alderwitch
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"I think a little complaining is fair. It's okay to be upset at things that have been lost or sacrificed. The world is not a fair place." Alex commented as she finished replacing the tea and brought it back over to the coffee table. She settled in on the couch, comfortably close to her partner without leaning against him. Her tea cup levitated into her hand, "And you're not alone to have those fears. When Mike was your age, he also thought that this wouldn't be his life. He was afraid of what he could do - what he might do to me specifically." Alex's side long smile was affectionate and gently teasing, "And he wrote some truly stellar poetry about it, I might add."
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"We were together, though," Alex commented to Mike, from her position in the kitchen. It held the air of something that Alex had said many times. She smiled over her shoulder at Fred, "And though travel was curtailed, we weren't separated from our parents and families. We went home at the end of the day generally speaking. They didn't really know what to do with our kind of meta human. There was a large portion that thought we were just one more terminus weapon waiting to be unleashed." Alex shrugged and turned back to the tea tray, "There's a not insignificant portion who still hold those concerns honestly." It was matter of fact, although it certainly hadn't been pleasant for Alex as a child to be exposed to the thoughts and worries of their handlers. Their fear had been as tangible to Alex as the faint scent of steeping tea and more pervasive.
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"Absolutely," Alex agreed with a grin in return at Mike's assessment, "Any day that I can get away with rainbows at a professional conference is a good day and if I can use my dubious fame to launch Fred's line, I absolutely will though I think it would be better if I could find a few influencers. I'm more of an oddity than a trend setter in the social media world, thank goodness." She smiled at Fred then, "If I could get away without the fame, I absolutely would. While useful, its not something that I find personally fulfilling. Like you, I have an ends to which this business is a means but I think Mike's route of finding personal fulfillment in his profession is a wiser route. He is often much more happy with his day than I ever am with mine." Alex gave a little shrug of her shoulders as she went to head towards the kitchen, "Why don't you join us, Mike. I'll refresh the tea and get another cup." If it had been just Alex and Mike, no doubt things would have whizzed through the air like a scene out of Disney movie but, in deference to her guest, Alex stood up to collect the tray and head towards the kitchen, "I wish Nicholson had been a thing that existed when we were children. It's a new addition to the city, Fred. Before its founding, there wasn't an elementary school for the uniquely gifted in Freedom City." She commented, a light touch on Mike's thoughts suggesting that opening up about his issues in their youth might not be the worst of ideas as she headed for the neat kitchen.
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Robin gave a small nod at that, her expression thoughtful. "They wouldn't mind the strength thing so much on a job site." Robin admitted before huffing a sigh, "Wish that the whole police or army thing wasn't totally out of the picture but if wishes were burgers, we'd have plenty to eat." Absently, she shifted, stretching out the last kinks of her back and neck before replying, "I'm sorry, Fred," she told her roommate, "I wasn't really trying to avoid anyone, just not fit company a lot of the time. I mean, I came here and I was hopeful that it'd give the edge I was missing to, you know, figure out what happened but I haven't made any headway at all and I don't think I'm going to," that hurt to admit, it really did, and it likely came across in the flattening of Robin's vocal affect. Still, she moved forward, "Its been pure hard-headed to think that I just needed to take down more gangsters." She huffed a breath, abruptly shutting down the line of conversation that headed towards her parents and their unsolved cases. "I'm here now. What sort of plans are you making?"
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Alex beamed at Mike from her seat on the couch, "I formed a psychic bond with him in infancy," she offered cheerfully, with the sort of fondness that hopefully kept the statement from being entirely creepy. Still sitting, she held her hands out, gently pulling the glasses from Mike's nose with a light brush of telekinetic ability. They floated neatly into her palm as she leaned forward to set them on the table. "We both manifested our abilities very early. Its not unheard of for terminus babies. To answer your question, I started forming AEON in my junior year in the dorm room, playing the stock market to get up the starting capital that I needed. I couldn't expand into biomedical technology until after I turned eighteen." She folded her hands neatly in her lap, the rainbow makeup still sparkling across her features. "I'm glad you got home in time to meet Fred, though. Work go alright?" Alex asked before adding to Fred with clear pride, "Its Mike's first year teaching at Nicholson."
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Alex reached out to gently squeeze Fred's hands, her smile kind and knowing at the same time, "Oh, I know you won't but its something you should walk into eyes open. I had people to take care of too. I still do." Alex said simply, the physical contact brief as she straightened up in her chair once more. "We all have our pride. I'm pretty sure if I offered to buy your line outright with an egregious sum of money - I could, though I don't think that's what you want - that you would say no. A sense of self is important, really, sometimes its all we have." Her head tipped to the side for a moment, the gesture very subtle as if she were turning to say something to someone else in the room, but far too quick for even most telepathic conversations. "I can absolutely help you do what you wish. I think in terms of your school, we can structure it as a business extra curricular to take up a block of time in your week. I'll have my team draft up the details for you to approve and if you have any questions, we'll go over the meaning of things together. In the future, you'll want your own legal counsel though I promise you can trust me. The school does have lawyers that you could utilize but, frankly, I'm not a big fan of that firm personally." Alex didn't elaborate more, her nose scrunching up with faint distaste. Undoubtedly the Summers had a top notch lawyer on retainer but Alex had never enjoyed ruthlessness, even when it was on her side ostensibly.
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"I can do that," Alex agreed cheerfully as she accepted the makeup and leaned over a small mirror to apply it with a light hand. Pausing for a moment to admire the subtle results, Alex kept her eyes on the mirror as she did as Fred instructed, turning the muted professional shadows into a rainbow that sparkled. The delighted laugh was genuine as she turned her head back and forth to catch the light, "Well that's certainly a show stopper, yes. I love it." The praise was easy and warm, and she turned her attention from the mirror to Fred, "And very splashy for your pyro kinetic. Do you think with some tinkering you could have results that were affected by ambient light. I think a cultivated line for metahumans would have significant traction but for marketability, you'd be better served by a product that anyone can apply." Alex smiled, the gesture only a little bittersweet. "Everyone wants to be just a little bit... magical, really." Reaching out, a pad of paper flew into Alex's hand and she began to jot down suggestions, her handwriting neat and precise, "So the question really is, do you want to proceed down a business partnership with AEON or would you like some help and guidance for pitching your line to someone else." She paused in her writing to glance up and add with utter honesty, "You're certainly smart enough that you could go about trying to found your own business but it will take significant time away from both school work and friendships. I... don't recommend it; the cost is very high - but it is your choice and you have my guidance in whatever path you choose. You're certainly able to take your time in deciding your course of action."
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"Not to mention more esoteric processes tend to involve significantly more scrutiny when you're talking about mass production. AEON's dealt with that before as some of our more profitable goods come from esoteric origins. I don't know how familiar you are with what all we do, especially since we do utilize subsidiaries since having a flag-waving T-baby is not always the best marketing tactic," Alex said with a small smile. "I can tell you that an all purpose product is going to have significantly more traction than multiple products. People purchasing would rather spend more money on a single creme than have several that they're having to layer into a routine as you can market it at the busy woman with not enough time in her day." Alex gave a small nod of her head, setting the carefully lettered graphs and charts to the side after having flipped through them quickly. For most people it might seem dismissively short but Alex's ability to take in information was significantly faster than even peak human capacity, "Let's see your showstopper product? A good presentation rythm is to establish credibility and having show the breadth of your product, you want to hook their interest by revealing what makes your collection so very special. You're going to want to convince your audience that you're more than worth the special training, or materials that you need for it." Alex's gamine grin was easy and friendly, "Which is mostly advice for future presentations. I already believe that what you have is worth the extra effort but I can't imagine this will be the last invention that you see about selling."
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"I don't," Alex said simply, like it was customary for someone to know that sort of detail about themselves. "So do you intend it to be a custom manufacture line? The price point is higher but the labor is more intensive at that point," Alex pointed out as she glanced over the vials before selecting the one closest to her skin tone to test on the inside of her wrist. "Have you sought a patent for your formulas yet? There's a bit of a mixed take in legal about seeking patents for formulas for cosmetic products. Its not the sort of protection that you'd expect - certainly not like our biomedical division enjoys on their patents. Avoiding copycats is a bit more reliant on keeping formulas secret more than anything." Alex offered the information alongside her question as she went to blend the makeup out and check the coverage, tipping her pale wrist towards the light to look it over. Her features were bare of even the light makeup that Alex wore most of the time. "Personally, I think its best to provide a mid-range line - something you'll see at a makeup store like Sephora, and then offer a higher level through a proprietary website. It'll help build your base faster and I think you want to avoid the drugstore brand tier." Alex suggested before adding, "Not that there's anything wrong with the drugstore tier but you don't really see a profit unless you're seriously engaged in mass production and that tends to mean cutting corners somewhere."
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"Everyone is large to a five year old." Alex replied with a chuckle as she sat the tray down on the table and sat down a companionable distance from Fred. Despite the modern setting, and the certainly modern accouterments, Alex settled into her chair, her hands neatly folded in her lap and her posture straight. It wasn't so much that she was going out of her way to set Fred at ease by aping the mannerisms of the era she was raised in, but more that Alex always tried to make anyone feel comfortable in a social setting and those were the expectations that her current guest happened to have. If it had been a different student, the response would have been equally modulated, not with the goal of manipulating anyone but simply to put them at ease. "I'm happy to meet with you, Fred, of course. I was your age when I started AEON, after all," Alex replied with a brief, gamine grin, "You're giving me a chance to pay it forward which I always try to do... and AEON can always use another luxury brand if you decide you want to go with us - which, I should note, you don't have to by any stretch. There are probably a good half a dozen companies in Freedom City that might be a good match for you and half of those have ties to Claremont that you could certainly utilize to get a foot in the door so really, a business meeting should be a chance to get to see if our company is a good fit for your product just as much as the other way around." Alex provided helpfully, despite the fact that she was arguably putting herself at a larger disadvantage for any negotiations down the line, "Which is why we're having the meeting here rather than in more formal settings. I'd like to offer my help in refining your pitch if you do go another route and the CFO tends to have a fit when we're not maximizing the company profits."
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As if sensing her discomfort - which, considering who this was might very well have actually been the case - Alex offered a warm smile of reassurance, "Oh, its sturdier than it looks, I promise. Everything in the apartment is," There was a flash of bemusement in her bright hazel eyes as she offered that cheerful adage. After all, the apartment furnishings had been custom ordered to ensure that any unintentional display of Mike's strength wouldn't crumple them. The couch that Fred sat on was large but firm, the pillows softening it from Mike's comfort level to Alex's. "My fiance's a good foot and a half taller than I am," Alex added as she made quick work of setting up a small tea tray with mugs, honey, sugar and milk. Adding a plate of cookies to the side, she continued to make small talk as she waited for the water to heat, "So I had to have most of the furniture custom made so it fits his frame while at the same time, I don't vanish into the cushions. I thought he was going to beat you here but something came up after his work day so he might come home while we're talking - if that won't bother you?" She added with clear pride as she crossed back to Fred, "He's a kindergarten teacher."
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Alex's directions were simple and precise; there was always a concierge staff member stationed in the building's grand lobby who handled the traffic for Alex's personal domain. It wasn't certainly the most optimal staffing solution in terms of ensuring that people were busy all the seconds of their day but optimization was regularly sacrificed at AEON for human comforts; both staff and guests. It did ensure that when Fred crossed the comfortable lobby with its dotting of couches and terminals that felt equal parts coffee shop and hotel lobby, that there was no line to wait in. The staff member that greeted Fred was polite but warm as she provided the vistor's pass that would allow elevator access to the penthouse levels. She pointed the way to the elevator that led to those floors and with a swipe of the card, Fred would be headed directly for the apartment via the high speed elevator. It opened into a small lobby that held a small couch on one side while the other side held simple receptacles for holding mail and depositing trash. The door was framed by colorful vases that held equally colorful flowers in what might have been a little jarring in their brightness after the soothing color palate of AEON's well furnished lobby. Before Fred could knock, the door clicked, opening under Alex's telekinetic direction as she called out, cheerfully, "Come in! Would you like something to drink?" Alex's apartment took the idea of 'open floor plan' to a whole new level as it had been designed specifically for two fliers. Stairs were tucked back and out of the way and the living space Fred walked into was roughly three stories with landings for rooms that leap frogged their way up the space. On the main floor, though, was space for living, dining and making meals. Alex waved one hand towards the white couches draped in jewel bright pillows and the occasional throw, from where she stood by the kitchen. Clearly the splashes of bright color matched Alex's personal aesthetic as she wasn't dressed for work today, instead wearing a colorful circle skirt and peasant blouse. Crystals definitely sparkled from the pins that held her curls up and back from her face. "Make yourself comfortable."
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"I got a taser," Sofia called over her shoulder by way of explanation as she was clearly not a fighter. Her dark sneakers squeaked as she sprinted down the databanks with clear purpose. They weren't labeled, certainly but they didn't need to be. She already knew where the location was from her files. With a few clicks to open the banks, she had the masters in hand. "Xavier, I got 'em. We're good here.... Uh, did anyone else get briefed on the 'housekeeping scam'?" It was entirely possible, Sofia supposed that she'd missed that somewhere in the planning stages as she MAY have tuned out when it hadn't directly concerned her but even-odds that Xavier hadn't bothered to brief anyone yet on it. Tucking the hard drive under one arm, she booked it back to where Lou was bouncing hoodlum's faces off of the wall, "Niiiiice."
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Sofia stayed resolutely in place, her fingers flying despite the command to drop what she was doing. She didn't have the greatest poker face in the world so her distress was easy to read in the few seconds before Lou made himself a much more appealing target, as was the relief that swiftly followed once the man formed a solid wall between her and potential threats. "Muchas gracias." She murmured with the first appreciative gaze she'd directed in Lou's direction as her fingertips flew over her device, swiftly pulling the information that they required. "I have to pull the originals," she explained both to Lou and the rest of the team. "In the data bank but I got this part taken care of. You.... need any backup?" She asked, before adding, "'Cuz you sure don't seem to need it."
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Init: 18
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"Don't lick the restless undead; no problem," Volcanic drawled as she followed through the gateway, giving a little shudder at the disorienting sensation that always accompanied such transitions. The quip hopefully covered enough for the way that Volcanic staggered a bit as if suddenly drunk, or perhaps blind might be more accurate as she had to reorient the senses that connected her to the earth to this Not-earth. She made sure that her hand only made contact with Frost on her way to the side of the portal as she had no desire to leave anyone else with burns from even casual contact. Once she was well out the way, she closed her eyes and focused on setting the sense of ground and air around her to rights so she'd not be at a grave disadvantage for the rest of this little adventure.
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ic From Beneath You It Devours: Atlantis Attacks
alderwitch replied to Brown Dynamite's topic in Lonely Point
Volcanic set Klara down with a deft enough touch. The bulk of her focus was on depositing the Amazon safely before she took in the grim faced guards. With a grimace, she let her plating fall away for the moment. It was easiest enough to summon should things turn bad and she wasn't without defenses - and attacks - without it. Probably best to not look like they were there to assault the gates. Probably. Annoyance with the stone-faced Atlanteans made her voice sharp. "Aloha," she said, the syllables more flat than they'd other wise be. "Came to help out with the shark problem. You got someone in charge we can talk to?" She paused then added again, "We're with the Freedom League." Silently adding the 'Auxiliary' in her head. Really, who kept the rosters memorized? The last thing she wanted to deal with was bureaucratic red tape. -
Robin accepted her handkerchief back, jamming it into her worn pocket once more as she took a step back to join Riley at the door. She gave one of those loose shrugs, pulling the thin fabric of her shirt tight across the shoulders with the gesture. "Everyone's got days they can't face," Robin said simply, "Yours has more complications than most but no one's gonna judge you for it. I mean, we're all here in some ways because we're potentially dangerous. Its just, for most of us, they can cloak it in training to utilize our abilities. It sucks that you gotta sit in a room alone for yours. If you want some company next time on the other side or people to drop in to break up the day, we'd be more'n happy to do it, you know." She shrugged again, letting her hands slip into the pockets of her jeans afterwards, "But if you'd rather be alone, I get it." She slanted a faint smile towards Riley, "I mean we're duking it out for the year books 'most likely to brood on rooftops' designation."
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"Sure, I can -- wait, what?" She protested, fingers already flying across the keyboard as she began to quickly throw a wrench into communications. She twisted to check that Lou was still right there and when he wasn't, she cursed low and long in a truly foul string of Spanish mutters. "Oh, I hate this plan. I hate this plan a lot. Why can't you be bait? Why's it gotta be the cute chicana, hey? I didn't sign up for no horror movie bullshit, you know." The temptation to bolt was strong but despite her kvetching, Sofia was a professional and she wouldn't bail midjob. Complain, oh she'd absolutely do that. "Next time Lou gets to be the bait!"
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Computers Check: 42
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"Tch, don't cry," Robin soothed, her voice gentle and she offered one muscled arm with the clear intent to give Fred a hug in a rare show of physical affection. " 'Sides, that's what friends are for - we're supposed to check up on each other. You don't seem fine but no one's gonna make you talk about things you don't wanna talk about." These two, after all, had strong feelings about people being made to bare their emotions when they didn't want to. Scrounging in one pocket, Robin came up with the handkerchief that she usually used to tie back her unruly curls for gymnastics. "And no one's sure going to judge you for skipping a day, its just not something you usually do."
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Robin followed Riley in with a small shake of her head, "Folks noticed you were missing," Robin added a bit more bluntly than her boyfriend, her voice kind and concerned, "We were going to fan out and send out the troops but you got back before we could put my plan into motion. And it was a good plan," she added sidelong to Riley but with a faint half smile that made it clear she was ribbing him rather than complaining. "Probably gonna see more folks filter through so Riley and I will clear out. If you're not feeling up for company, we can spread the word to let folks know to hold up until you are, if you want."
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"There's nothing wrong with menial labor," Robin pointed out, her tone mild enough that she wasn't truly angry but rather with the sort of impatience of someone who'd protested that multiple times to fellow prep-school students. "But construction's not a bad idea. Though, unskilled, I'd be making as much as someone who cleans houses for the record. You don't really make decent money unless you've got a trade there. Electricians make decent money, I know. My dad was..." She cleared her throat, giving a short, sharp shake of her head. "Anyway," Robin changed the topic abruptly away from those musings, "Sure, I make okay enough grades but I'm not getting a full ride to any sort of university with 'em at this point, especially since there's some years missing on my transcript. So, gotta figure out something to do. Its not like I can stay here after I graduate - that gets creepy fast, you know?"
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"Yay, more friends," Sophia muttered as she turned her attention to cracking the much more difficult security on the rare collections. She spared a glance upwards, halfway to make sure that Lou was still right there before she turned her body in towards the door, "Cameras might be crap but they're not kidding around with the lock on this door. Probably less than a half dozen places in the city that have this sort of security. Guess I can scratch another off my bucket list though." Her smile was self-satisfied as the door gave way to her cracking skills. "We're in and bypassed the silent alarm. You're wel-come."
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Oh noooo, I forgot skill mastery. Ah well, rolling first for 26. Well going to HP that. 34