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[bombshelled]

Display Name: fck_u_anon0902
Profile Photo: A selfie of a brunette teen girl with a hand blocking her face, middle finger extended
Notes: swearing likely, possible discussions of trauma/kidnapping/brainwashing

Looks like my free ride is over. I'm still not sure about these guilds, though.

Has anyone here decided to join the Alliance? What made you choose them?

I want to keep being a hero, but I have a bad history with fucking adults telling me I can only do it if I officially register with their way of doing things.

I just don't know if I can trust they're really good.

Comments

[portolan]

The people who know me know my values and that I make my own decisions. Sometimes we can help each other out, too, if our guilds limit our own movement.

I am not implying I trust the society more, simply that I do trust them to operate in the way they operate. There are secrets. There are unsavory characters I prefer not to interact with. The same would have been true in the Alliance, and they respect my boundaries. There's pageantry in both, but I don't have to hurt anyone.

Regardless, I am not trying to convince you to join the Society. I think the Guilds are worth their protection, but worth being aware there will be parts you do not like either way.

[bombshelled]

but like, how *does* the Society operate? do you have a crime quota you have to meet? if I joined the Society but kept being a hero on my own time, would they try to stop me from doing that?

[portolan]

I run a business and they get a certain amount of my income. Certainly not all of the items I traffic are legal, but I also generally have control over what I want to take off the market. Occasionally I am directed to make a sale I don't know the details of.

I am required to maintain a public persona that does vaguely villainous things every so often, but it's entirely theater. I've helped a good deal of people, and no one's thought twice about it, so long as I am not doing it under their monicker.

I'm older than you and have experience navigating corrupt systems, but I also don't feel they've made any real effort to breathe down my neck about my decisions.

cw brainwashing, manipulation

[bombshelled]

idk. it's nice that they're not stopping you from helping people, but I really don't think I could stomach the idea of willingly calling myself a villain again. I don't think I could join the Society.

I know that's not what you're trying to get me to do, I'm just sort of thinking out loud.

bc you're right. I am young. and older people, heroes and politicians, and parents, and parole officers... they're always trying to tell us young people what we can and can't do, and how we should or shouldn't feel about the shit we are doing. I've gone through a lot of shit just because I chose to put on a mask and help people. authority figures locking me up, messing with my fucking head. they fucking made me cry on national fucking television, trying to convince other young heroes like me that what we were doing was wrong.

I want the security and money that the guilds say they're gonna give me. but I can't go through that shit again.

Re: cw brainwashing, manipulation

[portolan]

Then don't. Your own feelings are the best compass you have. I'm sorry that all happened to you, and it's wise to protect yourself.

I think you'll find you aren't the only one with those concerns or that sort of history. There are good people in the Alliance, and I genuinely believe no one is going to get on you for helping people. The security is there.

It sounds like you want to join, you're just afraid of the unknowns. That's what our hearts do when they try to protect us from things that were never in our control. I say go for the resources, find people who can help, and if you have to abandon ship later, well, you seem very capable of that decision.

[bombshelled]

[ UGH! She hadn't meant to trauma dump like that, and now that she did, it's kind of embarrassing. At least her name isn't attached to this... ]

thanks. that's a lot of really nice stuff to say to some stranger on the internet.

I guess I just have a lot of soul searching to do. but I'll put one tally mark in the "join" column.

[portolan]

When I was disoriented and hurting and young, kind strangers helped me get on me feet again. You've carried more than your share; it's good you can let others help when they offer.

Good luck with your decision. You'll figure it out.

[bombshelled]

thanks. I'll try.

and hey, where's that business of yours? in case I ever need something less-than-legal.

PM

[portolan]

I run the antiques shop in Excelsior -- you'll know the one.

Everything illicit is in the back. I get plenty of Alliance customers.

PM, off anon, un: bombgartner

[bombshelled]

Excelsior, got it.

thanks for being so chill, even after I spilled all my crap.

Re: PM, off anon, un: bombgartner

[portolan]

I'm told that's one of my talents.