With Great Power: A Spider in the Dollhouse

… Or maybe it was, at least for now. Because as far as Taylor could tell, Sophia had literally disappeared off the face of the earth.

It has been a week since that night in the warehouse and Taylor hadn't seen any sign of the other girl. She didn't show up to school and her other persona had seemingly stopped making appearances on dark rooftops in the middle of the night, leaving Taylor wondering where she could have disappeared to.

Left simultaneously disappointed and relieved that her inevitable confrontation with Sophia had been out on hold at least for a little while, Taylor decided to just go about her business as usual. It wasn't like she had any real way to get into contact with her apart from waiting on dark roofs for her to just show up.

The rest of the school week passed without much fanfare. She aced a couple assignments, started a project for comp-sci, and let Emma copy off of her homework, all the while waiting for the weekend just like the rest of her peers.

But unlike her peers, when Saturday finally came, Taylor didn't go to the mall or hang out with her best friend. Instead she told her dad that she was going over to Emma's house, feeling only slightly guilty about the lie, and donned her mask and took to the streets, finally feeling ready to help her city under the light of the day.

She swung through the city streets, for once enjoying the feeling of the sun beating on her back as she did her thing. Patrolling during the day was strange, much different from patrolling at night, if you could even call it that. The streets were crowded and cars flooded the roads as people went about their business. Taylor herself drew many eyes and she was sure she had even been caught on camera a few times. Knowing the speed of cape groupies, she was sure she already had another page or two on PHO.

Of course, more people meant more work for her. Saturday was the day for family and carefree hang-outs, and Taylor had stopped two people from walking into traffic before brunch. By lunch, that number had doubled and she stopped a purse snatcher before the enforcers on the boardwalk could get to the guy. She just wanted a sandwich.

Now, only a couple hours later, she was sitting on the roof of a local business, mask pulled to the side and marinara dripping down her chin as she chowed down on a meatball sub, watching as the cops dragged the guy she webbed into a squad car. Her hood and goggles kept her identity concealed as she ate her lunch, which was good because quite a few eyes were on her at the moment.

‘Is watching a superhero eat really that interesting?’ She thought to herself as she took another savory bite full of meat, bread, and sauce, ‘I should sell tickets. Come see the wondrous Widow devour a six dollar sandwich with no drink because she didn't have the money for one! Tickets start at twenty dollars a pop!’

The thought of people lining up outside a stadium just to watch her eat on the big screen was enough to carry her through the rest of her sandwich with a big smile on her face. Wiping her mouth with the wax wrapper, she looked around for a trash can and spotted one only a couple feet away and tossed it in. Pumping her fist as she made it first try.

“And the crows goes wild!” Taylor cheered mostly to herself as she pulled her mask back on. A gasp from below her drew her attention and she paused as she saw the crowd below her looking shocked, pointing up at her and whispering to each other, “What? Did I throw it in the bottles-only can or something?”

“So do you normally talk to yourself or are you just super bored?”

Taylor jumped as the voice came from above her and she whipped her head up to find Glory Girl floating behind her. The blonde had a smirk on her face and her hands on her hips, striking an effortlessly heroic pose as she floated down towards Taylor. Guess that explained the shock and awe of the crowd below her.

“A little bit of both.” Taylor stood as Glory Girl landed beside her, “It helps to always have someone to bounce my amazing jokes off of.”

“Amazing, huh? Are you a comedian or something?”

“I'm the funniest person I know.” Taylor grinned.

“Hmm…” Glory Girl looked her up and down, “I don't see it.”

“You can't see that I'm funny?”

“Nope. You look pretty boring, to be honest.” Glory Girl grinned at Taylor's affronted tone, “The goggles are pretty cool but the rest is kinda… indie. Not really giving off funny vibes.”

Her words were said in jest, but Taylor knew that if Emma was here then there would definitely have been hell to pay. Her friend did not like it when her fashion sense was mocked, even in a joking way.

“If my designer was here to hear you say that, she wouldn't be happy at all.” She said, “But that's fine. I'm actually going to change that right now. Do you want to tag along? You'll get the chance to hear some of my amazing material first hand.”

“Front row tickets, huh?” Glory Girl thought about it for a moment before she shrugged, “Sure, I've got nothing better to do. Where are we going?”

“The Dollhouse.” Taylor said, jumping off the roof and swinging away. Glory Girl followed close behind, effortlessly keeping up with her as they headed towards the address on the card Taylor had been given.

Glory Girl raised an eyebrow as she watched the spider themed cape flip through the air, “The Dollhouse? Uh, I hope you realize what you're getting into. Parian's prices aren't really the best, especially for new capes. Sure, the quality is pretty good, but you're paying an arm and a leg for it.”

“Apparently my costume is bad enough to warrant it.” Taylor pulled the card from her pocket, tossing it to Glory Girl in between swings. The other heroine caught it easily, examining it, “I also have a discount. I saved one of her employees and she said to show that card when I get there.”

“Lucky you.” Glory Girl said, tossing the card back to Taylor who caught it deftly and shoved it back into her pocket, “Did you save her during one of your patrols with Shadow Stalker? I heard you two put in some pretty good work the other night.”

Taylor grimaced at Sophia's moniker, “That was just a one time thing. I don't think I'll be doing it again any time soon.”

Glory Girl winced in sympathy, “That bad, huh?”

“Worse.” Taylor confirmed, “I'm not gonna get into it, but I don't think my conscience would survive too many patrols with her so is probably best to let that partnership rest

Glory Girl flipped around, resting her hands behind her head leisurely as she soared through the air, “Well I can't speak for most capes, but not everyone is a perpetually PMS-ing edgelord. Some of us are actually fun to be around.”

“Not really a high bar to set, I hate to tell you.” Taylor joked, swinging low as they neared their destination, “I don't know many people who are less fun to be around than she was.”

She landed on the street just across from the Dollhouse, so proclaimed by the large, stylized sign hanging above the building's glass entrance. Those on the street around her cleared a path, muttering and whispering as Glory Girl floated down beside her.

“Thays a funny way to say you haven't met Skidmark yet.” Glory Girl grinned as Taylor stopped mid step, shuddering with revulsion at the mere mention of the name, “Yeah, he's about as pleasant as you can imagine. Worse if he's with Squealer. Classic codependent relationship right there.”

“Skidmark and Squealer…” The names felt disgusting on Taylor's tongue, “Is it a law that drugged up supervillains have to have disgusting names? Why'd they both go for that?”

“I think Squealer was meant to be like, squealing tires because she's a vehicle Tinker. Skidmark though… yeah, there's not really a way to make that sound good, even if his power leaves streaks on the ground.” Glory Girl's lips twisted as she glanced at Taylor, “Just be glad they aren't brown, I guess.”

Taylor's stomach churned as she pushed open the large, glass doors to Parian's shop, “Please shut up.”

The Dollhouse was as classy inside as the outside suggested. Smartly dressed mannequins lined the walls, each of them sporting a distinct style yet all of them fitting perfectly with the beautiful decor. Just one glance at any of the outfits on the mannequins would tell you that they were crafted by a master, and Taylor’s worry that she wouldn't be able to afford anything here returned.

Parian herself turned out to be a rather short woman dressed like a porcelain doll torn straight out of Victorian era England. She carried herself with careful poise and a healthy amount of confidence as she stepped through the curtain, gazing at the two capes lingering in the doorway, “Can I help you?” She asked, her voice soft but firm as she addressed them.

Glory Girl glanced at Taylor before stepping back, motioning for the other heroine to take the lead. Taylor stepped forward, clearing her throat as she reached into her pocket, “Uh, yeah. I’m Widow. I saved one of your workers, Sabah. She gave me this card and told me to come here if I wanted a costume made.”

Parian tilted her head at the black card held between Taylor's fingers. Taylor twitched as a needle and thread shot out from underneath the woman's sleeve, piercing the card and pulling it out of her grip and into Parian's instead.

Parian examined the card before pocketing it and when she spoke next, her voice was much softer, carrying an almost friendly inflection, "You must be Widow. Sabah told me about you. Thank you for saving her, she's one of my best workers and I'd hate to lose her.”

“It was no problem. I’m just happy I was there when I was. If I didn’t stop to take that break, I’m not sure what would have happened.”

“Well let’s not think of that now. You saved her and that’s what matters.” Parian turned and gestured, “Come with me. I'll take your measurements and we can discuss designs and prices. I'm fully stocked at the moment so you can have your pick though don't expect it to be free. I still have a business to run.”

“I’ll hang out here for a bit.” Glory Girl said as Taylor turned to her, “Like I said, I don’t have anything to do today. I’ll wait until you’re done and then we’ll go patrol or something.”

“I’ll try not to take too long.”

~~~

Despite Taylor's words, it took a good half an hour just for Parian to take her measurements. The rogue was extremely thorough when it came to her craft, almost uncomfortably so considering the nature of what Taylor was asking for.

“So do you already have a design in mind for your costume?” Parian asked as a measuring tape snaked around Taylor's upper bicep, “General theme, color and material, etcetera?"

Taylor tried not to shift too much as the tape reached her neck, “Uh, I have some ideas but nothing too concrete yet. I want to keep the goggles at least. And maybe the costume could be tighter? Especially around my legs. It helps me swing around faster if my clothes don't catch on the wind as much.”

“Most people don't think about the practicality of their costume beyond the obvious stuff.” Parian praised as she measured Taylor's neck underneath her hood, “I have to fight tooth and nail just to improve my own designs.”

“I just want to help people as much as possible. If being a little bit faster will help me do that, then I'll gladly shed a few extra pounds” Taylor said honestly.

“Hmm… You're a good one, Widow. I hope it stays that way.”

The measuring tape slid out of Taylor's hood, disappearing out of sight as Parian stepped away from her, “I have all the measurements I need right now. You'll need to come in for the actual fitting once I get the majority of the work done, but I have enough to start with for now so let's talk designs and materials.”

The next thirty minutes were a whirlwind of sketches and color palettes as Parian and Taylor tried to decide on a good first draft for the heroine's costume. It was honestly incredible how easily the rogue was able to think up full costumes on the fly. It took Taylor the better part of a week to think of less than ten but Parian had nearly double that in half an hour. Guess there was a reason she ran a tailoring shop instead of beating up bad guys.

Of course, hiring a professional like her came with a premium and even with the discount, Taylor balked at the number that was quoted to her, an expression that followed her even as she traveled through the city with Glory Girl a little while later.

“You know, for what you're getting, thirteen- thousand is actually an insanely good deal. Two of my costume was a little over forty with the bulk discount.”

The blonde wasn't nearly as surprised by the price as Taylor was, and her words didn't exactly make the brunette feel better.

“How the heck am I supposed to get thirteen thousand dollars!?” She whined she soared through the air, “I don't even have a job!”

“Neither do I, but I still have a full bank account.” Glory Girl said, “You just have to do what the rest of the non-affiliated heroes do. Take it from criminals.”

“That doesn't sound legal.” Taylor grumbled as she landed on a billboard. Glory Girl floated down beside her shaking her head.

“Nah, it totally is. It's part of the Vigilantes Rights Act that was put into effect a few years back. Someone realized that if solo heroes didn't have a legal way to make money without joining a larger group, there would be a lot more villains.” She explained, “As long as you give the PRT a rough estimate of what you took, and as long as it's just cash, then you're free to grab whatever you can carry.”

Taylor somewhat remembered the law that she was talking about from Emma's dad talking about it at dinner. Though he was only a divorce lawyer, many at his firm dealt with parahuman related crimes, including, coincidentally, Glory Girl's own mom. From what she remembered, the woman wasn't really happy that the law had gone into effect.

“Seems like a slippery slope.” Taylor commented as she watched people pass on the street below, “What's stopping some villain from planting evidence on rich people and taking their money?”

“People like us, for one.” Glory Girl said, grinning down at Taylor, “For another, it's only cash. Cards, jewelry, and drugs go into lockup with the boys in blue. And since high rolling criminals are mostly liquid…”

“It makes them the perfect targets for vigilantes who need the money.” Taylor finished, realization hitting her like a sack of bricks.

Glory Girl grinned, “Got it in one, Spidey. And since it's perfectly legal and you get to beat someone up without feeling like shit for it. Win-win.”

Her explanation reminded Taylor of another, much more darkness aligned cape, “Guess that explains why Shadow Stalker enjoys this so much.” At the very least, it probably didn't help her little predator/prey worldview

“No, I think she's just a bitch.” Glory Girl said, floating up into the air, “Come on. Between the two of us, I bet we can score you a pretty fat stack of cash before the end of the day.”

“You know, they say that if you're gonna do good, you should do it for the act of doing good itself.” Taylor mused aloud, before giving her fellow heroine a grin, “But I gotta admit, financial stability is a pretty good reward.”