alderwitch

Alex joined her, curling up in a chair opposite with her legs tucked under. "Oh, Faith wasn't all bad..." Alex said although she laughed a little at the memory. "I'm looking forward to meeting her especially if she has your stamp of approval. Do you think it'll last? Of course, Mark really was voted most likely to marry his reformed nemesis. I'm fairly sure that was in his senior yearbook page." "I hear about his UN work - I think everyone does, though," Alex commented as she waved one hand towards the television. "He's really making quite the name for himself. Not that that's surprising. It's kind of nice to see him really making all those plans he had come true. Getting together could be fun. It's been an awfully long time. I imagine between all of us we could manage something quiet."

"Nope," Alex said, still clearly planning some elaborate tea-party type affair in her head as she rubbed her hands together. She'd probably tone it down by the time she actually put things together. Probably. Alex actually DID know Erin's preferences after all these years. It was just a question of her self restraint. Her gaze turned back to Erin and away from thoughts of cupcakes. "Although I had heard he'd settled down into something serious. I try to keep tabs on everyone but it's really not the same. Have you met her though?"

Nighthawk Power Level: 10/12 (171/204PP) Trade-Offs: None Unspent Power Points: 33PP In Brief: Fens Street Vigilante given a free ride at Claremont Academy (Or... what if Bruce Wayne had been poor and female!) Residence: Claremont Academy (Formerly a runaway) Base of Operations: The Fens Catchphrase: "Yeah, it's a crappy part of town but its my crappy part of town." Alternate Identity: Robin Chevalier Identity: Secret Birthplace: Freedom City Occupation: Student, Former Street Rat Affiliations: Family: Deceased / Foster kid runaway Description: Age: 16 (DoB: October 30, 1999) Apparent Age: Same Gender: Female Ethnicity: Biracial (African American / Caucasian) Height: 5'5" Weight: 145 lbs. Eyes: Grey Hair: Black Robin is built like a gymnast or athlete although it's usually hidden in baggy, tattered clothes. Her dark curly hair is braided back or, when loose, stuffed under whatever second-hand cap she can find. Her worn leather jacket is well loved and has been patched more that once but its her most common accessory. As Nighthawk, she wears a black fabric mask that covers her hair and the upper half of her face. It was cobbled together from a black t-shirt and a ragged shirt under her leather jacket marked with a bird in flight and steel-toed boots. Power Descriptions: Nighthawk has no overt powers. She's a world class athlete and gymnast and a self-taught hand to hand combatant with two years of street fighting experience. The fact that she's accomplished so much on her own is remarkable but as far as anyone knows or has tested, it comes from no supernatural source just an uncanny natural ability and a dogged determination for justice that earned her a spot at Claremont academy. History: Robin's early life was a happy one. Her family wasn't wealthy by any stretch of the imagination but they were making ends meet in the Fens and working towards a better future. Although there wasn't much in the way of disposable income, her parents set just enough aside that she could take classes; tumbling, acrobatics, gymnastics. Robin had a real talent for it and although she did well in school, her heart was in the sport and it was clear she had a potential future in it. By the time she was ten, there was serious talk of turning competitive and perhaps eventually, taking a run at the Olympics. However that life, and all of those plans, were derailed the night her parents never came home from their date night. Despite her efforts, Robin's run down only the vaguest of details, that they were shot and robbed on their way back home. With her parents dead and no next of kin, Robin was shuttled into foster homes. Her foster-care wasn't bad, but it wasn't spectacular. Overcrowded and ill equipped, Robin's anger had no productive outlet and she became problematic for her care givers. She got into fights at school and at home that she lost more often than she won. Robin could have gone down a very dark path indeed but when lurking in the alley that had claimed her parents life, perhaps hoping for some illumination, she chanced on another robbery in progress. At last, her anger had an outlet. Driven by sorrow and rage, and backed with years of hard-won strength and nimbleness, she drove off the attacker. It gave Robin a sense of purpose. She couldn't bring her parents back, but she could try to keep anyone else from feeling that loss. That night, Robin left home for good, haunting the streets as a pint-sized vigilante at night and training during the day harder than she'd ever trained before. It's been two years since she began her self-appointed watch and she'd still be in the Fens but for an offer from the Claremont headmaster. It's no surprise that Nighthawk's efforts resonate with someone who once wore the cowl of Raven but without proper training, Robin's flirting with an early grave for all of her potential. As for Robin, she's been told that Claremont might have the sort of resources to help her find the men that killed her parents. The regular meals and hot showers don't hurt though. Personality & Motivation: Robin's claimed the Fens as her own and it bothers her to be away even though she's well aware that the offer of 'unique teaching' that Claremont can provide is something she is in desperate need of. She's used to being on her own and comfortable with the odd life she'd carved out. The attempt to return to even Claremont-normal teenage life is a bizarre experience and it discomfits her, although Robin does her best not to betray that particular weakness. She's more comfortable in what she knows, which at this point is generally fighting or looking for someone to fight. Still, she has a lot more potential than just her fists, she's canny and cunning and learning to use those as weapons in the same way she's learned to use her fists. Justice and a need to protect those that can't protect themselves are very much her driving goals but she still has a short-sided view of how to accomplish it. Powers & Tactics: Robin is a world-class athlete - fast, strong and sturdy and backed with an iron-will to push herself past her limits. In a fight, Robin relies on her fists as they've always been the one weapon she can count on. Her style is a mix-mashed hodge podge of quick strikes and she's entirely willing to use every dirty trick she has at her disposal to win. Any fight you can walk away from is perfectly fair. Robin's willing to toe-to-toe slug fest it out but she's also comfortable with cutting and running to strike from a higher vantage point and will exploit her acrobatic experience to gain the advantage. She's no mindless scrapper, though. Robin's very smart and although she's not had proper school in years, she has a knack for picking up information and odd skills. Her background on the streets has left her with a unique skill set. Robin knows the Fens like the back of her own hand. Further, she has the advantage of having been an active street level hero before her time at Claremont. Complications: Impoverished: Robin has nothing of her own but her clothing, not even bus fare. She's got all the skills TO steal but unless its for survival, its against her moral code. It's a hard knock life and having no family or pocket money isn't exactly helping her outsider status. Justice: She can't let go of what happened to her parents and its an ever burning need. Although the trail is long cold, if Robin can find a thread of who might have done it, she's going to have to follow it to the ground. On top of that, her parents have been tied to the Fens and the fact that she's left it 'undefended' bothers her regularly. Sometimes the draw is too hard to resist. Experienced: Sometimes experience isn't a good thing. Robin can be impatient with exercises that she feels are less than helpful or, worse, that she already knows. Yes, her school of hard knocks has its perks but it also has its draw backs and sometimes its harder to unlearn something to learn how to do it properly. Abilities: 20 + 20 + 20 + 12 + 8 + 10 = 90 PP Strength: 30 (+10) Dexterity: 30 (+10) Constitution: 30 (+10) Intelligence: 22 (+6) Wisdom: 18 (+4) Charisma: 20 (+5) Combat: 20 + 20 = 40PP Initiative: +10 Attack: +`10 Melee, +10 Ranged Grapple: +20 Defense: +10 (+10 Base, +0 Dodge Focus), +10 Flat-Footed Knockback: -5 Saving Throws: 0 + 0 + 5 = 6PP Toughness: +10 (+10 Con, +0 [Other]) Fortitude: +10 (+10 Con, +0) Reflex: +10 (+10 Dex, +0) Will: +10 (+4 Wis, +6) Skills: 32R = 8PP Acrobatics 4 (+14) Climb 4 (+14) Disable Device 4 (+14) Escape Artist 4 (+14) Gather Information 8 (+13) Stealth 4 (+14) Survival 4 (+8) Feats: 21PP Attractive Beginner's Luck Blind-Fight Chokehold Contacts Eidetic Memory Elusive Target Endurance Evasion x 2 Hide in Plain Sight Improvised Tools Instant Up Interpose Jack of All Trades Luck Power Attack Takedown Attack 2 Ultimate Save (Will) Well Informed Powers: 2 + 2 + 3 = 7PP Leaping 1 (x2 Running 40', Standing 20', High 10'; Power Feat: Innate ) (Training) [2 PP] Speed 1 ( 10 MPH, Power Feat: Innate ) (Cosmic) [2 PP] Super Movement 1 ( Slow Fall, Power Feat: Innate ) (Training) [3 PP] Drawbacks: (-1) = -1PP Drawback Impoverished; [-1PP] DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC 20 Toughness Damage (Physical) Totals: Abilities (90) + Combat (40) + Saving Throws (6) + Skills (8) + Feats (21) + Powers (7) - Drawbacks (1) = 171/204 Power Points

"It's not a race," Alex said with a laugh and leaned towards Erin, bumping her shoulder against Erin's arm rather than giving her another tight hug. Erin wasn't the only one who'd learned how to compromise in physical interaction, "And both people have to be ready. I couldn't be more happy to be your maid of honor." Alex all but bounced on her bare feet, her hands moving in rapid gestures at her excitement of all the things to do. She, after all, loved a project and especially a project that could be stuffed in a glitter bound note book without any funny looks. Not to mention it was excellent reason to de-camp from her tower and see her friend more often without having to feel guilty that she wasn't actively saving the world, or being productive in other metrics. "Ohhh, and I get to do your bridal shower. You'll have to let me know who you want to be there. It'll all be perfect!"

"Everyone has a lot of crazy under the surface," Alex pointed out phlegmatically as only a telepath really could. She glanced towards the DuTemps building and smiled. The castle had always appealed to Alex's own sense of whimsy. "Especially in our line of work." She'd said 'our' despite her ostensible retirement. Deep down, Alex still considered herself a hero. She probably always would even when hiding from the world in her glass tower. "You don't really want to get married in Vegas, you're just not sure you're comfortable with traditional because it feels too normal, I think. And you know you're not normal. I'm not normal either but that doesn't mean you can't have a little bit of normal every now and again." Alex chuckled, "Its just going to be the people you care about. We're not going to care if you do it full nine yards with a floaty white princess dress or if you ask everyone to come armed for the inevitable party crashing of aliens or extra dimensional entities. We're just going to be there to be happy for you. Well, and bring you presents." "Jessie is going to be just fine, too. It'll be easier for you and Jessie to be close once she's not dependent on you. She's no more well suited towards needing someone than you were. Worse, in some ways."

"I'm sure that we can get coffee catered," Alex replied with a confidence born from running a major business. If there wasn't a place that did that, there would be someone willing to by the time Erin had her wedding. It wasn't like Alex had been willing to acknowledge that the world had limitations before she had a multibillion dollar empire at her disposal. "Get some high end pastries and deserts to go with it if you'd like rather than a proper dinner..." As Erin's concern bubbled up, Alex let her plans and thoughts fade away and her grin softened to a gentle smile, "Erin, getting married is just a celebration of a relationship that already exists. It's no more than that and no less than that. All it means is that you're standing up in front of friends and saying 'this person loves me at my best and my worst, and I'm going to keep putting the time and effort in to support them in all that they do'. And we're just there to cheer you on because its that's a wonderful thing, that you've found someone you want to walk with for the foreseeable future. And then there's cake." Alex's smile brightened then, her hands spreading wide with a quick gesture, "Cake and dancing. Which are awesome." Her laugh was quick and light, very much 'old Alex'. She sobered then and added, "But if you want to wait - if you feel like that's what you should do, then of course you should wait. But only if you feel that's what you want to do for you. There's nothing wrong with never getting married, or staying engaged for a long time. It doesn't matter what everyone else in the world thinks about could and should and ought. What matters is what's right for you and what's right for Trevor and those are the only things that matter - because it really isn't about anyone else."

Darnit! Ah well. I liked that name too Starling might work, or Peregrine. I almost went with Nighthawk but assumed that would be taken. I actually really like Nighthawk. As to the stat block, I thought about that but based the stats on this: But I bought them as regular stats as her abilities can't be nullified. She does fall into the realm of superhuman compared to normal but by her background, that's nothing other than exemplary effort with the caveat that she might find out more about her 'true origins' during some story if that becomes a direction to take her in. I anticipate the commentary on her to be akin to Batman in world, I mean, that although she's not technically a metahuman, she isn't 'normal' either.

Character Idea for Claremont Academy enrollment Player Name: Alderwitch Character Name: Nightingale Power Level: 10 (150/150PP) Trade-Offs: None Unspent Power Points: 0 Progress To Bronze Status: 0/30 In Brief: Fens Street Vigilante given a free ride at Claremont Academy (Or... what if Bruce Wayne had been poor and female!) Residence: Claremont Academy (Formerly a runaway) Base of Operations: The Fens Catchphrase: "Yeah, it's a crappy part of town but its my crappy part of town." Alternate Identity: Robin Chevalier Identity: Secret Birthplace: Freedom City Occupation: Student, Former Street Rat Affiliations: Family: Deceased / Foster kid runaway Description: Age: 16 (DoB: October 30, 1999) Apparent Age: Same Gender: Female Ethnicity: Biracial (African American / Caucasian) Height: 5'5" Weight: 145 lbs. Eyes: Grey Hair: Black Robin is built like a gymnast or athlete although it's usually hidden in baggy, tattered clothes. Her dark curly hair is braided back or, when loose, stuffed under whatever second-hand cap she can find. Her worn leather jacket is well loved and has been patched more that once but its her most common accessory. As Nightingale, she wears a black fabric mask that covers her hair and the upper half of her face. It was cobbled together from a black t-shirt and a ragged shirt under her leather jacket marked with a bird in flight and steel-toed boots. Power Descriptions: Nightingale has no overt powers. She's a world class athlete and gymnast and a self-taught hand to hand combatant with two years of street fighting experience. The fact that she's accomplished so much on her own is remarkable but as far as anyone knows or has tested, it comes from no supernatural source just an uncanny natural ability and a dogged determination for justice that earned her a spot at Claremont academy. History: Robin's early life was a happy one. Her family wasn't wealthy by any stretch of the imagination but they were making ends meet in the Fens and working towards a better future. Although there wasn't much in the way of disposable income, her parents set just enough aside that she could take classes; tumbling, acrobatics, gymnastics. Robin had a real talent for it and although she did well in school, her heart was in the sport and it was clear she had a potential future in it. By the time she was ten, there was serious talk of turning competitive and perhaps eventually, taking a run at the Olympics. However that life, and all of those plans, were derailed the night her parents never came home from their date night. Despite her efforts, Robin's run down only the vaguest of details, that they were shot and robbed on their way back home. With her parents dead and no next of kin, Robin was shuttled into foster homes. Her foster-care wasn't bad, but it wasn't spectacular. Overcrowded and ill equipped, Robin's anger had no productive outlet and she became problematic for her care givers. She got into fights at school and at home that she lost more often than she won. Robin could have gone down a very dark path indeed but when lurking in the alley that had claimed her parents life, perhaps hoping for some illumination, she chanced on another robbery in progress. At last, her anger had an outlet. Driven by sorrow and rage, and backed with years of hard-won strength and nimbleness, she drove off the attacker. It gave Robin a sense of purpose. She couldn't bring her parents back, but she could try to keep anyone else from feeling that loss. That night, Robin left home for good, haunting the streets as a pint-sized vigilante at night and training during the day harder than she'd ever trained before. It's been two years since she began her self-appointed watch and she'd still be in the Fens but for an offer from the Claremont headmaster. It's no surprise that Nightingale's efforts resonate with someone who once wore the cowl of Raven but without proper training, Robin's flirting with an early grave for all of her potential. As for Robin, she's been told that Claremont might have the sort of resources to help her find the men that killed her parents. The regular meals and hot showers don't hurt though. Personality & Motivation: Robin's claimed the Fens as her own and it bothers her to be away even though she's well aware that the offer of 'unique teaching' that Claremont can provide is something she is in desperate need of. She's used to being on her own and comfortable with the odd life she'd carved out. The attempt to return to even Claremont-normal teenage life is a bizarre experience and it discomfits her, although Robin does her best not to betray that particular weakness. She's more comfortable in what she knows, which at this point is generally fighting or looking for someone to fight. Still, she has a lot more potential than just her fists, she's canny and cunning and learning to use those as weapons in the same way she's learned to use her fists. Justice and a need to protect those that can't protect themselves are very much her driving goals but she still has a short-sided view of how to accomplish it. Powers & Tactics: Robin is a world-class athlete - fast, strong and sturdy and backed with an iron-will to push herself past her limits. In a fight, Robin relies on her fists as they've always been the one weapon she can count on. Her style is a mix-mashed hodge podge of quick strikes and she's entirely willing to use every dirty trick she has at her disposal to win. Any fight you can walk away from is perfectly fair. Robin's willing to toe-to-toe slug fest it out but she's also comfortable with cutting and running to strike from a higher vantage point and will exploit her acrobatic experience to gain the advantage. She's no mindless scrapper, though. Robin's very smart and although she's not had proper school in years, she has a knack for picking up information and odd skills. Her background on the streets has left her with a unique skill set. Robin knows the Fens like the back of her own hand. Further, she has the advantage of having been an active street level hero before her time at Claremont. Complications: Impoverished: Robin has nothing of her own but her clothing, not even bus fare. She's got all the skills TO steal but unless its for survival, its against her moral code. It's a hard knock life and having no family or pocket money isn't exactly helping her outsider status. Justice: She can't let go of what happened to her parents and its an ever burning need. Although the trail is long cold, if Robin can find a thread of who might have done it, she's going to have to follow it to the ground. On top of that, her parents have been tied to the Fens and the fact that she's left it 'undefended' bothers her regularly. Sometimes the draw is too hard to resist. Experienced: Sometimes experience isn't a good thing. Robin can be impatient with exercises that she feels are less than helpful or, worse, that she already knows. Yes, her school of hard knocks has its perks but it also has its draw backs and sometimes its harder to unlearn something to learn how to do it properly. Abilities: 20 + 20 + 20 + 12 + 8 + 10 = 90 PP Strength: 30 (+10) Dexterity: 30 (+10) Constitution: 30 (+10) Intelligence: 22 (+6) Wisdom: 18 (+4) Charisma: 20 (+5) Combat: 20 + 20 = 40PP Initiative: +10 Attack: +`10 Melee, +10 Ranged Grapple: +10 Defense: +10 (+10 Base, +0 Dodge Focus), +10 Flat-Footed Knockback: -5 Saving Throws: 0 + 0 + 1 = 1PP Toughness: +10 (+10 Con, +0 [Other]) Fortitude: +10 (+10 Con, +0) Reflex: +10 (+10 Dex, +0) Will: +5 (+4 Wis, +1) Skills: 24R = 6PP Acrobatics 4 (+14)Climb 4 (+14)Disable Device 4 (+14)Escape Artist 4 (+14)Gather Information 8 (+13) Feats: 14PP AttractiveBeginner's LuckBlind-FightChokeholdContactsEidetic MemoryElusive TargetEnduranceEvasion x 2Improvised ToolsInstant UpJack of All TradesWell Informed Powers: 0 + 0 + 0 = 0PP Drawbacks: (-1) = -1PP Drawback Impoverished; [-1PP] DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC 20 Toughness Damage (Physical) Totals: Abilities (90) + Combat (40) + Saving Throws (1) + Skills (6) + Feats (14) + Powers (0) - Drawbacks (1) = 150/150 Power Points

Hey! So, before our long hiatus, I had an art requests thread and I am re-opening that at least for the moment! I'll update the thread if the request queue has to be suspended for real life at some point. A few caveats: I cannot promise to do these in the exact order they are requested. Some characters are harder for me than others and I'll usually get the ones that are easy and less complicated done quicker as I often have multiple pieces going at once in progress. They'll also be posted to my art tumbler (which you are welcome to check out but the work there is not always PG 13 and might be NSFW: http://rowanwoodwritings.tumblr.com ) You are welcome to request couples/pairings/groups. Group pictures take me for-ev-er. I can't promise quick turn arounds on anything but especially on group shots.If its for Freedom City, it'll have to be PG-13 though I was at one point working on pin up shots for a calendar for FreedomCity (tasteful pin ups!) cuz I don't want to get in trouble with the admins!Pin the request in the thread below with: The character(s) in question and a link to their sheetAny links to references regarding the character or requested posesIf you have specifics, like costume or civvies, full body or bust, the more you give me sooner, the better! UPDATE: Character Requests Alderwitch PhantomCostumed / Cover Shot / Couple (Avenger)Angrydurf PhalanxCostumed / Half Body / Couple (Psyche)SandmanCostumed / 3/4 BodyAvenger Assembled HarrierCivvies / Background / Couple (Cyberknife)Electra WanderCivvies / BustGizmo MidnightCivvies / BustRaveled MirasCostumed / 3/4 BodyTiffany Korta TriakosiaCostumed / Full Body Thread Illustrations Invasion: Danger Manor (Thread Located Here) (Characters: Avenger, Colt, Geckoman, Grim, Phantom) Upcoming: Electra's Wander and Midnight II (thread illustration) WIPGizmo's Ghost Girl (costume)The Osprey's Seahawk (costume)My Alex and Taylor bustsCurrent Requests (Not Yet Begun): Gizmo: Ghost Girl & Wraith (candid), Jack & Willow (family portrait), Interceptors (team picture)Angrydurf: Ouroboros (portrait)Thunder King: Crimson Tiger (portrait)Raveled: Blue Jay (bust)Electra: Hologram (portrait)Tiffany Korta: Miss Grue (portrait), Current Claremont Kids (class picture)Personal: Young Freedom: Year One (class picture) -Alder

"Of course," Alex said loyally, "I'll even help managing Mark's expectations if you'd like." She added with a brief flash of a smile. "He just wants you two to have the best of weddings. It's just that his idea of 'best' and yours are fairly divergent. Still, he can be brought around given time and effort. We'll all be there to make sure its the day that you want. That's what friends are for." She tapped one finger to her lips, "I think an outdoor wedding would be lovely. We can do a small celebration after too! A little bit of catering, a decorated tent. Ohhhh... sparkly lights. We should wrap sparkly lights around all the trees... do the wedding at sunset and then dinner and dancing after!" Someone may have been planning weddings in spiral bound notebooks for much of her life. Of course, Erin had SEEN those notebooks so at least this was scaled down. Right?

Phantom at least wasn't lurking all cloak and cowl, immaterial in the frozen foods freezer but she was at the market on semi-official business. Naturally, not her actual day job official sort of business - translators didn't generally care about how dimensional refugees were adjusting to their life - but the inter dimensional guardian of the Pact did. Taylor might have been dressed in her civvies but she wasn't pushing a cart and she was following the two girls once she'd picked up the particular tang of Jessie's dimensional signature. The physical potency of Jessie was of less concern than whether her presence was causing a dimensional anomaly that could rip things apart. That was the sort of scale that Phantom generally concerned herself with. Of course, that still meant that she was meandering after the cluster of young woman looking like she was going to try and boost one of their wallets like some sort of disreputable teenager in her bomber jacket and torn jeans, a battered hat shielding her eyes and half of her face.

Alex glanced down and then towards the distant skyline, "It's hard without anyone else. I don't... balance well on my own. I just, you know, work." She admitted, rocking slightly on her toes. "And its about more than Mike and Zoe. Its about all of us that didn't know about Claremont. It's about Jessie. It's about the prison. I want AEON to be a place you know you can come if you end up with abilities you don't understand, that you can't explain. And we're getting there." She smiled, "Its not like a golden cage, not really. But I'm not as happy as I could be, I imagine." Alex turned her gaze up towards Wander and admitted, "But Zoe warped reality. There's a good chance that if she ever exists in THIS timeline, we'll need to understand what she can do better. AEON's a way towards that too. I probably need to get out more." Her gaze slid up towards Erin, her smile turning teasing, "But there's all the wedding stuff to add to my plate now. Even small intimate weddings need a bit of pizzazz, right?"

"Don't be," Alex said with a smile of genuine warmth. Her body relaxed enough that her posture was a bit more normal Alex and a bit less unhappy, drowned cat Alex. Her smile was bright, crinkling the corners of her eyes. "I know that you don't feel that what you did in founding this place was all that important but you're a part of it and you always will be - even if you never need it." "Besides, there are key steps you missed, like me convincing Mark of the plan and him telling everyone what the plan WAS..." she laughed and relaxed further, setting her bottle of water down. "Just because they aren't the way they used to be, doesn't mean it can't be good now. If you ever need a plan, I'm happy to come up with one and my door is always open for boardgames night. Or just to talk." "I missed you too, Erin. It's lonely here." Alex said as she set the water bottle down to walk towards the window and its view, where Erin stood in front of it. "I like my employees but they're not my friends. Not in the same way. I could have come to visit too so its just as much my fault, if not more so. It's not like I can't find you if I'm really looking."

"Yes. And no." Alex said, her fingers around her water bottle almost too tight. "I miss our friends. I miss saving the world together. I don't miss people being afraid of what I could do. Or be. I don't miss being afraid of myself but maybe it's better than lying to myself. I don't honestly know." You could always count on honest answers to personal questions with Alex, at least. She tapped the water bottle to her lip, her gaze thoughtful, "I have a lot to do here. And I like working here, helping people. It doesn't get dull and we're starting to get people trusting us, turning to AEON when their powers have gone wildly out of control. It's a different sort of saving the world. It's not the same though." She smiled then, shaking off the melancholy that seemed too close to the surface. "Mike misses you too. He's proud, you know, of all of what you guys are doing. You know if you ever need us, I'm just a thought away. Seems like you've got things well in hand, though."

Alex sighed, shaking her head slightly, but not so much in disagreement as in dismay, "He used a false identity to get into the academy in the first place. They wouldn't have taken him otherwise," she said, her voice dropping like someone might hear that their straight-arrow friend was committing serious identity fraud, among other things. "So its less judgement, more potential criminal activity." Alex gave a slight lift of her shoulders, "You're right, though. It won't last. It can't. The first time he's got to make the choice between saving someone or being outed, we all know what path he'll pick and then it'll be all those years of work down the tubes. We all know that but I can't just tell him that. It's one of those things that you have to learn for yourself, I'm afraid," There was frustration there, in Alex's tone. She was awfully tired of waiting for people to learn things on their own that she already knew. Alex gave a little wave of her fingertips, "It's fine." "And honestly, for Mike, I don't think there's a middle ground. He just has to realize on his own that saving people IS what he does best and the fact that that doesn't fit easily into typical expectations is fine. We were never going to be normal." Alex shrugged and opened her bottle of water, resting against the counter with her arms folded across her middle, "What about you? How's the hero-ing going?"

Alex nodded understandingly, smiling briefly at the mention of adult children, although that was a little sad. Zoe's appearance in Alex's own life had certainly disrupted the course of it. "It's important that you do it for you and no one else. That's really what matters." Alex would have tempered her advice if either Trevor or Erin had family that were close but with the death of Trevor's grandfather, family was going to be touchy at that particular wedding ceremony. Alex's kitchen was brand new although like the rest of the suite, it was more wood than metal, with the cabinets matching the floor and the countertop a white granite with stainless appliances and fixtures. She crossed to the fridge and opened it, by hand. Apparently the days of sodas come flying at Erin's head telekinetically were thankfully at an end. She pulled out a can of soda and a bottle of water from the fridge and came back over. It was the sort of kitchen that was clearly not just for show as it had all the hallmarks of someone who actually used it. Her smile flickered briefly at the mention of the bolts before fading a bit at the mention of Mike. "Still getting married?" Alex asked with a wry smile. They'd been engaged since their senior year and it was a fair question, "Eventually. Mike is still working towards a normal life. He's finished in the Police Academy and is starting on the job any day now." Alex didn't look happy, rather, she looked troubled. It didn't take a genius to predict a problematic end to her partner's efforts. "But he can hardly be seen with me. We were both registered at the camps and everyone knows who I am now. What I am. It's not like we don't talk every day." Telepathically, sure, but she missed the big lug.

Alex's answering grin was broad, "I know. I saw the ring. Congratulations! You must be excited. Well, and nervous, I imagine. When's the wedding?" Alex commented as the doors opened to the penthouse. She gave a little wave of her hand, encouraging Erin in stepping into the space. It was awfully large for one person and the penthouse had large windows for incredible views but the furnishings broke from the rest of the modernity of the AEON building to be more comfortable. Half of the furniture had come from their old headquarters, in fact. Alex promptly kicked off her shoes, a small flick of telekinetic energy sending them to the small rack that she used to hold her favorite shoes near the entrance. "I'm so happy for you! Are you helping with the cars at all? Trevor's always been very gifted mechanically. I think he'll enjoy that a lot." Alex walked towards the kitchen on bare feet, "What would you like to drink?"

Alex nodded gravely, her gaze flicking briefly to the ring but if Erin's best friend was practiced at anything, it was allowing people to offer news in their own time. "I heard. I thought about sending flowers but that seemed like such an empty gesture." Alex said, her tone gentle as she stepped back, letting Erin have the personal space she was comfortable with. Alex's glasses were new but behind the clear lenses, her hazel eyes were almost too intent on Erin's face and features. "I'm so sorry. If there's anything I can do," Alex gestured towards the elevator once more, leading Erin back onto it, "We can go up to my rooms. I'm making the staff nervous by hovering." Her smile was brief, almost sad, but it faded quickly as she stepped onto the elevator and swiped her key without pressing a button. Without direction, the elevator went up towards the penthouse. "It's been too long. I'm sorry. I should have come to see you," Alex apologized as she leaned back against the polished hand rail of the elevator. "How is Trevor holding up?"

Alex was there waiting, her bright smile friendly and familiar. At some point, Alex had grown into the dresses and suits that she'd worn to give her position as CEO some additional gravitas. She now wore them as comfortably as she did her patched jeans. Her red hair was pulled back into a sleek bun and the slacks and flats she was wearing didn't look as absurd as they once had although it was still Alex. Her jacket had been discarded and the blouse she wore was almost too bright a pink to look at. Alex still ignored any adages about redheads not being able to wear pink. She'd left her office as soon as she'd gotten word that Erin was on her way up and was waiting at the elevators (and making the administrative staff that worked on the executive floor nervous if their expressions were any indication). Alex beamed at Erin and flung her arms open, inviting a hug. "Erin! I didn't have any idea you were coming to visit. How are you?" Alex asked, the words almost tripping over each other as if the telepath found talking a clumsy metric to get all of her thoughts out. Erin wasn't the only one that had been regretting the absence, "How've you been?"

The receptionist looked up with a polite smile, clearly about to start in the spiel of whatever he canned response to someone asking to see the CEO was when the name caught her attention, "Ms. White did you say?" She repeated the name back even as she was turning away from her desk to head towards the small back room. She returned in short order with a small envelope. "I'm so sorry, Ms. White. We didn't know you'd be stopping in today or I'd have had your badge at the counter." She set out a small tablet for Erin to initial and sign and a small plastic card with a slightly older picture of Erin on the badge. "I've let Ms. Albright know that you're on your way up. She's in her office on the twelfth floor. Would you like me to have someone escort you?" The receptionist held out the tablet for its signature and thumbprint, "Or if you'd rather head up yourself, you've got full access via your key card. Just swipe it and select your floor."

AEON had come a long way from living in Alex's computer as a day-trading start up scheme. Construction was complete on AEON's flagship building in the City Center of Freedom City and although it hadn't yet had an official Grand Opening, it was already existing as a thriving business. The steel-and-glass skyscraper fit in well among Freedom City's futuristic skyline and the atrium that served as the grand entrance was open and surprisingly inviting, full of natural light. This particular morning, the lobby had the typical sort of activity as employees arrived to work, heading for elevators that required key-card access to upper floors. The center of the atrium lofted up multiple floors, showing some of the activity on a few higher levels as people moved along towards offices and administrative areas. The bulk of the lobby was seating space with the occasional computer kiosk and a small refreshment stand that currently held a small variety of pastries, juices and coffee which seemed to be open access as even the shabbier patron wasn't shoed away from either food or seating. Indeed, about half of the people currently curled up in the lobby's chairs and seats appeared to be settled in for an extended period of time. Security was discrete but present, especially to more practiced eyes. For the one uniformed guard moving through, there were another two in more casual attire circuiting through the space. The reception desk was located opposite the entrance and although there was a clear path through the seating area, the bulk of the atrium sat between the receptionists and the front doors of the building proper. Like the rest of the building, the desk and surroundings were of durable high quality materials and those seated at various stations along the reception desk seemed in, by and large, genuinely good moods as they helped visitors contact various floors or retrieve their visitor passes.

Psyche (PL 14): Terminus Baby Psychic Wonderkind Psyche was under caps for her PL before and I will probably shore her up to be a PL 12 all around as she is PL14 for her defenses and PL10/11 for most of her psychic abilitiesFluff Updates: Pretty much everything needs to be updated as she's now in her early twenties (22) and a lot has changed since her time as a 15 year old genius at ClaremontDescription History Personality and Motivation Powers & Tactics Complications Stat AdjustmentsAdd to Skills and EP first, raising her skills to reflect the learning she's had and adjusting the EP from the YJ HQ to AEONSkills (r = 37 PP ) (spent 16 PP here) Equipment Points (Raised to 32 EP) [7 PP = 35 EP] (Spent 1 PP Here) Drop the Protection to a 12, remove the drawback. (Gained 1 PP Here) Eventually, over time, adjust the psychic array to be at a PL12Remove the Communication Link with Zoe since she's back in her own time. (Gained 1 PP Here)Still have 1 PP Unspent from total available