Can’t really speak for Malin about Sidestep’s reactions but I can tell you that no matter what Sidestep thinks, they are not being sneaky whatsoever with the Puppet. In fact I’ll put the big things in a list below the fold.
Ways Ortega can convince herself that the Puppet and Sidestep know each other
Ortega was trying to arrange a “meet-cute” with them in the beginning of Rebirth and instead finds Sidestep there.
Sidestep and the Puppet are neighbors. Ortega stalks the Puppet enough to know exactly when and where they do whatever sport Ortega decides to be really into as an excuse to seduce them. She for sure knows where the Puppet lives long before Retribution starts.
If Ortega suspects Sidestep of being the baddie and the Puppet goes to a meeting between Hollow Ground and “the baddie,” it seems like a very possible connection.
Whatever horrorshow is piloting the currently vacated body seems desperate to have a “conversation” with Sidestep. It could have said anything in the six weeks between Retribution and Revelations.
Even if they are not neighbors anymore, Sidestep and the Puppet have almost certainly been in the other one’s home and left physical evidence. Like for example hair, clothes that fit the other and Sidestep’s favourite candy/cigs/coffee/cocktail.
Ortega has convinced herself that 'step is Hollow Ground’s secret long dead sibling based entirely of of one low resolution photograph of a thirteen year old taken in the 90s. They are clearly willing to jump to massive conclusions with nothing more than a gut feeling.
The Puppet regularly goes to Joes. Jake also goes to Joes. And who does Jake work for? None other than Sidestep’s secret evil supervillain sibling!
Sidestep’s death was faked. Some versions even admit they were kidnapped by people still around. Who has the influence to snatch a hero from under Ortega’s nose and fake their death? Sidestep’s secret evil supervillain sibling!
If the Puppet is arrested as a criminal Ortega clearly thinks the Puppet is connected to at least one of her obsessions. And being connected to one means at most one degree of separation from the other sibling.
My guess is that by the end of Rebirth Ortega thinks HG kidnapped 'step after Heartbreak and has been convinced to let 'step go but has assigned the Puppet as some kind of handler to make sure Sidestep does not screw with the family business anymore.
You know, now thinking about it.. I Wonder when exactly Ortega started trailing Puppet. Because Ortega didnt specify that, as far as I know, so even them meeting Sidestep could accidentaly be connected to Ortega doing research.
I don’t think we had description of where exactly was Sidestep when they met Ortega in relation to their flat. I recall Sidestep saying something like “it’s not my usual kind of place”, or something to that effect.
Ortega could solve so many problems by not having a mustache
I always tell him to grow a beard in the second book because I want to make fun of him and his stupid choice to grow an ugly fucking mustache
Also my Ortega with a beard looks like Karthik from Avatar Seven Havens and that kinda annoys me because I imagined this design way before Avatar Seven Havens began but now everyone’s gonna look at my bearded Ortega and think of I copied Avatar Seven Havens
Also my Sidestep also used to have a casual wear outfit but then I saw someone post their Sidestep in the exact same outfit but in green. When I mentioned that to my friend, she said she imagines her Sidestep in the same outfit but in blue. Now I just imagine my Sidestep in his Sidestep outfit but with groucho glasses so SD will never know it’s him.
No no no no, best Ortega is mustache Ortega, even f!Ortega would be better with a mustache. And if problems were solved by Ortega not having a mustache, then they’re better left unsolved and maybe aren’t truly problems anyway.
Inside me there are two wolves. One says that my scar is hungry, so the most in character hideout should be the penthouse. The other thinks it’s funnier to be a mob boss in the storefront. Boss, she makes good food, we should recruit her, boss, she already knows about us, she knows you have friends, come on boss—
Do people in real life actually wear jackets over hoodies? I see images like this all the time in shows but I cant recall one time ive seen someone dressed like that in person. Is it a regional thing?
