alderwitch

Taylor gave Jack a wary look at his broad grin. Jack was still good at hiding things from his perceptive wife but Taylor had some of his mannerisms down at this point. That display of even white teeth, grin or no, was enough to have her shooting him a questioning look. Oh, she was probably going to suffer for that laughter later. At the moment, she was a bit more concerned for Erin. "Honey," Taylor murmured as he leaned in to her cheek, "Play nice. She's still a kid."

Taylor couldn't manage not to laugh at Erin's question. Her straight and generally somber face cracked into a broad grin and she laughed until she was almost tearing up, trying to stifle it the whole time. She just knew she was getting a dirty look from *somewhere* in the room. If she was really lucky, Jack had wandered off and wasn't scowling at his wife who was likely going to come up with a theme song for 'Vampireman'. With some real struggling, Taylor managed to contain herself into some thing resembling composure but her lips still twitched occasionally like she was repressing another episode. "No, he's not like Geckoman." Although if he ever needed another new costume.... Picturing Jack running around with a giant 'V' and a Vampiremobile made Taylor's lips twitch once more and she cleared her throat. "He's much more, ah, the real thing."

Psyche blinked a little at the question and then gave another sunny smile, "I just helped fixed it up. Its a family thing. But, if we'd had to build it from scratch, we could have. We have a speedster or two on the team. A lot of the upgrades are mine, however. Feel free to give her the tour if you'd like, Wander. Can I get you something to eat? And you need a place to stay? What sort of place?" Psyche cheerfully chatted at the woman as she led the way back over to the large computer screen console. There were about a half dozen large screens all hanging on a giant display with a huge console below and a few comfortable rolling chairs. "Like a secret lair or like, you know, an apartment?"

"Which guy was yelling at my husband about being a vampire?" Taylor looked both honestly surprised and more than a little affronted at the idea. She glanced to the corner of the room automatically like she was looking for someone and then shook her head a little. She twisted that ring on her finger again and temporized, displaying that for all the many things that she was quite good at, covering wasn't one of them. "Ah, maybe. That might have upset someone, yes. There's a lot of heroes that have issues with the undead and its not uncommon for that to cause a ripple or two for us." When she said 'ripple or two' it sounded a good deal like 'bloody and somewhat epic battle'. Taylor tilted her head to the side and blinked once before glancing off to the side again, murmuring, "Yes, I can see how that would be a problem."

"Dynamo, got it." Alex said with a little nod. She'd go find him and have a bit of a chat. Because that was the kind of friend Alex was. She didn't say more because the last thing she wanted to do was make Erin uncomfortable. Instead she sat up on the floor and looped her arms around her knees and listened intently, watching Erin's face with her too perceptive eyes as Erin talked about the date, "That's great, Erin! That's really great!" And when Alex said that it was great, it didn't come out like it was great that Erin was doing normal things that Dr. Marquez would have been proud of. She said that it was great like a friend who was really happy that someone else had discovered what an awesome person Erin was. "It'll be fun! What do you think you'll wear? Something bright! And bold!" Although hopefully she wouldn't actually listen to Alex on clothing choices.

Bombshell edit request [b]Players Name[/b]: alderwitch [b]Power Level[/b]: 10 (150/150 pp) [b]Trade-Offs[/b]: 0/0 [b]Unspent PP[/b]: 0 [b]Characters Name[/b]: Bombshell [b]Alternate Identity[/b]: Natalya Browning (aka Rebecca Danvers) [b]Height[/b]: 5' 6" [b]Weight[/b]: 135 lbs [b]Hair[/b]: Honey Blonde [b]Eyes[/b]: Blue [b][u]Description[/u][/b]: 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 accross 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. [b][u]History[/u][/b]: 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 sheild 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 theif. 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 sentance 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. [b][u]Personality & Motivation[/u][/b]: Bombshell is chaotic, not evil. She'll steal and break most laws but lives by her 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. She's still liberating British artifacts as its become something of her 'thing' now, but the years have mellowed her patriotic streak somewhat. [b][u]Powers & Tactics[/u][/b]: 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. [b][u]Stats[/u][/b]: (0+14+4+4+6+14=42pp) [b]Str[/b]: 10 (+0) [b]Dex[/b]: 24 (+7) [b]Con[/b]: 14 (+2) [b]Int[/b]: 14 (+2) [b]Wis[/b]: 16 (+3) [b]Cha[/b]: 24 (+7) [b][u]Combat[/u][/b]: (10+10=20pp) [b]Attack[/b]: +9 (+5, +4 Attack Focus) [b]Grapple[/b]: +16 (+9 Attack Bonus, +7 Dex (Grappling Finesse) [b]Defense[/b]: +9 (+5, Dodge Focus +4) [b]Knockback[/b]: +0 [b]Initiative[/b]: +7 [b][u]Saves[/u][/b]: (1+5=6pp) [b]Toughness[/b]: +10 (+2 Con, +3 Protection, +5 Defensive Roll) [b]Fort[/b]: +2 (+0, +2 Con) [b]Reflex[/b]: +8 (+1, +7 Dex) [b]Will[/b]: +8 (+5, +3 Wis) [b][u]Skills[/u][/b]: (112r = 28pp) 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 (German, French, Polish, Russian) Notice 7 (+10) Perform 5 (+12) Search 6 (+10) Sense Motive 7 (+10) Slight of Hand 8 (+15) Stealth 15 (+22) [b][u]Feats[/u][/b]: (25 = 25 pp) Attack Focus x 4 (Melee) Defensive Roll x 5 Dodge Focus x 4 Beginner's Luck Blindfight Evasion Fascinate (Bluff) Grappling Finnesse Hide in Plain Sight Jack of All Trades Quick Change x 2 Second Chance (Stealth) Skill Mastery x 2 (Stealth, Disable Device, Notice, Search, Escape Artist, Gather Information, Disguise, Acrobatics) Sneak Attack Uncanny Dodge [b][u]Powers[/u][/b]: (27 pp) [b]Concealment 2[/b] (ESP, Mental Senses; PF: Selective) [5 PP] [b]Immunity[/b] (Aging, Mental (half, selective)) [7 PP] [b]Strike 8[/b] [8 PP] [b]Protection 3[/b] [3 PP] [b]Slow Fall[/b] (Super Movement) [2 PP] [b]Swinging [/b][2 PP] [b][u]DC Block[/u][/b]: [u][b]ATTACKS: SAVE DC: DAMAGE TYPE:[/b][/u] (Name of Attack) (Save DC/Type) (Type of Damage: Bruise/Injury, or other) Unarmed ------ 23/Toughness ------ Bruise/Staged Sneak Attack - 25/Toughness ------ Bruise/Staged DONE BY SHAENTHEBRAIN

Taylor hesitated, folding her fingertips together and twisting her rings on her hand. It was a nervous habit. This was the part of the interview that weighed the most on Taylor's thoughts as she didn't want the kids to be unprepared but working up to 'his dad is a vampire and the baby bites' was a conversational tap dance that she really wished she didn't have to manage. "Both. Due to the... nature of who his parents are, he's got a few quirks. He's not *entirely* human and that provides its own challenges. Not to mention that active work over the years has left us with no small list of enemies. Our home is very well protected but we both feel more comfortable with as many lines of defense as possible." Taylor's voice was very firm on that part, recovering from her brief wobble when circling the subject of the baby's nature. "How do you feel about traditional fairy tale monsters. Witches, demons... vampires?"

For Divine and Freedom Angel. And comical hijinks.

When Bombshell wasn't actively engaged in causing a bit of good natured havoc for the crime fighters of Freedom City - which thanks to Scarab's intervention in trying to keep her reigned in lately was often these days - she actually had a good many hobbies that she enjoyed pursuing. One of the advantages in keeping Freedom City as her home was the many museums the town boasted. Back in the day, she'd spent her time casing them and waiting for a good opportunity to add to her 'private collection'. Today, there was a fantastic exhibit on Greco-Roman artifacts that she was perusing as any other patron would. She drew a few appreciative looks in her belted trench coat and dark glasses. Okay, she was dressed like a film noir spy but some habits just died hard. Unfortunately - and she would kick herself later - she was enjoying the casual stroll through the museum too much to notice the heist in progress until it was already in progress. As the alarms rang out and people started scurrying for the exits, Natalya pursed her lips and frowned as she evaluated the robbery in progress much as she had been evaluating the artwork and with the same sort of discerning eye. Amateurs. Rank amateurs. As the true robbers fled with their ill gotten gains, she ducked into a bathroom and seconds later, the incomparable Bombshell was wiggling her way out of the museum's air vents and out onto the roof. Like she wanted to stick around and answer questions by the police. She really didn't want to stretch her new identity quite that much, thank you.

"He's two months old now," Taylor said with all the pride of any new mother and looked on the verge of pulling out a stack of pictures before she shook herself and focused on the task at hand. She did notice the discomfort but hoped that it wasn't the whole vampire thing. That would be a big check in the no column as Jack Jr. despite rather constant efforts hadn't managed to mask his predatory leanings. Apparently baby fangs didn't retract. Or if they did, neither parent had figured out how to coax that response out of the baby. Taylor shook her head slightly, shaking off her mental musings and gestured to the chair, "He's a very easy baby and it would just be for a few hours at a stretch. He's still nursing so I don't ever go very far for very long. So, I've got a few questions to ask and as you can probably guess, we've got some... ah, special needs with a baby sitter."

Alex frowned, her expression creasing in dissapproval. "What speedster is that?" she asked intending to have a little chat with the individual in question. She made a mental note and beamed. "What kind of date? And with who?"

Taylor blinked and stood up to shake Erin's hand. She was shorter even than Erin's roommate, having to tilt her chin up to keep eye contact. She returned the smile reflexively, her cheeks dimpling, as she tilted her head to the side placing the young woman. "Wander, right?" Taylor asked to confirm. "My real name is Taylor Faretti. We are indeed looking. A... special sort of babysitter. Our son was born in April. Although, I don't think you've met my husband, Jack."

Alex and Erin, in their dorm rooms.

Alex was actually in the room they shared for once. Her hair was damp and loose around her shoulders and she was dressed for bed in a light tanktop and shorts, both in clashy neon bright colors. She smiled at Erin and plopped herself down on the bed. "Things are going real well. I finally locked down a CEO to take over now that operations are getting larger. So hopefully I'll be around a little more. How's things here?" She flopped down on the loose pillows scattered on the rug, and looked up at Erin with wide and bright eyes.

Open to any Claremont student that is interested in a babysitting gig (boys or girls!) If you wanna have an interview, just drop a note here and we'll do em one at a time.

"I just want to be able to go out for a night and not worry that the baby's going to turn the babysitter into a nighttime snack!" These are the sort of topics of discussion in the Faretti household these days. To be fair, little Jack Jr. was still a long way from being able to drain a whole human accidentally but Taylor was starting to grow worried for his little cousins. It was a long term view, really, but it didn't make her less adamant. After exhausting a few avenues of contacts, she'd remembered Claremont and after some spousal debate, a rather odd notice when up on the summer job board at the school: Babysitter wanted for occasional afternoons and weekends. Combat reflexes a plus. Will pay for infant cpr certification. Hazard pay provided. There was a number at the bottom to tear away and when Taylor had received a few phone calls, she arranged for interviews to occur in one of the empty classrooms. When each student arrived they'd see two chairs behind the desk but only one of them filled. Taylor was casually dressed in a tank top and jeans over boots. A battered jacket and fedora discarded in one corner and the only real oddity in her appearance the glittering amulet at her throat.

"Well, that was some of the idea behind sitting around in a cell while pretending to age. Reasonable doubt and all that." Natalya agreed, entirely amused at this bubbly person that was so familiar and yet so... not. "Darling, I'm still me. I'm still not going to be tame. Just return the objects. I'm sure, I am so sure, that I will cross one of your lines again, that I'd rather you didn't do a bunch of work you'll feel guilty for later. If I ever decide to turn over a completely clean leaf, you'll be the first that I tell about it." Natalya tugged her closer, her fingertips circling Elena's wrist gently, as she murmured as enticing as any siren luring men to their doom on the rocky shore, "Can we let that go, just for a little while? You can pester me another night about going straight - ah, no pun intended. Tonight, bend my way just a little and relax."

Alex unwound herself from the protective shadow of Mike and threw herself at James with a big and enthusiastic hug, "We're fine. Good, even. I expect there's going to be a lot of people that don't understand why I made the choice to do this today, but that's okay. People don't always understand me a lot of the time. I know my friends will support me." She squeezed him around the waist, still Alex despite fancy new clothes and stepped back, "How have you been?"

Taylor laughed and snuggled the now sleeping baby into the portable car seat. She fussed with the shade but kept talking, "Yes, he's nursing. I feel absolutely ridiculous in my costume because of it too. I mean, I shouldn't complain because regeneration totally let me cheat back into my pre-baby jeans within the first week but I'm only five-feet tall! And I was 'endowed' before this. Now I look like some sort of ridiculous caricature of a super hero." It really wasn't as bad as Taylor was making it out to be but she was self conscious about it. She smiled up at them and pulled her tea closer, "But an afternoon off might be really nice. Jack's been, well, stressed lately. I mean, he's doing a great job with the whole new dad thing but its been a big adjustment to always have another being there all the time. No matter how much we might love him."

Natalya's arms slid around Elena and that close, she could feel the sort of padding and corestry that went into the artful disguise and under that the vital warmth of the world-class thief. Natalya brushed her hair back tenderly when she had a hand free to do so. "You know, sometimes I think your ability to see so very much blinds you, darling. I am no more and no less than I ever have been. But I've made you happy and I'm glad for it." Natalya was unresisting as she was pulled through the crowd, her smile soft and indulgent as she followed Elena through the crowd. She ran, Scarab followed and when Scarab pulled, she went where bidden. It was a comfortable dynamic even after a thirty year hiatus. She wasn't sure that they'd ever really understand the other's position but sometimes - at least in moments like this - it just didn't matter. She stood back quietly as Elena held out the necklace. The elderly woman's eyes filled with tears of relief and she took the necklace with shaky hands, professing her thanks. It was obviously more than just an expensive trinket as one of her son's helped fasten it around her neck. She touched it a few times to make sure the pendent held correctly and gave them a smile of thanks. Natalya let Elena do any talking, merely standing aside with her lips curved in an amused smile until they were outside and in the open air. She raised their linked fingertips to her lips, brushing a soft kiss against the back of Elena's knuckles. Her manners would have seen her in good stead in any number of the courts of Heru-Ra's memories. "The other items, as per the terms of our agreement I will have delivered at your direction. Never let it be said that I am a sore loser."

Natalya's fingers closed around the necklace, that damnable smile never leaving her lips. She lifted it up, letting the fine jewels play through their linked fingertips. "A thousand lifetimes and you still have the strangest tunnel vision. You think I could be so much better than I am, and yet also believe whole heartedly that I'd steal a necklace from a little old lady. You'd die, no questions asked, a hundred more times for any person in this room but are convinced they think you're little better than a scullery maid. You, my love, are a bundle of black and white. Of right angles, straight lines and contradictions. Its been decades and I still can't figure out why I find that so entirely intriguing." She let Elena continue to keep one hand trapped while she slipped her other hand into the tuxedo jacket slowly. She withdrew it just as slowly, a matching necklace dangling from her fingertips like blue fire. Natalya nodded to the one in Elena's hand lightly, her grip tightening on the super hero's fingertips before she jumped to another conclusion. "The woman's been wearing a fake for decades. When they raided my apartment after I was arrested, a greedy cop pocketed the original and had that one made up. As you'd already won this little game with the last time you foiled me, I thought I might as well return the original. Lord, but I hate crooked cops. They give honest thieves a bad name." Natalya blew out a soft sigh and released her grip on Elena's wrist as well as the fake necklace, holding out the real one to her. "Here, take it, Elena. Sometimes, I do wonder if things wouldn't go more smoothly if you could read my mind. It might almost be worth getting caught more often for that."

It was a matter of leverage rather than strength that allowed Talya to spin and dip Elena in the complicated whirls. She'd never had better than average strength but with such minute dexterity, and some significant training it made the difficult look effortless. Elena wasn't the only one pulling out all the stops tonight. Around them the dancers swirled completely unaware that the push-me pull-you of the tango being waged amongst them was a decades old war with a priceless necklace at stake. "Flatterer." Natalya said for the first and then shook her head as she was tugged back from the edge of the dance floor where the matron was lurking. She smiled and ran her hand up Elena's back and over the zipper of the dress before spinning her back across the floor in a series of dizzying turns. She was far too much enjoying the dominant role on the dance floor for once. "For such an optimist, you certainly don't think highly of this lot. I think if you were to look in most of their minds, they wouldn't be thinking of either of those things but rather what a handsome couple we make and perhaps wistfully of what we're going to do after the party." Natalya swung her down into a brief dip, murmuring, "And I am entirely certain - no mind reading necessary - that their imaginations don't measure up as there's one of two ways this evening's going to end. Both of them quite explosive. And, with any luck, a great deal less clothing."

Natalya laughed and easily ignored the looks shot their way as she took over the lead once more. "If I had known you were willing to cause a scene, I could have done this in a dress, like the last time. But this crowd, half of them would have a heart attack and the other half would take pictures. Attention I doubted you desired. You've always preferred..." She spun Elena gracefully, skilled enough to keep her from stumbling even if she'd been a rank novice, "...a more subtle touch." "Do you remember the last time we danced? Decades ago, but as in all things you've always excelled as a partner. Such fire, its amazing we didn't scandalize everyone on the dance floor. But then you've always been good about turning away from all my best temptations." She nodded her head to the band leader that she'd bribed earlier and the beat changed to a tango. Natalya adjusted her hold on Elena slightly, her grin playful, "You're trying to keep me distracted. Do you really think its going to work?"

Taylor gave Jack a flat look, both eyebrows arching into her hairline. She folded her arms tighter up under her breasts and you could almost picture the bunched cloak instead of the thick robe. If she'd been in costume, it would have been writhing with agitation. This was why she preferred to argue in costume as it looked ever so much more imposing. She shot Anya a look that could have peeled paint before she stalked into the room. Up close, she wasn't more than five feet tall. She barely came to Jack's shoulder. "Oh, see, I didn't know we were taking in strays." Taylor said waspishly, ignoring the looks that Jack was giving her as she glanced at the couch. She waved her hand a little, uncoiling enough to do so, and it shot back into the place it belonged. "Would you like me to get drinks?"

Phantom scowled at the girl and shook her head slightly, arms folding up under her cloak looking both peeved and mistrustful. Although it was probably a good thing that Jack had kept the couch from careening into the wall as that would certainly have woken the baby up. She wrinkled her nose at him under the mask at his apology and muttered under her breath in Cantonese before she said louder, "...Fine." The shadowy cloak melted away leaving a small Asian woman barefoot and in a large plushy looking robe. Her dark hair was tied back loosely from her face, trailing down her back in a thick tail and she looked young. Maybe her late teens or very early twenties. She was, however, still semi transparent as the hall beyond her was vaguely visible through her torso. Her dimples flashed as she bared her teeth in what was more gritted teeth than polite smile, "Call me Taylor. I didn't know Jack had an assistant. And, no, I'm not. I'm still arguably human. The case is at least been made for it."