ic Vibora Bay - Storm of the Century (IC)

[Avenger Assembled]

Richenda Barker was elected Mayor of Vibora Bay about four years ago - a longtime Democratic Party policy wonk in Florida who tries to walk a fine line between promoting social justice and attracting sweet sweet corporate dollars to the city. She has an uneasy relationship with Vibora's Police Department, possibly because she's been much more willing to listen to criminal justice reformers than the old-line 'boys in blue' are comfortable with. But most of that's hidden today as the heroes enter her office, as Barker's strong support of Vibora's superhuman community is on full display. She smiles and greets the various heroes, shaking hands or bowing as appropriate, and no wonder with so many of her staff present. Maybe she's not ready to go out in the limelight with the heroes of the day yet, but it's clear she wants to be on everyone's side. She makes sure to get everyone's super-names, since not all of the group that stopped the monster is part of the public record. 

 

And Woodsman is there. Riley was tense, like a jackrabbit in a room full of predators, but it's the mayor's staff, and police escort, who seem nervous around him. There's no getting a look at him in his hunting gear, crossbow slung over his shoulder and hatchet at his hip, body concealed by his jacket and face hidden behind balaclava, sunglasses, and camo baseball cap. Reach out. Be a team player. Don't live alone in your cabin like a goddamned psychopath. He grunts hello to the other heroes as they enter, having beaten them all here by the expedient of arriving as soon as the building was open as a deliveryman with a box, then changing into his costume as soon as he was in the men's room. Place is a goddamn sieve. 

 

Outside the big Greek Revival structure that is City Hall and the broader city government complex all around, Vibora is waking up to the aftermath of a major storm - but it could have been so much worse. "That's why I wanted to invite you all here today," Mayor Barker is finishing. "To thank you for your service on behalf of our city. Vibora had a hard night last night. We lost a lot when Freedman's fell. But even if our soul was bruised, our heart is still here - thanks to what all of you did." 

[Heritage]

After leaving the others, Torque had gone to check on her uncle at the shelter, then take him back to the yard; the wind and rain had definitely done some damage, but it wouldn't take long to clean up.

 

"Heard about what you did on the radio," Otis said as he swept up some broken glass in the office; he was still getting used to his niece's ability, but there was no mistaking the pride in his voice. "You done good, kid."

 

"I wish I could have done more," she said with a sigh, an artifact of her former need for oxygen. "But thank you, uncle."

 

Taye washed up and put on a clean olive drab set of coveralls, then drove herself over to the rear entrance of City Hall disguised as a VBPD cruiser. Once there, she shifted back to humanoid form, and was let inside by an awestruck security guard.

 

Perhaps I should wear some sort of goggles to hide my identity, she mused.

 

"You're very welcome, your honor," Torque stated simply as she shook Farmer's hand. "As a life-long resident of Vibora, I was happy to help, and would happily do so again, if needed."

Edited September 28, 2019 by Heritage

[Amelia]

Persephone

 

Usually, when she turned into Persephone, Camellia left her clothes somewhere she could retrieve them from after. The last night's hurricane had made that impossible, so she had to improvise. After forcing the chlorophyll down from her skin and growing a different arrangement of leaves that might pass as normal clothing if you didn't look at it too closely or for too long, Camellia staggered into her rented house, drenched and exhausted, but grateful for her previous decision to invest in a keyless touchpad lock for her front door. While grabbing fresh clothes, she permitted herself a few moments to stare longingly at her bed, wanting nothing more than to collapse into it. But she had other obligations. With her phone still at the shelter along with her keys, she couldn't arrange a ride share, and instead she had to use her land line to call a taxi, something she'd seen in movies but wasn't sure she'd ever done in her real life. The taxi dropped her at the shelter, where she was able to retrieve her car and personal belongings, and reassure her worried fellow volunteers that, while she was swept away in the storm, she was alright. In fact, she'd been saved by a couple of the superheroes who'd made such a stir last night. After that, she had to drive all the way back to her house to get properly cleaned up. Having driven back and forth across Far Weston, she then made the trek more than halfway across town to the border between the Financial District and Inner Easton where City Hall lay. She stopped on the way for a latte, not bothering with more than a single espresso shot, since all the coffee beans in the world wouldn't provide her more than a placebo effect these days. It was the chemical fertilizer she'd retrieved from her home and now added to the drink that gave it the stimulating effect she was accustomed to associating with the smell of a fresh-brewed cup. She could have just ingested the fertilizer directly, but these little rituals helped keep her grounded. She parked a few blocks away, stowed her clothes and personal effects in her car, made her transformation back into Persephone, and let the local trees carry her over the downtown streets to the seat of Vibora Bay's government.

 

Persephone's eyes widened and glowed slightly when she walked into the mayor's office and the first person she saw was The Woodsman. Her jaw fell open. "Well fry my feet and call 'em 'drumsticks', isn't THIS a pleasant surprise!" She offered him a handshake, but she didn't let the offer linger, preparing herself to disguise the gesture as something else if he didn't reciprocate. "I'm happier than a clam at high tide to see you here." She turned to the other occupants of the room. "You should have seen this man last night. A monster bigger than the Crabtree Building, and he brought it down with nothing but Isaac Newton and a bit of rope!" Then she made her way to the other person she recognized from the night before. "'Torque', right? Great to see you again. There's a lot of people alive this morning who wouldn't be if she hadn't been there to fly them to the hospital." Only after greeting her fellow heroes did she turn her attention to city officials. "Mayor Barker, it's a real pleasure to meet you. You had my vote four years ago, and you'll have it again next time."

 

Quote

Vibora is waking up to the aftermath of a major storm - but it could have been so much worse. "That's why I wanted to invite you all here today," Mayor Barker is finishing. "To thank you for your service on behalf of our city. Vibora had a hard night last night. We lost a lot when Freedman's fell. But even if our soul was bruised, our heart is still here - thanks to what all of you did."

 

"That's mighty kind of you, Madame Mayor, thank you. But we only did what any decent people would've done if they'd been standing in our shoes. The folk who live here coming together in times of need, that's what makes this a city, a home. Without that, it's just a pile of buildings."

 

[angrydurf]

Chris paced back and forth in the lobby long enough that between the threadbare hoodie and quiet argument with himself the guards were getting nervous.  He finally approached the checkpoint and went into the building claiming to need a bathroom.  He followed the directions and flung himself into the one of ht stalls taking a steadying breath.  

 

He'd stopped a some muggers and a couple bigots with delusions in the past few months since things had started.  Last night was different, those other heroes were different, larger than life, literally in some cases.  And yet here he was, and the Voice was clear this too was his destiny.  That if anything made it worse.  He flipped over the card with both numbers on it, supernatural specialist and shrink, he wasn't sure which he needed at this point.  Finally he made his decision.  Luckily he had some experience getting in and out of clothes in a cramped men's room stall without attracting attention from other visitors to the facilities.  When he was sure it was clear he ducked out, now in costume and was shown in to the room with the other heroes.

 

He offered quiet greetings to the others and nodded agreement with Persephone, "We weren't the only ones out there trying to help."  he pointed out not referring only to the others that had fought the zombie croc, "We were all just doing what we could."  He eyed Woodsman uncertainly, there was a certain tightly coiled readiness to the other man that reminded him of something he couldn't put his finger on.  The tactical outfit wasn't helping his case.  The young man turned back to the Mayor, "Your gratitude is appreciated but surely there is more to why you called us here?"  He was stiffly uncomfortable with such an authority figure, and what their intention might be.

[RocketLord]

CHEVAL

 

Marcus had returned Persephone's hug at the end of the night. Even he was starting to feel weary from the constant work, but there had been lives to save, and that mattered more. Returning to his rather luxurious apartment, he had released his metal form. He knew what was coming even before he did so. All the pent up fatigue hit at once, and he all but passed out, even if only briefly.

 

He woke with a start. The meeting at the mayor's place. All the other heroes would be there, and he could hardly be the only one that did not show. Not when he was Cheval, after all! He threw on a fresh costume, then turned to iron as he rushed through the streets.

 

Cheval was let in with little issue. It was not the first time he had met the mayor. First, back when he was just a contender, and later, after gaining his powers. This would make the third meeting, then. By the time he reached the mayor's office, he had returned to flesh and blood. Stepping through the door, he acknowledged each of the heroes already here in turn. "Bonjou, my friends. It is good to see you all again." He offered his hand to each in turn, before getting to the mayor, and shaking her hand again. "And it is good to see you again as well, Mayor Barker."

[Thunder King]

He was dog tired. Beyond tired. Exhausted. The most tired he had ever been. Too tired to play his guitar. That was extremely tired for him. He wanted to get home and fall asleep with his cat. Yet, here he was, meeting the mayor. He figured if he was going to do this hero thing, there was no shame in getting noticed by the authorities. He wanted cooperation, not antagonism. Speed-Demon was noticeably tired, but still bright eyed. He smiled through his red eyes in the biggest, brightest smile he could.

 

"I saw so many people helping last night, Ma'am. All those first-responders, all the emergency personnel. Vibora Bay woke up and helped herself in that storm. It was inspiring. I'm not saying I didn't help, but I'm only one man. I'm just happy to have made a difference." 

 

 

[Tiffany Korta]

The Immutable Betsy Brooks

Betsy woke with a start and gently peeled herself off of the table, a late stressful night hadn’t helped nor the bottle she’d finished off whilst working. Maybe it was her supernatural condition but her fuzzy sleep addled brain quickly woke up, and realised that she should been somewhere very, very soon.

 

Rushing around her office she freshened up as quickly as she could throwing on clean clothes, this had happened often enough that she kept a couple of spare sets just in case. Finally she threw on her jacket, the one she normally wore when she was about to f*** stuff up. Then she was out of the door swearing softly at how late she was going to be.

 

Finally arriving she slipped into the back taking a pose like she’d just been here all along, leaning in to whisper into the ear of the closest of this little team.

 

“Did I miss anything exciting?”

[Avenger Assembled]

"Making a difference is what this city needs. It's why I ran for office, and I think it's something you all can do for Vibora." She smiled, then admitted, "And Sagrado Corazon is right - I did have reasons for bringing you all here besides a thank you." The smile she gave Persephone, then the others, didn't quite have Persephone's wattage, but was warm enough all the same - certainly warmer than the nod Woodsman gave Persephone. He shook her hand anyway, though, a firm grip in gloved hands that certainly felt all-too-human.  

 

The mayor paused, given Betsy's arrival, then said, "As you all know, Vibora Bay has been without a municipal defender until today - because I want to offer that role to each and every one of you. Your team has saved our city from both hurricane and disaster, and deserves our recognition. This offer is for all of you, but if you're interested in individual roles, we can work with you on that." She made a little gesture to her window, then said, "Like it or not, whatever roles you've played before, you're all in the public eye now. I'm nobody's idea of a superhero - but this isn't something you have to do alone."