Feliney Assault stood there on the bridge, facing Timothy, the wind slowly tugging at her cape, the water lapping silently against the supports.
It didn't give her any comfort. She'd delivered the Crey woman's warning to him, her stomach sinking. At least she hadn't asked her to silence him... yet.
Timothy simply nodded, agreeing to stay out of Crey's business. Then he asked her the question she'd been asking herself since being sent here.
"How can you work for them?"
She stood there, facing away. "You're partially right. I am - a villain. And taking these jobs for the money, not to mention working my way up. Arachnos busted me and how many others out of the Zig, and told me to prove I was worth it."
She looked out over the water. "I've seen the bodies of the ones that failed - but that's life here. I put several down myself. I can't say I don't have blood on my hands."
Turning, she forced herself to look at Timothy. "But - you called me a friend. You're only the second person to do that. The first - well, she busted me out of the lab where they - they changed me. Torture in the name of science, the name of a better soldier, a better weapon. I don't know where she is now - alive, dead. I don't know if I'll have to fight her sometime in the future or not."
She turned once more, watching the sun set over the water. "I figured if you had to be told, I'd rather do it than some Crey goon squad. I figured you'd listen to me, hear me out, and I wouldn't come back to hear it had been beaten into you."
Timothy stared for a moment. "So Feliney Assault: concerned?" He looked out on the water as well. "I didn't think villain: possible: to have compassion."
"Yeah, well, don't get any ideas." She leaned on the railing. "Look, kid - if I make it high enough, you won't be forgotten. Maybe it's the hard luck story making me a softy here, I don't know, but I'll try to look out for you. Maybe get'cha out of here. No promises, though - I might be named the next big threat and end up floating down the river tomorrow." She put out a paw. "So, we cool?"
Timothy took her paw and shook it. "Feliney Assault: still friend. Thank you."
"Yeah, well... I gotta jet and let the lady know. You should be in good shape. Take care'a you."
Timothy watched as she bounded off to finish her errand, then turned and walked away.
"Billy, I am SO gonna kick your a**!!"
"What? I didn't know Emil was gonna pull a double-cross on ya. Shoot, they tried to whack me at the bar I hang out at, hadda duck out the back!"
"Yeah well.. you got me in with those goons, you gonna get me out."
"How? You got the Mook all pissed.. and now Emil wants you planted six foot under... best thing to do now is bug on outta town."
"Not gonna happen, Billy. Think.. or I'll cash in the contract on YOUR head right now."
"OW! OK OK.. geez.. ya don't have to mess up the suit... alright... look... the Mook and Emil, they got this beef wit' each other, right? So... if you can capture BOTH of them.. mebbe get them in same room together... show 'em you ain't one to be jerked aroun'... mebbe they leave you alone."
"Yah right, like I'm gonna get past their goomba wiseguys... they LOOKIN' FOR ME, Billy! Every last one of them's got my photo in their pockets!"
"So? Aint' slowed you down before. Look.. Mook likes to hang out at this little cardroom, OK? So he should be easy to take down there. I'll even hook you up with a staff uniform, so's you can sneak in without being obvious."
"Alright.. this better work.. or I swear, if I get sent to hell, I'll drag you along and punt you into the Devil's lap myself."
"City of Heroes. April 27, 2004 - August 31, 2012. Obliterated not with a weapon of mass destruction, not by an all-powerful supervillain... but by a cold-hearted and cowardly corporate suck-up."
Just working through an arc where I revisit a prior contact (timothy Raymond) to threaten him.... got me thinking, what do you *wish* you could say to them in-game?
Figured it'd fit here best, actually... and I don't mean things like "Get out of the way you stupid NPC or I'll shoot you instead!"