>>4397931
>>MISTHEART: A young man who worked hard for a scholarship program at his university through both intensive study and athletics. While many have called him 'prickly', he is absolutely devoted to dealing justice and defeating Villains. His Quirk, Misting, allows him to turn parts of himself into misty particles and reform them as he pleases, along with his hero suit.

>>4397931
>MISTHEART: A young man who worked hard for a scholarship program at his university through both intensive study and athletics. While many have called him 'prickly', he is absolutely devoted to dealing justice and defeating Villains. His Quirk, Misting, allows him to turn parts of himself into misty particles and reform them as he pleases, along with his hero suit.

>>4397931
>REINFORCE

>REINFORCE

>>4397931
>>REINFORCE

>>4397931
>>REINFORCE

>>4397931
>>JETBOY

>>4397931
>MISTHEART: A young man who worked hard for a scholarship program at his university through both intensive study and athletics. While many have called him 'prickly', he is absolutely devoted to dealing justice and defeating Villains. His Quirk, Misting, allows him to turn parts of himself into misty particles and reform them as he pleases, along with his hero suit.

>>4397931
>>MISTHEART

>>4397931
>>REINFORCE: A woman from a wealthy family who entered into the System at the behest of her parents, she nonetheless has an abiding sense of duty to protect the innocent. Quiet, reserved, and shy, her Quirk, Jerry-Rig, allows her to temporarily cause nonliving things to take on the hardness and durability of metal. Once the effect passes, the object becomes as malleable and soft as clay. Her hero suit is outfitted with layers of paper armor and ablative plating, to take advantage of this power.

>>4397931
>MISTHEART: A young man who worked hard for a scholarship program at his university through both intensive study and athletics. While many have called him 'prickly', he is absolutely devoted to dealing justice and defeating Villains. His Quirk, Misting, allows him to turn parts of himself into misty particles and reform them as he pleases, along with his hero suit.

>>4397931
>REINFORCE: A woman from a wealthy family who entered into the System at the behest of her parents, she nonetheless has an abiding sense of duty to protect the innocent. Quiet, reserved, and shy, her Quirk, Jerry-Rig, allows her to temporarily cause nonliving things to take on the hardness and durability of metal. Once the effect passes, the object becomes as malleable and soft as clay. Her hero suit is outfitted with layers of paper armor and ablative plating, to take advantage of this power.

>>4397931
>REINFORCE

Mist guy.

>>4397931
>REINFORCE: A woman from a wealthy family who entered into the System at the behest of her parents, she nonetheless has an abiding sense of duty to protect the innocent. Quiet, reserved, and shy, her Quirk, Jerry-Rig, allows her to temporarily cause nonliving things to take on the hardness and durability of metal. Once the effect passes, the object becomes as malleable and soft as clay. Her hero suit is outfitted with layers of paper armor and ablative plating, to take advantage of this power.

>>4397931
>MISTHEART

>>4397931
>REINFORCE

>>4398027
>>4398016
>>4398007
>>4398000
>>4397989
>>4397964
>>4397961
>>4397950
>>4397945

simps...

>>4397931
>REINFORCE

File: Cry me a river retard.gif (406 KB, 498x280)

406 KB GIF

>>4398030

I like this story a lot. Great idea OP.

>>4397945
>>4397950
>>4397961
>>4397964
>>4397989
>>4398000
>>4398007
>>4398016
>>4398027
>>4398032
Reinforce, or Janet Adams, will be our initial protagonist. Thank you for voting, and please stick around for an update later today!

>>4398008
>>4398021
>>4397941
>>4397944
>>4397986
>>4397988
>>4397995
Mistheart, or Bobby Harlock, will be our secondary protagonist. He will feature in the quest, and may be playable later. Stay tuned in this thread to keep up to date, and perhaps next thread we will have him up!

>>4397981
Jetboy, or Mordecai Summers, will be in the quest's continuity, but will be unlikely to be featured as of yet.

Gathering materials and writing post now...

File: 3bb4607eefce48077d0a9b567(...).jpg (526 KB, 886x1074)

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"I'm not saying it's a bad painting, Kels." you say with a sigh. "I''ll treasure it, it's just, I have to put it in storage. I don't know if I can hang it where I'm heading."

"Oh, I know." Kelly is a good friend, if a little odd. Her Quirk being Formless, she's basically a big moving puddle of green... stuff that she can shape at will. She was never in the mood for heroics, and instead is happy enough in the arts. "Where was your assignment again?"

"Somewhere in the sticks of Nevada." you grumble. You can't help but feel a bit slighted - sure, you had said you would take any posting, any at all, but even so... "I suppose it's my fault for applying late. Though I can't help it if the paperwork kept getting lost."

"We can't all be so perfect as you, Janet." Kelly says, with a laugh. She bobs up and down, "Anyway, I hope you do okay. We'll all miss you here." she adds, and a few of your other friends chime in with laughs and easy agreement. Some of these people you've known since elementary school, it's sad to see them go. But the assignments for probationary licenses go fast, and ending up somewhere remote is pretty expected for a last-minute application. "Stay safe, alright?"

"Of course!" you almost laugh. After all, your Quirk is meant to do exactly that. With a sigh, you rise from the table. "But I have to pack and meet up with..." you really don't want to say 'partner', "My backup. We can always call, alright?"

With some hugs and waves goodbye, you take the painting and head back to the dorms. Your room with Ophelia - another hero hopeful who had already applied and shipped off weeks ago - feels far more lonely without the dragon figurines and fantasy posters all over. A couple of pieces of tupperware and glasses still sit in a box on one table, with a sticky note in her handwriting - 'replacements!' - is still fastened to it.

You decide to start with packing a few of them in your larger case.

Still, there's plenty of time before you have to catch your bus today. You can still take care of some other things before packing up. It feels so final, after all.

>Meet up with your... backup.
>Pick up your Suit from your friend in Quirk Support.
>Check in with your parents before you leave.
>Finish packing.
>(Do something else...)

>>4398114
>>Pick up your Suit from your friend in Quirk Support.

>>4398114
>Pick up your Suit from your friend in Quirk Support.

>>4398114
>Check in with your parents before you leave.

>>4398114
>Pick up your Suit from your friend in Quirk Support.

>>4398114
>Pick up your Suit from your friend in Quirk Support.

>>4398114
>>Check in with your parents before you leave.

>>4398121
>>4398147
>>4398183
>>4398207

Right. Getting your Suit in order comes first. It'd be a shame to leave without it. You make your way down to the basement of the Quirk Research building, down the stairs, making your way into the deeper workshops. Alice works there.

Alice is capable of multiplying kinetic force she applies to objects. Hypothetically, it'd make an excellent battle Quirk, but she's been an engineer as long as you've known her - since high school at least.
She's tall, skinny as a rail, and hyped as always. Something about her reacts explosively with caffeine.
"Janet! Oh, good thing you're here." she says, zipping across the workshop and pushing the suit case into your arms. "Here. I just finished the reloading and drawing pockets on the hips and shins. Go, go, get into the changing room. Go on!"

The Suit, your suit, runs on a simple idea - paper is slotted into pockets all over the suit, and can be reinforced with a touch. You can leave it in, or draw it for throwing or slashing - they are sheets of paper, after all, and you've trained Jerry-rig to last a full minute. It doesn't sound like much, but in a fight, it's an eternity. And the suit itself is layered a couple times over, so using it in an emergency isn't out of the question, either. You've used your power on an undershirt once, and regretted it immediately - this outfit is made to use and benefit from your quirk. The gauntlets even have metal knuckles that can be popped out and replaced individually. Using Jerry-rig too much eventually shortens the length of the solidity, but you're pretty good at finishing fights quickly. "Anyway I just wanted to be sure it fits. Does it fit okay? Not too tight, right?"

The material isn't the same sort of spandexy stuff you've seen others use, it's a layered but breathable fabric that doesn't cling. It's not like you've got much to show off in any case, so it's never bothered you, even the heavy boots and thick gloves. The helmet, bucket-like with a visor, and the arrangement of the paper pockets, make you look a bit like a cartoony knight.

"It's good, Alice, as always." your voice is a little tinny coming out of the helmet. "How many papers each pocket?"

"Fifteen. Much higher and they'll get too heavy for you. Fewer and you'll run out in any real fight. Mobility is good, right?" she asks, grasping something behind her. You sigh and use your power on the top paper on the back of your hand, as she comes around with a hammer and swings at you. You're pretty sure there's more to Jerry-rig than just being hard, because catching the hammer blow on the back of your hand doesn't even sprain your wrist. Alice steps away as you draw the square of paper out and toss it like a shuriken, it spins across the room and sinks into a wooden plank nailed to the far wall.
"Good..."

>Ask a question about the suit. (writein)
>Try out something with your power. (writein)
>Change to civvies and get going.
>(Write in)

>>4398301
>Ask a question about the suit. (writein)
Is there something for the souls of our shoes? Feet in general

>>4398378
+ is it water proof

>>4398301
>>Change to civvies and get going.

>>4398378
+1

>>4398378
This. Any special footwear?

>>4398301
>>Ask a question about the suit. (writein)
>>4398378
>>4398382
This
Also how strong paper is in it of itself?
>Try out something with your power. (writein)
Would cardboard work?

>>4398484
>>4398405
>>4398382
>>4398378
>The feet

The shoes are steel-toed and solid leather, but there's not much I can do down there because I need to touch something to enhance it. The paper plate pockets are all in arm's reach, and my gloves are missing their fingertips to facilitate that. I tend to prefer punching and throwing rigged paper over kicking. Maybe I should work on that later.

>Material
I can jerry-rig anything I can touch, assuming it's not alive, and it all reaches the same hardness and reverts to the same clay-like softness after. The softness lasts about half again as long as the hardness, and has its own uses. I use paper because it's easy to acquire and cheap, but really, anything I could cut to the right size for the pockets would work in a pinch.

>Water?
Soggy paper still jerr-rigs the same, but the shape of it can be unfortunately sharp or prickly. Once it softens, it's easy enough to clean out, but such events can indeed ruin a whole pocket. As for the whole suit, it's not waterproof, but the layers can fend off water for a while before becoming uncomfortable. Besides, I'm not expecting to be working in water often.

"Everything looks good." you say to Alice, who grins like a sunbeam in a desert. You change back into civvies. "I'll call you if I need adjustments."

"Don't hesitate if you do, Janet. These things can be tough to take care of if you don't handle them early. Same with your workouts. Can't be all skin and bones forever, you know?" she laughs as you give her a once-over and a glare, "I'll work on myself, too, but I'm not fighting capital V Villains."

You load up the outfit into the Suit Case and step outside, dusting off your long skirt. Right... Now...

>>>You have time for two more things...
>Meet up with your... backup.
>Check in with your parents before you leave.
>Finish packing.

>>4399923
Sorry about the point-of-view mishaps in that first segment. Some writing habits die hard. Whoopsie!

>>4399923
>>Check in with your parents before you leave.

>>4399923
>Check in with your parents before you leave.

>>4399925
1st person pov for quests is fine. 3rd person makes it slighly weird and creepy though.

>>4399938
I just hate switching midpost. I intend to stick to one, goddamnit, because first person implies one thing and second person implies another, and third person implies something else entirely.

>>4399923
>>Meet up with your... backup.
>>Check in with your parents before you leave.

>>4399923
>>Check in with your parents before you leave.

>>4399923
>>Check in with your parents before you leave
and
>Finish packing.

File: Father.jpg (52 KB, 590x332)

52 KB JPG

All things considered, I've decided to stick with first person. Apologies for any confusion.
>>4400231
>>4400138
>>4399955
>>4399938
>>4399932
I frown at my phone. Talking with my parents is never fun. While they asked me to enter this career, and I have no complaints, talking to them reminds me of the gilded cage I'm barely free of. However...

The conversation is brief, businesslike, and not worth commenting on. ...Not that I could. Trying to remember conversations with him is difficult. My father calls his quirk Shadowman. It hides his identity, steadily worrying at memories made of him. Mother's quirk, something to do with memories, was what drew the two together and makes the family work at all. Father employs his quirk for his safety - being the CEO of a large pharmaceutical company and a major innovator in quirk-related drugs has made him a controversial figure. At least, it would, if anyone could recall him as anything other than his pseudonym of Dr. Dark.

The buzzing feeling in my head when I hang up goes away in short order, and it's like a good hour simply was deleted. I've never gotten on great with him, but mother says he understands. A consequence of his ability, nothing more. I had been packing as I spoke. The assignment is long-term, about six months, and so I'll be staying at a dorm specifically for Probationaries. I've packed my things, for the most part, but time has caught up with me.

In a rush, I make my way to the bus station, panting...

(More)

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>>4401585
... Only to realize I've run into my "partner" anyway. Backup. He's my backup. "Mistheart" has a reputation. An unknown in my circles. No family to speak of. No reputation that anyone knows. Like a morning mist, he rolled in on a scholarship seemingly from nowhere. His skills - at least in using his quirk, in most athletics, in many academic fields - were outstanding. But he just didn't seem to care about anything besides that. Friends were a distraction. Romance was a hindrance. Sure, there were girls that were into that mysterious-stranger sort of allure, but I...

Always felt a friction around him. He eats cheap food, wears unbranded clothes, he eats alone, he brushes off any attempt at socialization! While he's studious, he has no respect for the establishment, no care for the rules, his Suit is a gods-damned black and white pinstripe that gives me a headache, he talks too loud, and-

"Hey, Princess, you getting on, or what?" he asks, in the doorway of the bus. I'm yanked back to reality as he raises a white brow. He's already loaded my bags into the storage area and is carrying my Suit Case and carry-on.

And that god damn nickname!

>Storm onto the bus and take your things back silently.
>Berate him for helping without asking and push past him.
>Coldly thank him for his help but don't otherwise acknowledge him.
>(Write In)

>>4401589
>>Coldly thank him for his help but don't otherwise acknowledge him.

>>4401589
>>Coldly thank him for his help but don't otherwise acknowledge him.

>>4401589
>Coldly thank him for his help but don't otherwise acknowledge him.

>>4401589
>Coldly thank him for his help but don't otherwise acknowledge him.
Sounds like the start of a romance anime

HELL YEAAH USA USA USA

>Femmc
GOD FUCKING DAMNIT THIS HAS ALREADY BEEEN DONE YOU GOT MY HOPES UP AND EVERYTHING

>>4402037
>>4402043
Like clockwork

>>4401589
>Coldly thank him for his help but don't otherwise acknowledge him.

>>4401589
>Coldly thank him for his help but don't otherwise acknowledge him.

>>4401589
>Coldly thank him for his help but don't otherwise acknowledge him.

>>4402079
Agreed. The duality of mankind.

>>4401589
>Storm onto the bus and take your things back silently.

>>4402693
>>4402504
>>4402217
>>4401960
>>4401753
>>4401674
>>4401673

I keep my eyes dead ahead.
"Thank you for your help, Mistheart." I say, keeping my voice deadpan as I swing into my seat - far from him. He shrugs, seating himself with a flop and putting his feet up on the back of the next chair. It seems we mostly have the bus to ourselves. I find myself sighing, staring at the ceiling.

"You cannot be serious. I can't be expected to work with the likes of him!"
"Is there a problem?"
"You're damn right there's a problem! Why is he even up for the Program? He has no regard for the rules at all!"
"Miss Adams, please be aware that we screen these entries as carefully as we can. Certainly th young man has his issues with authority, but he is quite motivated."
"Motivated?! He nearly decked Mr. Mclane!"
"Were you in the classroom at the time, Miss Adams?"
"No, but I know-"
"Mr. Mclane has been sacked, Miss Adams. He said some very unfortunate words, and implied some very unfortunate things, about Kelly Ford. Mr. Harlock was motivated to act upon hearing these terms."
"Bu... But..."
"We do not make these assignments lightly, Miss Adams. We make them quite carefully. You will need to work with some very abrasive people in the field. Consider this a lesson."

Another sigh, rubbing my temple in thought. After that conversation, I had looked into the matter. Kelly, my amorphous friend, had been reluctant to admit to the harassment, but it had happened. And it had stopped once my... backup had stepped up. Apparently Kelly wasn't the first, and Mr. Mclane had certain views on 'purity'. Views that I don't, and hopefully nobody, agree with.

It's all so tiresome. The bus rumbles on...

>Strike up a conversation with Mistheart. Perhaps it's time for an apology.
>Find something to read in your bag.
>Take a nap?
>(Write in)

>>4403145
>>Find something to read in your bag.

>>4403145
>>Strike up a conversation with Mistheart. Perhaps it's time for an apology.

>>4403145
>Find something to read in your bag.

>>4403145
>>Find something to read in your bag

>>4403145
>Find something to read in your bag.

>>4403145
>Strike up a conversation with Mistheart. Perhaps it's time for an apology.

>>4403145
>Take a nap?

>>4403145
>>Find something to read in your bag.

>>4403145
>>Take a nap?

>>4403145
>Take a nap?

>>4403989
>>4403444
>>4403237
>>4403201
>>4403151

I've always read about Exelsior in times like this. An inspiration, the first official hero, and one of the greatest of his time. His quirk, Amplify, allowed him to boost any of his physical or mental abilities, at the cost of another. He was a stalwart defender of the people, both when he was unrestrained by the laws of the Licensing system, and after he was fettered by it.

"Excelsior, huh?" Mistheart makes you jump, sitting across the aisle from you. His elbows rest on his knees, hands loosely hanging between his legs. His sunglasses (why does he always wear them?) almost slip down, but he adjusts them back up with a smile. "No wonder I get on your nerves so much. You're a traditionalist. Should have figured."

"Naturally. I think they paired us to spite the both of us."

"On the contrary." Mistheart grins. "I never got along with anyone, Princess, so you're just the same as anyone to me." he shrugs a little, hands shaking. "But I figure I might as well get to know you better. And vice versa." he points between the two of us. "At the least, we should be able to work together."

"I don't see why such a relationship requires us to be any more than acquaintances." I say coldly, opening the book again. Mistheart sighs. "Come on, work with me a little. What have I ever done to you, specifically?"

"For one, you're interrupting my reading." I say, feeling the back of my hair bristle up. Mistheart rubs his chin, then adjusts his sunglasses again.

"Alright. Just... one question. It'll go a long way to figuring out if this is going to work at all. When it comes to being a hero, what is more important?"

>"Is it the number of people you save? The lives that you keep safe?"
>"Or is the number of villains you defeat? Threats to peace that you eliminate?"
>"Or, even, the fame that you accrue? The peace in the minds of the people, your image, the shadow you cast?"

Mistheart smiles and leans back, waiting for my answer.

>>4404532
>"Or is the number of villains you defeat? Threats to peace that you eliminate?"

>>4404532
>>"Is it the number of people you save? The lives that you keep safe?"

>>4404532
>the number of villains you defeat? Threats to peace that you eliminate?"

>>4404532
>>>"Is it the number of people you save? The lives that you keep safe?"

>>4404532
>"Is it the number of people you save? The lives that you keep safe?"

>>4404532
>"If I can only choose from this then"
>>"Is it the number of people you save? The lives that you keep safe?"
>"but if I could put it in my own words then I would say"
>"Staying true to your values and working as hard as possible"
>"If you do that all the others will follow suit"

>>4404532
>"Is it the number of people you save? The lives that you keep safe?"

>>4404706
+1

>>4404532
>"Is it the number of people you save? The lives that you keep safe?"

File: 1576645066739.jpg (355 KB, 1024x1024)

355 KB JPG

>>4405108
>>4404833
>>4404667
>>4404660
>>4404588

I sigh, snapping the book shut.

"I'd say the number of lives you save. But counting it by numbers is... It's going about it wrong, isn't it?"

"I guess." Mistheart smiles as he shrugs. "But... good answer. I think we'll do fine." he says, a too-large grin spreading across his face. But it fades rapidly, looking past me. "Princess!" he dives across the aisle, knocking me over, as something shatters the windows on both sides of the bus and something drops in.

It looks like a mess. Parts of it are clearly mechanical and others are organic. It looks fused and welded and stitched together in odd places, and the eyes shimmer from a sickly green to a menacing red. "Looks like things are already getting exciting. You okay?"

The Stitched Something uncricks its neck and keeps going, head rotating with a series of snaps and cracks before releasing an unsettling screech. Mistheart helps me to my feet. I'm out of my Suit... this is hardly ideal!

>Ask Mistheart to cover for you while you quickly change
>Just get some paper!
>Get in close! Maybe a Jerry-rig of some of those metallic parts will help...
>Check on the driver and get between him and the Something.

>>4406142
>>Get in close! Maybe a Jerry-rig of some of those metallic parts will help...

>>4406142
>"Mistheart get between driver and that Something."

>Throw a book Jerry-rigging it at last moment

>>4406142
>Get in close! Maybe a Jerry-rig of some of those metallic parts will help...

>>4406231
Support

>>4406231
+1

>>4406231
This

>>4406231
+1

>>4406231
"Mistheart, the driver!"
"Understood, Princess!"

Tch.

He picks up his Suit Case and flings it - and his sunglasses - with a smooth motion past the Something. It opens midflight, and he grins, turning to mist. White and black fog blasts out of his clothes, sweeping past the creature, who swipes at it ineffectually, and into the pinstripe black and white suit. The entire movement is so fast I don't even get a look at his eyes, and when he reforms, he catches the sunglasses and puts them on a face coalescing from the mist. He grins at the creature.
"Good driver, keep us on course!" he calls, "We will have this sorted shortly."

My turn. I draw another book - a slender paperback - from my bag and run my fingers along the spine. The book goes rigid, stuck together, every page and both covers as hard and inflexible as something like steel. And with a spinning motion I hurl it at the creature. It raises a hand, growling, to catch it - and the mechanical assemblage shatters, fingers flying off, wrist snapping back to expose wires and bone.

Mistheart slips in close while it's distracted, landing a sharp uppercut to its bony jaw. A retaliating swipe meets nothing but smoke, which reforms in short order, and the red eye turns yellow. "Daresay it's on the ropes, Princess!"

A shuddering cry from the thing, and its face opens up like an unfolding hand to reveal a steel tube. "Feeling saucy, huh?" he asks, nerves edging his voice as heat ripples from the creature's back.

>Get some paper from your Suit Case and move in!
>Tackle Mistheart out of the way!
>Punch the thing's face!
>Throw some paper from your Suit Case!
>(Write In!)

>>4407141
>>Throw some paper from your Suit Case!

>>4407141
>Throw some paper from your Suit Case!

>>4407141
>Whatever clothes we have on our back take them of throw them over THING head close on top and Jerry-rig it

>>4407141
>Throw some paper from your Suit Case!

>>4407141
>Throw some paper from your Suit Case!
Aim for the face to knock any shots off target

>>4407141
>Throw some paper from your Suit Case!

>>4407141
>In tandem with Mistheart force thing out of the bus or at least push its head out of the vehicle.

It seems it's trying to spit molten metal or something like that disabling it now might lead to explosion or it melting thru the floor of the vehicle.

>>4407141
>Get some paper from your Suit Case and move in!

>>4407141
>Throw some paper from your Suit Case!

>>4408222
>>4407503
>>4407371
>>4407362
>>4407197
>>4407196
"Can't let you -" I say, slamming my heel on the handle of my Case, making it pop open and launch a packet of paper into the air, "Do all the cool stuff!" with one motion, I leap up, take the small satchel of paper, and slide out an index card. Jerry-rigging it as I throw it, reinforcing it for less than half a minute, the razor-sharp paper sinks into the barrel of the weapon and blocks it entirely. It's held in place by the bits of jaw it also managed to pierce.

As I land, I slide the pocket to hang on one of my pockets, hearing a screeching behind me. The Stitched Something's back explodes out, fire blazing out the broken window. A smoking ruin is all that's left of its upper half, the whole mess falling apart as whatever left it together fails entirely. Even the component parts begin to dissolve, as if a quirk like mine were in action.

"Majestic." Mistheart compliments, "But it's a shame there's nothing left. Wonder who or what set it on us." he picks up the book gingerly and lays it on a nearby seat, the backlash from my quirk on it kicking in. If it's left alone for a bit it'll be fine. "Hey, Driver, is this bus always the same bus to this branch?"

"I'd say so, yeah." the man driving is practically fused with the vehicle. Some sort of tech quirk that lets him communicate with it, I heard. "We all use the same model and paint job. 'S official, like."

"Which means that someone doesn't want us out here." I say. "We'll have to send a request for info on active Villains that could pull that off."

"Yeah. Thank heavens neither of us got hurt. Be a real shame if our first outing I let my partner get injured."

"Backup."

"What?"

"You're not my partner, you're my backup."

"Right. Hang on to that all you like, Princess." he says, sliding into a chair. It'll be a bit before we arrive, still.

>"Stop calling me that!"
>"I don't want anyone getting the wrong idea."
>"Is it a trained thing, getting on people's nerves, or just a talent?"
>(Write in)

>>4409043
>(Write in)
>Let it go
>Change into your hero costume
>Ask Mistheart if he can do the same trick with costume on us that he did on himself

>>4409043
>"Is it a trained thing, getting on people's nerves, or just a talent?"

>>4409043
>>"I don't want anyone getting the wrong idea."

>>4409043
>>"I don't want anyone getting the wrong idea."

>>4409043
>"I don't want anyone getting the wrong idea."

>>4409043
>"I don't want anyone getting the wrong idea."

>>4409043
>"Stop calling me that!"

>>4409107
>>4409248
>>4409301
>>4409368
"I just, I don't want anyone getting the wrong idea." I say with a huff, lifting my Case and tossing it up. The contents were folded and placed in such a way that the Suit inside springs up towards me, and I step into it with ease. It's made to layer over my normal clothes anyway. "It'd be embarrassing."

"Oh, yes, how could someone of such low station as myself ever hope to court such a woman of fine breeding?" Mistheart states, and for the first time, there's an actual edge to his voice. "Get over yourself, and get over me." his hand slides into his pocket, his frown and displeasure much thornier than before.

"Maybe if you stopped calling me that."

"Maybe if you stopped acting like it."

The bus runs in silence for a moment, and Mistheart adjusts his sunglasses. I'm taken aback. W-was it something... I did? Or said?

>(Write in only: No prompts available.)

>>4411797
> Sure keep calling me princess then. I dislike your personality and I doubt that my attitude will change towards you significantly... I guess no one will be getting over anything anytime soon.

or

> Were you trying to hit on me and I completely dismissed it? Sorry if that had happened, romance doesn't really interest me and now we are coworkers it's inappropriate. Again sorry

>>4411797
“If you’re trying to hit on me then you need to do much better”

>>4411974
this

>>4411797
> "It's not your 'station' I have a problem with, Mistheart, it's your attitude. Never talking with your classmates, brooding in a corner, wisecracks, potshots, flaunting the rules; it feels like I've been put into a bad buddy-cop movie!"

>>4411974
support

>>4412412
+1

>>4412412
> Never talking with your classmates, brooding in a corner,

Where do you get that from?

>>4413290
This post, mostly:
>>4401589
"friends were a distraction, romance was a hindrance, he eats alone, he brushes off any attempt at socialisation, no respect for the establishment, no care for the rules" Brooding in a corner is basically just calling him an edgelord, it's not necessarily true. To be fair, calling him unscociable is probably asking for it- Janet is described as reserved and shy- but people are hypocrites.

>>4412316
Actually, switching to this. >>4412412

>>4413311
I missed that, thanks
>>4412412
+1

>>4412412
This

>>4412412
"It's not your 'station' I have a problem with, Mistheart, it's your attitude. Never talking with your classmates, brooding in a corner, wisecracks, potshots, flaunting the rules; it feels like I've been put into a bad buddy-cop movie!"

He reels as if I was much closer, much louder, and for the first time I've ever seen, a flush of emotion creeps onto his cheeks, one hand rising to massage his chin as he looks away.
"I made a lot of sacrifices and I've always lived according to my values." he says, slowly. Deliberately. "No one gets to say the things that teacher said to your friend. I had to study and work much, much more than most and I simply didn't have time for other people." a deep breath, "I suppose the truth of the matter is that I wasn't giving enough thought to how I looked and acted to others."

The silence hangs for a moment as he looks at a broken window, frowning. "I was trying to keep things light, but I guess you're a very serious person. Sorry, Reinforce. I can't make any promises, but I'll try to meet you halfway." he smiles, impish, "You can call me a knave, if it would make you feel any better." he says with a little shrug.

>Be receptive.
>Be ambivalent.
>Be cold.
>(Write In)

Apologies for the wait, folks. Work has been kicking my ass and I couldn't keep up a one-a-day by any means.

>>4415117
>Be receptive.

>>4415117
>>>Be receptive.

>>4415117
>Be receptive.

>>4415117
>Be receptive.

>>4415117
>Be receptive.
"I never did thank you, for standing up for Kelly. I appreciate it, truly. If I had known..."

>>4415117
>Be receptive.

>>4415117
>Be receptive.

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>>4416799
>>4416002
>>4415678
>>4415428
>>4415354
>>4415215
>>4415167

Silence reigns, but not for long.

"No, I don't think I will." I say, slowly, "And I'm not going to say something outrageous like 'I get it' or 'I understand'. Because, frankly, the gap in our lives is too big. But..." I cross my arms, "I accept your apology, and acknowledge your commitment. And... Thank you, for standing up for Kelly."

"I'm sure you'd have done the same. Guy needed to get knocked a peg." Mistheart replies, carefully placing the glass he'd gathered into a pile. "Settle in, though, because the ride's a bit longer." he chuckles, "If only we arrived right away, right? This feels a bit awkward," and indeed, even after occupying myself with cleaning up - staying in my Suit for now - it's a good few hours before we slide into town. The town itself isn't large - probably one could walk across it in only a few hours at most - and there's an oddness to it. The architecture is old, carefully maintained, but old. The roads aren't modernized everywhere. Streetlights are unevenly placed. Compared to the university town we left, it feels downright backwards.

"School your expression, Pri-... Sorry, Reinforce." Mistheart advises. "Folks that live in these sorts of places take pride in the... charm of their towns. And to be honest, I don't dislike it myself. It feels more honest, somehow." he grins at the transit center we pull into, which is topped with a massive cross-section of a log. Hollowed out with clockwork in, apparently, because there's a working clockface on it. "Never lived in the country, I take it?"
>(more)

>>4416924

"...No, I can't say I have."

"I think you should let me do the talking, then." he says, stepping out of the bus when it comes to a stop. He retrieves both our luggage, sitting on his own - a single wheeled piece, in black. The air smells different, out here. It smells of freshly cut grass and woodsmoke. It isn't long before our ride arrives, though I can't help but wince. An old sports car, dinged and dented and missing a front bumper, with two tones to the paint, with one headlight missing and one back window replaced with duct tape, pulls up. The engine purrs but the vehicle's exterior looks ready to fall apart once it hits a freeway. And when the driver's side door opens, there's a quiet sound of metal on metal, some cursing, a few bangs, and then it finally bangs open. A woman, you'd estimate her to be in her late thirties, dressed in rough denim jeans, heavy boots, a thick bomber jacket, and her hair tied back into a bun, waves you over.

"Howdy! I'm Newton, your official hero trainer." she cals, her voice thick with cigarettes and shouting. You notice now, she has a pair of fingerless gloves hanging from a black leather belt with metal knuckles. Newton, Newton... You recall the name from somewhere. But you can't think of where. "So, you wanna hit your digs right away, or get a bite to eat? I know a place."

>Let's get settled in.
>I'm starving!
>What kind of code name is Newton?
>Write in.

>>4416925
>>I'm starving!

>>4416925
>I'm starving!

>>4416925
>I'm starving!

>>4416925
>>I'm starving!

>>4416925
>I'm starving!

>>4416925
>I'm starving!

>>4416925
>>I'm starving!
>>What kind of code name is Newton?

>>4418204
>>4417745
>>4417391
>>4417369
>>4416948
>>4416938
"You know what, I'm starving. Can we drop our things off and get something to eat?" I ask.

"For once we're in agreement, Reinforce." Mistheart says happily, popping open his Suit Case and misting back into his noral clothes. I slide out of my Suit, carefully folding it back into position into my Case and snapping it shut. The Cases, we keep on our persons - and perhaps out of a sense of paranoia I keep a card case clipped to my pocket. Newton drives us across town to our new dorm.

The place looks...

"Holy shit, what the hell happened here?" Mistheart says, voicing both our shock, though I wouldn't have used as much... color. The exterior is scorched in places, half-finished paint jobs in patches around the building, parts of the facade still being replaced. The sign over the doorway is similarily broken, metal letters missing. Rather than NATIONAL HERO ASSOCIATION OFFICE, it reads NAT HE AS OCI TI N OFF.

"There was an accident." Newton says evenly, "We're working on getting it back to standard."

We drop our things off in the lobby, which is mostly repaired.
"We'll survey the damage later." Mistheart says, "Let's get a bite to eat."
"Right." my nerves fray a little, but I gather myself together, Newton driving us to a local diner. It's almost lunch time, and the place is busy - older men, leathery folks. You don't recall seeing farmland on the way in, but you assume it's on the other end of town from the transit center.

The waitress, a young lady with feline features and a long, slender tail and a nametag that says CAITLIN, smiles at us, her gaze lingering briefly on Mistheart - who is still wearing his sunglasses.

"What are y'all needing today? Water, coffee, to start you?" coffees are ordered all about, Mistheart watching Caitlin go with a smile.
"She's taken." Newton says, perhaps a bit sharply, and Mistheart chuckles.
"A man can dream." he says. "Real blue-collar town, though, isn't it?"

"It is." Newton says, "Logging, farming, construction in the bigger towns. Boys load up in vans for that last one." she explains. "Mr. King owns a lot of the farmland, one of the construction companies, and some logging rights." she nods to a gentleman sitting at a large table, yukking it up with a large group of old boys. "He showed me around this place when I got here."

"Important man in the community. A pillar, you might say." Mistheart states evenly.
"And Jan runs this diner." Newton continues, "Young lady who is great with numbers, some sort of thinker quirk." she sighs, then perks up at Caitlin returns.

"So what can I get you folks?"

>Just an egg sandwich with hash browns.
>Get me the biggest burger you folks have!
>Some kind of pasta?
>The veggie skillet looks tasty...
>Whatever Mistheart is having.

>>4418354
>>Some kind of pasta?

>>4418354
>Get me the biggest burger you folks have!

>>4418354
>Some kind of pasta?

>>4418354
>>Get me the biggest burger you folks have!
We may be a refined lady, BUT NO RED BLOODED AMERICAN IS TOO REFINED FOR A BORGAR!

>>4418354
>Get me the biggest burger you folks have!

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>>4418354
>Bacon and eggs

>>4418354
>Get me the biggest burger you folks have!

>>4418354
>Get me the biggest burger you folks have!
USA USA USA

>>4418354
>Bacon and eggs

>>4418354
>Just an egg sandwich with hash browns.
or alternatively,
>Bacon and eggs

>>4418354
>Bacon and eggs

>>4418354
>Whatever Mistheart is having.

>>4418442
>>4418651
>>4418666
>>4418676
>>4418780

>>4419496
>>4419207
>>4419139
>>4418668

>>4418395
>>4418593

>>4419207

A bounty of votes!

The menu is a challenge. The carefully selected meals and foods of my upbringing quail at the fats and carbs and horrible, horrible calories. I can feel Mistheart's shaded eyes watching me, waiting for me to pick some fussy meal utterly unsuited to the diner. Look at the city-slicker, can't even enjoy a hearty meal, sort of thing. Part of me even feels Mr. King looking on. A deep breath, and I decide the easiest way to approach this is to match their expectations with subversion.

I snap the menu shut.

"Give me the biggest burger you folks have." I say, before I lose my nerve. Caitlin's tail curls a little, Mistheart raises his eyebrows, Newton chokes a little on her drink.

And King raises a glass in a little salute.

"R-right." the catlike woman responds. Mistheart orders a rather more sensible egg sandwich and hashbrowns, Newton gets herself a smaller burger, and as as she departs, King rises from where he was holding 'court' and heads out.
"Best of luck with that, young lady." he says in passing.

The weight of my decision finally lands, and I groan, leaning back in the chair.
"You made quite an impression." Mistheart says with a smirk, hiding a more obvious smile behind his coffee. "Anyway, I believe an explanation is in order before we continue. What kind of fire happened at the branch?"

"A... An accident." Newton says, clearly uneasy. "A quirk fit. A fire user we were keeping in protective custody lost control. He was being kept here out of the way, but... I guess his nerves gave out, or something."

Mistheart doesn't look convinced. Was the condition of the place all that suspect?

>Join Mistheart in pushing the question.
>Try to mollify him, there's nothing to dig at here.
>Convince him it's not important now, look into it later?
>(Write in)

>>4421538
>Join Mistheart in pushing the question.

>>4421538
>>(Write in)
>Remember that you were attacked on the way here and it should be mentioned

>>4421538
>Join Mistheart in pushing the question.

>>4421538
>>Join Mistheart in pushing the question.
also
>>4421650

>>4422527
This

>>4421538
>Join Mistheart in pushing the question.

>>4422527
Support

>>4422527
+1

>>4422527
"Quirk fits happen during adolescence or with those who have QRS." Quirk Rejection Syndrome is an uncommon ailment that causes a quirk to poorly work with the body at large in one way or another. Sometimes it manifests as 'fits', where a quirk goes out of control, other times with pain. It's different for everyone who has it. "If he had QRS, the police would have known and would have taken precautions. You're holding out, Newton. What really happened?"

"...We were attacked on our way in. Something isn't right with this town."

Newton gathers herself and sighs.
"You have to accept what I'm telling you." she says, not meeting our eyes. "There's work that needs doing here, and if you get yourselves wrapped up in my issues, then you won't get anywhere. Or worse. As for your attack...?"

"Some weird... machine thing broke into the bus. It had organic components as well as mechanical ones and didn't seem all that intelligent."

"Stitcher." Newton says, "He's a villain at large in the area. He probably saw a bus and thought it was an easy target. The area is such in the sticks that it's pretty common for big-city villains to think this is good hiding space. That's our usual problem, along with stupid teenagers."

"And mysterious fires." Mistheart grumbles, but is mollified by a deathly glare. He raises his hands in surrender. Clearly that issue is completely off-limits, for some reason. A turn of his head towards me indicates this is a matter we'll personally investigate, and I give him the slightest of nods.

"As I was saying, we're going to be working on repairing the branch and doing community outreach for starters." Newton says, leaning away from the table as dishes are - Sweet sweat of Excelsior, that's a big ass burger. It's as wide as my hand from pinky to thumb fanned out, loaded heavy with cheese, patties, an onion ring, fried eggs... "And I know this isn't what you expected, but you have to understand that the community is one of the most important parts of the job."

"What, exactly, do you mean by outreach?" Mistheart asks.

"Odd jobs, mostly. Being seen helping around town, really." Newton says, poking at her food.

Mistheart leans back, taking bites from his meal, thoughtful.
"Sounds fun." he says, smiling, "I wasn't in the mood to fight all the time anyway. Give glory to the glorious, I'll take my barn raising any day."

"What about you, Reinforce? Disappointment?"

>(Write In Only)

>>4424565
>"Surprise mostly. I don't know enough about the kind of odd jobs I might have to do to have an opinion yet."

>>4424752
Support

>>4424752
+1

>>4424752
This

>>4425627
I hope this isn't dead

Ded

noooooo

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We're not dead yet.

Things have been more than a little rough. Various issues converged at once - financial, family, and work. I don't want to elaborate, but I think I might have time now.

I'll be back on for sure around noon PST. If not then, a few hours later.

I've been really surprised by the support for this quest. Thanks for hanging on, true believers!

Here's a look at your roommate mentioned earlier in the quest (Ophelia), who I'm shamelessly stealing.

>>4436946
Oh, uh, and if the thread dies, we'll just start another. :V

>>4436946
>>4436977
Wow its not dead guys. When we should archive it?

>>4437043
If this thread lives when I return, I suppose the next update will have to set up the next thread. this board has wonky bumping.