alderwitch
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"Didn't know there was one in Freedom City but technology tends to overlap. Some types of artwork demand more than an inkjet or laserprinter - you see it in certain books, especially art books, but most of the time its wedding invitations and that sort of thing for high end clients," Renegade offered, the idea of high end art perhaps incongruous with his presented appearance. "Its not like typesetting has been around all that long in the grand scheme of things." He gave a small slight shake of his head then, "But it's a good place to start, I suppose. Especially since anyone spending that much time to put together the manuscript is likely to have suffered deleterious effects themselves."
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It was easy to summon up the defensive posture of a street kid as she hit the sidewalk. After the last few years, it was habit rather than pretense. Stuffing her hands deep in her pockets, Robin keenly felt the absence of her backpack and meager possessions which added to the wiry tension of her body as she stopped in front of the young woman. Her grey gaze took in the van warily before she turned her suspicious attention on the woman and her paperwork. Fortunately, that would only add to the validity of her presence. No true street urchin of the Fens would trust a smiling business woman and her offer of a free lunch. "How much cash?" Robin wanted to know, because its what she would have asked first had she not been here for ulterior motives. Her chin stuck out pugnaciously, "I ain't a junkie... Yeah, anonymous sounds good. I wanna do that one. I still get the food and cash if I don't give you my name, right?" Robin's voice was harsh, her shoulders hunched in and defensive, an exacerbation of the habits that were still second nature. "You're not cops right? You have to say if you're a cop looking for, what'sit called. DNA."
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"It's alright, the data is rapidly out-dated with new discoveries. Developing minds is a very nascent field," Alex said with confidence as she took a small bite of her food, giving a small shrug of her slim shoulders as she added without any real ego, "And they're only scratching the surface. The mind is more complex than science entirely understands." Her hazel gaze cut towards their fellow diners, skimming the surface of the ambient minds absentmindedly the way that most would take in their surrounding visual environments before her attention turned back to her dinner partner with a fond smile, "So I wouldn't fret overmuch, Mike. By the time you've gotten your degree and teaching certifications, it will have all changed again." For what comfort that was.
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Talya offered a pleasant smile in return, her hands lightly clasped in front of her dark skirt as if she were unaware of the tension. Her blue gaze cut to the beautiful paragon as she 'slipped' just in time to ease any building tension. Her appreciation for the woman went up a notch. On the surface, it was a little hard to understand what Steve and the almost too-perfect ArcheTech genius had in common but Talya's impression of Miss A had started positive and was steadily growing. She gave the smallest incline of her chin in appreciation to Miss A, almost imperceptible. "It looks like Buffy has it well in hand. Super speed must be one of the more useful of 'gifts', I must say." With the moment broken by the distraction, Talya turned her attention back to the Espadas matriarch. "I couldn't agree more, Gina. A holiday is merely just another day without friends and family to share it." She agreed in her crisp accent, shifting slightly so her posture was more conversational than confrontational as she put her rather formidable social skills to easing the tension in the room, "Although, Thanksgiving isn't a holiday I typically take part in. British angst over perfectly good tea wasted and all that."
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As if the complaint about lack of ghosts had summoned them, a shimmering form wisped up through the floorboards in front of Huang - never quite taking solid form as it murmured in hollow tones, "Your parents have returned, young master." It was not quite the early warning that Huang had hoped for when he'd instructed the ghostly servant to keep him appraised, but it was something at least. Outside on the lawn, Phantom's boots made no sound as they touched down onto the lawn - her cloak settling out in billowing folds over the grass. She didn't step away from the circle of Avenger's arms, tipping her head back under her hood. Her gloved fingertips ran down the heavy leather of his jacket until she could flatten her palms over where his heart no longer beat. "I wouldn't say all by myself," Phantom replied throatily, her gloved fingers curling into his jacket. "It's easier to knock cultists around when they've been terrified out of their wits... Still, I won't turn down that offer. What did you have in mind?" Phantom wanted to know as she took a step forward as her fingers tightened around one chain, "I did miss this--"
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Although Taylor didn't appear out of thin air, she did round the path wearing what she'd probably been wearing at home. In jeans and a light sweater, wearing sneakers, she looked not unlike a lost college kid wandering out towards the woods. Life in her bubble for the last few years had been rather removed and her blending skills were rusty. Still, she offered a dimpled smile to the ranger that only enhanced the perception of youth before turning it on the fae. "Did I keep you waiting too long?" Taylor asked, apology in her tone, "JJ was more reluctant to say goodbye than I thought he would be. It's hard to predict with him these days. I think its the new school."
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Bombshell A Winter's Tale Count Your Blessings No Nationality or Religion Old Fiends Only the Lonely Pop Some Tags So Great a Cause (2015) Nighthawk Dirty Blvd. Get Low Monster Mash Plentiful Harvest Triskaidekaphobia Psyche All the Colors of the Sky He Danced With Me Phantom Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon Renegade Tattered Marks
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Although Talya's reputation might give the impression that all her New Year's Eves were spent at fabulous parties or madcap adventure, the fact of the matter was she'd had plenty of quiet New Years as well. There were certainly enough years where time's steady march onwards had not been a matter to celebrate. Still, in all of the New Years that she had celebrated, loud or quiet, Talya had certainly never fallen asleep a good half an hour before the overly-hyped television special had even begun it's crescendo. Yet sleeping was just what the blonde was doing, rather uncomfortably in her position as human barrier. Sometime between when Min and Erik had stepped out, the former to bathe Eden and the latter to produce snacks, Talya had curled up on the floor to keep Mia from getting past her and was now serving as an even better handhold for cruising than the couch had provided. How Talya continued to sleep through the chubby - and potentially sticky - baby hands yanking on her side was anyone's best guess. Normally, the ex-thief slept relatively lightly. Today, though, Mia's hand catching in her hair earned only a sleepy snort as Talya shifted, one arm encircling Mia absently.
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Her laughter was huskily amused, a soft whisper against his throat as she nuzzled his jaw. "My love, of course you are. You are a father, husband and small business owner. You vote and even take part in the local community boards. I imagine when Eden is old enough to be in school, you'll concern yourself with the PTA. Min is largely a force of nature with vaguely benevolent intentions - half of which come from the fact that it pleases you and my tendencies are established facts. Don't fret. You make responsible very sexy, I promise." She leaned back then in his arms to take in Erik's displeased expression with a bemused smile, "Will it make you feel better if I promise not to point it out to other people?"
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Robin had leaned in as well, assuming that there would be a goodbye kiss but Riley's words caught her by surprise. Her throat tightened inexplicably, tears stinging her eyes that she quickly blinked away. Those weren't words that Robin had heard directed her way in a very long time. No one worried over her well being and no one cared at her comings and goings. She should have said something, but words never came easily for her especially not ones about her emotions. This, however, was the boy who had dealt with her abrupt vanishings and her skittish reactions. Hopefully, Riley already knew that there wasn't much more she could do to express her feelings than trusting him to hold onto her parents wedding bands. She caught Riley's face between her chilly fingertips, palms gentle against his cheeks as she touched her brow lightly against his for just a moment in mute acknowledgement before she was up and moving away and towards the blood drive van without even so much as a verbal goodbye to either of the men.
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"Hmmm..." Talya said, her lips curving in a small, secretive smile before she gave a shake of her head. "No. Nothing else currently primed for self-destruction at the moment. To be fair, my codname has little to do with explosions and far more to do with Jean Harlow. No one ever expected me to turn out so competent. Demolition was a skill I picked up later in my career." Relaxing into Erik's embrace, she threaded her arms around his waist, "Personally, I have already used up my reserves of responsibility for the day - they're rather small, you know - and have no guilt over suggesting more pleasant distractions. You did say you were free, didn't you?" Distracting her significant other from his duties and responsibilities was much more comfortable ground, after all. Certainly more familiar.
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"I can handle myself around a pair of handcuffs," Talya reminded Min with a private smile as she leaned in to both return the kiss and hand over Mia to her mother. She leaned her brow briefly against Min's and added, very quietly, "Thank you." Patting Eden's hair once, Talya made her way through the small crowd in the entry way towards the door of the kitchen. "You know what they say, cut in haste and repent in leisure," she added dryly before shaking her head once at Ellie as she passed the other girl. "I don't think we need to get into all of that although when it does come up, I shall keep your offer of witnesses in mind." A brief quirk of her lips made it clear that she was teasing as she slipped past and into the kitchen. "Do you hold Christmas here, Gina, or is that something that occurs at the apartment?" Talya asked as she came into the tail end of the conversation, as if the details of the Espadas' Christmas were not a regular topic of a certain three year old's conversation.
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"I think that is up to you, oh fearless leader," Talya said, her husky tone turning the familiar nickname into something more private. She leaned in, pressing her red lips against his jaw with her fingers light and warm on his hand, "Honestly, I leave it in your hands. If you never open it, I shan't be cross and if you just want to get it over with, that's acceptable too. I imagine that it will be easier to parse if I explain at least the first few. Before I began typing reports, they're often written in short-hand." The corner of her lips quirked up, her posture finally relaxing. Talya's tone turned teasing then, "Spies, you know. Very fond of their secret codes. Also, I'll have to show you how to disarm the charge that's designed to immolate the documents if its tampered with. We don't tell the bank about that part, by the way. Fire alarms make them ever so testy."
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"It's more high risk versus low risk. Really, after the terminus attacks that our dimension has had, you could see a T-baby theoretically popping up anywhere. Entropic mutation is extraordinarily hard to predict, even in near certain scenarios like our theoretical offspring," Alex said with a smile as she took a bite of her food, pausing to chew and wash it down with a small sip of her wine before she continued, "I don't mind talking about work, really, I find it intellectually engaging." She grinned at him then, setting her fork back down, "That's terrible science. There's more mercury in shellfish and they don't even use it except in flu vaccines these days. Of course, people will indulge in hysteria no matter how solid the evidence is to the contrary. It's all about the illusion of control, really."
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It was tempting, oh so tempting, to take the offered out but Talya didn't pull her hand and the key back away. Her voice softened, the harsh edges of her clipped accent softening as her voice dropped, "My immortality - there's never a certainty that I'll wake up the next time, Erik. Eventually, I'll likely run down the clock but I have a lot of enemies - so very many enemies and while you and Min can more than hold your own, the thought they might come after the girls when I'm not here to give warning..." She shifted then, the movement almost restless as she gave a short shake of her blond head as she cut the line of conversation off. Talya forced her hand to relax within his as she summoned up a reluctant smile. "I don't feel like I have to do anything. I feel as if I ought to. You have to understand, it isn't your condemnation that I fear. That's not who you are - and its one of the traits I have always found most attractive." Talya's voice dropped slightly and she took her own step closer, trapping their linked hands, "My reluctance stems from knowing I am handing you one of the things you hate most. I've seen the shadows that flicker across your features when Min or I have something painful that pre-dates you. I don't want to hurt you, Erik, but the thought that I could leave you unarmed leaves me cold."
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Tou Save: 1d20+8=11 Ouch. Spending an HP for the reroll: http://orokos.com/roll/355807: 26. Whew!
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"Making friends and influencing people wherever you go, old man?" Came Talya's rather jovial commentary from the back of their small group. She peered around Thrude to look at the blade being pointed at the thermovore. "Always love a trip to valhalla. We're with this tall blond scion, here. We've been promised protection and safe passage. And perhaps mead." Talya's grin was cheeky as she added with a wink to the younger woman, "And hullo to both of you."
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"Pleasure's mine." Ray still hadn't put his jacket on although he had it under one arm. Fighting crime was a hell of a lot easier during the spring and summer. One of these days he'd have to see if he could find a way to not notice the cold anymore. "What sort of magic?" Ray asked with a scholarly sort of curiosity. "Inherited or taught?" As Sam asked the question, he gave a small shake of his head, "I can get there under my own power," he offered as the elaborate red and gold wings that covered his back lifted from his skin to take up a little too much space in the tattoo parlor although he kept them close to his body as they manifested. "Though I can carry someone along the way - its not a trip I'd really recommend as an experience for other folks."
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"The real Kantor is a better liar," Bombshell commented laconically, and only someone who knew her very well would catch the dangerous edge behind her lazy commentary. "You haven't the faintest where he is at the moment. Unfortunate for you, I have to say. If you had knowledge, you'd be useful. Poor, lost expendable clones. Bad day for you, I'm afraid. My friend, you see, is in a just terrible mood." With little warning, the blond thief moved fluidly, shifting from her relaxed stance into sudden movement as she leapt through the area with an acrobat's expertise to land lightly in the midst of the hostages. Her baton snapped out to crack the leader in the back of the skull with vicious precision as she added, very softly, "And so am I."
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"Our genetics are too afflicted by the terminus energies," Alex said, her voice matter of fact and her attitude calm. That they were terminus mutants was something she'd long ago accepted and made peace with. She glanced down at her food with a smile and nod of thanks for the server before picking up the conversational thread once more, "We were exposed in utero and both of us manifested at birth - and then a second time during our teen years, exacerbating our mutations. Alone, our genetic contribution is going to carry some sort of manifesting mutation even if we had a child with a non-T-baby. Together, we are guaranteed to see something crop up. The nature, though, of terminus energy on human genetics makes it extraordinarily difficult to predict exactly how it might manifest." Alex shrugged and then offered an understatement, "I like to be prepared."
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"You know me. Its easy to meet literally anywhere." Taylor said with a laugh, "I just have to let Jack know that I'm stepping out for a bit and I can meet you at Wharton within a second. It'll give me a chance to push food through the teenager's door and say goodbye to the family that's willing to communicate in something other than grunts and long suffering sighs. I'll be there in a half an hour."
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Talya's red lips flattened for the briefest of seconds in what would have been a wince for most people. Her blue gaze cut towards the door as if searching for their missing third. It was easier, in some ways, when Min was around. She had no use for artifice and that, often, was easier than the banter that Talya turned to when there was only Erik. After a moment's hesitation, highly unusual for his glib partner, Talya's sigh was soft, "It's a file. Well, it's my file. Which you ought to have access to; the missions that I've run, the enemies I've made..." Talya gave an uncomfortable shrug of her shoulders as she held out a safety deposit key fished from the pocket of her crisp linen jacket. Her lips curved then in a humorless smile, "Things I'd really rather not tell someone I love. Things that a team leader might need to know. Ought to know. The sword of Damocles, as it were." She extended her hand out, holding the key between deceptively delicate fingers for Erik to take, her smile softening slightly then as she added, "I only feign omniscience, dearest. There are a great many things I've never tried before."
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Move Action: Get in melee range next to the hostages Attack Action: 1d20+15=27
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"You'd have to leave behind weapons," Nighthawk pointed out, her tone pragmatic, "And no promises you'd have what they're looking for. I live here, folks know me. I'll go. 'Sides, better you're tailing me than the other way around." She took the jerky from Woodsman with a nod of thanks before reaching up to start unravelling the knot from behind her skull of her mask. If she was going to be bait, might as well start getting ready now. As she slid the mask from her hair, she reached up to tie the twists back from her face and hand her mask over to Riley as if the matter was already decided and passed that over to her boyfriend before she began slipping off her backpack to hand that over as well. After a moment, Robin hesitated before reaching up to pull the necklace out from beneath her shirt. The wedding bands clinked with the distinct chime of cheap metal as she slipped the long chain over Riley's hood, giving them a small pat. "Keep that safe, yeah?" she requested and then added, "Man, be nice if we had some fancy ear buds or something like that? The next project maybe."
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We're back! Getting settled in and we'll start catching up tonight and tomorrow.
