alderwitch

Speaking of 'interesting students', Janus was lounging on the steps leading to the quad with lazy boredom. As the tour group exited for the quad, Janus rose to their feet with the limber grace of a swordsman. The teenager was a senior now, finishing their last year and had added inches and lean muscle since starting at Claremont. "Kam, haven't you earned enough extra credits, yet? Or are you such a shining example that you're automatically roped into being the school's best foot forward?" Janus teased. Their voice was a melodic tenor with a faint accent that was a bit difficult to place. Janus wore their hair pulled back and loosely braided. The brilliant pink looked like it had to be a dye job, but it wasn't. The bright violet eyes were equally natural as unnatural as they might have looked and Janus was cheeky enough to wink one at the adult standing behind the teens. "Afternoon, Àjàṣorò. Lady Farrington." Janus inclined their head politely, offering a slight bow to those that they already knew and a slight smile before politely introducing themself to Muirne. "Janus Danger. Are you attending Claremont or just taking the grand tour?"

Talya chuckled, the sound low and husky. Since this was a private lesson, she hadn't bothered with any of her efforts of disguise. No, the bright red lips and cat-eye were classic Bombshell. "You're going to want to take this seriously," she offered with a clear, crisp British accent. She uncoiled from her relaxed posture to sway through the teens and towards the door. Flipping the locks, she put the sign in the window for when the dojo was closed for private lessons and closed the blinds. "Don't let the smile fool you. The man has no patience if you're not putting everything into these lessons." To be fair, Talya wasn't any better. Their lessons were about survival and she could be every inch the taskmaster herself. She'd set up entire obstacle courses for Raina to run in heels and none of that had been anything but utterly serious. Talya was very much on the side of 'do it in practice so you're not surprised when it matters'. To the teens, as she waved her way through them, "You can keep your shoes on for this lesson. I suggest stretching a little and making sure that your clothing isn't going to pull or bind when you're moving and twisting." Talya made her way back to Erik's side once the doors were locked and offered him a sidelong smile along with her hand. "You may call me Talya. My husband is Erik. I hope you're ready for a workout."

Kid Celtic Power Level: 8/10 (150/150 PP) Unspent Power Points: 0 Trade-Offs: 0 In Brief: Neo-Druid, Looking to live up to the family legacy. Catchphrase: Theme: Queen of Argyll (Tempest) Alternate Identity: Victoria 'Tori' Griffen Birthplace: London, England Residence: currently: Freedom City, USA Base of Operations: Claremont Occupation: Student Affiliations: Claremont Family: Clarence and Nadia Griffen (parents), Thomas Griffen (younger brother), Michael Griffen (younger brother) Description: Age: 16 Apparent Age: Teenager Gender: Female (CIS) Ethnicity: European Height: 5' 3" Weight: 122 lbs Eyes: Green Hair: Ginger After generations that took after the all american Human Tank, Tori was born with her great grandmother's flaming red hair and brilliant green eyes. As a teen, she has the sort of ginger corkscrews that are clearly entirely natural and also a pain to manage. After a disastrous preteen episode where she tried for 'cute short hair' and ended up looking uncomfortably like little orphan Annie, Tori keeps her hair long enough that it can be clipped back from her face or braided to try and keep her mop of curls under control. Like most redheads, she's pale with a smattering of freckles across her skin. Now that her abilities have awakened, Tori has vivid woad tattoos on her skin that wrap around her biceps and forearms, shoulders, thighs and ankles, and over her face and under her hairline. In addition to abstract symbols, the animals whose spirits she taps into are also depicted in her markings. She has a notched brow over her left eye. When she's not in costume, Tori wears baggy jeans and cropped t-shirts with heavy boots. Her aesthetic tends towards vaporwave. Her wardrobe at bedtime is a revolving collection of shirts from nonprofits focused on the environment that she's collected over the years. In costume, as Kid Celtic, Tori wears tight leggings and knee high leather boots that match her leather corset. She has a wrap skirt that covers her to mid thigh and is split up the side for ease of movement. She wears bracers and a fur trimmed cloak although she's been known to shuck the cloak right before launching herself at an enemy. She wears greens and browns with the bright blue of her woad markings on display. If Tori has time, she'll braid the sides of her hair back to help keep it from her face. History: Tori was born to the British aristocracy. After the death of Human Tank and Lady Celtic, Lady Celtic's estranged parents involved themselves in the lives of their orphaned children. Eventually, their son would rise to a position of prominence in the Ministry of Powers. He married and had children of his own, including Tori's father. Unlike her great grandmother, Tori's black sheep position in the family was more one of fond indulgence. While Tori's parents and younger brothers are content to be in the upper class, enjoying the perks and privileges, Tori has been raging against capitalism and the monarchy since middle school. At fourteen, she eschewed her parents' Anglican faith to embrace Wicca which they took in stride. Until her Awakening, her parents assumed that it was a phase that would mellow with time. It was not a phase. On her sixteenth birthday, Tori awoke and left her home in a near trance. When her feet touched the manicured green lawn of her parents' grounds, she was sucked into a portal and greeted by the same Druid that had awoken her great-grandmother. When she emerged, Tori was covered in the mystic tattoos of Lady Celtic's legacy, her sleeping clothes tattered and her bare feet covered with fresh earth. Thankfully, her parents were more phlegmatic about such things than the original Lady Celtic's had been. Her grandfather had been called and his connections at the Ministry of Powers had been tapped. Within a few hours, admission to Claremont had been secured for Tori's sophomore year. Personality & Motivation: Stubborn and strong willed. Tori has a strong sense of right and wrong and at an early age, she realized that a lot of the adults in her life didn't seem to be taking things like climate change or poverty as sincerely as Tori felt like they should be. Yes, they're complicated problems but her family is not without power or influence. The dichotomy of the deep love for her family and her deep frustrations with them have shaped large parts of Tori's personality. She was relieved, even eager, when she was chosen to bear the Lady Celtic mantle. At least now she could DO something rather than feel powerless and impotent. Tori will always chose to act rather than stand by, even if she doesn't know for certain what the right course of action is. She knows she's intense but Tori hasn't learned to throttle that for other people's comfort yet. Honestly, she struggles with whether or not she should throttle her passion for the people around her. She feels the injuries done to the world around her keenly, even more so now that she's awakened. Tori didn't have a lot of friends before gaining magic, and she has less now. She's always been the kid that asks for donations to non profits instead of presents. Tori has half a dozen animals that she's adopted that were injured and nursed back to health. She's a person who feels deeply and wears her heart on her sleeve. Tori has little to no poker face. Even if she manages to keep her mouth shut, it's going to be pretty clear if she thinks you're a jerk just by her expression. Powers & Tactics: Tori's abilities come from her connection to nature. In addition to a strong connection to all things green and growing, and a natural affinity for animals, Tori can call plants from the earth to meet her needs. Beyond that, she can open her mind to the spirits of wild creatures that once roamed the British isles. When she does, a ghost of the creature appears behind her like a corona as her powers activate. These aspects allow her to channel different elements, taking on aspects of that creature as well as abilities associated with them. In a fight, Tori is generally an up close and personal kind of fighter. She fights with the same sort of ferocity that colors much of her actions. There are certainly people who grew up with stories of her great grandmother that are a little horrified by the more animistic intensity of her successor. Power Descriptions: Tori's woad markings glow when she's accessing her powers, the corona of the animals that she's channeling show when she's shifting from one form to another or when she's tapping into their more obvious magic. Her magic aura is always in the blues of her woad markings. Complications: Recognizable: Lady Celtic is a famous legacy and even in her civvies, Tori can't hide her woad markings. (To be fair, she wouldn't if she could. She's stubborn like that.) One With Nature: Tori has strong feelings about disrupting the natural balance or extensive ecological damage. Even if it's the 'right' course of action, she's not going to go along with it. Family Ties: There are expectations on Tori. Her family has been entangled with the British Ministry of Powers for generations and there's every expectation for Tori to return. That's a lot on a sixteen year old's shoulders... and Tori's never been all that good at doing what she's told to start with. Insubordinate: Tori has never liked being told what to do. She's bound to chafe a bit under the rules of Freedom City's super powered school. ABILITIES 40PP Strength: 14 (+2), Heavy Load: 175 lbs. Dexterity: 14 (+2) Constitution: 22 (+6) Intelligence: 16 (+3) Wisdom: 16 (+3) Charisma: 18 (+4) COMBAT 18PP Initiative: +2 (+2 Dex) Attack: +4, +8 Magic Grapple: +6 (+4 Melee Attack, +2 Strength), +16 Plant Control (+8 Attack, +8 Move Object) Defense: +8/+6 (+5 Base, +1 Dodge Focus, +2 Shield), +3 Flat-Footed Knockback Resistance: 4/2 SAVING THROWS 7PP Toughness: +8/+6 (+6 Con, +2 Force Field) Fortitude: +6 (+6 Con, +0PP) Reflex: +6 (+2 Dex, +4PP) Will: +6 (+3 Wis, +3PP) SKILLS 48R = 12PP Concentration 5 (+8) Knowledge (Arcane) 12 (+15) Knowledge (History) 2 (+5) Knowledge (Life Sciences) 2 (+5) Knowledge (Theology/Philosophy) 2 (+5) Languages 2 (English [Native], Gaelic, Old Irish) Notice 5 (+8) Search 5 (+8) Sense Motive 5 (+8) Stealth 3 (+5) Survival 5 (+8) FEATS 5PP Dodge Focus Luck 2 Ritualist Track POWERS 68PP Comprehend 4 (Animals 2 [Speak To; Understand]; Plants 2 [Speak To, Understand]) [8PP] (Descriptors: Nature Magic) Emotion Control 8 (Extras: Action 3 [Reaction], Area [Type: General; Shape: Visual Perception]; Flaws: Limited [Animals], Limited [Love], Range 2 [Touch], Uncontrolled; Feats: Subtle) [9PP] (Descriptors: Nature Magic Aura) Force Field 2 (Extras: Linked [Shield]; Feats: Selective, Subtle) [4PP] (Descriptors: Force Magic) Shield 2 (Extras: Linked [Force Field]) [2PP] Magic 16 (32PP Array; Feats: Alternate Power 3; Drawbacks: Power Loss 2 [When unable to speak and gesture; Frequency: Common]) [33PP] (Descriptors: Nature Magic) Base Power: [32PP] (Additional Descriptors: Clinging Vines, Grasping Branches, Plant Control) Snare 8 (Extras: Area [Type: General; Shape: Burst], Selective; Flaws: Range [Touch]; Feats: Chokehold, Indirect 3, Progression [Area Size] 2 [200ft radius], Reversible, Subtle) [32PP] Alternate Power: [32PP] (Additional Descriptors: Plant Control, Plant Growth) Create Object 8 (Range: 800ft; Max Volume: 8 cubes; Toughness: 8; Lifting Strength: 40, Heavy Load: 3 tons; Extras: Duration [Continuous]; Feats: Indirect 3, Progression 2 [25ft cubes], Selective, Stationary, Subtle) [32PP] Alternate Power: [32PP] (Additional Descriptors: Plant Control) Move Object 8 (Range: 10 80ft Increments, 800ft Max; Lifting Strength: 40, Heavy Load: 3 tons; Extras: Damaging; Feats: Accurate 2 [+4 Attack], Improved Pin, Indirect 3, Subtle, Variable Descriptor [Animating/attacking plants directly, or using animated plants to move/attack other things]) [32PP] Alternate Power: [32PP] (Additional Descriptors: Plant Control, Plant Shaping) Transform 8 (Plants; Extras: Duration [Continuous, Lasting]; Flaws: Action [Full], Range [Touch]; Feats: Accurate 2 [+4 Attack], Extended Reach [10ft], Indirect, Progression [Mass] 3 [2,500 lbs.], Subtle) [32PP] Morph 1 (One Form: Animal Spirit; Feats: Metamorph 4) [5PP] (Descriptors: Animal Spirit Channeling, Nature Magic) Spirit of The Cunning Fox Spirit of The Hungry Wolf Spirit of The Raging Bear Spirit of The Wise Owl Super-Senses 7 (Magic Awareness; Descriptor Frequency: Very Common; Sense Type: Mental, Default Extras: None; Extras: Acute, Radius, Ranged, Tracking) [7PP] (Descriptors: Magic) Abilities (40) + Combat (18) + Saving Throws (7) + Skills (12) + Feats (5) + Powers (68) = 150/150 Power Points ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC17 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Create Object Ranged DC18 Reflex Trapped Dropped Object DC18 Reflex Avoided DC23 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Move Object Ranged Grapple vs +16 Pinned/Bound DC23 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Energy or Physical)* Snare Touch/Area DC18 Reflex 1/2 Effect DC18 Reflex (Staged) Entangled/Bound Transform Touch +5ft DC18 Fortitude Transformed** *Variable Descriptor. Energy against Plants, Physical against everything else. **Plants only. Totals: Abilities (40) + Combat (18) + Saving Throws (7) + Skills (12) + Feats (5) + Powers (68) - Drawbacks (0) = 150/150 Power Points

alderwitch Volcanic A New Era: 3 Posts Everybody Make A Scene (IC): 3 Posts Bombshell By Societal Convention (IC): 3 Posts Octoman: Close To Home (IC): 12 Posts The High Stakes Quickstep: 1 Posts Janus Danger Helpless: 3 Posts Renegade MatchMaker: Ray and 'Jessie': 4 Posts Sofi Members Only (IC): 1 Posts Star Child Star Fall: 2 Posts Swinging on a Star: 6 Posts Psyche What's Up, Danger? (IC): 3 Posts Guide Point to Star Child, thanks!

"That is Robin Chevalier; the Fens vigilante Nighthawk," Janus offered to Elizabeth and Aja, with a lazy smile. They arched their brows at Kam in the very picture of innocence. "I warned you that you were bad at this sort of deception, Kam. I offered to help lie for you but you were stubborn and now it's out. He's been sneaking off to do costumed crime-fighting alone at night. In the Fens, apparently." At Kam's quelling look, Janus shrugged, "The one thing Grandfather is firm on is in knowing the local heroic types. He says there's nothing worse than ending up in a team up and not knowing what to call the other person. It's embarrassing. I do so hate to feel embarrassed. Besides, she's in the yearbook. She had two arms then, though. I assume the accident happened after photos were taken senior year."

"Says the man who actually owns a jet," Alex commented wryly towards her husband and when Mike blinked at her, she sighed. "We own a private jet and AEON has a few standing by. What I own is half yours by marriage now, remember?" Her smile was amused and fond at her husband's nonplussed expression and shook her head slightly to forestall any questions of why they owned the jet, when they could both fly. It didn't matter at the moment and if nothing else, Alex liked to be prepared. She gave Nina a small shrug, "I hope you're right. If nothing else, we're ensuring that no one is separated from their parents like our generation was. As to mind-reading... well, not as much yet. I mean, I can tell that they're there, certainly, but it's all electrical impulses and reactions right now. I don't get much from a fetus until well into the second trimester, truthfully, at least as far as emotions and reactions go. The initial readings are high for terminus energy which, well, while it isn't surprising, it does mean that I'm staying off of the research floors as the sort of terminus energy I've got going on can destabilize a lot of the tech we've built. It's not enough to cause any harm, though, you needn't worry." It meant, though, as far as Alex could predict, their children would likely manifest mutations of their own on the scale of their parents. She nodded, "I'll 'knock' like I always do. You needn't worry that I'll end up eavesdropping,"

I posted, though she's not really taking any combat moves atm! She did shape up the earth to have her feet in contact with it just in case it all goes to hell.

"As much as land can belong to anyone, I'm pretty sure my claim is decent anywhere that the soil listens to my requests," Volcanic said, her voice dry as she gestured, thrusting a pillar of earth up for her to take a perch on. She cocked her head to the side, the flames curling around the stone that masked her features although the gesture was thoughtful as she listened to both Sandman's words in her mind as well as the tiger's rumble. "We were sent to be tested. Though that doesn't necessarily mean fighting. Personally, never get the point of fighting just for fun. There's things I'd rather do than get knocked around for my rec time, you know." Her feet hissed as she landed on the bare earth. "An' my guess is our test is less about going a round or two and more about why you're here and not on your land, doing the guardian thing, hm?" She nodded to her companions as they arrived and gestured towards the woods. "I mean, we can fight, I guess, if that's what you're looking for. I just don't see a reason to do so unless you gonna keep sitting on my friend there, hey?"

Andromeda shook her head, her attention briefly diverted from watching the carnival booths and the children playing at them with equal fascination. "I don't need to, but I can! That was a bit tricky to figure out, honestly. My heart makes all of the energy I need," she touched her fingertips over her breastbone although Ace got the impression that it was less the flesh and blood muscle and more something ephemeral; a fount of cosmic energy that she was speaking of. "I rest, though! I have rest and wake cycles like you and I can eat. I've had iced tea and ice cream! I like them both. Sweet is a good taste and cold is funny on the tongue..." Andromeda broke off, her attention turning at the cry of distress from a young child who'd tipped over his cone too far and lost ice cream. Concern flickered across her features as she took a moment to work her way through the nuances of the situation and the reason for the upset. Understanding flickered across her fineboned features and with a slight gesture, she restored the ice cream in question with a flick of power before her attention turned back to Ace. "Where should we start?"

"Oh, wow!" Andromeda murmured as she took in the blinking lights and overwhelming sounds of the boardwalk mid summer afternoon. When Ace opened her door - as he was the sort of gentleman to do exactly that and Andromeda wasn't entirely certain on how to go about opening it from the inside anyway - she stepped out a few steps, her head going back to take it in. She opened her mouth, trying to come up with the first of her many, many questions, before she snapped it closed again and then floated up from the parking lot to hover near the Ferris wheel. The floating mystery-woman drew a few concerned looks but nothing all that out of the ordinary for Freedom City, especially if Ace Danger was right there! Andromeda drifted to follow the wheel around one full rotation before she floated back down to where Ace had been patiently waiting. With her toes still not touching the ground, Andromeda waved her hands around in wide circles, "But... why? You don't go anywhere. Is it fun to go up and then down? It's so slow though! Can we try it?"

Talya frowned as the other thief left; a real frown and not one of her feigned expressions. Talya was very, very good at masking her expressions but Jack had the advantage of seeing her day in and day out, with all the little stresses that came from a full life. When Talya actually laughed, her nose scrunched and when she was displeased, the frown caused a slight furrow between her brows that was absent when it wasn't genuine. If her features ever aged, she'd have ended up with a wrinkle right there but thanks to the black magic that left her immortal; the skin remained obnoxiously smooth no matter how many times she frowned. Linking her arm through Jack's, she gave him a slight tug to circle towards that corner of the room. Picking a glass of champagne up off of a passing tray, she lifted it up with her off hand so it obscured her mouth and gestured towards a different painting on the opposite wall as if she were making small talk. "That, my love, was stolen from Poland," she murmured and cut her gaze towards the painting in question. "And I'd very much like to see what - and who - might be here selling Nazi plunder." The slight tension in her posture didn't show in her lazy stroll across the floor, her booted heels clicking easily across the high polish floors but Talya was in high alert. She wasn't the only immortal from that war, after all, and anyone on the opposite side had clashed with her too many times to ever think she was 'merely' a thief.

"Thank you," Alex replied brightly. As Mike knelt down, hunkering his massive bulk closer to Ritchie with the practice of a kindergarten teacher's ease, Alex ruffled her fingers through Mike's dark hair with open affection. Thankfully, he'd taken to discarding his glasses and the mild mannerisms that made him seem so different when he was in their apartments now. Smiling with bemusement at her husband as he engaged the toddler, Alex paused before answering honestly, "Oh, okay enough. The morning sickness is pretty much the pits but it hasn't been too bad. I'm lucky that I can really juggle my schedule these days. Honestly, AEON sort of runs itself, at least all the parts of it that make real money and I've mostly been focusing on the clinic and the latest results on the most recent Terminus exposure." Alex's lips turned briefly downward at that. Having yet another exposure in their lifetime in Freedom City had been distressing on all accounts and had played merry havok with her research although those efforts were now helping a lot of people at least. "Which is good, honestly. I sleep easier at night knowing that if I'm the one that gets sucked out to a contest of champions for a few days, I won't come back to a disaster at my day job." Her tone turned teasing then, clearly a gentle jibe at Mike for his recent, sudden absence from their first attempt at a pre-natal appointment. "So what are you two off to do tonight? State dinner?"

The penthouse was really designed with fliers in mind. While there were stairs, the upper floors all had easy balconies to float off of and the view of Freedom City was stunning from the large windows that filled one of the rounded walls. Mark and Nina had been over enough to know that there were multiple bedrooms and bathrooms on the subsequent floors but usually Alex and Mike tended to primarily use the open living space for most of their day to day. "Hello, Mark, Nina!" Alex called cheerfully as she floated off of the balcony, a box in her arms. For once, Alex wasn't dressed fresh from work. Her red curls were loose and she wore comfortable leggings under a loose long top with the sort of bright colors that she favored. "And Ritchie. Hello. I picked up a few toys for you, Ritchie, would you like to see what we have?" She held out the box of unboxed, though new, toddler toys for Ritchie to poke through and offered Mark and Nina an easy smile. "Don't worry. We're happy to watch him. I don't suppose you're actually getting a date night out of it; Work?"

"Well, I think it would be fun to plan a wedding. Min and Erik were married long before I came along to cause trouble, after all, so no meddling from me there. In all my many and varied years, I've never planned a wedding," Talya commented, her tone light and conversational and her expression relaxed and easy. One would never know she was picking her way across a personal minefield to look at her lovely, composed features. "I did steal from a wedding once. I wonder if that counts." Her expression softened as her gaze dropped to Eden's excited features, the polished mask falling away. "And you do look stunning, my little love. Do you think you might like to dance? It's not a wedding reception if there's no dancing, after all." She held out her slender hand, coaxing Eden away from Min and Erik. The eldest of the Espadas children laughed as she was twirled under Talya's fingertips, her skirt flaring out. "Thank you for having us, Gina. It's a rare party where we can all just be ourselves. As Mara said, its easy to get caught up in just keeping the day to day afloat."

"Everything. All the things!" Andromeda said, watching his movements before copying them carefully. Once she'd buckled herself into the car, she ran her fingertips over the leather and metal of the car - not the first person to touch the Danger!Mobile with wide-eyed wonder but she moved onto the sunglasses on the console with the same degree of fascination. While Ace talked, she opened up the glasses and lifted them up to her eyes, looking through the darkened lenses and then over them before repeating the gesture. "I want to see the oceans and the mountains and the woods and the cities. All of it!" She set the glasses on the tip of her nose, looking over at Ace a little cross eyed as she tried to watch his face over the sunglasses lenses, "I thought that it was amazing when you all figured out how to make fire but, oh my goodness, then you just exploded! Not just in numbers but in all the things you make. There's so very many THINGS and not just things you need for food or shelter but just... making things to have made them! Do you know how rare that is? It's a gift and I've been wanting to see all of it for ever so long. And now I'm here! I had to wait and wait and WAIT until my heart stopped burning and it was time to end and begin again. Ages and ages."

Name: Janus Danger Codename: None! Year: Junior Pronouns: They/Them Current Intramural Team: Current Roommate: Veronica Danger Reflection: I spent a lot of last year grieving for the home that I left. I want to spend this year looking forward and becoming more comfortable in who I am here. School Club: Drama Club or Choir, maybe Band

"I like Andromeda. I was very flattered when I was given it. Not all of us get names and it really doesn't occur to us to name ourselves. I've been thinking of myself as Andromeda for ages. Well, not AGES, you haven't known about me all that long in the span of existence but it was nice to be noticed!" Andromeda offered with a cheerful smile that was equal parts pride in her name and reassurance. Once again, she patted his arm lightly, "And I don't mind. I know that I'm not human, not really, though it's an interesting condition. I didn't want to start by lying. I mean, I can make this form look more... uhm, human? That's not quite the right word but it'll have to do. But as soon as I open mouth, I know that I sound very alien. I couldn't hear really, not at that distance, just watch and observe. I caught radio sometimes when you started to make those but I know that it's bound to seem a little off so it seems like its best to make that clear right up front and this is easier than wearing a sign that says 'new to humanity', don't you think?" She let out a little breath of relief as they left the confines of the League building. Andromeda dropped his arm to spread her arms wide and turn her face up towards the sun. "It's SO blue. There's SO MUCH blue. Do you find that overwhelming?" She asked, face tipped up towards the sky. "I mean, I understand WHY. The light breaks apart in your atmosphere and scatters all the blue waves about first so its reflecting on millions and millions and millions of particles but its one thing to KNOW it and another to SEE it. I can't wait to see the sun set over the horizon. I didn't want to miss my first sunset."

"I didn't choose my name, well, not REALLY. I go by the ones that your astronomers picked; Andromeda. Although it technically covers more than a few of my nearby fellows, they won't mind at all. They don't really pay much attention to your corner of space but I do. I think it's fascinating." Andromeda offered cheerfully. "In your newspapers, they called me the star child but that's not EXACTLY accurate. I'm not the child of a star, certainly, and I'm not a child at all; most definitely. I haven't been a juvenile for ever so long but then most of the story wasn't the MOST accurate. I mean, I didn't fall at all, not really. Well, not until I hit the atmosphere and even that was, well, aimed!" She tucked her hand through the offered arm, offering a cheerful smile as she added, "What do I call you? Are you to be my keeper? I don't really need one but I know I'm not a prisoner but wandering around alone seems to make everyone nervous. I really, REALLY wouldn't hurt anyone. That would be wrong and cruel and callous and I try to be none of those things. I really didn't even fall, its just I was travelling very, very fast and it was a little hard to be close to this city but also not hit anything or anyone. There's so much life here, you see, that its difficult to find a place to impact without causing trouble. I couldn't even see how full the park was until I was through the atmosphere, you know, because it's a lot to try and do all at once, build a body and land and not hit anyone on the way down. It takes effort! I keep telling everyone that it wasn't an accident but I think that they may have some doubts which, I mean, I suppose I understand. I am ever so new to THIS form but I was careful."

It had been a long, long day. Huang had retreated to the Void, silent and sullen, and Taylor had managed to soothe JJ to a fitful sleep finally. His hiccuping sobs would haunt her for a long, long time. She was somewhere past implacable rage and bottomless grief to a place far more dangers; grim determination. Alone, in her sanctum, Taylor looked every inch the mage sans parallel that she was. Hadn't she sacrificed enough? Hadn't her children sacrificed enough? With a grimace she swiped one hand through the air and sent Jack's last note spinning away across the room to vanish into a wooden box. A flick of her fingers bound the box in magic. She'd not let either of her children read that letter yet. JJ was... too young. Too much his father's son and Taylor wasn't about to let Jack's fears and issues of control swamp their son. Not for the first time, she curled her fingers around crackling power as it rose unbidden. She could send out magic and resources. Her husband was very, very good at hiding but the days that he outstripped her powers were long gone. But what then? If he was even still alive... Taylor's hands curled into fists, crushing the light to flickers and embers between her fingers. For all of her power, she couldn't make Jack want to fight for his humanity. All she could do now was deal with the aftermath... Gathering up her power once more, Taylor sent it down to fill the circle at her feet, charging it for a great work as books flew from her shelves at her call. She'd never made a simulacrum before, and this one had to be perfect. Something that would pass as human to mortals and be able to defend her children in a fight... Something that the vampiric half of her offspring would be able to accept into their home... Something that would love them and be able to... if not take the place of their father, at least provide some sort of paternal presence... As the glowing figure took shape slowly in the center of Phantom's circle, she stepped to the side to pour wine into a glass and eye the rough form with a critical eye. Deliberately, she built the form to have a passing familial resemblance but no more. Rougher, older. More worn, more human. Someone who could pass for an 'uncle', perhaps. Someone who it wouldn't hurt to look at every day. Damn you, Jack. Setting the empty wine glass down on her desk, Taylor sketched out symbols rapidly with her fingers; filling the simulacrum with pathos and life and purpose built out of her best memories, and her worst ones. She threaded the void through its veins and the earth through its bones and tied its purpose to the boys. Without Jack it was just her and she had so many enemies. They had so many enemies and after everything else, Taylor could not face losing her boys. "Live," it was a command; it was an adjuration.

A few of the staff members were watching the woman in the waiting room with the same fascination that she was following the fish in the aquarium. Her white hair floated around her face, and her slender back was to Ace as she pressed her gloved hands to the glass of the aquarium. Her nose was almost pressed against the glass. "But WHY do you keep the fish in a habitat in your building? Is it just to watch them swim? They are brightly colored. You have so very many creatures on this world... how do you even come up with names for all of them?" Her nose was all but pressed to the glass until Ace spoke and she turned with a bright smile on her features. Ace was one of the few people who might catch the resemblance to the dryads that the Preservers had made. None of the humans that Andromeda had encountered had any knowledge of those protectors but she really had tried to make a form that would show that she meant no harm to the humans or their planet. She offered Ace a bright smile. "I made 'a scene' when I arrived but not a GOOD scene. There are differences. It wasn't like a wedding but more like a car accident," Andromeda recited, "And I do not want to make BAD scenes. I just want to see the planet and all of the people and all of the THINGS. You have so very many things." Andromeda offered as she turned around and splayed her hands to her sides, the gesture wide, "Do you do the palm pressing of greeting? The hand shake? It is important that I ask before touching. Touching without asking is rude."

Ray let out a little breath. He had no idea about Jessie's internal issues but even with powers, he was well away that meeting some strange dude after talking on messaging service, even having met face to face once before, was a fraught topic. Mindful of the nuances, he offered a public enough place that didn't require Jessie sharing more information than she wanted to about her life. 'Well, you already know my shop, why don't we meet in front of there and we'll head up to the city together?' The advantage of running his own business meant making his own hours and Ray didn't have to look at his calendar to know about the appointments he'd already scheduled for the week. 'Wednesday sounds good to me. I can finish up my last client before lunch and then close up for the afternoon. I'll put your number in my phone. Just text me if you want to cancel or reschedule.' Ray paused and then added, 'Night, Jessie. And, in Aquaria's defense, human relationships are super weird and complicated. See you Weds.'

Sofi's notice check: 19 Alas, close but no cigar. Will save check: 14, 15, 10

'I don't although I like animals' Ray couldn't help but bite back a smile. Hence the question about liking dogs on the profile, 'Just as long as you don't hate it. Life's to short to spend it spending lots of hours on something that you hate. I mean, once you have the necessities covered. Food, shelter, a bit of fun, all that.' Ray turned his head to glance at the clock again and found himself surprised at how much time had passed, 'Life's also too short to miss out on museums. You free sometime this week? I can swing by and we can go by the Met. Just as friends not as weird... Eros website whatever this thing is. Nothing weird or creepy; you have my word as an ex-angel.' There was no smiley face, but hopefully his dry humor came across nonetheless.

Mia pouted at her father, tiny fists frozen in a solid guard position. Having four children under ten and a dojo downstairs meant that alot of rambunctious wiggle time was in play-as-practice. She huffed a sigh and recited, "Only to protect myself or someone that needs it," Mia recited and then scrunched her nose at her father, adding, "An' when I do hit them, I make sure they don' get up to try 'gain. I heard you say that in class today! Mommy let me come down to watch cuz Terry an' Emmy were taking a nap an I'm a big girl an don't NEED naps no more." "Were you being too rambunctious to let the twins sleep, my little love? I thought you were going to be good for your mother while I ran out to the store," there was too much fondness for that to be scolding, as she ruffled the girls fair hair and offered Jack a smile. "And that's right, my darling, if we knock someone onto the ground, we want to make sure they stay there." Talya smiled, a small curve of her lips as she offered that advice that was SURE to come back around to cause problems on the school yard later, no doubt. There was more than one reason that their children were going to Nicholson, after all. Her gaze travelled back to Octoman as she waited to make sure he was watching her mouth before she spoke again, "It's up to you, in the end. If you want help breaking the news to your parents, we can help there. If you'd rather keep your secret, I'll see what we can do about surreptitious admission to Claremont academy. And, yes, I will give you the address here if you get in trouble or need a superhero who's an adult. I trust that we don't have to tell you just how important it is that you not share our personal information with anyone." Talya tipped her head towards the little girl giggling in Jack's arms as she tried to capture one of Octoman's waving tentacles. "This IS our headquarters but its also our home."

Signature was getting too long, so I am putting things here! - Character Master List Reward Tracker Phantom (PL14 Hero) - | Reputation | Guidebook | HellQ | Interview | Portrait | 20Q | News | Eros Unlimited | Playlist "Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it." - Terry Pratchett Psyche (PL12 Hero) - | Reputation | Guidebook | HellQ | Interview | Portrait | 20Q | News | Eros Unlimited | Playlist "She's been everybody else's girl maybe one day she'll be her own." - Tori Amos Nighthawk (PL10 Hero) - | Reputation | Guidebook | HellQ | Interview | Portrait | 20Q | News | Eros Unlimited | Playlist "I fear not the man who has practiced ten thousand kicks one time, but the man who has practiced one kick ten thousand times." - Bruce Lee Bombshell (PL10 Hero) - | Reputation | Guidebook | HellQ | Interview | Portrait | 20Q | News | Eros Unlimited | Playlist "I've never been the girl next door." - Bettie Page Volcanic (PL10 Hero) - | Reputation | Guidebook | HellQ | Interview | Portrait | 20Q | News | Eros Unlimited | Playlist "The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul, on fire." - Ferdinand Foch Renegade (PL10 Hero) - | Reputation | Guidebook | HellQ | Interview | Portrait | 20Q | News | Eros Unlimited | Playlist "Doubt is not the opposite of faith. It is one element of faith." - Paul Tillich Sofia Orellana (PL8 Hero) - | Reputation | Guidebook | HellQ | Interview | Portrait | 20Q | News | Eros Unlimited | Playlist "A lot of hacking is playing with other people, you know, getting them to do strange things" - Steve Wozniac Janus Danger (PL10 Hero) - | Reputation | Guidebook | HellQ | Interview | Portrait | 20Q | News | Eros Unlimited | Playlist 'Is this a story that you know? / Are you sure that where it leads you / Is a place you want to go? / Do you really understand? / The moment that you leave the path / The future's in your hands...' - Seanan Mcguire Star Child (PL10 Hero) - | Reputation | Guidebook | HellQ | Interview | Portrait | 20Q | News | Eros Unlimited | Playlist