alderwitch

"Now those will take a great deal more thought. You have all your standard rules, I assume, no innocents involved, nothing that results in any major damage to any objects - which I might point out, I have never crossed - and nothing that ties up any sort of emergency services." Bombshell smiled and feathered her thumb over the other woman's cheek bone as she added teasingly, "Did I forget any of the commandments this time?"

"I would like to debate the innocent bystander accusation. She's very good, you know, I would really have to work to get free. It would be a significant challenge." Bombshell pointed out, lightly tapping the coil around her midsection. She turned guiless blue eyes to Scarab and focused carefully on letting the telepath into her thoughts, 'Of course I didn't. I lied. A skill you loathe but a handy one nonetheless' "I'm afraid I didn't catch her name or I'd make introductions. Forgive my rudeness but there was a rousing debate." She glanced to Fusion and flashed a quick smile, "What is your name, my dear?"

For once, Bombshell had no ready quip or dismissive smirk at the ready. Instead she sighed softly and reached out to touch Elena's cheek with gloved fingertips, "Darling, I was a thief and a spy and a soldier. You've lived long enough to know that doing those actions for Queen and Country make them no less ignoble in the end. It was a very bloody war and any edge we could exploit, we did. I prefer petty to blood soaked any day of the week." It was as serious and somber as any version of the Scarab had ever seen. After a moment, that glimpse vanished and Bombshell's wicked smile replaced it, "So, perhaps. How about a wager, then? One last toss of the dice? You win and I'll go clean, dust off the halo and all that."

"Not... exactly," Bombshell temporized, her tone almost appologetic. "It isn't so much about her stealing your bust as I really do need to speak with the Scarab and I rather need to borrow your brain to do it." Bombshell gave her a brilliant smile and patted the tentacle one more time. "I thought the whole Egyptian museum would be enough but sometimes the plan takes a little time to fall into place. You did do very well, by the way. Aces all around."

"See, this is why I never mention my birthday. Never call a lady old, darling, its unkind," Bombshell teased, poking Elena's armoured side. She went back to tracing her fingertips over the familiar red and gold patterns after a moment. "No, neither nostalgic or old, really. Bored. Don't laugh, but I think I might be having a mid-immortality crisis." She said it flippantly, but there was a thread of definate emotion under her usual layers of misidirection and obfuscation. Bombshell smiled and continued on, "Some of my exploits were declassified so I had my very own corner of an exhibit. It was... hmm... strange."

"Oh, please," Bombshell laughed, "You're just indulging in the very same virgin-whore dichotomy as the patriarchy you rail against. That sort of behavior of cat calls and nudey magazines only reflects on the men who indulge in that sort of behavior. Owning my sexuality and wearing short skirts and painting my nails isn't giving in to The Man. I'll dress however I choose to dress, thank you very much, without needing your permission or anyone else's." Bombshell had a smile on her lips, her head tilted to the side as she enjoyed the rousing debate. Then she sighed as she realized she'd have to change the subject, "Oh, well, while that sounds like a very fun evening indeed, do you suppose you could do me the teensiest favor of thinking about the Scarab instead? I really do have plans to keep."

Bombshell leaned into the armoured side that Elena provided, her sigh puffing out into a little breathless sort of laugh. Her hand fell easily on Elena's knee in return and she didn't answer right away. Instead she laughed a little longer and teased, "This reincarnation is a little cheeky, I think. Careful, or I'll peel all of that staid and stuffy shell off entirely. Shock the entire world, and all that." She smiled and slid her fingertips over the shining armor plates. Her voice was quiet in the evening air. "Saw Ace this week at the Allies of Freedom exhibit and it's left me a bit maudlin, I think."

"I think, love, that you might have some serious unresolved anger issues." Bombshell glanced down as she started to feel a little like Fay Wraye. "I would like to point out that we helped lay the foundation for the sexual revolution. The first women to get around in trousers were the women of my generation. Bad girls pushed the envelope and the heroes followed. So I happen to use my sexuality, but do you think the men don't? I also use my brains and the sort of physical skills a star athlete would be proud of. I'm no asexual wilting virgin nor would I want to be." Bombshell glanced around and tapped the tentacle politely, "Where, may I ask, are you taking me?"

"No more than it occurs to you to talk aloud rather than telepathically. You can do it... but why would you?" Bombshell said from where she was sitting. Like a cat, she was curled up as high as she could get and still have a comfortable perch. She was in costume, mask still on and booted foot dangling over the epic drop idly, "Besides, then we would be talking inside and I know where those chats end up. As fun as that is, our rooftop conversations are more productive."

Bombshell repressed the desire to leap out of the way and watched the tentacles lash around her waist and ankles with an oddly dispassionate sort of curiosity. "Oh, but its banter. You have to banter or really, what's the point of wearing a costume if not the need for panache. Would you rather I make tentacle jokes, because I think that's just gouche." Bombshell rested her folded arms on the coil around her waist and her chin in that hand. "And I absolutely refuse to do maniacal laughter. It grates on the nerves."

"No, this is actually a rather quiet day," Phantom said honestly, having not even lifted a finger yet. In her book, that was a good day. Her pale lips curved a faint smile below the shadow of her mask, "You owe me no appology, angel. I would remind both of you, however, that the mortals of this plane retain their right to free will. Your loyalty speaks well of the choices of those you each call master but remember well that you can guide, not enforce. They remain free to chose, even if that choice might be a poor one."

Well, that was unexpected. Under forty-five seconds too. Not half bad... Bombshell uncoiled from her seat and gave the super hero an appraising once over, "Well done, you've stopped my nefarious scheme and saved the day. I congratulate you, I'd applaud but I find its better not to get my wrists too close together when someone might have a pair of handcuffs hidden about. Although... that could be fun too." Bombshell gave a slow and sultry sort of smile as she prowled down the steps and closer to the tentacled titan.

OOC. Need to find out when exactly this happens but sometime in july

After a few false starts and emergencies, the stars had finally aligned! There was a babysitter watching Jack Jr. and neither Jack nor Taylor were called away (yet, at least) to attend to an emergency of either mundane or mystical nature. Of course, Jack still had his usual amount of work to get done, and Taylor had lingered to make sure that the baby was set with everything necessary and probably several things that weren't. On a whim, Taylor had suggested meeting up at the after-hours Observation lounge of Pyramid Plaza. It wasn't until she was dressing to meet Jack that she realized it had almost been a year to the day from the first time she'd met him there. Her lips quirked in a playful smile and, after saying her good-byes, put the extra effort in to port in behind Jack and appear quietly out of the shadows. "Hands where I can see them, hero..." She demanded, laughter in her voice.

Bombshell/Scarab. The prologue to an exciting two-parter!

Bombshell was bored. Bored, bored, bored. Which made her dangerous. After a chat with Ace Danger and a visit to the veteran's exhibit with him, she was feeling the weight of her many years even more than usual. So, she was swinging aimlessly across the city when she caught the glittering spires of Pyramid Plaza. A faint and reluctant smile curved her lips and she altered her course. A short while later, Bombshell was dangling upside down outside of Elena's penthouse window. She tapped on it a few times to get the attention of the occupant. See, that was polite, wasn't it? Breaking in would probably have made Elena cranky. She was relatively certain that she could have gotten around that but she actually wanted to talk for a little bit. When she thought Elena had at least caught sight of her out of the corner of her eye, Bombshell slipped back up the line, heading for the roof.

Part one! <.< For Fusion, the Scarab and whoever else gets called in by them.

Sneaking into the museum late at night was a piece of cake. Bombshell slithered down through the skylight after carefully cutting it open. She hung suspended at the edge of the rope before working her legs back and forth to get some momentum. She flipped through the air, sliding through the laser trip wires and landed lightly on top of the edge of the case containing the bust of some long dead Egyptian Queen. She remained poised for a moment, rising carefully to the tips of her toes before backflipping off of it and onto the sarcophagus the next exhibit. Flipping and leaping, she made it across without touching the floor. Idly, she took in the necklace at the far end. Pretty. Priceless. Perfect. Just to prove she could, Bombshell went to the trouble of disabling the alarms and the trip wires and pulled it out of the case to admire it. With a sigh of genuine reluctance, she put it back in the case and reattached the alarms. "Sorry for the ham-fisted antics, but I'm afraid I'm in a bit of a rush." Bombshell spoke to the museum at large and the necklace in specifics before she hauled one arm back and smashed the glass around it with her elbow. Alarms went off and gates started to slam shut all over the museum. Whistling, Bombshell pulled herself up on to the edge of one throne, perching on the ancient arm of it, her arms looped around one leg as she waited for the capes and cowls set.

[floatr][/floatr] Player Name: Alderwitch Power Level: 11 (161/164PP) Trade-Offs: None Unspent PP: 3 Progress to Gold: 14/90 (Silver status earned by Phantom and Psyche) Character Name: Bombshell Alternate Identity: Natalya Browning, Rebecca Danvers Height: 5'6" Weight: 135 lbs. Hair: Honey Blonde Eyes: Blue Description: A curvy bombshell, for lack of better term. Talya didn't look out of place as a sultry songbird in the 1940s. In fact, low end lounge singer was her cover for much of the war years. These days, she's only average in height but in her hey-day she was considered statuesque. Talya always makes the effort to blend in with the current decade. In the '40s she did femme fatale. In the '60s it was go-go boots and micro-minis. These days, while swinging from lines across Freedom City, she favors a leather cat-suit and domino mask. In any era, however, she is a stunning woman with a smokey voice and a rare wry wit. History: Bombshell started out hero. Born in England to an upper-class family, when the war arrived, Talya was quick to head overseas with her group of friends to serve as a spy. Mental training helped her shield her thoughts and presence from the Nazis. They were even lucky enough to break into a cache of one of the mystical artifacts that was one of the secret weapons. In the ensuing explosion, all four Brits were gifted with eternal life and minor protection. For Talya, she left the war and gave into her thrill-seeking ways, becoming a pre-eminant thief. She abandoned war-torn England for the prosperous US. Still slightly bitter at how her country had been decimated while America thrived, she had no moral qualms with helping herself to that bounty. She only stole artifacts that were not native to the Americas. Never anything as gauche as money. She favored ancient jewelry but any British artifact would do. She clashed with Freedom League greatly during the '60s, enjoying a special game of cat and mouse with the Scarab as her training helped her remain elusive to his senses. When her old "friends" showed back up, Talya was quick to catch up for old times sake. Unfortunately, they had grown far darker than Bombshell was willing to go. She was a thief but never a killer. In fact, Talya worked with the Freedom League to turn on her old friends in exchange for a minimum sentence. Twenty-five years instead of the life terms the others got. She didn't intend to stay in prison but when Scarab died a few months after her sentence began, she changed her mind. No one knew she was unaging. She'd kept that secret carefully. Instead, she's been biding her time and using her disguise skills to look more fragile with the years. She's been paroled an elderly little old lady but no one realizes that Bombshell's about to break out on the scene of Freedom once again. Personality & Motivation: Bombshell has always been chaotic, never evil. Although she stole and broke many laws but she's always had her own own moral code. She might even end up working with a hero now and again if her morals align for the situation. She will, not, however play by a hero's rules. She won't kill or cause harm to innocents. Afflicted by moral ennui, she's about to embark on a heel-face turn. Once the threads for those finish, Bombshell will be much more in line with her golden age morals. A spy for the good guys, and struggling to not get assumed to have slipped back to her felonious habits. Powers & Tactics: Bombshell will do her best to cut and run from most conflicts. She's not interested in exchanging blows with meat-heads and considers it a win if she gets away. She prefers, when she has to fight, to strike from stealth and distract or taunt her opponent. She fights with her head but the years have left her a skilled hand-to-hand combatant, plus the magic that imbued her with immortality increases her hand to hand damage. Complications: Hands Off The Cape: Tayla's got just the tiniest obsession for The Scarab. It leads her to do stupid things. I Got A Record: In her long life, Talya's done lots of things and not all of them on the side of angels. I'm Just Drawn That Way: Femme fatale means having to say you're sorry. A lot. Pretty Baubles: She has a bit of a thing for the glitz and glamour. Wrong Place, Wrong Time: Sometimes the cops assume that she's there to commit a crime, not solve one. Abilities: 0 + 14 + 4 + 4 + 6 + 14 = 42PP Strength: 10 (+0) Dexterity: 24 (+7) Constitution: 14 (+2) Intelligence: 14 (+2) Wisdom: 16 (+3) Charisma: 24 (+7) Combat: 8 + 8 = 16PP Attack: +4 Base, +9 Melee Grapple: +16 (+9 Melee Attack, +7 Dex) Defense: +9 (+4 Base, +5 Dodge Focus), +2 Flat-Footed Knockback: -5, -2 Flat-footed Initiative: +7 Saving Throws: 0 + 1 + 5 = 6PP Toughness: +9 (+2 Con, +3 Protection, +4 Defensive Roll), +5 Flat-Footed Fortitude: +2 (+2 Con, +0) Reflex: +8 (+7 Dex, +1) Will: +8 (+3 Wis, +5) Skills: 124R = 31PP Acrobatics 13 (+20) Bluff 13 (+20) Disable Device 11 (+15) Disguise 13 (+20) Escape Artist 13 (+20) Gather Information 3 (+10) Investigate 6 (+10) Language 4 (English [Native], French, German, Polish, Russian) Notice 7 (+10) Perform (singing) 5 (+12) Search 6 (+10) Sense Motive 7 (+10) Slight of Hand 8 (+15) Stealth 15 (+22) Feats:: 27PP Acrobatic Climber Attack Focus (Melee) 5 Blindfight Defensive Roll 2 (+4 Toughness) Dodge Focus 5 Evasion Fascinate (Bluff) Grapple Finnesse Hide In Plain Sight Improvised Tools Jack of All Trades Quick Change 2 Second Chance (Stealth) Skill Mastery 2 (Acrobatics, Disable Device, Disguise, Escape Artist, Gather Information, Notice, Search, Stealth) Sneak Attack Uncanny Dodge (Audio) Powers: 7 + 1 + 6 + 9 + 3 + 9 + 4 = 39PP Concealment 3 (ESP, Mental Senses, Feats: Selective) (Training) [7PP] Immunity 1 (Aging) (Magic) [1PP] Immunity 10 (Mental Effects, Feats: Selective, Flaws: Limited [1/2 Effect]) (Magic) [6PP] Strike 8 (PF: Subtle) (Magic) [9PP] Protection 3 (Magic) [3PP] Regeneration 9 (Bruised 1/round w/out rest, Staggered 4 [1/round], Resurrection 1/day) [9pp] Super-Movement 2 (Slow Fall, Swinging) (Training) [4PP] Drawbacks: 0PP [None] DC Block: ATTACKS: SAVE DC: DAMAGE TYPE: (Name of Attack) (Save DC/Type) (Type of Damage: Bruise/Injury, or other) Unarmed ------ 15(17*)/Toughness ------ Bruise/Staged Strike ------ 23(25*)/Toughness ------ Bruise/Staged *Sneak Attack Abilities (42) + Combat (16) + Saving Throws (6) + Skills (31) + Feats (27) + Powers (39) - Drawbacks (0) = 161/164 Power Points

How about the first weekend in July after the holiday?

"Yes, and its a single position, not a group, sadly. I'd be a lot less harried if there was about a dozen of me floating around but alas, I am the only Chosen of Heshem at the moment." Phantom replied in conversational tones as her cloak continued to writhe. She gave the hammer a disapproving look and continued to focus on the two arguing super heroes. "It's unlikely. He's not in the dimension at the moment. Although we do have a Greek goddess in the city but hopefully she's currently behaving herself." Phantom linked her fingers together and idly wondered how long it would be before someone decided to take things to next level and she could interfere. The sooner it happened, the sooner she could go home!

It was rare that Taylor took out someone that was just working the kinks out of their mystical powers at this point in her life. Most of the time, she was just too busy. But Stesha was as good a friend as she'd ever really had so of course she took time to help out with a new found ability. Especially when this sort of ability was something you really, really wanted a safety net on. "Okay, so, I'm not sure how your magic is going to do this. I pop through the Void to dimension skip but it's all, sort of, innate. I mean, I know where I'm going but the process is sort of instinctive, so I'm really not sure how to pass that on. Fortunately, your magic is pretty instinctive too so at least we're working off of the same principles. This would be a lot harder if you were Hermetic," Taylor said to Stesha as they stood out in a park and in front of a small cluster of plants.

Bombshell managed to look comfortable in the tight confines, a slight smile curving her bright red lips. She didn't squirm away from Moira's deliberate brushes and neither did she return them, although her gaze slid down the goddess's body with appreciation. She dutifully held the woman's bag, hefting it lightly, and looked bemused. It wasn't often someone handed their possessions to a thief to hold. She cocked her head at Freedom Angel's voice without looking away from Divine, and purred up at him, "Don't worry, feathers, we're just fine. I was showing your lovely lady friend a... short cut. Why don't you come down and meet us in the gallery?" She let the words hang and then scooted around Moira to pop the screws on the air-vent down into the scene of the crime. Again, she held it open for the super hero. "I doubt it would be nearly so entertaining, but I'm always happy to give a lesson or two in the art of the quick change."

"Well, I think so. I mean, he'll eat milk or, uhm, blood with equal contentment but we don't really know if its just that he actually needs both or if its an either or sort of thing. There's not a lot out there for research. He's pretty unique," she smiled down at the happy baby before looking back up to her uncle, "So, we're sort of just playing by ear on things until we know exactly what he needs. We've got a good doctor although he's a little mad scientist, you know."

Bombshell laughed and laughed, drawing a few appreciative glances as she patted his arm, "We all have a little pettiness in us, love. It's just a matter of being able to draw it out. In that, I must say, you are most certainly the master." Her heels clicked on the floor and she smirked at him, drawing him towards the case highlighting his own exploits. "How could it not, you are THE Ace Danger, after all. Or perhaps its that heart of gold that I keep hidden away and only bring out to save kittens and orphans."