angrydurf

hmmmm I'll spend my round cursing out riley in three languages and take my parental units complication HP.

Huang raised a brow, "Uhm, yea." he said uncertainly, "Just make sure to leave the wormwood out of the mash and you should be good with that." he joked at the suggestion of Fred joining the endeavor. "Hallucinations are a lot less fun then they make them out to be in those PSAs." he added quietly almost like a voice of experience before laughing slightly at the affront of lying about age but being totally OK with making terlet gin to distribute to underage students. "Hey I didn't say it was a bad plan just that there are alternatives ya know?" he suggested with a smile. "It is a dumb rule I'll give you that." he agreed, "The stuff doesn't even effect me so it's kinda moot but the principle is there it's not like we're children you know?" he griped absently talking now with his hands animated about the injustices of the tyranny of adults. "Like how are we supposed to learn anything in some tiny box insulated from the world ya know?"

"That sounds depressing." he said flatly in response and raised a brow, "Like that bass fishing show my Grandpa used to watch on ESPN 2?" he questioned incredulously, he always thought she found those as boring as he did. Then again she claimed to have enjoyed algebra. He thumbed through the tumblr on her tablet with a vague disinterested then paused setting it down looked over to Alex with concern, "Uhm." he murmured low, "What's a reblog?" he was still trying to grasp this whole new realm. "And why is this Edgeof4evar one full of drawings of me and Mark without shirts?" he asked uncomfortably and looked down scrolling further, "How much of this is there?" he murmured and peered closer at one, "Some of these are eerie exact..." He set the tablet aside at that and shook his head, "I'm probably better off not knowing, huh?" he suggested with a laugh and smiled down at his fiance, "Ladies choice." he offered warmly, "I'm here for you."

We were all newbs once and we all made inefficient builds at one point or another. The advice is just to avoid the letdown of building up to a certain idea of a character and having it fall flat on mechanics. Boost is really pretty much at it's best when it's kinda fire and forget giving a bump in power that lasts X time ala hourman or sometimes Bane, or if tied to a drain/absorb kinda deal where you power up when hit by or when 'feeding' off some power source. If it's more ambient (Like emotion) it's better represented by a complication where it's absence is the noteable state or a drawback though really complications pay off in the long run.

Elis laughed lightly at the posturing as he poked about the cooler and other supplies to see what they had to work with. He shrugged good naturedly at the loss of hte coin toss and glanced at the critics Erik referenced with a smile, "Well then you should be doubly glad we have an impartial judge now eh?" he teased lightly. He was still new to the group of friends so kept his banter light and friendly one eye going to the kids with a small wince. It hadn't turned into murder bocce at least so there was that he supposed. He looked expectantly to Erik and Richard, "Hmmm. Seems the competition is getting, Heated?" he suggested with a grin. He may not be a master of the grill but he certainly could hold his own on Dad Jokes.

Soon the rescue craft arrived to pull the passengers from their rafts and speed to shore. Some police and coast guard craft remained to sort through the remaining debris and mark where the plane had sunk and begin the long slow process of investigation. The injured were being looked to on the larger rescue boats and it seemed that for the moment at least peace had been restored to freedom city. AEGIS had already set up a base camp at the nearest harbor and the processing and debriefing of the passengers began. AEGIS of course was interested in anything the heroes could share though clearly grateful enough for the efforts of the trio they were not about to hold them if they had elsewhere to be.

So for a permanent empathy effect a super sense (Emotion Awareness maybe?) with probably ranged radius and maybe analytical to pick up on the specifics would be my suggestion rather than trying to build out of an emotions only mind reading. As for the powers themselves skip boost as raveled says it rarely works out in use. I would recommend as he suggested an array with a complication regarding the emotional states around him. Thus if there is no or not enough emotion of a type for full power he can get an HP. You might be able to get away with a source type drawback or rarely even limitation but most emotions are common enough that limitation would be a stretch and generally a complication and its HP is better than a Power Point or two for drawbacks.

Mike slumped into the couch, "Oh." He murmured, "Sorry, I, I don't do that either." he admitted wondering why people needed an app for cat porn but deciding he really didn't need to know. He patted her leg awkwardly then let out a slow breath calming his nerves after the awkward exchange. "I know that, I just." he shrugged his broad shoulders and wrapped his arms around her, "I dunno, I guess I just worry that I'm the outlier and that's normal so you wouldn't expect?" he pondered and shook his head, "It just sounded so casual and like I should and." he blushed again and blew out a long controlled breath. "I know that." he promised her, "I don't even know why I asked I was just," he hugged her tight, "Just lost again." he admitted with a rueful laugh. "So what do you want to watch?" he asked and glanced over the screen, "What's Orange is the New Black? Fashion show?"

Mike was at first quite happy that he'd happened upon so pleasing an idea. Of course he blushed a deep red and coughed on his own caught breath when she revealed the terms double meaning. "I ah, didn't uhm." he stammered and peeked down at Alex frowning at her question, "What? No!" he said full of affront at the suggestion that he would 'tumblr' as she said. He looked almost hurt at the suggestion and, "I have never, would never, tumblr anyone." he said firmly to Alex before asking gingerly, "You don't do you?" his tone uncertain and a bit shook up at her casual reference to the notorious hook up app. He calmed some as she seemed content to do what he had actually been suggesting and was a little happy she felt the desire to save them to watch with him but remained tense at the question he'd left hanging in the air. More to cover his discomfort than because of any firm opinion he nodded to her final query, "I do like it it is very nice, The couch even goes all the way up." he noted as it did not as many crest nearer the small of his back than his shoulders.

"Ok ok." Mike laughed and gave her a squeeze and gentle kiss, "No tour needed." he said easily and smiled with a flash of even white teeth, "I, uh, took a look around," He admitted with a small shrug, "And you are an awful liar." he pointed out a hint of concern in his tone though he really could not say no to her on most things so he made no effort to stand nor extract himself. He settled back into the couch comfortably with her lounging against his chest and stroked one big hand along her leg absently, "Yea I guess just not hiding is easier than whatever else." he agreed though his thoughts were still a bit in turmoil on the subject but over thinking or not he'd ruminate on it further before any drastic action. "Then I won't." he said finally with a fond smile, "I know, I'm here now though." he said apologetically knowing the absence on her was as hard as on him if not more so. "So?" he asked looking around the room, "Uh, just watch some Netflix and chill for awhile?" he asked as he tucked her cheek against his chest.

Huang started at the thunder clap and boggled at the sudden intrusion looking from his mother to Sekhmet and back in rapid succession, "Now that isn't fair." he countered sullenly patting Sets thigh in an attempt to comfort the other boy though the gesture was afterthought to his argument with his mother, "I didn't even use anyone else's blood." he pointed out archly and pointed at her, "And half the manor is hoodooed up with blood magic dad contracted so don't be all high and mighty." he barked sullenly before shaking his head and rounding on Sekhmet, "As for you." he said firmly, "Firstly he has Nothing to be ashamed of." he pointed out with a wink aimed at Set, "And secondly your prowess as huntress must be quite overstated if you needed to get my Mother to find us." he archly fired off crossing his arms to glare at each of them from his position on the couch, "We like eachother!" he shouted, "Deal with it! Because it is not. Your. Business." Normally perhaps he would be more politic but things had been gong well and they had just violated his territory his Dhampir tendencies might be showing in the aggressive aggressive approach he took.

Huang paused in his meandering pulling of staples to look incredulously upon Riley, "Ahhh," he murmured not really against the idea in concept however he had some certainty that a bathtub still was still going to set off some sort of alarm bells for the school. Taking a deep breath he offered for once a non-toothy smile, "No offense but is there a reason to do that when a fake ID can get plenty of light beer and wine coolers?" he asked carefully, "I admit some temptation for the sheer audacity but I think there are simpler ways." He shrugged however and continued pulling staples once more, "I've put out inquiries, I have access an ID and illusionary magics so." he shrugged leaving the rest unsaid, "If you go forward with it I might be able to put you in touch with interested parties but most want the watered down sweet stuff." he pointed out as few even super powered teens went for rot gut when there was hard lemonades and cocktail mixers. He turned once more, "You might talk to Anibal that new kid, his dad is big on tequila imports I hear." who knew maybe boozy talent ran on the family.

Mike nodded agreement, "Uhm. Yea yea I guess I could." he said quietly and opened his mouth concerned for a moment that was cheating and realized that was no different than her or Trevor using their big ol brains to ace a test and closed it before he could be reprimanded as such. He gave her a gentle squeeze as she settled against him and dropped his arm to curl under her own and hold her more securely on his lap as he matched her contented sigh, "No." he said with a smile, "I may not understand it all but I'm always happy to listen." he said honestly. He slowly stroked her thigh and pondered the big question that remained, would he reveal himself as she had. He knew instantly she'd think he was over thinking things with his myriad considerations of how it would affect potential school employment no less college or classmates for that matter. The simple fact was they were all only a properly worded FOIA request away from being outed. Or a timely leak. He sighed not wanting to burden her further with his concerns though doubtless the thoughts milling in his mind were no secret to her as she relaxed against him, "You're tired." he observed gently, "I should go, let you sleep." he said almost like a question as he wanted to leave no more than she wanted him to.

Mike beamed at the praise and looked away while he schooled his features not that she needed to see his face to know he had a goofy grin on it. "I do I suppose, But to be fair I have to if I'm gonna keep up." he pointed out as particularly she as well as all their friends were substantially quicker on the uptake. He stroked one hand along the soft fabric covering her outer thigh absently as he listened to her pep talk happily. He sighed contentedly, "I did." he agreed as she was not wrong. But he did always feel he was struggling because unlike many they knew he actually had to work at school to manage decent grades. "Well that is true." he agreed as to her own intellectual achievements and let his hand slide to her hip, "You are far to clever for my own good." he teased lightly and in his own way flirtily. "I suppose you're not wrong," he finally agreed and tensed slightly at her final volley, "Alright alright Ms. Smarty Pants." He joked lightly and let his fingers lightly tickle across her ribs, "I relent." he accepted in half mock defeat, "I'll look into programs." he agreed. He smiled down at her then and quirked a brow, "So what about you?" he asked quietly, "You think this is really going smooth enough you can vanish on adventures with us all again?" he asked his tone light though his question serious.

Mike tapped one of the still warm buttons and shrugged sheepishly, "Uh, yea." he admitted, "It's easier to think?" he offered weakly knowing that for Alex complaints about the constant sensory barrage of the city were a bit absurd. She had to constantly shut out the thoughts of the entire city after all. "Yea I should probably..." he frowned slightly not sure what he would wear instead, costume probably, "Well it held up well enough this time and I wanted to," he paused feeling slightly embarrassed, "You always liked this shirt." he mumbled and shook it off quickly to change subjects. "Yea it's not the money or keeping busy it's the people and not just being like Phalanx all the time." he mused aloud. He wrapped an arm around Alex and pulled her more fully into his lap leaning his cheek against her forehead, "Remember Darkstar?" he asked quietly, "Summers set up a thing, we used to talk about the whole hero side of things." he explained evenly, "He was always afraid he would miss something not be there, he didn't usually let it show and he said he found ways to balance." Mike said going quiet, "He vanished a few years ago. Freedom League states to deal with some galactic threat." Mike explained uncertainly, "but between the lines theres this feeling that he lost touch with why and just got caught up in the action and none of the reason." the invulnerable young man suggested with concern, "I don't want that." he declared firmly, "I can't just be Phalanx you know? I need this." he patted her gently ans smiled and looked out the window despite the drawn shades, "All of that too." he offered with a sigh, "Need to remember the reason and the ways I do help not just the big saves." He shook his head as if clearing cobwebs and frowned down at Alex, "Sorry I, uh, I've been thinking alot about things and not really tried to put it in words." he apologized for his rambling. He thought for a moment as he picked up the threads of her last words, "Teacher?" he asked incredulously, "You remember I am like awful at school right?" he asked teasingly with a small smile at the half joke though she had a point, just working with people would be what he wanted after all, but teaching, school, that was daunting in a way that thugs with anti tank weaponry just wasn't.

"Well I know I'll lose the word games." Mike teased back gently, "But regardless of couldn't or divergent or what not it should have been a conversation not just me doing my thing." he laid out plainly. "But thank you." he added appreciating her verbalizing the forgiveness. "You have been, very." he agreed and leaned in to press his lips to hers in a soft but passionate kiss. "More so than I may deserve but I'll accept it." he joked happily. He offered a small shrug as he withdrew a hint of smile on his lips, "Well I don't think I want to wait that long." he pointed out with a low hearty laugh, "Just for the right," he shrugged, "Moment? I dunno it's probably just dumb but I'm glad you understand." he admitted with a small blush. He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled thoughtfully, "So." he mused quietly, "Since we've agreed you can tell me what you think without it just dictating what I should do." he joked nervously and sobered as he asked, "I did want to ask you about going forward." he said simply, "I mean I'm really happy to be working with Erin and Mark and Trevor again and everything." he said uncertainly, "But I'm not sure I can just be like a hero for a living?" he bit his lip slightly, "I mean," he looked to her and smiled, "I know money isn't really an issue." he acknowledged with a palm raised to halt the expected protest, "But I dunno, I," he thought hard for a long moment, "Can we really help people, the world, if we're not part of it?" he asked still struggling to put to words his thoughts on what to do with himself now.

Mike shook his head slightly at her protest, "For some it isn't for me it was." He countered not letting her minimize it. "Sure if my decision was mine alone it wouldn't have been." he said flatly looking down at her with a gentle smile. He looked away at the fine furnishings and gestured with his free hand, "When you decided to do all this you told me." he argued evenly, "You even tried to explain the repercussions to me despite me not wanting to hear them." he added with a laugh and leaned down to rest his head against hers, "You left me a choice of how much a part of this I wanted to be." he shook his head and frowned letting out a big sigh, "Me?" he pointed out with a frank tone, "I asked you to marry me and then proceeded to go off on this track you couldn't follow." he looked down ashamed, "So I know it is belated, and you probably forgave me the moment I did it." he explained firmly, "But I am sorry, I should not have put you in that situation." The big man sunk back into the couch relaxing at her touch and her words smiling at the drape of her leg across his own. He ran one powerful hand along her calf and breathed slow and deep enjoying the still moment. His head swung to meet her eyes and he nodded, "I am and you can, and you underestimate how much of me following your lead is because I love and trust you and how much is because you are right." he teased with a happy laugh. At her more brazen words of her own desires and his opposition to them he blushed slightly looking away. "I know." he said quietly, "It's not the wedding, I know that's just words and frankly an announcement of a forgone conclusion." he admitted as their parents had assumed they would marry since they were nine, he blushed deeper at the recollection of the several times his mother had tried to pass along family planning advice or prophylactics under the assumption they already were intimate in fact. "I want it to be something special, not just the inevitable outcome but," he shrugged, "Maybe I am just old fashioned I don't know. I just don't want to feel like that's the finish line in some absurd race." he sagged his shoulders and peeked at her from the corner of his eye, "You're more than that to me and that's the only way I know to show it I guess."

I think I'll just call it here and leave the authorities to clean up and investigate.

At Phantasmos revelation a member of STAR Squad approached plucking the card from the zombies hand with a frown and tucked it into an evidence bag, "We'll take it from here gentlemen." he said flatly as he continued the FCPD canned response, "The city appreciates your efforts on its behalf." he said finally and moved on to examine the lock mechanism. Moments later an AEGIS agent in a black suit approached and dismissed the heroes, "You all be sure to leave a statement with our officers outside." he said in a tone of false friendliness as he rounded on the STAR squad investigator, "AEGIS will be leading this investigation, it may be related to an ongoing case." he ordered firmly bracing himself for the pushback that was inevitably coming. Smart money was on AEGIS getting the scene but the wise would likely not want to be caught in the fall out of the jurisdictional squabble.

Kids flying alone is not super common but far from unheard of. Separated parents, single parents, etc often don't have resources to travel with the child but the child still needs to travel (to see other parent or stay with grandparents or vice versa). His boarding pass etc looks to be in order and as I mentioned the flight attendant is keeping an eye on him and has vouched for him boarding etc. so it's not as if he just appeared on the plane.

You're actually at two as you also got one for the sabotage of the plane. 22 will spot the pilots hat among one of the rafts it is being worn by a young child, perhaps eight or nine, who has no recollection of who gave him the hat if asked but it was someone as they were getting off? He's flying alone and holding hands with the remaining conscious flight attendant who didn't see anything either and assumed it had been passed off before everything as sometimes pilots do that for solo fliers to make them feel less nervous.

With a shrug of his shoulders Mike stooped though the door though the lintel was more than high enough to allow him to pass unfettered. His smile at her approach and response was glowing and he murmured a quiet, "I know and about many things." as he scooped her up in a hug that lingered for a good measure past friendly. He nuzzled his nose softly against her cheek to plant a delicate kiss whispering, "I did." in her ear before walking her across the room to set her gently on the couch and sit next to her one arm up as he turned slightly to better face her. "Hey." he greeted belatedly and somewhat nervously, "I worked out a lot I think." he said with a vague smile aimed her direction, "Certainly that you knew what would happen probably from when I first mentioned that fool plan." he offered meeting her eyes briefly as he confirmed, "Not so much why you didn't stop me, though I have theories, and definitely not why I didn't." he admitted with a rueful laugh. Mike paused and took a deep breath looking to her earnestly, "I'm sorry." he offered in heartfelt apology, "I thought of a million things to try and make it up or explain or..." The big man shrugged his broad shoulders and shook his head, "I can't I know that, But I am sorry and hope you forgive my selfishness."

It had been over a week since the events that had ended Mikes brief life as a police officer and risked outing him to the world. The press firestorm had died to a bare simmer, the FCPD had promised that they had not begun utilizing empowered officers and that the Officer in question had been relieved of duty. Details of course were sparse. A leak released named hte officer Matthew Bright but the identity was an obvious pseudonym once the press dug into it. Just enough to scrape by a police screening but no life behind it. The mystery of it all was already dying in the hearts and minds of the populace. A few officers grumbled about wishing they had a few more like him, others about the subterfuge to get as far as he had. The official line stood and the mainstream media moved on. Oh there were fringe groups and devoted bloggers still hunting to be sure but widespread interest was fleeting, he was no Centurion dazzling the world with his appearance. Heroes revealed were not the shock they once were. Mike had hid out through the worst of it with Erin and Trevor at the Manor. Between the isolated and unlikely locale and manors defenses it wasn't hard to ensure he was able to retreat from it all. Even in that short time much had changed of course. Decisions had been made, changes, big ones. But there were things left undone, unsaid, if he was honest avoided. He floated weightless amid the quiet of the upper atmosphere somewhere between Low Orbit and the ceiling of winged flight. He'd been a fool for thinking it would end any different than it had, there had been plenty of prodding hints by his friends to that end but he'd be stalwart, stubborn really. The silence was peaceful, below there was the hustle and bustle of the cities and countryside, the noise and light of humanity going about their days. The silence and peace called to him in a way, it was easy here to get lost in that endless stillness. Here it was simple, but simple wasn't really what he sought. He knew that now. Down below there were people that deserved more from him. One in particular. He rolled and descended from his lonely perch a smile creeping to his lips as he broke the sound barrier and shot toward the surface. Freedom city grew bright like a beacon below him as he flew down the noise returned the rushing of wind the squeal of tires the shouts of passion and rage and sirens and cheers. The sounds of home. He alighted on the balcony of one of the high apartments in the Aeon building. One he knew well though always observed from a distance, he'd lied to himself for her safety and comfort. His footfalls were solid though he tried not to startle anyone as he peered through the window, and curtains to ensure she was alone. A small rap on the sliding door was accompanied by a delicate mental request, plaintive and apologetic, Alex?

Huang seemed nearly as baffled by Rileys befuddlement as the woodsman was of Huangs own sentiments. A world where the Prince was not bedtime story material was strange indeed. He dismissed it however as the kids instincts seemed good enough. Huang chuckled lightly to himself, "Lots of people." he said eying Riley with mirth dancing in his eyes, "But it sounds like you're asking if I know anyone who can hook you up?" he inquired with a curious lilt to his voice pausing for a long moment consideringly, "I think I can set something up." he said slowly, "However. You might have experiance." he said though it sounded almost like a question, "But if your party guests don't it can get ugly." he mused aloud, "What you have planned?" He asked curiously. He really wasn't sure just how bad an idea this was but the idea of Fred on alcohol was both hilarious and terrifying and he was pretty sure Robin could get as much booze as she wanted, which might be none granted, so Riley and Matt? could be. Regardless Huang kinda wanted to see what went down when Claremont got lit up.

Initiative! 1d20+3 = 17 tech is for his Nerd cousins!