Lone_Star

GM The overhead fan spun lazily as the five of them enjoyed their hot, delicious pizza. Gookgak and Diego had to leave early, school assignments pending, but they enjoyed the conversation as well as the delicious food and unlimited refills of soda. A few other customers trickled in, and seemed to be avoiding eye contact with the five of them. The old man behind the counter kept staring at them, but didn't say anything to the motley crew of teens. After all, it was Freedom City: weirdness was to be expected. But for the teens, it was a lazy Saturday afternoon, one to be relished with the amount of classwork and training they had to do at the Academy. Diego and Gookgak said their farewells, leaving Owen, Riel, and Kadene sitting at the table. Owen took a sip of his cream soda and dabbed a bit of marinara off his chin, and sat back with a sigh. Even he had to admit it was good to relax, though he enjoyed the training and didn't really mind the schoolwork that much, but he wished there wasn't so much math. He looked at the two pirates across the table from him, and searched for a good way to continue the conversation. "So, you two settlin' in okay? To Earth an' all?"

Prime Mover "Wait, what" was all Owen could say as he suddenly found himself transported out of his dorm room. He looked down at his clothes and saw he was wearing a brightly colored T-shirt and jeans, and holding several green army men. Owen stood up suddenly, dropping the toys all over the table. This is not my dorm room... He took a moment to assess his situation, and looked around the interior of the house he suddenly found himself in. It looked like an old house, like one from a sitcom long forgotten. Still, it hadn't quite set in what was going on. He didn't know who the guy in the cardigan was, but he recognized his fellow classmates, all of them wearing strange clothing they wouldn't be caught dead in. He didn't speak, but his mouth opened like he wanted to. As he tried to get the words out, there was really only one thing he could say that would sum up his situation, a well-worn phrase in his vocabulary that encapsulated the confusion and terror he found himself in: "OH GEEZ," Owen said, inadvertently looking directly into an invisible camera.

Prime Mover (with Lady Liberty, Claremont students, et al) Owen stood holding the autograph in his hand, immensely relieved that his faux pas was immediately forgotten, or so he thought. That was a close one. He smiled at Mattie, and lightly tapped her arm in a friendly way. "Yeah, yer right Mattie. She is awesome!" He saw Lynn walk closer to Lady Liberty, or, Beth as she preferred to be called these days. Tears rolled down her eyes, and Owen reached up a hand to comfort her, but decided to hold back. I think you've done enough for now, he thought in a moment of self-criticism. Whatever was going on between them was personal, and not even his patented Midwest Nice would be of much help. It was best to just be there for his friends. He sat back down to his plate of food next to Sarah and Mattie. "Some party, huh?" he said, taking a big bite out of the pie.

Ghule (by the fireplace with Revenant) Vik liked her already. She wasn't expecting one of the few other 'Friends of Romero' to be so open, especially about her condition. A long life was something she hadn't considered as a side-effect of being undead, but that warranted further thought after the party. "Lucy, hi. I've always liked that name. And no worries. Thinkin' too hard about stuff isn't something I really do much, but...I get it. It's a strange life we 'live', isn't it? Sorry if zombie isn't the right term for you, it's one I use almost...'cuz it's the only thing that comes close to how I feel sometimes. But it's getting better. Charlie and the others, they make me feel like less of a monster. You know what I mean?" She laughed a little when she mentioned her self-imposed nickname. "Yeah, well. Gotta make the most out of living so long, might as well crack a few jokes to pass the time. So how long, I mean...sorry if this is rude to ask, but how long have you been living in Freedom City?"

GM The teens steps echo on the tile floor as they entered the expansive lobby of Kirby Art Museum. It took them ten minutes to get through the line, as they were checked over by museum security, but the sight of the art on the main floor was well worth the wait. Although Owen thought about his costume underneath his layers of clothing, none of the team was checked with any sort of thoroughness, nor were any of their bags looked through. Owen glanced at his roomie, wondering if his powers had anything to do with that. Fringe benefits, indeed. In the center of the museum, a giant white marble statue depicting the goddess Athena with a spear in one hand and an owl in the other dominated their view. In front of the statue, a small sign directed the viewer to the Greek art on the second floor. The teens handed their tickets to the front desk concierge, who was dressed neatly in a blue women's blazer. "You're here to see the pop culture exhibit, I take it?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at the motley collection of teenagers. She did not seem to believe teens could be in there for any other reason! "You'll want to go to the end of the hallway and take a left, you can't miss it. Please enjoy your visit." "Thank ya kindly, will do," Owen said, smiling genially. "So, have you guys been here before? Oh, I mean 'guys' in a general sorta way, not...well, you know. Guys." Owen said as he walked to the exhibit. He was still a bit flustered from Kadene holding his hand. "I'm just really excited to see this exhibit. I hear they've got a Tales of the Scarab issue one on display. In mint condition! That's one of the most valuable comic books, well, ever!"

Prime Mover "Jack!" Owen said happily as the massive teen walked up to him. "Uhh, zdraste! Think that's right..." Owen had been meaning to learn a little bit of Russian, just to be neighborly with him. He wasn't terribly surprised Jack wasn't dressed for the winter, considering his powers, but Owen was dressed in a red Carthartt-brand jacket he picked up from Fleet Farm before he left for Freedom City. "It's just another day for you, huh? You aren't cold at all?" "Mattie, no worries, you're just on time. We're just waiting on a few others now. Besides, we'll be among the first folks to see the exhibit anyways. Did you...jump here?" Owen took the bus, but if no one saw her, then he guessed it was okay. Some of the other teens tried to hide using their powers in public, him included. Especially with the problems he had controlling them... He smiled as Sarah walked up - she seemed sweet. This was as much about seeing the exhibit as it was getting to know some of his Claremont classmates he didn't know very well. "No worries Sarah. I was just telling Mattie that everyone is on time, catch your breath... oh geez!!" he said, jumping about a foot away as Renee came crashing onto the scene! "Renee, you really should be more careful, someone coulda gotten hurt!" As he said that, he could almost hear his roommate Riel tell him to not be such a stick in the mud. Speaking of which, where was..."OH GEEZ" Riel and his twin materialized right next to him, both dressed warmly in furs and skins that looked like they belonged in a natural history museum. "Riel, Kadene, you...please don't do that." He looked down to see Kadene was holding his hand with both of hers, and he looked up at her. He sputtered out something resembling speech, but what he really wanted to tell her was that she looked beautiful in her furs. But what came out was "You look real pretty." Geez, nice going 'Gomer Pyle'. Now she'll definitely think you're a country bumpkin. Let's change the subject... Owen gently broke off the contact, pleasant as it was, and reached into the voluminous pockets of his jacket. He pulled out several small, transparent plastic bags wrapped with red ribbon, and handed one to each of his friends. "I hope it's okay, but I got you all some Christmas treats. Hope no one's allergic, they're caramels and chocolates. Just a little something to say 'Happy Holidays'." He passed Kadene her treat bag last, and gave her a few more seconds of eye contact than anyone else. "So, let's head on in!"

Prime Mover "Oh, Sarah, I just...oh, geez. I'm just making things worse, aren't I. You're with the Claremont Academy, and that means that no one gets left behind. I think we're all thinkin' that, one way or another," he said, trying to make sure he didn't embarrass her any more than he already did. Me and my big mouth! "But I definitely get what yer sayin' with controlling your powers. The first time I used my powers, I blew up the family tractor! I sure tipped over the apple cart that day," he said with a big smile. "So don't worry! You're doing just fine." Owen smiled as the girls ran around the table, excited to see their friends. "Yep, I'm Owen, also known as Prime Mover." He thought about demonstrating his abilities, but thought better of it. Somehow, he figured that breaking dishes would be somewhat of a faux pas at Freedom Hall. Besides, he just finished talking to Sarah about how he couldn't control his powers either... As the girl's mother walked up to their table, Owen knew who she was before she introduced herself. His jaw fell to the floor as he was now in the presence of a living legend. "L-lady Liberty?!" he blurted out. Lynn's buoyant personality brought him back to reality, as well as her stretchy arm. C'mon Owen, pick your jaw up off the ground and say something! "Uhh. Miss Liberty, I mean...Lady Liberty. My friend and I are just honored to be here, in your presence an' all..." he said, trailing off as he ran out of material. "But what we really want to ask is," he sputtered, looking over at Lynn. "Could we have your autograph?!" Owen said too loudly. His life flashed before his eyes as he realized that was probably the most embarrassing thing he had ever done. He knew this would be one of those moments he would look back with regret as he lay on his deathbed, thinking about the regrets of his life. He knew they were just going to eject him from the party, or worse! That Lady Liberty would laugh in his face. "...oh heck."

Ghule (moving towards Revenant near the fire) Vik looked towards Revenant, who was standing near the fire. "Hah, well...it's not too bad. Poe is pretty cool stuff." She couldn't give Charlie too hard of a time... "Hey Leon, cool if I catch up with you in a little bit? Save some pork roast for me. I have someone I need to meet first." "I was wondering when I'd get to meet you," Vik said, sidling up closer to Revenant. "And you're right. But it's the things that hurt us that always bring us back for more." She warmed her hands by the fire. It felt good. Vik was still capable of feeling, tasting, and experiencing things in the same way her living teammates did, but it felt muted, like she was experiencing a simulation of it. "So. You're the other 'Friend of Romero' in Freedom City? There aren't many of us here." She looked over at Revenant, as if sizing her up. "But it's good to know I'm not alone here. I've heard of you, Revenant. I'm Vik, or Ghule. The Zombie Queen, at times," she said with a grin.

@Poncho @RocketLord @EternalPhoenix @Spacefurry @Jack OOC for Geeks on Parade!

GM Kirby Art Museum Parkside, Freedom City, New Jersey December 17th, 2024, 11 AM It was a balmy morning in Freedom City. The Kirby Art Museum was just about to open for the day, and there was a small line to get in. There was excitement in the air as museum attendees jammed their hands in their pockets and breathed into clasped hands to keep warm. Their newest exhibit, "Freedom City in Popular Culture" opened that day, and everyone was excited to see it. Paintings, advertisements, rare comic books, and movies, all made by Freedom City locals would be on display. Reporters from local newspapers waited impatiently, clutching their cameras and sound equipment, eager to be the first inside. The museum, two stories tall, is a work of art in and of itself with a beautiful crystal spire atop it visible from miles around. Having suffered from super-battles in the past, security guards wearing Kevlar vests with futuristic-looking pistols in their holsters patrol up and down the line, occasionally talking into their earpieces. They weren't about to have another incident on museum grounds: twice was quite enough. Everyone in line had to wait a bit longer, as the security team was taking every precaution to ensure the valuable exhibits remained where they belonged. Finally, the doors opened, and a slow trickle of attendees were allowed inside. Owen was waiting at the back of the line, looking around for his friends. "Are you guys on your way?" he sent via group text.

Ghule "Damn right," Vik said under her breath in a quiet voice so only Leon would hear, and subtly held out her hand for a high-five. Leon gets it. "Wow, that's really crazy that the freakin' League knows about us," Vik said as she walked with her fellow Guardians. "And dude, you know Velocity on a first-name basis! How wild is that?!" Vik said as she looked around the room. The major movers and shakers of the superheroic community all under one roof for one night! If she had a collar, she surely would have popped it. She was ready to schmooze with the best that Freedom City had to offer, and she looked damn good doing it. "This is really awesome. Thanks for...I dunno. Taking me under your wing, all of you. No pun intended, of course. I'd still be fighting small-time punks if it weren't for you guys." Vik's expression was very confused for a moment - you could almost read the "?" on her face, but it seemed that Charlie knew who she was. "Hey, Miracle Girl. I'm Ghule. The Zombie Queen as some know me," she said, extending a hand. "New handle?" she asked Charlie, amused. "So you weren't always Stormcrow? What were you before: The Chickadee? The Sparrow? Oooh, what about The Cardinal? Nice religious theme with that," she quipped, with a s###-eating grin on her face. "Pffft" Vik snorted. She extended a hand behind her back for another high-five.

Prime Mover "Look, I know we just met and all, and I'm really embarrassed to ask..." Owen said, blushing as he scratched the back of his head. "You just seemed so dang excited to be here on the limo, and I really just wanted to know..." He leaned in a bit closer to her, making sure he wasn't being too weird by whispering something to Mattie. He just didn't want to look like a dork in front of his friends! "Do you want to go around and collect Freedom League autographs with me" Owen whispered. After confessing his fanboy tendencies to Mattie, he looked over at Sarah. He gestured to Mattie that she should come over with him. He couldn't stand for one of his Claremont friends to be down, especially on a night like tonight. Owen walked over and sat down next to Sarah. "Hey, Sarah, right? Are you okay?"

"Oh, wow! That'd be sweet, miss...well, ma'am. I've never been outta Wisconsin 'cept to move up to Freedom City, so London would be incredible. Yer sure right about this place, it's like going to the Met or somethin'." He enjoyed her hospitality and offer of putting them up. He didn't expect such generosity from someone he didn't really know, and frankly it was refreshing to know there were such neighborly superheroes! Prime Mover I could definitely use a bite to eat..." Owen said with a smile. He started to reach for a plate, but Mattie was already on top of that. He accepted a plate with a good portion of roasted duck, sweet potatoes, and cherry pie, all of which smelled intoxicating. How did everything look so darn good? "Think you've got me covered right there, Mattie, I'll just take a little more of that pie...there, that's perfect." He started to eat a little bit of the duck as he waited for her to finish serving everyone else. Everything was cooked to absolute perfection! "Hey, Mattie, mind if I ask you somethin'? Bit of a private matter, if you don't mind."

Ghule Vik nodded as she ducked Cueball's axe easily. Her training was starting to pay off! As she dashed towards Bernie and Buddy, she gave Cueball a rude gesture. "Sure thing, Stormcrow. But I don't think any of these guys have great hygiene..." "Multi-Girl, I've got you!" she shouted as she leapt towards Buddy. She vaulted over his shoulders and landed in front of him, fists out. "Ugh," she said, now realizing what Charlie meant by 'bad hygiene'. "Dude, you're just plain nasty. I mean, for real. You're like used high school jock strap nasty. Like a sewer rat and a skunk's lovechild nasty. Anyway..." She pulled back her arm, and a swirling aura of dark necromantic energy covered her body.. Vik's eyes became a milky white as she channeled power through her body, and she gritted her teeth with concentration. She then struck with full force, shouting out a warrior's cry. As she did, a multitude skeletal arms emerged from the energy, striking towards Buddy in a succession of quick blows. "Take that, you Evel Knievel wannabe a$$hole!"

Alright, Vik will swing for the fences with a -5/+5 Power Attack. And gets a 17... Screw it, I'm burning an HP here! And another 17, which is a 32 with the HP! I really hope that hits. If it does, that's a DC 33 Toughness with the Autofire.