"Ah, I should shower too then...and what's wrong with my hair?" Shin protests, patting the seven-three part that was slicked down, a small cowlick sticking out from the back that he could never manage to get down. "Isaiah, I'd appreciate it if you could make whatever Kylie has in mind. I'll trust her judgment. So long as...well, I mean, seems like fashions show off a lot of skin nowadays. It's weird, like women are going to the beach all the time, right? Am I not right and just fully out of touch with this century?"
He scratched the back of his neck and sighed, getting up to go get cleaned up and shower before changing into what Isaiah would fabricate for him to wear. "Oh yeah, can you make me a pair of glasses too, Isaiah?" He asked, handing over his old fashioned glasses. "Something for this century. Shame you can't cure near-sightedness."
He paused for a moment as he realized that Kylie wanted to use the shower as well, stepping aside for her. "Sorry, ladies get priority use. I can stand to be sweaty for a few minutes more."
Kylie doesn't break "stride" as she heads towards the shower. After all, ladies first or not, she had dibs.
Without needing to shout from inside the bathroom, she sees no reason not to continue the conversation.
"Don't worry so much about the clothes, Shin. You'll look ravishingly decent." An odd contemplative sensation hovers in Shin's mind, sort of a telepathic equivalent to Psyche tapping her lip in thought. "A little bit of flair might not go amiss though." The presence turns warmer, "Would you consider piercing an ear? That would look very handsome, especially once your hair's up"
Wisely deciding to avoid asking Scorch to serve as an impromptu hair dryer, Kylie's ablutions mainly consist of a quick rinse, and, with the water still running as camouflage, an excuse to give herself a more careful look without the others seeing.
Damn. Swelling and bruises showed exactly where her all-too human frame had slammed into the ground. Doesn't look like anything's broken at least. With teeth gritted she unlocked the little box in her mind where she was keeping the pain, and slowly began to stretch and prod, making sure as best she could that she wasn't doing herself any more damage.
Satisfied that she wasn't placing herself in imminent danger, she fished out a small handful of ibuprofen, and a bottle of antiseptic to deal with her wounds. A nice long gown was clearly going to be the order of the day though.
"Well? How goes the suit?"
Mattie grins at the thought of going out. "Going somewhere sounds great!" she says to the room. "We haven't been anywhere for ages!" she pauses in thought. "Not sure I've still got anything to wear that'd fit, apart from, you know, jeans and t-shirts and training clothes and stuff.. - I was a lot shorter when we came here to live. We haven't really been out since I was 13. Do you think you could make something for me too Isiah? Something,.. nice?"
The nice thing about being me, I don't have to worry if everyone uses the hot water, but If Mattie doesn't hurry up she is going to be mad hahahaha. Rory chuckles to himself. Rory starts taking his shirt off before he even out the door and shouts to Shin, "It takes skin to win buddy," and flexes as he heads the the showers.
After a short absence, about 10 minutes, Rory reappears in a blue and white pinstripe short sleeve button up with tiny embroidered sharks on it and dark charcoal slacks, and securing a black watch to his wrist as he comes back in. "Well I am ready..." Rory notices Kylie treating her bumps and bruises, "we have a medical lab if you need access to it. Are you ok?"
"Oh, sure. Like I said, putting together clothes is easy, though I don't necessarily promise a perfect fit... at least not unless you don't mind standing very still while Inquiry gets a good scan of you. If I'm going to be doing a bunch of it, though, I'm going to have to start asking you folks to supply the fabric. I only keep so much on hand, after all, especially of the good stuff."
Isaiah contemplated for a moment. "I could probably make some extra pocket change doing rapid custom-tailoring if I needed it. I can add that to the 'odd jobs' category."
"The suit is just about finished. Just working on the fitting. Didn't realize how important that was until I looked it up."
Psyche can practically feel the heat and embarrassment coming off of Shin's thoughts as she addresses him. She can immediately tell he's struggling to not think of her in the shower and failing miserably. He stands still as Isaiah does his whole robot scan thing to make sure that everything would fit, trying to drown out thoughts about Kylie in his head. Which makes it worse as by association he thinks of other teammates in the shower, which deepens his shame.
Why would I pierce my ears? That's for dolls. The thought that it was for easy girls also slipped through - 'good' girls wore clipped or screw back earrings. His thoughts were all flustered, open as a book to Kylie as he finally stepped down and let Mattie take his place for the scan.
This is embarrassing... He managed to groan in his head as he headed to the showers now to quickly wash up, thinking Kylie was probably done now. Rory had done his own fairly quick as well, and looked strange not being in costume. He was also taller than Shin, broader in the shoulders, with a physique that looked sculpted from years of training. He stared a little in jealousy before heading into the shared bathroom to jump into the shower quickly and get the sweat and dirt off.
After a five minute rinse he was done, waiting on Isaiah to finish up his suit before putting it on. It fit well, and he felt a little more like an adult in slacks and not shorts, though he still preferred the bow tie to the hanging neck tie. "How does this look?" He asked as he posed for the rest of the team.
As soon as Shin's thoughts focus on Kylie in the shower he can feel her touch shrink away, and as his embarrassment grows soon she's gone entirely.
***
"The fit is crucial, Isaiah! No one from this team is going out in public looking like they're wearing a potato sack - if you need more fabric, you'll get it. Oh, and Mattie's measurements are... wait. That can't be right. Hold on."
Switching psychic channels she asked, "Mattie? Do you really not know your own measurements?" Her mental tone is incredulous, but quickly softens. "Sorry, sorry. I just- Well. Don't worry, we'll sort that out and get you into something perfect! What's your style? Tonight you dazzle everyone."
As she sends the last, she makes her own entrance back into the common room, floating perhaps an inch above the floor in a nearly backless crimson and cream mermaid dress, makeup carefully applied to accent and suggest the aura of her powers, easily a dozen pins still floating around her head as her long hair wound up and around itself, finishing in an intricate up-do.
"You look very handsome, Shin, Rory. And see? Nothing indecent about either outfit."
Once properly dressed for a night out, the gang heads out to the place Holly suggested. The glam restaurant usually caters to an older clientele, but the young heroes do receive an exuberant welcome. The lights of cell phone cameras cast blue-white lights over the newest superhero team as they move through the crowd and are provided a semi-private booth large enough for all of them.
As they pass through the high-end restaurant, Praetoria recognizes a judge and HCPD captain from Praetor Tower Christmas parties, while Mosaic sees a former co-producer of Behind the Mask in a booth with two actresses that had guest starred on the show as femme fatales.
After the server takes the drink orders, the table is approached by a Mediterranean woman in a bob haircut and cocktail dress. She holds up a business card and passes it toward Mosaic. "Holly Elton! What serendipity! Inez Souvlakos, GleeCo Toys! Do you remember me? When you modeled for your action figure and doll line? I'm soo excited about your new venture! Look at you! And all your friends! You could all be a part of our 3 1/2 inch toy line! Fully compatible with the Behind the Masks figures! What do you say, dear?" She flashes a bright smile to everyone at the table.
What do you do?
A strange smell catches Rory's nosen "Were you in the medical lab," he asks Kylie.
"Style?" Mattie replies to Kylie's question. "Ummm,.. I'm not really sure. Nothing too, um, girly. Um, sorry, no offence. I've never really been anywhere fancy. Maybe you guys could suggest something?"
After deciding on what to ask Isaiah to fabricate for her, Mattie has her turn in the shower, drying herself off by rapidly heating the air in the room and using her towel only to cover herself as she makes her way from the shower back to the girls' room to get dressed. At the restaurant Mattie stares around wide-eyed. Enjoying the novelty of the situation but feeling waaaay out of place and more than a bit self conscious in the fancy dress suggested by Psyche, Mosaic and Praetoria.
"Were you in the medical lab,"
"No." Her answer is flat. Whether she's telling the truth or not, it's obviously not something she wants to follow up on.
"Mattie, no one's trying to put you in anything that isn't right for you. You don't have to wear a gown; you could go with a nice blouse and a skirt, or even a suit of your own. The point isn't for you to look like anyone else, it's for you to look YOUR best."
****
At Le Chattlier's, Kylie is very much in her element, warm smiles, engaging banter, and if anyone is uncomfortable with the menu, even sending over little memory fragments so they can find something they would like. When Ms. Souvlakos comes over though, she sits back. Holly knows this game much better.
Despite everything, Shin went as Horizon in his suit, wearing the headgear and visor that provided him with a way to hide his identity from the cameras. He was still self conscious about about the potential for people to figure out his relation to Dusk.
"Isaiah, how is it that I've managed to anger over half the broads on the team?" He asks the surprisingly well blended in alien robot. "I'm jealous of you. You're from another planet and fitting in better than me. I dont know why but I feel like I'm not getting how people think in this era. Like Psyche."
Kylie especially was baffling to him. He didn't know if she liked him or hated him. As they sat down at their table, his gaze was on her as he tried to consider what it was that she wanted from him, if anything at all. Maybe first by considering her as a person and not her powers.
As the odd agent came to the table attempting to try and buy their image rights for plastic toys, Horizon slumped in his seat and tried not to get involved. Holly had been pretty livid with him before about wrecking her image in front of the cameras.
Holly is perfectly in her element as the group walks into the restaurant. She waves and shakes hands and lives up the image of the star.
See guys, they LOVE us. She says as they take their seats. she makes small talk with the others for a few minutes, but then Inez comes over. Holly smiles and takes the card. of course I remember you, Inez. It was only, what, a 3 hour discussion for which outfit and pose each of our figures would be. She laughs But, We're here as a team. I'm sorry, but I don't think I can give an answer right now. We'll talk it over, get you an answer in a day or two.
Kayla grew more and more anxious as everyone else was darting to get ready first, preventing her from her own turn. Eventually, however, her shot at the shower came and she took it...to learn that all the hot water was gone with a shriek as the cold water blasted her.
DAMNIT! Mattie ALWAYS uses all the hot water!
"We have GOT to either get a group shower or Mattie has to go last!" she yells out from the bathroom.
Eventually, however, the click of heels through the base precedes Kayla returning in a two piece outfit. She walks to just inside the door of the common area and says "Well? Are we ready to party?"
__________
Kayla is brimming with excitement when they first enter, but as the cameras start going off, her excitement starts to dwindle to anxiety. Then she sees the judge and police captain, and her anxiety hits her in the stomach like a truck.
Great. Great great great. Now Uncle Augustus is going to hear about this for sure.
She sat down beside Holly, partly hoping Rory or Shin would sit on the other side of her, but also felt that may cause more trouble for her if they did. When Ms. Souvlakos approaches them and makes a business proposition, Kayla giggles, but says in reply to Holly "I don't quite think any of us are ready for all that..."
Inez smiles and makes sure her business cards are passed around. "Sure. Enjoy your evening. But don't wait too long; we've got to get everything ready before the holiday season." She turns to leave.
Meanwhile, Kayla's phone buzzes.
Thanks for the update. Alliance met to discuss your recent outings. I'll fill you in later. Watch your behavior at the restaurant
Rory slides in next to Kayla and nudges her with his elbow, "You look very pretty tonight, uh not that you don't look pretty at other times, you just look really nice."
When an adult approaches the table and starts talking about 3 1/2 inch toys Rory is able to keep the crude comments swirling in his mind under lock and key, but just barely.
Kayla checks her phone, and her face goes pale, despite Rory's compliment. "Thanks," she says as she sets her phone down, screen down, on the table.
With Rory now sitting beside her, knowing that all sorts of eyes were on them and reporting in to her family, Kayla became a bit uncomfortable.
How am I supposed to have a good time now?
Hey, Rory says as he places his hand on hers, I know this new team, and stepping out on your own as a hero, and the expectations from the press and them just waiting for the next story has to be unbelievably stressful for you, but I am here for you and the team is here for you."
For a moment Kayla considers pulling her hand away, but instead she gives it a squeeze and listens to his words. She replies to him quietly, "It's not that...I've always been in the spotlight. Taylor Family Curse. It's just..." she pauses, considering if she wants to tell him.
"It's just, my family has all these expectations of me. And they've already made it perfectly clear how they feel about me...you know...dating. And then there's you and your sisters' secret identities, which we are putting in incredible jeopardy right now, by the way. It won't take long for the tabloids and reporters and the public and villains to put two and two together and...well, you know. I just..." she says, squeezing his hand again, "I feel like this is all unraveling before it can even get started..."
Isaiah stays fairly quiet, letting Holly handle this marketing thing. He didn't really care if they tried to make toys based on him; they'd never get the shapeshifting right. Instead he looked out across the resteraunt, quickly cataloging all supers and such that were here.
He still took note of the conversations that were going on, though.
"If anything, I think the fact that I am an alien is helping a bit with fitting in. I didn't come in with any preconceptions or established ideas about how things were, so I don't have to overcome them. Everything here is different, so I don't have any opportunities to get complacent. I'm running everything through a translation filter already, so my speech doesn't sound off. That sort of thing. That said, I still have plenty of my own disconnects, I'm just good at hiding them. Caught me by surprise for a half-second back at the base when I came up against the local clothes not being self-fitting, though it makes sense in retrospect."
More quietly, Isaiah added. "Also, I think that 'broad' is considered to be a minorly insulting term for women now, based on contextual data. You might want to watch out for that kind of thing."
"Hey, don't worry too bad. There'll probably be so many different stories circulating around that it'll take ages for any villains to sort out which ones are true. We're in a city with decades of superheroes, secret identities, not-actually-secret identities, aliens, ancient conspiracies, and so on in it; trust me when I say that sorting through it all takes a lot of processing power, and even then it's hard to be sure because there just might be clones or shapeshifing involved."
Praetoria feels a brief comforting(?) squeeze on her unoccupied hand as well.
"Kayla, don't worry so much. We're just going out to eat. Sure we look fantastic doing it, but there's no scandal here. This should even help show your family that you DO understand the spotlight, and that you really are ready for this."
"And after a well-behaved dinner, my offer of some privacy stands if the night takes a different turn."
Isaiah doesn't notice anyone else in the restaurant that he recognizes as a known super. Several facial scans return 90% or higher probability matches for politicians or wealthy business people who have been in the news recently.
The highly-skilled servers take food orders from everyone at the table. After a short wait, the server reappears with a tray full of food. "Crab cakes as an appetizer, compliments of that table." She gestures over to a group sitting by the window which affords them a dazzling view of the city.
Kayla, you recognize one of the faces at that table that turns to meet your gaze. It's Creighton Sadler, one of the top execs at Infini-Corp. He gives you an oily smile.
Kayla turns to see who it was that had ordered them food, and her stomach twisted up when she saw who it was.
He...he wouldn't try anything so bold in such a high profile place...would he? What if...what if he knows what happened to mom and dad?
Kayla slides her chair out and says "Excuse me, guys. I need to go talk to him."
Without waiting, she makes her way over and says "Mr. Sadler, a pleasure to meet you, and thanks for the crab cakes. I'm sure they will be delicious."
Having no idea how to deal with Kylie at the moment, the confused time lost hero decides to munch on a crab cake and think for a few moments to himself.
"...these are pretty good," he says about the food. He tries to find a topic of conversation here while Kayla gets up to go and meet her friends who bought them the cakes. "...You know, I met her great grandfather once."
Having garnered attention, he elaborates. "It wasn't like a private meeting or anything, he was just doing publicity at the University for a charity fundraiser, so my father took me and my younger siblings to meet him. I remember his laugh the most, bold and boisterous. Tried to imitate it today talking to the press. It's still a little strange seeing his predecessor being a dame. Well, lots of things are strange here for me."
He sighs, finishing his crab cake. "Not that I don't love the food, Holly, but I was hoping we'd find a dance hall. I feel like a hundred bucks in this suit, and getting put on a few dolls' dance cards would confirm it. If anyone here wants to add me to the top of theirs right now..." He added with regained confidence, putting up some swagger.
The man scoots his chair out and stands smoothly to face Kayla. He extends his hand in greeting. "You're quite welcome, and I hope you all get the little irony. Quite an impressive showing today at the Maritime Center. Your parents would be very proud." He turns to call attention to the others at his table. "Where are my manners? Praetoria, this is Khalilur Rahman, head of Infini-Corps' branch in Dubai; and special project leader Sarah McIver." They both nod in greeting.
"I don't mean to keep you. Enjoy your evening," Sadler says.
"Mr. Rahman, Ms. McIver," Kayla greets them in turn.
"Of course, and you as well, Mr. Sadler," Kayla says before returning to the table with her friends.
As she slides into her seat, she whispers "Infini-Corp. I just know they have something to do with my parents vanishing," all the while attempting to appear as if she were just rejoining the conversation. "Don't look at them. But the woman at their table is named McIver, Sarah McIver. Creighton said she was a 'special project' leader. Something about the way he said it gave me chills."
What do I do? Do I continue on with the night out? Do I try and follow them? Do I bring the team into it?
Unsure what to do, she takes out her phone and begins typing.
Creighton Sadler is here with two more Infini-Corp execs. Khalilur Rahman and Sarah McIver. He said Sarah was a "special project" leader. I don't know what to do, but I can't help but think she and they have something to do with mom and dad.
Kayla picks at a crab cake, her appetite suddenly gone. "Lets finish our food first, but I'm all for a club right about now. Shin, you think you can keep up with the dance moves of today?" she asks with a smirk, the idea of his response to modern day dancing crossing her mind in a most hilarious fashion.
It doesn't occur to Psyche to ask Kayla why she's uncertain about bringing the team into it, or whether Infini-Corp has any sort of anti-telepathic safeguards.
If Ms. McIver might know something about Kayla's parents, then it should be pretty simple to find out what, after all.
What the hell? **nnngh** Something's... wrong...
"Well, I happen to have attended a few dance hall events at the recreation center in my time," Shin tries to boast, trying to have fun even after Kayla announced something that he hadn't realized. Mostly because he hadn't asked but had been far to preoccupied with his own stuff to know that her parents were even missing.
"I'd say the key man is putting on a nice tune for swaying, if anyone wants to be my partner," He offers as he gets up and walks over to the dancing space, a smile on underneath his visor. This was a nice and normal activity to do. It wasn't like there was a lack of pretty partners to take to the floor either.
He looks at Kylie in her mermaid gown, and takes a gamble. "Not sure you can cut a rug in that, but I still think you'd be able to show off some fancy moves, don't you think? Unless you're actually all left feet," he provokes her.
As Kyla left, Holly started in on her food...it was delicious, she had always gone here with Trevor, Aisha, and Ainsley after a the season wrap party. She wanted to give the group the whole "Merchandising and Branding" talk, but decided it could wait until the morning.
then they start talking about going to a dance club... not really her cup of tea, but she'd deal.
Shin... I think dancing has changed more than a little bit, since your time holly says gently and, I'm not sure if you'll be as fond of what is popular now.
Maybe it's her fatigue from all her exertion during the battle, or maybe it's something else. Whatever it is, Psyche's mental probe is met with serious resistance in that corner of the room.
Isaiah ate some of the crab cakes... and saved the images of the people Kyla had mentioned. He'd remember them if he saw them again. Also made a note to himself to start watching for opportunities to plant bugs on Infini-Corp employees.
"Hmmm... Can't say I know much about the local dancing, though I can certainly look it up. Probably doesn't involve any aerial acrobatics, at least not in this tight space."
Psyche's still trying to figure out what exactly she'd run into in McIver's mind, and doesn't hear Shin at first. Only replaying the moment he'd asked after she feels the weight of expectation begin to build against her temple.
"Why not?" Kylie gives Shin an amused smile and an arched brow as he calls her out, "Let's see those dance-hall moves."
She drifts lightly over, hips swaying beneath her dress as though she's walking, but her heels barely brushing the ground until she takes his hand.
Her dress is too tight a sheathe to let her go all out, a helpful excuse given how banged up she is beneath it, but then, she didn't expect Shin would have anything too trying in mind.
Her picture-perfect smile never wavers as she continues the conversation, "You do know how to lead properly, I assume?
That is an area where things have changed for the worse since your day. Fewer and fewer people know how to dance together, instead of just with each other."
Kayla watched the couple move to the dance floor with a hunt of jealousy lingering in the back of her mind, but the Infini-Corp execs still there still preoccupied the bulk of her thoughts. She decided to wait and see what her Uncle’s thoughts were before acting further.
”So,” she asks quietly, ”what are we going to call ourselves? Anyone have a suggestion? If we don’t come up with it ourselves, the media will do it for us and it likely won’t be something we like...”
Kylie twirls nearly weightlessly, her dress flashing in a tight flare as she muses in a broadcast to the team, "The Sentinels? Feels like it needs a little more pizazz...
"Oh, sorry Shin, Kylie squeezes his hand quickly in apology, "You didn't hear the question. Let me tap you into their ears too, so you can take part."
Horizon seemed pretty confident in his ability to dance. He held Kylie's hand and waist and ked them both to the jazzy piano music, a gentle rhythm as they spun around the floor. He seemed to forget about most of his worries for a brief amount of time, at least until he was noticing that she seemed to be stiff in her steps.
It's okay if you want to talk like this. Weird I guess. But at least I can anticipate your moves, He thought as he did a slow spin around for her, not wanting to aggravate her injuries. He was a but bruised up under the suit as well.
I don't really care what we're all called by the press, long as its simple. Paladins? Knights? Something hopeful and chivalrous, He suggests as he brings Kylie in slightly closer, heart thumping in his chest.
To be honest...I only ever danced with aunties and older women at those halls. You're the youngest and prettiest doll I've had on the dance floor. Whicheck I'm only telling you because you would have picked it up anyways, He said, fingers burning as they brushed her skin.
I don't know as much as you've probably figured out about me, but I'd like to know more. Make things more even between us, He comments as he locks his dark eyes with her own.
Kayla gets a text from her uncle while Psyche and Horizon are dancing.
Leave them alone. You won't get anything by forcing a confrontation there. Do. Not. Engage.
"Hmm, if we're talking names... Perhaps go with Archons? As long as it's not bad, though I don't care too much."
"Who said we are 'Big Darn Heroes' I kinda liked that simple but I think it conveys the we're young but don't call us kids vibe," Rort said as he finished his meal.
"Shin, I had to smile for the pictures," Kylie chided with a crooked smile, "We can talk either way."
As the dance and his thoughts turned more intimate though, she placed a hand gently but firmly on his chest, marking out a little more space, but continued their dance.
"I guess it's only fair that you want to know more. Go ahead, ask."
"Well, let's start with something simple. Before I got empowered, my dream has always been to be a physicist like my father," Shin shared with the telepath. "He's my hero. I still want to reach that goal, powers only have kind of shifted my priorities around," He said as they danced around the floor. He's a little relieved she pushed for a bit of space, since he'd never tried to dance that close before.
"What about you? Before your powers, what were your dreams? Do you still want them?" He asked as the current song ended, and he led her off of the dance floor to rest - he was being mindful of her injury he'd noticed.
"I'm curious about your family as well. How do they feel about your hero life?"
Kayla checks her phone, then frustratedly puts it back down with a huff. Focusing on the topic at hand, she throws out a couple comments and suggestions as well, "Halcyon Knights? The Legionnaires? What's a Paladin?"
She nudges Holly with her knee. "I know you picked this place out, and it's great and all, one of my favorites, but right now the other guests are harshing the vibe," She turns to the rest of the group and asks, "Wanna head out to a club? Maybe see some people closer to our age?"
"I don't really have a before my powers. They've gotten stronger, and I've gotten better with them over time, but I've known what I would have to become for years. And my mom loves that I'm a hero. She figures it'll keep me out of trouble."
Her pageant-smile is back on as their dance finishes, and she skims towards the table. "Okay, cameras are back on us while we're rejoining the team."
"A club sounds great, no reason Horizon or I should be the only ones to strut our stuff."
"A dry club, right Kayla? We're a little new as a team to have a REAL scandal"
Kayla and Holly both are aware of a couple places they could go to dance that won't stir up a huge scandal. One is the Junior Alliance Network's youth club, a non-profit that got its start sometime in the 80s during the various "Say 'No' to Drugs" initiatives. It was a local sponsor of Behind the Mask during the show's first season and halfway into its second, so Holly had some mandatory appearances there. When it stopped being a sponsor, she was "strongly discouraged" from appearing there again. It is in an older building near Old Town, and usually had theme night dances such as PJ night or 70s boogie/disco.
The other option is the weekly socials at Halcyon Preparatory Academy. The students who live the dorms, as well as a fair number of commuting students, get together in the gym to blow off steam. It's evolved into a high fashion show, however, especially for the girls. Guests are welcome, but will probably endure some scathing remarks if their attire is not suitably on the cutting edge.
Mattie does her best to ignore how touchy-touchy her brother and Kayla are being and, instead focussed on the crab cakes. At Rory’s team name suggestion she rolls her eyes. ’Now that is one baaaad name. Archons sounds ok though?’
At the suggestion of a club her eyes light up. A club? Like on tv? That sounds like it could be fun!
"Does anyone know what the theme is at the JAN tonight?"
A quick Infini-search on anyone's cell phone reveals the theme at the JAN to be flower child/hippie night.
"Archons sound...pretty cool to be honest," Shin says as he and Kylie make it back to the table. He seems satisfied with how their time on the dance floor went, though he seems eager and excited by the idea of hitting other dance halls.
"I'll follow the lead here, wherever you guys think we'll be most comfortable," He tells Kayla and Holly. "And make sure to save a spot on your dance cards for me. Wait, do they use dance cards anymore? Is there a...what do you call it...an app for that? I don't have one of those pictute telephones..." He says, staring enviously at Holly's.
Kayla sets her phone down after searching. ”Hippie night. We aren’t really dressed the part. We are more in line with the Academy than that. What do you guys think?”
It had been a while since she had been to the school, and the idea of popping in there was an exciting prospect.
Flower child wasn't really part of Kylie's aesthetic, but the less Psyche appeared at Kylie's school, the less strain was placed on her secret identity. Probably simpler if we all just go as Mosaic's guests, but I'll have to fog things so people don't recognize Shin
"I think the clothes are better at the Academy, but the dancing will be better at Hippie night. Either place we go we'll be grabbing the spotlight, but the cameras are more likely to follow us to the club than onto school property.
"Of course, if we really want to shake the press, that's far from impossible anyways."