ic Everyone’s An Art Critic IC

[Jack]

To his color blind eyes, the new arrivals' uniforms seemed odd to Jack more because they seemed out of place then because of the odd color pairings. The most odd thing was that all of the new arrivals were wearing sunglasses...indoors...in the evening. His instincts were beginning to kick in, and he could feel the bear inside rousing itself for a territory dispute.

 

He looked to Lynn briefly, both to see her take on this development, and also to remind himself why it was not a good idea to let loose. He gave her a simple nod that if things were to go sideways, he was ready. He refocused on the stylish newcomer with the tophat. This didn't smell right, but there was little to do until something happened. Jack set down his empty plate, freeing both hands as casually as possible. 

[Thevshi]

NPC/Lynn

 

Lynn had been about to respond to Alden’s comment about the rain where he was from when the teen pointed out the oddly dressed men that had moved into the room. The blonde teen seemed to tense slightly as she considered the men. "It could be for some sort of performance." She replied to Alden, looking about for other similarly dressed men and making eye contact with Jack a short distance away.

 

"They could also be involved in something more sinister." She then added a bit more quietly. The teen seemed a bit uncertain about how to proceed, possibly not wanting to jump to conclusions, but prepared for the possibility if criminal activity.

 

The three teens were apparently not the only ones who had noted the unusually dressed men, as several other individuals in the gallery were giving the men some strange looks. But then there was a bit of a disruption towards the entrance of the gallery, accompanied by several loud gasps as a large figure moved into view, flanked by two more of the colorfully dressed men in the black berets and sunglasses.

 

The large figure was a man who stood about six and a half feet tall, with a powerful muscular build. He was wearing a pair of tights and boots that went up to just under his knees, but was shirtless. His darkly tanned skin has several bumps and spots scattered across his torso, arms and bald head. He had a brown goatee and mustache, but it was perhaps his eyes that stood out the most. They were completely yellow, with no visible iris or pupils.

 

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen." The large man stated loudly, his voice carrying over any side conversations and drawing the attention of everyone within the gallery. "Such a wonderful evening of art and culture. Although, some of the offerings are somewhat questionable in being termed art."

 

"However, there are some quality pieces, and my Avant Guard and I shall be selecting the better examples of such and helping ourselves to them." He gestured around at the colorfully dressed men, who had taken out batons that had one end arcing with electricity. "If everyone is cooperative and remains out of our way and hands over their valuables when we come by to collect, then we shall quickly be on our way."

[Kaede Kimura]

Harlequin 

 

Alden's eyes narrowed as Lynn confirmed his suspicions- the group were costumed villains, a rather charming concept that must make identifying criminals very convenient. The crowd reacting at the entrance drew his attention, another man of Jack's stature stood out as much as his rather interesting costume. Tights and boots with nothing else was a bold statement, but Alden had seen much more provocative garb from ones with much less to flaunt.

 

His narrowed eyes turned to a glare as he offhandedly dismissed the value of the art around him. An uncultured art thief was akin to a warrior without weapon or scribe without quill. He would have to be shown the error of his ways. He was suddenly glad that Lynn was here, as the presence of one of his future classmates would make justifying this little escapade easier. Alden's lips twisted slightly at that thought, but he pushed his discomfort aside. Quietly he muttered "<Somebody ought to do something about this.>" just loud enough for Lynn to hear, before beginning to approach the group.

 

The somebody who was needed was obviously not the human Alden Underwood. The Goblin prince's features shifted to a mischievous grin as he walked. This might just be fun.

"<Pardon the interruption oh friend of mine, but I could not help but wonder about a comment of thine! Of your announcement it may only be a small part, but I could not help but wonder what pieces here are not art?>"

Harlequin cocked his head slightly as he asked his question, tapping his finger against his chin elegantly as he met the tall man's eyes. He let the rhymes flow, as they seemed to throw humans astray when unexpected. He wanted the man off balance and on the defensive conversationally.

"<Thus am I compelled to call upon thee to explain to me what small difference there must be, that seperates the true treasures, from those woeful endeavors, that you can clearly see. I should hope that one of your profession, might be able to impart such a lesson, lest some poor soul gain the impression that you are some common stealer playing at being an art dealer.>"

 

Gauntlet cast, Harlequin's grin turned slightly smug. If the man refused to justify his stance he would thus appear uncultured, and his ability to judge the value of the art would be thrown into question. But if he engaged, his time would be taken up debating artistic merits rather than thieving. A losing choice either way. 

[Jack]

Jack's immediate reaction was to start pounding faces into the ground, but he was glad that Alden had stepped forward first. He got the feeling his new friend was much more charismatic then he was and his tongue definitely had some fight in it. He silently nodded along to the beat that Alden's cadence naturally formed.

 

Jack smiled as Alden addressed the villains, and some part of himself felt as though they had suddenly been transported to a fantasy world were chivalry was still the standard and knights and round tables were the norm. That was a world Jack wouldn't mind to live in. 

 

The temperature around Jack began to cool slightly as Jack readied himself for the moments to come. He had a suspicion Alden's words wouldn't have as much of an affect on these villains as Jack would like, and Jack would be ready if the weirdly dressed villains responded with force. The bear inside was ready to fight something, especially after the events during his walk through southside...

 

He looked towards Lynn to see how she was reacting to this, his mind considering how she and the other people might react to a show of force by him.

[Thevshi]

NPC/Slipstream

 

Lynn seemed to tense again when Alden mentioned someone having to do something about the appearance of possible criminals. But then the suspicion the blonde teen had was fully confirmed as the large man in tights appeared, making it clear he and his goons intended to rob those present.

 

But before Lynn could say anything else, Alden moved forward to approach the large man, calling out a challenge. This direct approach drew the attention of everyone in the room to the teen, and Lynn did not waste the opportunity. In the blink of an eye, she became a blur and was then moving faster than the eye could see. When Jack turned to look to where Lynn had been, he did not see her.

 

As she zipped through the outer perimeter of the crowd, moving too fast to see, Lynn passed near to Jack. As she did, she quietly stated "If you are going to intervene, do not do so as yourself." She then continued out of the crowded areas of the gallery, passing through a closed door as she looked for a place to quickly change so she could go back to the confrontation in costume.

 

Meanwhile, as Alden spoke out, the large man turned to regard the teen, studying him closely. A couple of the men in the colorful costumes started to move forward, raising the electrified batons in their hands, but the large man raised his hand to signal them to stop.

 

As Alden spoke, an amused smile came to the large man’s face. "So eloquently spoken young man. I would be happy to discuss some of the works on display in this establishment. Taken this piece for instance…" He replied, as he moved over toward a nearby painting, several people moving out of the way as he approached.

[Jack]

Jack looked behind him as he heard Lynn speaking to him...but all he found was the wall. "Vho else vould I be?" He quietly asked the wall. When it gave no answer he smiled to himself. "I yam just me..." He remembered Lynn's concern when he had made the ice flower openly. She had not not wanted him to use his abilities openly, but to protect his identity and keep it secret. Jack at first didn't see a reason too...but his family could be in danger if he wasn't careful, and that was something he did not take lightly. 

 

He pulled up the hood of his sleeveless hoodie. He was still waiting to see how Alden's plan would work out...but he was brewing up a chili plan B if it was needed. The bear spirit inside was already moving to plan C.

[Kaede Kimura]

Harlequin 

 

Harlequin grinned as the villain rose to meet his challenge, leading him to a piece that seemed focused on one of the city's heroes, an indistinct figure flying into the sky, cape billowing, a handful of clouds. He could see the flaws that might draw scorn, the brushwork on the clouds causing them to be more blobby than fluffy, the trail behind the unnamed hero was clearly meant to be a gently spreading triangle, but one was at a slightly greater angle, and the hero's pose was just slightly off.

 

Still, he could admire the attempt, and while the mistakes did throw off the composition it did still convey the emotions it so clearly strived to.

 

"<I must concede that thy have a fine critical eye, but I can see the artist had a feeling they could not deny, for while their skill might not perfectly capture the wonder of seeing one fly, they so clearly could not help but try. The effort may be marred by skill's cruel yoke, but I canst help but feel it's display is in the spirit it tries to evoke, for at the end of a man's rope, what else is there to reach for but hope?>" Harlequin looked up at the large man, his head cocked slightly. "<I can see why one of your calling, might look upon such flaws and see value falling, but to convey emotion, is a labour akin to trying to empty the ocean. But the greatest men thrive with a great task for which they strive. So I ask thee not to dismiss skill not yet to ripen, lest some poor folks you frighten from pursuing dreams that seem beyond their means.>"

[Thevshi]

Slipstream

 

The large man gave a slight grin at Alden’ defense of the work they had been discussing. "Very well stated observations my young friend." He began. "Those are indeed redeeming qualities of this work. With time, this artist may perfect his techniques and be able to truly execute his vision, and at such time this work, along with other early works, are likely to have value as examples of early development of any eventual mastery. But even then, that value will pale to later works that fully combined both emotion and skill."

 

The grin then faded slightly. "Now, if you will excuse me, my Avant Guard and I have transactions to complete." He stated, looking over at the nearest of the colorfully costumed henchmen, who had halted what they were doing to watch Alden’s interaction with their leader. "Leave this one alone." The large man stated, gesturing to Alden.

 

Just then there was a sudden *WOOSH* of air, as a red and black blur zipped into the gallery, coming to a halt in an open space that had formed in the center of the room after the other patrons had moved towards the walls when the criminals had declared their intentions. Standing in the open space was a teenage girl wearing a skin-tight black body suit with red stripes and red gloves and boots and black goggles with red lenses.

The teen’s long blonde hair fell back into place after the sudden stop as she focused on the large man and his henchmen near him. "Hi, is there a problem here?"

[Jack]

Jack hung back, keeping his distance from the henchmen. His eyes narrowed as he watched the boss man address Alden. The tension in the air was palpable, like the calm before a Siberian blizzard.

 

A flash of movement caught his eye, and suddenly Lynn appeared in costume. Jack's breath caught in his throat. She looked... incredible. The suit hugged her form, accentuating her strength and agility. A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he admired her transformation.

 

The sight of Lynn in her hero gear sparked something in Jack. He'd never given much thought to costumes before. His usual approach of pulling up his hoodie seemed woefully inadequate now. The bear spirit within him stirred, eager for release, but Jack hesitated. Unleashing the full might of his ursine form felt like overkill. Plus, he wasn't entirely sure he could control it once freed.

 

A thought hit him like an avalanche. Jack focused, drawing upon the primal ice magic that coursed through his veins. The air around him chilled rapidly, frost crystallizing on his exposed skin. He shaped it with his mind, willing the ice to form a protective layer over his body.

 

The sensation was exhilarating. The ice armor grew, covering his arms, chest, and legs. It was surprisingly light, allowing for easy movement while providing a formidable defense. Jack concentrated harder, guiding the frost up over his face. The ice molded itself into a smooth, featureless mask beneath his hood, concealing his identity.

 

Jack flexed his fingers, marveling at how the ice moved with him like a second skin. He felt powerful, protected, and for the first time since entering the gallery, truly comfortable. The chill emanating from his body was a familiar comfort, reminding him of home.

 

His arms settled across his chest, his demeanor appearing relaxed, but underneath the icy calm his muscles coiled with anticipation. Jack's eyes darted between Lynn, Alden, and the criminals, waiting to see how the situation would unfold. His heart raced, a mix of excitement and nerves coursing through him. Whatever happened next, he was prepared to face it head-on

[Kaede Kimura]

Harlequin 

 

Harlequin's grin continued unabated as the villain conceded to his point and escaped the conversation, the thrill of victory coursing through him. His triumph redoubled as a hero, Lynn he assumed, arrived, clearly he had bought time for her to acquire a disguise. Speaking of which, he should put on his.

 

With (almost) all eyes on the duo of hero and criminal, he slunk away to find a hidden spot, shifting his Glamour to change his appearance as well as that of his clothes. His ears lengthened, eyes turned Fae and skin paled to mimic his makeup. Harlequin was no stranger to intervening disguised as a human, but it was more comfortable to do so when suitably attired.

 

He stepped back into the main chamber with a laugh that rang like a bell. "<Rejoice! I say to those without sin, Rejoice for this day evil shall not win! With thee stands the savior of thine kith and kin, behold I am the inimitable Harlequin!>" He finished his introduction with a bow to the assembly of humans before him, his hat jingling joyfully.

[Thevshi]

Slipstream

 

While mostly portraying a casual demeanor, Lynn felt a tension as she was quickly taking in all the information provided by her goggles (which gave her a full three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view around her). There was a feeling of uncertainty, that she might be getting into something over her head. But she kept going over advice her mother had given her over the years with regard to crimefighting. Keep moving.

 

The colorfully costumed henchmen spaced about the room tensed at the appearance of a costumed hero, their grips on their batons tightening. However, the large man Alden had engaged seemed rather unfazed. "Always just a matter of time before some costumed do-gooder sticks their nose into things." He stated with a slight smirk. "You are likely out of your league young lady."

 

But even as he spoke, the large, ice-covered form of Jack stepped into view at the edge of the crowd, followed moments later by Alden, now appearing in the dramatic costume of Harlequin. The large man chuckled slightly. "Well, not alone it would seem. But all of you will lean not to interfere with OD and the Avant Guard." He stated. "Get them!"

 

But before any of the henchmen could act on the villain's orders, Lynn was moving in a blur of black and red.

Speeding up to one of the Avant Guard, she launched a punch that was almost faster than most could track, a slight *CRACK* from the sound of it breaking the sound barrier. The punch connected and knocked the man off his feet to land on the ground unconscious. But before he even landed, the speedster had moved next to another of the henchmen a few feet away, delivering another superspeed punch and knocking him out as well.

[Thevshi]

GM

 

The large man (who had identified himself as OD) tried to track Slipstream's movement as she quickly took down two of his henchmen. As the teen speedster started to move away from the bystanders the villain stepped forward, moving relatively quickly for such a large man (even if still slow compared to the speedster).

 

However, he timed his movements just right, stepping into Slipstream's path as his large hand reached out and grabbed her, pinning her arms to her side as he lifted her off the ground with ease. "You are fast. But that speed is of little use if you are tapped."

[Kaede Kimura]

Harlequin 

 

Harlequin's smile grew and then faded minutely as Probably-Lynn quickly defeated two of the Avant Guard before being caught by OD. That was hardly ideal! It was clear that she was not a physical powerhouse unlike OD. But it did present an opportunity for mischief. His eyes glinted with goblin glee as he clapped eyes upon a familiar hood filled with ice towering over the crowd.

 

He capered in place, clapping rhythmically as he chanted, "<Trapped she might be, but yon maiden shall soon be free, for at this scene justice cries...>" He pushed his magic, swapping places with the heroine, grinning into OD's face as he continued, "To see you fight someone your own size!" The Trickster pushed his magic again, swapping places with the icy giant across the room. 

[Thevshi]

GM

 

OD seemed shocked when suddenly he found himself holding the dramatically attired Harlequin instead of the speedster. When the towering, ice armored Jack replaced the trickster, the large villain had released his grip and taken a step back.

 

The Avant Guard similarly seemed surprised by the three teen heroes suddenly changing placed, but they quickly recovered. Two that had been moving toward Harlequin closed with Slipstream, swinging the batons that sparked with electricity. While the speedster easily dodged the first, the second caught her on the side, sending an electrical shock through her body. But Lynn was able to withstand the shock.

 

Another two came up behind Jack to make similar attacks. Again, one missed, but the second hit, a jolt of electricity releasing into the large teen.

 

Harlequin was able to easily dance away from the two Avant Guard that came at him, clumsily swinging their batons at him…