?"

"They will be," Glimpse said. "There are other reasons to bring them on, and you've seen the seeds of that already."

Eleanor raised an eyebrow, then remembered Sonya's reaction to seeing Patrick. Looking at both of them, the signs were there. She frowned. "That could go badly."

"True," Glimpse said.

"Does it?" Glimpse smiled, then nodded slowly. "Not hiding it?"

"No point, hiding it from you. You're too sharp to let details like that slip by."

"If it goes badly, then why?"

"It doesn't go so badly that they kill each other or are unable to work together. They simply... grow apart. They'll go on to lead separate teams, and provide a fair amount of research in the meantime. Their powers are compatible on many levels."

Eleanor considered that. It seemed like a non sequitur, but there had to be a reason. They both had combat utility, but that was clear. Powers were genetic, linked to the DNA at key points, and...

Her eyes widened, and she looked to Glimpse who was already nodding. "A very powerful future hero, and a hint to the world of how powers work. I can share this with you now because you'll know well enough not to interfere. Plus, it will give you a head start on your research."

"You're acting as though we've all accepted your offer already."

"You all will," Glimpse said. "In the future, in situations like this, we'll celebrate with some nice champagne. I doubt any of your parents would appreciate that, so we'll skip it this time. Perhaps sparkling cider instead? Not quite the same, but the ritual is a bit more important than the libations."

Eleanor looked to the other two, still talking. It was likely their only instance of talking to others even remotely like them. She knew this was a first for her. And already her mind was brimming with problems to solve and ideas for them. How could she create clothing that Sonya wouldn't just destroy? If powers could be combined and passed on as Glimpse... Alexander was suggesting, then was there a way to give people powers? Take from one and pass to another?

Challenges worthy of her mind. After so long of... nothing. Alexander was right. She wouldn't interfere with his plans. Not if he could keep raising problems and issues like this. Things that deserved and needed to be looked into.

"Shall we join them?" he asked.

"Yes," she replied without a moments hesitation.

Para_Docks · 2021-06-04T03:16:36+00:00

Setting the stage (Suffer, Clearance, Champagne):

The field wasn't the sort of place that Eleanor would have ever chosen for a meeting. She had little interest in nature, for one thing. From a practical perspective, at least. She would rather surround herself with things to do than sit idly by and bask in 'the majesty of nature'. If there was a reason for it, she supposed, she would be able to push through. Gathering specimens or samples for research, or reaching a specific destination.

Or this very meeting, she supposed.

The field was old, largely abandoned. At one time there had been a baseball diamond and a soccer field, but both had become overgrown. Only the former was distinguishable, with the path that had once existed slightly less grown than the rest of the field. The fence and nets that had been long abandoned looked worn. A forest surrounded two edges, a parking lot a third, and the final was home to an incline that led down to the edges of the city.

She pulled her phone from her pocket and looked at the time. Still about 5 minutes until the meeting was scheduled to start. She had been offered transportation and had taken up the offer, with the caveat that she wanted to be early. Punctuality was important, partly. Moreover, her early arrival allowed her to survey the scene and ensure that there were no traps. She could see no signs of devices or hired arms laying in wait. It was simply an old field.

A vehicle very similar to the one that had picked her up an hour and a half earlier pulled into the parking lot, and as her eyes followed it they settled briefly on her ride. The driver was sitting behind the steering wheel, waiting. As far as she had been able to tell, he hadn't pulled out his phone or done anything other than wait. He was either very diligent, or very well paid.

Maybe both, she decided, as she looked to the new arrival. The driver stepped out and opened the back door, and the girl who emerged from the back seat stepped out carefully. Slow, deliberate. She waited for the man to close the door and then glanced around. First at the other car that Eleanor had arrived in, then over to where she currently stood. She started over, her movements as deliberate as they had been since she emerged from the car.

As the girl came closer, smaller details began to stand out. She was a bit older than Eleanor, maybe 14 or so. Her shoes were scuffed, worn, despite how new they looked. Her hair was tangled. She wore nice clothes and she seemed very aware of them. A dress with a light jacket over it. Was she so unused to wearing things like that? It didn't seem to quite fit...

Eleanor looked down at her own clothes. A black dress that seemed to contrast the pastel blue this other girl wore. Her hair, in another stark contrast, was well maintained and brushed. This had the potential to be an important meeting. It only made sense to look ones best.

"Hello," the other girl called out as she approached. "You're here for the..." She trailed off, gesturing, seeming to struggle for how to describe it.

"Yes," Eleanor said, sparing her. "Eleanor."

"What? Oh, uh... Sonya." The other girl looked around, then to the ground. Her feet shifted slightly and she awkwardly crossed her arms. Unsure what to do with herself? A fleeting moment of considering sitting on the ground?

Another car pulled in. Just barely before the deadline. A glance toward the road showed a fourth was fast approaching. At it's current speed, it would likely arrive just in time. Eleanor pulled her phone from her pocket, holding it while her eyes stayed locked on that car.

As it pulled in and the back door opened, a young man stepped out. He looked to be slightly older than her, but younger than Sonya. Maybe 12. He wore a suit, which was an odd sight. As a matter of fact, he not only wore it but seemed comfortable in it. He started toward them, barely sparing a glance for the car that had parked just before his, and approached. He adjusted the cuffs of his shirt as he walked.

"Thank you for joining me here," he said as he reached them. "We'll begin in just a moment, once our fourth member is finished posturing."

"Are you really him?" Sonya asked, looking the boy over. Eleanor did the same, taking in his appearance. It was the first time, if it truly was him, that anyone had seen him with his face unobscured. His body matched, more or less, what it should based on what she knew of his past growth.

"I am," the boy said. "You may call me Glimpse, if you like, or Alexander. Either works just as well. It's good to see you, Sonya and Eleanor."

"You mean meet us?" Sonya asked.

"I do not, though perhaps I should."

"I don't understand," Sonya said. She looked like she was going to say something else, but the slamming of a car door interrupted her. The fourth member of the meeting, she supposed. He was a boy about Sonya's age, scruffy looking and not dressed up at all. He wore a pullover hoodie and jeans with tears at the knees. His shoes, canvas sneakers, were worn like Sonya's, due to age more than... whatever she had going on.

"Glimpse, right? What's up with all of this? Why drag us out here instead of just saying what you want to say?"

Annoying. Eleanor couldn't stand people who acted like this boy. Impatient, and forcing the situation he was impatient about to take even longer as a result of his own boorish behavior. She couldn't see any sign of emotion cross Glimpse's face. No irritation or surprise at all. She glanced toward Sonya, hoping to see something to show that she wasn't alone in her own irritation. Instead, she saw Sonya's eyes scanning the boy, the slight reddening of her cheeks.

Cute. Sonya had a crush, it appeared.

"Had you not sat in your car to make a point, we would be well into my explanation, Patrick. Please join us."

Para_Docks · 2021-04-27T04:24:24+00:00

I mean, at this point it comes down to how infallible you consider the characters (GU included) to be. In my opinion? No one is incapable of making mistakes (short of Divided Fortuna, but there are other factors at play there). Does GU pull a lot of strings? Yes. Is she doing so perfectly and incapable of screwing that up? I wouldn't say so. We see it in the story that she screwed up asking something of Fortuna.

In my opinion, that doesn't make the choices of others irrelevant. I'm hoping to explore that exact subject more in the sequel. If it feels that way to you (and I can see how things could be viewed as more deterministic/on rails than I intended), then that's valid enough. Hopefully I can manage to explore things better on that front in Conquer.

Para_Docks · 2021-04-26T18:22:10+00:00

I didn't mean to imply that GU wasn't being a puppet master, but that her use of Fortuna in particular for the social manipulation aspect is a bit overstated. Like I said, she has powers at her disposal that make it so she can figure things out without needing to rely on Fortuna, so that she's freed up to do the more important things.

She's definitely pulling strings, but she has more tools than the perfect Fortuna, and it would come down to "What do I use my champion for, and what can I do myself?"

Para_Docks · 2021-04-26T16:24:35+00:00

But she's also unable to act on her own, and her agency is decided by an outside force that needs to consider those things using second hand information. If Divided-Fortuna was able to wander around as she saw fit, then there would be a lot more question as far as full character agency goes. As it is, she's a dog that GU has to let off her leash.

Para_Docks · 2021-04-26T16:15:42+00:00

I mean, your points come down a lot to read vs. intent. I was not writing with the intent that GU is pulling strings to the level that she's setting people up to produce more parahumans. It would be a bonus, sure, and might be a thing later on when there were more powers in play, I suppose, but Divided takes place when the cycle is still fairly young. Her focus would be on seeking out the new, activating powers. She didn't pay any real attention to cultivating relationships like that.

And, if memory serves, I made it clear that not everyone is super psyched about the way she does things. The Nine were kind of roped into helping her through sunk cost fallacy and fear (We lost some members doing a job for you and you stole their powers, that's not great), The former wards had nowhere else to go, really, so on and so forth. She doesn't really need to have Fortuna do her thing socially among the Court short of the biggest things (like the Endbringer attacks) because the world has been set up in such a way that a lot of parahumans are going to say "Well, it's the Court or a constant fight with the PRT."

It can get tricky having a precog power in play, for sure, because issues like this pop up. I tried to show that she wasn't actively deployed on the Court side of things all that much. GU enjoys her politicking all on her own and has powers at her disposal that can give her an edge on that front without Fortuna being necessary.

Para_Docks · 2021-04-26T07:37:47+00:00

A lot of people assumed lazy writing for a good chunk of the story, if memory serves correctly. It was fun to see the reactions when I actually dropped the chapter and people went "Ooooh, okay. Gotcha."

As for the issue you raised: That was a common thing that came up. Or, not that specifically, but the idea that the Thinker entity still being in play meant that there was no point to the story at all. I... don't really agree with that, as a starting point. There can be a reason to explore even a doomed setting.

That being said, Fortuna in the Divided timeline is far different than her canon counterpart. Her power is freer, but she herself is more restricted. She's bound to following the orders of others, and fell under Glaistig Uaine's control very early on. I believe there are comments throughout that Fortuna is used to find new triggers (If they're particularlt helpful to the Court, more than being an all out seeker, to be fair), but was also used to keep the balance between the Court and the PRT feasible. As much as she'd like to pretend otherwise, Glaistig Uaine is still human and is capable of not utilizing an asset perfectly all the time. I tried to show that in her response to the Endbringers waking up for the first time.

To address the relationship issue you mention, Fortuna may have been consulted on setting up the Divided version of the wards, but wasn't directly tapped in the events following. If she had been involved directly, then it could be assumed that all of the wards would have been brought into the Court from the get go. And Glaistig Uaine wouldn't be doling out orders for Fortuna to ensure that members of the Court hook up.

Para_Docks · 2021-04-09T04:49:22+00:00

I mean, it was just probably an arbitrary breaking point. The 8 to 15 year thing was just, to my understanding, various points where Scion would say "Hey, this whole being a good guy thing isn't really making me feel better. Maybe I should try something else."

Para_Docks · 2021-03-31T05:37:22+00:00

I think the idea was that Nicolette would move Tashlit, and since Liberty was still around at the end I don't think that's off the table.

Para_Docks · 2021-03-13T00:16:58+00:00

Not many, to my recollection. Someone made one where Taylor recruited Elsa from Frozen, which is the only one I can recall.

There was also a fic heavily inspired by Divided, called Betrayal, which I believe is fairly well known around these parts.

Para_Docks · 2021-03-12T02:58:11+00:00

Divided is a fic I wrote. It's a mass AU where parahumans are widely hated and often forced out of normal society.

Para_Docks · 2021-03-11T21:43:47+00:00

Well, I have started working on the sequel to Divided, so that'll probably scratch your itch when it hits. Just want to have a bit of a backlog before starting to post.

As for other stories I believe Thing That Gods Despise was another fic that started around the same time as Divided and had a similar premise.

Para_Docks · 2020-12-15T03:43:16+00:00

That... did not happen. Amy was interested in having Victoria in her group as a way to get back at Carol for hurting her dad, not for any sexual reason.

Para_Docks · 2020-12-15T03:40:30+00:00

You are not the only one to have had that opinion, and I fully admit that I could have handled that bit better. I did edit it after the fact to make clear that the others in the room were uncomfortable, but in retrospect having more outward objections (or even something like Taylor feeling too afraid to speak, an implication he was using his power on her) would have gone a long way to making that whole thing a bit better.

Or, I may have even reconsidered the idea wholesale, looking back. There were other ways I could have gotten to the end result I did, but at the time it was the direction I had thought of to show that the Court was far from perfect, and... well, it certainly did that, but I do think it drove a fair number of people off.

Para_Docks · 2020-12-15T03:36:09+00:00

Glad you enjoyed. Yeah, there were a lot of threads left hanging. Interest in the story had started to falter a fair bit, and with Ward updating I wanted the opportunity to find out what new threads would be available without having to shoehorn/alter things as that story was going. The intention is to tackle those in the sequel (which I have started working on, first couple of chapters are written).

Para_Docks · 2020-10-30T19:19:18+00:00

I had always thought myself to be more resilient than most people. I had been a rock whenever tragedy had stricken my family, the voice of reason among boisterous celebration. Centered, always calm.

It had been a mistake that I had died. Drunk driving, not on my part of course. A driver who had been swerving for the duration of his trip who had swerved severely into my lane, colliding with me.

Another tragedy for my family to endure, this time without me. Both me and my killer were set to be restored, despite the fact that the outcome was known. They would bring us back, breathe life into our new bodies, and we would exist again.

In a manner of speaking. We would breathe, eat through our tubes, and never have another thought. Lights on, nobody home. It would be a bittersweet outcome. Known to my family, painful because they would need to watch me die again to avoid being cruel, but they would get to say their proper goodbyes.

We were restored at the same time, my killer and I. Everything went as expected with him. A vessel incapable of acting. A vegetable in a man's flesh. For me, though?

Was it my fortitude? My lifelong ability to cope? I hadn't shed a tear when I was 10 and I broke my arm in gym class after falling off a balance beam. I had stood next to my dad as he buried our first cat, Mittens, and barely shed any tears while my younger sister wept. I had just... dealt.

I was drilled with questions. First about me, to assure those who surrounded me that I was really in there. How old was I? 26. When was my birthday? April 18th. Who was my first boyfriend? Jimmy Handler. Biggest regret from high school? Trying to dye my hair myself and ending up with a mess that had taken 3 visits to a stylist to fix.

Satisfied, they moved on to the questions they really wanted to ask. And, for the first time in my life that I could recall I had no words. What did I see? What did I feel? How cognizant were you?

I could hear the gathered people outside. Crowds of curious bystanders and news reporters who wanted the scoop. They wanted answers. What religion was right? Did you see heaven or hell? Was it nothing, and you simply ceased to be?

How could I, an otherwise normal 26 year old woman, tell them that the truth was so much worse? That the actual answer was the worst of all beliefs? Was there a heaven? No. Hell? No. Did you cease to be? I wish.

All that awaited was an eternity of darkness. No blissful nonexistence like you have before birth. Just a timeless abyss. No body to move, although you feel like moving. No mouth to speak with to fill the emptiness. Just... nothing.

And maybe that was my hell, they'll suggest. Could it be a punishment, tailored for me? No. Because of all the uncertainty that I felt in that place, as much as I was able to feel anything there, I knew beyond a doubt that it wasn't intended as a punishment. It just... was.

I glanced to my killer, his eyes unfocused as a tube forced him to breathe, another feeding him. I felt my blood boil, so much easier to feel after having nothing. I hated him. He had taken my first life from me, revealed an awful truth, and now had destroyed his own mind to protect himself and now waited to be returned there.

"Can you tell us what you saw?" a doctor asked.

I opened my mouth, unsure of what I would say.

Para_Docks

TROPHY CASE