Gizmo

Winifred chose to interpret the lack of immediate criticism from Raina as the highest compliment one could have reasonably expected from the pyromancer. So it was with a pleased hum under her breath that she fell into step next to Cathy as they were inevitably swept up in the assertive blonde's wake. She surreptitiously glanced at the Scotswoman's expression, having noted the slight hitch in her voice. After some internal debate she settled on saying, "I was being serious about the colour selections. There are a truly staggering number of cosmetic tutorials available via computer and I took suggestions from a handful specifically pertaining to albinism but I can hardly claim any true expertise. It would be simplicity itself to adjust the next batch, should you give the word." She was still astounded by the wealth of information and instruction available online, effectively without charge apart from the equipment needed to access it. Given the varying needs of its residents the Claremont dormitories featured different layouts on different floors but the large, shared washroom was the most prevalent, catering to half of the floor while its twin sat to the other side of the central common room. Most of its length was taken up by stalls for toilets and showers while the opposite wall held a half dozen sizeable sinks set into a long countertop that afforded enough space for purses, toiletry bags and the like. Winifred didn't have a large sample size for washrooms in the present day but she'd been assured this one was thoroughly modern in a conversation that had been largely geared toward what might or might not be safe to pour down the drains without an accompanying neutralizing agent.

Kimber is going to use her Emotion Control to force a DC 22 Will save against fear on this guy, hoping to disrupt whatever he's doing to maintain the illusion.

Inside each box, nestled in a black foam inlay where several rows of containers. There was a wildly varied array of small bottles, tubes, pots and covered dishes, some made from glass but mostly from what looked to be machined aluminium. "I asked Smith to help with the metalwork. Strictly practical, obviously presentation wasn't the priority for this batch." The precision with which the inlay had been cut and the tidy organization of the cosmetics made that a fairly transparent lie but Winifred was obviously nervous enough about their response without adding another factor to the evaluation. Some of the products Raina had already seen versions of during the months of development and indeed the base, blush and lip colour in her box all appeared to take their colours from her usual style, perhaps a touch richer. In contrast the pale colours in Cathy's kit had all been chosen to suit her particular complexion. The witch hadn't been expecting to find more than one nail polish option, though and hadn't even known the alchemist was planning for highlight and lowlight colours, nor the eyeliner, eyeshadow and mascara lined up in the left side of the box. The cleanser and moisturizer were less of a surprise; over the course of some of the less successful trials Winifred had been thoroughly convinced on their importance. It was, in a word, comprehensive. "It's all smudge resistant, of course. I painted some of Smith's practice targets with a layer of an earlier batch of the nail polish formula and it is impressively resilient, frankly." It was taking considerably effort for her to refrain from bouncing on her heels as she explained. "Less irritation from long periods of use as well, compared to the brands you usually use, Raina. I tried to choose colours I knew you'd each actually wear but naturally that can all be altered easily enough." She looked from face to face, gauging their reactions. "There's also something of a more personal touch I'll demonstrate once you've had a chance to try some of that out."

APPROVED

"I should keep a journal of these unlikely sounds as they occur, then," Winifred mused aloud, the very picture of airy propriety apart from her continued smirk. It wasn't often she got to be the one teasing someone else for a slip of the tongue. "Now, not that I need a reason to visit you dears, however..." Turning to the bag she'd set down on the desk she lifted its flap and produced a pair of wooden boxes a little bit smaller than a lunchbox. Simple plywood, they had obviously been made using the woodworking equipment from the Academy's shop classes but fit of the corners and smooth surfaces spoke to the care that had gone into them. Winifred walked forward to hand the first, stained a reddish mahogany, to Raina while the light, birch coloured box went to Cathy. The contents made them surprisingly heavy, shifting slightly as the boxes were moved about. A ripple of nervous energy played over Winifred's features as she took a step back, quickly banished. "Well, go on and look. It's only the work of months, after all."

Ghost Girl Notice Check: 1d20+11 23 ?

"Eugh," Ghost Girl groused aloud, casually floating away from the offices and into the empty space, well out of reach of the glowing figures. "Wraith and I are putting on a master class and you show up with a shambling horde like it's open mic night? This is embarrassing for both of us." The disgusted expression turned into a more thoughtful frown as she considered the mass of reaching arms. "Actually... this is an outrageous number of little helpers for such an amateur." The beryl freckles dusted over the bridge of her nose crinkled as the whole situation began to feel off somehow. Looking about she abruptly realized why the inky blackness outside the windows was bothering her: there hadn't been enough time for the sun to set since she and Indira had entered the building and even if it had she could see in the dark. Rolling her eyes pointed she maneuvered to the centre of the room. "Like the holographic skeptic said, 'It's a faaaaake!'" she announced to the silent crowd in her best impression of a Tronik accent. Producing her scythe she held it overhead with both hands and began spinning the blade around like a twirler's baton until it was crackling with bursts of preternatural static. In moments she'd become a sphere of dark, whirling metal and flashes of light, letting it build before releasing the disruptive energy in a roaring wave. "Showtime's over!"

Friendship is Magic Array go! Nullify Illusion 12 (Extras: Nullifying Field [+0]; Flaws: Limited [Technological Effects]; Feats: Progression 2 [Area, 300’ radius]) [8PP] (Sharl’s Skepticism) Nullify Check: 1d20+12 18 Nullify Check, HP Reroll: 1d20+12 18 Hrn. 28 with the +10.

Ghost Girl Wisdom Check: 1d20+3 19 On the off chance it's relevant: Sense Motive Check: 1d20+15 21

Ghost Girl Notice Check: 1d20+11 24

Although she didn't catch all of his mumbling Winifred noted the pause and quickly reviewed the interaction in her head, hitting upon the obvious sticking point. "Ah. Yes." She'd gotten used to her history being common knowledge among the student body of Claremont but wasn't about to get into explaining the whole affair to an overtaxed clerk. "Friend of the family, naturally. Going back quite a ways! Mmh." Her attempt at a reassuring smile case across as awkward and forced more than anything else but the explanation certainly seemed more plausible than the alternative. "In any case, thank you for your assistance! Have a good afternoon." With their transaction complete and excuses made the young woman hastily headed back out the way she'd come with the book tucked away in her bag. Quiet returned to Silberman's, leaving Leon to his own devices for nearly a full minute before a sudden commotion outside drew his attention, a shouted conversation he couldn't quite make out. The next thing he knew the petite brunette with whom he'd just been speaking had been sent hurtling through the air to crash into the shop's front window, not quite hard enough to shatter the glass but with enough force to make a terrible noise. From the other side of the window Leon could see her left arm had been pinned in place with web-like strands that had cocooned most of her forearm!

Ghost Girl blinked at the space where Wraith had just been for a moment before placing a hand to one cheek and noting loudly enough to be overheard, "Gosh, that guy is about to regret his life choices. Wraith haaaaates people getting in her personal space without asking." Inwardly she was considerably less calm; so far they hadn't had to deal with one of the invaders with their device as 'full strength' and if the field could prevent her from passing through it she wasn't ruling out its ability to hold onto Indira. She couldn't loose her outward cool, though, not with an audience. Instead she made a show of considering the figures walking haltingly toward her and the pounding overhead. "Already played with these toys. Boring," she sighed theatrically before producing her scythe seemingly from thin air and pulling her hood up over her head. If she wanted to help her friend and keep the civilians in the lab safe she needed to get to the root of the problem without delay. "Guess you've got my undivided attention, too, little man." With that she disappeared through the floor like a pebble plummeting into still water.

For when it's needed: Ghost Girl Initiative: 1d20+3 19

Ghost Girl Wisdom Check: 1d20+3 5 Wah-wah.

Winifred turned in slow circle partly to show the back of her hair and partly in a token effort to hide the broad grin brought on by the positive if surprised response. "I have it on good authority that hair does in fact grow back," she countered primly, voice touched by the hum that meant she was feeling particularly pleased with herself. After months of discussing options back and forth she'd been confident enough to explain exactly what she wanted, the bemused stylist answering her battery of questions before they began. She was still happy to go along with the idea that it had been a bold, impetuous risk, however. "Frankly that reaction would have made even baldness worth it, Sanderson. I didn't realize you could make that sound." The displaced Victorian finished her spin and gave the witch an uncharacteristically cheerful smirk. "Thank you, Cathy, I think it turned out well. Not the main reason I came calling, however."

"You're an oddly altruistic rationalist, Matthew. I appreciate the sentiment," Winifred assured her classmate with hint of a laugh as his expounding took an unintentionally dark turn. Her voice was a little thick as she quickly dabbed the corners of her eyes with the end of her sleeve, regaining her composure enough to give Raina a grateful smile at the supportive gesture. "Hopefully my family's entrepreneurial streak has bred true, yes. The principles of internet commerce seem essentially the same as a catalogue but I admit the mechanics of creating a hypothetical storefront are as of now beyond me. One more thing to learn." Compared to that morning she didn't seem too daunted by the prospect. "Now then! You had me with 'orange' and 'vanilla' but a 'smoothie' sounds positively wretched. Let's go try that."

Abilities: 4 + 2 + 4 + 14 + 0 + 8 = 32PP Strength: 14/50 (+2/+20) Dexterity: 12 (+1) Constitution: 14/40 (+2/+15) Intelligence: 24/8 (+7/-1) Wisdom: 10/20 (+0/+5) Charisma: 18 (+4) Combat: 16 + 20 = 36PP Initiative: +5/+1 Attack: +8 Base, +10 Melee Defense: Reagent: +12 (+10 Base, +2 Dodge Focus), +5 Flat-Footed Alkahest: +10, +5 Flat-Footed Grapple: +12/+36 Knockback: -2/-22 Saving Throws: 3 + 5 + 9 = 17PP Toughness: Reagent: +4 (+2 Con, +2 Defensive Roll) Alkahest: +20 (+2 Con, +2 Defensive Roll, +3 Density, +11 Enhanced Constitution, +2 Growth) [Impervious 12] Fortitude: +5/+18 (+2/+15 Con, +3) Reflex: +6 (+1 Dex, +5) Will: +9/+14 (+0/+5 Wis, +9) Skills: 84R = 21PP Bluff 2 (+6/+10) Attractive Craft (Chemical) 13 (+20/+12) Skill Mastery Concentration 5 (+5/+10) Diplomacy 2 (+6/+10) Attractive Disable Device 3 (+10/+2) Skill Mastery Intimidate 4/16 (+8/+22) Enhanced Skill, Growth Investigate 3 (+10) Knowledge (Business) 1 (+8/+0) Knowledge (History) 1 (+8/+0) Knowledge (Life Sciences) 5 (+12/+4) Knowledge (Physical Sciences) 13 (+20/+12) Skill Mastery Language 4 (Arabic, Cantonese, English [Native], Italian, Latin) Medicine 5 (+5/+10) Skill Mastery Notice 5 (+5/+10) Perform (Stringed Instruments) 6 (+10) Perform (Vocals) 4 (+8) Search 3 (+10) Sense Motive 5 (+5/+10) Stealth 0 (+1/-3) Growth Feats: 10PP Attack Focus (Melee) 2 Attractive Challenge (Fast Startle) Defensive Roll 1 Dodge Focus 2 Eidetic Memory Improvised Tools Inventor Power Attack Skill Mastery (Craft [Chemical], Disable Device, Knowledge [Physical Sciences], Medicine) Speed of Thought Startle Powers: 20 + 3 + 1 + 95 = 119PP Device 5 (Bandolier of Alchemical Flasks; 25PP Container; Flaws: Hard-to-Lose) [20PP] Base: Damage 8 (Byzantine Fire; Extras: Area [General, Burst], Ranged, Secondary Effect, Flaws: Action [Full Round], Unreliable [5 Uses], Feats: Alternate Power 5, Incurable, Progression 1 [Increased Area; 40' - 80' radius], Triggered 2) [25DP] (chemical, fire) AP: Confuse 8 (Hallucinogenic Fumes; Extras: Alternate Save [Fortitude, +0], Area [General, Burst], Flaws: Unreliable [5 Uses], Feats: Progression 5 [Decrease Area 4, Increase Area 1; 20' - 80' radius], Ricochet, Triggered 2) {16/20} (chemical, inhalant) AP: Drain Toughness 8 (Inorganic Solvent; Extras: Affects Objects Only [+0], Ranged, Secondary Effect, Flaws: Unreliable [5 Uses], Feats: Incurable, Ricochet, Triggered 2) {20/20} (chemical, acid) AP: Healing 8 (Lesser Elixir; Extras: Total, Flaws: Unreliable [5 Uses], Feats: Stabilize, Persistent, Regrowth) {19/20} (chemical, qi) AP: Obscure 5 (Magnetic Dust; Radio, Visual; Extras: Action [Move], Independent [+0], Flaws: Unreliable [5 Uses], Feats: Progression 2 [Decrease Area; 25' - 100' radius], Ricochet, Triggered 2) {20/20} (chemical, magnetism, smoke) AP: Snare 8 (Resin Adhesive; Extras: Contagious, Flaws: Unreliable [5 Uses] Feats: Reversible, Ricochet, Triggered 2) {20/20} (chemical) Device 1 (Bartitsu Cane; 5PP Container; Flaws: Easy-to-Lose) [3PP] Damage 4 (Feats: Mighty) [5DP] (chemically treated wood) Enhanced Feats 2 (Presence of Mind; Dodge Focus 2, Flaws: Limited [Human Form]) [1PP] (training) Alkahest Form 20 (100PP Container [Active, Sustained]; Drawbacks: One-Way Transformation [When Calm, -3], Temporary Disability [Exhausted Upon Transforming Back, -2]) [95PP] Density 6 (Mass x5; +12 Strength, +3 Toughness [Impervious], +2 Immovable, +2 Super-Strength) [18PP] Enhanced Abilities 48 (Enhanced Strength 16, Enhanced Constitution 22, Enhanced Wisdom 10; Drawbacks: Decreased Intelligence 16) [32PP] Enhanced Combat 2 (Counteracting Growth Penalty; Attack 1, Defence 1) [4PP] Enhanced Feats 2 (Challenge [Fast Startle], Startle) [2PP] Enhanced Skills 3 (+12 Intimidate) [3PP] Growth 4 (Large; +8 Strength, +4 Constitution, -1 Combat, +4 Grapple, +2 Intimidate, -4 Stealth) [12PP] Impervious 9 (Total 10) [9PP] Immunity 7 (All Chemical Effects [Half-Effect, +5], Environmental Cold, Environmental Radiation) [7PP] Regeneration 9 (Bruised 3 [No Action], Injured 6 [No Action]) [9PP] Super-Senses 4 (Olfactory; Accurate [+2], Acute, Tracking 1) [4PP] Drawbacks: -3PP Vulnerability (Emotion Effects, Frequency: Common, Intensity: Moderate [x1.5 Effect]) [-3PP] DC Block: ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed (Reagent) Touch DC 17 Toughness Damage Unarmed (Alkahest) Touch DC 35 Toughness Damage Bartitsu Cane Touch DC 21 Toughness Damage Byzantine Fire Ranged, 40'-80' radius DC 23 Toughness Damage [Secondary Effect] Hallucinogenic Fumes Ranged, 20'-80' radius DC 18 Fortitude Confuse Inorganic Solvent Ranged DC 18 Reflex Drain Toughness [Secondary Effect] Resin Adhesive Ranged DC 18 Reflex Entangled/Bound Totals: Abilities (32) + Combat (36) + Saving Throws (17) + Skills (21) + Feats (10) + Powers (119) - Drawbacks (3) = 232/232 Power Points

"Perhaps we can call that Plan B. Or somewhere else down the alphabet," Winifred suggested with an expression she hoped was neutral enough to be polite while Raina laughed. She appreciated the charity responsible for the bounty with which they were walking out of the store but ultimately she'd be happier when she didn't need to rely on anyone else for the very basics. "I'll hold you to that, Matthew, about the music shop. Before food, though, ah..." The alchemist shifted from one foot to the other, an unusual show of hesitation given her usually perfect posture. "...thank you, both of you. For your patience, Matthew and your guidance, Raina. I can say without exaggeration that I would have been otherwise lost. I've felt like a... visitor, here and it's past time I... that is, all of this, ah..." She cleared her throat conspicuously while her cheeks coloured faintly at the admission that she'd needed help. Her shoulders shifted up and down as she tried to gauge whether it would be appropriate to offer a handshake or attempt an embrace or something else.

"Hm. I suppose they must pay for all of those flying suits of armour and light beam pistols somehow," Winifred mused as they collected the day's selections, taking a moment to appreciate the sheer volume of it all. It was much more than she'd been expecting to walk away with then she'd gone to ask for Raina's help; part of her felt nervous about the metaphorical weight of it all - Matthew having been a good sport about the literal weight - but it was a relief to check so much off of her mental list all at once. Even if there were a few items she was going to need to work up to. "Your hounds can't be trusted to respect that solid objects have mass, Matthew. I shudder to think of using them as any sort of control group. I think we can safely rule out any testing on animals, talking or otherwise." She made her own hands useful gathering up the new bags. "Using myself as a test subject has really only gone poorly the once, after all!" She wasn't able to keep a straight face for long. "Honestly, your faces. Is that reasonably everything a young lady might need, then?"

At that dubious invitation Winifred opened the door and stepped inside, quietly closing it behind her and setting her bag down on the desk chair to her right. "Fortunately I've been feeling daring of late," she assured the room's residents with a faint smirk while placing her hands on her hips. The pyromancer had been trying to cajole her into getting a haircut for months, presenting option after option with detailed explanations of the relative benefits or disadvantages of each meant to appeal to the scientist's sensibilities. The pixie cut had been among the most dramatic suggestions and Winifred suspected it had been brought up more to make other styles seem more palatable by comparison. Of course Sanderson had intended to be on hand to supervise when Winifred finally went through with it but the shorter girl had felt it important to exercise a little independence, having been in the present day long enough to acclimate somewhat to current fashions. At least, she hoped so. Any reaction of surprise from the blonde or her roommate was simply a fringe benefit. "So? Thoughts?"

Claremont Academy Dormitories April 15, 2017 Winifred still wasn't used to the literal weight taken off of her shoulders be her recent haircut but after putting it off for so long there was a certain visceral satisfaction in having had the nearly waist length hair cut back to a tidy pixie cut with razor sharp lines that kept it off of her ears and neck. It had already proven to be more practical in the lab and if she were to allow herself a moment of vanity the displaced Victorian might have gone so far as to say that it combined with the collar of her slate grey dress shirt to make her neck and jawline look fantastic. A scientist had to acknowledge empirical fact after all. Shifting the strap of the bag slung over her shoulder, she strode down the dormitory hallway with her shoulders squared and her chin tilted slightly upward. It had taken almost half a year of trials and tweaking but the grin threatening to break through her composure came from the feeling of a craftsperson preparing to showcase their efforts. She counted slowly backward from one hundred as she rounded the corner; she wasn't in a position to let excitement or nerves get the better of her. Reaching the door to the room shared by Clouston and Sanderson she gave it a distinctive trio of sharp raps.

"Et tu, Matthew? I'm going to make you--" Winifred looked more closely at the container in her hand and read aloud, "--'liquid eyeliner' and it will be so excellent you'll feel obligated to use it." The huff she affected toward the affable young man seemed largely an affectation but her shoulders slumped slightly as she noted Raina's body language and admittedly reasonable concerns. She couldn't really afford to even pretend to be irritated, she knew, good day or no. She cleared her throat quietly and made a show of busying herself doing a brief inventory of the assembled boxes and bottles. "Well. It isn't as if I couldn't learn," she reasoned with perfect, prim composure. She was confident she possessed the necessary manual dexterity for application; surely it couldn't be that difficult to find reference material to cover the specifics. The alchemist considered herself a rather quick study. "Matthew's not incorrect about allowing for proper trials. And... I might impose upon you for advice, occasionally. If it wouldn't be an imposition."

Winifred regarded the 'Reserves' box impassively. "Yes, your 'system' is very impressive," she noted with a touch of the exaggerated sincerity one might use while reassuring a child. "And please let your evidently ill-tempered supervisor know the discount is much appreciated." The Academy student produced a money clip from within her white coat and quickly counted out enough bills to cover the cost of the tome before retrieving her ID card and tucking both away. "You needn't worry about any actual deviousness, of course." She could understand the concern; the fringes of rogue science had always been regarded with at least some suspicion and the 'mad scientist' villains she'd learned about in class justified considerably more alarm than those of her day. "It's largely sentimental. The author was a friend."

"Oh shush," Kimber tutted, letting the floating icicles clatter to the stairs and slipping back into a friendlier appearance. "You're terrible at taking time for yourself, you know that? We need to figure out some equivalent of a spa day either of us could actually enjoy. Maybe camping again? Ha, or just doing this sort of thing, eh?" Her laughter turned to a thoughtful hum as they headed downward. "Hm. The angry little guy might be smart enough to figure out we're picking them off and screwing with their bravery-armour-things. We might want to have a plan to take him out of the equation first."

Winifred bristled at Raina's dismissal, annoyed enough that she forgot to be embarrassed about lip colour and lips in general. "You... don't really understand how skilled I am at what I do, do you?" She didn't sound offended so much as slowly realizing that she'd never bothered to explain something that had seemed obvious to her. "Raina, I engineered byzantine fire in a corner of my bedroom when I was thirteen with what scraps and leftovers I could sneak. This?" She raised the tall, thin box containing the liquid eyeliner. "This I could make during a single free period with enough time left over to suffer through Faretti's entire repertoire of pickup lines. If I took the whole period I could make it byzantine fireproof for good measure." The shorter girl huffed. "Needle and thread, honestly."