angrydurf

Mike blinked a few times somewhat taken aback by not only the store itself but being a 'Sir'. He gently took her hand and offered a quick handshake and a nervous smile. "Hi, Mike, Mike Harris." He said then paused uncertain of what to say next as he released her hand. "First time visiting us Mr. Harris?" Jeniffer inquired with a smile as she guided him further into the show room, "Perhaps looking for something for someone special?" She asked leading him towards a central display with a wide assortment of fine jewelry.

Mike stepped off the bus and crunched his way through the snow towards the famed jewelers. The day was unseasonable clear with the sun emerging from the clouds to warm the chilled city for at least a day. Mike hardly even noticed, he was a man on a mission and strolled down the street with a spring in his step and a smile on his face. Today was definitely going to be a good day. Entering the showroom he was briefly dazzled by the splendor arrayed in the cases. Shocked at the size of the venue, he had been once to the old store with his father, they had been shopping for a ten year anniversary gift for his mother, but this showroom dwarfed their old venue. Well dressed sales people strolled along the cases with the friendly if somewhat plastic smiles of professional sales people, offering assistance to the the smattering of customers browsing the stores sparkling wares. Almost as soon as he arrived an attractive brunette with a dazzling smile approached him extending one well manicured hand, "Hello sir, my name is Jennifer, how may I be of assistance?" She inquired in an almost bubbling tone.

If the decision to move forward had given him a flutter in his stomach, his research into the actual process and moreover prices set it flopping like a fish out of water. Once he calmed though he realized that he did have time and more importantly virtually no expenses. He set about crunching the numbers and between his savings and some newly matured bonds his grandparents had given him when he was younger he had at least enough to find something suitable if not grandiose. He briefly considered bringing one of his friends in on his plan but the fewer people who knew the better chance he had of it being even a little bit of a surprise. Thus he struck out without James expertise nor Marks moral support or even Chris' camaraderie. He left alone early on Friday to make his financial arrangements at the credit union then onto a bus downtown to Haas Brothers.

The day spent with Alex earlier in the month had left Mike with a lot to think about, particularly about their future together. This was not a subject he generally gave much thought to preferring instead to assume it would all work itself out. While that hadn't yet proven true he also knew that at this juncture more was expected than his normal passivity. So he had pondered what he did want from their future. He knew he wanted it to be 'Their' future, but beyond that comforting thought he really wasn't sure about specifics. They lived in such proximity and saw each other several times throughout the day, for now at least, but what about beyond high school when she was in grad school and he was working. Even with evenings and weekends, or at least days off, it was going to be a change. The more he thought about it the more the obvious drifted through his thoughts. What was the next step? Marriage. Though at sixteen it seemed too serious a commitment to make. Could he really know? And now? Sure it was a forgone conclusion for their friends and even Alex, himself as well really, but did any of them really know? Of course none of them did, least of all himself, but he also knew that he couldn't conceive of a world without Alex in it. If that wasn't the real deal he didn't know what was. So there it was, the next step. Even the thought sent nervous flutters through his stomach, but that aside it was freeing in a way. Now he only had to actually take the next step.

Phalanx goes downtown to make a very important purchase, of course nothing is simple in Freedom City.

There was a time I could say I hadn't But the dude has turned into a giant douche so thats no longer the case ;)

I agree with the general sentiment Shaen, too many people get locked up without commitng any crime but not being able to afford a better lawyer. I will note however that this guy is one of the less sympathetic prisoners you'll find, Guy beat his sisters boyfriend to death with a sledgehammer. Of far more concern I think is the principle that its not because they want to deny him a comfort that the game is banned but because it is termed to "promotes fantasy role playing, competitive hostility, violence, addictive escape behaviors, and possible gambling," Though the ban was upheld in court due in part to "After all, punishment is a fundamental aspect of imprisonment, and prisons may choose to punish inmates by preventing them from participating in some of their favorite recreations," Fact is though that prison as we have it just plain doesn't work, as a deterrent, as rehabilitation, or even for many as punishment. Frankly I can't support any system of dehumanizing a population even if I don't like the people in question they are people.

Phalanx frantically lashed out as his powers were suddenly drained from him. As Psyches telekinetic grip closed around him he whispered a soft prayer of thanks. Still clearing his head from both the blast and the rapid trip back he looked up at Psyche and the rest of the team, 'Thanks' He sent to her comfortingly as he re-established the connection. "Yea I'm alright, I think." He said out loud looking at the scorch mark marring the front of his costume. He stood and went quickly did his best to check to see if his powers had returned, with everything seemingly in order he explained further, "Whatever they shot me with drained my powers, also hurt like hell, but everything seems to be alright now. But they have Edge in some kind of tube up on top of the volcano." The last was said with a firmness of tone Mike rarely used, he was going to get his friend back if he had to face down Omega himself. He just hoped it wouldn't come to that.

Phalanx took in the scene below in horror muttering out loud and transmitting to Psyche at the same time "Omegadrones?!? Here? They have..." Then the energy beam slammed into him and everything began to happen very fast as the connection severed and he began to plummet toward the earth his energies sapped by the strange beam.

Toughness Save (1d20+16=26) Bruised Enhanced Strength VS nullify (1d20+26=32) Good Enhanced Con VS Nullify (1d20+26=31) Good Impervious VS nullify (1d20+11=18) Nullified rest of his powers can't beat a 31 nor can his will and so are nullified Now if I have a move action available I can reactivate flight Otherwise ... He falls Assuming he's high enough for terminal velocity (200') thats a DC 35 toughness save If no one can/does catch him I'll blow that HP for ultimate toughness and Just make it with a 35 (counting the -1 for the bruise) Of course that includes his link to Psyche ;)

Mike shook his head noncommittally, "Not really." he said with a sigh, "Its more just an expectation, James basically assumes that since we probably will we might as well have already, which is kinda weird in and of itself, The others I think just can't comprehend it not being the most important thing." He shrugged and laughed, "And lets just say being referred to as 'old fashioned' by Mark was not exactly a high point, even if he intended it flatteringly." He cheered and looked up refusing to fall into that head-space again, "But none of that really bothers me, and its not something I fret over, just something that I can't help but blush over." he added with a self deprecating grin.

"Not of their own volition no." Ace replied as he peered down at the scene unfolding before them. "But it would not be the first time Earths greatest defenders have been compromised." He himself had faced them when replaced by Grue as well as mind controlled. "Lets head in and see if we can get a handle on whats going on."

Mike laughed as he smiled down at her 'vamp' attempt, "Well I don't know about temptress but certainly tempting." he said and managed to keep his blush mostly under control. He paused thoughtfully, "I dunno I guess it just seems to easy to to move too fast." He shrugged not really able to verbalize his concerns there was more to it than strictly 'getting the order right' but that was part of it too. "I dunno, I just think its worth waiting till the time is right I guess." Even if the rest of the guys probably thought he was out of his head for that.

Mike got his shoulder up just in time to avoid getting the snowball right in the face. He clutched at his shoulder and crudely pantomimed a dramatic death before dropping into the snow with a thud. He lay there for a moment before standing and dusting off to jog over to rejoin Alex a mischievous glint in his eye, as he attempted to hide a small handful of snow behind his back.

Mike took her silent advice thankful for the reprieve and chance to gather his thoughts. He didn't know what it was about her that made him unable to think clearly, well he had a few ideas but resolved not to travel down that line of thought at the moment. He refilled his soda and sat back down across from her resolved to make less of an ass of himself this time around. "It's not a thing of guilt really." He explained much better in control of himself now, "Its an issue of doing it right, when the time is right and we're ready for that stage of our lives." He didn't want to sound too uptight but really thought that was the kind of thing one should wait for marriage to do.

Mike paused as she took the towel from him glancing nervously at the other customers but it seemed other than a couple looks and the kind waitress bringing over a towel no one had really taken notice of what had happened. He apologetically accepted the towel and quickly wiped down his chair before seating himself one more and dabbing at the front of his jeans. As Alex offered her explanation he calmed some and smiled, "I think it does," He responded then frowned slightly, "Ten years?" he asked under his breath somewhat disbelievingly then blushed deep red again and cleared his throat, "Well ... uhm ... regardless thats a lil while off."

"No, no, I don't mean that, of course I'm, well I mean ..." He continued to backpedal though the other direction now. He paused to take a sip of his drink to steady himself as her final words sunk in. The glass shattered as his hand unconsciously clenched as her flirtatious comment hit home. He didn't even seem to notice as he blurted out, "You would?" then blushed furiously once more and realized his lap was rapidly filling with the remains of his iced tea and he still had his fist tightly clenched around the shards of glass. Mike jumped up and hurriedly tried to mop up the mess glad for any kind of distraction that kept him from having to make eye contact at that moment.

Mikes smile softened at her commentary. "I'm sure you'll figure it out." He said with quiet confidence. "And even if you don't its not so bad, you don't really want to keep who and what you are a secret after all and I don't mind it." "You can be like my little night light." He added after a pause then the color drained from his face as he realized what he had said only to be replaced by a furious blush, "I-I-I mean ... Uhm not that I want to ... I mean I do but not like ..." He stammered and let out a sigh wishing he had better control of his mouth sometimes.

"It would," Mike agreed, as much as he liked their new friends he was still slightly more uncomfortable with them around then when it was just Alex and himself. "So a basic Ball Room course? Erm for beginners, that are rhythm challenged ... yea." He said as he fully processed the prospect of actually trying to learn to dance. He smiled wide and joked, "We can get you some steel toed shoes to dance in."

"Yea I'm not thinking I even want to try to keep up with Zoe and Eddie." Mike replied adding to himself 'In any way.' He shook off the inevitable cascade of thoughts that led to with a quick shake of his head and a small blush, "Yea something like that," He nodded, "That should give us a baseline at least to not embarrass ourselves." He added with a grin as really neither of them generally wer much concerned with others opinions, at least not on that kind of thing.

" 's ok," he said with a grin, "I can take it I think." "We could take classes or something." He suggested, he had originally planned to just get some tips from Eddie but if they were both going to try and learn he might bring Zoe and ... yea definitely a bad idea. Besides a real class might be fun.

Mike grinned down at his diminutive girlfriend. "Well to be fair you are better at catching yourself on that issue." He said with a wink. "As for the dance," he replied, "How about we settle for what we want to do before then? Like for instance I would like to learn to dance well enough that I don't embarrass my girlfriend."

"Yea," Mike responded with a wink, "The rest of us call that over thinking things, and even those of us with normal sized brains do it." Heck he'd spent nearly nine years doing that before he was able to snap out of it. He smiled down at her as his hand twitched under her light touch, "Alexandra Albright I love you, and that's not changing." He stated somberly. Adding with a grin, "So you best just get used to it."

Mike was somewhat irked at her basic premise of course and a frown crossed his face as she began to explain but he let her finish. He cocked one eyebrow and sardonically replied, "Well I'm glad you hold my free will in such esteem." But couldn't hold a straight face beyond that and laughed a low quite laugh at his own joke. He shrugged as he calmed and more seriously answered her unspoken question, "Of course I would." then continued as he enveloped her hands in his own, "And that would be just as true if you meddled or didn't." He explained, "I respect your opinions perhaps more than I even should at times but only because I do trust you absolutely and know you just as well as you know me." there really wasn't any plainer way for him to explain it but in his opinion those traits absolutely explained that her influence was because he felt that way not the other way around.

Mike caught the glint in her eyes and knew she had planned this from the beginning, though he had no idea why. He coughed lightly, and stammered, "M-my ten year plan?" then shrugged with a strained laugh, "I dunno, I don't plan out that far ahead." It wasn't entirely a lie but it wasn't really an answer to her question either. He wasn't good with the verbal sparing and he knew it. He also knew she was fully aware of his general plan so the whole thign was probably designed to push him into saying it out loud. A favorite game of Alex's. it may take him a moment but he generally could decipher her intentions. He smiled and looked at her with a slight blush as he spoke, "Besides don't you want it to be a little bit of a surprise?" he asked honestly.