Solaria leads the way onto the stage, smile beaming and waving casually.
She glances back and notes the confusion Myth is going through and the…show…that Payload is putting on. She has a mental sigh to herself before approaching the microphone. ”Good afternoon, Bay City! Thank you for giving us a moment of your time! First, we would like to take a moment to pay our respects to those who were injured or lost their lives here during the attack.”
After a pause that lasts several seconds, she eventually continues. ”Thank you. But today, we hope to look to a new day. Soon, on this spot, we will begin the construction of our base of operations, from which myself and the team will be able to respond quickly to issues as they arise. Also, we will be able to host and facilitate various outreach programs and community efforts to also make an attempt to make Bay City the best place to live in the nation.”
Gypsy joins the others on stage waving awkwardly and stumbles on a microphone cable. Regaining her footing, she puts her hand down and only then realizes that she doesn't know what to do with her hands. In her previous venture into the public eye, her broccoli costume didn't have arm-holes so it wasn't anything she ever had to worry about, but now ...
She tries placing them confidently on her hips, but that feels too arrogant, so she clasps them behind her back. That still doesn't feel right, though, so she laces her fingers together and hangs them in front of herself. This feels the least ... bad?
Her nervousness isn't helped when she recognizes a voice in the crowd, decidedly louder than the rest, yelling over and over, "Nim-bus! Nim-bus!" Searching out the gathered faces, she finds the purple hair of her sister, Moon, who's got her hands cupped around her mouth and shouting her latest suggestion of a hero name for Gypsy.
"That doesn't make any sense," Gypsy mutters with a frown. "A nimbus is a weather effect. I don't have anything to do with weather."
Her sister continues her shouting even as Sierra begins speaking and only stops when Gypsy makes a slashing motion across her neck. Demonstrating that she's not so easily cowed, a final "Nim-bus!" echoes out over the silent crowd before the girl relents with a satisfied grin.
Solaria takes the microphone into her hand and begins walking about the stage. ”The Squad plans to sponsor food and clothing drives, job fairs, litter and community clean up programs, and more. On top of that, the businesses housed within the portion of the open to the public will donate 100% of the profits generated to local charities.”
After the round of polite applause, she smiles broadly and says ”So, let me introduce you to the rest of the team! First up, let me introduce our expert in the matters of the arcane! She is able to bend reality to her will, wrap villains up in bands of magic, and so much more! Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my friend, Gypsy!”
As the applause dies down, Solaria continues. ”Next up, is our technical expert! Blessed with the ability to interface with technology with but a thought, as well as shut down bad guys with a look! She was instrumental in shutting down the alien invasion! May I present to you, Payload!”
”Finally, the man who descended from the Heavens to help us fight off the Darkstar invaders. Without his support, things would have gone so much worse for the city. His insight into their weaknesses and impressive powers helped save many lives that day! Please give a warm welcome to Myth!”
After the round of polite applause, she smiles broadly and says ”So, let me introduce you to the rest of the team! First up, let me introduce our expert in the matters of the arcane! She is able to bend reality to her will, wrap villains up in bands of magic, and so much more! Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my friend, Gypsy!”
Gypsy smiles and waves at the crowd awkwardly and there's a single shout of "Nim-bus!" from her sister before she's silenced with a not-so-subtle hand gesture.
~~~~~
Once the group has finished their bows and waves (and signed a few autographs in Sierra's case), the group takes refuge in one of the offices that survived the previous devastation.
"You did really well out there," Gypsy offers with a nod at Solaria. "Sorry I was such a lump. I'll try better next time. You've got a gift for public speaking."
"I'm sorry about my sister. She's really got this idea that I need some kind of code name and ..."
"You better not be talking smack about me," a sassy voice declares and the purple-haired girl from the crowd steps in from the hallway. She's younger than Gypsy, but about an inch or so taller. Wearing a ripped black t-shirt emblazoned with the 'Riot Grrrl' logo, she carries herself with a level of self-confidence that Gypsy can only aspire to.
"I wasn't. I was apologizing for you. Everyone, this is my sister, Moon. Moon, this is Peyton and this is ... Myth. You know Sierra, of course." As she introduces Moon to the rest of the group, she steps closer to Myth. "She's only sixteen and absolutely off limits. So if you try to kiss her, so help me, I will turn you into a mouse and feed you to her pet snake, capisce?" she whispers to the handsome man.
Sierra puts a hand on Gypsy’s shoulder and pulls her in for a friendly hug. ”Thanks m, Gyps. But I wouldn’t call it a gift. Being drilled on public speaking and etiquette from the age of 10 on tends to leave an impression,” she says, somewhat morosely as she thinks back on how much of her childhood was lost due to preparing herself for the celebrity life.
When Moon approaches, Sierra waves at her and says ”Hey there, Bango.”
Peyton puffs out her chest a bit more at the nice words from Solaria. Once safely backstage, she gives the Legacy a friendly punch on the shoulder. "Hey, thanks for saying all that junk. I mean, we already knew how much I rocked it during that fight, but now they do, too! You're a good one, girl."
She grins when Moon introduces herself. "Oh, I like her," she remarks.
Myth simply smiles at Solaria, but its a remarkably warm expression. At Gypsy's threat he bows and then turns to Moon.
"I am Myth. It is a pleasure to meet you. Now please, tell me about your sister. No-one else will."
Then he suddenly becomes a mouse...
"'sup, Sun Girl," Moon replies to Sierra with a friendly fist-bump. A playful frown follows. "Bango?" she questions.
When Myth greets her, her face reddens and she giggles. At his transformation into a mouse, her eyes widen and she turns an accusing glare on her sister.
"Don't look at me; I didn't change him," Gypsy says defensively. "And if I did, he wouldn't be able to change back on his own."
Moon shrugs. "What do you want to know? I could tell you what she writes in her journal. Or more specifically who she writes about in her journal."
"Moon!"
"... but I don't want her going all 'Wicked Witch of the West' on me, so maybe another time? Oh! Did she tell you why she's wearing her workout stuff underneath her costume?"
"Moon."
"Oh, come on! It's a funny story." Moon looks around at her audience letting the suspense build a bit and ignoring her sister's glower. "You see, she really likes how Solar can instantly change into her costume, right? So she's been practicing a spell to switch between her civie clothes and her costume." She pauses and clutches her side. "Oh, you're going to love this." Gypsy covers her face with both hands, but the red of her embarrassment still shines around the edges.
"She calls me into her room and she's wearing her pajamas. Says, 'watch this' and does one of those TikTok hops, you know? Coming down she lands in ... in this ... hero pose ..." Moon's narrative breaks up as she starts laughing. "And her pajamas are gone, but she's only ... she's only wearing ... the ... bottom half ... of her costume with ... her ... her boobs ... just bouncing there out ... out in the ... the breeze!"
Gypsy's hands drop from her face and either static or some other energy is causing loose strands of her hair to flutter in an unfelt breeze.
"Moon."
Moon's laughter stops. "And there she is. Someone should throw a bucket of water on her. Well, Mom should be here to pick me up. Gotta go! So wonderful tomeetyouallbye." With that the girl dashes for the door and vanishes.
Gypsy turns to glare at Myth. "Anything else you want to know?" she snaps with clinched teeth.
Payload laughs hysterically. She's staring at Gypsy's chest, and it's not hard to guess that she's imagining the Nova's boobs bouncing in the breeze...
Myth is suddenly standing where he was a moment before. Perhaps to his great credit he doesn't show any reaction at all to the story.
"I am sorry." He says softly. "I would like to know more about you Gypsy. I did not intend to cause you any distress. I am sorry once again. There are... so many rules here, that I do not understand. I say a thing and then something I did not expect happens. It is... I am sorry. Perhaps this will help."
He marches over, grabs Payload and swings her over his shoulder before leaping thirty feet into the air and disappearing into the sky with laughter-turned-to-shrieks trailing in his wake.
------------------------------------
By the time Payload has stopped shrieking and started beating on Myth's muscled back the alien has found his target and deposits them both on the roof of Bay City's tallest skyscraper, bathed in afternoon sun.
"I suspect." He says, planting Payload on the ground and looking her up and down. "That oil is not normal attire. I like it though."
The gleam in his eyes is quite unmistakable.
”Oh?” Sierra asks in mock confusion. ”I thought we were just making up names for each other now? Like, you keep trying to do with Gypsy? I figured so long as you were doing it for Gypsy, I could start advertising you as something ridiculous on social media, too…”
Mirth turns to terror as Myth hauls Payload up, up, and away! She hangs on for dear life, knowing that it's a long way down.
Peyton is all prepared to curse Myth out when they finally land, but his amorous look causes her to stop short. Her own eyes gleam mischievously. "You know, I made sure they rubbed the oil everywhere. Would you like to see?"
She doesn't wait for an answer. Within moments, her already skimpy costume is on the roof beside her, and she is standing there, naked and glistening in the sun...
Myth grins, sheds the loose robe he uses to cover his muscular torso and closes in on the naked Payload.
It's a good thing they're on the tallest building in the city and it has high walls around the roof. Otherwise the Solar Squad's reputation might take a hit it would never recover from...
... Or would be considerably improved in comparison to their lacklustre press conference. Much could be said about what went on on that roof. But no-one could call it lacklustre!
Peyton bites her lip as Myth approaches her. The sounds of their shared passion are lost to the wind...
Afterwards, she sighs contentedly and lays in Myth's arms. "Mmm. That was incredible. Have you done that before?"
”Oh?” Sierra asks in mock confusion. ”I thought we were just making up names for each other now? Like, you keep trying to do with Gypsy? I figured so long as you were doing it for Gypsy, I could start advertising you as something ridiculous on social media, too…”
Moon opens her mouth to respond, but then changes her mind and considers Sierra words with narrowed eyes for a moment before waving it off and continuing her sibling anecdote.
~~~~~
"And they're gone as well," Gypsy remarks as Myth flies off with Peyton. The gathering eldritch energy generated by her frustration with her sister fades and she turns to Sierra.
"Moon really annoys me at times, but her heart's in the right place. She's just fulfilling the role as 'Pestering Little Sister' in the only way she knows how." She shrugs. "Thank you for sticking up for me, though." Not sure what else to say, she rocks back and forth on her heels for a moment or so.
"I think there was an Indian food truck out in the parking lot. I'll buy lunch if you're interested."
With a nervous glance down at her costume, she waves her hand in a simple gesture and it's instantly replaced with a pair of loose coveralls over a cream-colored fluffy top. She sighs in visible relief at the lack of any 'wardrobe malfunctions' and then looks up at Sierra with a questioning eyebrow.
Sierra shrugs and says ”Sure. But I’m buying. So don’t even bother trying to argue!” she says as she turns to accompany Gypsy. As she does, her suit fades and is replaced with a light blue sundress that ends about mid thigh with spaghetti straps across her shoulders.
Once they have their food and have managed to get away from as many autograph hounds and selfie requests as they can, security handles the rest as the two find a spot on the nearby pier to sit and eat in peace, a row of private security guards prohibiting anyone from approaching too close to their location. Even so, it’s a nice spot out over the rolling waves with clear views of the beach in either direction, as well as the suddenly rapid construction taking place just on the shore. Several supers are able to be seen flying around and contributing to the rapid construction project.
”Mmmmmm,” Sierra groans as she takes a bite. ”I love chicken makhani!” she comments.
Afterwards, she sighs contentedly and lays in Myth's arms. "Mmm. That was incredible. Have you done that before?"
"Not here." Myth answers, running warm fingers lazily up and down Peyton's bare back. "And it is very different where I come from. This way is a lot more... physical. But very enjoyable. I can see why you are all obsessed with it."
His fingers trail for a minute or two in silence.
"I'm glad that you enjoyed it." He says his deep voice. "You made the experience very good for me too. I must ask though - I have seen things on your 'internet' showing... a lot of other things happening when you couple. What is the point of this?"
He produces his phone from somewhere and in a few taps has a video playing. It is... decidedly not PG-13.
"Oh. Heh, well, a lot of that is just for show," Peyton snickers. "To get the people watching excited. That's not very practical... But there are a variety of different positions you can try to change how it feels. And there are, ah, toys and such that you can also use... I'd be more than happy to further your education in these matters."
She climbs on top of Myth again and presses her lips against his.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
True to expectations, with the support of the super community and various organizations, the teams base, colloquially becoming known as “The Solarium,” has completed construction and is officially up and running! Granted, the businesses are still going to take some time to get staffed and operational, but their facilities are available for companies to come in and provide their own alterations. But the team is given the green light to move in and get settled.
The complex is quite expansive and inclusive. There are ten livi mg quarters (room for the team to expand), each containing their own living areas, kitchens and dining areas, and master suites. Also, there is a large common area, gymnasium, a boardroom, and a “war room” where an impressive supercomputer is housed. Outside, there is a walled off outdoor area for relaxation, with a pool surrounded with a man made beach area filled with soft, white sand. The pool expands into an area made into a rocky grotto with a waterfall for ambiance. There is also a hot tub beyond the grotto, with water already steaming.
Sierra makes her way through the common areas, soaking it all in excitedly! ”Oh my god! This is great!” she says giddily.
With a backpack slung over her shoulder (filled with books by the apparent weight of it) and a large suitcase rolling along behind her obediently like a timid puppy, Gypsy gazes around the complex with wide eyes.
"This is amazing! Do we get to pick our rooms or are they assigned to us? Is there a list of rules posted in the rooms or can we find them online? I have so many questions."
Sierra holds her arms out to either side. ”Our house, our rules!” she says as she does a twirl. ”I mean, so long as we aren’t holding ravers here every night or doing anything to risk a security breach.”
”My stuff was already delivered to a room, but you guys all pick yourselves one! I’ll catch up with you in a few,” she says before heading off towards the suites. She heads to the one she was told had her things and went inside. She looked the room over and got a feel for the room before falling back onto the large bed with a smile.
A few moments later, she got up and started going through drawers, looking for her swimsuits. She finds it, and pauses as her smile fades a bit. On top is a bright red string bikini. She took a deep breath. Time to move on, Solaria. It’s been two years now… She took the suit out and changes into it.
The sound of bare feet padding along the tile floor preceded the return of Sierra wearing a bright red bikini and carrying a small bag of pool supplies as she headed for the pool.
"No ravers. Got it," Peyton says with a wink. She, too, is impressed by the base, her eyes lighting up when she sees the supercomputer.
She whistles enthusiastically as Solaria emerges in her bikini. "Looking good, girl! Allow me to join you!" She ducks into her room, emerging a few minutes later in a white micro bikini. "Last one in's a rotten egg!" she declares, racing toward the pool!
”Thanks,” Sierra says surprisingly demurely, seeming somewhat nervous. As Peyton leaves to change, she makes her way over to a lawn chair and sets up. She had just settled in and stretched out with some Infini-pods in her ears and sunglasses on when the other girl came running out. She smiled and watched as she ran into the water before laying her head back on a pillow.
Peyton dives into the pool, swimming back and forth a few times as she gets her body warmed up. After a bit, she pulls up onto the side of the pool and gazes at Sierra. She waves to get her attention.
"You good, girl? You look like you've got a lot on your mind."
Sierra didn’t seem to immediately hear or notice Peyton. Likely had her eyes closed under her sunglasses. Eventually though she must have seen her because she raised her head up and took a pod out of her ear. ”Hmmm? You say something?” she asked.
Peyton rolls her eyes, "I said, you look like you've got a lot on your mind! Want to talk about it?"
Sierra looks down, hand resting on her stomach. ”I…I’m fine. Just…been a while since I’ve gotten to just relax…” she lied.
Or been brave enough to put this bikini back on…
"It looks like you need some help remembering how to do that," Peyton observes with a wry smile.
After enough time to explore her own quarters, Gypsy eventually appears at the pool. Unlike the other ladies, her suit is a one-piece and even has sleeves. Along with a large floppy hat, big sunglasses and her own bag of pool supplies, she takes a lounge chair next to Sierra.
"Has anyone seen ..." she questions and after looking around as if there's someone that might overhear, continues, "Myth?"
Sierra offers Gypsy a smile as she stretches out beside her. ”No. Not yet. But he responded to me when I sent him a message that the base was ready. It was an emoji of an elephant. I have no idea what it meant.”
"Oh. Heh, well, a lot of that is just for show," Peyton snickers. "To get the people watching excited. That's not very practical... But there are a variety of different positions you can try to change how it feels. And there are, ah, toys and such that you can also use... I'd be more than happy to further your education in these matters."
She climbs on top of Myth again and presses her lips against his.
"How intriguing." Myth says, taking Payloads weight without comment. "You will have to show me more..."
--------------------------------------------
"It was meant to show that I was excited." The missing superhero explains as he descends out of the sky to land perfectly on the beach-side. "Elephants are very excitable aren't they?"
He looks at his team-mates in their swimming suits and then at his own loose trousers and open fronted robe.
"I feel overdressed." He says. "I thought that it was required to wear clothes that covered the skin? Have I misunderstood the customs?"
Gypsy looks over the top of her sunglasses at Myth. "We're swimming. When one is swimming, it's acceptable to expose more skin to the sun as long one keeps one's ... private ... areas covered," she explains.
Just in case that's not clear to the alien, she continues, "In the case of men, that means keeping your buttocks and ... groin area ... covered."
”I mean…maybe?” Sierra replies as Myth floats down.
At his question, she quickly says ”Certain areas, yes! Males, like yourself, should keep this area covered,” gesturing to her groin and upper thighs as reference. ”Women, should keep their breasts covered too. What Peyton and I are wearing is about the most women should acceptably expose.”
She giggles as Gypsy and her both seemed on the spot with clarifying that before any mistakes happened!
Gypsy takes a furtive look at Sierra and Peyton's swimwear and then looks down at her own. "Or you could ..." she shakes her head, but doesn't finish.
"Welcome to the party, Myth!" Peyton says with an excited wave. She had been spending a lot of time with the handsome Outsider the past few days, and not much of it involved clothing.
Seeing Sierra still remaining a bit stiff, she climbs out of the water and sits cross-legged at her feet. "You know, when I'm feeling tense, a foot massage usually helps me relax. May I?"
If given the go-ahead, Peyton begins to squeeze and rub Sierra's feet...
”Ummm, okay…” she says with a blush as Peyton settles in at her feet. As her hands make contact and brush off the small bit of sand, her feet squirm and curl reflexively at the ticklish sensation.
And then when Peyton sets in on the massage proper, she leans her head back onto the pillow. ”Mmmmmm,” she whimpers at how good it feels. ”You…you’re good at that…” she mutters. Peyton can feel that, while pliable, it seems as if every muscle she’s contacting is like iron!
"Mmhmm. Magic hands. Now sit back and relax, girl," Peyton says. She grunts with effort as she tries to work out the inexorable knots!
Sierra seems to take the instruction well. She lays back and lets Peyton work on her feet at will. Occasionally a pretty little whimper or moan slips out, but Sierra doesn’t seem to notice that she’s doing it.
"I'm going to try out the water," Gypsy says, setting aside her hat and glasses and moving towards the water's edge. She doesn't look back before diving into the warm water.
Peyton smirks mischievously. As Sierra relaxes more, she slowly works her hands up the other woman's legs, making her way toward her thighs...
As Peyton’s hands moved up to her calves, she absentmindedly muttered ”That feels good…”
But then when she felt the other girls hands on her sensitive thighs, her eyes shot open as she remembered how she had made a pass on her before…
She sat up and slid casually away, ”That…that was nice. Thanks! I’m…I’m gonna hit the water and hot tub…” she says as she floats up and to her feet lightly. She walks into the water and dives in, glad the water was cooling her off. She started to swim past Gypsy, but she was still able to feel her heart racing from Peyton’s handiwork.
So she detoured around the grotto, out of sight and over towards the hot tub before floating up and out of the pool and landing gently into the steaming water. She sunk in until just her shoulders and neck were exposed before leaning back and letting out a long breath as she closed her eyes.
Peyton shrugs as Sierra floats away. "Sure thing, girl," she says. She lays out in the spot Sierra just vacated and gestures to Myth. "You wanna get in on this action? Rub me down the way I showed you the other day."
"Certainly." Myth replies. "Warm or cool hands?"
One of the most minor reflections of his powers is the ability to control his own body temperature, which means his hands can range from delightfully warm to remarkably cold with little more than a thought - Peyton has already discovered some of the possibilities this provides and it seems like another one might be on the way.
Starting from Payload's feet Myth works his way up her firm legs in long strokes, letting his thumb run teasingly down the line between her thighs while the rest of his hands remain firmly on top. After firmly working her buttocks he moves up still further, working her smooth back into relaxation and finally soothing her shoulder muscles with delightfully warm hands.
By the time his ministrations are done Payload is little more than a happy, boneless and completely relaxed thing. Her top has come undone too, but no doubt that was an accident.
"Ooooooh..." Peyton lets out a sigh of utter contentment. She doesn't move. She's not sure she'd be able to even if she wanted to. She's completely at Myth's mercy. He could do anything he wants to her now, and she would not protest...
Joining Sierra in the hot tub, Gypsy also scoots down in the warm water up to her neck. She seems to debate things for a moment or two before sliding around closer to her friend.
"You don't think they going to ... you know ... here, do you?" she asks, her eyes seemingly locked onto Peyton and Myth on the artificial beach. "I mean we do have rooms for that sort of thing."
”God I hope not!” Sierra replied in a whisper, though there was no denying the shudder that ran down her spine.
She scoots over to beside Gypsy and rested her head on her shoulder. ”Sorry if…that got awkward. I didn’t mean it. But she does give good massages,” Sierra adds. ”I…just…the last time I wore this bikini…it wasn’t a positive experience.” she adds.
"I can imagine. Without lots of sunblock, you're leaving yourself open to the granddaddy of all sunburns," Gypsy replies with a chuckle. Her voice grows more somber. "Good skincare probably isn't what you're referring to, though, is it?"
She reaches out and cautiously places her hand on the back of Sierra's. "If it's something you want to talk about, I've always been told that I'm a really good listener."
Sierra snuggled up close to Gypsy, almost as if for a feeling of safety. "I...I was attacked," she mumbles. "It was some new villain, I hadn't ever heard of her. But...she was able to block my powers from working. And then...she started taking them."
As her comforting arm slips around Sierra's shoulders and pulls in her closer, Sierra can feel the girl trembling slightly. "I bet that was terrifying," she says. "You were alone then, though, and now you're not. That's what friends are for - we watch each others backs. But not in a creepy 'looking at your butt' kind of way. Nope."
Sierra was thankful for Gypsy's supportive nature. She stared at the surface of the water as she added quietly "Thanks. But...it was weird. I've...never been overpowered before. And...at first, it hurt. But then...she did something. And then...I...I liked it. Made it feel really good. I'd...I'd have let her take them all had Crass Crown not shown up."