New? Arriving? (09 Aug 2021)
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Bad Memories by Domoviye
Bad Memories
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Below is a stream of consciousness commentary I type up as I read the story. Details from the story will be included. If you have not read the story yet and don't wish to have details spoiled, read no further.
Bad Memories comments
Shit, what kind of monster has captured Austin? Only his underwear, a spell to track him, what kind of sicko is keeping Austin captive? He captured Forte and has a buyer for her, okay, this man needs to die. The threat to Austin, I would love to get this monster's client list and go clean up the world of the scum he works for. This wizard, I hope he made a deal with something nasty, and it comes to collect. Shit, Forte is in a bad way right now, is that due to a spell by the wizard, or is she having a panic attack due to being without her prothetics and captured? Yes, Austin, use your power to help Forte, then escape this monster.January 6th, 2017
Phoenix, Arizona
Early evening
Not that long ago, yet it probably feels like forever ago to Forte since she was Natalie Foster. Acl! Harmonica and guitar at the same time, she has some dedication to try to learn that. Plans to crush it at the Christmas concert, and someone was listening to her play. Aww, her little brother Micheal. Seeing how things were, knowing her future, it hurts to know how much she lost.September 13th, 2015
Vail, Arizona
Late Afternoon
I wish they could have this again. Aerosmith's, Cryin', Micheal, it isn't that old. 11 and 16, yet still close. Sounds like Micheal has a future in basketball. I hope Micheal kept with sports after Natalie left. Bacon-wrapped hot dogs, yum.“Sheesh! You think it's easy just picking up two instruments and playing them together?”
“For you? Yeah!” he said.
Crud, is this where the incident happens? A contract in 3 weeks, why does it feel like a countdown knowing some of her history?“Natalie,” her dad said, “at work today Mr. Ericson told me he was interested in you playing at the Tucson Business Association's annual banquet. He and some others heard you at the winery festival, and they think you'd be perfect.”
Just how many instruments has she learned how to play? October, the Fall Festival, each event planned, and I worry it is the one where the incident happened. Dedicated, a love of music, I'm starting to see why she became Forte after losing all that.Biting her lip, Natalie slowly plucked at the metal strings of her Chinese zither, playing the beginning of the song, 'Fisherman's Song at Dusk', for the twentieth time, at half speed.
Prodigy seems like not enough to describe her.There were several guitars, her oldest one covered in names and messages from her friends and family, a drum set and almost a dozen smaller drums, flutes and other woodwinds, a couple of harps, a violin hung beside a viola, a set of maracas hung over a cello, and there was even a cornet she was still struggling to learn.
Early bedtime for a 16 and a half year old, aww. And all those exercises too to keep fit, dang. The way she describes some of her breathing exercises and warm-ups, I wouldn't want any boys to see her doing those. And likes a lot of different genres of music, cool.
Mrs. Soto is her English teacher, I'm glad I never had to read Shakespeare.September 14th, 2015
Vail, Arizona
Mid-morning
Oof, those are the kind of singing jobs where even knowing the person's tastes in music could still go wrong. Simon, you need to learn how to keep your abilities a secret to remain safe.It was supposed to be some family reunion and sweet sixteen party for a teen girl about her age. It would have helped if the woman would let Natalie talk to the birthday girl, but it was supposed to be a surprise, so she'd been given a list of singers and songs the girl liked.
Shit, he needs to be in Whateley to help him; this sounds like it is leading up to explosive burnout if he doesn't get better control.He'd manifested almost a year ago, while doing laps in gym class and nearly ran into a wall at a hundred miles an hours. Since then he'd gone from being a somewhat popular kid to one of the outsiders, mostly because he had episodes where he'd move at high speeds unable to control himself for anywhere from a few seconds to a whole minute.
Good attitude to have towards Simon, just a classmate as long as he doesn't hurt anyone. Sarah needs an attitude check. The note from Camilla. Don't tell me Sarah is planning something bad for Natalie. Good, phone out, ready to record just in case, smart move. Sarah and her group of close friends show up, uh-oh.
Oh, you shouldn't have said that, Sarah. Just how does Sarah treat hired help, because if it isn't like a fellow human who needs a job, she is the bitch. Yes, make Sarah pay, Natalie.“Yeah. My aunt saw her playing her little songs at the winery festival and hired her to do my birthday party. But Natalie doesn't know it's for me. Can you believe it, she's singing at birthday parties. She might as well become a wedding singer, it's all she's good for.”
At the party, Natalie is just watching, and Sarah is the center of attention. Free meal, at least the gig got her that. Natalie, even if it isn't a good idea, if it takes Sarah down a peg, it is worth it. Sarah's aunt hired her, so I guess she doesn't know what a capital B her niece is. Sarah, Emma, and Olivia are the kind of girls who, if they don't get a harsh lesson now, will end up getting someone hurt or killed in the future.September 26th, 2015
Tucson, Arizona
'Dangerous Woman' by Ariana Grande, it figures that it is Sarah's favorite song. Ooo, using songs Sarah likes, but not in this context, nor how Natalie is putting emphasis on certain parts. Drake's 'Fake Love' and the final song, 'She Ain't Pretty She Just Looks That Way' by the Northern Pikes, ooo, Natalie making Sarah pay in her own way is priceless.
Maybe don't raise a spoiled brat who thinks it is okay to look down on others.Sarah looked torn between shock and rage, and the adults didn't seem to know what to do. They weren't used to being made fools of by a teenage girl.
Perfect revenge on a bitch. The fact that Sarah and her family were practically charging the stage, they need to learn that being wealthy doesn't make you better than others, and not to be rude, especially to the 'hired help'.“You fucking bitch!” Sarah screamed.
Unplugging her guitar, Natalie bowed. “Happy birthday from the hired help, Sarah. See you in class Monday.”
September 27th, 2015
Vail, Arizona
Early Afternoon
Unprofessional, yes. Cruel, it is what Sarah earned, what goes around comes around. Darn it, Mom knows Natalie has her phone and is hiding it. Ouch, forgot to put her phone on silent, and mom called it.“Yeah, I got grounded for a month,” Natalie said to her friend. “My parents told me that what I did was cruel and unprofessional. Sarah's aunt phoned mom while I was waiting for dad to pick me up and gave her an earful. But it was so worth it. You should have seen Sarah's face. She was humiliated.”
At least Natalie got to tell why she did what she did to Sarah.
Oh boy, so Natalie has always had a temper.“I know you don't like Sarah and you've both given each other a hard time over the years. But you need to learn to keep your anger under control.”
Jerking back, Natalie protested. “I don't get angry that often!”
Pulling her back into a cuddle, her mom kept a tight grip on her. “I know that, which is a huge relief. But when you do get angry, you get mean. Do you remember throwing paint all over Emilia and her painting in grade one, when she said your music sounded stupid.”
So revenge, even when punishment has been doled out by others, and not telling authority figures, and taking things into her own hands. Natalie needed help long before the accident. Ouch, Natalie didn't get to play her song tonight because she wanted revenge on Sarah. Natalie, your mother has a point, please listen to her.
Crud, and this is why she didn't get the help she needed until it was too late. Nothing but practising music for a month, heh.“I hate therapists,” Natalie said, making a face as she recalled a few times when she had to talk to the student counsellor for a few minor things that had happened at school.
Eep, it seems Natalie might have broken Sarah. Skipped a day, now slumped in her chair and not talking, I don't like Sarah, but this is bad. Poetry, awwww. *runs off, crashing through walls* Simon is having that many super fast shakes all morning, crap, this is building up to lethal, explosive burnout. Tells him to go to the nurse's office, but he never gets the chance.September 29th, 2015
Vail, Arizona
Mid-morning
I knew it was coming, but that was horrifying.Simon became a screaming blur. With her right hand already up in the air, Natalie started to bring it down, instinctively protecting her head with it when a sledgehammer hit her and thunder exploded less than three feet away, knocking her to the floor.
Natalie is in pain, but her brain is foggy; others are screaming. This is why some people think mutants should be in classes with baselines. Seeing three of everything, a mangled arm, and her legs separated from her body. Shit, Sarah didn't deserve to die like that. This is right out of a horror movie.
God, replaying that in her mind, Natalie needs therapy now more than ever. No way to reattach her legs, her arm was shattered and burned, and had to be removed to keep it from rotting.October 10th, 2015
Tucson, Arizona
But would those cybernetic replacements allow her to play her instruments again? Oof, I hate how medicines can do that to your sense of time.They promised her that she was on the list for getting cybernetic replacements. They were already trying to raise money and she'd be good as new when they finally got them. Until then they'd get her the best prosthetics possible.
Natalie went too far with her revenge, but this was too far; Emma shouldn't have said that.“Emma,” she slurred, unable to talk properly through the drugs and bandages that still encased her head and face. “I'm... sorry... about... Sarah.” She struggled to get the words out.
Emma remained silent for a long time. When she finally spoke her voice was full of venom that managed to strike through the drugged induced haze. “I'm glad Sarah died, at least she isn't a useless, limbless, freak like you.”
Micheal tries to convince Natalie to eat something, he misses her playing. He doesn't realize she can't play anymore with one hand.October 20th, 2015
Tucson, Arizona
The hospital needs to bring in a therapist to talk to Natalie; she has all the signs of severe depression and has lost the will to live. There is only so much that family and the hospital staff can do for someone who doesn't care if they live or die anymore.“I can't play the guitar anymore. I can't do anything,” she whispered. The words felt like anvils hitting her soul.
“Yes you can,” her brother insisted. “I saw one superhero, Doctor Silver, on TV and most of his body is cybernetic. He's able to do all kinds of cool things, he even has jets in his legs that let him jump like a hundred feet into the air and land safely.”
“I'm not a superhero. I'm just broken.”
Lily, I know you are trying to coax Natalie into opening up, but her life has been shattered. *eyes bug out* They have had to do all that to keep her fed on a liquid diet, and still no therapist. God, not even able to fully clean herself, I wouldn't be doing my screaming silently.
In a powered wheelchair, in what sounds like a therapy group for fellow amputees. Oh, she was having one-on-one therapy sessions, but going nowhere, Natalie is too stubborn for her own good. A woman who was at a grocery store and thought a cute guy was staring at her mechanical right hand instead of her, but convinced herself to go over and say hi to the guy.November 15th, 2015
Tucson, Arizona
Aww, nice, cute-meet.It turns out he wasn't actually looking at me, he had barely even noticed me, he was trying to remember what he needed for a pasta recipe, and was staring off into space. We went on our first date yesterday, and next week he's going to make me that pasta dish at his place.
What the, where is the tune in Natalie's head coming from? Is this the first sign of her mutant powers activating? Gah! Natalie, I can't believe she asked that. She is going to be on suicide watch now.
PT to help her learn how to use a prosthetic plastic hand, I would be frustrated if the progress was slow.December 13th, 2015
Tucson, Arizona
The music, the song, is this how her Devisor trait works? That practice prosthetic was never going to work out. The music in her head, it sure is a unique way for a Devisor trait to show itself.She had tried writing down the notes, but it had been nonsense. She knew it was a song for one person to play, but there was no way a human could play it, the notes were too complicated and jumbled together. Yet they were starting to make sense, and something told her that if she could work them out, it would lift her out of the hell that was her life.
Silence while eating dinner, I wish they could have figured out she was a mutant, gotten her sent to Whateley for help, instead of what happened. Considers herself a helpless, limbless freak; do not let her go into any rooms with a lock. No. I knew it; she dropped the glass on purpose to get her dad to leave the heavy-duty pain pills bottle behind. She placed her chair against the door! Suicide attempt by ODing on heavy-duty pain pills. Natalie, I know you think there is no chance for things to get better, but it hasn't been 3 months yet; you have to give it time.
December 15th, 2015
Tucson, Arizona
All the advanced technology from mutants, and no way to regrow limbs yet!? A new therapist and Natalie, a new inpatient in the hospital's psych wing.“Natalie is suffering from severe body dysmorphia, it's too be expected after her accident. People who have unexpectedly lost a single limb below the knee or elbow, have a 25% chance of suffering severe depression a year later. Losing three of them, we're going to need to take this one day at a time for the rest of her life.”
The place sounds like the psych wards I've seen. Small pile of scrap paper and used box of crayons to write with; I wonder what her first devise design will be.
Every Devisor is different, but man, her version of devising sure is beautiful if you could see what she does.The music in her mind was almost overpowering and she felt she was close to finding out what it meant. Lost in her own little world, she wrote down the notes, not even realizing she was now writing as well with her left hand as she once did with her right. The notes had to let out, that was all that mattered.
As she worked, graceful golden lines appeared in her vision.
Obsessed with deciphering the music, and it isn't going well, the nurses and psychiatrists should be happy she is focused on something again. Christmas music, another reminder of what she lost. Permission to go to the bathroom because she is on suicide watch, yikes. If the staff knew a bolt had been broken on the toilet and made it unstable, they should have done something about it or insisted on helping Natalie so this wouldn't have happened.December 25th, 2015
Tucson, Arizona
So, the music finally makes sense, and her first devise design is her prosthetic arm. She needs to get home and get to work on this.January 12th, 2016
Tucson, Arizona
Natalie talks to her home about the need to remember what it is like to be happy. Mom has a good plan, so you better reply to those texts fast, Natalie. Oh...oh no, she thinks it will be just a few weeks before she can play her instruments again. A laptop with a music program to turn the music in her head into a reality, how did she build all this without her parents or at least Micheal finding out? The nosy younger brother is a trope for a reason.January 21st, 2016
Vail, Arizona
What she has made isn't what she pictured in her mind. Does that mean she still might be able to make a limb like she saw in her mind in the future?February 22nd, 2016
Vail, Arizona
Early morning
Compromises, just tell your parents what is going on, and they will get you anything to make you happy again. Darn, it requires mercury and dangerous chemicals. Doesn't want another trip to the psych ward, a surprise for them all. How did it all go so wrong that she ran away? Sonic metal, and once it works, she begins to cry tears of joy.Still she thought it would work even though she'd needed to make a lot of compromises while making it. Her house didn't have a lot of things she could use.
She has to let the stereo play for over 24 hours for what she is doing with the sonic metal, the electric bill will get her parents' attention. Oh boy, the crude prototype for her prosthetic arm. Well, it works even if it needs fine-tuning. Soundproof walls, d'oh, no wonder her parents don't know what she is doing out there. Oh no, her right hand can't keep up with her left; she thinks it is just a matter of practice. Practicing more, and it isn't working out.February 23rd, 2016
Vail, Arizona
Evening
Darn you, Emma, for saying that to her. Natalie, your family cares about you no matter what. I wish she could understand that.Staring at her metal right hand, Natalie couldn't stop the tears from falling. “I'm not good enough,” she said. "I need to be better.”
Whistling to loosen the arm, ignoring the bruises that covered her stump, Natalie put the prosthetic out of the way. She needed it to be perfect before she could reveal it.
She had to be perfect, to prove she wasn't a useless, limbless freak.
Yelling to stay out of her studio, who came, and why was that enough to get them to run off?March 12th, 2016
Vail, Arizona
Crap, no wonder they didn't find out about her power until she ran away, or what she was doing with it in the studio.She'd used a tiny bit of her sonic metal to make an alarm for her music studio, so she'd never be caught by surprise. She had the door locked, but her parents had several keys for it. She didn't want anyone seeing all the chemicals and tools she was using, much less her inventions. They weren't good enough yet. Until she could play her music again, anything she did would just be shit and not worth showing.
She made Micheal cry. Natalie, you need to open up to your family. *sigh* I know that won't happen, I only wish it had.
Natalie, let your family help. I wish you had. Please, hear what your mother said, Natalie. You aren't the only one going through this.“With that attitude, yes! Micheal has done his best to help you. All he wanted to do was to ask if you wanted an ice cream from the store. He misses you, and all you do is ignore him or yell at him.”
The words went in one ear and out the other. She was too angry to care, nothing was working right, and she didn't know how to fix it. “Well I'm sorry! I've had my own problems to worry about!”
Good, finally, Natalie sees what she has put her family through.
Arrgh! Ask your family for help, go to them for support. Don't just cram your feelings down and think everything will be better once one thing happens.She was a terrible daughter and sister. She was just useless, hurting her loved ones, and a waste of everything. She should have just died. Looking away, she spun her wheelchair around and headed back outside. “Just stay out of my studio, please,” she whispered.
Closing the new sliding door of the sun room, she shut out the feelings and her mother. Once she had her music back, everything would get better.
New version of the prosthetic arm and still not good enough to play music like she used to.April 19th, 2016
Vail, Arizona
Natalie, if you aren't using the exact materials your Devisor trait is telling you to, it will always lead to an inferior product, no matter how it looks. All those hopes and dreams she had for her future, dashed.Running a hand over the silver metal with the beautiful golden lines, it should have worked this time. But she couldn't get it right. She wasn't good enough.
Natalie, you are starting to spiral again. Please, tell someone how you feel. Smashed her guitar and tossed the prosthetic arm where it rolled out of the studio. I wish someone had come to help her.Now she was going to be known as the failure. The girl who had a chance and had it stolen from her. And the last thing she'd done with her gift had been to humiliate Sarah at her very own birthday party.
Oh no, she has gone into the numb and life is pointless, so why bother, part of depression. Watching a news report of a fight between a superhero and a red-armored villain, she sees them fire an energy beam, and her Devisor trait comes up with an idea for a sonic cannon. Seeing an energy force field in action it gives her the idea for a sonic force field. And the idea for her armor as well. Okay, now I'm a little afraid of what ideas it could give her at Whateley, seeing all the gadgets and devises in action. Combining it all in her head for her future armor, oh boy. Oh boy, she has her passion back, but is that a good thing?April 30th, 2016
Vail, Arizona
July 23rd, 2016
Vail, Arizona
It seems she needs outside sources to help inspire new ideas, or it is harder for her, strange. Oh, good, she researched online and found out about being a mutant and the Devisor trait.She'd found that after the initial creation of the special metal, making new things was harder with a lot more trial and error. Looking at the stained floor, she'd made plenty of errors.
Walking again with her prosthetic legs, slow and steady sounds right, just like in physical therapy. At least she is happy. Ah, those 3, the most often used and most potent of her arsenal, next to the armor. Darn, she would have gone on the side of justice before all this happened.
Seesh, no wonder she went villain, being told your creations are illegal, your very specialization has stricter rules and regulations than other types. It would drive you batty trying to work within the law.Looking up the laws, sonic weapons were very illegal and even sonic tools that did more than clean teeth were heavily regulated. Devises were even harder to use legally. Getting permission to use most of her inventions would be really difficult.
Oh boy, the ideas of why she wants to be a supervillain: potential fame and fortune, she thought it would all be so easy.
I knew that was her reason, but it still hurts to see a young person go down that path. So that is why she chose Forte as her codename.And getting some of her own back at the world that had ended her music career would be cathartic.
I understand her, but still wish she could have found a better way.Sighing, she looked at her metal hand that seemed so perfect, but was still not good enough for her original dream. “I lost my music. No one is going to stop me from taking back what I'm owed.”
Pillows under the blanket to trick others, that never ends well. Taking the sonic armor out for a proper test run.September 19th, 2016
Vail, Arizona
Midnight
I wish Emma had never visited her in the hospital, that others didn't use the term freak for those who have lost limbs or were born without them.As soon as she was far enough away from her house, she began laughing at the freedom to move, run and jump without any worries. She was never going to go back to being a helpless freak.
Thanking her mom, she has been so moody and rude that it gets her mom to give her a questioning gaze. Welp, Natalie said the right thing.October 10th, 2016
Vail, Arizona
I still wish I knew how some people can seem to teleport in moments like these. Crud, Natalie already has the bus ticket to Phoenix, and it is only a few days from now. She is just trying to give them some happiness before she leaves and doesn't contact them again for a long time, at least that is her plan.Her mother seemed to teleport from her chair to Natalie's sidey, and she found herself being hugged, kissed and cried on at the same time. Twisting in her wheelchair, Natalie hugged her back as best she could.
Just taking off like that, burying the evidence of what she has been doing, not even leaving a letter to say goodbye to her family and why she is leaving. Nooo! Her long hair, I wondered why her hair was a messy pixie cut when we first met her.October 13th, 2016
Morning
Abandoned her old name for Forte. I wish things had gone differently for her.Putting a glove on her right hand and double checking she had her bus ticket and fake ID, she grabbed her big backpack that seemed to weigh a ton, with two sets of armours, her devises and essentials inside. Thankful for her metal legs, she turned to leave her studio and home.
Back in the present, Forte climbed out of her nightmare; all of that was her memories of the past. Austin is drained from helping Forte free herself from the nightmare.January 6th, 2017
Phoenix, Arizona
Impromptu Cell
Early Evening
Okay, didn't see that coming. In a panic over her missing prosthetic limbs, especially after the nightmare, Austin has to use her power to calm Forte down.The underwear was a pair of panties, and the boy was clearly a girl, despite having a chest like a ten year old, and sounding like a young teenage male.
Austin insists they are not a girl.
Changeling, or GSD, that's rough. So the wizard is named Jared.Blushing, the kid said, “I'm not a girl. I wasn't born one. I'm Austin."
I knew she would react like this. Darn, no powers to help them escape. How to get out of this hellhole and make Jared pay? Ah, use Austin as her hands and legs to help her build a devise to make Jared pay.The fear and panic that had been overwhelming faded away from Forte, replaced by disgust. Behind the disgust, outrage was quickly roaring to life. They'd forced her to relive losing her limbs and the months of agony afterwards, and now they were going to sell her as if she was a helpless freak.
“I'M GOING TO KILL THEM!” she shouted.
Never make a Devisor angry.“Something that will shatter every bone in Jared's body,” she said.
Book made good use of the Christmas heist money. Aww, no way to hook up cable, or the 'forget me' spell might not be enough. Gothic punk works for her. Useful spell, but it's going to be something to use only as needed. Ack! All that blood she had to use from herself. I hate the demon book for tricking her.Book's Home
Early evening
Crap, what happened to Big Guy to leave him needing Book's help? Who can beat up Big Guy that badly? He has Forte's arm!
Oh, Jared is going to wish he could die more pleasantly after they get through with him. *shudders* I know it is a healing spell, but it still makes me squirm seeing her do that.Big Guy collapsed onto her new chair. “We were ambushed doing a job. I need your help finding out where they took her.”
Oh, a job to scare someone named Newton who hasn't been making his payments to Doc Morris.Earlier That Afternoon
Peoria, Greater Phoenix Area
Peoria Community College
Good reason to bring Big Guy along. What went wrong? Ouch, Big Guy dropped out at 14, I hope he found a way to get an education outside of normal schools.“We're meeting him in his civilian persona and at his job, since it's the only way I can figure out to meet him, unless we drop by his house. I'd like to keep things peaceful, not blowing his secret identity all to hell. And I'm not exactly the most intimidating person out of my armour,” she admitted. So I talk, you look big and mean behind me. If there's no fighting, you get a hundred dollars for it. We have a real fight, you get five-thousand.”
B. Black, physics teacher, hhm. How did a family man like this get mixed up in crime, let alone owing Doc Morris payments? Oh boy, Christmas time, and most supervillains and henchmen don't work around then. Saying Doc Morris is going to have to wait, you got involved with a backalley doctor who treats anyone with the cash for it, you think he will take that as an excuse?
Forte, I know you owe Doc Morris, but this isn't the way. You are talking about his family now, you don't bring family into it, ever! Forte, now you have gone too far, using his family, his concern for what will happen if he is outed as a supervillain, and if they can't afford their current home without his money. Have the money in a week, just leave his family out of it. Forte, you might have just gotten him to be desperate enough to sell you out to get some quick cash as revenge for using his family as leverage.
Purely business, Forte, that is how you make enemies. Big Guy is right, you made it personal, and now Newton Black has a reason to want revenge on you.
Plus, he might have people who owe him favors who will do it without needing payment.“And what's he going to do about it? You said it yourself he works behind the scenes, helping mad scientists get their numbers straight and working with criminals to come up with workable plans. He could come after me, but he doesn't even have enough money to pay a few thousand dollars a months to Doc Morris. It's not like he can afford to get someone competent to come after me.”
“He doesn't have the money now. Things change,” he reminded her.
What the hell kind of attack was used on Forte? And who attacked Big Guy? Multiple individuals were involved in the abduction of Forte, it seems. Crap, it is those three. Soldado, Insanity, who is probably the one who attacked Forte, and Gigante. I knew they would want revenge on Forte, but an ambush like this, bunch of cowards. Big Guy, trying to escape, was grabbed by Gigante, but the way he escaped, I never knew he could shrink. Gah! Now I see why he doesn't do it more often; that is a brutal reversal of the shrinking.
Down a hallway, up the stairways, and forcing his way through a door to the roof, Big Guy waits. 5 minutes and nothing, it seems the trio has left with Forte. *eyes bug out* His shrinking does more damage when it reverses if kept active for even a few minutes, that is scary.
Last month, those three wasted little time coming after Forte. Wait, how did she end up with Jared? Did he need tech gear? BG wants payback on those three assholes. Book isn't letting him go alone, always help rescue a friend. Eep, Book being angry is scary. Rats, not enough essence. NO! Stupid demon book, suggesting human sacrifice to get more essence, I hope Book finds a way to control you sooner rather than later.Present Time
Book's Apartment
Late Evening
Okay, what can make Book grow pale and make her want to puke? Gah! She has to use her own left pinky as a sacrifice; it will grow back, but dang.
But doing this accelerated her change into a magical being, darn it!The book had said that she was filled with essence. Most of it was keeping her alive and changing her from a human into a magical entity. Her blood was the easiest way for her to use magic, taking essence straight from her body for the spell. But if she was willing to suffer the pain, larger sacrifices could be made.
Her left pinky is not a compass, pointing towards Forte. BG is rightfully upset at what Book had to do for the spell.
I still wonder, could Eldritch and Thulia working together create a new body for Book to transfer her consciousness into and free her from the book's hold? Because I seriously want her free from that twisted thing's hold.“You seriously need to get that book away from you. It ain't healthy.”
“I don't know how to get rid of it!” she retorted. “Now are we going to go save Forte or not?”
Darn, all Austin can do is hold some things for her. Otherwise, the devise might not work. Austin, no need to apologize, you did your best. Devisor rage sure is a scary thing to see in action when they are inventing and focused. Eep, turn her voice box into a weapon, and it is going to hurt if it works. Well, anything to get out here as long as you survive.Back In The Cell
Yikes, working with junk sure has its price on the body.
On the streets, you have to survive somehow. And considering what happened to his parents, Austin probably doesn't know who to trust.“I got grabbed by some jerks that saw me using my powers to make people think I was really cute and deserved some money. They threw a bag over my head when I was alone so I couldn't stop them,” the kid replied.
She gave a little snort of laughter. “Starting a life of crime early, I see.”
“I was hungry!”
The tale of her first inventions, and why she became a supervillain.
Yes, lead Austin away from the supervillian life, far too sweet for it. A call to Big Guy to come pick them up after Jared is dealt with, hoping BG is still alive. Boy, Forte seems to be taking the big sister role with Austin that she misses having with Micheal.You're a little young to do the whole revenge schtick. And being a supervillain isn't all wine and chocolate. So, it's probably a good thing your power isn't very dangerous. Being able to use it to get ahead in life and making it seem legal is actually a really good thing for your future.”
Train hopped from California to Phoenix, Arizona, Austin has some street survival skills to travel that far without getting caught by the authorities. Jared shows up through the door, and Forte screams with the devise on full volume. She is in pain, but Jared, I think he won't survive this. She kept screaming until the devise exploded, shit, how bad of shape is Forte in?
Good lord, that was a lot. Her voice is probably permanently damaged, speaking a painful, gravely voice with smoke coming out of her mouth is an extremely bad sign. Dead, or unable to move, Jared is no longer a threat. Another fight that nearly killed her, she needs to stop doing that.
Book and Big Guy have tracked her down to the building she is in, they bust their way in. Only for Austin to call out to them, saying they need help and their friend is hurt. Not an ambush, Austin is panic-talking too fast and softly for Book to hear. Big Guy tells Book to get in there. Austin, you did your best again and made sure Forte was comfortable until help arrived.
Book already goes to work a healing spell on Forte, while Big Guy tries to calm Austin down to find out what happened. You made yourself dizzy from blood loss, and healed Forte enough where she isn't in danger. Good job, Book. First aid kit, good idea. A chat with Austin, and Book finds out how they helped Forte and about Jared. Who isn't dead yet! Good, Book, don't let the book turn you into a monster. Some supervillains are nicer than some superheroes; never judge someone until you learn who they really are.
I hope this is a permanent change to Forte's voice. Big Guy has experience with first aid and treating burns, only 20, and so much experience. Darn, she has to fix the seals on her limbs. Soldado and his crew are going to regret what they did; Forte will make sure of it.It was raspy, hoarse, and a lot deeper then it had been, it was like listening to an old lady with a two pack a day habit.
Forte has Big Guy carry her, but not a word about it to anyone. Jared is still alive, slapped awake enough by Book; Forte asks for Big Guy's gun. At least Book took Austin out into the hallway before Forte finished off the sicko. Good haul from an idiot spellcaster who didn't think to ward his place, or make sure his captives were really secure.
“Yeah, I'm sure. I know you'll keep me safe,” Austin said.
“OK, you can stay with me as long as you want.”]quote] Aww, starting to see why Austin got the codename of Cutie Pie. Forte, I know you don't want to owe Doc Morris any more than you already do, but don't be stubborn or your voice will be messed up for life. Rats, should have taken her to Doc Morris.
Stubborn and threats of violence to be put in her lab. Oh, terrified of going to sleep, that nightmare of her past was a doozy. And also why she didn't want to the hospital, that nightmare messed her up. Austin is asleep, and Book is staying over to do some more magic healing on Forte tomorrow. Thoughts of devises, of ways to kill Soldado and his friends. And she tries to sing, oh no.Late That Night
I knew it, this is why I wanted her to go to Doc Morris to get her throat healed, to save her voice.The last bit of music she could practice had been taken from her.
Lowering her head onto her arm, Natalie cried at the loss of everything that she once been. All that was left was Forte.
God, this was a painful story to read and a rollercoaster. From seeing Forte trapped with Austin, in a nightmare where she was forced to relive the most painful parts of her old life, reminded her of what she went through and what she lost. Her time at school and with family, the good times where she enjoyed music and had a good relationship with her brother.
Once Simon showed up, I knew that was a bad sign with his speed not being fully controlled, the incidents getting more often and worse. If only someone trained in understanding mutants and their powers had met him soon, they might have gotten him the training and help needed to get them fully under control. Instead, it got ignored until he died in an explosive, lethal burnout, killing at least one of his classmates, maiming Natalie, and who knows if other students or the teacher died or were maimed also.
What Natalie went through, waking up to find out someone she lashed out at in anger was dead, that she lost most of her limbs, and that music might be out of reach for her permanently. The suicidal depression was well shown, the shift when new hope was given, only for frustration to hit over and over, and fall back into depression again. Then to be brought out of it by something unexpected. But I wish she had gone to her family about her powers and inventions, and asked for help in obtaining the supplies she needed to make them correctly, instead of compromising with replacement components. Her stubborn nature, need for perfection, and temper when someone crosses her drove her down the path to supervillainy. If only she had opened up to her family and leaned on them, the path not taken.
Natalie escaping the nightmare, meeting Austin, the surprises, and making a devise with Austin's help. She once again wanted revenge on someone for treating her in a way she didn't like, but didn't think of the consequences; now she has lost her pitch perfect singing voice and is depressed again.
Seeing what Book went through to find Forte, to heal Big Guy and Forte. She may be turning into a demon, but I hope she can hold onto her feelings for her friends and some of her humanity. And how long will it take for that pinky to regrow?
Once again, a great story, but please let the next one not be so heavy. It hurts to watch good people harmed and dragged down like this over and over. I can't wait for the next piece.
Thank You for the story comments appreciated and help me know they are being read and liked.
Note: My story comments can't nor are trying to replace reading the stories, simply my way of enjoying them and letting the authors know I enjoy them.
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- Dan Formerly Domoviye
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Sorry about how rough this one was. I will eventually get to happy stories.
Warning: Spoiler!Shit, what kind of monster has captured Austin? Only his underwear, a spell to track him, what kind of sicko is keeping Austin captive?January 6th, 2017
Phoenix, Arizona
Early eveningI kind of wanted to go into more detail about Jared, but it would have been needless filler. And Forte wasn't going to get into a nice little discussion with the guy before killing him.
So suffice it to say, Jared was a low level wizard whose got a few tricks, but mostly acts as a middle man for people wanting to deal with illicit goods and people. He really underestimated Forte, due to her disability, a mistake he won't make again.
I had this largely planned out for over a year, and yeah it did hurt writing this.September 13th, 2015
Aww, her little brother Micheal. Seeing how things were, knowing her future, it hurts to know how much she lost.
In Christmas Duet 3, Micheal told Forte that he did well in a track and field meet. So it's safe to assume he's still in sports.“ I hope Micheal kept with sports after Natalie left. Bacon-wrapped hot dogs, yum.
Crud, is this where the incident happens? A contract in 3 weeks, why does it feel like a countdown knowing some of her history?“Natalie,” her dad said, “at work today Mr. Ericson told me he was interested in you playing at the Tucson Business Association's annual banquet. He and some others heard you at the winery festival, and they think you'd be perfect.”
And I'm glad it felt like a countdown. I didn't plan it that way, but it's definitely something I approve of.
Prince could play 27 instruments, and was best with a guitar, keyboard, and drums.Just how many instruments has she learned how to play? October, the Fall Festival, each event planned, and I worry it is the one where the incident happened. Dedicated, a love of music, I'm starting to see why she became Forte after losing all that.
...
Prodigy seems like not enough to describe her.
Forte isn't that good, but she could competently play nearly 20 instruments. Her best were guitar, keyboard and flute.
Bedtime is always too early for a 16 year old.Early bedtime for a 16 and a half year old, aww.
I got the idea of Simon from J.G.'s story, Small Mercies, where the MCO regularly takes in a guy who vibrates too fast and breaks things by accident. Being a mutant doesn't make being attacked a certainty, so Simon was able to go to school without too much trouble.September 14th, 2015
Simon, you need to learn how to keep your abilities a secret to remain safe.
...
Shit, he needs to be in Whateley to help him; this sounds like it is leading up to explosive burnout if he doesn't get better control.
But he really should have gotten help for the seizures.
It took me a while to work out this part of the story. I needed a rivalry between Forte and someone, to get the future insult in. I also wanted to show off Forte's temper, and the idea of her singing the insulting song wouldn't get out of my head.Good attitude to have towards Simon, just a classmate as long as he doesn't hurt anyone. Sarah needs an attitude check. The note from Camilla. Don't tell me Sarah is planning something bad for Natalie. Good, phone out, ready to record just in case, smart move. Sarah and her group of close friends show up, uh-oh.
Oh, you shouldn't have said that, Sarah. Just how does Sarah treat hired help, because if it isn't like a fellow human who needs a job, she is the bitch. Yes, make Sarah pay, Natalie.“Yeah. My aunt saw her playing her little songs at the winery festival and hired her to do my birthday party. But Natalie doesn't know it's for me. Can you believe it, she's singing at birthday parties. She might as well become a wedding singer, it's all she's good for.”
This came together mostly as I was writing and it worked perfectly.
Food and a paycheck is pretty common at gigs like this. She was going to be paid about 300 bucks for the night, decent wages for her age and experience.September 26th, 2015
At the party, Natalie is just watching, and Sarah is the center of attention. Free meal, at least the gig got her that.
I wanted some reason other than Forte's self-hatred for why she kept calling herself a freak and hating everything about her disability. Having someone say that too her while still horribly fragile and drugged, seemed appropriate.'Dangerous Woman' by Ariana Grande, it figures that it is Sarah's favorite song. Ooo, using songs Sarah likes, but not in this context, nor how Natalie is putting emphasis on certain parts. Drake's 'Fake Love' and the final song, 'She Ain't Pretty She Just Looks That Way' by the Northern Pikes, ooo, Natalie making Sarah pay in her own way is priceless. [/QOUTE]
My daughter got very worried while I was writing this.
I was looking up pop songs and singers, since I'm mostly opposed to pop music, and she saw my search history. I had to explain to a skeptical 14 year old who also dislike pop that "No I'm not suddenly a Justin Beiber fan."
I am however a minor fan of "She Ain't Pretty".
I have been trying to show that Forte has a temper all through her story. But at this point in her life, I don't think she really needed a lot of help with it.September 27th, 2015
Oh boy, so Natalie has always had a temper.
So revenge, even when punishment has been doled out by others, and not telling authority figures, and taking things into her own hands. Natalie needed help long before the accident. Ouch, Natalie didn't get to play her song tonight because she wanted revenge on Sarah. Natalie, your mother has a point, please listen to her.Crud, and this is why she didn't get the help she needed until it was too late.“I hate therapists,” Natalie said, making a face as she recalled a few times when she had to talk to the student counsellor for a few minor things that had happened at school.
It only comes out sometimes, and she goes more for public humiliation than anything illegal. So therapy COULD help, but she could probably have worked on it herself. Seeing how badly she hurt Sarah and the empathy she felt there would have helped give her a push in the right direction.
Unfortunately when you have a temper and can make high powered deadly weapons, things tend to escalate quickly.
And the whole not liking therapists has been touched on before.
Several years ago I made a short of this. It was different in several ways, but it was the first draft version. And it was around the time I commissioned the picture of Forte.September 29th, 2015
I knew it was coming, but that was horrifying.Simon became a screaming blur. With her right hand already up in the air, Natalie started to bring it down, instinctively protecting her head with it when a sledgehammer hit her and thunder exploded less than three feet away, knocking her to the floor.
Natalie is in pain, but her brain is foggy; others are screaming. This is why some people think mutants should be in classes with baselines. Seeing three of everything, a mangled arm, and her legs separated from her body. Shit, Sarah didn't deserve to die like that. This is right out of a horror movie.
At first Forte was going to be a friend of Shisa, having run away and selling some things to criminals for money, without going down the complete supervillain route, and this was the way I had planned for her injury from the beginning.
Natalie went too far with her revenge, but this was too far; Emma shouldn't have said that.October 10th, 2015
“Emma,” she slurred, unable to talk properly through the drugs and bandages that still encased her head and face. “I'm... sorry... about... Sarah.” She struggled to get the words out.
Emma remained silent for a long time. When she finally spoke her voice was full of venom that managed to strike through the drugged induced haze. “I'm glad Sarah died, at least she isn't a useless, limbless, freak like you.”
And when I came up with those exact words, I felt dirty.
In Making a Noise in the World: Outro, it was said that she had a panic attack when Doc Morris' nurse tried to get her to use a bed pan. So I needed to show her having trouble with that kind of thing after her injury. I hadn't realized there was a catheter for #2, but it only works with certain types of stool. So in it went.October 20th, 2015
Lily, I know you are trying to coax Natalie into opening up, but her life has been shattered. *eyes bug out* They have had to do all that to keep her fed on a liquid diet, and still no therapist. God, not even able to fully clean herself, I wouldn't be doing my screaming silently.
I wanted to avoid making it seem like anyone who loses a limb will become depressed and potentially criminal. Most get on with their lives pretty well after some therapy and rehab. So group therapy for Forte!November 15th, 2015
In a powered wheelchair, in what sounds like a therapy group for fellow amputees. Oh, she was having one-on-one therapy sessions, but going nowhere, Natalie is too stubborn for her own good. A woman who was at a grocery store and thought a cute guy was staring at her mechanical right hand instead of her, but convinced herself to go over and say hi to the guy.Aww, nice, cute-meet.It turns out he wasn't actually looking at me, he had barely even noticed me, he was trying to remember what he needed for a pasta recipe, and was staring off into space. We went on our first date yesterday, and next week he's going to make me that pasta dish at his place.
And having the woman talking about how she thought people were staring at her hand, showed something that a fair number of amputees feel for a while after losing a limb. It's really bad with the people who get body dysmorphia like Forte has.
Yeah the music is her power coming in.What the, where is the tune in Natalie's head coming from? Is this the first sign of her mutant powers activating? Gah! Natalie, I can't believe she asked that. She is going to be on suicide watch now.
With her comment, at first I was thinking she'd just swear and say something rude asking how they could possibly understand losing three limbs and a dream.
But as I was writing the story, it didn't seem right. She is in a REALLY dark hole and doesn't want the pity. So it had to be shocking.
In Making a Noise in the World 2 or 3, I show her making a devise following the music in her mind. This is reinforcing it. She sees it all like a song, and the chemicals and tools are the instruments.December 13th, 2015
The music, the song, is this how her Devisor trait works? That practice prosthetic was never going to work out. The music in her head, it sure is a unique way for a Devisor trait to show itself.
Her power also means she can't really comfortably use other prosthetics. Her brain is tuned to her devises, so other things just don't feel right.
Had to have a suicide attempt. I wasn't sure when it would be or how she would do it, because there's no way her parents would trust her with something she could seriously hurt herself with. After the failure with the prosthetics, it seemed the best time, and OD'ing was the best method she had, that wouldn't be immediately lethal.Considers herself a helpless, limbless freak; do not let her go into any rooms with a lock. No. I knew it; she dropped the glass on purpose to get her dad to leave the heavy-duty pain pills bottle behind. She placed her chair against the door! Suicide attempt by ODing on heavy-duty pain pills.
Having her dad body slamming the door to get to her as soon as they realized the bottle was missing, was something I wanted to show. He didn't have many appearances, so I needed to show he cared.
There probably are, but they'd be very expensive and still very cutting edge stuff. So needs more time to test and work the bugs out.December 15th, 2015
All the advanced technology from mutants, and no way to regrow limbs yet!? A new therapist and Natalie, a new inpatient in the hospital's psych wing.
I had to do a fair bit of research for the psych ward. And I didn't use most of it. Seeing what patients are allowed to write with, very bendy pens or crayons, was a bit of surprise, but very understandable.The place sounds like the psych wards I've seen. Small pile of scrap paper and used box of crayons to write with; I wonder what her first devise design will be.
...
Every Devisor is different, but man, her version of devising sure is beautiful if you could see what she does.
And her devisor power is rather artistic.
December 25th, 2015
Obsessed with deciphering the music, and it isn't going well, the nurses and psychiatrists should be happy she is focused on something again. Christmas music, another reminder of what she lost. Permission to go to the bathroom because she is on suicide watch, yikes. If the staff knew a bolt had been broken on the toilet and made it unstable, they should have done something about it or insisted on helping Natalie so this wouldn't have happened.I'd planned this out for a while. In the Valentine Day story Crush, this is why Forte has the choker on.This was the last scene I wrote.
I remembered how in Christmas Duet 3 I had Forte say that that Christmas Day wasn't her worst but close, and I hadn't shown her being picked up, because she couldn't do it herself.
SO this scene was made.
And the toilet seat was broken without the nurses knowing. It was an accident, not incompetence.
Ah, perfectionism, stubbornness, and self-loathing, a very toxic mix.February 23rd, 2016
Darn you, Emma, for saying that to her. Natalie, your family cares about you no matter what. I wish she could understand that.
Slightly less of any of the three and she probably would have shown her parents, at which point everything would have changed.
Some of this was taken from my personal experience. Not Forte's feelings, but her mother. Being a caretaker to my parents as they rapidly declined was exhausting. I didn't want to dwell on it, or do something from her mom's POV, but I did want to show it.March 12th, 2016
Natalie, let your family help. I wish you had. Please, hear what your mother said, Natalie. You aren't the only one going through this.
Good, finally, Natalie sees what she has put her family through.
..
Arrgh! Ask your family for help, go to them for support. Don't just cram your feelings down and think everything will be better once one thing happens.
And using it to make Forte close herself off even more... that was just a chef kiss.
Whateley would have her getting a lot of ideas. Which may not necessarily have been a good thing.April 30th, 2016
Oh no, she has gone into the numb and life is pointless, so why bother, part of depression. Watching a news report of a fight between a superhero and a red-armored villain, she sees them fire an energy beam, and her Devisor trait comes up with an idea for a sonic cannon. Seeing an energy force field in action it gives her the idea for a sonic force field. And the idea for her armor as well. Okay, now I'm a little afraid of what ideas it could give her at Whateley, seeing all the gadgets and devises in action. Combining it all in her head for her future armor, oh boy. Oh boy, she has her passion back, but is that a good thing?
And the numbness of depression is hell.
Sorry it was supposed to be that making new things was harder. The sonic metal initially was easy. Once she deciphered the music it was just following a recipe. Now that she's actively shaping it into other things and making stuff that doesn't use as much if any sonic metal, she's having to work at it.July 23rd, 2016
It seems she needs outside sources to help inspire new ideas, or it is harder for her, strange. Oh, good, she researched online and found out about being a mutant and the Devisor trait.
Quite a few devisors seem to know how to make their first devise in fugue or almost instinctively. After that it becomes trail and error. That was the case for her.
As shown in Silver Ghost, and during the Christmas heist, sonics can have a really bad affect on some people. So unfortunately it makes sense for it to be regulated.Seesh, no wonder she went villain, being told your creations are illegal, your very specialization has stricter rules and regulations than other types. It would drive you batty trying to work within the law.
It's always easy on the drawing board. Its when you start to put it into practice that reality gets its say.Oh boy, the ideas of why she wants to be a supervillain: potential fame and fortune, she thought it would all be so easy.
...
I understand her, but still wish she could have found a better way.
ANd I wish she had found a better way to.
As a parent, I haven't pulled off the teleporting yet, but I have come close.October 10th, 2016
I still wish I knew how some people can seem to teleport in moments like these. Crud, Natalie already has the bus ticket to Phoenix, and it is only a few days from now. She is just trying to give them some happiness before she leaves and doesn't contact them again for a long time, at least that is her plan.Her mother seemed to teleport from her chair to Natalie's sidey, and she found herself being hugged, kissed and cried on at the same time. Twisting in her wheelchair, Natalie hugged her back as best she could.
Years ago somehow I caught my daughter who was barely even a toddler as she was falling off of a statue of a horse. I still don't know how one second I had a hand loosely on her back holding her in place, and then my other hand had a death grip on her ankle with her head about two feet above the cement. When you're a parent, sometimes things just happen and you gain super speed or strength.
And Forte is trying to be nice. Unfortunately her emotions right now are twisting her thoughts.
It's even worse, by kicking over the wheelchair, it makes her parents even more certain she's been kidnapped and likely murdered.October 13th, 2016
Just taking off like that, burying the evidence of what she has been doing, not even leaving a letter to say goodbye to her family and why she is leaving. Nooo! Her long hair, I wondered why her hair was a messy pixie cut when we first met her.
Abandoned her old name for Forte. I wish things had gone differently for her.
There are so many ways this could have gone better.
It's not the worst outcome, she at least didn't kill herself despite trying to, but she's definitely gone down the wrong path.
Austin, aka Cutie Pie, has been planned for a long time. He's going to have a big role in the future. Someone mentioned how there's a number of characters with a female body and male reproductive system, but not the other way around, so I decided to fix that.January 6th, 2017
Phoenix, Arizona
Impromptu Cell
Early Evening
Austin insists they are not a girl.Changeling, or GSD, that's rough. So the wizard is named Jared.Blushing, the kid said, “I'm not a girl. I wasn't born one. I'm Austin."
I knew she would react like this. Darn, no powers to help them escape. How to get out of this hellhole and make Jared pay? Ah, use Austin as her hands and legs to help her build a devise to make Jared pay.The fear and panic that had been overwhelming faded away from Forte, replaced by disgust. Behind the disgust, outrage was quickly roaring to life. They'd forced her to relive losing her limbs and the months of agony afterwards, and now they were going to sell her as if she was a helpless freak.
“I'M GOING TO KILL THEM!” she shouted.Never make a Devisor angry.“Something that will shatter every bone in Jared's body,” she said.
At first I was going to have Austin, use 'they/them' pronouns, but frankly it was annoying distinguishing them while in a group. So he stuck with his male pronouns."
And yes, never make one of my devisors pissed. They will get creative or very, very blunt.
I hadn't originally planned on her using so much blood for spells, but as a demon in training, it just fit so well. And I have some future ideas about the blood and essence, that should prove interesting.Book's Home
Book made good use of the Christmas heist money. Aww, no way to hook up cable, or the 'forget me' spell might not be enough. Gothic punk works for her. Useful spell, but it's going to be something to use only as needed. Ack! All that blood she had to use from herself. I hate the demon book for tricking her.
Big Guy isn't book smart, but he is very street smart, has a large dose of common sense, and he's picked up quite a few things over the years to help him out.Earlier That Afternoon
Ouch, Big Guy dropped out at 14, I hope he found a way to get an education outside of normal schools.
You have no idea how big my smile is right now.Forte, you might have just gotten him to be desperate enough to sell you out to get some quick cash as revenge for using his family as leverage.
They may be cowards, but they're very successful. And in crime that's the important thing.What the hell kind of attack was used on Forte? And who attacked Big Guy? Multiple individuals were involved in the abduction of Forte, it seems. Crap, it is those three. Soldado, Insanity, who is probably the one who attacked Forte, and Gigante. I knew they would want revenge on Forte, but an ambush like this, bunch of cowards. Big Guy, trying to escape, was grabbed by Gigante, but the way he escaped, I never knew he could shrink. Gah! Now I see why he doesn't do it more often; that is a brutal reversal of the shrinking.
With Big Guy, at first I was thinking I'd have him just get bigger, but as I was thinking about it, having him able to shrink made sense for why he has managed to avoid getting arrested.
Making it hurt and injure him keeps it from becoming more than an emergency get out of Dodge power.
We'll find out the exact plan in the next story. I will say it's well worked out.Present Time
Last month, those three wasted little time coming after Forte. Wait, how did she end up with Jared? Did he need tech gear? BG wants payback on those three assholes. Book isn't letting him go alone, always help rescue a friend. Eep, Book being angry is scary. Rats, not enough essence. NO! Stupid demon book, suggesting human sacrifice to get more essence, I hope Book finds a way to control you sooner rather than later.
Okay, what can make Book grow pale and make her want to puke? Gah! She has to use her own left pinky as a sacrifice; it will grow back, but dang.
I needed reasons for Big Guy and Book to get involved. Having Big Guy consider himself still under contract, and being annoyed at the attempt to kill him, was enough for him.
Book considering Forte a friend, but not sure if Forte felt the same way, seemed appropriate for her character. Having the anger being the most intense emotion she's felt since waking up in the desert was also good for her character development.
And yeah the demon book has it's own plans, that we'll pick up over time.
This is playing off of two devises she's used and shown in the past.Back In The Cell
Darn, all Austin can do is hold some things for her. Otherwise, the devise might not work. Austin, no need to apologize, you did your best. Devisor rage sure is a scary thing to see in action when they are inventing and focused. Eep, turn her voice box into a weapon, and it is going to hurt if it works. Well, anything to get out here as long as you survive.
In Making a Noise in the World, she played with a choker that could alter her voice, but heated up fairly quickly.
And in A Christmas Duet 1, she sold a choker which can increase the volume of a shout. She said she originally wanted it as a weapon but it was too hard on the throat, so she lowered the volume to something that would startle an attacker and get a lot of attention.
Yeah, Austin has reasons for his shyness and being scared.On the streets, you have to survive somehow. And considering what happened to his parents, Austin probably doesn't know who to trust.
...
Yes, lead Austin away from the supervillian life, far too sweet for it. A call to Big Guy to come pick them up after Jared is dealt with, hoping BG is still alive. Boy, Forte seems to be taking the big sister role with Austin that she misses having with Micheal.
And Forte is feeling protective, partly because of being a big sister, and partly because she's lonely.
Yeah, it's becoming a bad habit at this point.Good lord, that was a lot. Her voice is probably permanently damaged, speaking a painful, gravely voice with smoke coming out of her mouth is an extremely bad sign. Dead, or unable to move, Jared is no longer a threat. Another fight that nearly killed her, she needs to stop doing that.
It amuses me that Book, the baby demon, is turning out to be the nice one of the three.Good, Book, don't let the book turn you into a monster. Some supervillains are nicer than some superheroes; never judge someone until you learn who they really are.
We'll see why Austin gets the name Cutie Pie in the next story.Aww, starting to see why Austin got the codename of Cutie Pie. Forte, I know you don't want to owe Doc Morris any more than you already do, but don't be stubborn or your voice will be messed up for life. Rats, should have taken her to Doc Morris.
And yeah, Forte should have gone to Doc Morris, but her personal demons won't let her do it willingly.
Stubborn and threats of violence to be put in her lab. Oh, terrified of going to sleep, that nightmare of her past was a doozy. And also why she didn't want to the hospital, that nightmare messed her up. Austin is asleep, and Book is staying over to do some more magic healing on Forte tomorrow. Thoughts of devises, of ways to kill Soldado and his friends. And she tries to sing, oh no.Late That Night
I knew it, this is why I wanted her to go to Doc Morris to get her throat healed, to save her voice.The last bit of music she could practice had been taken from her.
Lowering her head onto her arm, Natalie cried at the loss of everything that she once been. All that was left was Forte.
I knew going in this story would be tough, but somehow it was even tougher than I had thought. Still it needed to be shown, so people would know why she chose to become a villain, and why she sometimes jumps into things without really thinking.
In Making a Noise in the World 2, a newspaper headline shown to The Cannibal, said that 2 students were killed and 3 badly injured.Once Simon showed up, I knew that was a bad sign with his speed not being fully controlled, the incidents getting more often and worse. If only someone trained in understanding mutants and their powers had met him soon, they might have gotten him the training and help needed to get them fully under control. Instead, it got ignored until he died in an explosive, lethal burnout, killing at least one of his classmates, maiming Natalie, and who knows if other students or the teacher died or were maimed also.
If Forte's right arm hadn't taken the brunt of the blast it would have been 3 killed.
And this is why Whateley is needed for some mutants. They might have been able to help him.
Thank you very much.The suicidal depression was well shown, the shift when new hope was given, only for frustration to hit over and over, and fall back into depression again. Then to be brought out of it by something unexpected. But I wish she had gone to her family about her powers and inventions, and asked for help in obtaining the supplies she needed to make them correctly, instead of compromising with replacement components. Her stubborn nature, need for perfection, and temper when someone crosses her drove her down the path to supervillainy. If only she had opened up to her family and leaned on them, the path not taken.
I try to make things like mental illness, injuries and disabilities realistic, while fitting the story. I'll half ass geography, science, and other things, but when it comes to drama, I've found that keeping those things fairly realistic is best.
My original idea for Forte would have been much nicer and optimistic for everyone. But I think this story is more interesting, partly because it's much darker.
I will say that while she's depressed at the end, it won't last long. She's going to want revenge, which has a wonderful way of removing depression.Natalie escaping the nightmare, meeting Austin, the surprises, and making a devise with Austin's help. She once again wanted revenge on someone for treating her in a way she didn't like, but didn't think of the consequences; now she has lost her pitch perfect singing voice and is depressed again.
And having killed her first person in cold blood, previous mooks don't count that was all in self defense and she was too busy freaking out about the Cannibal, she's a bit more willing to use violence now.
I liked that bit with Book. She's going to be fighting the dehumanizing part of her turning into a demon for a while. ANd the pinky will regrow in about two weeks.Seeing what Book went through to find Forte, to heal Big Guy and Forte. She may be turning into a demon, but I hope she can hold onto her feelings for her friends and some of her humanity. And how long will it take for that pinky to regrow?
Thank you very much.Once again, a great story, but please let the next one not be so heavy. It hurts to watch good people harmed and dragged down like this over and over. I can't wait for the next piece.
I will promise that while the next story won't be light and happy, it will have happy moments, with the darkness and violence at about the typical level for me.
The ones after that... Sorry. Fanak needs her turn in the dungeon.
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