#power payback

[lovevalley45]

actually it Does suck to be summarizing a very serious scene and then phrase smth in a comedic way like no that's supposed to be serious stop that

[powerpayback]

Meet Magni Quinn!

Magni has gone through many iterations over the years, but he's worked his way up to protagonist status. While he plays a more minor role in the first book, he will get his time to shine in the second book, Arrington Acres, investigating a murder that may not be as clear-cut as it seems on the surface.

[nyree2712]

Top Gun - Incorrect Quote 191

Maverick: Alright daggers. Let's go over this one more time

Maverick: If something breaks?

Payback: We try to fix it before Admiral Kazansky gets home

Maverick: If it doesn't work?

Daggers: We blame Rooster

Rooster: Seriously guys, what the hell?!

Harvard: Use your puppy eyes Bradshaw

[reality-detective]

Tis the TREASON to be JOLLY...

Thought I would post in case some of you forgot how to tie the knott.

Cabals, there's no need to worry because there is plenty of TREASON to go around. 🤔

[bastardcatthings]

my hypothesis is that his ungodly swag and pendulous balls has pissed off a higher power who tries their best to make his life hell now

[luluvonv]

unstoppable force 🤝 immovable object

By Yolanda

[soo-won]

Nobody is asking Yona to sacrifice herself or stay with the dragons forever. That's not why ppl are upset with her imo. What's disappointing was that when the gods say Kouka would turn into hell, we didn't saw any hesitation in her. She could've argued w them or showed some determination like: "hey, I won't let you play with me or my country no matter how hard you try" something she did while zeno was trying to kill himself. But no she's like oh hell sounds fun as long as I'm with my family. She even hesitated when Hak's life seems at stake. So what does it mean? And there's is a difference between her running away from the gods vs Suwon not depending on the gods. She's ok to enjoy the blessings but when it comes to pay back, she's running away. Yona acted like a selfish brat like she used to be in the castle, which is disappointing if we consider her development in the past

I'm not gonna lie in this case I feel like people are just looking for something to be mad at her. Like, in chapter 257, I was more bothered by Yona not hesitating because the consequences of that decision were 100% assured and known : all the dragons of the past waiting and suffering in vain until the current generation. And the whole time paradox twist was a lot to process and swallow in a few pages, that Yona's reaction felt sudden too. I wanted to see her hesitate then because I was affected as a reader by the twist that it was technically Yona that made the cycle happen? Even if from her POV it was about not erasing the past like damn that's a lot.

But the circumstances are not the same at all here imo. Yona has been in this chalice for like an entire volume. She tried already to negociate with the gods. It didn't work. They went against their words. They hurt the dragons. She tried everything she could here. They're basically bullying her, they keep tormenting her, she's not getting through them at all. Yona is affected and upset when they tell her about the dragons' limbs. She came here to begin with to save them, she made a deal with the gods that made her stuck inside the chalice against her will but supposedly in exchange of the dragons being freed, and now she realizes that even that failed and that they lost body parts. It's devastating. And Yona looks sick of it. From this point, it's clear to me she realized it's useless trying to get anything from them, because she won't. They're only toying with her and her feelings. All she can do is leave with them and defuse. There's NOTHING she can do more from the heavens, she can't ask the gods to save the dragons and even less protect Kouka.

Yona has been having nightmares about natural disasters and wars breaking out since chapter 257, she's already past hesitating about this too. So I don't mind she doesn't hesitate for it here. Yona in chapter 257 was scared of even falling asleep because she was scared of this future where she's all alone and it's hell everywhere. But she can only stop it by facing it and standing against it. It didn't happen yet, she has to keep her eyes open... She already learned this lesson. As we've seen with Yona protecting Hak from Zeno, her nightmares can be prevented, but this won't be if she stays still in heavens. Staying in a peaceful garden and shivering because intervening outside could cause more problems is much more like Yona of the beginning before her development, than Yona leaving to live in Kouka and fight against problems arising there. Yona was told her existence and actions were a pain that could create more problems at different occasions, and her conviction has always been to make her own place in the world anyways. Before she asks for the gods' divine protection, she should face her own fears and try to do something herself...that's how she always worked. She has always refused to rely on the gods alone.

The motif of living outside and in not the most comfortable place but finding purpose in getting through struggles together has been a thing forever that Yona's reaction about life outside being preferable only seems natural to me. I don't know... Her hesitating here would have felt redundant and would have surprised me. Yona has long ago developed the conviction that she finds more purpose in life in the struggles and difficulties because of all the people reaching out their hand to help, than her peaceful and confined, lonely days in the palace. She always found more purpose in helping people on the ground than to take decisions from above. Even in the castle and south kai arcs it was visible how she wanted to go help prisoners herself, and the way she went to rescue Meinyan shows it well too. I don't want her to hesitate for this. She already said she'd rather live in the mud in chapter 263 too. That's the most Yona thing ever imo, it makes me happy personally. It doesn't need to be said she's concerned for others, and she will keep running to their help to do something with her own hands. I don't need her to hesitate because personally I have no conflicted feeling about the situation and I think Yona is 100% right, here. I have no doubt she is intelligent enough at this point to say this too.

You could argue it would have been better if she had a speech like the one she had in chapter 43, and I can't argue about that (it's true it's very good!). I can understand, I just personally don't need it, because the fact chapter 43 exists is enough in itself to me and the present automatically resonates with it and everything before. I can't be mad at Yona not saying word for word "I'm going to save people struggling outside" because I already know that. I personally don't need that reassurance at this point.

The chapter shows her being concerned for Kouka and everyone on Earth when she flies on Ouryuu's back. Yona always planned to return from the chalice for everyone and everything she left behind on Earth. Of course she's concerned. She wants to bring her friends back from the chalice AND help everyone in Kouka. She promised Yun she would come back with everyone, she planned to return to Suwon too and not abandon her duties as Princess. All these things exist inside of her. Anyways, Yona doesn't need to tell the gods to stop toying with her country like she did with Zeno before too, because the ways things are presented, it seems like it's not like the gods cause this on purpose either? It's a consequence of everything going to shit, and it's also Ouryuu who is on her side talking to her before she says she prefers hell than here. So she doesn't reply angrily, she replies with hope. That's why that page is beautiful too, imo. The gods might not see and understand the value in such a world that Hiryuu and Yona are so fond of. But they can't help but love this messy, "hellish" world. Talking angrily to the gods didn't work in ch263/264 either, so I feel like it was also her trying a different approach when she told them she would live in Kouka maybe? Like she doesn't want to let herself be affected and be upset by them and she simply, intransigently voices her intentions to them?

You say you don't want her to sacrifice herself and stay with the gods forever, but also accuse her of "running away" from the gods and call her a selfish brat for her reactions in this chapter, so I really don't understand your point here. How on earth is Yona supposed to not depend on the gods in this situation but by not making a deal with them? Staying in Heavens, contract done to protect Kouka from doom and ending it at that (because she would be stuck there) would be truly the coward move imo. Yeah she's turning back and trying to get out of Heavens but... it's...good to stop moving forward and further if doing so brings you to extreme loneliness and/or death I think...? I think that's the point...Getting desperate, leaving everything behind and sacrificing more and more of your true wants and isolating yourself has been a pattern that never brought anything good to the characters that tried before. She struggles and things didn't happen as expected, many things are still unresolved, but she can only do so much in this situation. She tried. She tried discussing with the gods, asking them to free the dragons, to let her out. It didn't work, it was a blow on her when they forced her under a sea of flowers, when they tried torturing Zeno, and when she learned the dragons got injured. From that, she adapted and tried to leave. That's it.

I think Yona wavering when they threaten to kill Hak and what it means is pretty simple and is no secret. Yona loves and cares about Hak. Hak is someone important, personal and intimate to her, so obviously she's not unaffected. Yona from the very beginning has been trying to get stronger and do all she could to protect Hak again and again. Losing people dear to her is what scares her more than anything, it always has been so, even if it coexists with her caring about the world around her too. And you know, even if Hak is special to her, I honestly think that if the gods had threatened the lives of the dragons and not only their limbs, Yona would have been affected too. She would have also faltered had they threatened the life of people she doesn't know in the same terms. It's just extra cruel to use Hak in particular against her. It shows again the gods atp are only interested in destroying everything that might be connecting Yona to Earth. It's the exact same form of abuse that Chagol used against Meinyan. It's about isolating her. It's also not really the same as claiming people will die without the gods' divine protection that is more like a potential consequence than a term of a contract like it is at the end of the chapter. She can stand against conflicts outside and protect people there, but what can she do against Hak just, being killed by divine intervention if she doesn't return to heavens (supposedly)? They fucking coerce her here. Maybe it's just bluff, and she should not give a fuck about Hak and still leave. After all, what is one person against the world and her freedom! But well, she cares. She never discarded her loved ones and never compromised Hak and her friends' life. She never compromised the life of anyone really (which is different from sparing and refusing to kill anyone). That's who Yona is. Yona doesn't sacrifice and compromise people's lives, That's why she wants to save everyone AND wants to go home. And that's why she's stuck now. Yona wants to live. But she can't sacrifice someone innocent either, especially not someone she loves. It's the perfect dilemma for her. And that she's forced into it is what is heartbreaking. She shouldn't have to choose. That's why she needs help now.

Bringing up payback like this rubs me a bit in the wrong way...This damn idea of paying back is what has been haunting the narrative for so many years i can't conceive repeating it for Yona too. To me it comes from the same mindset that asks for retribution, punishment and karma for every character that upset Yona in some way or should be grateful and kneel to her and Hak that has been so sickening for so long. I don't want anyone to be forced to pay anything back ever. Every character should get all the help and support they need for free at all times imo. I don't think Yona nor the dragons should have to pay such a harsh price either. Because that's what a blessing is. That's what love and kindness are. That's what wishes are. If the gods really cared for Hiryuu, they wouldn't ask her anything in return, they wouldn't torment her, they wouldn't punish the dragons either. It can just...stop. (Because yes this favor shouldn't be at all to begin with) Which is what Yona wants.

Aren't we so tired of all this "contracts" and "punishment" and "paying back" bullshit by now? I so am. It's exactly what has been ruining the lives of the characters forever and now (and my mental health as a reader lol). She's paying back right now by being in this situation already. And that's not a good thing at all. It's very good narratively though because yeah, they want her to pay back! They make this about contract when she was asking a favor! She's paying the price for her decision in ch257, for ever using the dragons, for entering the chalice as Hiryuu's reincarnation...But it's nothing but sad. There doesn't need to be this payback. That's what the story is exploring. Looking for the dragons to survive (whom she never forced, even if yes they were bound by their contract thing) and protect Hak is not a crime, not erasing the past to save her friends isn't so evil that she deserves to sacrifice herself. Making it end is enough. It may be selfish that yeah she enjoyed the good parts of it until it bothered her but honestly I think it's okay lol. As long as it ends. As long as no one has to pay back anything for doing their best to survive and struggling to protect something. Like Meinyan doesn't need to apologize or to pay back anyone for all she did and was done for her, just like Suwon doesn't need to be even and be punished, like Shinah doesn't need to executed for attacking Suwon, like Zeno doesn't need to be punished for betraying Yona and the ddhhb, etc... Because it's better to look at the bigger picture and at people's circumstances you know...That's how I interpret this arc, at least.

Yona doesn't pay back by sacrificing things, she "pays back" by giving back out of gratitude. That's precisely what she does by doing all she can to save the dragons right now. The dragon warriors gave her so much without ever asking anything back, they saved her from danger and they saved her from despair, she's so grateful and loves them so deeply she wants to bring them happiness too. But Yona can't give the Gods what they want without sacrificing important things to her, and not when they're the way they are now. So she can only leave.

Of course Yona/Hiryuu alone getting this treatment from the gods was always unfair and it shouldn't be at all, especially not at the cost of so many dragons suffering for so long. But well, she did. And when learning how this "favor" was hurting the people around her, she was affected, grieved it in ch253/254, and then she opposed it and tried to stop it in the present. (Also she's been concerned by the dragons' use of their powers for a very long time even if she doesn't go deeper) But the gods don't care. You can blame her for not questioning things more before, I'm critical of this too, I still conflicted about chapter 257 as well, plus everything irt the crimson illness etc but like, she says it, she doesn't want their powers if that's the price. She only wants the human them. She doesn't need the dragons' powers and she doesn't need the gods' protection. When she throws away Hiryuu's sword they give her, it's her rejecting that again. She doesn't want that special power and favor, that's not what she's asking. She wants agency and power, but not at the price of the agency and free will of others. She wants everyone to have normal lives where they can decide things for themselves, to live with their whole free will. That's her development in this arc. I like that she finally faces these things.

Maybe it's just a question of preference, and you might be affected by Yona's reactions in a way I can't relate. But personally I like the chapter this way and I like Yona in it. I don't think she's a selfish brat (god. it's...such a thing to call her honestly it irks me sorry, despite all criticisms I have of her character.) I don't think she doesn't care about Kouka and its people at all. Ive seen people say that too but...Even if yes Yona is still a 16 years old girl with struggles and feelings and still some immaturity which is important to take into account, I don't think she's as childish and inconsiderate as people make her either. People often seem to say her reactions and decisions are emotional and with no reason but I think they're emotional AND with reason, at least here. Yona doesn't say this about Kouka struck by disasters being preferable than Heavens from emotions alone (because yes, she just wants to go home and she genuinely loves the people in Kouka), but also from experience and conviction. They don't cancel each other out. It doesn't make her a hypocrite to have personal interests in it too.

[rosetyler42]

Thought this one'd be fun.

Lucy showing off her powers and pranking by flying the twins, Simon, and Gideon around while chanting "Ancient Sins."

I liked the idea that Lucy would LOVE messing with and scaring Lil Gideon both as a get back for what he did to Dipper and Mabel, giving him a taste of his own medicine AND to show him how someone with TRULY innate psychic powers does things. Also, I couldn't help but imagine Dipper having a little PTSD from Lil Gideon attacking him (that Lucy doesn't really know about here)

I know Gideon does genuinely get better but...he's still the kind of person Lucy would LOVE to mess with. XD

@martin44444 @lovelylivelyv @black-ak9 @hotelt-resurrection @serial-serializednovelreader @wingingfromthezing @heartsong1994 @kittyball23 @deathfangirl9 @crazybookenthusiast @royaledevil @genderqueer-bithing @howling-nightmare @nerdalmighty @dorykinny @starfruit-sardonyx @monstetransylvaniasstuff

[letmebite-you]

i dated toxic men for the last 6 years and my payback for that is raising an army of self aware maneaters.

[amplifyme]

So I've been watching a bunch of nature programs lately (the Our Planet series on Netflix is full of goodness) and I had an epiphany tonight. And it is this:

We are the most highly evolved, intelligent, and sentient species on this planet. And we have managed to absolutely and completely fuck it all up. Not just for ourselves, but for every other living thing who shares this earth. We're destroying our home. And it's the only one we've got.

So when is that sixth extinction supposed to arrive? Cuz, boy howdy, do we deserve it.

[yuriyuruandyuraart]

smile for the camera!

crisis belongs to @amyupup47

[lovevalley45]

#fictober24 - day seventeen

"Strangest thing I ever heard."

original fiction (power payback) (continuation of this fic)

word count: 1837

tw: general medical stuff

“Your friend is a botanokinetic, right?”

Magni turned in his chair to see Hillson hovering over the edge of his cubicle. “Yes. Why do you ask?”

“Odd call just came in. There was a guy found half-dead in his apartment by his coworker. BCPD suspect foul play, but the guy is a burnt out botanokinetic.” Hillson rested his arms over the top of his cubicle wall. “I told them I’d send a guy for a second opinion.” 

“Yeah, I can do that.” He saved what he had been working on and stood. “I’ll head down to the station now.”

“Oh, no. You’re going to Bright City General.” 

Damnit. Magni hated hospitals. Although, he hadn’t met many with a perverse love for them, so maybe that was just the general opinion on them. 

“Fine.”

“I’ll tell Detective Pallas that you’re on your way. She’ll be happy to see you.” Hillson gave him a grin that didn’t reassure him. 

As Magni drove from the office to the hospital, he wondered what exactly his boss thought it meant that his friend was a botanokinetic. He guessed it was fair; he’d spent enough time with the Marottos to learn how botanokinesis could manifest. But he was far from an expert. 

Detective Pallas, a tall, Black woman with lots of curly hair, was waiting for him when he came in. She seemed impatient, foot tapping as he walked up. He could guess her cooperation was not voluntary today. 

“Mr. Quinn,” she said. “I thought this case might be a bit too organic for you.” 

“I have experience with botanokinetics,” he told her. 

“Mm.” As he signed in as a visitor, Pallas gave him the run down. “Our victim, for the moment, is Chester Holt. 25, male, works as a sales rep for a dentistry equipment company. His coworker, Fernando Diaz, stopped by to check up on him and found him unconscious.”

“So you think it’s foul play.” He stuck the badge to his chest. 

“Might be. The paramedics on the scene gave me the run-down. Strangest thing I ever heard.” As they walked to the elevator, she explained, “The obstruction in his throat was a bunch of flowers. Loads. Fully rooted down his airway. They had to operate on his airway to try and remove them.”

Magni winced. “Sounds painful.” 

“Yeah. Vic’s still recovering, can’t really speak. The coworker who found him offered to talk to us, but he has a different story.”

“Okay, let’s hear him out.” 

As they went up to the third floor, Magni recognized where they were heading - the Talent ward. It’d been about a decade since Sprout had been admitted for her burnout, when he’d spent hours here trying to cheer her up. 

The hospital room Detective Pallas led him to similarly held no life. He wondered if they’d enforced the same “no live flowers” rule or if it was just too soon. 

The man in the bed - presumably Chester - was hooked up to a ventilator, his eyes opening slightly as they walked in. He was pale, black curls played out on the pillow under him. The glimpse of his eyes that he got revealed multicolored irises - one bright emerald, the other warm brown. 

Beside him, another man sat with an anxious look. There were bags under his dark brown eyes, his chestnut hair rumpled. He stood with wide eyes when he saw Detective Pallas.

“Am I being arrested?” he asked. 

“No. I just want you to give your testimony again.” Pallas seemed to remember that Magni was standing there. “This is Mr. Quinn, one of our consultants for Talent-based crimes. Mr. Quinn, Fernando Diaz.”

Fernando sat back down. “Right. Okay. I don’t know much about Talents, but I heard what his talantologist said. They don’t think it was someone else.” 

Magni was inclined to believe him, but Pallas asked, “Mr. Diaz, if you can just tell us what happened again?” 

“Yeah. So, I was coming by Chester’s place to bring him soup. He was feeling under the weather the day before. I thought it was just a bad cold. But when I knocked, he didn’t answer. I was worried. He had sounded awful, and I thought- I don’t know what I thought.” He started to wring his hands. “The door wasn’t locked, so I came in.” At this, he glanced at Pallas, like he was ready to be reprimanded. 

“You were just trying to see if he was alright,” Magni said, only to receive daggers from Pallas. “What did you see?” 

“Blood.” Fernando laid his hands out on his knees. “The bathroom door was open and the sink was covered in it. That, and flowers. Little purple ones?” 

“Geraniums?”

“What was the state of the victim when you arrived?” Detective Pallas asked, ignoring him. 

“He was laid out of the couch. I didn’t see anything in the throat, but I could tell he was having trouble breathing. And he wasn’t conscious, I couldn’t wake him up, so I called 911.” 

She glanced over at Magni. The testimony wasn’t helpful, but he asked, “Were you aware that Mr. Holt was a Talent?” 

“No. I never suspected.” 

He looked over at Chester, who had closed his eyes. But he could tell he was still awake. That information wasn’t a surprise. 

“Did you think he was keeping any secrets?” Detective Pallas asked. 

“No, Chester would never. He wasn’t that type of guy. I guess aside from being a Talent, but-” Fernando sighed. 

Chester’s eyebrows furrowed. Magni wondered what he was thinking about. It must have sucked to be talked about when you couldn’t even respond. 

“You said you talked to his talantologist. Do you remember their name?” 

“Dr. Merlo. I think.” 

Now that was a familiar name. 

“Thank you, Mr. Diaz.” Magni turned to Detective Pallas. “I’ll talk to her.” 

“Alright. I have a few more questions for Mr. Diaz here,” she said. 

Magni nodded and stepped out into the hall. He was ready to go to the nurse’s station when he caught the doctor stepping out of another room. It hadn’t been that long since he’d seen her; Dr. Merlo wasn’t his doctor, but he’d had to ensure Sprout didn’t skip out on her appointments enough that he saw her around. 

“Dr. Merlo?” he asked, stopping her. 

“Oh. Hello.” Behind her round glasses, she blinked, before recognition set in. “Yes. Magni Sempers. I remember you.” 

“It’s Quinn, now, actually.” Magni cleared his throat. “I’m with Hillson and his consulting agency now, helping the BCPD look into what happened with Chester Holt. I know you can’t say much on his Talent and his previous burnout, but-” 

Dr. Merlo straightened her coat. “I understand. Can we step into my office?” 

“Yeah, of course.” 

He followed her into her office - a small space that seemed more like a closet, with just enough space for them both to sit. But it provided a nice bit of privacy. 

“Just like with Ms. Marotto, I was Chester’s talantologist at the time he had his burnout. It was a few years after hers. It was an odd case - the flowers had began germinating inside his lungs and started to choke him out.” Dr. Merlo folded her hands on top of her desk. “You know how kinetics’ abilities can be triggered by emotions, even without their realizing.” 

“I know.” 

“That was what his mother had suspected. Whereas sometimes it can be anger, or fear, grief can be just as strong of an emotion. The reasons Talents often experience burnout in their teenage years isn’t just because they don’t have as much experience with their abilities, it’s because their emotions can be so much more intense. Add hormones, and-” She mimed an explosion. 

“So what happened?” 

“Burnout by broken heart,” Dr. Merlo answered. “And it manifested just like this.”

“You never thought there was any foul play,” Magni said. 

She shrugged. “That’s what I told the detective. I’m just not sure what could have triggered a flare up.”

He thought of Fernando, the slight pain in Chester’s expression when he talked about if he had any secrets. “I think I might know.”

When he headed back to Chester’s room, he went up to Detective Pallas. “Can I have the room to talk to Mr. Holt alone?”

She looked at him skeptically. “You’re not gonna get much out of him.” 

“I’ll get what I need.” 

“Alright.” Detective Pallas sighed. “Mr. Diaz. Mr. Quinn needs the room.” 

“Okay.” With a wary glance, he followed the detective out of the room. 

As Magni took Fernando’s seat, Chester opened his eyes again and looked over at him. 

“Relax. I’m not here to shake you down.” He crossed his legs. “I talked to your doctor.”

Chester closed his eyes again and leaned his head back into the pillow. 

“That Fernando’s a good guy. He sat here with you this whole time?” 

He nodded, or as much as he could with the ventilator. But he didn’t meet Magni’s eyes. 

“My friend says I can be a little too saccarhine for my own good. I love a love story, you know? And Dr. Merlo told me that your burnout, the one that planted those seeds, was set off by a broken heart.” 

This time, he looked back over at him, eyes more aware than they’d been the whole time he’d been here. But there was no anger, only sadness. 

“You love him, don’t you?” 

Chester raised his hand, gesturing towards the pen and paper on the table. Magni handed the pen to him, holding the paper steady as he wrote: DON’T TELL HIM.

He sighed, leaning against the edge of his bed. “I’m a terrible liar, so I’ll just be honest with you. I can’t keep your secret. Unless you want the police to keep chasing an attacker that doesn’t exist. But if we’re being real…” Magni glanced out the door. “I don’t think you’re such the fool that you think you were. If your choice of flower means anything.” 

Again, he beckoned him to bring the paper close. THANK YOU. 

“You’re welcome.” Magni stood back up. 

As he left the room, Fernando came up to him. “Did you get anything out of him? What happened?” 

“Ask him yourself,” he told him. 

Detective Pallas narrowed her eyes, walking beside him to watch Fernando go back inside. “What did you do?” 

“Nothing. Just confirmed that it wasn’t foul play. And maybe played Cupid.” 

“Damn. Who knew a techno-geek like you was so soft-hearted?” she asked. 

“Rude.” He stepped back. “I’m going back to Hillson. I’ll send you a detailed report and the invoice for my excellent matchmaking skills.” 

“Jesus.” 

Once he was out of the hospital and back in his car, Magni took out his earplugs and opened his phone. He ignored the technochatter of a dozen notifications and called Sprout. 

“Hey. Remember those fanfics you read in high school?” he asked her. 

“How do I know you’re about to tell me a wild ass story?” Sprout replied. 

He grinned. “Trust me. You’ll love it.” 

[powerpayback]

Welcome to the World of Power Payback

Bright City, Nevada has two sides: the city where millions of tourists flock to gamble and party to their hearts’ content and the city where superpowered individuals called Talents find their place to belong. The Talents of Bright City, possessing a wide variety of abilities from pyrokinesis to super-strength, struggle to live normal lives despite their powers. While things are moving towards change, the disadvantages they face are hidden from the passing tourists coming through on vacation. 

Power Payback is a trilogy that follows two of these Talents, Daisy “Sprout” Marotto and Magni Quinn. These two detectives with wildly different Talents go from promising upstarts in the world of private investigation to getting in bed with the city’s newest Talent crime boss. Are they in over their head?

Who are Sprout and Magni?

Sprout Marotto and Magni Quinn are childhood best friends turned partners in crime - crime-solving, that is. The two run Quinn and Marotto Investigative Services, trying their best to help Talents that ordinary justice has missed. 

Daisy “Sprout” Marotto is a botanokinetic whose connection to plants has gone from benevolent to potentially dangerous. Despite that, she puts her heart into her work. She strives to do good in a world that has wronged her in the past. 

Magni Quinn is a technopath attempting to live a quiet life in a noisy, noisy world. Even though he would be a recluse if he had his way, he is a softie at heart. He is not above skirting the law to make sure people get what they deserve - for better or for worse.

What’s the plan? 

Power Payback is a planned trilogy. The first book, Silver Spade, focuses on Sprout as they try to figure out disappearances in a fight ring hosted underneath one of Neon Avenue’s newest resorts. The second, Arrington Acres, will focus on Magni and a an organization offering to help Talents live more “normal” lives on the outskirts of Bright City. And for the third book, well, that’s a surprise. ;)

How can I read it? 

Currently, the first book is still a work in progress. While I work on the second draft of Silver Spade, this blog is a place to space to share my ideas (and a few memes while I’m at it!). I also hope to post a few smaller stories that aren’t too spoiler and focus more on the characters here as well. Hopefully if this story sounds intriguing to you, you’ll give this blog a follow and stick around to see what’s to come!

[hplonesomeart]

WARNING LOUD VOLUME MAYBE??? I can never tell when it’s uploaded vs edited—so maybe lower the volume just as a precaution since I don’t wanna be the cause of someone’s ears ringing jksjsksp

Oh yea uh—posted this on YouTube today. Help I’m too deeply invested right now oh boy oh goodie can’t wait to see my deranged psychopathic man mercilessly torment everyone in the worst possible ways before getting himself pummeled to a pulp (and maybe killed off but SHUSH GUYS let’s glimpse over that for another moment here)

[reality-detective]

Nesara/Gesara... Crimes against humanity 🤔

[paradife-loft]

Ilevath and his very uneasy relationship with the Scarlet Chorus, it's recruitment practices, and it's ~survival of the ''''fittest'''' doctrine; and on the flip side, the balancing act story he tells himself about how he really was uniquely worthy of being saved from the absolute nightmare of that recruitment where so many others apparently weren't/aren't, while at the same time feeling an intense gratitude and indebtedness toward Tunon & the court for being those saviors.

the idea of his being chosen to serve the court as essentially just a random lucky stroke would be rather upsetting to the notion of a world that's largely just and ordered and reasonable, obviously! and he himself is very willing to be the agent of sparing other people's lives from whatever fate the Chorus would have in store for them, if/when he can find other acceptable options to divert them toward in his capacity as a court agent.

but even so... the Chorus has its right to recruit. and he's certainly willing to have captured/surrendered prisoners given to them as a fair ("fair") option for a second chance. awful as the conscription/initiation process is, in these cases it's something like a logical (and frankly merciful) consequence of their own actions - that's not something he's going to lose sleep over.

(and if it's a sensible consequence in those circumstances, then that also brings us back around to the opposite, that his being claimed by the court instead was also a sensible consequence of.... something about his person and talents, that others didn't have. surely. .....he does not, as a general rule, try to ever linger overly long on the occasional thoughts of the other members of his prior guild.)