Safe For Work Worm Ideas thread

[Master of Squirrel-fu]

But it's a significant fraction of the cape population say it with me now on their payroll. Young malleable kissing the ground they walk on and ptv able.


They would never turn on her. She's too damn useful and controllable. They wouldn't do a dehumanization campaign on a fucking hive mind.

And they'd talk taylor into determination for the people at eighteen and junior weight determination at 14.

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Other then Bonesaw when has Cauldron ever used PTV for diplomacy? Any time an S-class threat showed up their response was always either letting it lie if it didn't threaten the status quo or according to Wildbow taken out. They never grabbed Manton who's more likely to hurt Scion nor Nilbog who's arguably a better Mook Maker since he can create the mooks much faster.

And they aren't turning on Taylor, their making pragmatic use of her infinitely spawning clones. Recall again, Clones aren't considered human and the way the sisters are incapable of expressing emotion like normal humans only reinforces the image in those who don't make an effort to try and disprove it. They are going to want to keep what is effectively a renewable source of meat robots that shoot lightning. They probably won't start while she's a kid and the population is small but when you have several thousand 14 year olds and a new one is born every few hours who all act like the Children of the Corn it'd be hard finding excuses not to start replacing the other children that are fighting Kaiju with them.

I have no idea what that third line is supposed to mean.

 

[cyberswordsmen]

First, their not suicides, the Protectorate is slowly replacing the front lines of S-class fights with the Sisters, because the Sisters are replaceable Capes, if one dies another is probably going to be born in a day or so anyway that's just as good. The setting has Clones not being regarded as human, both legally and publicly, and the Protectorate doing media handling to dehumanize the sisters so they can keep them as shock troops because, again they pretty much just spawn more.

And like you said it's a significant portion of the cape population, under the control of an already very powerful cape who's only getting more powerful. The plan was Take out the Sisters first because having 40k Blasters on the loose with a grudge is a bad thing. After the sisters were gone Cauldron would only have to deal with a significantly weakened Taylor. The shit hit the fan.

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This is literally the exact opposite of Cauldron's goals. Cauldron wants as many capes active as possible to send against Scion and as many of them as possible under their control. Taylor her is a cape that gets stronger without any known limits and provides a giant army of loyal low power troops. They would love her and her minion army. Frankly since this Taylor gets stronger the more clones there are they would probably try and maximize them in an attempt to get Taylor to reach Scion smiting power levels.

They would send them against S class threats just like they do ever other cape they can but they wouldn't dehumanize them because that would kill their loyalty. That only worked on the Sisters in To Aru because they barely had any sense of identity or minds at all due to being newborns. These would have a connection with Taylor and no real obligation to the PRT. I doubt Cauldron would care all that much if some of them die off in big battles but they won't start wiping them out on purpose or endanger them any more than they are willing to accept just like any other cape working for them.

Clones legally not being people would be a very strange law to have on the books and counterproductive to Cauldrons goals as it basically makes any Clone be forced into Villainy by simple virtue of not having the legal ability to do anything else. It also doesn't and wouldn't exist in real life so it would only exist if Cauldron did a massive investment of resources to convince the world that clones aren't people which is a pretty massive undertaking considering a lot of America considers tiny blobs of cells people (the entire abortion argument).

 

[cyberswordsmen]

Other then Bonesaw when has Cauldron ever used PTV for diplomacy? Any time an S-class threat showed up their response was always either letting it lie if it didn't threaten the status quo or according to Wildbow taken out. They never grabbed Manton who's more likely to hurt Scion nor Nilbog who's arguably a better Mook Maker since he can create the mooks much faster.

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You just pointed out they let S-class threats lie if they don't threaten cauldrons plans. Taylor actively supports their goals, and lots of nice minions.

And they aren't turning on Taylor, their making pragmatic use of her infinitely spawning clones.

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Murdering her children/sisters by the thousands is a pretty damn clear betrayal.

Recall again, Clones aren't considered human

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Clones are humans by any sane definition of the term. The clones only act weird in To Aru because they are literally week old babies with basic skills jammed into their brains. With that in consideration they are frankly insanely functional.

and the way the sisters are incapable of expressing emotion like normal humans only reinforces the image in those who don't make an effort to try and disprove it.

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Plenty of people express emotions oddly and people don't let them being enslaved and murdered. Also they do express emotions pretty clearly when they feel them. They just talk in monotone due to never actually learning to talk.

They are going to want to keep what is effectively a renewable source of meat robots that shoot lightning.

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If they want to keep them why are they using them as cannon fodder with no regard for their wellbeing and dehumanizing them. That demonstrates they want them dead or rebelling not working for them.

They probably won't start while she's a kid and the population is small but when you have several thousand 14 year olds and a new one is born every few hours who all act like the Children of the Corn it'd be hard finding excuses not to start replacing the other children that are fighting Kaiju with them.

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I imagine the public would be pissed of they found out they decided to pull capes that could actually effect the Kaiju away from the battles (every cape is needed and they send as many as they can in canon why aren't they doing that here) in favor of throwing thousands of mentally disabled children at them to die pointlessly. I can't think of a single S-Class threat that clone power level electromasters would have any effect on whatsoever.

Simurg:Corrupts the hive mind into her personal army while casually flying out of range of their too weak attacks.
Behemoth: Kill aura, turns their powers onto other targets.
Leviathan: They zap everyone due to all the water around but Levi doesn't even notice.
Echidna: Now there are even more clones, and the new ones aren't friendly.
S9: They might work here to some extent.

 

[Larekko12]

Other then Bonesaw when has Cauldron ever used PTV for diplomacy? Any time an S-class threat showed up their response was always either letting it lie if it didn't threaten the status quo or according to Wildbow taken out. They never grabbed Manton who's more likely to hurt Scion nor Nilbog who's arguably a better Mook Maker since he can create the mooks much faster.

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setting up the protectorate.

Yeah because most sclass threats start as threats and are really fuck unstable. Please note the operative word is threat. As is is already hostile. If they let it lie it is because the cost of getting rid of or getting it on board absent doom is too high.
Manton had multiple purses and their team wasn't going to be in the same room as him with wringing his neck.


Taylor is not an S class threat. She is an s class asset. She is 14. her hero faith is ironclad. Wlshe wears armsmaster panties and wants to be like alexandria.

The idea of her turning on the Protectorate without them trying to lose her is insane.

And they aren't turning on Taylor, their making pragmatic use of her infinitely spawning clones. Recall again, Clones aren't considered human and the way the sisters are incapable of expressing emotion like normal humans only reinforces the image in those who don't make an effort to try and disprove it. They are going to want to keep what is effectively a renewable source of meat robots that shoot lightning. They probably won't start while she's a kid and the population is small but when you have several thousand 14 year olds and a new one is born every few hours who all act like the Children of the Corn it'd be hard finding excuses not to start replacing the other children that are fighting Kaiju with them.

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Sending the give minded kids bodies whom she considers sisters without talking her into thoroughly is turning on her. dehumanizing her sisters without convincing her it's for the best so that the programs doesn't get negative funding for child soldiers is turning on her.


Any severe negative program or directive taking against her and her assets is turning on her?

They would not gas clones or send them Pell Mell into hopeless fights unless they talked taylor into tearfully understanding that it is for the best.

They wouldn't go out of there way to dehumanizing the clones with explaining how 14 year old dying traumatized heroes and the public and getting taylor to sign off on it.

Why wouldnt her hive minded clones be considered human or an extension of herself?

I have no idea what that third line is supposed to mean.

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It is jabber that amount being taylor is fan. She will be loyal and starstruck. She will buy almost anything they ate selling so long as they're reasonable and give her head pats and rides on the alexandria supertrain.


Radio noise taylor joins the wards and the ln becomes a house hold name and moves to Las angeles To study under big sis alexandria.


She tackles low level threats the world over freeing up stronger capes for roaming s class kill squads
until she turns eighteen and joins those too.
E
If for any accidental reason they find out about the resource vampirism a solemn alexandria takes taylor aside and talks to her ending with Taylor saying I'd die for you and alexandria feeling a bit more like shit.

 

[Master of Squirrel-fu]

This is literally the exact opposite of Cauldron's goals. Cauldron wants as many capes active as possible to send against Scion and as many of them as possible under their control. Taylor her is a cape that gets stronger without any known limits and provides a giant army of loyal low power troops. They would love her and her minion army. Frankly since this Taylor gets stronger the more clones there are they would probably try and maximize them in an attempt to get Taylor to reach Scion smiting power levels.

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Cauldron's Modus Operundi is nebulous at best, we know their end goal but the way they try and reach it makes no sense to anyone who isn't Contessa. They want mook army to fight Scion but make no effort to recruit the capes who can do that, they want powers that can hurt scion but don't always try to save or recruit the ones who have powers that could hurt him. Cauldron has an end goal of "Kill Scion", a basic idea of a way to do so, and a power that tells them how to reach said goal without giving context. Basically if PTV says doing something that goes against the plan will help with the goal they'll do it.

And as much as Cauldron wants more bodies what they see as more important is finding that one power that might pop up with the ability kill Scion. Creating an army is a tertiary goal that's the byproduct of them trying to create a cape with a power that might be useful.

You just pointed out they let S-class threats lie if they don't threaten cauldrons plans. Taylor actively supports their goals, and lots of nice minions.

Murdering her children/sisters by the thousands is a pretty damn clear betrayal.

Clones are humans by any sane definition of the term. The clones only act weird in To Aru because they are literally week old babies with basic skills jammed into their brains. With that in consideration they are frankly insanely functional.

Plenty of people express emotions oddly and people don't let them being enslaved and murdered. Also they do express emotions pretty clearly when they feel them. They just talk in monotone due to never actually learning to talk.

If they want to keep them why are they using them as cannon fodder with no regard for their wellbeing and dehumanizing them. That demonstrates they want them dead or rebelling not working for them.

I imagine the public would be pissed of they found out they decided to pull capes that could actually effect the Kaiju away from the battles (every cape is needed and they send as many as they can in canon why aren't they doing that here) in favor of throwing thousands of mentally disabled children at them to die pointlessly. I can't think of a single S-Class threat that clone power level electromasters would have any effect on whatsoever.

Simurg:Corrupts the hive mind into her personal army while casually flying out of range of their too weak attacks.
Behemoth: Kill aura, turns their powers onto other targets.
Leviathan: They zap everyone due to all the water around but Levi doesn't even notice.
Echidna: Now there are even more clones, and the new ones aren't friendly.
S9: They might work here to some extent.

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I said Threaten the Status Quo and having an exponentially growing army of mind linked clones does. Even if they don't fuck with cauldron's forces directly then their existence begins to muck with the Villain/hero dynamics at the least by tipping the scales big time in the hero's favor. At worst Saint shits himself because Taylor is starting to become close what they feared Dragon would be, an omnipresent entity with it's own goals that grew to vast to be killed.

For clones not being considered people, this is a world where you have life creating Masters like Nilbog, Bonesaw, Spree, Breeder, and Blasto. A court system that's biased against capes both out of fear and because they are capable of destroying an already shattering system. Is it so hard to think that a blanket verdict of "Power Created Life is not equal to natural Life" would be passed, if only to get heroes out of trouble for injuring or killing some spawned monster. Even in canon Taylor displays shades that "Expendable Clones" is a thing by not holding back against spree at all and killing tons of his clones with her bugs.

I suppose it was too much for the Protectorate to replace capes entirely with Taylor Clones, so I guess that could be replaced with them refusing her demands that they not let all the sisters who volunteer join since hundreds do so at once. Random Capes would see this and think the Sisters have it covered for them and decide to stay home when the next time an S-class threat pops up a few states away making the Protectorate even more reliant on Clones to support the few who do volunteer. Protectorate in the clear, Taylor still given the idea that her Sisters are being tossed to the meat grinder for being expendable.

And remember, in S-Class incidents the majority of capes that volunteer can only really contribute by being a distraction that will likely get squished like a bug, against endbringers this is even more true. Unlike most Capes Radio Noise is equally capable of both combat and Logistical support against S-class threats.

Simurg: Probably won't see much combat but can be used as a means of securing the area and rapid comunicaiton
Behemoth: No more useless than any other cape in hurting him and are immune to his lightning bolts and could probably deflect them.
Levi: Search and Rescue, tracking the beast, communication.
Echidna: Evil Clones are less of a threat because they aren't connected to the network.

 

[Master of Squirrel-fu]

setting up the protectorate.

Yeah because most sclass threats start as threats and are really fuck unstable. Please note the operative word is threat. As is is already hostile. If they let it lie it is because the cost of getting rid of or getting it on board absent doom is too high.
Manton had multiple purses and their team wasn't going to be in the same room as him with wringing his neck.


Taylor is not an S class threat. She is an s class asset. She is 14. her hero faith is ironclad. Wlshe wears armsmaster panties and wants to be like alexandria.

The idea of her turning on the Protectorate without them trying to lose her is insane.



It is jabber that amount being taylor is fan. She will be loyal and starstruck. She will buy almost anything they ate selling so long as they're reasonable and give her head pats and rides on the alexandria supertrain.

Radio noise taylor joins the wards and the ln becomes a house hold name and moves to Las angeles To study under big sis alexandria.

She tackles low level threats the world over freeing up stronger capes for roaming s class kill squads
until she turns eighteen and joins those too.
E
If for any accidental reason they find out about the resource vampirism a solemn alexandria takes taylor aside and talks to her ending with Taylor saying I'd die for you and alexandria feeling a bit more like shit.

Click to shrink...

On the first, they didn't say they used PTV for the Protectorate, it wasn't even part of PTV's overall plan since Alexandria was the one who came up with the idea and pitched it after Behemoth appeared.

And no, several S-class threats started out relatively sane or otherwise much weaker. Echidna started out much weaker, The current S9 could be dissolved by arranging for Jack Slash to die, Manton could be drugged and door'd somewhere. Nilbog could also be either taken out or kidnapped if they wanted to do so.

Also Blasto says that despite being a minor villain he'd be immediately bumped to S-class threat just for creating self replicating life. Taylor created an exponentially self replicating army of capes that grows stronger with each new addition. And no mater what her intentions the entire 10s of thousands strong force is utterly reliant on her in a setting where multiple forms of Mind-control exist. Even if Taylor is safe it's not garenteed that the individual Sisters can't be used to compromise the collective. Imagine if one gets corrupted by the Simurg or if Bonesaw managed to kidnap one to see what made them tick.

And on the final part. Wut.

 

[Larekko12]

On the first, they didn't say they used PTV for the Protectorate, it wasn't even part of PTV's overall plan since Alexandria was the one who came up with the idea and pitched it after Behemoth appeared.

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I talk g about supporting it and helping to keep it from imploding.

And no, several S-class threats started out relatively sane or otherwise much weaker. Echidna started out much weaker, The current S9 could be dissolved by arranging for Jack Slash to die, Manton could be drugged and door'd somewhere. Nilbog could also be either taken out or kidnapped if they wanted to do so.

Also Blasto says that despite being a minor villain he'd be immediately bumped to S-class threat just for creating self replicating life. Taylor created an exponentially self replicating army of capes that grows stronger with each new addition. And no mater what her intentions the entire 10s of thousands strong force is utterly reliant on her in a setting where multiple forms of Mind-control exist. Even if Taylor is safe it's not garenteed that the individual Sisters can't be used to compromise the collective. Imagine if one gets corrupted by the Simurg or if Bonesaw managed to kidnap one to see what made them tick.

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Says a lot of sclass start out sane or weak. Talks about Simurgh bomb unstable capes who were the result of an endbringers wrecked lab and major setback. Nilbog the crazy who became so almost overnight and who threatened that city and not society.

And blasto accords rival I the city and independent villanous tinker who's shit allowed bo esaw to do s9000. He's not minor and he is crazy and not stable. He considers bullshit like cloning endrinkers a good ideas.

They didn't kidnap Manton partly cause early on lexy would just kill him and his murder hobo Ness made angry young parahumans. Alot of them.

The logic of but mind control fails because that true of all super powered capes including the triunve Rd ate.

Trying to cull without getting g taylor on board is still stupid because instead of possibly a master beats your precautions and Jack's something despite electromasters anti master power you definitely turn them against you.

And on the final part. Wut.

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kid ward taylor is a loyal taylor and idolize alexandria something she can and will push to the limit.



So in summary. The prt won't turn. On sclass allies on their payroll they will accommodate them and act to breed loyalty which will be really effective on Taylor.

You only become a threat and get treated as one when you attack people.

You derped.

 

[Master of Squirrel-fu]

I talk g about supporting it and helping to keep it from imploding.

Says a lot of sclass start out sane or weak. Talks about Simurgh bomb unstable capes who were the result of an endbringers wrecked lab and major setback. Nilbog the crazy who became so almost overnight and who threatened that city and not society.

And blasto accords rival I the city and independent villanous tinker who's shit allowed bo esaw to do s9000. He's not minor and he is crazy and not stable. He considers bullshit like cloning endrinkers a good ideas.

They didn't kidnap Manton partly cause early on lexy would just kill him and his murder hobo Ness made angry young parahumans. Alot of them.

The logic of but mind control fails because that true of all super powered capes including the triunve Rd ate.

Trying to cull without getting g taylor on board is still stupid because instead of possibly a master beats your precautions and Jack's something despite electromasters anti master power you definitely turn them against you.

kid ward taylor is a loyal taylor and idolize alexandria something she can and will push to the limit.

So in summary. The prt won't turn. On sclass allies on their payroll they will accommodate them and act to breed loyalty which will be really effective on Taylor.

You only become a threat and get treated as one when you attack people.

You derped.

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1 I want some proof of this. A statement in story or by WB that Contessa was involved in supporting it when it was just started. She isn't needed for everything and the protectorate in the begining probably wasn't worth Contessa's time to manage.

2 There's like 9 S-class threats. 3 Endbringers, S9, sleeper, Blasphemies, Ashbeast, Nilbog, and Echidna.We only know anything about the Endbringers which are Spaceworm WMDs, the S9 which is a gang of literal Murderhobos, Nilbog the Goblin King, and Echidna. S9 is a rag tag group that would fall apart if Jack dies and several started out sane or at least not so evil before the S9 fucked with them. We don't know too much about Nilbog just that he snapped and murdered a city in a single night and nothing before that, Echidna was stable for a while and probably much less of a threat and Cauldron had a window of years to do something about her.

Cranium and Toybox also had tech that helped in the process and they aren't seen as possible S-class threats. He was sane enough to realize and purposely not create self replicating monsters and decent enough that he was willing to die if it meant killing bonesaw. And S-class isn't a thing that's just handed out, the protectorate refused to give Echidna an S-class threat rating at first since it means flying in capes internationally to destroy the target as quickly and brutally as possible.

We have no links between Siberian and any triggers, and she's probably killed more capes than she's triggered, most of said triggers either being the victim or being 'recruited' into the 9 like bonesaw.

There's reasons why a purge could happen, Bonesaw believed to have hacked the system and strong evidence to show it's likely. Sister somehow contacted by Ziz, parahuman with mental infection powers, Protectorate realizing that she'll out number all other parahumans in a few years and know Taylor can't stop the process and won't agree to a purge. Cauldron realizing she's valuable and want to cut down on collateral before abducting her, or PTV roundabout finding a way to power up Eidolon.

And there's only one 'S-class' hero, that's Eidolon and he's only a single person that could reasonably be taken down if he ever went bad. Panacea might count but no one really considered what she was capable of before she went as Caged.

 

[brt99]

Hello. I'm new to the site so forgive me of I do this wrong.

So, idea: Taylor triggered due to her thinking that if she saw the signs, that if she was able to be immune to others, she wouldn't be in the locker. Her power becomes a thinker/tinker combo about countering, immunity to pre and post cog, see everything that may endanger her.

So, she basically becomes a parahuman counter terrorist or something.

In all honesty, it sounded better in my mind.
XD

What do you guys think?

 

[doomlord9]

I am relatively certain this has been mentioned on SB/SV by now but since I haven't seen it, I'm going to post it anyway.

Taylor was born on the day of a Behemoth attack. Not the first one, but one of them. Either Danny or Annette triggered at some point and we end up with Taylor the Behemoth Jinchuriki.

Ignoring the retarded fanon, and to an extent the retarded canon, of Naruto, she is beloved for her role of restraining a walking calamity and is protected more than anyone else in the world because her death will simply release the Endbringer.

It's not all sweetness and roses, restraining that level of power takes its toll on her body and she does have to learn emotional control fairly early on because for her the term 'volcanic temper' becomes a statement of fact .

 

[Prince Charon]

I am relatively certain this has been mentioned on SB/SV by now but since I haven't seen it, I'm going to post it anyway.

Taylor was born on the day of a Behemoth attack. Not the first one, but one of them. Either Danny or Annette triggered at some point and we end up with Taylor the Behemoth Jinchuriki.

Ignoring the retarded fanon, and to an extent the retarded canon, of Naruto, she is beloved for her role of restraining a walking calamity and is protected more than anyone else in the world because her death will simply release the Endbringer.

It's not all sweetness and roses, restraining that level of power takes its toll on her body and she does have to learn emotional control fairly early on because for her the term 'volcanic temper' becomes a statement of fact .

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She'd also have to worry about the Fallen (Endbringer cultists, for those who don't remember) going after her and her parents. No security is perfect, after all, especially if the Path to Victory requires her to be in some apparent danger along the way.

 

[doomlord9]

She'd also have to worry about the Fallen (Endbringer cultists, for those who don't remember) going after her and her parents. No security is perfect, after all, especially if the Path to Victory requires her to be in some apparent danger along the way.

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It's not perfect but a few dozen layers of it by a few dozen different organizations, villain and hero, does a damn good job of faking it and with all of them watching each other for shady things and attempts to influence her she would probably be safer from that kind of stuff than any of them expected her to be. Nobody except the Fallen wants Behemoth to come back after all and even the vague hope that she might be able to actually control his power isn't really worth the risk since he's pretty much Kyuubi^3 in terms of the damage he deals.

Not sure PtV would even be able to account for her anyway since she is so closely tied to an Endbringer.

Regardless the fic probably wouldn't focus on Taylor now that I think about it, there is absolutely no chance she would every be allowed to Hero it up or even risk anything more dangerous than a stubbed toe, and even that is unlikely given the number of Tinkers collaborating to make her extravagantly gilded cage the safest place on this or any Earth. Given that this has been the case since her birth and having every child psychologist in the world focused on her, she probably would never be bothered by it either, ending up the very definition of Taylor In Name Only.

The fic would probably be a setting piece focused on the reactions to the world, especially if Danny/Annette died in the process of sealing Behemoth and it's not something that can be easily repeated. Maybe a Tinker collaboration makes a device that imitates the ability but ends up consistently sub-par and they keep needing to transfer Levi around?

If Ziz shows up they might just say "fuckit" and send Taylor to Aleph regardless of it being effectively a declaration of war or not. She's the one thing that could pierce the security around the containers and nobody wants a Ziz-bombed Jinchuriki.

Except the Fallen, but fuck those guys.

 

[Master of Squirrel-fu]

Got an Idea that I am shocked I haven't seen posted before. But then again I might have just missed it.

Scion Arrives about 30 years later, to few years before canon starts. Worm, takes place at the beginning of the superhero emergence, where "capes" are just a rumor and nothing substantiated yet. Where the thought is that people are just following a comic fad and the idea of superpowers is ridiculous. Taylor triggers with a super power without even knowing that super powers are real, believing whole heartedly that they are just in the realms of comics and cartoons. She knows that she should use her powers for something great, something more than just being a normal person, to make a difference in the world but is lost as to how. Soon she learns about vigilantes and rumors about superpowers and believes that this must be what was happening, and decides to be a Hero.

 

[TanaNari]

That's fucking BRILLIANT. AND you can even let her keep her canon power! Which is ten times better given people don't have threat assessments or teams yet.

It does raise the question of what you do with Second (plus) Generation capes. This is a setting where a lot of major characters literally could not exist.

 

[Master of Squirrel-fu]

That's fucking BRILLIANT. AND you can even let her keep her canon power! Which is ten times better given people don't have threat assessments or teams yet.

It does raise the question of what you do with Second (plus) Generation capes. This is a setting where a lot of major characters literally could not exist.

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Let's say they exist, and the parent's status as capes depends on how plot relevant they are. Possible that the parents could be amongst the first triggers and the kids triggered just a few years later. Changes characterizations of the likes of New Wave since Vicky wasn't raised as a hero nor are public. Amy for sure would still be with Marquis. But honestly it'd be a complete re-imagining of the Worm story.

The way I figured it would work is that Taylor starts out vigilante-ing not really understanding the situation with her powers. She knows that there are masked vigilantes about but all the ones on TV are normal people who heard about this and dressed up. Sort of like Kickass or Watchmen. There's rumors of Super Powers but despite her own she's still skeptical. It'd be a normal low-key super hero setting at first, with Taylor only running into common unempowered crooks. She probably even meets up with other Masked Vigilantes, who are also normal people who decided for what ever reason to dress up. She doesn't reveal her power to anybody. Eventually though she'd run into a gang leader and be shocked when they suddenly reveal themselves as having super powers, though probably something that might be more easy to hide from muggles who would rationalize the supernatural away. After that it'd become a little closer to a standard super hero setting, though under a masquerade.

For Canon characters who show up, The Undersiders would exist but not as a group, Rachel and Alec not in the city and unlikely to show up till much later Rachel only appearing once the Masquerade is starting to get torn down. Tats would likely be a Masked Villain and or Information Broker, Grue would be a freelancer and probably hides his powers behind props. The wards would not be the wards, most also moonlighting as vigilantes who try and be subtle about their powers.

 

[TanaNari]

Well, with that much work and setting rebuild, why not make it an original setting?

 

[SwiftRosenthal]

Well, with that much work and setting rebuild, why not make it an original setting?

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An original setting would also require original characters - particularly if you want to avoid using thinly-veiled expies - and that's too much effort when you can just borrow someone else's.

 

[Master of Squirrel-fu]

Well, with that much work and setting rebuild, why not make it an original setting?

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Because it would follow worm's timeline. Sorta. It'd start just before the Masquerade ends, then starts the Golden era of sorts of more Comicy superheroics, that gets taken down pretty fast by villains. Taylor happens to be around when some of the big bads start to emerge and when the End Bringers show up for the first time.

 

[Prince Charon]

Got an Idea that I am shocked I haven't seen posted before. But then again I might have just missed it.

Scion Arrives about 30 years later, to few years before canon starts. Worm, takes place at the beginning of the superhero emergence, where "capes" are just a rumor and nothing substantiated yet. Where the thought is that people are just following a comic fad and the idea of superpowers is ridiculous. Taylor triggers with a super power without even knowing that super powers are real, believing whole heartedly that they are just in the realms of comics and cartoons. She knows that she should use her powers for something great, something more than just being a normal person, to make a difference in the world but is lost as to how. Soon she learns about vigilantes and rumors about superpowers and believes that this must be what was happening, and decides to be a Hero.

Click to shrink...

So, I'm guessing Sophia is another vigilante, and rescued Emma from one of the gangs that in canon were consolidated into the ABB?

I wonder if Amy and Victoria would even have met.

On another note, Contessa is going to be very different, gaining her power as a wife and mother, and possibly village wise-woman, rather than as a little girl.

Would Alexandria or Eidolon even still be alive to gain powers, though?

 

[Guile]

She'd also have to worry about the Fallen (Endbringer cultists, for those who don't remember) going after her and her parents. No security is perfect, after all, especially if the Path to Victory requires her to be in some apparent danger along the way.

Click to shrink...

Going after her... to worship her.

"What? Did that girl insult Taylor? Eligor, wind blade!"
"You will give Taylor a passing grade."

Basically, the tension in the fic is Taylor trying to convince the Brute/Blaster and superpowered Master stop trying to solve her problems in a way that only makes sense to crazed cultists.

Like if Naruto had that Hidan guy following him around from the start of the manga.

 

[Navrin]

Random Power Idea: User selects a target and a shade of every person that person has felt guilt for harming/not helping in the past are created to attack them, all designed in such a way that they optimally evoke that guilt.

Used on Coil, it would probably create a LOT of Thomas Calverts left in difficult-to-deal-with situations.

 

[TanaNari]

That's not how Coil's power works.

Fun power, however. Man, is there anyone in Worm that wouldn't be fucked by that?

Wait. No. "Felt guilt". Nevermind, wouldn't even make the important baddies flinch. They feel no guilt.

 

[Navrin]

TanaNari, I'm aware that no Thomas Calverts were actually harmed by the timeline dropping (except arguably for the real one and the psychological effects of what he does), however if he felt any guilt for them then they're fair targets. They don't have to be linked to actual people. It's what the target believes that matters.

Hn, the shade's strength could vary depending on the depth of the guilt they feel upon being vividly reminded of what happened. Not sure what other factors would reasonably play into it.


One way to massively increase the usefulness of the power: Can direct the shades to accomplish other tasks. For example, target Skitter with it and then use the shades to gank Jack Slash.

 

[TanaNari]

Wait. No. "Felt guilt". Nevermind, wouldn't even make the important baddies flinch. They feel no guilt.

Click to shrink...

 

[Navrin]

Indeed, but that is a completely different issue than "Coil's power doesn't work that way". And one could definitely make the argument that Coil didn't even feel guilt for (in his mind only) harming other Thomas Calverts, but I don't think he was actually a sociopath; I think he cared about how people perceived him too much for that to be probable. He's definitely not neurotypical, though, even for parahumans.

 

[Navrin]

Quote from Vista: Have captured Lung with two PRT officers. What do you want me to do, give him back?

So, the story: Vista is an even more snarky and badass ward who finds quotes from famous military officers to allude to, especially in her many successes.

 

[volantredx]

So I desperately need to get back to writing, so here's a short little one shot to try and get me into form. It's set during 3.5, and is about what would happened if Armsmaster wasn't such a dick.


Sound Reasoning

"Abandon this charade, little bug girl, before you bite off more than you can chew. Tell me what you know, right now, then go home. I don't care if you put your costume away for good or if you sign up for the Wards, but don't go on with the solo act. That's my recommendation."

That stung. I tried again, "I gave you Lung, full credit. You can't give me the benefit of a doubt?"

"You...!" He shouted, but cut himself off from the rest of what he was about to say. Armsmaster let out a heavy breath, and paused for several seconds. My dad would do the same thing to keep from yelling. A part of me felt embarrassed that I let the conversation get so heated. A smaller part resented the fact that Armsmaster was the one acting adult. I knew it was silly, he was the adult, but still I could tell it only proved he was right about me being too young.

"Lung was almost dead when I brought him in. Do you realize that? He was barely breathing. As far as anyone knows that's on me."

"I didn't mean to," I protested. I wanted to argue more, the amount of venom in his system shouldn't have been lethal. I was sure part of it was due to the tranquilizers, but right now I needed Armsmaster to listen to me.

"I understand, and I'm not unsympathetic. That's why we have to Wards. To help kids like you from going overboard. Learn the system and to know when to stop before they hurt someone."

I almost growled. I was so sick of hearing about the Wards. The more he brought it up the less I wanted to do it. It felt like he was trying to talk me into sitting at the kids table to avoid annoying the grown ups. I was a hero, or I was trying to be. He should respect that. "I don't want to join up. Not now. Not when I have a chance to do real good. I just need you to trust me."

He shook his head. "You don't get it. I can't help. Not like how you want."

"You don't get it. I just need a little more..."

"No, you don't understand. I literally can't help. What you're asking me to do, what you're planing, it breaks everything I've sworn to uphold. This is what I mean by learning the system. Your spy operation is illegal. If it didn't get you killed anything you'd give me would be thrown out of court."

"...but" I hated how weak my voice had gotten. I almost wanted to cry. I was sure, so sure, that this was my big chance. My way of making a real difference, become a hero. To learn that it was all a lie. No, not a lie, a fantasy, a stupid dream I made up in my head, and Armsmaster's words were like a cold bucket of water to wake me up. I should have known better than to think I could make a difference.

"Look, you seem like a good kid, a little overzealous but you seem like you really want to make a difference. I might not be able to help get in deeper but I can help to get you out. You say they're planing something? Tell me, or tell me what you think you can without letting Tattletale know and we'll bring them in."

"It won't hold them, and if they get out they'll try and kill me."

"I won't lie and say they can't ever get out, but even the best Villains take time to stage an escape. We can offer protection if they do escape and seek revenge. I can even see about relocation." His voice trailed off, waiting for my answer.

I thought about it. I...didn't hate the idea. A chance to get away from Emma, from the absolute mess of a hero career I had so far. A fresh start, a new life. I really thought about it. There was one big problem.

"My dad," I said. "He doesn't know about any of this. I'll have to tell him everything."

Armsmaster gave me a long look. "Is your father the reason you triggered?"

"What?!? No."

"Then tell him. The longer you try to hid this, the worse it will be if he finds out."

"I know, that's not even the problem," I knew what I was about to say would effect me forever, but if I couldn't trust Armsmaster I was never going to trust anyone. "My name is Taylor Hebert, my dad is Daniel Hebert, he's a big shot on the dockworkers Union. He's built his whole life around Brockton Bay. He won't want to go, and if he has to leave because of my mistakes..."

I looked down, imagining the way dad would look after having to abandon this city, all his dreams, because I was an idiot. Suddenly a heavy hand pushed my chin up, Armsmaster looked at me, without his helmet. I was so frozen up that all I could think was 'he has really pretty eyes'

"My name is Colin Wallis, and I promise you, if you father is any sort of parent your life and future will mean more to him than this city ever could. No matter where you are sent, no matter what happens you will be safe even if I have to call in every Protectorate member in the country to make sure of it."

"Y-you really mean that?"

"It's the least I could do for a fellow hero."

What could I say I smiled, before I tried to school my features into a heroically stoic expression. Despite my practice my lips didn't seem to want to stop. Clearing my throat I got back to business.

"Alright, here's what I know."

 

[OverReactionGuy]

So I desperately need to get back to writing, so here's a short little one shot to try and get me into form. It's set during 3.5, and is about what would happened if Armsmaster wasn't such a dick.


Sound Reasoning

"Abandon this charade, little bug girl, before you bite off more than you can chew. Tell me what you know, right now, then go home. I don't care if you put your costume away for good or if you sign up for the Wards, but don't go on with the solo act. That's my recommendation."

That stung. I tried again, "I gave you Lung, full credit. You can't give me the benefit of a doubt?"

"You...!" He shouted, but cut himself off from the rest of what he was about to say. Armsmaster let out a heavy breath, and paused for several seconds. My dad would do the same thing to keep from yelling. A part of me felt embarrassed that I let the conversation get so heated. A smaller part resented the fact that Armsmaster was the one acting adult. I knew it was silly, he was the adult, but still I could tell it only proved he was right about me being too young.

"Lung was almost dead when I brought him in. Do you realize that? He was barely breathing. As far as anyone knows that's on me."

"I didn't mean to," I protested. I wanted to argue more, the amount of venom in his system shouldn't have been lethal. I was sure part of it was due to the tranquilizers, but right now I needed Armsmaster to listen to me.

"I understand, and I'm not unsympathetic. That's why we have to Wards. To help kids like you from going overboard. Learn the system and to know when to stop before they hurt someone."

I almost growled. I was so sick of hearing about the Wards. The more he brought it up the less I wanted to do it. It felt like he was trying to talk me into sitting at the kids table to avoid annoying the grown ups. I was a hero, or I was trying to be. He should respect that. "I don't want to join up. Not now. Not when I have a chance to do real good. I just need you to trust me."

He shook his head. "You don't get it. I can't help. Not like how you want."

"You don't get it. I just need a little more..."

"No, you don't understand. I literally can't help. What you're asking me to do, what you're planing, it breaks everything I've sworn to uphold. This is what I mean by learning the system. Your spy operation is illegal. If it didn't get you killed anything you'd give me would be thrown out of court."

"...but" I hated how weak my voice had gotten. I almost wanted to cry. I was sure, so sure, that this was my big chance. My way of making a real difference, become a hero. To learn that it was all a lie. No, not a lie, a fantasy, a stupid dream I made up in my head, and Armsmaster's words were like a cold bucket of water to wake me up. I should have known better than to think I could make a difference.

"Look, you seem like a good kid, a little overzealous but you seem like you really want to make a difference. I might not be able to help get in deeper but I can help to get you out. You say they're planing something? Tell me, or tell me what you think you can without letting Tattletale know and we'll bring them in."

"It won't hold them, and if they get out they'll try and kill me."

"I won't lie and say they can't ever get out, but even the best Villains take time to stage an escape. We can offer protection if they do escape and seek revenge. I can even see about relocation." His voice trailed off, waiting for my answer.

I thought about it. I...didn't hate the idea. A chance to get away from Emma, from the absolute mess of a hero career I had so far. A fresh start, a new life. I really thought about it. There was one big problem.

"My dad," I said. "He doesn't know about any of this. I'll have to tell him everything."

Armsmaster gave me a long look. "Is your father the reason you triggered?"

"What?!? No."

"Then tell him. The longer you try to hid this, the worse it will be if he finds out."

"I know, that's not even the problem," I knew what I was about to say would effect me forever, but if I couldn't trust Armsmaster I was never going to trust anyone. "My name is Taylor Hebert, my dad is Daniel Hebert, he's a big shot on the dockworkers Union. He's built his whole life around Brockton Bay. He won't want to go, and if he has to leave because of my mistakes..."

I looked down, imagining the way dad would look after having to abandon this city, all his dreams, because I was an idiot. Suddenly a heavy hand pushed my chin up, Armsmaster looked at me, without his helmet. I was so frozen up that all I could think was 'he has really pretty eyes'

"My name is Colin Wallis, and I promise you, if you father is any sort of parent your life and future will mean more to him than this city ever could. No matter where you are sent, no matter what happens you will be safe even if I have to call in every Protectorate member in the country to make sure of it."

"Y-you really mean that?"

"It's the least I could do for a fellow hero."

What could I say I smiled, before I tried to school my features into a heroically stoic expression. Despite my practice my lips didn't seem to want to stop. Clearing my throat I got back to business.

"Alright, here's what I know."

Click to shrink...

SOD broken!!!!!

Armsmaster doesn't have pretty eyes.

 

[Prince Charon]

Had a thought of Taylor triggering with a projection power. Given that she has the Queen Administrator shard, it should probably be a large number of projections. The idea I have for the alternate trigger event is being trapped too close to a fight between Shadow Stalker and Crusader (possibly with other heroes or villains present), and gaining the power to summon an army of 'shadow demons'. Depending on how many other capes are present, her power may have a Trump element to it, with the shadow demons having various powers, and/or being able to screw with the powers of others.

Possible stress amplifier to help this become a trigger event: Taylor knows who SS is, but still hates Nazis. Sophia may even be the reason she's trapped wherever she is.

 

[volantredx]

Cross posting this here, it's a continuation of to Biskoff's excellent Snip More Prey Than Predators. You will need to read it first to really understand this one.

Prey No More​

​

-BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!-

Sophia's snapped open at the sound of her alarm. More by instinct than choice she reached out and switched it off. Laying there for a second she relished in the silence. Then her mind woke enough to feel something, or rather the lack of something. For a brief second her heart clenched at the absence of a familiar weight in her mind, before relief washed over her. Even weeks later it was hard to remember that she was free. That girl was gone now. Still in the back of her head a part of her was calling out to find her and keep her safe. It was getting smaller though. They told her in time it would fade completely. One day every trace of that girl would be gone. She couldn't wait.

"Sophia," Her mother called from downstairs. "Time to get up, you got school today."

"Yeah, I'm up." She called back stretching as she climbed out of bed she headed to the shower, hoping that she might beat Terry there today. Unfortunately she got there exactly as he did, racing out of his room.

"Whoa," He said, barely avoiding running right into her. "Sorry sis, um any chance I could sneak in there?"

Not long ago she would have yelled at him, or just ignored him and slipped in. She wasn't that person anymore. She refused to be that person anymore. Instead she gave him a smile and nodded.

"Thanks!" His hand patting her shoulder, and headed inside. He had been doing that more and more. Acting like his old self around her. After she was freed from that girl she had to spend a few days at the Protectorate HQ under observation to see if she'd relapse. Her mom must have explained what happened to Terry, which was a shock given her mom's stance on her cape career. Still it was nice not to have to hide around him. Only he had spent the first few days in...something, a "T" word, the one where he treated her like glass. Having things start being more normal was nice.

She turned toward the stairs, given how long her brother took in the shower she'd have plenty of time to eat before her turn.

XxXXxX

School had long been little more than an annoyance in Sophia's life. Even before her Sophia wasn't the best student. She wasn't re...challenged, no matter what Stephen said, but she just had trouble remembering things for tests. Not to mention how boring reading always was. After that girl took over her life she had even less time for school. Not to mention she was always so agitated when people tried to tell her what to do. Except when it was her doing it. If Sophia did homework it was some rush job, mostly she just didn't bother.

Now school was bad for a different reason all together.

After that girl had been outed there was some effort to keep her name out of the papers. Word spread quickly though. Her being taken into custody, and the rumors on FaceSpace meant that everyone in the school knew she was a Master that had been controlling people. Everyone was talking about all the awful things she made them do. It was all bullshit. Sophia didn't know all of that girl's powers but she had a good idea, and she couldn't control a big group. It wasn't even controlling really. It was...that one thing where doing something makes you want to do it more, like with dogs. That girl wanted someone to do something a certain way, say something, act like someone, and if you did you felt good, and you wanted to do it more and more. She didn't even need to say what it was. You just knew what made her happy and so you did it. In the end everything Sophia thought or did was because she liked when Sophia did it. Sophia doubted however that the girl could do it on a group, and certainly not a huge group. It's probably just an excuse to get away acting like they did.

So she sat, bored and fidgety until lunch, which was the one good part of the day. She headed to the cafeteria, passing Heb-Taylor on the way. Sophia offered her a smile, which wasn't returned, but the other girl at least didn't flinch away. She was talking to a few other girls. Some sort of book group or something. She overheard Taylor mentioning it to Missy the other day. It was nice to see her getting new friends. As bad as Sophia had it with that girl, Taylor had far far worse. Thinking about what happen still turned her stomach.

She couldn't let herself dwell on it. Dr Walker had helped a lot in that sense. Sophia knew she was right, about her having to accept what happened and try and move past it. That girl didn't define Sophia, she was still her, no matter what that girl did she couldn't totally destroy everything that made Sophia Sophia.

Running a hand through her hair she tried to shake off her melancholy. If Taylor could move past it, so could Sophia.

Getting down to the cafeteria she grabbed a tray and tried not to grimace at the "food" being served. She missed it when mom used to make lunch for her. That ended awhile ago. That girl's mom never packed a lunch, so Sophia told her mom to not pack anything for her. She thought about asking for it again, but her mom likely was happy for the free time in the mornings.

Stepping out of the line Sophia scanned the lunch room. Kids were all in their packs-no not packs, that was her Sophia-friends, kids were sitting with their friends. She could pick out Taylor with the book kids, and even spotted Madison with some of her old hanger-ons. Without that girl though, Sophia didn't really want to put up with them.

Finding an empty seat in the corner she sat down. It was an odd feeling not having a place to sit. Picking at her food, she wished Lily was here. The other Ward was a lot of help after that first night in New York. Holding her when she was crying, listening to everything Sophia did thanks to that girl without asking too many questions. They exchanged emails during and Lily really helped Sophia feel like a normal person again. Not to mention the hints that she was throwing Sophia's way. She nearly blushed just thinking about it.

Her thoughts were interrupted when someone sat down across from her. Looking up she say the smiling face of Cassandra, one of her teammates from the track team.

"Hey Sophia," she greeted enthusiastically.

"Umm, hi,"

"It's so great to see you back in school, getting sick always sucks."

It took a second for her to register what she was talking about. Then she remembered, it was the cover story the PRT had her tell people. That she came down with a huge fever and was in the hospital for a few days. Not bad in theory but when word of that girl being taken away people say right through the story. To hear someone bring it up again was, was, dis-something or other.

"So, uh, you coming back to track soon?" Cassandra asked shifting slightly in her seat.

"Oh, yeah I hope," it'd be nice to get back. Track was the one place she felt normal before. It was easier to be Sophia with them, instead of what she tried to make Sophia be "I just got to get cleared from the doctors."

"Awesome, be really nice to have you back. I-we've missed having you around." Her olive skin flushed slightly in embarrassment at her slip up, but Sophia pretended not to notice. That was...unexpected. Nice, but unexpected.

"I've missed you guys too." Sophia shot her the best grin she had. That earned her another blush. So far today was looking up.

XxXXxX

"Today was terrible," Missy moaned dragging herself out of the girl's changing room and into the common area. She had just finished getting out of her costume. Between the girl's pout and the frilly sun dress she had to wear Sophia had to hold back from grabbing the girl and spinning her around like a doll.

"Didn't you have the after school patrol with Dean?" Sophia questioned, having just arrived from dinner. She had coms duty for the night shift.

"Yeah," Missy grumbled. "And now I know all boys are suck."

"What happened?" If Dean had managed to piss Missy off this badly he must have done something epically stupid.

""He brought Glory Girl along."

"Oh. OH! Um that's rough."

"You have no idea. They got to act all cutesy and I was stuck playing third wheel." Missy threw herself over the arm of the couch. "Like I said, all boys suck."

Sophia was torn. Her Sophia would have tried to make Missy cry, just to prove she was tough, and before her Sophia would have said...p-p-things that sound nice but don't mean anything. Now though, now Sophia was going to try and help.

"I can help, but it's going to make me seem like a bitch."

"Has that ever stopped you before?"
Sophia tried not to flinch, really, but either she did or Missy realized what she said because the girl sat upright and let out a gasp.

"Oh god, I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking."

"It's alright, I can handle a joke or two. I was a bitch before."

"No you weren't. I'm a hero, I need to know better. It wasn't you, it was all Pavlov. She's the bitch, hell she's worse than a bitch."

"Pavlov?" Sophia wondered.

"It's what they're calling that Master that fucked with you. You know, because she works with Operant conditioning-"

"THAT'S IT!" Sophia exclaimed, Missy let out a yelp in surprise and rolled back over the arm of the couch and onto the cushions. "Oh, sorry, sorry, it's just I've been trying to think of that term all day. It's been bugging the shit out of me all day."

"S'cool," Missy muttered pulling herself up. There was a moment or two of quiet before she turned to Sophia. "So, um you had advice about Dean."

"Right, well you're really not going to like to hear it." She paused, the other girl gave her a little go ahead gesture. "Well, my advice is that you need to move on."

"What-" Missy started, but Sophia held a hand up.

"I know you don't want to hear it, and I get you really care for Dean, but he loves Glory Girl, and I think you know that. Also even if he didn't I just don't see him liking you like that. I know you like think you're all grown up, but you've still got a lot of growing up to do. Him dating you would be like you dating a fourth grader. So move on, find a guy your age, or hell, hold off on dating for a bit."

Missy gave a little sniffle. Maybe she had been a too hard on the girl.

"Hey look, what do I know right? I just don't want to see you waste all your time chasing something you can't catch."

"Yeah," the other girl mumbled under her breath. She gave a watery sigh, before straightening up. "Thanks, really, I'll think about it."

"Alright, better hurry, the ferry's leaving soon, and you'll be stuck if you miss it."

Missy nodded and started to head toward the exit. Sophia turned away and headed for her seat at the console. As she entered in her access code she heard Missy call out her name. Turning the girl had stopped at the door and was giving her a wide smile.

"Hey, um I just thought I should say that I'm glad I got to meet the real you." Sophia blinked at the other girl's words, and watched as she headed out of the room.

After the door closed Sophia turned her chair around, a smile pulled at her lips.

"I'm glad too."​