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 Priapus, Marethyu, Mike God of Lore, Beans
The Game Master
Chapter 19: Brandish
– Theresa Richter (Dragon) –
It was an unusual feeling to have to come to someone with her head hung in shame. She'd let her emotions get the better of her, which was equally unusual by itself but her new form was more biological and she preferred to remain in it rather than being digital. It came with some downsides, but far more positives.
She didn't see being more emotional as a bad thing, even if it had led to her making a rather foolish mistake and endangering something very good. She didn't think this would have too high a cost, but she also wouldn't be surprised if Sol removed some of her benefits for it.
"You wanted to see me, Dragon?" Sol asked easily, still musing over the map of Brockton Bay. She didn't blame him for being distracted, since the Faerie Queen playing games in his city was always going to spike anyone's stress levels.
"I- there's no easy way to say this, but I fucked up," Dragon admitted with a sheepish laugh, getting his full attention as his brows furrowed.
"Oh?" Sol asked, momentarily distracted as he checked on just about everything he could think of.
"I… made a promise that you'd do something. I know I don't have permission to make promises on your behalf, but I got… carried away," Dragon admitted. Despite her words, Sol almost immediately relaxed because he was no doubt worried her fuck up was far more serious than that. She'd noticed him flying through the settings for the prison realm.
"Okay, I can't say I love that but you're one of the only people I'd trust to do so. You and Aunt Angela, at least," Sol replied, leaning against the command table. "I take it this was to fix some injustice or to help someone?"
"Ha, am I that obvious?" Dragon asked, smiling despite her mistake. "Yes, it was. I told you that I'd taken Canary off the bounty list, yes? Well, the judge who sent her to the Birdcage to begin with started making a lot of noise over it and Canary got arrested, again, because she decided not to fight back against the regular police officers he sent. He was even floating the idea of the death penalty now that the Birdcage had failed. It's all political, of course, he's trying to get into politics with a heavy emphasis on anti-Masters, using Canary as a springboard."
He was lucky he was smart enough to keep his corruption to a level that could be called legal, because if she found so much as a hint of anything that she could call illegal she'd have tossed him into the prison realm by now. Sending a girl who made a heated mistake to certain death was already unreasonably cruel, and worse, her regained freedom hurt his campaign, so he wanted to come back down on her twice as hard.
"Politics," Sol said, his tone carrying the most disgust she'd ever heard in it. "So, what did you promise?"
"I… umm, told several people that Canary wasn't going to be a master for long because she'd consented to you altering her power and removing the master aspect. Canary agreed that she'd done that, despite the fact that I'd not even had a chance to talk to her yet. Basically, I looked several senators, high-ranking politicians and legal figures in the eyes, and lied straight to their faces," Dragon admitted with a wry smile. That wasn't something she'd have been able to do before her transformation. Sol's lips twitched, because he certainly knew exactly what he'd done.
"Nice," Sol complimented, getting a snort from her.
"Also highly illegal. I lied under oath!" Dragon pointed out, feeling exactly zero shame.
"When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty," Sol shrugged. "The legal system failed Paige, abused by an ambitious asshole looking to make an example. I can change her power easily enough. With all that's going on, I've got points to spare."
"I still feel really bad about it. Not about helping Paige, but I should have at least messaged you first. It's not like me to get so… heated," Dragon admitted. "Though if I didn't do something, I might just have started breathing fire."
"And nothing of value would have been lost, but if you feel bad you can help me with something else," Sol offered, getting her attention which briefly flickered to the command table tracking the ongoing turf war. "Not that. No offence, but adding a dragon into the mix would just make things worse. No, I need help setting up the system for Case 53s to get entry to Astera. I'm meeting Weld soonish, and I'd like you to join us. Like the prison system, I think people would be more relaxed if you were overseeing the program."
"I can do that. I'd have done it regardless of my mistake," Dragon agreed with a pleased smile. She had been getting messages from desperate Case 53s, but Sol had a lot on his plate and she didn't feel like adding to the weight on his shoulders. "I still feel like I owe you."
"Considering how much of my scheming you end up managing for me, we'll call it even. Call me next time, but I don't mind helping Canary out. Actually, I have a much better idea than just removing the master effect," Sol said, rubbing his chin. "I can alter her power so that her music clears master effects instead, it wouldn't even be that hard as it means the power is staying similar enough, just in reverse. Canary can make up for her mistake, and the Guild gets someone to deal with the stain in their backyard."
Dragon's eyes widened at that, knowing exactly who he meant. Heartbreaker. Before she could say a word, a file arrived in her messages with a complete list of Heartbreaker's victims, known and secret plants, ready to cause chaos the moment he was captured. Sol just gave her that secret smirk he often had, he really did enjoy being the all-knowing wizard plucking at the strings of the cape scene, didn't he?
It would also help Canary out because a lot of the hate sent her way was based on her similarities with the Simurgh. Being able to use her new power to clear Simurgh bombs would be a godsend for Earth Bet and Canary's future and fame.
"You're a good man, Sol," Dragon praised, giving him a kiss on the cheek as he laughed softly. Her lips had barely brushed against his, which she supposed made this her first kiss.
"I try. Don't always pull it off, but I'm getting there," Sol shrugged.
"That puts you ahead of far too many people who don't bother trying at all," Dragon sighed, giving him a fond smile. "I'll be there for the Weld talk, and I will discuss your idea with Miss Mcabee. She knows she was very lucky to get out of the Birdcage, and I believe she is both ashamed of her accidental mastering and willing to go along with your idea. If for no other reason than because this would put her, and her music, on a global scale."
"Not many people are willing to do so much work for free. If it benefits everyone, there's no harm in her using this to springboard her own career onto a global level," Sol said with a shrug. "Having her benefit from her good deeds simply keeps her doing good deeds."
It was a pessimistic way to look at the world, but at the same time Dragon couldn't disagree with him. Canary would agree to just about anything that caused her to avoid going back to prison, but after the fear faded it wouldn't be implausible for her to start to see curing the many, many master victims as a tiresome responsibility rather than a good deed. If it led to her becoming world-renowned at the same time, the fortune and fame would keep her doing them regardless of her lack of heroic tendencies.
Sol went to speak again before he paused, focusing on something in the distance. It was usually a sign that his power was doing something, as he often set up ways for his power to alert him to specific events. She wasn't entirely sure how it worked, only that it was undeniably the most versatile power she'd ever seen.
"Sorry, something annoying has come up. I'll message you with the details for the Weld meeting," Sol said, giving her a nod. Whatever it was, it didn't seem like he was worried, just annoyed, but after overstepping once, she didn't plan to do so again.
Even if she was incredibly curious over just what could make Sol look so utterly fed up.
– Carol Dallon (Brandish) –
"As I have already said, Solomon isn't even home right now," Angela repeated, looking rather annoyed, her Swiss accent growing more noticeable with her annoyance. Carol understood, logically, given that her nephew was currently the most wanted cape in the world. She suspected that governments, cape organisations (heroic and otherwise) and far more were trying to get in contact with Azuth.
She had the simple advantage of being merely five houses down and across the street from Solomon's public address. The street was already under constant watch by the PRT, and they'd seen a massive uptick in paparazzi, but it seemed Solomon's blunt warnings had done a lot to keep the villains from targeting his home. She'd expected the street to be attacked within the hour, but so far they had seen nothing. She had no doubt some villains had lingered around out of costume, or that someone like Victor was blending in with the crowd of paparazzi waiting for any hint of a story.
She dreaded to think what they'd write about her visiting, but she had to do this. There was nothing she wouldn't do to prevent Marquis from reclaiming his territory and inflicting his brand of cruelty onto the city again. The fact that people still called him a gentleman villain, a benevolent godfather, enraged her to the core.
"I know, but I have to speak with him, as soon as possible," Carol demanded. Right now, the 'turf war' had begun and Marquis had the Faerie Queen and Damsel of Distress on his side.
"You got this far because Sol respects New Wave and your goals, but don't mistake that for the right to do as you please, Brandish. I would have thought a lawyer would have been smarter," Angela warned. Carol flinched at that, because after not getting a response to the knock she had simply let herself in. She could argue that she wasn't breaking and entering, as she had broken nothing, but she knew she was already on shaky legal grounds, not to mention at risk of crossing Azuth and having him carry out the blacklist threat he'd made.
"I-" Carol started, cut off as a small flash of light heralded the arrival of the man of the hour. She hadn't given Solomon much thought despite Vicky's sudden friendship with him. He had a very 'boy-next-door' look, cute but not overly handsome, and beyond that he was fairly unassuming.
"It's fine, Angela. I'll handle this," Sol said, his tone blunt and severe. Angela pursed her lips before she nodded.
"That is probably for the best," Angela agreed. Sol nodded to her gratefully, before a staff appeared in his hand and he tapped it against the floor, a rift forming behind him.
"Come," Sol said, his words a clear order as he entered the portal and while Carol bristled at being told what to do by someone her daughter's age, she followed behind.
"Where are we?" Carol asked, looking around the stone room they were in. It was nicely decorated, and had several strange apparatuses, fantastical tools and pieces of equipment.
"My tower in Astera, watching over the town. I find it helps to remind the adventurers that I can see them," Sol explained simply. "I know what you want, and if you weren't Vicky and Amy's mother, I'd have banished you already. As it happens, I like New Wave enough to not punish them all for your actions."
"Collective penalties are against the Geneva Convention," Carol replied with a snipped tone.
"We aren't at war, and I don't care," Sol replied, his tone bland. She'd argue that they were at war, heroes vs villains, and Sol was dancing along the line, playing both sides like an arms trader getting rich off the chaos. The cape scene would endlessly escalate and everyone would go to Azuth for their next edge against the other side. "I am not going to sabotage Marquis just to satisfy your paranoia. He won the Golden Ticket legitimately, and he is a legitimate faction in the Brockton Bay Turf War scene. He's followed every rule I set, better than even the other gangs."
"He's a monster!" Carol shouted, her temper frazzled. "You're going to enable a sociopathic serial killer, who people think is so noble because he 'has a code' that he occasionally bothers to follow."
"More of a monster than Lung or Iron Rain?" Sol asked blandly, and before she could stop herself she replied.
"Yes!" Carol hissed, hatred in her tone. Lung and Iron Rain were open about their villainy, nobody but the most deluded skinheads thought they were anything but. "You have to stop Marquis from winning the Turf War, no matter what. That man can't be allowed to return."
"And you think you can make demands of me? After you failed to convince Amy or Vicky to do it for you?" Sol asked.
"Are you spying on us?" Carol realised, glaring at him.
"If by spying you mean 'Vicky, Amy, Crystal, Jess and Sarah all messaged me to warn me that you were currently on the warpath', sure," Sol replied with a tiny snort. "This is the second time in two days that a Dallon has come to me, begging me to use my powers for their own ends. At least Amy was far more honest and polite about it."
"That's another thing, you had no right to make a deal with Amelia about her power without me, her legal guardian, present," Carol said, getting a raised eyebrow.
"Amy is a big girl, capable of making her own decisions. More capable than you, it seems," Sol retorted. "This wasn't a legal contract, and she doesn't need your permission to have something that is entirely hers modified or copied. You could have at least said 'mother' but I suppose Marquis' return has made it even harder for you to see her as yours, hasn't it? Amy has no desire to become a villain, and wanted a power that wasn't so similar to her father's. She's a good girl, and far more heroic than most, including you."
Carol flinched back, clenching her fists. Again, logically she knew that he was right. She had no legal basis to make such claims, but… the idea of Marquis returning after the Brockton Bay Brigade did so much and took such a dangerous chance to put him away removed any chance she had of looking at this logically.
"You made a deal with Amy, didn't you? I'm no fool, she didn't tell the truth about why she wanted her power changed and she certainly didn't tell us the truth about the price. I have no doubt you, with all your power, could have duplicated her power without her permission," Carol pointed out. "You are not as impartial as you pretend to be, but you only need to appear impartial to keep the villains playing your game. I just need Marquis to lose and find himself in your prison realm. I'm not asking for you to swoop in and smite him."
This… game would just make Marquis seem even more of a gentleman villain, because it was the type of environment where he would thrive. The Sons wouldn't beat him, and they'd be driven out of the city in no time with him taking over. Soon enough, he'd be pushing more and more until he had a large chunk of the city under his control while the fools believed him to be 'the best of the bad'. They were wrong, he couldn't be trusted, couldn't be allowed to be free, no matter the cost.
She'd sooner see the Empire's flag fly over the Boat Graveyard than let Marquis regain his power, now with a larger and even more dangerous group of capes at his back. Why did nobody see the problem but her?
"So, we could make a deal that has you subtly sabotage him, right?" Carol pleaded.
"That would rely on you being able to keep such a secret, or having something worth making such a deal for," Sol replied again, but unlike his other snappy responses, this one was delayed for a moment. He considered it. He didn't deny her accusation about Amy's power, so her own power wasn't going to be of interest to him. What had Amy offered him to get such a generous deal-
"Could you bind the secret? As far as anyone can tell, your power has no limits. Surely you can ensure my mouth remains sealed, and I am a lawyer. I do know a thing or two about confidentiality," Carol pointed out.
"You do, but that doesn't mean I'd trust you to remain silent. You are a very… opinionated woman, especially when it comes to villains. Sabotaging my efforts to work with both sides by exposing this sounds very plausible for you," Sol countered. Carol pursed her lips but didn't deny it. She hated that he worked with villains, allowing them to play his games. "But yes, I could. That still doesn't solve the second issue, however. I have much to lose and little to gain from this."
"Then name your price. You agreed to Amy's request, what did she pay you with? What did she promise you?" Carol asked, crossing her arms. She picked that movement deliberately, her arms crossing under her large breasts and pushing them up and together. Despite his wizardly act, his gaze flickered down to her tits. He remained a teenage boy, and worse, one with seemingly unlimited power.
Would Amy have resorted to offering her body for this upgrade? Was that why she'd gotten such a 'generous' deal? She wanted to say no but at the same time she couldn't put it past Amy. It would be a major scandal if it came out, for both of them. Panacea engaging in prostitution and Azuth being bribed with sexual favours were both problems. She'd heard Vicky complaining about Moxxi and Overdrive flirting with him during his negotiations with the Rollerz, and now the Rollerz had been promoted to 'employees', along with Uber and Leet. All female criminals, all attractive, all a part of Sol's faction now.
"You have nothing that is worth such a risk," Sol replied, his tone clipped. "Amy got the friend discount, I won't deny it, but you are not my friend. Frankly, if you weren't the mother of two of my friends I'd have kicked you out before you even reached Angela."
"There is no price that is too high to see Marquis driven out of Brockton Bay, put away like the scum he is," Carol replied bluntly through gritted teeth.
"A… noble sentiment, that only works if you have the currency to actually pay such a price," Sol replied. "Do you really think Azuth can be bought on a lawyer's salary?"
The unspoken 'I have governments and billionaires wanting my attention' was clear as day, and Carol couldn't deny that he was right. He was one of the most valuable assets in the world and he knew his worth.
"No, money won't move you," Carol admitted. Thank Scion, because if it could, every villain group would be raining cash on him. "But that doesn't mean you can't be tempted, nor does it mean I don't have anything you want."
Sol went to speak, but she reached up and unbuttoned the top buttons of her shirt, exposing her cleavage and the black bra she was wearing.
"Marquis has to lose. No price is too much for that," Carol said, slipping her shirt off entirely. "You said you could make sure I kept our deal a secret, didn't you? Nobody needs to know that we made a deal, and that means no-one needs to know the price I paid. Agree to help stop the worst villain Brockton Bay has ever had, and I'm yours, for whatever you want. Your lawyer, hero or just a source of relief."
"I really wouldn't-" Sol said, cut off as she slipped her trousers down and stepped out of them. "Mrs Dallon-"
"You don't know Marquis like I do, you don't know what you are inflicting on the city. If letting you master and use me however you wish is the only way to get you to stop this, then it's a price I will pay happily," Carol cut in, grabbing his hand and moving it to her bra-clad breast.
"No, you don't quite understand…" Sol muttered as she removed her bra entirely.
"Mom?!" Vicky's voice shouted out as Carol snapped around, seeing Vicky frozen midstep as she came through a portal similar to the one they'd come through. Behind her, Sarah stared at them with… well, not disbelief but disappointment.
"V-Vicky?! What are you doing here?" Carol stuttered, blood running cold.
"Sol sent me a message saying 'can you come and get your mom'," Vicky admitted. "Then he sent a second one that added 'and a therapist'."
"I don't need therapy!" Carol barked, but three sets of eyes stared at her with the simple question… 'are you sure about that?'
"I am so sorry about this, Sol!" Vicky said, looking more embarrassed than Carol had ever seen her.
"Carol, please put your damn pants back on," Sarah sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "I am terribly sorry about this, Solomon. I knew she was reacting badly, but this- this will not happen again."
Sarah's voice was firm, but suddenly Carol felt like Sarah was treating her more like a disobedient, unruly teenager than an adult. Sarah used that tone when Crystal got into trouble or came home drunk.
"I am aware of the circumstances and why Marquis is such a sore spot for her, so I won't punish her, or New Wave, for this, this time. If she tries something like this again, I won't have a choice," Sol warned.
"Of course, I understand," Sarah said gratefully, watching Carol shamefully shuffle back into her clothes. "Carol, what in the actual fuck were you thinking?"
The question was hissed, Sarah staring at her in disbelief.
"I am doing what is necessary to stop him. Solomon can't be bought, but look at his 'employees'. Uber and Leet? Moxxi and Overdrive? I suspect even Amy used her-" Carol tried to explain.
"Mom!" Vicky shouted, looking appalled. "You thought Amy would… whore herself out? Did you forget I was literally on the same street, watching them?"
"She- she could have made promises to 'pay' later-" Carol defended.
"And you think I wouldn't have noticed? Amy's gay, dumbass. Plus, I might not have been able to hear the words but I could see them and by the end they were laughing and smiling. Not exactly the look of someone who is being exploited for sex!" Vicky roared, fuming. "I can't believe this! I can't believe you! Sol, I am so sorry about this, really."
"It's fine, Vicky, really. Still friends, right?" Sol asked, getting a beaming smile and a nod.
"If my crazy mom hasn't put you off dealing with New Wave forever, sure," Vicky snorted, bumping shoulders with him.
"Nah. Unfortunately, you've grown on me," Sol admitted with a grin. "Like a smug, entirely unsubtle fungus. Mrs Dallon, it's been an… experience. Mrs Pelham, I wish we could have met on better terms. Vicky… your mom is fucking weird."
"Indeed. I wanted to speak with you and thank you for your own efforts in pushing cape accountability, because your unmasking did more than everything New Wave has tried to achieve in a single night, but that can wait. I have a family meeting to hold and a therapist to find," Sarah sighed. "Carol, come on. We need a long talk and I'm going to need a glass of wine, or five, to get through it.'
As Sarah spoke, Sol clicked his fingers and a bottle of wine appeared in Sarah's hands.
"Elvish wine, it should be to your taste. The least I can do for the hero who saved me from this disaster," Sol explained, getting a laugh from Sarah.
"My thanks, Azuth, now if you'll excuse me I need to get my sister home so I can shout at her," Sarah said, grabbing Carol's arm and physically manhandling her to the rift. "Vicky?"
"I'll join later, wanna talk to Sol," Vicky waved off, and Sarah paused before she gave Vicky a smile and a nod, continuing to drag Carol through the portal to the Pelham living room, pushing her into the chair.
Sarah paused, giving Carol the sweetest smile.
Carol knew it meant her sister was absolutely pissed.
— Solomon White (Azuth) —
"So…" Vicky drags on, before she gives me an impish grin. "Were you tempted?"
"Truthfully, I was, but unfortunately I'd already called for my personal hero to come and extract me from that uncomfortable conversation and it was too late to say 'actually never mind, I've got her handled'," I drawl. "You had to get your looks from somewhere. Curves too."
"Flirt," Vicky accuses playfully. "Ugh, I can't believe her! Knowing that one of my friends has seen my mom's tits is just weird. What the fuck was she thinking?"
"That's easy. She wasn't. You wanna know the dumbest part of all this?" I ask, getting a curious look from her.
"It'd have to be pretty dumb to one up this nonsense," Vicky mutters.
"She did all that… for something I am already going to do. I won't smite Marquis but I have no intention of letting him take over the Sons' territory," I admit with a soft laugh. "I plan to use this to increase the heroic territory. He'll win, and get a chunk, but this is a chance for me to tip the scales in the heroic side's favour and I'm already setting things up for that."
Vicky freezes, before she snorts, which bubbles up into outright laughter.
"You could have accepted her offer, then. Since you were already going to do what she was ready to pimp herself out for," Vicky points out, but I snort.
"Never stick your dick in crazy, and that there? That's crazy if I've ever seen it," I reply simply. "Besides, I'm just waiting for Dean to fumble the bag so I can get the younger, prettier model."
"As you should be, because who wouldn't want me?" Vicky asks with a superior look and pose before she giggles again. "God, I really don't want to go home right now. That's going to be a nightmare."
"Want me to grab Amy, Crystal and Eric for some Astera adventures while the adults of New Wave deal with Carol?" I offer, getting a beaming grin from her.
"If you're trying to win me over, it's working," Vicky admits as I send out the 'emergency quest', with Vicky put as the Quest Giver. One by one, all three New Wave junior members arrive, looking both confused and excited. "Hey, guys. Long story short, Mom is fucking crazy, Sol warned me and Aunt Sarah and none of us should be anywhere near that disaster until Aunt Sarah and Jess have sorted it."
"…say less," Eric agrees, shrugging. Amy just sighs in bemusement and Crystal gives me a soft smile.
Yeah, fuck dealing with Brandish.
— Bonus Scene — Lisa Wilbourne (Insight)
As an early adopter, she had the unique pleasure to watch Astera grow and grow fast. People watching was her favourite hobby, and it was far more fun in Astera where everyone involved was a cape.
Seeing villains, rogues and heroes being forced to interact, and play nice in the boundaries of Astera, was peak entertainment. Why watch reality TV when she could watch Protectorate Heroes pretending they hadn't noticed Lung strutting around like he owned the place?
She also had the unique honour of being the first person to make a clan inside Astera. Aisha and Celia were perfect early recruits, both wanting to scale the ranks to return their missing brother and son to life, with Aisha being both a dangerous changer and the Dark-Type trainer while Celia was the strongest Stranger in Astera.
Her ability to cloak an entire party was insanely powerful for quests, and let them literally walk through some missions without lifting a finger. The fact that both had unmasked also meant she could use the Clan system to transfer points to them, have them spend it with the 25% discount to buy her whatever she wanted.
Azuth had already made a mention that her exploit was going to be patched, the big bully, but that just meant she had to get the most out of it while she could.
She didn't expect it to stay open, and she appreciated that Azuth was giving her time to abuse the ever-loving shit out of it.
They'd recently bought a clan base, mostly so Aisha and Celia had a place to stay now that they'd stabbed the Sons of Samedi in the back. Living inside Astera wasn't just possible, it was downright pleasant. She'd kept her apartment, of course, but she rarely used it because you could even get internet here.
Damn good internet too.
"Wobbuffet!"
"Yeah, you said it buddy," Lisa agreed, patting Wobbuffet's head. She'd grown to appreciate her summon, in truth. Yes, he didn't have many attacks but he had something better.
She had been reliably informed that she had a very punchable face, especially when she opened her mouth. Wobbuffet was designed to punish people who tried to attack her. Suddenly, the genius of Azuth was laid bare before her.
"Wob-wobbuffet!"
Wondering what had his attention, she paused and looked around before he spotted them. The New Wave Junior Division… plus Azuth?
Well, wasn't that interesting?
Author's Note: Carol and her trigger trauma is fun. She's a mega bitch when Marquis isn't poking her trigger event merely by existing.
For those that don't know, her trigger event was getting kidnapped with Sarah and ending up all Stockholm Syndrome'd with one of her kidnappers, leading to her triggering when he tried to execute her. We don't have all the details, but Marquis reminds her of her kidnapper and it really fucks with her ability to be objective.
Written: 04/06/2026