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grimm-tales-gamer · 6 months

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Fallen Hero: Sidestep 6

This one is definitely one close to my heart due to how differently the route went compared to how I thought it was going to go. Went a completely different direction.

Name: Riley Rivers

Gender: none ya… none ya business. They/them work fine as pronouns

Villain name: Retribution

Villainous role: anarchist

Motivation: revenge

Scar: friendless

Reason for gala: fight the rangers

Where are they now?: broken in both spirit and body. Left at the rangers hospital.

I know I say this for a lot of my sidesteps but, Riley in particular is a mess. I originally made them to be one of my “softsteps” but they made poor decision after poor decision. Not to mention them slowly loosing control due to them constantly opening gates (think they are at 4 or 5 now?). Riley is definitely one my more tragic sidesteps. They tried so hard to be the “vigilante on the wrong side of the law” but they tripped and fell on their face.

Riley’s reason for doing this is essentially: I’m going to be the hero that I never had. Now, does that clash with their revenge motivation? Maybe, possibly, but they just want to make sure what happened to them never happens again. To anyone. They are willing to kill, but they made a promise to 1. Always save people who are grave danger 2. Never kill unless necessary. They broke the second promise at the casino, with the amount of gates open they killed some people there and became known as a murderer. It did not end well for Riley.

Before we continue, we should talk about Riley’s relationships. Riley helps the rangers out as much as they can, using the knowledge and street contacts to get the rangers what they need. They feel guilty over not being able to connect with their old friends due to their scar and see helping out as a way to make them feel less guilty. They get along best with Ortega (Julia) and Herald. Julia and Riley were an item back in the day and reignited their relationship early in Retribution. I don’t think Riley’s love for Julia is healthy. They saw Julia as their rival until after the gala. Realizing that Julia really didn’t know that Riley was alive and didn’t abandon them, Riley decided to give into what they wanted and start over again; now seeing their former self as their rival. Steel and Riley are complicated sort of… friendship? They still don’t get along but they don’t argue as much anymore.. maybe they are both just too tired to argue like they used to. Riley gets along with the other rangers, they basically have no relationship with Argent other then “oh, they’re here.” And they are Herald’s coach, they don’t really have an interest in a friendship with either of them.

Everything changed after the meeting with Hollowground. Riley went themself and decided to work with Hollowground while secretly releasing information to the rangers. They left and got into the wreck. While they didn’t admit to being Retribution; Riley had accidentally left enough clues for Ortega to piece it together and confront Riley about being the villain. It didn’t end well. Ortega thinks that Riley is a regene clone and Riley being both angry and scared told Ortega to go away. Argent then clawed their eye out and argued with both Herald and Steel. Riley doesn’t see any of those relationships as salvageable. Ortega’s reaction to them really broke their heart and Riley is diving head first into their scar and motivation.

Alright, how about some fun facts huh?:

According to canon, sidestep is fairly prickly about their appearance. Riley is doubly so. While they always went by they/them, they were very self conscious about how they were perceived and dysphoria in general wearing them down. Anathema was the one who convinced them to go get hormone treatment to try and deal with the dysphoria.

Riley only ever lost 2 games of chess against Chen back in the sidestep days.

Riley used to make their own mead back in the sidestep days.

They used to have an small collection of cheesy off brand figurines of the different ranger members. Riley wonders occasionally what happened to it.

Riley refused to go to Halloween parties after one particular Halloween party Julia scared them so bad once they punched her in the face.

Riley is my tallest sidestep!

Last one, I have vibe quotes for each character. And one for Riley and Ortega gets me right in the heart every time: in a parallel or another world. Or a different life. We sit across from each other at the kitchen table and go over the grocery list.

Every time it gets me choked up.

Alright, let’s go over Riley’s stats, armor, and appearance:

Riley prefers anonymity at around 60%, empathy at 70%, and is cautious at 85%. She prefers power of mind over subtlety, the score being over 80.

Armor appearance: scary. Small parts of armor protrude from the suit like broken bones and others are made to look like growths and protrusions. The helmet is made to look humanoid but with something plant or fungal like growing from its missing jaw. The armor is dark in color with lots of dark greens, grays, and black.

Add ons: speed and telepathy

Extra: the voice modulator adds a creak or strain to Riley’s voice. As if something is crawling or scurrying in the armor itself as they speak.

Riley’s appearance:

Race: mixed

Height: tall. Around 6ft 8in (a little over 2m)

Hair: wavy brown hair. It’s parted in the middle and reaches their shoulders. But, due to the wreck and needing stitches, some was shaven off.

Eyes: green. They used to be brown. Thanks Void.

Style: nondescript casual. Lots of hoodies, large jackets over long sleeve t-shirts and sweats or jeans. Always wears boots though.

#fallen hero #fhr #sidestep #oc #oc:Riley

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groan-taire · 1 year

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sidestep ask game asks for ! Lucas: 1 3 23 Jonah: 5 20 24 Olivia: 1 3 33 Charlotte: 7 21 30

I see you're partaking in the all you can ask buffet, that's a lot of questions to answer (thank you <3) so I'll put them under a readmore

1. what is their secret identity? do they have any nicknames? what is the meaning behind them?

Lucas Basri, while not truly having a regular dayjob, is to the world (and Ricardo's possible snooping) employee of some computer repair store or something similar, something where he doesn't have to interact with people a lot and is just left to his tinkering in a quiet corner his nicknames are smartass and asshole, does not really go by nicknames otherwise

3. what is their villain name? why did they choose it? His villain name is Mirage because of the whole smoke and mirrors "I am not real I am not here" implications. He barely feels like a real person most of the time and does not really want to be a villain all of the time. But he will do what is necessary. He is on the anarchist route and trying to so he does not see himself entirely as a villain, but if the people need to see him as one to take him seriously then so be it. It's all an illusion anyways

23. how do they feel about possessing people? I think I answered this before but it's been a while so I will do it again. he thinks it's a useful tool at his disposal even if he is not entirely comfortable comandeering a stranger's body, but then again he is not super comfortable in his own body either... but until Argent he didn't quite realise the effect it has/can have on people besides making them lose a few minutes, so he's been feeling a bit more iffy about using it. If it's the only option he has left he will not hesitate but he will think more carefully about alternatives Eden/the puppet is a bit of a special case, he never super liked using him but he never felt bad about it cause there was no person left to affect... or so he thought until weird feelings and thoughts started happening more and more often.

5. what is their zodiac sign? he's giving me Gemini vibes, don't ask me to elaborate, I do not know

20. how do they feel about death? been there, done that let's not think about it ever again died and came bacck wrong so now he is basically immortal right? haha like with most serious topics he tries to agressively not think about it, he is fine, everything is good

24. how do they typically come across to strangers? to friends? do they frequently use their telepathy to influence others’ perceptions of them?

he generally comes across as cheerful, friendly, extroverted, which he mostly is, to friends he will come across as a bit more chill and relaxed though, he's just vibing will certainly influence people's perception to make sure no one tries to dig deeper (which is why Ortega is such a thorn in his side /affectionately)

1. what is their secret identity? do they have any nicknames? what is the meaning behind them Olivia Beck, unassuming little menace, disabled, cane user, couldn't possibly be a villain, officially got some boring 9 to 5 job - how believable that is is a different story Will respond to Liv or Livy, just short versions of her name

3. what is their villain name? why did they choose it? as a big fuck you to everyone her villain name is Sidestep, it is hers she's just taking it back, and it making people uncofortable and angry is just a nice bonus

33. how do they feel about herald idolizing them?

it's weird, she wishes he wouldn't do that, but she's also a little delighted by the irony of the Sidestep name hitting harder like this, mostly just uncomfortable with it tho, it is very distracting and overwhelming

7. what is their dnd alignment?

At the risk of going with a slightly boring answer I would say true neutral, she doesn't go out of her way to do either good or bad for the sake of it. She is looking out for herself and her own (mob boss crew), she is pragmatic and not afraid to make tough choices

21. what is their philosophy?

Her philosophy is to do what has to be done and not letting feelings cloud her judgement, though she isn't always successful at the last part, she is fiercely loyal to those she cares about and will put herself at risk for loved ones, she does work to get rid of the SD but she's also not uninterested in HG's Position

30. what is their love life like?

in short: a mess She's playing the field but trying to not let anyone actually too close, not always successfully

Come get your own sidestep questions

#ask me anything #ask meme #fhr #lucas basri #jonah brown #olivia beck #charlotte bui #gods I finally did it #dani I love you and appreciate it but 12 questions is a lot #but thanks for letting me talk about my steps :3

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gabriellerudessa · 2 years

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Played two times (and a little bit of going back checkpoint at the end) through Fallen Hero Retribution.

The first, F!sidestep that wants to reveal the truth, revealed herself to Mortum, and that fell hard for Steel the moment he said he went looking for her, won't ever admit to him and is truly happy with only friends, and Bad at staying away from Ortega I got two ends: one, she ended in the headquarters and everyone got that she was the Villain and Steel took her out because she got across that THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN AND I CAN'T GO BACK. Marvelous. The other, she ended jumping to the puppet and asked Mortum for help and it worked and omG I love the romances but the friendships routes are also so beautiful, both the Steel and Mortum ending I got with her and truly, she is a character that works really well with only friends????? I love it.

THEN I have my gremlim F!Sidestep that turned Tech Thief, still don't kill, loves drinking, and TRIED to stay away from Ortega (it blew in the end) and that likes too much to fight indeed. And that somehow ended falling in love with Herald, tried to scare him away with the Re-Gen but it blew wonderfully in her face. And since people didn't know the villain was a Telepathic, she denied HG and ran away without a hitch and after the car crash NOBODY knows she is the villain and she is just like "??????" As everyone got her out of headquartes. Also she discovered about the Puppet and did told Mortum the truth. I'm sorry but I had a field trip with how she managed to fly totally under the radar and how conflicted she became because of Herald.

Still need to do my Ortega and Mortum runs, but I loved it until now.

Even if I'm sleep deprived oops 🤡

#fallen hero #fallen hero retribution #fallen hero spoilers

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fallenhero-rebirth · 5 years

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Important

Okay, let's have a talk about words and their effect on people.

This is mostly tying in to the discord, but since it also has to do with design decisions in general, I am putting it on here.

First of all: I'm old. Well, not really, but compared to most of you. I'm 47, been queer since the eighties, and I've seen some shit. Done some shit too, if I'm being perfectly honest. I'm not perfect. I wouldn't even be bringing this up if it hadn't been brought to my attention from other parties as well (thank you anon from yesterday) and so I thought we might have a talk.

A talk about Chen.

Now, originally, Steel was not intended to be a RO. There was only Ortega and Mortum, but then this fanbase happened, and I started seeing Herald with new eyes, and Argent as well, so I added them. No issues there, the game got longer, but also better for it. People who've been around a while might remember that I was quite hesitant to add Chen, and warned that his romance might be a lot more slow-firing than the others. But, as time passed, and I got around to writing him more, I made the decision to revamp some things, and everything started to slot in place.

Except there was still one big problem.

You see, in my design document I had decided that every RO should be available for romance. This is very close to my heart, I don't want to lock people away from content just because they want to play a particular gender. Hell, this game is all about identity.

But, Chen was also gay.

Now, two things. Yes, this is a fictional character. He is nothing but what I am writing him as. At the time nobody had any idea, I think I had mentioned it in an author AMA, and as everyone knows, everything not in the published game is non-canon. And two, people's sexuality is subject to change. I should know. I've yeeted myself through most parts of the rainbow spectrum by now it feels like (which is why I use the term Queer for myself). In fact, the way things like that change is very interesting for me, and I've very much liked exploring the various ways Ortega and Herald deals with same sex attraction in what still is a mostly straight world.

So there shouldn't be any issues, should there? I would have no problems writing Chen discovering his bisexuality, in fact it could be a good way of talking about some things very close to my heart like what happens when your identity changes (went through a similar thing from the other angle, which is why I am no longer a lesbian).

Yeah. No issues. If this was a level playing field and a fair world, which it is not.

Even if I disregard the whole M&M problem with gay representation (if you have a bowl filled with candy and removes one, nobody will notice. If there's only five in the bowl, everyone will) there is still another thing, a bigger thing and this is where words come in.

I was gay online in the late nineties. Anime. Hentai. Yaoi. Fujoshis. I am not going into details here, but there is a VERY real problem with fetishization . I hope everyone is aware of the whole "fucked straight" trope. I am most familiar with it from straight men fetishizing lesbians, the classic "she just need some dick" and way, way worse. This is something I hope everyone agrees on is terrible. But... it's not only men that's guilty of that.

Gay men gets fetishized a lot, and yes, women are guilty of that. Everything from the ' infantilizing uwu cute gays' to the 'men get pegged' to... yeah, the thing we're getting into now.

He just hasn't found the right woman. This is big in real life, and that's a BIG thing in Chen's background. There is a possibility that a F!Sidestep romance route could be read as that, and I am not really okay with it. There is a real and marked difference between two old frenemies realizing they might have feelings for each other and that.

It's like the people modding Dorian's romance route straight in DAI. It's not just about changing a romance trigger to level the playing field (like with Cassandra, or Alistair), it's invalidating his whole background and what his father put him through (trying to use blood magic to make him straight). I am not really comfortable with being seen as catering to those people.

And then there is the last thing. The, for me, even bigger thing.

THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU FUCKING WRITE ONLINE.

Yes, I have written a game that is pretty much angst fodder. You are going to get to kill a lot of people in book three, this is all about bad, dark fantasies but some of them should stay inside your head.

I would very much prefer it if you STOPPED joking about Chen not knowing how to perform oral on women, or just in general treating it as angst fodder. Like oh no, straight panic. Look, I will say it again. It is NOT a level playing field, gay panic Ricardo is not not the same as straight panic Chen. It's just not. All you are doing is making yourself sound like the kind of person I am quite sure you're not.

I don't think this fandom is filled with fujoshi's who gets off at fantasizing about gay men learning that pussy is not that bad. I really don't. But honestly? Sometimes some of you sound like that. I know you're young. I know you learned most of your language around these things online, but the problem is that sometimes the origin of that language is bad, and the people who have seen that origin cringe every time you use it. I know that the top/bottom thing is used very differently now, but I still have to bite my lip not to rant every single time. I know that 'men gets pegged' is a meme.

I'm old. I've got thick skin by now. Not everyone does.

Just think about what you are saying, and how it might be taken. That's all I ask. And we’ll see what happens with the Chen romance when I write it.

#fallen hero: rebirth #important #process #steel

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erintoknow · 5 years

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Wait, are we not fighting?

fallen hero fan fiction, with some chargestep ~2.5k words for [12.3/50k] [ao3]

–––

Can’t avoid the Rangers forever.

Julia’s making sure of that now that she’s extracted these promises from you.

First it was ‘fix her computer’ then it turned into ‘help me sort through these old boxes,’ now it was ‘help me organize all these old files.’ At some point on the phone you joked that she ought to start paying you. She called your bluff pretty fast on that one. Offered to fill out a W-2 and to start negotiating salaries.

You’re grateful actually. Between this, your cover job working the tech repair shop, and fiddling with the Regenerator you haven’t had much time to think. Thinking is the enemy right now. Well. It’s always been the enemy, really. The impossibility of a future with Julia. The impossibility of a future at all. How you utterly blew things with Dr. Mortum, –

Had it been a mistake to be honest with her? It’s hard not to feel like it was. You were honest with Argent. Will that also be a mistake?

Lady Argent… You’ve been rehearsing your inevitable encounter in your head, during the dangerously mindless parts of work. Can’t afford to slip up. It’s too much to hope for that you can avoid her forever. At the very least she’ll probably want progress updates. Assurances that you’re keeping up your end of the deal.

The secretary at the front desk smiles and buzzes you in with a hello. Who is it this time? Donna? No, fuck. Why is it such a struggle to remember peoples names without digging into their heads? Feels weird to be recognized like that. Smiled at. It’s all wrong. The two of you trade some perfunctory small talk about the weather before you can slip away.

Forgot to ask her name. Damnit.

Elevator ride up, up, third floor. There’s so much of the new Ranger’s Headquarters you still haven’t touched but you’re getting to know this route like the back of your hand. Come in, say hello, hang out in the break room until Julia or Herald or whomever you are meeting on any given day.

Oh, that’s another knot to untangle. You’ve ditched Herald’s training sessions for over a month now. Is he going to want you to start training him again? Do you want to? It’d be one more way to keep busy at least.

As you walk down the hallway, Chen steps out of a conference room, a packet of paper folded under one arm. Is he going to let you pass without comment? Please let you pass without comment.

He stops, blocking the hallway, staring you down.

It was, you suppose, too much to hope for.

“Becker.” He nods at you, mouth in his trademark tight frown. His thoughts are… hard to read, distracted from the present moment. Still on whatever meeting he just finished?

“Chen.” You answer back, crossing your arms.

“I was wondering why you had stopped showing up, but I see you’ve returned yet again. Like a bad penny.” His stance is stiff, drawing the conference room door closed behind him. Interesting. Something going on in there he doesn’t want you to see? You’re not picking up anyone else in that room.

Just shake your head. “Disappointed?”

“Hardly.”

“Well too bad for y– w–w–wait, what?” You misheard that, right?

“…certain people have grown accustomed to seeing you around.” Chen shifts his weight, uncomfortable as he talks. “I’ll be glad to have Herald and Charge off my back.”

Ah. He’s thinking about the other Rangers. Okay. Everything’s still right with the world. “Well b–breathe easy tough guy. I haven’t fallen off any– any more buildings.”

Chen presses his mouth into a tight line, staring you down. “Are you… doing okay?”

Again, where is this coming from? “I’m… f–fine?”

“You look like shit, Becker.”

Quickly pulling your hand away from the scar on your face, you narrow your eyes at him. “Just had a, uh– bad cold is all. Thanks for your c–c–concern Chen.”

“Hrm.” Chen steps aside to let you pass him in the hallway. “Here for Ortega today?”

“Am I really th–that predictable?”

Is that a smile on Chen’s face? No, that’s crazy. Chen doesn’t give you the dignity of a proper response, heading down the hallway towards the elevator you came out of. You huff to yourself as you watch him leave. Seriously, what was that about?

Whatever.

Whatever’s going on with Chen, it is – hopefully – not your problem. You’ve got enough of those on your plate without piling on more.

The break room is mercifully free of anyone this time. You stretch your arms out, up and over your head as you suppress a yawn. It’s safer to wait for Julia to fetch you, but you’ve half a mind to go looking. Waiting around means time to think. And thinking is the enemy right now.

So don’t.

Don’t think. Pace the room, check the windows, still nothing, no one watching. There hardly ever is. Maybe a starry-eyed kid, once or twice, but not the kind of people you need to worry about. You crack open the fridge for want of anything to do, cool air running down your front as you lean in, sort through the shelves.

Someone’s gone through and labeled them recently. That’s a good idea. Keep everything tidy. Chen, Ortega, Becker, Sullivan, Smith – wait. You run your name over the taped down notecard with your name on it. It’s not a full shelf, more like a basket stuck left on Ortega’s. But that’s your last name alright. There’s some chocolate bars, an apple, one of those pre-packaged salad dinners, a pair of empty plastic containers for keeping leftovers. “W–what the fuck…?”

“Hey.” You jump with a start, slamming the fridge door shut behind you as you spin on your heel. Argent crosses her arms, unimpressed. “If I catch you stealing my food, you’re. dead.”

Fuck! Letting Lady Argent sneak up on you? What the hell is wrong with you? You step away from the fridge as Argent pushes past you. “W–w–wouldn’t dream of it…”

Argent ignores you, pulling out a box of leftovers and sticking them in the microwave. It doesn’t take long for the smell to start filling the room. Chinese takeout? She keeps her back to you, watching the digital timer tick down.

“So, how’s the project going?”

You wince. Does she not get how risky it is to even dance around the subject? “It’s… going. Maybe a month?”

“Maybe?”

“D–d–depends how much time I have for working on it.”

“Good, I’m getting sick of this.”

You don’t hide your frown. “Sick of what?”

“None of your business.” Argent huffs. “Surprised you’ve got the guts to show up here again.” There’s a transparent change of subject if you’ve seen one. What does Argent want the machine for anyway?

Nervous energy vibrates through you, a struggle to keep your face neutral. “Y–yeah, well… Jul– Ortega k–k–keeps asking me to help with shit, so…”

Argent lets out a sharp ‘hah!’

“W–what?”

“Does she know?”

It takes a moment to catch on to her meaning, at which point your eyes go wide as you wave your hands. “What? N–no! No way!”

“Typical.” Argent raps her fingers against the countertop. “You’ve been a disappointment since the day we met.”

“Excuse me?’ Okay, of all the ways you expected this conversation to go, this was not one you had anticipated.

“You have no idea how much Julia talked you up, do you?” The microwave beeps but Argent makes no move to open it. “Sidestep always came through, always saved the day. Always had some masterplan to get the bad guy and keep everyone safe, on and on.”

“W–what? That’s crazy, I–”

“You were years dead by the time I met her, and she was still trying to get over you.” Argent huffs. “She’d throw herself into fights like she was expecting to die.” She shakes her head, pulling out her leftovers from the microwave and stirring the noodles before popping the container back in. “On the really bad days, she’d get blackout drunk. One of us would have to escort her home.”

You pull back, away from Argent, as you cross your arms. There’s a coldness to the woman’s thoughts that makes you tense up. The kind of cold that can sublimate into fury at a moment’s notice.

“When Julia called me out of the blue saying she had found Sidestep of all people in some random diner, I didn’t know what to expect. I was… terrified.”

“Why are you t–t–telling me this?”

“Shut up, I’m not done. I’ve been thinking about what I was going to say to you all week.” Argent cuts you off. The microwave beeps again, and gets ignored. “After… you know,” Argent growls. “I had never felt so… Helpless. And then Julia’s legendary asshole – who I could never measure up to – was back from the dead to poke around my head and judge me?” She shakes her head, pulling out her leftovers again and finally turning to face you. “Only, guess who Sidestep turns out to be?”

You try to meet her glare, pulling from your own anger. It’s not enough. You look away first. “I’m sorry.”

“I don’t know what I expected, honestly. Say you’re sorry all you want, that doesn’t fix anything.”

“I–I’m trying, okay?”

“Sure you are.” Argent’s voice drips in sarcasm. “If you’re actually sorry, then return what you made me steal.”

Panic at last overrides shame. “Are you c–c–crazy?” You hiss, glancing towards the door.

Argent rolls her eyes. “Relax. I turned off the surveillance equipment before coming in here. And anyway, you could tell if someone’s coming.”

“Not Ortega!”

That gets a raised eyebrow. “Not Ortega?”

Oh. Wait. Did she not know? “Shit.” You stare Argent down. “Uh, it’s n–n–nothing.”

“No, it’s not, what’s this about Ortega?”

“It’s nothing!” You shake head.

“You’re going to destroy Julia, you know that right?” You flinch at that. Like you haven’t had that line of through running through your head nonstop even before you slept with her. “Unless that’s the whole point?” Argent narrows her eyes at you as she leans back against the windowpane. “Because don’t think I’m just going to sit around while you hurt my friends.”

“Are you two talking about me?”

You jump, heart pounding as you turn to see Julia enter the room. When did the door open? Surprised by people walking up behind you twice in one day? That’s three times too many. “J–j–julia! Hi!!”

“Hey Ari, sorry to keep you waiting.” She pulls you in to a hug. It is mercifully, painfully, short. She raises a hand towards Argent. “Hey Angie.”

“Julia.” She looks pointedly at the two of you, Julia’s arm around your shoulder still. “You two made up, then?”

“Uh–” Julia glances down at you.

You can feel your face heat up as you push yourself free. “It–it–it–it’s not like that!”

There’s a sharp edge to Argent’s smile. “Oh, so you’re still fighting? I told her the dance thing was a dumb idea.”

“Uh, hey Angie,” Julia rubs the back of her neck, avoiding you. “Let’s not get into that right now?”

A strange calm settles over your panicked heartbeat. “Julia…” You strain to keep your voice steady. “W–w–what were you t–talking to Lady Argent about…?”

Her response is immediate. “Nothing!”

Argent’s laughter is as loud as it is alarming. “She wanted my romantic advice, because you and I are both, and I quote: ‘loner types.’”

Wait. Julia asked her what? But Argent knows that you’re–

But then she–

But why would–

What?

You cover your face. This isn’t really happening right? Are you really this close to absolute disaster? No. No. This can’t be right. You’re missing something here, right? Have to be. Right??

Next to you, Julia groans. “Angie, that was in confidence…”

Okay, that’s enough.

You grab Julia by the arm and drag her out into the hallway with you. Try not to listen to Argent’s hyena laugh echoing after. Julia lets you pull her into an empty office, an apologetic smile on her face as you shut the door. “I c–c–can’t believe you.”

“In my defense, you two never talk. I thought I was safe there.” Julia rubs at the back of her neck, watch you pace the width of the office. “I’m sorry, okay?”

“I…” You stop, the anger already draining out of you. If it was even anger in the first place. “…you d–didn’t do anything wrong.” The quicker you can move past this whole mess the better.

Julia tilts her head. “Wait So… are we not fighting then?”

“I–I–I guess not…?” You run a hand over your face, rubbing the bridge of your nose. “I just– I panicked I guess.” You pull your purse in front of you and fiddle with the straps before you start messing with your make-up any further.

There’s silence and then the creaking of wood shifting as Ortega sits down on top of the desk. “Hey, Ari…?”

You look up at her. She doesn’t quite meet your eyes, an uncharacteristically vulnerable expression on her face. “No sé cómo decir esto… You’re not like, ashamed to be seen with me, are you?”

Woah, what? “W–w–where did that come from?”

“I know you’ve got other–” she glances at you, “–very mysterious reasons, but… You don’t want to be out in public with me, keep trying to ghost me, don’t like public PDAs, and I know you said you aren’t mad about me talking with Angie, but you definitely aren’t okay with it either so…?” Her hands grip the edge of the desk on either side of her. “Did I mention not wanting to screw this up, before? Because I really don’t want to screw this up.”

You pull your shawl tight around you, a pain in chest and behind your eyes. “W–w–what? N–n-n-no! Julia, I–“ You can’t stop stop yourself from giggling, which only makes you more nervous. “I have a lot of… p–p–problems but that is– that is not one of them. I swear.” You chew the inside of your check. “Hey, I–I–I promised that’d I go out somewhere fancy with you, remember?”

Julia lets out the breath she’d been holding and smiles at you, her confidence slowly returning. “That’s true, I still can’t believe you said that.”

“W–w–well, I can’t believe it either. But I d–did and I will.” The idea just scares the living hell out of you, you don’t add.

“Thank you. I knew I was worrying over nothing,” her smile broadens into a grin, “imagine someone being ashamed of being seen with this?” She gestures towards herself.

Shaking your head, you try not to smile. “Okay, th–that sounds more like my favorite smug idiot.”

“Oh, I’m your favorite am I?”

“Got a whole list.”

“Who’s second place?”

“Also you.” Julia takes a light swing at you, easily dodged even while giggling again. “Actually, the – the whole list is just you.”

#fallen hero #fallen hero fanfic #fanfiction #wlw fanfic #fhr/Ariadne #mc #ortega #Wei Chen #lady argent

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avvidstarion · 5 years

Photo

fallen hero owns my whole ass now. anyway here’s ridley.

(infodump under the cut)

ridley!! i love them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i still can’t figure out how to draw them, but i’ll get there)

ridley is super duper introverted, emotionally distant, and FULL OF ANGER. they’re angry at themself, at the rangers, at the goverment, and at the world. they’re not one to express themself, though, so they kinda just. stew in silence. ortega forced them to start going to therapy, but they just sit there and glare at the doctor for an hour (and occasionally Go Off and give a good ol villain monologue).

they have difficulty with empathy, partially from their upbringing, partially because they’re autisitc, and partially because of their trauma. they have difficulty talking to people (they sign on the days it’s too hard for them to speak). they’re quiet and tend to be more on the serious side, although ortega helps them lighten up and they can be pretty funny when they feel like it (their sense of humor is dry and sarcastic and usually at someone else’s expense, though).

however, even though they’re pretty stand-off ish, they still care deeply about the few friends they have, and they’re very passionate about what they believe in. they’re also pretty compassionate, when they remember to be- they try their best not to hurt innocent people (it still happens, though, but there’s nothing you can do about that). they will however have no issues hurting or killing people they feel deserve it (rich people, politicians, the people who’ve hurt them).

they love animals and nature, and love going for walks on the beach and in the park. if they had it their way, they’d own a million dogs.

game facts:

their puppet is a man named john! he’s mixed race, has black eyes, and curly hair that’s dyed blue on the top! i’ll draw him eventually. john is ridley’s way of living the life they know they never could have. they hate themself for it, too- see, they tell themself. this is everything you could never be. people like john. he’s normal. people would notice if he went missing. people would come save him.

their villain name is inevitable, because that’s how they feel about the whole situation. they’re a huge believer in destiny and in the butterfly effect and stuff- every is connected and everything that has ever happened to them in life has been leading up to their inevitable fall from grace.

they’re an anarchist! their main goal is taking down the government (and causing a lotta chaos). to them, the government is the first “ripple” in the butterfly effect; everything can be traced back to them, they’re the reason for all of ridley’s pain. so ridley has to destroy them.

i’m still workin on a design for their suit, but it’s black and red and has a lot of sharp edges. and teeth. they want others to feel as terrified as they have their whole life.

theyre more of a fighter than a tactician, and they’re tech-savy. for their armor boosts, they picked telepathy bc duh, and strength bc their fighting style is very physical- they love to punch people, hard. (they’re a boxer). plus, nothing beats the unbridled joy that comes with lifting a car over your head.

relationships in detail:

ridley is super duper in love w ricardo and has been for like. a decade. ricardo has loved ridley back for about the same amount of time, but the two of them have kinda been stuck in that pining stage for eternity (*ridley voice* do you ever yearn?). it’s really hard for ridley to let themself love and be loved (bc. ya know. trauma). plus, they know that eventually someone will have to take them down and kill them, and they want that to be as painless as possible for ricardo (because, let’s be real here, it’ll be him. it would be tragic and poetic and dramatic, just like how ridley likes it). however, the two are still drawn to each other, and they may or may not get together by the end of retribution, i’m still trying to work that out. i like angsty slowburns, ok?

Mortum is John’s best friend, but she doesn’t like or trust ridley. that hurts them a lot, so most of their interaction w mortum is as john. Ridley thinks she’s badass and really really cool! they geek out over tech and stuff together.

lady argent is ridley’s nemesis! to ridley, lady argent represents everything bad about the rangers: she’s cold, corrupt, and not afriad to hurt innocents to make herself/ the rangers look good (like in the fight on the bridge). to lady argent, ridley is mean, unfriendly, and definitely doesn’t deserve the praise they get (she just doesn’t see why everyone likes them so much). however, that’s probably mostly ridley and lady argent over-exaggerating. They hate each other, but there’s grudging respect there, somewhere.

ridley doesn’t know WHAT to do about herald. they used to despise him (he was their replacement, he was likeable and charming and beloved and everything they could never be. but then he opened his mouth and turned out to be an ABSOLUTE sweetheart, and rildey just kinda. melted. they’ve never really had someone who like. looks up to them??? and idolizes them???? ridley really hates themself, so the concept of being someone’s hero really makes them like. short circuit. plus he’s kinda cute and super sweet and ahhhhhhh. they train together. (you KNOW once those polyam routes drop i am diving headfirst into flychargestep)

ridley’s relationship with steel is. complicated. they both regret a lot of what happened before heartbreak (steel especially), and they’re starting to open up more and gain a better understanding with each other. as with all the rangers, though, ridley knows they’ll end up on opposite sides of the battlefield, and that’s most painfully apparent with steel. for now, the two are comfortable with just. watching the dogs play together. not really talking much, but enjoying (?) each other’s presence all the same.

ok, i think that’s all i’m gonna say, for now. if you’ve read this far, thank you for listening to me ramble!!!

#I GOTTA FOCUS IM SHIFTING INTO HYPERFIXATION MODE.#YES IT'S ONE AM YES THE ART IS SHITTY YES IM POSTING THIS ANYWAY. AND YES IT TOOK AN HOUR TO WRITE EVERYTHING UNDER THE CUT.#ridley becker #fallen hero #fallen hero: rebirth #fhb #sidestep #my shitty art

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chaniters · 5 years

Text

Perfect Nightmare

_________________________________

Super Sentai Au (Episode 5)

The Rangers investigate the derelict farm installations, racing to save Cyrus, while their enemy has different plans in mind.

Hope you enjoy this! Took a lot of brain cells to write, but I like to think they died for a good cause!

_________________________________

“No power” Herald said flipping the light-switch a few times.

“These suits have their own light” Argent replied activating her own headlamp.

Ortega, Chen, and Herald quickly did the same.

“We need to find a way to restore it, or these master keys will be useless” Steel pondered. The calls had been a success thanks to Charge mostly. A retired general whose daughter he had saved told them how to get them provided they didn’t say they came from him. They could override all security gates.

“Cyrus, any insights?” Charge asked.

Cyrus stared at him blankly for a good two seconds before something clicked.

“O.. oh… yes, there should be a huge elevator nearby. It only goes down… There should be a large chamber and security down there. That’s the easiest entrance.”

“But we can’t an elevator without power!” Ortega objected.

Cyrus just phased out, losing interest in the conversation altogether.

“Shit... Can’t stand seeing him like this” Ortega cursed.

“Hey, that’s why we’re here... to fix him” Argent reassured him.

Herald quickly floated through the adjacent corridors and rooms before returning and calling the others. “Well, I found this elevator and… loads more corpses. Soldiers all of them”

They followed him, only to find a rushed barricade with seven dead soldiers, riddled with gunshots and energy weapon fire. One of them had several claw cuts as well.

“They fell guarding the exit,” Steel said as they came across a few of them. “They were trying to keep the residents inside”.

“That’s good, right? Means whatever killed them is gone?” Herald asked hopefully

“Possibly. I guess the regenes escaped violently…?”

“Ohh this reeks…” Ortega complained while dragging Cyrus along.

“You know it’s going to be much worse down below, I bet,” Argent said.

“Thank you for the cheerful thought,” Herald said trying not to throw up inside his yellow helm.

The elevator was clearly dead, with no power, as they had anticipated.

“Maybe we can climb down the shaft if we’re careful” Steel Ventured

“Fuck that” Argent said cutting through the control panel on a wall, exposing the wiring. She fiddled a bit, then extracted a thick cable and gave it to Charge.

“Let’s see if we can reboot their systems.” she smiled. “Do your thing, Sparkles!”

He smiled lightly and sent a torrent of electricity through the cable.

Several things happened at once during that very moment.

First, the ceiling and floor lights came on, surprising everyone.

Second, a mechanical whirl started as the elevator began working.

And finally, several screens turned online near them. A recorded message started playing

“..riments are loose. Shoot on sight protocol authorized. Do NOT let them escape the facility!” Regina, wearing a lab coat, towering over them on the screens. She seemed to be hiding inside a locker room as she recorded. Something was clawing at the door from the other side “I repeat! Do NOT let them out! Seal the facility if you have to! Emissions are out of control… The experiment failed! The subject must not leave th….” the message was cut off, then started a loop once more.

“How do you go from that to wanting to conquer the world?” Herald asked.

“Good question. Maybe we’ll find more clues inside?” Steel said

“She… she’s evil. You don’t know what she’s done... If she’s down there… we have to kill her” Cyrus sounded bitter and nervous.

“I don’t think she’s down there,” Herald says reassuringly. “But if she is… we’ll be ready for her”

“Keep an eye on him” Steel patted Ortega’s shoulder as he walked through the open elevator’s doors as they opened.”

Ortega nodded as he followed Cyrus inside.

They stepped in. There was no control panel or buttons, but once inside, the doors closed and a fast descent started. A rapid and long, long, descent on a 60° angle into the earth.

“Just how deep does this thing go?” Herald asked nervously. He was slowly gravitating upwards.

“Relax” Argent answered pulling him down by the arm.

“Thanks” Herald muttered standing once more. “This doesn’t usually happen”

She rolled her eyes but smiled under her helm. “Just be ready for whatever’s on the other side”

“It takes a while” Cyrus spoke again. “The complex is very deep below”

Eventually, they started slowing down, until the device stopped, the gates opening.

The “Other side” seemed mostly clear. Bright impersonal white floors riddled blood stains and bullet fire but no corpses in sight. Someone had cleared the way. White walls. Cameras everywhere. There were several large elevators beside them so it was clear the one they had taken wasn’t the only way in.

“I don’t suppose there’s a map for visitors” Steel grumbled as he notices there were four long corridors converging in the elevator room, and each had dozens of doors to each side.

“Do you know where can we find the implants, Cyrus?” Ortega asked leaning over him.

Cyrus looked at the blue helmet and then looked away nervously holding his arms to his own black helm in frustration. “There are the labs… the offices… the living and training area, and the … farm… proper…. I can’t remember which is which.”

“What can you tell us about these places?”

“The labs… are where… they… did things to us. The offices I… I don’t know much. We weren’t allowed there. Then the living area has our ro… our cells… and a large training area. And the farm…”

“Isn’t this whole place the farm?” Argent asked.

“No… the farm is where they… grow us.” It took him a while to be able to say it.

“So what’s the most likely place to find this thing?”

“I guess the labs… or the farm maybe?” he answered uncertain “I’m sorry… It’s hard to remember anything right now…”

Steel nodded. “It’s ok. Alright, people, we knew it could be harder than expected… we don’t have the time to explore this whole place as a group. We split. Ortega, you take Cyrus and go west, see if you can help him remember something else. Argent, east, Herald North, and I’ll take south. Understood?”

“Do we have to?” Ortega asked looking at him. “You know how these things end, we could run into anything...”

“Maybe we could do two groups,” Herald said

“I think we should stay together … “ Ortega started.

Shit. Not Again. Like herding giraffes

“No! I’m telling you we need to split!”

“But we don’t know what’s down here!”

“Yes, I know this place is dangerous but the clock’s the only real enemy.”

“Mortum said we have…” Herald started

“Mortum’s doing what he can! He never reanimated anyone with medical nanites! We don’t know how long Cyrus going to be stable! He’s just estimating. It’s not our job to figure out how science works, we need to make sure there are no unnecessary risks!”

Ortega was going to say something…

“NO! He’s the leader here Ortega! You quit, remember? We need to find these implant and their codes fast!” Argent backed him standing in front of him

That shut them up… and suddenly, Cyrus took Ortega’s arm and pulled him to the west corridor.

Eventually, they started walking their respective ways. He just wished he wouldn’t be doubted all the time… It was so exhausting…

“Argent… “ he stopped her. “Stay a moment…”

He took a few small devices from his armor and attached them to the walls in the elevator area. The cameras above them instantly flickered off.

“We better take some safety measures just in case. Splitting up doesn’t mean we’re stupid”

________________________________

Herald tried several of the doors with his master key, but none of them looked like more than administrative offices. He had found the offices clearly.

Eventually, he started floating faster, and faster, going door after door…

Until he happened onto a much larger office… full of equipment. The implants weren’t there, but as he examined the large desk, he found a large logbook, and started going through the notes…

The dark creatures crept through the walls, hiding from his sight. They approached slowly, ready to strike...

________________________________

The pink ranger’s route ended up in a large empty area with tall ceiling. Transparent material panels split the area into many medium and large sized squares.

A few tall mezzanines assured a good overlook from above… and cameras everywhere.

It took a few minutes to realize it was likely one huge training area. There were doors on the far end. Not much to do but to start walking towards them to check the place out.

The shadow beings emerged through the floor itself, ready to corner their prey.

_________________________________

Ortega kept trying doors as with Cyrus following him. He seemed to be getting more and more lost as they went on

It startled him when he spoke at him again.

“Ricardo?”

“Yes?”

“Why are you here? Did you come to rescue me?” He stopped, completely out of it.

“We’re all here for you Cyrus”

“All of you? But… Anathema’s dead... And… W...Why didn’t you come sooner? Why.. why did you leave me here for so long… “ his voice cracked with a hint of despair and sorrow.

“Shit” Ortega took a deep breath “Cyrus, I didn’t know back then... But I’m here now ok?. And we’re going to help you”

“I’m not sure I understand what’s going? Everything is really confusing… They said you’d never come for me… that you would never waste your time with someone like me… and then they did things to me… so many things… I called you...“

Ortega frowned heavily as they walked, going past a few scientist corpses. Each one they saw could have been one of Cyrus torturers… this place was making him physically sick. “Everything’s going to be alright, ok?. Just you follow me.”

“O.. ok… I think I can do that… And.. thanks … thanks for not leaving me behind”

“I’d never leave you behind” Ortega was looking ahead, not to let Cyrus see his tears. “We’re going to fix you”

“Fix me? There’s something wrong with me, right?”

“Yes... you are experiencing… technical difficulties I guess… “ he put a hand over his shoulder squeezing softly “...But like I said, we’re going to fix it, ok ? Don’t worry about it”

And then Cyrus did something he hadn’t seen for the longest time. He smiled. It was the same smile he had all those years ago, before the Heartbreak. Before all the grief, and regret. Before all the cruel jokes of fate.

He had seen it for the first time back in the day… When he was just so clueless and shy he had to actually asked him in an embarrassed tone if he really thought of them as friends, and he told them they were… It was that same smile.

“Then I won’t worry ‘bout it… and… i’m sorry Ricardo”

“Sorry for what?” he gasped.

“For all the secrets and… and…”

But the moment passed and the glint of understanding left his eyes as suddenly as it had arrived.

No, he didn’t answer. Instead, he walked past him in a straight line towards one of the many doors, completely fixated on it.

The shadowy fiends followed the two closely

_______________________________

The Red Ranger’s corridor took him to a few barrack-like dormitories, more than likely for the personnel. Kitchen, and many other facilities. Infirmaries. Small gym. Armory…

And a reinforced high-security gate at the end.

Whereas the rest of the area was spotless and pristine, there was the certain acrid stench of death behind this one.

After a brief moment of hesitation, the master key opened the door.

The red ranger advanced slowly choking a yelp reacting to the sight on the other side.

A decapitated corpse on the floor next to the gate. Dozens of others as well, military guards.

But the ranger had expected that.

Unlike the long, endless lines of tubes lined up over the seemingly endless room.

There were bodies in some of them… floating in the liquid inside. Eyes closed. Naked… but genderless. A few were broken down by gunshots, with only rotten flesh inside.

“Gender is decided last you know? It’s quite fascinating!”

The young woman’s voice didn’t catch the ranger off guard. Much to the contrary, in the blink of an eye a sword was pointed at her.

“So which ranger are you again? Or do I just call you red ranger…? sorry, my bad… I meant Dead Ranger...” She smiled before releasing the things that lurked in her shadow, charging directly against her opponent.

With a couple of sword slashes, the things were driven back, taking deadly cuts that sent them to the floor in pieces.

Several more of them kept surging from the walls, ceiling, and floors. Dr. Terror’s laughed. Thinn, skeletal creatures made of darkness itself, with claws and fangs and glowing red eyes and a clear intent to kill anything living.

“You can’t take on me by yourself Mashall Steel! And don’t count on your friends, they’re quite busy right now! My pet Nightmare has summoned so many shadows they won’t make it in time to help you. Show yourself, Nightmare!” The creature surged from behind Dr. Terror’s shadow. A tall muscular mutant, the head of a horse with flaming dark hair and strong arms… carrying a huge axe.

“Seems like you planned for everything”

“I’ve studied you… I know how many mods you’ve got on yourself” she cackled producing a small device. “This EMP device is strong enough to shut you down... Just had to draw you away from the elevators…”

“So this is your plan? Pick on us one by one?” The ranger kept fighting back the things, not making much progress towards her. Nightmare readied her axe.

“And you played right into it! I mean… I didn’t expect you to split the team outright… It’s as If you wanted to be destroyed.”

“You won’t succeed!”

“Bold words. Now fall, Marshall Steel!” She flipped the small switch, an energy bubble exploding around her.

She laughed at her opponent, victory within her grasp until…

The Red ranger gave another step towards her.

“W.. what?”

“I think you made a tiny mistake”

“Impossible!” she said turning the switch a few more times.

But the red ranger’s suit was changing, as the nanites switched colors all over it… from red… to pink.

Argent’s claws grew strong as she dispatched the monsters in a matter of seconds. Nightmare tried to stop her but received a cut on her left side as Argent swiftly evaded the axe.

“I would start running about now, devil-child”

Standing atop the fallen remains of the shadow things, with Nightmare stumbling backward and her pink claws extended and ready to strike, she seemed clearly the most threatening element in the room by far.

And thus, Dr. Terror ran, having her minions cover with Argent in close pursuit.

She fiddled with a device, and pressed a sequence… turning invisible right before Argent’s claws caught up with her. Nightmare rushed and disappeared into a wall.

“Shit” she cursed. And then she started running towards the gate, trying to use her coms. IT would take a moment to get out of the EMP’s ongoing area...

______________________________

“We got it!” Charge walked helping Sidestep over. “I mean he got it… took a while but he led me straight to their deposit… got like a dozen implants… “ he showed a small bag full of them “And then those things attacked… but they disappeared”

“You got it already?! THat’s amazing! I think I found the director’s office... Got a few logbooks... And the shadow thugs tried to stop me… I flew past them though. The codes must be in one of these!”

“I just found a training area… not much there” Steel let on… “Where is Argent?”

“STUPID RANGERS!�� They turned to see Dr. Terror walking into one of the elevators on the far corner. “I’m going to bring this whole place down on you all! Good luck escaping!” she said laughing as the began closing. And then the other elevator controls simultaneously exploded in electrical sparks.

They ran up to her, but it was too late. The elevator took off… and then the lights turned red.

“Self-destruct sequence initiated. 15 minutes remaining. All personnel, evacuate immediately.”

“Shit… “ Charge said.

Argent arrived, running “Sorry... Couldn’t catch the slippery bitch. The plan worked like a charm though. She couldn’t tell we switched colors!.”

“Good” Steel said studying the situation

“I can carry us up” Herald spoke studying the shaft. “We just need some sort of platform, or maybe ropes and…

“No,” Steel said crossing his arms.

“What…this is about to explode…?”

“She thinks she has the advantage. She’ll be waiting up there with all guns pointing to the shaft. She may have even rigged explosives.

“Fourteen minutes to self destruct…” the computerized voice went on

“What’s the plan then?” Argent asked, both nervous and amused.

“We’re going to come out of the earth itself, and kick her ass. Follow me!”

______________________________

There were 4 minutes left by the time they reached the open training area.

“Alright… Remember Mortum’s words? We can form individual Titans with our nanites…. And now’s the time”

“Down here?” Herald asked startled

“Of course down here!”

“As you say” Argent cackled impatient to summon her individual titan for the first time.

“Titancall, Legendary Shark!” her nanites started forming an enormous floating shark creature that roamed the compound’s borders. She jumped into it’s cockpit and took the controls. “READY!”

“Here we go again” Charge let out. “Titancall, Legendary Raiju!” A gargantuan blue and white wolf emitting lightning arcs howled through the training room. “You’re coming with my friend,” He said taking Cyrus and jumping inside, sitting at the controls as well and letting cyrus safely on the copilot seat.

“Titancall! Legendary Griffin!” A majestic yellow griffin towered behind him. He floated upwards, entering the cockpit. “Whoaaa” he was truly amazed once inside.

“Titancall! Legendary Dragon!” He called forth, as he entered the cockpit of his own titan.

“Now… let’s show her what these are made for!”

______________________________________

She followed the counter on her watch. The destruction sequence was about to end and they hadn’t come out yet… What was stopping them? Surely Herald could carry them… She wished they wouldn’t delay so much. She was ready to send them to their deaths...

She was standing on the shoulder of Nightmare, whom she had enlarged in preparation for this battle. Nightmare was her guardian mutant and zealous protector. It had always been them against the world. And they had beaten all odds. Those rangers had no chance against her brain and her mutant’s might.

She was ready for anything…

But not for a pillar of flame exploding next to her. She nearly fell as her Mutant stumbled… and then the four Titans came out, facing her.

“How in the…”

“ATTACK!”

All four of them charged.

“Shit,” she said teleporting out.

The impact was fierce and brutal, sending Nightmare down to the ground in an instant.

“You’re missing one beast rangers! I can still defeat you! Nightmare! Use your flames!”

Nightmare extended her arms, sprouting large dark wings, and taking off the ground. She opened her horse mouth sending a stream of dark fire against the Titans.

“I’ve got this! Arctic winds!!” Herald’s Griffon stood forward, sending a cold wind-wave to collide against the fire stream. The flames extinguished, and the wind gust was strong enough to send Nightmare down to the ground with a loud impact.

“Time to strike back… Thunderbolt strike!!” Ortega commanded his Titan, briefly checking on Sidestep who gave him a weak thumbs up.

Charge’s Lightning wolf rushed turning in a stream of electricity, striking Nightmare several times.

The monster struck back, materializing his axe and sending the wolf away with a powerful swing.

“Shit.. hold on!” Ortega cursed as the cockpit began sparking and trembling as the entire mecha was flung over.

Nightmare raised her axe, preparing to strike again.

“Tsunami blast!” Argent’s shark rushed forwards, taking a swipe at the Nightmare, forcing it to let go of the axe and sending it down once more.

“My turn! Flaming Wall!” Steel cried on his cockpit. The dragon surrounded the fallen Nightmare in a circle of flames, rising up into the skies…

The monster tried to escape but ultimately fell down, blowing up in a large explosion.

“NOOOOO!!! NIGHTMARE!!!” Dr. Terror was momentarily lost for words… until she turned to the rangers mechas.

“Fuck you Rangers! I’m going to ****** you all! I’m going to *****ck youre ****cking heads and **** into your ****sses until they’re ********** and spin it like a *****ing roundabout the whole night and…” by this point, the mechas were advancing on her… and she simply teleported out, taking her cursing elsewhere.

“Wow… quite the mouth on that one” Herald said after a long silence.

“Was going to say” Argent commented

“Guys… We need to hurry… Cyrus’ doing worse” Ortega said.

__________________

“Good job, rangers!” Mortum was ecstatic as he took the implants and the codes. “And not a moment too soon… I think I’ll be taking Cyrus for now!” he said as a nurse pushed the stretcher he was laying on towards the lab.

Steel collapsed over the sofa. It had been a very long day…

“Hey”

Reluctantly he opened his eyes. It was Ortega and the others… Ugh. What did they want now…?

“Just wanted to say thanks? I kind of broke down... “

“What do you mean “Kind of?”

“Ok, maybe I went completely out of it... “

“Yes” he nodded

“I’m sorry… It’ll never happen again Steel. I promise”

“Good” he say with the hint of a smile

“You’re a terrific leader, you know?”

“Agreed” Argent said closing in to them. “You caught that brat completely off guard. Completely ruined all of her plans”

“She seemed to like hit and run.. Was bound to try to do it again…”

“And splitting up was a good idea…”

“Yes… Cyrus would probably be dead if we hadn’t found the implant so fast” Ortega added. Sorry for doubting you...

Steel nodded under the heavy praise. Well that was different for a change.

“Can I ask you guys for just one thing?”

“Sure” they answered.

“Take care of operations for the rest of the day? I think i’m going to go have a nap….”

“Yeah, leave it to us!

“We can do it!

“How hard can it be?” Herald asked

Steel smiled to himself as he left to the quarters section, followed by Spoon. Dummies… There was a mountain of paperwork… Dealing with the farm and Dr. Terror had been the easy part.

________Later, after it was all done and said...________________

Mortum fixed Cyrus’ implant within the hour.

It didn’t get him back to being himself outright, recovery was bound to take at least a few days. From that point on Ortega stayed by his side, as his self-appointed nurse. Their fight was over and they were closer than ever.

They're such a great couple" Herald says looking at them as he sat next to Mortum.

Cyrus was laying on the couch with a few blankets as Charge stood nearby with a food tray.

"Thank you for looking after me… and for coming to the farm… eventually"

"Always, Cyrus." "I didn’t want to lose you… not again. I’m sorry for earlier… I didn’t know what to do when you turned out to be..."

“I know… I’m sorry I lied for years. I just didn’t know how else to deal with things… they made me for lying, you know?”

“I kind of get it now… after seeing that place…”

“I... I’ll tell you everything...”

They smiled at each other and kept talking softly.

"Indeed, they seem meant for each other" Mortum commented back to Herald after hearing the exchange.

"Cyrus" Ortega spoke again

"What?"

"You need to eat something." *he smiled once more*

"I'm not hungry" *he said returning the smile*

"Mortum said it’s important for you’re in a bad shape, and that you should take better care of yourself. You need to eat to remain strong." *he said still smiling*

"No, I really don't feel hungry Ricardo" *he continued reflecting his smile*

"Cyrus, eat your food" *Ricardo said, his smile fading away*

"I told you I don't want it" *Now it was Cyrus’ smile that faded

Their gazes fixed at each other, in open challenge. .

"EAT YOUR FOOD!!"

"NO!!"

"EAT YOUR FUCKING FOOD I SAY!"

"MAKE ME!"

"OH? MAYBE I WILL!"

"I WANT TO SEE YOU TRY!"

"WELL I'M GOING TO DO IT!"

"BRING IT ON!"

They start struggling, but Ortega quickly headlocked Sidestep and started force-feeding him with a spoon

"EAT IT!"

"I'M GOING TO END YOU! YOU HEAR ME? YOU'RE DEAD!"

"HAA! GOT YOU, PENDEJO!" *the spoon goes in his mouth*

"FGUCK GBYOGH!!! FUGHBCK YOU!" Sidestep yelled with his mouth full.

"Right... meant for each other indeed" Mortum added “That couldn’t last long I guess”

"Should we go outside before this turns, like really violent?" Herald asked.

"An excellent suggestion" Mortum conceded.

_________________________________

My Fanfics: https://chaniters.tumblr.com/post/181692759294/my-fanfiction-for-fallen-hero

DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fan fiction using characters and the setting of the Fallen Hero: Rebirth and upcoming Fallen Hero: Retribution games written by Malin Riden. I do not claim ownership of any characters from the Fallen Hero wold. These stories are a work of my imagination, and I do not ascribe them to the official story canon. These works are intended for entertainment outside the official storyline owned by the author. I am not profiting financially from the creation of these stories, and thank the author for her wonderful game/s, without which these works would not exist.

#fallen hero: rebirth #fallen hero spoilers #Super Sentai Au #Fanfic #Chargestep

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just-rhys-things · 5 years

Text

Actually put the effort in to give my Sidestep(s) her/their own unique name instead of my goto after a year of playing it, so:

(I see all my kids as being the same person, just with vastly different reactions to Heartbreak)

Name: Carmen Bourne

Descriptions: White with Dark Shaved (S), Short (P) or Long (SD) Wavy Hair & Dark Eyes

Villain Names: Syn (Redemption Run), Heartbreak (Paranoid Theif Run), Sidestep (Self-Destructuve Run)

Puppet: Evie

Puppet Descriptions: Mixed with Grey Eyes & Dark Long (R), Short (P), or Shaved (SD) Curly Hair

Vice: Alcohol

Sexuality: Aromantic Ace-xual 💛

Gender: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ uses she/her

Scars: Revenge (R), Outsider (P), Control (SD)

Motivations: Better Life (R), Truth (P), & Anger (SD)

Rivals: Past Self (R), Ortega (P), & Current Self (SD)

Kill Count: only Sidestep (SD) has one and it’s minor (still let people escape bc I can’t be mean...)

Current Living Arrangements: varies from a comfortable apartment w/ job (R) to being rich but still living in the dirty sewers like a fuhkin’ goblin (P) to basically a penthouse lair (SD)

Telepathy?: Syn & Heartbreak are both hiding everything, but Sidestep doesn’t have much to live for anyway so everyone knows everything (no point in fearing hell when you’re backflipping into it!)

Relations w/ Ortega: varies from complicated friends w/ her (R) to paranoid-distant (P) to “just retire ftlog!” + semi-faux friends (SD)

Relations w/ Mortum: only Syn really likes him (but they’re great friends!). Sidestep would help him at the auction but it’s more good business than anything. Heartbreak trusts noone (see )

Relations w/ Herald: they all hate him, but at least Sidestep pretends to like him (Syn held back w/ Ortega but still beat the absolute shit outta Herald; she’s willing to see him in a different light tho)

Relations w/ Steel: Syn regrets hating him so much, but Sidestep hates him now more than ever

Relations w/ Argent: Sidestep loves fighting her, Syn is still undecided (but maybe ally??)

Syn-ful Facts: She’s an idiot who couldn’t finish one bad boy fight without worrying about her friend; wants the physical platonic relationship she has w/ Mortum w/ Ortega but can’t but wants to so maybe later; she likes to pretend she’s normal. She’s also my canon route cause I’m a people-pleaser and can’t stand characters being mad at me 😭

Heartbreak-ing Facts: Don’t touch don’t look at don’t breathe near her or she’ll run away. A tactician that tactically avoids everyone and everything bc she’s afraid. No friends no comfort, only safety. It’s all in the name of exposing the truth, right? Will she stop doing this and enjoy life for a hot minute? No clue she’s new I just wanted to use speed-strength together. Can’t enjoy anything anymore.

S̸̞̉̚ḭ̴̓̆̈d̸̙͆ę̴͈̳̽͘͝s̵͕̘͚̍t̸̛̟̭͎͊e̷̪̓̔ṕ̸̰̙͠ Facts: I’m surprised this one is still alive. Her goal is to basically be a helltrain and go barreling full steam ahead until she hits a wall. Wants to either force Ortega to retire get the woman to beat her into the ground. It’s less wanting to take her own life and more wanting someone to douse the flames ‘cause she has no clue what she’s doing. She’d be fine in jail if it just meant somebody would keep her from destroying everything she ever loved again.

#Rhys does things #fhr #Fallen Hero: Rebirth #AroAce #Aromantic Asexual #Im just glad they’re not all Rhys Graves anymore

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nataliesewell · 6 years

Note

Hey! How are you? I loved your scenario for Fallen Hero, it was so good! Could I ask for a prompt of "hurts to be close", with OrtegaxMc? Thank you so much!

i hope you don’t mind that i went an AU route with your request! basically, ortega and sidestep are fake dating for the cameras, a la herald and argent. of course, there’s pesky feelings involved…

Ortega’s hand is warm against your spine, the touch searing into the very marrow of your bones. Or so it feels. You want to both shy away and lean into it, despite knowing neither option is ideal. You force yourself to remain completely still.

“Is this really necessary?” you ask, keeping your voice low.

After all, currently, the two of you are surrounded by cameras and microphones. Reporters are keeping a respectful distance, but they are picking up every moment of this hungrily. Eager for whatever may unfold. You can even hear the propellers of a helicopter, soaring above your heads. It’s dark shape blotting out the sweltering sun is eerily reminiscent of a vulture, waiting as its prey slowly dies so it can swoop down and pick its bones clean.

Ortega dips her chin in a subtle nod. “Gotta play it up for the cameras,” she murmurs, a grin tugging at her mouth. She’s more amused by this situation than she ought to be. “I’m a concerned girlfriend making sure her partner is okay.” The words make your spine stiffen further.

You think back to the countless talks you’ve had with the Rangers’ PR department. For some strange reason, the public is speculating like crazy over your relationship with Ortega, and whether it was platonic or something more. Which gave them the inane idea for this.

It was a way to humanize the heroes who protect Los Diablos, you were told. Especially you, since no one had seen you sans mask. Despite the few interviews you have done, and your friendship with Ortega, it’s apparently not enough for the public to trust you wholeheartedly. It was PR’s hope that if you and Ortega feigned being lovers, the public would warm up to you.

You’re uneasy with this development, for a whole host of reasons. Too much scrutiny and publicity makes your stomach churn at the possible repercussions. Not to mention your feelings towards Ortega, whatever they are.

But you want this, don’t you? A chance to do good. To be normal, if only somewhat. So you went along with it, despite your many reservations.

Thankfully, Ortega makes it easy. She’s the only unmasked one from the two of you, so she’s the one who has to display the most emotion. A loving smile here, a concerned frown there, an intimate, yet brief touch now and then… she’s a natural at this. Pretending, you mean.

Now if only you could stop your heart from fluttering every time she does.

“You ready to get up?” Ortega’s voice brings you back to the situation at hand. Right. You were just fighting a supervillain. You won. Now, the cameras are watching your every move.

You meet your partner’s concerned gaze. This, you believe, isn’t feigned. You did get hurt, after all. “Uh, yeah,” you manage to say. Sitting on the dusty, debris-strewn ground, you stir and attempt to stand.

Ortega’s hands, under your arm and on the small of your back, help you up. You stumble, your injured knee twinging, and nearly collapse into her chest. She’s there to keep you standing; a solid anchor. The low murmur of the minds surrounding you grows louder in interest.

“Easy there,” Ortega says, tone light and amused. “You don’t have to literally fall for me, Sidestep.”

If only you could tell your heart that.

“Shut up,” you snap, but you don’t move out of her makeshift embrace. She stays by your side, the warmth of her body seeping into your own, the entire time, while the cameras roll and catch every moment.

Only for the publicity, you remind yourself. That’s all this is. The thought should ground you, comfort you.

You only feel the burn of disappointment instead.

#fallen hero: rebirth #fallen hero fanfic #julia ortega #sidestep #line-artsy #as usual... mixed feelings abt this #but it was fun to come up with smfjkdm #maria answers #maria writes #long post for ts

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fallenhero-rebirth · 6 years

Text

500 followers snippet

Well, actually 499 but I will not be home today so I figured I’d cheat a bit and give you something to read.

Today is a Herald snippet, a bit more fully coded than most, so you’ll be able to see various reactions a bit more clearly. Have fun!

Putting on your shades, you walk out into the bright Los Diablos sunshine. The surrounding buildings covers the street in patchwork shadows, and you head to the shady side as you pick your way towards the bus. It's the way you usually get downtown, sticking to a routine is not just camouflage right now, it is relaxation,

For a little while you don't have to make any choices, you can sink down into your own flesh, walking quietly among the crowds. Strengthening your shields, you let your telepathic powers sink back to their lowest setting, barely a buzz at the back of your head just in case someone would attack.

Not that they would. You're just another bland face in the crowd.

Just another nobody.

*fake_choice #I'll head towards one of the parks to get some fresh air. Walking helps, but it would help more if you could get off the streets. The memorial park is not far from here, there's enough trees to give you some shadow, and enough space for you not to feel as trapped.

You quicken your step as you get closer, the spot of green in the distance shimmering seductively in the hot air.

#I'll stick to the densest crowds, letting the human hive surround me Crowds can be comforting as long as your shields hold, with enough thoughts it becomes hard to filter out the details, and the inner voices mix together into a low mumble, like the ocean waves. Before you put on your mask and found more lucrative ways to make money, you often came to this particular stretch of road. It's a god spot to find people with money that they can share with you. Visitors. Tourists. Shoppers.

None of which are paying any attention to you.

#I'll go and grab something to drink. You want to find somewhere you can sit down and have a drink, maybe with something to eat on the side. You're not exactly hungry, but your body has its own internal alarm system to let you know when you need to rehydrate. Maybe that's why the headache's there.

Luckily, you're not far from one of your favorite diners.

"What's that?" A few people on the street stop and stare, and for a moment you get ready to run, but they are not looking at you. They are looking up into the sky, fingers pointing, and as you look up you get a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach.

Herald.

Over the course of the last months, you have...

*fake_choice #I have avoided Herald as much as I can.

#We've talked now and then when I've visited the building.

#I've been friendly when we've met

"Hey," Herald says with a friendly smile, hovering overhead, suit bluer than the cloudless skies, ruffled hair glinting in the sun.

*fake_choice #I stop and shade my eyes as I look up. "Fancy meeting you here." You look up at the bright blue sky, watching Herald hanging there in perfect silhouette, completely at ease with everybody staring at him. You can't help but feel a small stab of envy. Even back in the day you were intensely uncomfortable with being scrutinized, and for very good reason. Reasons Herald doesn't share.

"Fancy meeting you here," you say, determined not to let him get the upper hand. He's not in control here, he might have surprised you, but… it is your choice how to deal with it.

#I stop and sigh in annoyance as I look up. "What are you doing here?" You can't stop the annoyed sigh as you look up at Herald, hanging there in perfect silhouette, completely at ease with everybody staring at him. Is he showing off how famous he is? Does he get a kick out of people watching him? You suppose you could read his mind and find out, but him showing up here have left you a bit paranoid so right now it is better to be ignorant.

"What are you doing here?" you ask, not bothering to hide the annoyance in your voice.

#"Go away." I swat a little at the sky as if he were an annoying fly. You can't stop the frown as you look up at Herald, hanging there in perfect silhouette, completely at ease with everybody staring at him. What an asshole. Just because he likes the adoration of the masses doesn't mean that you do, rather the opposite in fact.

"Go away," You swat a little at the sky, as if you were chasing off an annoying fly or curious seagull.

#I just keep walking in silence, ignoring him. You have no idea what Herald is doing here, let alone what he wants from you. And quite frankly, you do not care. Instead you just keep walking. Maybe he will get the hint and leave you alone.

Sadly, he seems to be too dense to get the hint, instead he just follows along, still hovering just above you.

"Do…" There's a hint of hesitation in his voice. "Do you have time to talk?"

You don't have to read his mind to get the feeling that this is more than a social call.

*fake_choice #"Business or pleasure?" I ask, smirking a little. Let's see if I can get the upper hand here. So Herald is not feeling too confident about this? Good, let's see if you can make him even more nervous.

"Business or pleasure?" Your smile is more of a smirk, but he doesn't seem to catch that particular nuance from his angle. Instead he floats upward for a moment, clearly flustered.

"Business," he finally manages to get out, and you swear there's a hint of a flush to his face. Interesting.

"Well, unless you want to air your dirty laundry in the street, we'd better go somewhere more private then."

"Oh, of course…" He looks like he only noticed the staring glances just now, deepening his embarrassment. "Right away."

#"I suppose…" I say, sounding hesitant. Might as well see what this is about. "I suppose," you say, hesitating a little. Since Herald has already made a scene out of this, you might as well go along to see what this is all about. "Though I would appreciate talking somewhere more… private." While people are looking at Herald and not you, it's only a matter of time before they start to wonder who he is talking to.

"Oh, of course." He smiles a little awkwardly, as if he has only just noticed the looks he's getting.

#"No." I elbow people out of the way and just keep walking down the sidewalk. "No." You almost shove a gawking woman out of your way as you head down the sidewalk, wishing he would get the hint and go away. You could change his mind of course, *if not(told_ortega_telepath) but you are not supposed to have powers anymore, *if (told_ortega_telepath) but using your powers that way would be out of character, and you don't want to give away any more hints than you've already have.

"But this is important," he starts, but you're not stopping. "I really need to talk to you."

If your telepathy weren't at its lowest setting, you could have reacted in time, as it is, Herald's sudden move takes you by surprise, and before you have time to do more than gasp, you are airborne.

"$!{swear}!" You almost reach out and take control of Herald to make him land, but instead you force yourself to keep your cool. This is not an attack, despite triggering all your worst instincts. This is just Herald picking you up and flying off, something which is probably an ingrained reflex in how he lives his life. You've been around fliers before, they tend to be insufferably liberal with the use of their talents.

"Don't worry, I won't drop you." Herald has raised his voice to be heard over the wind, and you realize that you are clinging to him a little too tightly.

*fake_choice #Flustered, I relax my grip. Flustered, you relax your grip. He won't drop you, he's too much of a hero for that. Probably used to carrying panicked damsels in distress. Besides, you have your dignity. You've been airborne before.

You didn't like it then either.

#I keep clinging, this is too high up. You keep clinging, this is too high up. You don't really trust Herald not to drop you. There's been too many mistakes made by him that you've seen, even if you have been the indirect cause of most of them.

#I keep clinging, it feels surprisingly nice. You keep clinging, trying not to think about the fact that it feels surprisingly nice. When was the last time you were this close to someone that was not Ortega? In this body?

Herald is warm. The nanomesh skinsuit is surprisingly rough, the surface more textured than you imagined. *if tech_savvy You suppose it helps regulating the airflow when he flies.

Below you, Los Diablos stretches as far as you can see, the recent rainstorms have washed it clean of the usual dirt and dust. The Pineapple Express have been pushing storms inland for the last few weeks, but today the sky is clear and the city beautiful. Maybe this is the key to understanding people like Herald, up here it is easier to cling to your ideals, to just see the broad strokes of society and not the ugliness hiding underneath. Sometimes you wish you could be this blind.

But you've tried walking that road and it didn't end well for you.

As Herald swoops down towards one of the taller buildings, it takes a moment for you to realize that it's Emerald Towers, one of the expensive apartment buildings downtown. Does he have an apartment there? If so, you wonder why he risked everything to take the Hero drugs, it tends to be the desperate that goes that route, not the rich. Mods are a lot safer if they feel the urge to become more than human.

"Hold on." Herald picks up speed and you obey, because there's no feeling of threat or duplicity from him. You don't want to pry too deeply, but apparently he just wants to talk.

For a moment you wonder if he's going to try to hit an open window, but then he adjusts his course slightly, the dive curving upwards so he can land on the roof with only the lightest of impacts.

Show off.

*fake_choice #"Taking people for rides like this often?" You smile a little as you step back, collecting yourself. "Taking people for rides like this often?" You smile a little as you step back, straightening your clothes.

"Sometimes," he admits, the awkward look on his face revealing that he's not sure how to interpret that comment. It's obvious that your demeanor is confusing him a little, which is one reason why you keep doing it.

Keeping people off guard is how you stay alive after all.

#"Was this really necessary?" I brush myself off, giving him an annoyed look. "Was this really necessary?" You brush yourself off, trying to collect your frayed nerves. You don't like being touched needlessly, especially not when you're not ready for it.

"I'm sorry, but when it comes to private, there's no better place than this." Herald shrugs a little, but doesn't seem too apologetic.

"In the future, ask first, you're lucky I didn't knee you in the balls." He looks perplexed, as if he hadn't even realized that his move could have been taken the wrong way.

"I just…" he starts, but seeing your look he shuts up again.

"We're not teammates. I don't know you, and I certainly don't approve being manhandled by you."

"Understood." He nods, looking suitably chastised.

#"Get off!" I tear myself from his grip and walks off in a fury. "Get off!" You tear yourself from Herald's grip, giving him a hard push before walking off in a fury. If you could, you would just have walked out of here, but after a few steps you realize you are trapped on a rooftop.

$!{swear}! Did he plan it that way? Just to make sure you had to listen to him? You stomp over to the edge all the same, looking out over the distant city, weighing your choices.

You're not really in danger here. If you wanted to, you could take over Herald, make him drop you and then try to adjust his memories so he forgot it ever happened. You could… and that knowledge makes you feel a little bit better. Unfortunately, that wouldn't be smart. Even if you do your best, there's no guarantee you'll be able to hunt down every single motivation why he sought you out in the first place, so you'd just risk repeating this incident.

Not to mention the fact that yet another incident of mental manipulation among the Rangers increases the risk of somebody starting to add up the dots. Did Herald tell anybody he was going to meet you? Did any cameras spot him? What about the people on the street? Did anyone snap a picture?

"Umm…" Herald has walked up behind you, not daring to reach out and touch. "I'm… sorry?"

You want to slap him hard, break into his mind and show him who's boss but you don't. Too many unknowns, the safest thing is to keep playing powerless and see what he wants. Even if his entitlement makes you fume.

"Whatever." You let out a long sigh, trying to make your fists unclench as you turn around. "Don't ever do that again."

"Understood." He nods as he says the word, looking suitably chastised.

"Now, what is going on here? I assume you have a reason for… all this." You gesture around the rooftop, keeping your voice hard. You can feel the brittle nervousness under his smooth surface, and you want to keep him off guard. No need to encourage behavior like this in the future.

"It just seemed faster this way." He looks shorter now that he has landed, about your height and build. It always takes you a little off guard, somehow he always seems taller in your head, most likely because he likes hovering a few inches off the ground. Did he land out of politeness to you? Perhaps.

"Faster?" You can't help the look of disbelief on your face, but he really seems to mean it. He saw nothing odd at all with yanking a near stranger off the street and dump ${chim} on a rooftop. You had forgotten how entitled heroes could be.

"Sorry," he says, starting to pick up on the fact that this wasn't the best of ideas. "I realize this might come off as a little strange, I just keep thinking of you as… well, I mean you are still Sidestep."

You can't help the sigh. So that's it, then? $!{swear}. He still thinks of you as a hero. As one of them. And maybe a decade ago you wouldn't have thought twice about getting pulled off the street like that, Sentinel had done it more than once when she was in a hurry. But that was a lifetime ago. For you...

It's starting to dawn upon you that it might not seem that way to Herald.

*fake_choice #"I was Sidestep. Years ago. I'm not anymore, remember?" "I was Sidestep," you admit with what you hope is a sad smile. "Years ago. I'm not anymore, remember?"

"That's… actually why I am here." There's no pockets in his suit, so he crosses his arms instead. What does he want? Getting you back in suit? Working with the Rangers?

*if not(told_ortega_telepath) "I am not a telepath anymore." *if (told_ortega_telepath) "Last time I played hero it ended badly." Whatever he wants, you'd better dissuade him fast. Ortega is enough of a liability, you don't need more people having an interest in your life.

"That's actually also why I am here." The quick smile is gone as fast as it appeared.

#"If I still had been, do you think you'd ever have managed to grab me like that?" "If I still had been, do you think you'd ever have managed to grab me like that?" You strike a cocky stance, which gets an embarrassed laugh in return.

"You've got a point." Herald looks you over, his smile slowly fading. "I really shouldn't have been able to do this, should I?"

#"I'm not, but you're lucky I still think like a hero, otherwise you'd be sporting a black eye." "I'm not," you say with barely suppressed annoyance. "But you're lucky I still think like a hero, otherwise you'd be sporting a black eye right now." He still thinks your heart is in the right place, might as well let him keep those illusions. You'll get the chance to retaliate sooner or later.

"I'm glad you didn't punch me, but that's actually the reason why I am here."

"What? To get punched?" You crack one of your knuckles, causing him to raise his hands and take a step back.

"No. Because you're not Sidestep anymore."

"If you're thinking about getting me back in the suit the answer is no. *if not(told_ortega_telepath) I'm not a telepath anymore, remember? "

"That's actually also why I'm here."

"And?" You tilt your head a little, trying to see his angle without digging too deeply. Not suspicion, for which you are grateful, just worry and… concern?

"Are… you okay?" The question comes out with awkward honesty and it is all you can do to keep yourself from groaning.

*fake_choice #"Are you sure Ortega didn't put you up to this?" I give him a suspicious look. "Are you sure Ortega didn't put you up to this?" You give him a suspicious look, because it wouldn't be the first time Ortega would use an intermediary when you had argued. Poor Anathema was usually the one getting suckered into it.

"$!{he} has no idea I am here." Herald looks over his shoulder as if Ortega would somehow have scaled the wall while you were talking. "It's just… I can imagine how you feel."

"No you can't."

"Fair. But…"

"Look." You interrupt before Herald can finish. "I get what you're doing, but get to the point."

#"Of course I am," I say with a cynical grimace. "What do you think?" "Of course I am," you say with a cynical grimace. "What do you think?"

"I think I would be devastated." Herald smile a little nervously. "I can't imagine how you must feel."

"That's right." You sigh and shake your head. "You can't. So just get to the point, will you?"

*if not(told_ortega_telepath)#"It doesn't matter whether I'm okay or not." I cross my arms with a stoic expression. "My powers are still gone." "It doesn't matter whether I'm okay or not." You cross your arms with a stoic expression on your face. "My powers are still gone."

"That doesn't mean that you can't get help…"

"Help?" You can't help raising your voice. "What makes you think I want any help?"

"If it happened to me, I would…"

"You're not me," you state flatly. "So stop with the concern and get to the point."

#"Why do you care?" I give him challenging look, arms crossed. "Why do you care?" You give him challenging look, arms crossed. That's what you want to know, because right now he's not making sense.

"Hey, you're Sidestep!" Herald exclaims as if that should explain everything. "It's just such a shame seeing you like this." He gestures at you, and for a moment you can imagine how you must look to him. The slouched stance. The tired eyes. The worn expression. All things carefully cultivated, and now backfiring spectacularly.

"Sucks to be you then." You keep your face hard. "Get to the point."

"What happened?" The question is spat out with nervous urgency. "You were a hero, heroes don't just... give up." *if herald_limp Now that he's on the ground, you can see that he's not putting the full weight on one of his legs. You hurt him pretty badly, but it's been months. Surely it still can't... *goto useless2 *elseif villainherald_relationship = "afraid" You catch a look of something on his face, an undertone to the nervousness that it takes you a moment to place. He's afraid, and brushing your mind over his it only takes a moment to realize exactly what he's afraid of. $!{villain_name}. *goto useless2 *elseif villainherald_relationship = "humiliated" You catch a look of something on his face, an undertone to the nervousness that it takes you a moment to place. Shame. That's not something you've associated with him before. *goto useless2 *else His fists are clenched, and you can sense his determination. Is this really about you, or is it really about... ${villain_name}? *goto useless2

*label useless2

Of course. Suddenly everything made sense. Herald isn't worried about you, he is worried about himself. About not carrying his weight on the team. Has he thought about quitting? Like you did?

"Sometimes they do," you say with a shrug, trying to come up with a good strategy how to handle this. "Or they die. Everything ends eventually."

"That's..." Herald shakes his head. "I mean, there's always a reason. Ortega won't talk to me so I thought..."

*choice #"Look, what do you want from me?" I don't bother to hide the frustration. "Look, what do you want from me?" You don't bother to hide the frustration.

"Answers," he says, pleading with you. "Everybody keeps treating me like I'm the new guy on the team, and nobody will tell me what is going on with you. You were my hero."

"I'm nobody's hero." You look away, letting your eyes pan over the horizon.

Once you look back you can see that there's a sense of resignation in Herald's eyes, as the absurdity of the situation is starting to sink in. If you wanted to, you think you could get him to put you back where he grabbed you. On the other hand, you could use this chance to make sure he stops worrying about this by giving him the perfect explanation that won't affect him; the Heartbreak incident.

*choice #I'll use this chance to get him to put me back on the street. *goto backdown

#I'll make sure he won't come back, and tell him about the Heartbreak incident. "Listen, I get why they don't want to tell you. It's not because you're the baby on the team, it's because it's something none of us want to remember." You grimace, looking away. *goto heartbreaktale

#"So you thought you'd do what? Prove me wrong? Get me back in the game?" "So you thought you'd do what? Prove me wrong? Get me back in the game?" You can't help but look tense, there's no chance that Herald could actually do something like that, but you don't want to be forced to wipe his memory to stop him from badgering you further. Too many complications later.

"I thought maybe we could talk about it?" There is a brief pause as he takes in your hesitant expression. "I guess not, huh?"

"Got it in one. I'm out."

"Ortega said you'd say that, I just thought I'd ask..."

"If you know ${he} couldn't get me to rethink my decision, what made you think you could?"

"I didn't," he admits with a sigh. "I just thought I'd try. I thought that maybe it was ${he} that was the problem..."

There's a sense of resignation in Herald's eyes, as the absurdity of the situation is starting to sink in. If you wanted to, you think you could get him to put you back where he grabbed you. On the other hand, you could use this chance to make sure he stops pushing you by giving him the perfect explanation for your reluctance to bet back in the game; the Heartbreak incident.

*choice #I'll use this chance to get him to put me back on the street. *goto backdown

#I'll make sure he won't come back, and tell him about the Heartbreak incident. "Listen, it's not Ortega. It's me." You grimace, looking away. "What happened back then was... life-changing." You really don't want to revisit those particular memories, but that might work to get Herald to stop sniffing about. *goto heartbreaktale

#"You thought you'd come and ask me about the thing neither of us wants to talk about." I grimace a little, remembering the Heartbreak incident. "You thought you'd come and ask me about the thing neither of us wants to talk about." You grimace a little, remembering the Heartbreak incident. You really don't want to revisit those particular memories, but that might work to get Herald to stop sniffing about. *goto heartbreaktale

#fallen hero: retribution #herald #spoiler

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