Fox

Dragonfly shook her head. "Not a good one. Did spend some time upgrading its ability to map the environment...mostly enjoying watching it explore. Very busy little thing. Well-made - goes down stairs without damage. Need to get around to making it smart enough to not try." She sunk a little further into her jacket (why do I insist on a short jacket), muttering, "Espresso sounds good right now. Need to consider revisiting plans for a battlesuit of my own. Preferably with a heater. Air conditioning for the summer."

Bitey-bitey-lurchy-lurchy sounds like a bad thing. Gaian Knight stuck his hands in his pockets - his very, very wet pockets, he realized, glad he didn't carry much paper with him - and frowned behind his rebreather. Bad enough while it's still down here - even worse if these things make a run for the surface! Not that it'd matter...these people seem like they could use a hand. And even if they don't, a hero's course is pretty clear. Still floating around him, his little rock words rearranged themselves.

Dragonfly nodded. "Be careful. Not the best neighborhood...probably know that already. Think I told you last time...mmh. Regardless. Door should be unlocked by the time you get to it. Will think on the mask...likely the sort of thing that takes some planning. Will let you know. And..." She hesitated, looking awfully awkward again. "Thanks...thank you for the scarf and dragonfly. They are....appreciated."

Dragonfly glanced at the main screen, which brought up a nice big digital clock revealing that the day had been passing pretty quickly - it was now late evening. She tilted her head. "Mmh. Time flies." no watch - will have to remember that "Places to be?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at the little ball - her little ball, a notion that still made her nervous and slightly giddy. annoying feelings "Is getting a little late, I suppose."

"Kids and puppies aren't allowed in my warehouse anyway. No spiced wine for you, then." A mental command had her infravision up, watching the night guard stroll along at an agonizing pace. "But fair enough. Capture the thief, you lose the stolen goods. Thief's employer may just hire another thief, too. If the thief's working for someone." She frowned, wishing for about the thirtieth time that she could see through walls - well, see things that weren't heat, anyway. "Annoyed I didn't hear about this in my own part of town. Too busy lately, maybe."

Dragonfly certainly did feel the cold - she was awfully glad, if nothing else, that her gauntlets generated enough heat to keep her hands arm. She'd long since stuck both hands under her jacket to try sharing that heat with her torso, but wasn't having a lot of luck; she'd also long since put up her force field in the hopes of cutting at least some of the wind. That wasn't quite how her force field worked, but she liked to think it helped. It was better than nothing, anyway. "So," she said, when she couldn't stand the literal cold silence anymore. "Hints on why we're here? Could have been sipping wine in a warm warehouse."

She just shrugged. "Can't guard against everything. Always something else. Best to emphasize your strengths. Can't hide from infravision, but infravision is relatively rare - don't think it shows up often as mutation or magic, difficult or impossible to fit in anything but a full mask. Commercial goggles are expensive, anyway. Any suit that hid your heat completely would be bulky or would overheat you, without very special engineering. Suppose it could be done, though." She started to get that unfocused, 'building things in my head' look to her before shaking her head and snapping out of it. This time, at least, she'd caught herself. "Better off trying to protect yourself, or finding ways to be less visible to more common sensors. Or senses. Mostly the same thing."

"Can probably just use the giant hole in the door," Dragonfly observed, crouching on the ground and pulling a piece of chalk from a pouch to do a quick sketch on the cement. "Or find another entrance for surprise tactics...if there is one. Mmh. Bowling alleys usually laid out like this - counter, seating, bowling lanes, machinery," she pointed them each out in turn. "Sometimes an arcade, food area. Just a guess, though...each one is a little different. Don't know number of lanes, or exact layout...will have to find that out the hard way." She sighed, peering up at the building like she was trying to see through the walls. would be a very useful power With some resignation she tried to explain some of what the suits could do (but not the mechanics and engineering behind them), how they reacted, and things like where a weak joint or two might be found, or how they tended to pause just before taking off. Hopefully it'd be enough....

Dragonfly shook her head as she bound the last of the cultists she could find, looking Cobalt Templar's way with no small sympathy. "...happens," she finally said, once he'd finished his call to the police. "Bad luck, or unfortunately-powered enemies, or...." She shrugged, standing up to stretch her arms up above her head. "Ended one of my earlier fights being held as a hostage. Hurts pride, but...can bounce back. Besides, didn't do anything special. You would have done the same, if I'd been in your position." She glanced up, frowning at Push and then looking over at where Ironclad had disappeared. wonder where she went - was in a hurry - something the fear creature did? The frown deepened a little bit and lights danced behind her eyes as she connected to the cell phone one of her pouches, firing off a quick text message. Evil stopped. No serious injuries. You okay?

She frowned, trying to estimate how many bells and whistles Jessica had stuffed into that suit of hers. "Not sure," she admitted. "Multiple methods. Would use thermographic vision, myself - still give off heat, even if you're flat. Am sure Ironclad has better ways. Helmet allows for a more robust sensory suite." She shrugged. "Never seen her suit 'flake' or chip...have to assume she's treated or plated the metal. Or invented a new paint for the armor. I would."

Dragonfly's face immediately fell - well, fell further - at the voice that came out of nowhere. psychics - annoying She frowned, trying to focus on the noise, to glean details from what sounded like a very bad radio station in the middle of a blizzard. "Mmh. Interesting talent," she observed, consciously lowering her voice. "Thoughts on repair priorities? Had very little to do with several of the projects in question."

"Mmh. Will look around. Some materials would work better than others, should match the rest of your outfit. Ideally." Dragonfly blinked, glancing down at herself. She tilted her head, picking at it a little bit as she thought. "Metal is just...metal. Fondness for steel plating, older materials...often just more reliable. Black is simple, goes with anything...blue started as a distorti--.....mmh." She thought on that one for a moment, trying to translate it into something that would make more sense. "...space-warping technology gives off light, a little bit. Energy source I'm using, and the warping itself, excites particles...gives off a glow. Mostly superficial, can adjust a little along the spectrum with resonance, materials. Reds, blues, greens, yellows...decided on this shade of blue. Just...like the color. Feel stupid saying so, but it seems...don't know. 'Sciency'. Breaks up the darker colors, too."

I...couldn't resist the humor setup. Eheh. She's speaking Russian, but it's nothing important (largely because I can't actually speak Russian). "Testing [possibly just 'test'], one, two, three."

Dragonfly blinked, hard, shaking her head and finding her feet again, thanks in no small part to the offered hand. She looked around the room, and then at the girl who was....mouthing words at her? "What?" she asked, and then paused. "Can't....mmh...проверки, один, два, три...deaf. Great." head hurts worse than normal - good thing I had my force field up - probably saved my skull Little lights danced behind her eyes as she glanced at one of the nearby computers, which flickered through a series of errors and diagnostic screens. "Many errors!" she called out to the young woman and the caped scientist. "Starting back at the simulator. Should repair them before they cascade into worse problems. Explosion did not help."

Dragonfly tilted her head, and then nodded. "Good thought. Relatively safe, more...'wiggle room' without causing discomfort...." She trailed off, looking past Sil at nothingness while she ran some designs in her head. not flexible - too thick - could work - insulation material interesting - thoughts there - power sources - heat sinks leading to - mm - not bad "Could make you something like that," she finally said, slowly. "Might be a fun project. Would need a mask to work with, though. Integrated system. Installation always the most time-consuming part of a project like that...best to make sure it's something that fits well, first and foremost."

Dragonfly hmmed, tapping her leg with a finger. flash goggles are easy - night-vision and infrared somewhat harder - space concerns - photo receptors - processing? - distributed across the whole mask perhaps - power source...human body vents a lot of heat through the head "Would have to replace the mask, yes," she noted. "Attach the lenses, lay circuitry...not that thick, not using silicon boards. Would need to keep it mostly flexible - it is a mask, not a helmet. Helmets are easier...so much space. Masks are much more interesting."

One moment the arm was working just fine, and the next it had dropped a dangerous amount of a dangerous chemical into the water. Dragonfly tried to drop to the floor on time...and didn't quite make it. Her world got very, very loud for a moment and then very, very quiet, and a the force of the blast knocked her head backwards into a cabinet with a hollow-sounding crack. She was lucky just to still be on her feet, looking rather dazed and disoriented by the explosion. "Wh...?"

Reflex Save vs. Explosion (1d20 + 6=8) Deafened! Toughness Save vs. Explosion (1d20 + 7=14) Good lord, Invisible Castle, what did I ever do to you? Dragonfly's stunned and bruised. Thankfully, out of combat the stun won't last long. It's a good thing I brought her force field up....

She shrugged. "Convenient. Use a keyboard sometimes, but keyboards are slow. Easier to be direct." Dragonfly stood up straight, stretching. "Practical considerations, then. Lenses are theoretical - what would you want them to do? If anything. Surface area allows for some options...mask offers room for some circuitry, provided it's flexible. Difficult but not impossible." feedback more of a challenge - wired gloves? - tactile interference - eye-tracking? - difficult on that scale - might be fun

Dragonfly frowned, visor measuring the distance between her and the door. "Could...try," she offered. "Good idea to have a backup plan in case they're tougher than they look." hit both at once? - rapidly repeating shots isn't good for the gauntlets - could try something different... She tilted her head and her force field twisted into being around her profile. "Will wait until you're where you want to be?"

She chuckled - barely - and shook her head. "Was only pondering applying the technology to compression. Gauntlets wouldn't work for you, anyway. Have no actual interface. Need to be controlled with your mind. Security concern, plus makes it easier to keep them flexible." "Thin screen I'm thinking of would be...flexible." She mimed bending something lightweight. "Like a piece of plastic. Circuitry is a challenge, wouldn't be very durable, but otherwise likely doable. Was just pondering. Glasses are a good idea, though - can do a lot with a screen always in front of your face. Fond of it myself," she observed, tapping her visor. "Still. All theoretical. Don't know what you'd want made, if anything."

I just noted that he was tossed a little rebreather, and not a full mask. I don't mind at all, really - it's kinda fun. A writing challenge! Write without true dialog!

Dragonfly frowned, carefully putting the pendant back in the box, visibly relieved to have something less awkward to think about. "Engineering challenge," she agreed, leaning back against a workbench. "Difficult. Specialize in spacial manipulation - could MAKE something thinner - but technology carries risks. Can't adapt your mechanism without knowing how it works...can't use whole warping engine - engine itself is, well." She lifted a heavy-looking gauntlet, waggling her fingers. "Most of the space. Wouldn't give that to you anyway. Some things I don't release...concerns. Paranoia. Mm." She tapped a finger on the lip of the bench, frowning. "Some things can be made small. Circuitry is...difficult at that limitation, but not impossible. Have some thoughts on thin screens...The Lab has resources there." single-layer visual output - project of....mmh - can't remember - could redo it from scratch - not that complex if it only needs to be done once or twice

Sounds fun.