ic Crowd Control (IC)

[Spacefurry]

GM

 

Wednesday afternoon

Sept 18

Millennium Mall

 

Crowds moved through the mall in their usual ebbs and flows as the people shopped and wandered about. The food court was bustling with activity as the lunch crowd buzzed with chatter. And in one of the central intersections of the mall a crowd gathered to watch the small film crew that had set up camp to capture the mall as background for its ‘on-location’ shooting. A local daytime drama, popular with local viewers for being set in the city and sometimes filming on location. Uniformed FCPD peppered the perimeter of the filming crews.

 

Just like any other day in Freedom, the multitude of civilians had no idea just how many superheroes found their way into the mall on a daily basis. Today was no different as several members of one of the newer teams, the Young Guardians, ventured into the mall to enjoy a well deserved lunch after a reprieve from training by their leader and taskmaster.

 

But they are far from alone the only heroes blending in with the crowds this day. Eira, another Claremont Alumni, was at the Childrens’ Museum nestled within the giant mall. The new interactive exhibit easily coming together as she worked.

[Lone_Star]

Ghule

 

Vik slowly made her way through the crowd, drawing her hoodie up to avoid attracting attention. She was nervous of being caught, of being outed as a zombie in this big crowd of people. What would happen if people knew an undead walked among them? Would people get hurt trying to get away from her? All these questions drifted freely through her mind as she made her way to the children's museum, where she was supposed to meet some other members of the Young Guardians.

 

She glanced over at the daytime drama being filmed at the mall - it was never her thing, her mother was all about her "stories", but seeing the actors prepare for their scenes made her smile just a little bit. It reminded her of sitting with her mother while she made kasha for breakfast. . It always aired just after Saturday morning cartoons, and though she didn't really understand what the show was about at a young age, she knew her mom liked it. 

 

She sent out a group text as she posted up just outside of the Children's Museum: Anyone else here yet? 

[Avenger Assembled]

Angelic 

 

It would have been a simple matter to install the mainframe for Archetech's newest contribution to the children's museum, a 3-D holographic display called JOURNEY TO SPACE! that let children interested in the final frontier 'zoom' out from Mercury all the way to the hub to CoVic Station at the edge of the Solar System. But Eira Katastroff didn't like to do simple jobs, especially when it let her honor the brand identity of one of her heroines. So instead she'd done the work - then installed an "FTL mode", allowing young people to zoom all the way out to the nearest star systems, complete with accurate maps of those systems and depictions of Lor and other alien vessels they might pass by. Unfortunately that did require a substantial upgrade to the core memory, much less the projection bandwith of the holographic projectors and the generators of the interactable hardlight objects - but fortunately Eira didn't need to sleep. She'd pulled an all-nighter, scored an excellent reference for her consulting business - and honestly things were going well. 

 

She leaned against the wall, fighting the urge to scratch under her blue labcoat by simply deactivating those sensors, and went on speaking to the museum's director. "Everything will be ready for the big unveiling, yes?" she said, her tone not really making it a question. There were many children here, playing happily and enjoying themselves immensely, or crying and throwing a fit, or any number of things - and she was happy to see all of them. She'd taken the time to upgrade the museum to make sure it was fully compatible with the Americans with Disabilities Act, one of the few things that she really liked about living (for a while) in the United States. 

 

As they spoke, she watched, a half-smile on her yellow-painted lips, as she saw a young girl in a wheelchair reach out for a holographic Mars the size of a basketball and clutch it to her chest, looking very pleased with herself. 

[Nerdzul]

omw...  Luke texted back when he saw the message in the group chat.

 

Admittedly he wasn't exactly that far to begin with (although somehow he still had managed not the be first to arrive), given his current gig working at the mall as a greeter. He was on a break right now and he had complemented his uniform, that normally consisted only consisted in a pair of red board-shorts, adding a blue athletic t-shirt with the store logo and a pair sneakers. Now acting as eye candy to get customers in at the mall wasn't exactly the way he had envisioned his career, but it did pay the bills and the store manager didn't mind too much his criminal record, his not exactly stellar education curriculum and the occasional absences due to super-hero stuff getting in the way of his day-to-day life. Now his room-mate teasing was another matter of course, but whatever, besides it was not like Luke didn't have any ammunition to tease back Leon for his own career choices anyway.

 

It only took a minute or two of a light jog through the crowded halls of the malls to get to the new attraction, in truth, his inner child was kind curious about how it was gonna turn out, plus, the young man thought that it was neat that Angelic was working on it, superheroes making people life better that didn't involve punching bad guys was a plus in his books. 

 

"Hey..." He saluted Ghule with a wide smile.  "Looks like I am not the last one this time..." He gave her a self-conscious chuckle, as his inability to be punctual by then was much likely well known to the whole team. "How is it hangin'?"

 

"Eira... Long time no see..." He grinned as he waved at Angelic. 

[Avenger Assembled]

Recognized by a Claremont student, and thus a potential partner, Eira excused herself from talking to the director and stepped outside to greet Luke and his friends. The blonde woman's hair was back in a bun that resembled the famous tech heroine Miss Americana's, her blue labcoat matching the color of her eyes, her lips painted the same gold as her hair. "Hello, Luke," she said, her distinct Swedish accent as present as ever. She gave him a firm handshake, then turned to the girl she guessed was his friend. Eira looked a bit older than the two Claremont students, much closer to twenty-five than fifteen, and her teeth were a perfect white as she said. "Hello. I am Eira Katastroff. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." 

 

She stood there and talked to Ghule and she was dead. No, worse - she wasn't alive and it didn't seem she ever had been. The being standing there talking to the two Claremont students was as alive as one of the video games in the arcade - fun center on the other side of the food court. "Did you go to high school with Luke?" she asked, an easy way of checking the other girl's bona fides. 

[Kaede Kimura]

Shadowborne 

 

Muirne had forgotten to check her phone until she was just around the corner from the group, and so hadn't replied in the group chat. Instead the short hero just appeared out of the crowd. "Sorry I'm late guys, I don't know if I'll ever get the hang of moving through the mall-" She stopped short seeing Eira, the last significant interaction between her and the robotic heroine having been in Rurland where their talks had been... Strained.

 

"Ah, gód ofernón miss Eira, it has been a while. Have you been well?"

[Lone_Star]

On 10/5/2024 at 1:23 PM, Nerdzul said:

"Hey..." He saluted Ghule with a wide smile.  "Looks like I am not the last one this time..." He gave her a self-conscious chuckle, as his inability to be punctual by then was much likely well known to the whole team. "How is it hangin'?"

 

"Eira... Long time no see..." He grinned as he waved at Angelic. 

 

Ghule

 

"Hey, it's been okay!" she said happily to her teammate. "Been practicing with Charlie and Bernie a lot, just developing my..." She looks around, a little nervous. "Abilities."

 

6 hours ago, Avenger Assembled said:

 "Hello, Luke," she said, her distinct Swedish accent as present as ever. She gave him a firm handshake, then turned to the girl she guessed was his friend. Eira looked a bit older than the two Claremont students, much closer to twenty-five than fifteen, and her teeth were a perfect white as she said. "Hello. I am Eira Katastroff. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." 

 

She stood there and talked to Ghule and she was dead. No, worse - she wasn't alive and it didn't seem she ever had been. The being standing there talking to the two Claremont students was as alive as one of the video games in the arcade - fun center on the other side of the food court. "Did you go to high school with Luke?" she asked, an easy way of checking the other girl's bona fides. 

 

Vik looked at the blonde woman who shook hands with Luke, and felt herself cut to the quick. Does she know? 

 

Vik unconsciously took a step back, and smiled a little at Eira, trying to regain her composure. A quick glance with her life sense confirmed her suspicion, that Eira wasn't alive, and hadn't ever been. Was she a robot, like her fellow Guardians member? "Yeah, no. I didn't go to that high school. But Luke and I have a lot in common, you know what I mean?" She hadn't met Eira before, but she assumed if Luke and Muirne knew her, that she was a fellow superhero. 

 

She visibly relaxed when Muirne walked up. "Hey, Muirne!" she said, and gave her friend a quick hug, grateful for the break in the conversation. 

[Spacefurry]

GM

 

The museum director had thanked Eira again for all her hard work, ecstatic over how much the children were going to enjoy the new exhibit. He had been more than happy to accept any input she had had on improving the museum before having to leave her to attend to other pressing matters.

 

Out front of the Children’s Museum people continued to pass the gathering heroes. The flow of foot traffic was a comfortable buzz in the air that gave small groups the sense of being their own island of calm in a sea of noise.

 

As introductions were made, and Vik was getting used to the idea that there were more people in the city that were both alive and not alive in ways different from herself, something else dingged on her Life Sense. A single figure, but with two separate life signs, one within the other. 

 

And then it was gone. Lost to the crowded walkways.

[Avenger Assembled]

Eira smiled again, greeting Miurne as she joined the group. Her hands were folded behind her back, in unconscious imitation of Miss Americana. "I have been very well indeed! The installation at the museum has gone very swimmingly - and might have a few surprises for the little ones, yes?" Having thoroughly resented being forced to get a high school education among so-called 'normal' people _after_ earning her bachelor's degree at the age of 16, the one-time prodigy found it actually very pleasant to be socializing with once-high school students. Especially since my new body appears older than my chronological age! she thought cheerfully. She went on, handing out her business card, "If any of you are looking for a part-time position with Katastroff Consulting, you should give me a call. I can always use the services of a contractor, especially in very specialized areas." 

[Lone_Star]

Ghule

 

Vik did a double-take as she noticed someone with two life-signs. Was that person...?

 

She gladly accepted a business card from Eira, understanding her meaning. "I'm always up for a side-gig. Especially if you have...problems that need taking care of," she said with a grin. Charlie's training has given her a newfound confidence, not only with her abilities, but with her unfortunate condition. There were advantages to being undead!

 

"So, while I'm happy to be here, just wondering what we're doing at the museum today? Are we watching them film that show, or what?" 

[Kaede Kimura]

Shadowborne 

 

Muirne returned Vik's hug with a smile, and followed it up with one for Luke as well, before returning her attention to Eira, taking a business card with a smile. She wouldn't mind getting a job, living off of Charlie's generosity wasn't exactly her ideal future. "I'm glad to hear that, Eira."

 

She turned to Vik as she asked what the plan for the day was, chuckling. "I think the plan was just to get lunch and spend time together before Charlie invents a new training regime he wants to try out." She pantomimed checking a watch, "We might still have five minutes before he does."

[Avenger Assembled]

"There is good food here," said Eira, with the abstract acknowledgement of someone who ate for taste rather than sustenance - and only ethically sourced things at that. "I recommend Impossible Meals if you are looking for something vegan." Catching sight of where Vik was looking, she peeked in that direction herself. "Something unusual?" she inquired, having had a lifetime of experience with that. 

[Lone_Star]

On 10/13/2024 at 3:40 PM, Kaede Kimura said:

Shadowborne 

 

Muirne returned Vik's hug with a smile, and followed it up with one for Luke as well, before returning her attention to Eira, taking a business card with a smile. She wouldn't mind getting a job, living off of Charlie's generosity wasn't exactly her ideal future. "I'm glad to hear that, Eira."

 

She turned to Vik as she asked what the plan for the day was, chuckling. "I think the plan was just to get lunch and spend time together before Charlie invents a new training regime he wants to try out." She pantomimed checking a watch, "We might still have five minutes before he does."

 

Ghule

 

"Well, in his defense, I have been controlling my powers much better since we started. But yeah, he can be a bit of a taskmaster." Thanks to intense training sessions with Charlie, Vik was feeling more confident with her powers than ever. She had learned to focus her abilities, even learn some new ones, and take advantage of her undead nature by training harder and further than she could have ever done as a human. "But really, I needed that to get out of my funk and learn to, well, accept what happened to me. But anyway, what's everyone hungry for?" 

 

On 10/19/2024 at 6:15 AM, Avenger Assembled said:

"There is good food here," said Eira, with the abstract acknowledgement of someone who ate for taste rather than sustenance - and only ethically sourced things at that. "I recommend Impossible Meals if you are looking for something vegan." Catching sight of where Vik was looking, she peeked in that direction herself. "Something unusual?" she inquired, having had a lifetime of experience with that. 

 

Vik slowly turned her head back towards Eira, now understanding what she saw. Her powers were becoming stronger, for sure. "That's good! And thanks for the offer, but I have particular dietary needs. I hope it's not a problem that I eat meat when we're out."

 

"And no," she lied, "Just thought I saw someone from high school." Maybe I'll tell Eira about my powers another time. But mazel tov to the new mother!

 

 

[Spacefurry]

GM

 

The small group turned their attention to food and turned their feet towards the food court.

The noise of consumerism drowned out by their own conversation and the looming threat of holiday music on the horizon.

 

As they neared the font of mall nurishment, the group could easily spot one of the smaller camera crews setting up for something. But that wasn’t possibly the strangest thing they could have seen.

Off to one side a familiar looking young man shoved an unknown young woman against the wall beside a shop window front. The black haired young man in a jean jacket covered in band patches slammed a hand against the wall and leaned in close as if to pin the girl in place with his sheer presence.

Edited November 4 by Spacefurry

[Lone_Star]

Ghule

 

Although Vik was vaguely interested in what was going on with the daytime drama, the young woman being pinned against the shop window stood out to her like a sore thumb. "Oh hell no," she muttered to herself as she stomped towards them. That was not going to happen on her watch! 

 

She walked up to the young man and grabbed his shoulder, and spun him around to face her. "Hey #$$hole, you got a problem? The young lady clearly doesn't want to talk to you, so why don't you take a hike?" Regardless of the consequences of making herself more visible to the public (especially the large crowd gathered for the show), she couldn't let that stand one moment longer. She crossed her arms and gave the young man a mean look, one that she had practiced through her years of juvie. He wasn't the only one that could scare someone with their presence! 

[Avenger Assembled]

Angelic

 

It wasn't that Eira didn't see the assault, or even make plans to do anything about it. She had little doubt that (unless this was one of those stealth metahumans so irritatingly present across Freedom City) she could beat the man down with both hands tied behind her back. But she wasn't technically in costume here and Ghule had made the first move, so instead she moved to back her up. Arms behind her back, she glared at the man and looked concernedly at the woman, ready to offer medical help if needed. She did stop to take a subtle, silent picture of the man with her eyes while she dispatched a message to the Freedom City Police Department, warning them of an assault and battery in progress.  

[Spacefurry]

GM

 

Vik took offense at what she saw and beelined for the two with no regard. Behind her, the others followed. Eira stepping closer than Luke and Muirne, but allowing Vik room to act unhindered.

As they all approached, they could hear part of the conversation between the two.

 

“You brought me here. Because you knew you couldn’t live without me.”

The young man said in a domineering tone.

“N-no, that’s not true.”

The girl stammered her objection, but she seemed to lean in closer.

“Just admit it, you know you want me as much as I wa-”

You could almost hear the triumph in his words… until a strong hand grabbed his shoulder and pulled him away.

“Huh? What the-?”

 

In the instant it took for Eira’a eyes to snap the image, she knew it wasn’t going to be necessary to contact the police. Their paths had crossed before. In fact, they had crossed paths with the young man less than a year ago.

Luke and Muirne knew him as well, but never dressed quite like this. The patch crowded jean jacket and black jeans weren’t his typical style.

For Vik, she was still getting to know the young man.

 

Leon blinked at Vik in obvious confusion for a moment before his eyes darted around and found the others.

“Oh sh-!”

 

“What the hell is going on?”

The girl demanded even as Leon groaned and facepalmed. Her tone, no longer the demure one she had a moment ago, but demanding and self righteous.

“Jeff!”

She yelled, and a larger man who had obviously been chatting with another woman started jogging over hurriedly with a look that said he knew he was in trouble.

[Kaede Kimura]

Shadowborne 

 

Muirne had been happy to stay quiet, thinking about how things had changed since she'd last spoken to the older girl, she had been new to this world, uncertain and questioning her place in it. Now...

 

Well, she wasn't as new she supposed. She had a boyfriend, had graduated Claremont Academy, was on a team. And hid almost everything from them. She had opened up somewhat, mentioning her issues with magic to the team, talking about her past with Luke.

 

But you will take me to your grave, won't you Modor?

 

Any response Muirne might have mustered was cut short by the man cornering the woman. When Vik and Eira immediately leapt into action she decided against crowding in, instead standing nearby, ready to intercede in case Eira and Vik needed help.

 

Then Leon turned to face them. 

 

For a moment everything seemed to freeze. She watched Leon look between them and realize he'd been caught.

 

She clamped down as she felt the shadows rush through her, resisting the fury that was boiling in her veins. She should hear him out, their friendshipwas worth that. Her voice came out low and ugly anyway, "Care to explain yourself, Leon?"

[Nerdzul]

Luke was all smiles when meeting his friends, he playfully chatted with everyone, gave his girlfriend one of his trademarked bear (dragon?) hugs as soon as she joined the group and winced very visibly when Muirne mentioned Chaz's training regime. Admittedly, the young dragon didn't really mind, he did enjoy pushing himself after all, but it certainly did complicate his already crowded schedule.

 

He did consider Eira offer of a job, still, while he had definitely appreciated the Christmas adventure together and still was committed to take his job as 'Christmas dragon' seriously, well as seriously as a role named like that could be taken at least, he was still on the fence about profiting of his heroics, so he just answered with a pretty uncommitted, but still friendly "Thanks..." 

 

The young dragon had joined the rest of the team when he noticed what seemed like an aggression, although it seemed like Vik had everything under control.

 

He clenched his fists and did his best to look threatening, although the angry expression only lasted until the young man realized what was going on and was quickly replaced by a smirk, soon after he could not stop himself from bursting into laughter.

 

"Really man?" 

 

He did notice the tension in raising in Murines' voice though, which prompted him to close the distance between them, offering her his arm and an 'hey...' 

Edited November 20 by Nerdzul

[Lone_Star]

Ghule

 

Vik couldn't believe it, and she just stood there for a moment as Leon turned around. She had gotten to know him a little bit, but this was completely out of character for him. Superheroes didn't intimidate young women. Unless he's being mind-controlled or has an evil twin, he's got some explaining to do!

 

"Leon, what the hell, man?" She was even more confused when the woman he was pinning to the wall changed her tone and called over another guy. Vik pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to figure out exactly what her and her friends walked into. "Okay, okay. Let's back up for one moment. Leon, you know that what we just saw looks bad. You can start explaining yourself, now." To emphasize her point, she smacked her fist into the palm of her hand. 

[Spacefurry]

GM

 

Leon sighed as the man the girl had called over joined them.

 

“What the hell, Jeff! You’re supposed to be keeping people like them at a distance.”

The girl accused him while waving a hand at the group.

 

Meanwhile, Leon held up his hands in placating manner.

“Guys, I can explain.”

 

“Of course, Ms Cartwell. I’m sorry, Ms Cartwell.”

Jeff attempted to calm the girl down, before turning to them.

“Okay guys, I’m gonna have to-“

 

Leon raised a hand to cut Jeff off.

“It’s okay Jeff, they’re cool.”

 

“What do you mean ‘They’re cool’?”

The girl demanded.

“I don’t deal with psycho fans or paparazzi?”

 

“Just chill, Cassi.”

The others could see Leon’s eyes rolling.

“They’re not paparazzi and they’re not fans.”

 

The girl, Cassi, eyed Leon then actually looked disappointed as she crossed her arms.

“Then who are they?”

She demanded.

 

Leon looked at the group, took a deep breath and sighed.

“They’re my friends.”

 

The man, Jeff, spoke up.

“Man, you know Mr Holt’s policy on inviting friends on set.”

 

“I didn’t invite them. Its a public mall. They just happened to be here.”

 

Jeff started to reply, paused in thought then nodded.

“Makes sense.”

He looked the group over. His gaze lingering on Eira a bit longer than the others.

“So, ah, who are they?”

He asked.

 

Leon rubbed the back of his head.

“This is Vik, Luke, Muirne, and Eira. They’re friends from school.”

 

Jeff looked from Eira to Leon questioningly.

 

“She graduated before us.”

Leon amended.

“Guys, this is Jeff and Cas-“

 

The girl cut Leon off and stepped up beside him.

“Cassi Cartwell.”

She said in a tone that implied everyone should know who she was.

“And you are interrupting our line reading.”

Cassi eyed the four of them. Her eyebrows arching as she took in Luke.

“But I guess we can make time.”

Her tone changed again to something sweeter.

“After all, any friend of Leon’s…”

She trailed off as she played with a lock of her hair.

 

Leon just rolled his eyes.

“Don’t bother Cassi, that’s his girlfriend standing next to him.”

 

Cassi shot Leon a dirty look before giving Luke a pouty look.

“Well, that’s a shame.”

 

Meanwhile, the older Jeff gave Eira an awkward smile.

“So, you ,ah, work in the mall?”

[Avenger Assembled]

Angelic 

 

I am tired of these people, thought Eira, not for the first time when dealing with humans in the last few years. I am tired of being caught in the tangle of their lives. 

 

"It was very stupid to stage a scene like this in public," she said flatly. "You are fortunate no one intervened more forcefully. Someone might have been hurt." 

 

She stared at Jeff as she could see through the back of his head, then said to Shadowbourne, "I will be in the boba tea line if you need me." With that she turned and walked away from the others, her shoes clinking on the linoleum floor as she went. 

[Kaede Kimura]

Shadowborne 

 

Muirne blinked slowly as Leon and his... costar explained themselves. She had to admit that did explain it, even as a small part of her still bristled. Especially when Cassi started eyeing Luke.

 

It was also terribly embarrassing.

 

Given she was literally capable of it, it took a great deal of effort not to sink into the ground to escape such an awkward encounter. Or to escape with Eira, perhaps the first time she had ever thought that hanging out with the robot girl alone would be the preferred social situation. But despite her own better judgement she stuck around, replying to Eira with a quick, "Sure thing." before turning back to the group.

 

"So how did you wind up an actor, Leon?"