Veiled Malice

Renichi tensed up suddenly at Mr. Parker's question. "Ah... that's kind of personal, sorry. I'm just... I'm just not comfortable talking about that with you." He knew he was being evasive, but revealing himself to one person today was more than enough. And he didn't even intend to do that with anyone, ever again. But it was different with Grim. Although he'd only met her today, less than a couple hours ago, he felt he'd come to know her better than nearly anyone else in his life. If that wasn't love... Well, he'd need to figure that out for himself at a better time.

Renichi tensed up suddenly at Mr. Parker's question. "Ah... that's kind of personal, sorry. I'm just... I'm just not comfortable talking about that with you." He knew he was being evasive, but revealing himself to one person today was more than enough. And he didn't even intend to do that with anyone, ever again. But it was different with Grim. Although he'd only met her today, less than a couple hours ago, he felt he'd come to know her better than nearly anyone else in his life. If that wasn't love... Well, he'd need to figure that out for himself at a better time.

Renichi tensed up suddenly at Mr. Parker's question. "Ah... that's kind of personal, sorry. I'm just... I'm just not comfortable talking about that with you." He knew he was being evasive, but revealing himself to one person today was more than enough. And he didn't even intend to do that with anyone, ever again. But it was different with Grim. Although he'd only met her today, less than a couple hours ago, he felt he'd come to know her better than nearly anyone else in his life. If that wasn't love... Well, he'd need to figure that out for himself at a better time.

As it turned out, all of the boys were from various sports teams. Denton LaBreque was a soccer player, Robert Luciano a tight end on the football team, and Jackson Sinclair played tennis, and was looking to move up to pro status almost as soon as he got out of college. Though not odd in and of itself, as athletes are often the first to turn to performance enhancing drugs, none of them had ever been so much as considered as people that would use such things. Many of Megan's classmates expressed quiet shock when the names of the boys had gotten around and were eventually relayed to the police. One thing that Megan saw, however, that no one else had seemed to, was that man who was standing with the boys down by the end of the track before all this had started. Evidently, he slipped out sometime during the commotion. "...happening a lot down in Southside," Megan overheard one of the cops tell the principal. The area had been cleared of everyone not directly involved with the incident, but administration obviously had a vested interest in how they could spin one of their star players nearly dying from a heart attack, and three others AWOL and possibly in the same condition as Eric. "But this is new for us. Stuff like this doesn't generally happen up here." "We're still looking into it, but it seems like this might be an isolated incident. We're sending some units to the boy's houses now. Hopefully we can get to them before something like this happens again." But Megan knew it would be important to get to them first, perhaps because they were on a paticularly dangerous kind of drug, but also that she needed to find out who that man they were talking to was.

As it turned out, all of the boys were from various sports teams. Denton LaBreque was a soccer player, Robert Luciano a tight end on the football team, and Jackson Sinclair played tennis, and was looking to move up to pro status almost as soon as he got out of college. Though not odd in and of itself, as athletes are often the first to turn to performance enhancing drugs, none of them had ever been so much as considered as people that would use such things. Many of Megan's classmates expressed quiet shock when the names of the boys had gotten around and were eventually relayed to the police. One thing that Megan saw, however, that no one else had seemed to, was that man who was standing with the boys down by the end of the track before all this had started. Evidently, he slipped out sometime during the commotion. "...happening a lot down in Southside," Megan overheard one of the cops tell the principal. The area had been cleared of everyone not directly involved with the incident, but administration obviously had a vested interest in how they could spin one of their star players nearly dying from a heart attack, and three others AWOL and possibly in the same condition as Eric. "But this is new for us. Stuff like this doesn't generally happen up here." "We're still looking into it, but it seems like this might be an isolated incident. We're sending some units to the boy's houses now. Hopefully we can get to them before something like this happens again." But Megan knew it would be important to get to them first, perhaps because they were on a paticularly dangerous kind of drug, but also that she needed to find out who that man they were talking to was.

As it turned out, all of the boys were from various sports teams. Denton LaBreque was a soccer player, Robert Luciano a tight end on the football team, and Jackson Sinclair played tennis, and was looking to move up to pro status almost as soon as he got out of college. Though not odd in and of itself, as athletes are often the first to turn to performance enhancing drugs, none of them had ever been so much as considered as people that would use such things. Many of Megan's classmates expressed quiet shock when the names of the boys had gotten around and were eventually relayed to the police. One thing that Megan saw, however, that no one else had seemed to, was that man who was standing with the boys down by the end of the track before all this had started. Evidently, he slipped out sometime during the commotion. "...happening a lot down in Southside," Megan overheard one of the cops tell the principal. The area had been cleared of everyone not directly involved with the incident, but administration obviously had a vested interest in how they could spin one of their star players nearly dying from a heart attack, and three others AWOL and possibly in the same condition as Eric. "But this is new for us. Stuff like this doesn't generally happen up here." "We're still looking into it, but it seems like this might be an isolated incident. We're sending some units to the boy's houses now. Hopefully we can get to them before something like this happens again." But Megan knew it would be important to get to them first, perhaps because they were on a paticularly dangerous kind of drug, but also that she needed to find out who that man they were talking to was.

Oh crap. Yeah, that's a problem, alright. I thought the circus people were the bad guys, not the good guys. This is, however, not a horrible difficulty. We can just say that Daisuke is under lock and key "for his own safety". And the safety of others, from the posts I've been making. If this will work, let me know. If not... well, then I guess you should let me know too.

Oh crap. Yeah, that's a problem, alright. I thought the circus people were the bad guys, not the good guys. This is, however, not a horrible difficulty. We can just say that Daisuke is under lock and key "for his own safety". And the safety of others, from the posts I've been making. If this will work, let me know. If not... well, then I guess you should let me know too.

Oh crap. Yeah, that's a problem, alright. I thought the circus people were the bad guys, not the good guys. This is, however, not a horrible difficulty. We can just say that Daisuke is under lock and key "for his own safety". And the safety of others, from the posts I've been making. If this will work, let me know. If not... well, then I guess you should let me know too.

Through Mr. Cuthbert's and Megan's efforts, Eric soon began breathing on his own. Color returned to his face as circulation restarted. By this time, all of Megan's classmates had clustered around, watching the life-saving efforts with something akin to horror mixed with awe. Once Eric responded, Mr, Cuthbert nodded in satisfaction and gave Megan a thumbs-up. "Nice work, Megan. You really helped out here." "Oh my gawd! That was so cool!" Lucy's voice chirped from behind Megan. All of a sudden, she was engulfed in the ablations of her peers. It seemed everyone wanted to congratulate her. Paramedics came in down by the end of the gym at that point, converging on the crowd and quickly setting up oxygen and life monitoring gear. The police were right on their heels. This was one of the most prestigious education institutes in Freedom City, after all, and somebody needed to explain why one of it's students had just suffered a heart attack in the middle of gym.

Through Mr. Cuthbert's and Megan's efforts, Eric soon began breathing on his own. Color returned to his face as circulation restarted. By this time, all of Megan's classmates had clustered around, watching the life-saving efforts with something akin to horror mixed with awe. Once Eric responded, Mr, Cuthbert nodded in satisfaction and gave Megan a thumbs-up. "Nice work, Megan. You really helped out here." "Oh my gawd! That was so cool!" Lucy's voice chirped from behind Megan. All of a sudden, she was engulfed in the ablations of her peers. It seemed everyone wanted to congratulate her. Paramedics came in down by the end of the gym at that point, converging on the crowd and quickly setting up oxygen and life monitoring gear. The police were right on their heels. This was one of the most prestigious education institutes in Freedom City, after all, and somebody needed to explain why one of it's students had just suffered a heart attack in the middle of gym.

Through Mr. Cuthbert's and Megan's efforts, Eric soon began breathing on his own. Color returned to his face as circulation restarted. By this time, all of Megan's classmates had clustered around, watching the life-saving efforts with something akin to horror mixed with awe. Once Eric responded, Mr, Cuthbert nodded in satisfaction and gave Megan a thumbs-up. "Nice work, Megan. You really helped out here." "Oh my gawd! That was so cool!" Lucy's voice chirped from behind Megan. All of a sudden, she was engulfed in the ablations of her peers. It seemed everyone wanted to congratulate her. Paramedics came in down by the end of the gym at that point, converging on the crowd and quickly setting up oxygen and life monitoring gear. The police were right on their heels. This was one of the most prestigious education institutes in Freedom City, after all, and somebody needed to explain why one of it's students had just suffered a heart attack in the middle of gym.

Daisuke looked up from his comic book, generously donated by a circus hand, as one of his "captors" walked over. "Hey kid, we're movin' you over ta the other side of the tent. You're almost to the big time," the man said with a smile, as if that should mean something to Daisuke. Hopping off his wooden bench, he crossed over to the bars of his cage and put on his most pity-inspiring expression. "Please mister. Can you just let me out for a little while? I promise I won't go anywhere. Pleeeeese?" By the end, one could almost swear sparkles came out of his eyes. The man simply rolled his eyes and started wheeling the entire cage over to the assembly area. "Yeah right. You remember the last time you said that? Frank ain't gonna be walkin' right for weeks thanks to you." "But that wasn't my fault!" Daisuke insisted. "How was I supposed to know the towline was that delicate?" "That towline was ton and a half test!" he shouted back. "Now shaddup. It's time ta meet your new playmate." "Playmate?" Daisuke definitely liked the sound of that. It wouldn't be so boring with someone to talk to. The comic had ceased to be entertaining several hours back, and after his last walkabout, it wasn't likely that they would be letting him out again any time soon. "Who? Is it someone I know?" He wrinkled his nose. "It's not that bearded lady again, is it? She's mean. And she smells. And I think she's sneaking liquor from the headman. I saw her sneaking into his caravan last night. And then there was these noises, you know, like she was looking around, but she wasn't doing it very well because there was all this thumping and groaning, like she was moving something heavy, and then she kinda stumbled out a while later holding a bottle. The only thing was that the headman came out a little while later, and I didn't know there was another entrance to the caravan, did you? But he couldn't have been in there while she was looking around because-" "Cripes, kid, shut up!" The man shouted after hearing Daisuke going on for far too long. He just shook his head in disbelief as he slid the cage into it's resting place, next to a large aquarium. Daisuke recognized the area he was in. He'd passed by it once while getting the lay of the land from the man who'd duped him into coming here in the first place. This was the Menagerie. The "Freakshow", in other words. Daisuke's train of thought was interrupted by the man saying, "Say hello to your new playmate." Following the man's gesture, Daisuke looked into the giant tank of water and saw not fish, as he expected, but a girl. And beautiful one at that. His mouth hung open slightly in shock. She was breathing! Underwater! That was so cool! "You two have fun now, hear?" Once the man left, Daisuke clambered over to the edge of the cage nearest to the girl, just looking at her in awe. "Wow. You're pretty." He quickly clammed up and looked embarrassed at his slip of the tongue. "I mean... I... I like your tank."

Daisuke looked up from his comic book, generously donated by a circus hand, as one of his "captors" walked over. "Hey kid, we're movin' you over ta the other side of the tent. You're almost to the big time," the man said with a smile, as if that should mean something to Daisuke. Hopping off his wooden bench, he crossed over to the bars of his cage and put on his most pity-inspiring expression. "Please mister. Can you just let me out for a little while? I promise I won't go anywhere. Pleeeeese?" By the end, one could almost swear sparkles came out of his eyes. The man simply rolled his eyes and started wheeling the entire cage over to the assembly area. "Yeah right. You remember the last time you said that? Frank ain't gonna be walkin' right for weeks thanks to you." "But that wasn't my fault!" Daisuke insisted. "How was I supposed to know the towline was that delicate?" "That towline was ton and a half test!" he shouted back. "Now shaddup. It's time ta meet your new playmate." "Playmate?" Daisuke definitely liked the sound of that. It wouldn't be so boring with someone to talk to. The comic had ceased to be entertaining several hours back, and after his last walkabout, it wasn't likely that they would be letting him out again any time soon. "Who? Is it someone I know?" He wrinkled his nose. "It's not that bearded lady again, is it? She's mean. And she smells. And I think she's sneaking liquor from the headman. I saw her sneaking into his caravan last night. And then there was these noises, you know, like she was looking around, but she wasn't doing it very well because there was all this thumping and groaning, like she was moving something heavy, and then she kinda stumbled out a while later holding a bottle. The only thing was that the headman came out a little while later, and I didn't know there was another entrance to the caravan, did you? But he couldn't have been in there while she was looking around because-" "Cripes, kid, shut up!" The man shouted after hearing Daisuke going on for far too long. He just shook his head in disbelief as he slid the cage into it's resting place, next to a large aquarium. Daisuke recognized the area he was in. He'd passed by it once while getting the lay of the land from the man who'd duped him into coming here in the first place. This was the Menagerie. The "Freakshow", in other words. Daisuke's train of thought was interrupted by the man saying, "Say hello to your new playmate." Following the man's gesture, Daisuke looked into the giant tank of water and saw not fish, as he expected, but a girl. And beautiful one at that. His mouth hung open slightly in shock. She was breathing! Underwater! That was so cool! "You two have fun now, hear?" Once the man left, Daisuke clambered over to the edge of the cage nearest to the girl, just looking at her in awe. "Wow. You're pretty." He quickly clammed up and looked embarrassed at his slip of the tongue. "I mean... I... I like your tank."

Daisuke looked up from his comic book, generously donated by a circus hand, as one of his "captors" walked over. "Hey kid, we're movin' you over ta the other side of the tent. You're almost to the big time," the man said with a smile, as if that should mean something to Daisuke. Hopping off his wooden bench, he crossed over to the bars of his cage and put on his most pity-inspiring expression. "Please mister. Can you just let me out for a little while? I promise I won't go anywhere. Pleeeeese?" By the end, one could almost swear sparkles came out of his eyes. The man simply rolled his eyes and started wheeling the entire cage over to the assembly area. "Yeah right. You remember the last time you said that? Frank ain't gonna be walkin' right for weeks thanks to you." "But that wasn't my fault!" Daisuke insisted. "How was I supposed to know the towline was that delicate?" "That towline was ton and a half test!" he shouted back. "Now shaddup. It's time ta meet your new playmate." "Playmate?" Daisuke definitely liked the sound of that. It wouldn't be so boring with someone to talk to. The comic had ceased to be entertaining several hours back, and after his last walkabout, it wasn't likely that they would be letting him out again any time soon. "Who? Is it someone I know?" He wrinkled his nose. "It's not that bearded lady again, is it? She's mean. And she smells. And I think she's sneaking liquor from the headman. I saw her sneaking into his caravan last night. And then there was these noises, you know, like she was looking around, but she wasn't doing it very well because there was all this thumping and groaning, like she was moving something heavy, and then she kinda stumbled out a while later holding a bottle. The only thing was that the headman came out a little while later, and I didn't know there was another entrance to the caravan, did you? But he couldn't have been in there while she was looking around because-" "Cripes, kid, shut up!" The man shouted after hearing Daisuke going on for far too long. He just shook his head in disbelief as he slid the cage into it's resting place, next to a large aquarium. Daisuke recognized the area he was in. He'd passed by it once while getting the lay of the land from the man who'd duped him into coming here in the first place. This was the Menagerie. The "Freakshow", in other words. Daisuke's train of thought was interrupted by the man saying, "Say hello to your new playmate." Following the man's gesture, Daisuke looked into the giant tank of water and saw not fish, as he expected, but a girl. And beautiful one at that. His mouth hung open slightly in shock. She was breathing! Underwater! That was so cool! "You two have fun now, hear?" Once the man left, Daisuke clambered over to the edge of the cage nearest to the girl, just looking at her in awe. "Wow. You're pretty." He quickly clammed up and looked embarrassed at his slip of the tongue. "I mean... I... I like your tank."

Renichi blushed as Gravitor came back in and broke up the tender moment. His hands went immediately to his side as he tried to figure out who to apologize to first - Grim (now Lynn to him) for breaking down like that, or Gravitor for doing that in the man's house. Fortunately, he didn't seem to mind all that much. Besides the uncomfortable stance, that is. "Oh..." he made a show of looking around the workshop, trying to think of an excuse as to way his seven foot tall armored mecha had suddenly disappeared. "I parked it outside! Yeah, I thought, you know, you had enough in here... it's out of the way, behind stuff... totally inconspicuous, don't worry." Renichi blinked, wondering what that meant. Vietnam? Why would... "Oh! I'm... I'm actually Japanese, not Vietnamese... it's, ah... easy to confuse that, I know..." It wasn't, in fact, but he didn't want to call the man out on his incorrect identification of his ethnicity. "And you can call me Renichi... or just Ren, if it's easier." His unaccented English was really working out for him here. Most non -idiomatic speakers of English would pronounce Renichi as "Lenichi", causing some confusion. Thank you, advanced placement English, Renichi thought happily. "Aheh," Renichi scratched the back of his head nervously, now kind of disappointed he hadn't chosen a cooler-sounding name for himself. Who knew how long he would be here. And the entire time, he'd be known as Roboman? Maybe I can re-invent myself?

Renichi blushed as Gravitor came back in and broke up the tender moment. His hands went immediately to his side as he tried to figure out who to apologize to first - Grim (now Lynn to him) for breaking down like that, or Gravitor for doing that in the man's house. Fortunately, he didn't seem to mind all that much. Besides the uncomfortable stance, that is. "Oh..." he made a show of looking around the workshop, trying to think of an excuse as to way his seven foot tall armored mecha had suddenly disappeared. "I parked it outside! Yeah, I thought, you know, you had enough in here... it's out of the way, behind stuff... totally inconspicuous, don't worry." Renichi blinked, wondering what that meant. Vietnam? Why would... "Oh! I'm... I'm actually Japanese, not Vietnamese... it's, ah... easy to confuse that, I know..." It wasn't, in fact, but he didn't want to call the man out on his incorrect identification of his ethnicity. "And you can call me Renichi... or just Ren, if it's easier." His unaccented English was really working out for him here. Most non -idiomatic speakers of English would pronounce Renichi as "Lenichi", causing some confusion. Thank you, advanced placement English, Renichi thought happily. "Aheh," Renichi scratched the back of his head nervously, now kind of disappointed he hadn't chosen a cooler-sounding name for himself. Who knew how long he would be here. And the entire time, he'd be known as Roboman? Maybe I can re-invent myself?

Renichi blushed as Gravitor came back in and broke up the tender moment. His hands went immediately to his side as he tried to figure out who to apologize to first - Grim (now Lynn to him) for breaking down like that, or Gravitor for doing that in the man's house. Fortunately, he didn't seem to mind all that much. Besides the uncomfortable stance, that is. "Oh..." he made a show of looking around the workshop, trying to think of an excuse as to way his seven foot tall armored mecha had suddenly disappeared. "I parked it outside! Yeah, I thought, you know, you had enough in here... it's out of the way, behind stuff... totally inconspicuous, don't worry." Renichi blinked, wondering what that meant. Vietnam? Why would... "Oh! I'm... I'm actually Japanese, not Vietnamese... it's, ah... easy to confuse that, I know..." It wasn't, in fact, but he didn't want to call the man out on his incorrect identification of his ethnicity. "And you can call me Renichi... or just Ren, if it's easier." His unaccented English was really working out for him here. Most non -idiomatic speakers of English would pronounce Renichi as "Lenichi", causing some confusion. Thank you, advanced placement English, Renichi thought happily. "Aheh," Renichi scratched the back of his head nervously, now kind of disappointed he hadn't chosen a cooler-sounding name for himself. Who knew how long he would be here. And the entire time, he'd be known as Roboman? Maybe I can re-invent myself?

I love Attractive. It's so useful, both in and out of combat. Anyway, could you give me a Medicine check? I know you don't have the skill, but Mr. Cuthbert is giving you some on-the-job experience. Just take your WIS bonus and your roll.

I love Attractive. It's so useful, both in and out of combat. Anyway, could you give me a Medicine check? I know you don't have the skill, but Mr. Cuthbert is giving you some on-the-job experience. Just take your WIS bonus and your roll.

I love Attractive. It's so useful, both in and out of combat. Anyway, could you give me a Medicine check? I know you don't have the skill, but Mr. Cuthbert is giving you some on-the-job experience. Just take your WIS bonus and your roll.

Mr. Cuthbert had just righted himself and dashed over to where Eric's prone form writhed. "Yeah, I got it. Listen, I need you to help, alright?" he asked Megan, showing little sign of worry despite the tense situation. Maybe those rumors about the man being an ex-marine were true. "Put your hands here on his chest, two finger widths under the solar plexus." he showed Megan how to do it, directing her with medical precision. "Alright, good. I'm going to give him two breaths. After I do, you give him five compressions. One every second. Don't worry about breaking anything - his ribcage can take it." While he was giving Megan direction, Eric's "friends" took the opportunity to look down at the situation with dismay before bolting for the door, vanishing before anyone could stop them. "Great friends," Mr. Cuthbert grumbled before turning back to Megan and telling her calmly, "Okay, you can do this. Just remember - five compressions after two breaths." Dimly, Megan could hear someone on a cell phone with 911 as Mr. Cuthbert started breathing for Eric.

Mr. Cuthbert had just righted himself and dashed over to where Eric's prone form writhed. "Yeah, I got it. Listen, I need you to help, alright?" he asked Megan, showing little sign of worry despite the tense situation. Maybe those rumors about the man being an ex-marine were true. "Put your hands here on his chest, two finger widths under the solar plexus." he showed Megan how to do it, directing her with medical precision. "Alright, good. I'm going to give him two breaths. After I do, you give him five compressions. One every second. Don't worry about breaking anything - his ribcage can take it." While he was giving Megan direction, Eric's "friends" took the opportunity to look down at the situation with dismay before bolting for the door, vanishing before anyone could stop them. "Great friends," Mr. Cuthbert grumbled before turning back to Megan and telling her calmly, "Okay, you can do this. Just remember - five compressions after two breaths." Dimly, Megan could hear someone on a cell phone with 911 as Mr. Cuthbert started breathing for Eric.

Mr. Cuthbert had just righted himself and dashed over to where Eric's prone form writhed. "Yeah, I got it. Listen, I need you to help, alright?" he asked Megan, showing little sign of worry despite the tense situation. Maybe those rumors about the man being an ex-marine were true. "Put your hands here on his chest, two finger widths under the solar plexus." he showed Megan how to do it, directing her with medical precision. "Alright, good. I'm going to give him two breaths. After I do, you give him five compressions. One every second. Don't worry about breaking anything - his ribcage can take it." While he was giving Megan direction, Eric's "friends" took the opportunity to look down at the situation with dismay before bolting for the door, vanishing before anyone could stop them. "Great friends," Mr. Cuthbert grumbled before turning back to Megan and telling her calmly, "Okay, you can do this. Just remember - five compressions after two breaths." Dimly, Megan could hear someone on a cell phone with 911 as Mr. Cuthbert started breathing for Eric.

You're a brave man, Mr. Rook. :shock: Welcome aboard.