ic Geeks on Parade IC

[Lone_Star]

GM

 

Kirby Art Museum

Parkside, Freedom City, New Jersey

December 17th, 2024, 11 AM

 

It was a balmy morning in Freedom City. The Kirby Art Museum was just about to open for the day, and there was a small line to get in. There was excitement in the air as museum attendees jammed their hands in their pockets and breathed into clasped hands to keep warm. Their newest exhibit, "Freedom City in Popular Culture" opened that day, and everyone was excited to see it. Paintings, advertisements, rare comic books, and movies, all made by Freedom City locals would be on display. Reporters from local newspapers waited impatiently, clutching their cameras and sound equipment, eager to be the first inside. 

 

The museum, two stories tall, is a work of art in and of itself with a beautiful crystal spire atop it visible from miles around. Having suffered from super-battles in the past, security guards wearing Kevlar vests with futuristic-looking pistols in their holsters patrol up and down the line, occasionally talking into their earpieces. They weren't about to have another incident on museum grounds: twice was quite enough. Everyone in line had to wait a bit longer, as the security team was taking every precaution to ensure the valuable exhibits remained where they belonged. 

 

Finally, the doors opened, and a slow trickle of attendees were allowed inside. Owen was waiting at the back of the line, looking around for his friends. "Are you guys on your way?" he sent via group text. 

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 09:01 PM by Lone_Star

[Jack]

Jack strolled down the bustling sidewalk, his bare feet padding against the cold concrete. The sleeveless hoodie flapped open in the winter wind, exposing his scarred chest to the elements. A light dusting of frost formed on his white hair with each gust, making him feel more alive than any cup of coffee could.

 

An elderly woman clutched her coat tighter as she passed, giving his basketball shorts a disapproving and confused look. "Dobroye utro!" Jack said as he flashed her a warm smile and waved, which seemed to confuse her even more. He couldn't help but chuckle - Americans were so funny about the cold.

 

The icy wind whipped around him, causing others to huddle deeper into their winter gear, but Jack spread his arms wide, embracing it. The bear spirit inside him stirred contentedly, drawing energy from the winter morning. The glowing scars across his body pulsed faintly in response.

 

Getting up this early had been a struggle - he'd had to set multiple alarms starting at 9 AM just to drag himself out of bed by 10:30 so he could walk to the museum. But Owen's invitation to the museum had been too tempting to pass up. Jack had always loved art, and appreciating others' work brought him great joy and was a good opportunity to improve his own modest artistic skills.

 

He checked his watch, noting that he was almost running on time for once. The bear spirit grumbled that they could have slept longer, but Jack ignored it. The crisp December air was worth losing a little sleep over.

 

Jack felt his phone buzz in his pocket. Fishing it out while dodging a rushing businessman, he read Owen's message about being at the museum already. His face lit up - for once he wasn't going to be the last one there!

 

Rounding the corner, Jack spotted Owen's familiar figure at the back of the line, head swiveling as he searched the crowd. The bear spirit inside rumbled with contentment at seeing a friend.

 

"Owen! Privyet!" Jack's deep voice boomed across the plaza as he waved enthusiastically, causing several heads to turn. His long legs ate up the distance between them in just a few strides, the frost crystals sparkling in his white hair as he moved.

 

Some of the people in line did double-takes at the massive teen approaching in summer clothing despite the December chill. Jack paid them no mind - he was used to the stares his size and cold resistance drew. The bear spirit inside him preened a bit at their reactions, but Jack kept it in check. No need to show off.

 

 

[RocketLord]

BOUNCE!

 

Late late late. Of course she's late. Jumping from rooftop to rooftop, legs stretching like springs, Mattie catapults herself across the city. She had honestly underestimated how backed up the city would be and how many people would be on the trains or busses and everything. Just made it impossible to get anywhere on time! Now, back in Rumblefall, you could get where you wanted real quick, but Freedom's so big!

 

It's not wrong to use your powers to try to get somewhere in time, right?

 

With a yell, Mattie finds herself misjudging the distance between two jumps, and rather than land on a rooftop not far from the museum, she tumbles into an alley, bouncing off the walls before quickly jumping to her feet again! She's alright! At least no one saw her!

 

With her phone plays a the tune she had assigned to Owen (part of the Freedom Friends theme tune!) with the message, she stumbles out of the alley, holding her phone up as she runs towards Owen and Jack. 

 

"I'm here! I'm here! Sorry I'm late!"

 

She's dressed in a pair of jeans and heavy winter boots, with a thick dark purple winter jacket with fur trimming around the hood. She has a big white and blue scarf wrapped around her lower faces, hiding her mouth and nose. Cold wind isn't fun when bouncing around.

[Spacefurry]

Seraphim

 

Sarah wasn’t quite comfortable just flying around the city yet, so the teen sat in the back of the Uber watching the building go by. Maybe she should get her license, but she couldn’t afford a car on her own. Still would be nice to have she thought.

 

Her phone buzzed with a text, even as the museum sat waiting only a block away. The light finally changed and her ride lazily pulled up in front of the building.

Sarah paid the driver and thanked them for the ride before sliding out.

 

Owen, Jack, and Mattie already stood at the back of the line.

“Sorry I’m late.”

She apologized as she jogged up to the group with a wave.

“Traffic was busier than I thought it’d be.”

 

She wore pale blue leggings under a knee length pleated skirt of barker blue. Her jacket had a gray cartoon cat with a scarf and Santa cap, it hug open to show the cream colored blouse she wore under it.

While she wasn’t nearly as comfortable in the cold as Jack, she had lived in the city her whole life and a little nip in the air wasn’t too bad.

[Poncho]

(King Cole III)

 

Renee had wanted to go to this exhibit, but being invited by friends made thish a lot easier; she didn't have to deal with crowds by herself. But it just so happened that it was the King who was out and about today, looking only barely like Renee -an identical twin that had a completely different life- in a Wicked shirt, spiked bracelts and jeans. Above that she had a heavy, double buttoned purple coat with an attached waist belt, and a pair of fur-cuffed boots to keep her feet warm and a newsboy cap. She still had her backpack, but she had decided to travel via a skateboard she'd either also had or had borrowed instead of Renee's bike. With her hands in her pockets she leaned and twisted the board through the crowds until she saw Owen. Her phone might have gone off but she had cheerfully ignored it, and as she kicked her feet she made the skateboard hop into the air, landing on the stairway railing and stalling there before she hopped down and grabbed the board. She may have caused some level of problems by cheerfully splitting the crowd on her board, but she didn't mind, she hadn't hit anyone at least!

 

"Don't text and drive! Or skateboard!" she clapped. "Howdy howdy~ sorry for being laaaaaaate." she said, reaching into her backpack and pulling out an old handhold camera- the kind that still used physical film- "I had to pick this up from home."

[EternalPhoenix]

Serendipity and Stormchild

 

"Ah, good. We're all here." The voice of the grinning Captain Riel Estime came from beside Owen, where he had absolutely not been standing 5 seconds prior. Or rather, no one had noticed him standing there. Did everyone jump? Perhaps, perhaps. "What? I've been standing here for several minutes. It's not my fault none of you saw me. I even waved." His grin could be described as crap eating, if one were so inclined. Though perhaps the looks were about his attire. It was too cold for his usual swashbucklingly piratical style, so he'd changed to something vaguely Inuit. Furs, skins, and such. Somehow, he made it look dashing. More to the point, his sword wasn't visible at his side. That'd be more shocking than seeing him naked. 

 

"Agreed. We can go in and see this exhibit of yours, Owen." Kadene shimmered into existence on Owen's other side. She placed just a little emphasis on his name. She was dressed similarly to her brother. Furs up top, animal leather pants. No bare collarbone and legs today. Much too cold. Yet somehow, despite the lack of exposed skin her feminine appeal had not diminished. Her sword was also not visible, and it was just as shocking. She took Owen's hand with both of hers and got close enough he could smell the scent of her soap and shampoo. Surprisingly floral, both of them. "Shall we?"

[Lone_Star]

Prime Mover

 

"Jack!" Owen said happily as the massive teen walked up to him. "Uhh, zdraste! Think that's right..." Owen had been meaning to learn a little bit of Russian, just to be neighborly with him. He wasn't terribly surprised Jack wasn't dressed for the winter, considering his powers, but Owen was dressed in a red Carthartt-brand jacket he picked up from Fleet Farm before he left for Freedom City. "It's just another day for you, huh? You aren't cold at all?" 

 

"Mattie, no worries, you're just on time. We're just waiting on a few others now. Besides, we'll be among the first folks to see the exhibit anyways. Did you...jump here?" Owen took the bus, but if no one saw her, then he guessed it was okay. Some of the other teens tried to hide using their powers in public, him included. Especially with the problems he had controlling them...

 

He smiled as Sarah walked up - she seemed sweet. This was as much about seeing the exhibit as it was getting to know some of his Claremont classmates he didn't know very well. "No worries Sarah. I was just telling Mattie that everyone is on time, catch your breath... oh geez!!" he said, jumping about a foot away as Renee came crashing onto the scene! 

 

"Renee, you really should be more careful, someone coulda gotten hurt!" As he said that, he could almost hear his roommate Riel tell him to not be such a stick in the mud. Speaking of which, where was..."OH GEEZ"

 

Riel and his twin materialized right next to him, both dressed warmly in furs and skins that looked like they belonged in a natural history museum. "Riel, Kadene, you...please don't do that." 

 

He looked down to see Kadene was holding his hand with both of hers, and he looked up at her. He sputtered out something resembling speech, but what he really wanted to tell her was that she looked beautiful in her furs. But what came out was "You look real pretty." Geez, nice going 'Gomer Pyle'. Now she'll definitely think you're a country bumpkin. Let's change the subject... Owen gently broke off the contact, pleasant as it was, and reached into the voluminous pockets of his jacket. He pulled out several small, transparent plastic bags wrapped with  red ribbon, and handed one to each of his friends. 

 

"I hope it's okay, but I got you all some Christmas treats. Hope no one's allergic, they're caramels and chocolates. Just a little something to say 'Happy Holidays'." He passed Kadene her treat bag last, and gave her a few more seconds of eye contact than anyone else. "So, let's head on in!"

 

 

 

Edited Thursday at 01:36 AM by Lone_Star

[Lone_Star]

GM 

 

The teens steps echo on the tile floor as they entered the expansive lobby of Kirby Art Museum. It took them ten minutes to get through the line, as they were checked over by museum security, but the sight of the art on the main floor was well worth the wait. Although Owen thought about his costume underneath his layers of clothing, none of the team was checked with any sort of thoroughness, nor were any of their bags looked through. Owen glanced at his roomie, wondering if his powers had anything to do with that. Fringe benefits, indeed.
 

In the center of the museum, a giant white marble statue depicting the goddess Athena with a spear in one hand and an owl in the other dominated their view. In front of the statue, a small sign directed the viewer to the Greek art on the second floor. The teens handed their tickets to the front desk concierge, who was dressed neatly in a blue women's blazer. 

 

"You're here to see the pop culture exhibit, I take it?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at the motley collection of teenagers. She did not seem to believe teens could be in there for any other reason! "You'll want to go to the end of the hallway and take a left, you can't miss it. Please enjoy your visit." 

 

"Thank ya kindly, will do," Owen said, smiling genially. 

 

"So, have you guys been here before? Oh, I mean 'guys' in a general sorta way, not...well, you know. Guys." Owen said as he walked to the exhibit. He was still a bit flustered from Kadene holding his hand. "I'm just really excited to see this exhibit. I hear they've got a Tales of the Scarab issue one on display. In mint condition! That's one of the most valuable comic books, well, ever!"

 

 

Edited Thursday at 01:41 AM by Lone_Star

[Poncho]

(King Cole III)

 

"Pshaw ease off it country boy, I was watchin; That's why I said don't text and board, that's how you hurt someone. I have complete and total control of all my motor functions, don'tcha know. Or whatever, something like that." she waved her hand. Then as quick as lightning she made sure to snap a photo of Owen getting all bashful over Kadene. 

 

"Gonna give that one to Harper, that's going in the school paper totally." she said cheerfully before they headed inside. While she wasn't that interested in tales of the scarba, she was still snapping photos of things she thought were interesting. 

 

"I'm not interested in that. I wanna see the King Cole stuff. They alleeeegeeedly have some of his old magic totems and stuff. We'll see about that." she said as she continud to bounce around the group, wandering to and fro as they headed towards the area. "If it's all fakes, I'd know, definitely."