#also brb throttling s.teven rn /lh

[mute-call]

"Yeah!" Help him help them, but still. "Gosh, Nanashi, there's so much you still have to learn about this stuff. Have you ever even met another super before? Uh, secret identities aside, Afton Robotics won't just be your ticket into the tech industry, it'll be your ticket into supers society. No matter what you end up focusing on, it can't hurt to have them at your back, you know?"

This is going great! Steven's glad this is the tactic the higher-ups chose for Nanashi. ...they didn't exactly have a choice, not with the kid's ability set, but still. You catch more super-powered flies with honey than with forceful-retrieval-slash-elimination-teams, as they say.

"Um... let me see if I can rephrase. You're a really hard worker, I've seen that first-hand. Mr. Afton's always said that it's people like you who are going to end up changing the world-- you don't have to be one-in-a-million, or a genius, or anything like that. You just have to know what you want and know how to get it. In terms of your extra abilities, though... Nanashi, do you have any idea how incredible you are? I'm considered a high-value asset, but I'm nowhere near on your level. You've been given a real gift. What you choose to do with it is up to you; the company just wants to help you live up to your full potential."

Where exactly that gift came from is a mystery-- one Steven knows the lab techs will be excited to unravel. They have yet to develop a reliable method of evoking predictable powers within their test subjects; every kid in the program was a gamble, all injected with the same chemical formula, and not all of the latent powers that emerged from their unique, individual physiology proved as useful as Bell's.

There's no telling what the company can learn from someone who got his abilities somewhere else, however. If they could reliably duplicate Nanashi's powers, that would be a success beyond anyone's wildest dreams! That would fulfill most if not all of Mr. Afton's personal goals for the program! With Nanashi's death-defiance, William would... he'd be--

He'd be unstoppable.

Steven's surprised by the flicker of anxiety that flashes through him at the thought, and dutifully ignores it. It doesn't make sense, and it's not worth dwelling on, especially not right now. He still has work to do to finish this job.

"I know this is a little... soon, but I could take you by today if you want and show you around." He knows Nanashi doesn't have much in the way of after-school commitments, because the kid spends his time wreaking havoc instead.

"You could see what they have to offer. ...but if that's too much, you can always ask me any questions you have instead. About, uh, either opportunity. I know it's a lot to take in, and I'm here to tell you that there's no rush to decide! You're in control."

[Would Mr. Bell be lying about this? If his teacher was as kind as he'd always made himself out to be, then there was no way. Again, Nanashi really didn't understand...but an opportunity was an opportunity. He'd have to seize it while he still had the chance. If Afton Robotics was actually interested in him...how could he say no?]

[His teacher continued, alluding to how "obvious" Nanashi's vigilantism had been; admittedly, he hadn't been doing much to conceal his identity ( a hoodie and face mask didn't do much, but hey, were Clark Kent's glasses any better? ), but he didn't think that anyone had noticed. His family worried when he came home late, and recently, his dad had been chiding him on how much school he was missing...but running off to commit crimes in the name of justice couldn't be the first conclusion anyone would reach. Other kids skipped all the time without being questioned. Had he really been that reckless?]

[Nanashi swallowed, averting his gaze. Mr. Bell was right. If he could piece this together, then ultimately, others would too. What would they do then? Nanashi would be apprehended, his dad would be horrified, and his sister...]

[...Hell, Asahi didn't even know that he'd died in that first confrontation. He couldn't imagine how she might react.]

[His teacher continued, revealing Afton Robotics' true goal in all of this: they were a sort of "sanctuary" for people like him. The sales pitch that followed was ( unfortunately ) effective, moreso because Mr. Bell was someone that Nanashi wholeheartedly trusted. Mr. Bell really did have the best intentions; he wouldn't recommend this unless he was absolutely sure Nanashi would benefit from it.]

[Nanashi anxiously rubbed at his arm; that conclusion sounded hopeful and optimistic. A win-win, no matter how you looked at it. A once-in-a-lifetime internship AND protection in his chaotic pursuits. It would guarantee a future for him in more ways than one. He couldn't refuse.]

[He eyeballed his phone, gauging Dagda's reaction. He seemed satisfied. There would be no interference on his part...which meant that Nanashi had to do the logical thing here.]

❝ So...they actually want to help me? ❞ [If Mr. Bell's pitch had any truth to it, then yes, they did. He still didn't understand why a stupid kid like him would hold any interest for them, but...] ❝ I mean...I can't say no. Interning with them would be a dream come true, and if they support...what I'm doing, then that's even better. ❞

❝ But -- what do they even see in me? I'm not... ❞ [Was he really just about to insist that he wasn't special? He could die and ressurect as many times as he wanted, with only a few strings attached. He had become a pinnacle of strength and fortitude with Dagda's help. Still...] ❝ I just...don't understand. ❞