Disclaimer: I own nothing but my original characters and works; all other characters and worlds belong to their respective owners. I'm just playing with them.
Betad by Mike God of Lore, Priapus, Beans, Malcolm Tent
Guild of Gamers: The Card Master
Chapter 06: First Day on the Job
– Charles 'Charlie' Barnes –
Now, it is genuinely possible that Madison is just a Cape Slut. You hear about them every so often, girls who are really into the idea of fucking capes for some reason. Newter is said to have a bunch of fangirls who try hanging around Faultline's club to get some contact high, which apparently he finds creepy.
…it must suck to get anyone you touch high as a kite. Can't date without feeling like Heartbreaker.
Plus, there's no doubt dudes who do the same for female capes but you hear less about them because… well, a male cape is more likely to be tempted into fucking a fangirl than a female cape. Or maybe that's just my assumption, I don't fucking know. People always say it's easier for a girl to get laid than a guy, but what do I know? I'm a virgin who hasn't dated since I started in Winslow and I don't think middle-school dating really counts. Fucking Emma, what is her major malfunction.
The point is, it is genuinely possible that Madison just loves the idea of getting fucked by a cape and now she knows a cape's civvie identity. I guess she's straight or Sophia just wasn't interested. Or hell, maybe they're fucking too for all I know. But, deep down, I do not trust this in the slightest. Something ain't right here.
First Sophia, Queen Bitch of Winslow herself, is eager to support me in my new life and now Madison is basically welcoming me with open legs? Something is off in Emma's friend group and I don't know what.
But on the other hand, Madison is seriously cute and I would be a filthy liar if I said I wasn't tempted. I am well aware that Emma, Sophia and Madison are at the top of most desired girls at my school. I've had a lot of guys hoping I'd get them Emma's number, given the fact that she's a literal model. Sophia's got an ass so nice it even has the Empire wannabies staring as she walks and Madison is the cute to the others' sexy. Mads might be in third place, but that still makes her the third hottest girl in Winslow.
So, I am well aware that I am lying when I say that I'm considering springing this trap out of some genius strategy. That said, that doesn't mean I'm only considering playing along for the fun of it. My plan, if you could even call it that, is simple. I'm going to have my Foul Watcher spy on Madison for a while. It looks close enough to a regular raven when it has its extra eyes shut and its senses are far better than a regular bird. I'll play along to see how far she'll go and to see what she does if things go her way.
Still, the last thing I want to do is be too eager and send back some message that she can use to embarrass me. I'm eternally convinced that Emma is scheming, and this is no exception to the rule. If this is a trap, I want to snatch the prize from it and have it spring on my would-be trappers rather than lose my own arm to it.
I'm greedy like that.
First Black Choice Chosen. Three Black Cards granted. One Black-aligned Land granted.
[Essence Drain]
Effect: Drains life from a target, healing the caster for the same amount of damage dealt.
"Life's essence is a nectar unlike any I tasted when I lived as a mortal."
—Zul Ashur, lich lord
[Banehound]
Type: Nightmare Hound
Effects: Lifelink, Haste
"I wish I could train a pack of them for hunting in the undercity. But I'd never dare turn my back, and I hate to think what I'd have to feed them."
—Zhosmir, urban huntmaster
[Piper of the Swarm]
Type: Human Warlock
Effects: Has complete command of rodents. By sacrificing the target's weight in Rats, the Piper gains control of a target creature.
"If it has ears, it will dance to my tune."
[Neglected Manor]
Empowers Black and White Spells
They say every family who resided there met a grisly end, and once in a while you'll hear their screams echoing through the moldering halls
Staring at my three new cards, I bite my lip as I realise the crossroads before me. I'm already a Master, but I'm the haha funny summoning projection style Master. Not the 'haha Birdcage instantly, do not pass go, do not collect $200, literally go die in a hole' type.
Only, now I'm both.
Shaking my head, I banish that card until I can decide what the fuck I am going to do about it.
The others are interesting, and fit my theme. Essence Drain is finally a way for me to attack directly rather than just using summons, debuffing and immobilising my enemies. I will never say no to a way to heal myself, and now I have two because Banehound's Lifelink heals me when it does damage.
Much like the Foul Watcher, Banehound is a Nightmare. It looks like a large, shaggy wolf with too many eyes and teeth. The kind of thing you would never want to see in a dark alleyway. Since it fits into my theme so well, I summon it and take a picture to send to Glenn in the chat he made for me. It's basically me and three dozen PR specialists and the sight of the Banehound makes the chat go wild.
Floodhound is friend-shaped. Banehound is Das Kinderschredder shaped. He looks like he has a diet exclusively of the souls of his victims.
"Who's a good boy, who's a good boy? You are. Yes you are," I fuss, ruffling his almost sharp fur happily. Now I have two dogs. This superpower thing is great. If God didn't want me to stroke two dogs at once, he would not have given me two hands. Either God or Evolution deemed it necessary for me to be able to fuss too good boys at once, and who am I to argue?
As for my Land? Eh, fuck it. Without stopping to think, I summon it on my island with zero shame. Am I going to get shouted at? Probably but I want to see how much they kiss my ass with the idea of my running away the moment I turn 18. I haven't been explicitly told not to summon new lands and I placed it on my island, inside my hedgemaze, but if they're not worried about me running, Piggot is going to rip me a new asshole over changing the landscape, even slightly again. If they're more gentle and polite, then they've got the message and it'll give me an idea of their plan on how to get me to stay. As the son of a lawyer, I can handle getting shouted at by Director Piggot. Worst case, they start me on disciplinary measures and that means no patrols, console duty, etc. All stuff I already planned to do.
The local PRT might want me to spend my time doing hero things, but the overarching PRT is more than happy to pay capes like me to sit on our hands doing nothing. It makes sense, to be perfectly honest. Every teenage cape who joins the Wards and spends their time fucking around not doing anything is one that isn't running around making a mess, either as a well-meaning independent or as a villain mad with their new power.
Brockton Bay's Wards seem way more active than most, but the system works the same here as it does everywhere else. Same rules, just a different referee.
Getting a message from Glenn, I read it and pause before shrugging. He wants to debut Banehound basically immediately, while also helping build my civvie disguise better. The 'Corvo' that people have seen aurafarming around the city hasn't actually been me. My outfit isn't ready yet, but they threw together a less protective one and had a PRT trooper that fit my built play the part. Since he's always seen in the dark, it's worked well to build up Corvo's rep without me actually needing to make an appearance.
Glenn wants to test if my summons can obey other people if I order them to, which is important information to have. The idea is for the fake Corvo to do some covert patrolling, maybe interrupt a minor crime or two, while I am at my internship. I'm one of the few capes who can afford to not be on the scene where my power is being used, after all. Muddying the waters about my identity and my powers limitations are both important so I don't see a reason to disagree.
I kinda like Glenn. He's fun and surprisingly smart. Some of his ideas are a little extra but he understands me better than the others I've dealt with so far and knows that I don't love the idea of being the extroverted, shake hands and kiss babies type of hero. All his ideas only push the idea of this elusive and mysterious hero further.
– PHO –
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♦ Topic: Corvo's Goodest Boy
In: Boards ► Locations ► America ► Brockton Bay
Feychick (Original Poster)
Posted On Jan 12th 2011:
I know Corvo hasn't even officially debuted yet, but I had to make a post on this.
So, I was walking home and unfortunately, I both live in Brockton Bay and worse still, I live in the docks area. Yeah, I know. There are easier ways to kill yourself. I'm in the nicer parts, but it's still a place you can see ABB and Merchant tags on any street.
Anyway, I was walking home because the bus never showed up (yay Brockton Bay services!) leaving me stranded, and predictably, a woman walking alone in the Docks immediately attracted unwanted attention.
Within half a block, two Merchants showed up and with their usual grace and eloquence, attempted to drag me into an alleyway. I'll be real, I thought it was over. The Merchants are better to be grabbed by than the ABB, but we've all heard stories of them forcibly drugging their victims to 'make new customers'.
Fortunately, they didn't even make it to the entrance to the alleyway before the newest Ward (probably) made his appearance.
Firstly, lemme tell you that the grainy images of him lurking on rooftops does nothing to show just how intimidating he can be. His raven landed on his shoulder, and I think that was how he knew I was in danger, then... this little pupper made an appearance.
[GoodestBoy]
We've all seen the images of his water dog, but as cute as it is, it can't compare to how adorable Banehound is (that's what Corvo called it). You may be saying 'but Fey, that's a monster born from my deepest nightmares, why would you call it cute?'
I call it cute because anything that makes my would-be muggers/druggers/rapists piss themselves and run for their lives can only be adorable.
One of them literally ran into a brick wall because he was too busy looking behind him. The other got about... ten feet before Banehound caught up and dragged him back by the leg
Surprisingly, it didn't even maul them. Even when I asked nicely.
Anyway, the PRT troopers showed up and took them away basically asap which more or less confirms he's a Ward because they had to be on the way before the whole thing started.
I got a pic with my saviour. Corvo was there too ig (jk, love ya @Corvo)
[SelfiewithBestBoy]
Banehound also likes ear scritches, just watch you don't hit any of his eight eyes.
(Showing page 1 of 4)
►Groupies
Replied On Jan 12th 2011:
girl get a new job that doesn't have you walking through the docks late at night
fucking Brocktonites istg
►WagTheDog
Replied On Jan 12th 2011:
can confirm that Banehound is indeed a gud boi
four sets of eyes just means he sees four times as much crime to munch on
►Deimos
Replied On Jan 12th 2011:
brother if that thing showed up in a dark alleyway it wouldnt need to attack
my soul is already ascending
how tf are you so comfortable with your head right next to those big ass teeth
which literally have blood on it
►Ultim8Survivor (Banned)
Replied On Jan 12th 2011:
merchant rapist blood
►Feychick (Original Poster)
Replied On Jan 12th 2011:
What Ulti said basically
if you don't want Banehound to bite you, don't be a criminal
►Lasersmile
Replied On Jan 12th 2011:
fuck i forgot to return a dvd i rented and now the company is out of biz
am i a thief?
banehound, ill find a way to return it, i swear
i wont even jaywalk anymore
►Leet (Verified Cape)
Replied On Jan 12th 2011:
wtf
why does a ward have that FETCH ME THEIR SOULS ass looking monster?
►Morgan Sinister
Replied On Jan 12th 2011:
sry you had to go through that Fey
but holy shit that dog is so cool
the goodest boi
►White Fairy (Veteran Member)
Replied On Jan 12th 2011:
I prefer the water hound
Mostly because I can look at the picture of it without feeling like the eyes are following me
It is just a jpg, right? It shouldn't feel like its moving
►Leet (Verified Cape)
Replied On Jan 12th 2011:
wait wtf
shes right
why is it following me?
►WagTheDog
Replied On Jan 12th 2011:
It can sense your crimes, clearly.
Rest in Peace, Leet. You were sometimes kinda funny, I guess.
►Groupies
Replied On Jan 12th 2011:
RIP
►Dawgsmiles (Veteran Member)
Replied On Jan 12th 2011:
RIP
►Uber (Verified Cape)
Replied On Jan 12th 2011:
RIP
►Deadman
Replied On Jan 12th 2011:
They're going all in with the horror theme, huh?
Shadow Stalker might as well paint herself pink and call herself Princess Sparkles in comparison. Corvo is way more intimidating than her.
►Ultim8Survivor (Banned)
Replied On Jan 12th 2011:
Moderator Edit: message deleted, take a three-day ban
End of Page. 1, 2, 3, 4
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– Lisa Wilbourne –
Intern work was infamous for keeping you busy as all hell, since the superiors would just push any and all tedious work onto you. It came as a surprise to her to find that this internship wasn't nearly as bad, and it only took her a moment to realise why.
It was a front for a Ward. They couldn't overload all the interns with work and then leave Charlie out of it. So, she wasn't as flooded with work as she expected and better yet, most of the workers here had been told to leave the interns to their work. The partners didn't want some dumbass junior lawyer pushing around a Ward just because they wanted to flex their nonexistent power over someone 'below them'. But again, they couldn't single out Charlie, even with the excuse of him being Alan Barnes' son so the partners had just put out a blank 'don't bother the interns' message instead.
Perking up as she heard Carol Dallon's voice, she continued typing and didn't actively look toward where Carol was giving Charlie the tour that she had already had. She had officially graduated (according to her papers) so she started earlier than Charlie who still had to go to school. She'd enjoyed it, surprisingly, if only because of how many delicious secrets were just waiting to be picked up.
And holy shit was Carol Dallon a bundle of issues. New Wave wasn't doing as well financially as they wanted people to think, but Brandish and Lady Photon refused to take sponsorships that would give some corporation or figure power over New Wave's actions. Carol was taking more jobs than she could reasonably handle, which had given Lisa the perfect chance to impress her by taking some of the load off with her own flawless work.
She wasn't sure if it would ever be useful, but at the very least it wasn't a bad thing to have such a hardass heroine relying on you.
Alan Barnes, on the other hand, was far more picky when it came to jobs. He took clients where he was sure he'd win, causing a near-perfect record which only made him in higher and higher demand. Honestly, compared to Carol he was boring.
He wasn't fucking his secretary, wasn't scheming anything beyond being a successful lawyer, wasn't embezzling. He was distracted from his work at the moment but that was because he kept looking up Corvo's PHO thread. The worst she'd seen was a temporary loss of composure as his eyes moved to her ass when she had to get something from the bottom drawer, but he recovered faster than most did.
It made sense, he worked almost exclusively with divorcing housewives (as the US court system almost always sided with the wife, and therefore he wouldn't risk his record by taking a male client unless he was sure he could win) and many of them wanted to feel wanted again. He was a fairly handsome and successful man, and she'd seen enough to know that a ring on his finger was more of an appeal than a detraction for most women, especially the types that found themselves needing an expensive top-rated divorce lawyer.
He was used to women being far more flirty than an innocent movement that happened to have her bend over. Which only made her more curious over the fact that as far as she could tell, and she could tell a lot, he hadn't strayed. It told her that Charlie's family life was probably fairly pleasant despite the PRT reports signalling that Charlie was pissed at being signed up. It also meant he was less likely to go villain (because people with healthy relationships with their parents were significantly less likely to become villains).
Just look at the Undersiders.
"This is where you'll be working," Carol continued, entering the room. "And this is your fellow intern. Lisa, this is Charles, he'll be working alongside you though on a more part-time basis."
As Carol entered, she tabbed back to her work from PHO and rose, giving them a smile.
"A pleasure," Charlie greeted with a small nod. As he did, he gave her a subtle once-over. It wasn't gawking, but just a quick… inspection, and he clearly liked what he saw. That was good, at least. She did pick it out just for him, after all.
Charlie is sexually aroused, but not just about you. Was already worked up before, didn't have time to take care of it.
"The pleasure is all mine," Lisa replied easily. Well, wasn't that interesting? She still wasn't loving the idea of being a honeypot, but if something was already getting him all worked up then it only worked in her favour.
"Lisa, I want you to show Charles the work I've had you doing. He'll be aiding you with it, he's signed the NDAs," Carol said, hesitating.
Carol knows Charlie is Corvo. She is interested in his powers, reason currently unknown. Sees them as valuable enough to potentially poach him from the PRT. Convinced Alan to have Charlie intern here rather than at one of the PRT approved locations. Coached Alan on how to negotiate for Charlie's Ward contract.
"I'll be in my office if you need anything," Carol continued. That was an offer Lisa firmly didn't get. Carol Dallon certainly didn't have an open door policy. "And your father's office is just down the hall."
Added that for your benefit. Realised she was treating Charlie differently and wanted an excuse for why. Carol noticed Charlie's eye wandering earlier, and is both flattered and insulted to be ogled by a teenage boy. Carol's sexlife is nonexistent and while Brandish is the subject of attraction from fanboys, Carol feels unappealing in her cape identity. Issue is related to her sister, more information needed there. Carol didn't scold him for checking out her ass, instead put a tiny amount of sway into her steps. Isn't doing it consciously. Plans to be a mentor figure for Charlie, is practical enough to know that his attraction to her only helps.
Hiding a wince, she waved Charlie over to his desk as Carol left. Hmm. Could be a problem. Brandish might just be the most black and white hero there was in Brockton Bay. She'd push Charlie in the exact opposite direction that Lisa wanted him moving in. To her, villains were evil and heroes were good. She'd built her entire mindset around it, and it was a fragile one. Something about her trigger.
"So, we're basically on data input duty," Lisa explained, gesturing for him to take a seat and leaning forward to push the side of her breast against his arm. She didn't miss the look Carol gave her as the heroine finally fully left. "Long story short, the firm is digitalising a lot of old case files and client information into a new system. It's… tedious to be honest, but easy enough. How's your typing speed?"
Carol will be a problem. Firmly disapproves of relationships in the workplace. Might push to separate you and Charlie, both for her own ends and to sooth her own 'workplace ethics'. Is aware of the hypocrisy with her own actions and plans, but that will only make her double down on other people breaking her code of ethics. Is a bitch.
"Pretty damn good, I think," Charlie replied easily. Mechanical skills from gaming.
"With the two of us, we might even be able to make a dent in the pile. The firm has been busy, lots of clients and cases at the moment, so it's just been me," Lisa explained with a smile as she showed him where to input the data.
After being sure he knew what he was doing, as to not give Carol a reason to come after her, she returned to her desk and 'got to work' as she tabbed back over. Huh, 'Corvo' was still being sighted in multiple places around the docks… and from the times, it couldn't be Charlie but it was his power?
Is using this to create more separation between his civilian identity and his cape identity by being in two places at once. His power is extremely long range. Charlie occasionally reacts to nothing, extrasensory power. Seeing through his projections?
Whew, that range was no joke. As they typed, she engaged in a little smalltalk over the sound of clicking keys. Charlie was good at multitasking. Unnaturally good. Something he didn't seem to realise himself. At some points, he was holding conversation with her, typing, reading and reacting to something only he could see. From her spot, she could see his screen and he seemed to make few to no mistakes as he worked despite her distracting him.
Finding reasons to stretch, bend over or just generally be in his line of sight was easy enough, but she would be lying if she said she had a plan on how to go forward with this. Seduction missions weren't exactly her speciality. She could work out exactly what made people tick, but actually turning that into an actionable plan wasn't so easy especially when the end goal ended up with her putting out when she really wasn't thrilled with the idea to begin with.
Coil doesn't care if you find it distasteful. Coil is amused at the idea of giving you a job you don't like. You've done something to piss him off lately.
…yeah, thanks. Like she hadn't worked that out by herself.