Those Halcyon Days III -- World's Finest

Game Master Stalwart

Quote:

A second or two later, Nimbus, Half-Pipe and Rendezvous appear just outside the training room. "Everyone all right?"

"Fine. Lock me in here again, and I'll rip this building in half."

Nimbus holds his hands up. "I have no plans on tricking you in. It was just for an initial assessment. Believe me, Whippoorwill would've done the exact same thing, and maybe not have even told you that she did it."

When Indarius takes him aside and explains the reason for the malfunction, the leader of the Heralds goes pale. "That-- Oh, well. Typical Halcyon." Half-Pipe barks out a laugh and Rendezvous rolls her eyes.

"Okay then," Nimbus announces to the group. "Congratulations on surviving not only a simulation, but an actual crisis. I wanted to give you all a start under some controlled circumstances, but, well, in Halcyon you rarely ever get those."

As the team breaks into smaller groups to discuss the battle and their respective tactics and/or powers, Chroknight's phone suddenly starts vibrating. When they check it, there are several missed calls and a number of texts.

With the near-debacle and sour feelings in some of the young heroes, Rendezvous offers to teleport them all back to Unity Base so Indy doesn't have to push himself any further.

==================
Unity Base

The young heroes find themselves back where they started, a little more tired and maybe a little more knowledgeable about their own capabilities and those of their teammates.

It's a school night, so some may want to head to their homes or wherever they're currently staying to get ready. Or they might be ready to explore more of the city, or hang out with their new teammates.

What do you do next? You're free to continue the rp, but I'm also planning on moving us along. Feel free to tell me what your evening looks like, or if there are particular NPCs in your lives you'd like to visit.

As the team returns to Unity Station, Chroknight turns to them all.

"Here's my emergency number," They say quickly, writing it out in the open for everyone to see. "Call in a real emergency only. I got to go bye!"

And they were off as fast as possible, bolting from the Station as quickly as could be.

The last text from Mort was about two minutes after they returned to Unity Station. So about five minutes after that, a sweaty Chloe was rushing into Mortal Peril Comics & Games, throwing her work shirt over herself and rushing to grab the tablet with the tournament software. "Sorry about this," She calls to her coworker. Mort had worked for her dad since she was in middle school, but Cardclix was not in his wheel house.

"Hey, Clixxers, hope that you're having fun - let me know if I need to rule on anything, but I'm sure it'll be fine," She says, putting on a smile. She glances down at the Cardclix news and events - it looked like the First Class expansion set would be dropping in a few weeks. The main draw seemed to be the super rare Devil Diva miniature, and secondary market prices were already nearing two hundred for it. Which made a lot of sense.

Wonder how much a Chroknight mini would go for...

When they are together–without Nimbus, Half-Pipe, and Rendezvous–Digits repeats their earlier comment.

"So for reals: They pranked us good with that bridge thing. How're we going to up the ante? Who's down to plan how we're going to prank them even harder?"

When Sam had arrived at Unity Station, she had a backpack, which she had left to go fight a fictitious magma monster. Without a word about Pranks, which she didn't understand, even if her matrix was blinking something about BONDING, she went to it.

She pulled off her slightly charred hoodie, used wipes to clean up a bit, then replaced it with another from a vacuum sealed bag. She brushed her hair back to a pony tail, and then put on a pair of thick glasses.

Her threads retreated to the device hidden under the dray gray hoodie (white block letters saying 'Parental Unit's IT department'), then she slipped the backpack on. Station gone, nerdy ginger girl restored.

"I have class in the morning." she says as an explanation, handing Indarius a new tablet "I compiled an initial list recommendations for performance enhancement and risk mitigation." a few threads had been plugged into it when she getting ready.

A hesitation later, as her algorithms told her she should say "Good night and Good job."

Emotions are hard for Sam, but even she knows she has a clenched ball inside her is raging at that THING still looking like her mother and wants nothing more than to hug her dad.

"A..." Her eyes briefly unfocus. "Barrett M82A3 anti-materiel rifle barely counts as deadly in this weight class. It certainly wasn't the most dangerous thing on either side of the fight. And he didn't miss."

Indarius sighs at Andromeda's weak attempt to defend Phalanx's choice of weaponry and does his best to not point out why what she's saying isn't a viable excuse or defense at all. He'd rather not cause a scene in front of Nimbus's group.

Unity Station

As the team returns to Unity Station, Chroknight turns to them all.

"Here's my emergency number," They say quickly, writing it out in the open for everyone to see. "Call in a real emergency only. I got to go bye!"

And they were off as fast as possible, bolting from the Station as quickly as could be.

Looking at the emergency number Indarius goes to raise a claw and voice of concern about the team meeting and the communicators, but Chroknight was already long gone by time he'd even begun to formulate the words. "But I have..."

He hoped very deeply this wasn't the start of a new set of not so great actions in the team dynamic of leaving in the middle of, or escaping to avoid a serious talk with the team.

When they are together–without Nimbus, Half-Pipe, and Rendezvous–Digits repeats their earlier comment.

"So for reals: They pranked us good with that bridge thing. How're we going to up the ante? Who's down to plan how we're going to prank them even harder?"

Scowling at the rapidly self-destructing situation, Indy didn't turn to answer Digits attempting to find his composure. "We aren't Digits, this isn't something we return prank. Actually it wasn't even a prank at all, there was a lesson to be taught... albeit badly." He started to turn to readdress the entire group, "So let's not go off the deep end and make this some sort of feud."

"I have class in the morning." she says as an explanation, handing Indarius a new tablet "I compiled an initial list, recommendations for performance enhancement and risk mitigation." a few threads had been plugged into it when she getting ready.

A hesitation later, as her algorithms told her she should say "Good night and Good job."

Having finished turning towards the entire team, or at least those who were still here, he took the tablet Statian handed him before she said good night."Good night? It's barely-" his eyes half closed as his pupils looked to the corner recalling something maw slightly agape. He glanced down at the tablet, then back across the rest of the team and breathed in deep. "Right, school night." He cleared his throat weakly, "If anyone else needs to go then just-" His hopes of having a good first outing as an official team were quickly flagging. "-Just enjoy the rest of the day off, if something urgent comes up I'll get ahold of you via the communicator." While his body language was difficult to read his tone definitely didn't have the heart in it about the situation being remotely recoverable anymore.

Turning to walk further into Unity station he waited until he was well out of earshot and sight before letting out a heavy sigh and letting his forehead plink into the wall.
'It's okay it's just the first day.. not like you had some Very important ground rules to set forth and discuss or anything just..'

He straightened up and sucked in sharply through his flared nostrils, ruffling his spines, wings, and tail to perk himself back up. 'Tomorrow it'll be better just have to hammer it all in tomorrow.'

When they are together–without Nimbus, Half-Pipe, and Rendezvous–Digits repeats their earlier comment.

"So for reals: They pranked us good with that bridge thing. How're we going to up the ante? Who's down to plan how we're going to prank them even harder?"

Andromeda ignores Indarius's sigh, If he's not even willing to disagree out loud, his disagreement is meaningless. She waits for him to leave though, before turning to Digits and asking "Tell me what you mean by a prank. Not the definition, examples."

Digits grins a wide grin. "Nothing serious or permanent, just fun. Let's see...it depends what we have to work with, like: do we know where they live? But off the top of my head: sprinkle their food with a fungus that'll turn their skin the color of an overripe Qelokh-berry for a day? Give'm a fake "distress call from their future selves" that leads them somewhere random, and then have pancake syrup dump on their heads? Hack their base so their computer only answers questions in song? Something funny!

"I mean, between Gui's illusions, Statian's hacker skills, and Phalanx's fabrication, together with a portal gun and some recreational fungi, I haven't even started to scratch the surface. What about you? Does that kick off any ideas for you? Don't you want to show them they can't manipulate you?"

On the way home, Sam checks her father's schedule in her head, and sees he will be at work until past ten. Her need will have to wait, even though he will chastise her, correctly for not getting enough sleep. The average young adult needs more sleep than they are giving themselves.

She will need to feed herself as well. A quick inventory using camera feeds and recognition software of her father unpacking groceries and then of each meal since, tells her there is nothing at home.

There is a dinner near the street she is walking down, maps tells her, ratings are good, something called Sweet Mess being the most popular. A comic store she had never been to close as well.

Something about the touch of the paper and bright colors of a comic book has always enchanted Sam.

Plan made, she goes to the comic shop first. And almost leaves instantly. The too many people alarm flares in her heart, sending what could have been an anxiety attack flaring.

But her code neutered that fear, and the nerdy red head slipped into the store with her backpack. Stopping at the counter, she asks the first person she determines is a worker "Can I keep my backpack or should I leave it with you?"

11.4% of people entering comic shops with a backpack are suspected of shoplifting. There is too much stress in her father's life already. He does not need her accused of being a thief.

Chloe was letting Mort take a well deserved fifteen minute break as she looked through the final round pairings. At least things were winding down now, so she could settle in by the front counter, do some reshelfing and maybe also check on the store's social media to promote upcoming events. Everything was fine.

"Can I keep my backpack or should I leave it with you?"

Oh shit

Okay, having teammates just pop up again in her life after the fact was something unexpected. It was fine. Except Sam was apparently a genius and her figuring out who Chloe was certainly was possible.

Play it cool. Recognize her from school. "Oh, it's fine, just don't leave it unattended - wait, aren't we in class together at Halprep?" Chloe asks. "Awesome. Uh, I'm Chloe, if you forgot. Anything you're looking for in particular?"

Pierce the mask: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (2, 3) + 3 = 8

How could I gain Influence over you?

The other girl blinks, as if reviewing information in her head... which she was, school rosters "Chloe Parker-Myeong. Yes, English. Your family owns Mortal Peril Comics @ Games." it wasn't said as a question, a reality database had just told her "I didn't know." her mouth quirks into slight smile of greeting, once again a way under practiced expression.

"I like comic books, the older ones on newsprint." her stillness and focus combine to make her appear very odd, even if she is trying not to be. "The more unrealistic the better, like early superman." her voice raises slightly with inflection, just a smudge.

treating her normal, even though she isn't, at all.

"Woah, that's a bit tough. Normally what on the shelves is glossy stock," Chloe says as she shifts into clerk mode and gestures to the wall of comics. Hundreds of titles from mainstream and indie publishers were available. "I'd suggest if you want something silly and unrealistic with powerful supermen, maybe Kirincube X?" She suggests as she picks up a manga volume with a tiger-tailed hero with ridiculous oversized hair and incredible physical physique. "It's about a race of tiger-men from space battling it out with aliens and getting increasingly stronger. Also, manga still uses the kind of paper quality you could get from those old comics."

"If you do want something newspapery," She says, glancing up at the top shelves and the comics that are displayed in plastic sleeves and back boards. "Plenty of classics. Conan, Devil Man, John Carter of Mars - right, we have an original printing of number one of Spaceman, printed in 1966. I don't think that would do though, it's kind of budgeted for people with cash to burn."

Sam's eyes widen just a smidge at the phrase money to burn, before it is translated. "My father is a security guard and I do not have a paying job." she says to explain the lack of burning. She looks down at the magna in her hands now. "ever increasing strength is fundamental biology, unless there is no limit." she hums lightly, opening a page and running a finger along a page. Then nods.

The matrix is blaring, Ask A Question, and BONDING again, which is weird. Looking up at her classmate, she asks "which is your favorite?"

As mentioned in Discord, will be clearing Afraid with Digit's opening up.

Gui starts to raise his hand and smile when Digits makes a call for who wants to give the three heralds a payback, but Indarius's words just ring too true for him to ignore... so his hand goes to his nape for a fake scratch and the nascent mischievous smiles becomes apologetic.

Sigh. "He is right, Digits. No matter what, dey had good intencions. Fooling us wasn't deir goal, so pranking dem feels..." Exciting, and he had actually thought about that before. "...wrong. But I feel you." Being the smartest one in the room was one of his weak points. Pride. Yeah, he should thank Indarius for pointing it out, but doing so would also scream 'shame on you' at Digits.

It was hard to see the dragon walking away so... low? It seemed he needed to talk with someone. A couple steps and he is by DD's side. "Hum... I tink he might need some words and ears." He nods towards where Indarius went, just to make it crystal clear. "I could go after him, but I tink e friend would be better and I am... not dere yet." He glances at Andromeda before adding. "Friends are important, specially when we feel alone." He pats DD's shoulder, smiles and nods before going after Andromeda.

Could see a Provoke here, but feels unnecessary.

He waits for Andromeda and Digits to finish their talk about the prank before stepping in. "Hey... do you want to hang out? Eat someting? Or just... chill?"

"Cool, so just allowance money then. We have a clearance bin over here - I think there's some old issues of Fruits Basket in them, you might like that, it's kind of popular. Oh, and here," She grabs some of the Free Comic book Day surplus that was still available behind the counter, handing it to her. "This stuff is free, so take some. Oh, and my favorite?"

Chloe thinks about that question for a few moments. "I guess my favorite comics are - western, Blast Radius, a story about a clan in a post-apocalyptic world getting into weird situations together. It's more slice of life than horror despite the setting. As for eastern, I've really been enjoying this series, I Use My Medical Degree In Another World, where a surgeon gets transported into a fantasy world without modern medicine and brings it to elves and dragons and other fantastic creatures."

Empyrean tilts her head this way and that as she watches the group disintegrate in various directions. She seems content simply to observe, as if she is letting the drama spool itself out in an inevitable fashion.

Indarius hears the flutter of her feathered wings as she comes down behind him. The young-appearing woman says, "What is next for us?"

A flare of her matrix tells her that it is normal to feel shame at the phrase 'allowance money' for some reason since she is an adult. She doesn't understand why, there is no shame in it. Her father stopped being a police officer to stay out of danger once her mother passed and Sam cannot work, go to school, and use her intellect for good purposes.

So she swipes the message away.

Sam listens, focused on Chloe "Modern medicine would be a boon in a medical world, but used on other species who are enhanced with the improbability of 'magic' would impose great risk of malpractice or death." she pauses "I will consider that one."

The unassuming strange ginger then does what she initially asked about, slipping her backpack off and placing it at the counter. Considers and then adds "Thank you, Chloe." before walking to the section labeled manga, with her free comics held against her chest.

Influence gained, if that is how it works.

Empyrean tilts her head this way and that as she watches the group disintegrate in various directions. She seems content simply to observe, as if she is letting the drama spool itself out in an inevitable fashion.

Indarius hears the flutter of her feathered wings as she comes down behind him. The young-appearing woman says, "What is next for us?"

Indarius snaps from his own internal thoughts as Empyrean approaches, turning to face her. "Oh, well, like I said you all can have the rest of the day off, unless something dire comes up. You know rest, relax, mingle with the team stuff."

He taps the side of the tablet Statian had given him before her own departure. "I've got to read these, come up with some team exercises, figure out where to squeeze in a team meeting tomorrow since that got interrupted today." Shifting his weight a bit causing his tail to slide into the wall he'd been standing very close to Indy looks at the ceiling breathing in a bit sharply.

"Uhhhh also want to talk to some of my friends from the old team a bit. Keep an eye on what's happening in Halcyon to make sure we don't miss anything. Work on some more longform spell formulae, renew and reinforce the bases wards... again." He lowers his gaze back down to Empyrean, "Did you need something though? I can make time to talk if you do."

Empyrean a.k.a. "Joy Jones" wrote:

Empyrean tilts her head this way and that as she watches the group disintegrate in various directions. She seems content simply to observe, as if she is letting the drama spool itself out in an inevitable fashion.

Indarius hears the flutter of her feathered wings as she comes down behind him. The young-appearing woman says, "What is next for us?"

Indarius snaps from his own internal thoughts as Empyrean approaches, turning to face her. "Oh, well, like I said you all can have the rest of the day off, unless something dire comes up. You know rest, relax, mingle with the team stuff."

He taps the side of the tablet Statian had given him before her own departure. "I've got to read these, come up with some team exercises, figure out where to squeeze in a team meeting tomorrow since that got interrupted today." Shifting his weight a bit causing his tail to slide into the wall he'd been standing very close to Indy looks at the ceiling breathing in a bit sharply.

"Uhhhh also want to talk to some of my friends from the old team a bit. Keep an eye on what's happening in Halcyon to make sure we don't miss anything. Work on some more longform spell formulae, renew and reinforce the bases wards... again." He lowers his gaze back down to Empyrean, "Did you need something though? I can make time to talk if you do."

"I am... not certain of where to go now," says Empyrean. "I do not mean to trouble you. I can simply go and help people that I find, but I fear that doing so in an unstructured way might cause more difficulties. Should I wait here? I do not wish to provoke further trouble."

This is probably when Indy realizes that since Empyrean doesn't have family or social connections or a mushroom spaceship of her own, that outside of her government handlers, she is effectively homeless.

"I am... not certain of where to go now," says Empyrean. "I do not mean to trouble you. I can simply go and help people that I find, but I fear that doing so in an unstructured way might cause more difficulties. Should I wait here? I do not wish to provoke further trouble."

This is probably when Indy realizes that since Empyrean doesn't have family or social connections or a mushroom spaceship of her own, that outside of her government handlers, she is effectively homeless.

"Oh... OOH Right." Indy's voice trills upwards at the realization. Turning to walk towards the kitchen area he motions for Empyrean to follow. Placing the tablet on the counter Indy pulls the communicator off of his collar. "You can stay like at the base I mean you've got a room. Just one second I might actually have someone who can help me with helping you not causing too much commotion without a partner to help remind folks you aren't like an agent of... just a moment."

Indarius dialed on the communicator for Caio.
Weather he answers or gets a voicemail

"Heeey buddy, quick question, do you still have access to one otherworldly sword that houses a certain spirit? Cause I've got a few questions that I could use help with in regards to one of my new teammates. I could port you over if you're free.. or we can come there."

He looks at Empyrean, "Would you be okay taking a portal if we needed to go there?"

"Of course," says Empyrean cheerfully. "Moving through physical space feels... curious, like it is not habitual, but I do not have memories of how I would displace myself otherwise."

"You seem distracted. Is there something with which I can help? I do not wish to be an undue burden."

Indy places his hand over the receiver part of the comm-unit, "I mean... there's a lot on my plate, especially with so many people in the team." He laughs a bit though it's uneasy.

"I had this plan to have a meeting today where we set down some ground rules, I got one in then all of 'That' happened. Multiple people already trying to undermine authority for seemingly no reason. A fairly serious injury, live firearm use, I think Diva's people would call that a PR Nightmare. Real life or at least personal emergencies I assume, already getting into the way of the team dynamic." As he speaks he gets faster and a bit more frantic with the added list of things bothering him.

"People just waltzing through my wards, killer AI, and having one of my greatest low points exposed on day one. It's.. just alot, not sure you can help with that though just... part of being the experienced one and new team lead."

"Life is chaotic and messy," says Empyrean. "Today this is day one, but what will it be a month from now? A year? Do not burden yourself unduly with expectations of what this should have been or could become. Deal with the issues of the moment and focus your strengths where they can be of use."

"In the universe, great acts are made up of small deeds."

"Your team is made up of youths trying to figure out how to become adults. They are already in a transitional period, in flux, with so many changes about them... they need to figure out how to grow up and become the people that they will be as adults. They want to discover their friends and their talents. This additional burden, of the great responsibilities upon them, is one that must come with experience. A child does not know the danger of the flame unless burned. You don't want them to be burned—or to burn anyone else—but all you can do is tell them; they will learn from their own experiences. You cannot give them knowledge until they understand it themselves—the finger pointing at the moon."

"Do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged."

Not sure if this counts as a Move to try to support Indy and help him through his minor leadership crisis here.

"I will be glad to stay here for now. Perhaps I should... watch the news? Learn more about the world into which I have been released? I can always be called if I am needed."

Digits grins a wide grin. "Nothing serious or permanent, just fun. Let's see...it depends what we have to work with, like: do we know where they live? But off the top of my head: sprinkle their food with a fungus that'll turn their skin the color of an overripe Qelokh-berry for a day? Give'm a fake "distress call from their future selves" that leads them somewhere random, and then have pancake syrup dump on their heads? Hack their base so their computer only answers questions in song? Something funny!

"I mean, between Gui's illusions, Statian's hacker skills, and Phalanx's fabrication, together with a portal gun and some recreational fungi, I haven't even started to scratch the surface. What about you? Does that kick off any ideas for you? Don't you want to show them they can't manipulate you?"

Andromeda starts to perk up, but the list of useful qualities her teammates possess weighs on her, the gleam in her eye dimming as she mouths some sort of agreement. "That would be funny. I could... I could be a lookout though.

Sigh. [b]"He is right, Digits. No matter what, dey had good intencions. Fooling us wasn't deir goal, so pranking dem feels..." Exciting, and he had actually thought about that before. "...wrong. But I feel you."

"If you tell me that I need to do something, or people will die, then I will, but then that could mean people getting hurt who didn't need to. Whatever their goal, I don't like being lied to. Besides, they didn't seem sorry yet."

***

"Hey... do you want to hang out? Eat someting? Or just... chill?"

"Uhh... yeah." Her eyes quickly dart around. "With Digits too?"

"Uhh... yeah." Her eyes quickly dart around. "With Digits too?"

Pierce the Mask, Influence: 2d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4, 1) + 1 + 1 = 7

@Andromeda: What do you want me to do?

Editing because got the answer.

"Sure! Hey Digits, do you want to hang out with us?" That was strange and almost felt closer to a no than a yes. Better to be careful in discovering what was that about before assuming too much.

Indarius dialed on the communicator for Caio.

Weather he answers or gets a voicemail

"Heeey buddy, quick question, do you still have access to one otherworldly sword that houses a certain spirit? Cause I've got a few questions that I could use help with in regards to one of my new teammates. I could port you over if you're free.. or we can come there."

"Hey Percy, how are you doing? Yeah, I'm still bounded to Matariel and still working with the Corps." There is a pause before he continues. "The Corps had put some wards on my place, and while you would be fine, trying to snatch me away or arriving with a plus one one trigger them. How about we meet in Ping Tom Memorial Park, in Chicago? By the pagoda in thirty minutes?"

Moving to Discord?

DD nods at Aquarelle's suggestion to talk to Indy. She heads over to him to find Empyrean already engaged in conversation with the draconic mage, so she leans against the wall, tail waving back and forth, as she waits for her turn.

"Life is chaotic and messy," says Empyrean. "Today this is day one, but what will it be a month from now? A year? Do not burden yourself unduly with expectations of what this should have been or could become. Deal with the issues of the moment and focus your strengths where they can be of use."

"In the universe, great acts are made up of small deeds."

"Your team is made up of youths trying to figure out how to become adults. They are already in a transitional period, in flux, with so many changes about them... they need to figure out how to grow up and become the people that they will be as adults. They want to discover their friends and their talents. This additional burden, of the great responsibilities upon them, is one that must come with experience. A child does not know the danger of the flame unless burned. You don't want them to be burned—or to burn anyone else—but all you can do is tell them; they will learn from their own experiences. You cannot give them knowledge until they understand it themselves—the finger pointing at the moon."

"Do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged."

Not sure if this counts as a Move to try to support Indy and help him through his minor leadership crisis here.

"I will be glad to stay here for now. Perhaps I should... watch the news? Learn more about the world into which I have been released? I can always be called if I am needed."

Indarius hummed his eyes looking around Empyrean, but never quite at her not wanting to unnerve her. "Um are those like wise man quotes? Cause I guess me and religious adjacent philosophy don't see eye to eye, especially in recentish times. I get that the group is young and needs to find their way, I'm doing the same. I guess I'll, try to look at tomorrow with a better lense I just need to get some stuff planned to handle it first."

His wandering eyes catch the flick of Max's tail and he leans to the side, his wing and tail moving the opposite direction to keep him stable. "Oh hey Dee, we're about to go see Caio, to get some angelic advise wanna join? Might have to keep it low profile since he's keeping a lowish profile."

His attention returned to the comm for a bit to answer Caio, "Might be bringing plus 2 a welcome surprise though. See you in a bit regardless."

We can handle the trip to chicago in a fiscord thread. That way we could continue this here and leave the other bit timeywhimy.

Sensing that she has been dismissed, Empyrean inclines her head to Indy and backs up so that her body language shows that she's making room for Devil Diva to join the conversation.

Gui starts to raise his hand and smile when Digits makes a call for who wants to give the three heralds a payback, but Indarius's words just ring too true for him to ignore... so his hand goes to his nape for a fake scratch and the nascent mischievous smiles becomes apologetic.

Sigh. "He is right, Digits. No matter what, dey had good intencions. Fooling us wasn't deir goal, so pranking dem feels..." Exciting, and he had actually thought about that before. "...wrong. But I feel you." Being the smartest one in the room was one of his weak points. Pride. Yeah, he should thank Indarius for pointing it out, but doing so would also scream 'shame on you' at Digits.

"Hey, no pressure...but also, I'm not wanting to start a feud, or hurt people or anything. Just have some harmless fun, right?"

Andromeda starts to perk up, but the list of useful qualities her teammates possess weighs on her, the gleam in her eye dimming as she mouths some sort of agreement. "That would be funny. I could... I could be a lookout though.

Digits brightens at Andromeda's words. "Alright! Glad to know there's someone else on this planet interested in having some fun. And showing those folks that they we mean it when we tell them we expect them to be honest with us." They grin, mischeveously. "And you could do WAAAAY more than keep watch. You being in means we could also involve something really big in what we plan. I don't even know what that opens up, but I bet something hysterical!"

Gui again wrote:

"Hey... do you want to hang out? Eat someting? Or just... chill?"

"Uhh... yeah." Her eyes quickly dart around. "With Digits too?"

"Sure, I'm in. I liked the Earthfood you introduced me to yesterday, especially the milkshake. What else should I try?"

Turning to Gui, they add: "...And if you reconsider, we can brainstorm a bit more about our teensy, harmless, all-in-good-fun prank."

Max smiles warmly when Indy mentions Caio. "Sure, let's see what the old wolf is up to," she says as she steps forward.

Phalanx had been observing all the egress and simple conversations until a particular sentence caught his ear.

Archie approaches Andromeda, Digits, and Gui. "Pranking local authority and recreational fungi? Those are some of my favorite things on the planet! What's our plan?" He grins at the three heroes.

He turns to Andromeda, 'You were correct, the Barret was a perfectly good choice for the situation. Also, how come you knew exactly which model I made? You a big gun nut?" Archie asks Andromeda.

After work

Family dinner with dad was fine. The bibimbap definitely hit the spot after a long day. But she also had to make a couple of excuses for why she was late to work. And feeling guilty that she had to keep this from her dad.

He wouldn't understand.

Beebee would. She had been Chloe's bestie since grade school, back when her parents were still unaware they had a daughter. She texted her as she flopped back into bed, too tired to think about the homework she still needed to complete for tomorrow's classes.

Chloe: So if my dad asks, you had an insulin emergency
Chloe: Sorry, it was the best I could come up with osn
Chloe: Tell you all about it at school

She sets the phone down on the nightstand charger. Closes her eyes. Just a little rest, then homework. That's all she needs right now...

And without meaning it, she drifts off into sleep.

Gui's plan was to check with Andromeda how she was doing, but now with Phalanx also joining, it was a crowd already. The talk would need to wait. "We are not planning e prank." He doesn't comment on Phalanx's not-so-veiled request of mushrooms.

"We are just planning on hanging out. Dere is e taco truck by de plaza if we take dat tunnel." His tattoos are gone again and his clothes are back on their normal color. "You want to change?" He asks Digits and Andromeda. "Not sure how worried you are about keeping your identities secret."

"Oh right, that whole keeping-your-identity-secret thing! Still seems like a hassle, and you gotta admit it kinda reflects poorly on your planet to have to go to the trouble, especially if your whole in-costume thing is just wanting to make things better...but I can go put on some of those Earth clothes you helped me pick at Goodwill."

Whispering (though perhaps not terribly quietly) to Andromeda and Phalanx, they add "And we totally are going to plan a prank! But we can chat when Gui's not around, if he'd rather."

When Digits takes off to their quarters they do it at a dash, clearly having fun, shooting a portal into the far wall and then another at their feet, dropping through, tumbling, and then shooting another. Minutes later they're back dressed in jeans, a baggy grey sweatshirt, and some well worn hiking boots. They've pulled their hair into two puffs. "So, what's a taco?"

Sam buys her comics, sits alone at the dinner, eating fries with one hand while reading with the other. Forcing herself to do both slow. Then returns home and waits.

An hour later a large red bearded man comes home with slumped shoulders only to get ambushed in the dark by a hug. "Oof." he grunted even though the ginger girl that has wrapped her arms around him is Wee to his Wide. A fake but warm grunt, and he then reaches down, lifts her up and hugs her back "Bad day, ladybug?"

A nod nearly lost in his bulk, followed by a muffled "... leftovers... cold... comics..."

He smiled and carried her to the tiny kitchen, where the burger from her meal sat on a plate, untouched, along with a small pile of old comics. His favorites.

"I have these sweats and I have a containment suit. They talked about a costume, make it clearer I'm here to help. For now it's just the sweats and the suit though; I don't want to wear the suit anymore."

She seems about to retreat further into herself again when Digits' big whisper drags her out of her shell, smile first. "Okay."

"Tacos are hand-food. Usually a protein, vegetables whole or as paste, dairy-solids put in an oil-fried carbohydrate wrap. There are a lot of optional components." She thinks back for a moment. "I liked chicken supreme."

That somehow sparks a reply to Phalanx's question. "The umm... I don't really care about guns. They mostly aren't very relevant to me, but silhouettes and operating specs are part of a standard upload." She taps her temple behind her eyes. "Threat assessments."

Halcyon Prep, middle of the week

Halcyon Preparatory Academy, located on a compact campus just minutes from Downtown Halcyon, has a stellar reputation of academic excellence, inclusivity despite it being a private school, and enthusiastic school spirit (Panther Pride!). Although, like all of Halcyon City, it has had to deal with repairs following the odd supervillain or alien entity attack, wealthy or connected parents have for generations entrusted their children to the academic staff of the school. Indeed, even recently such celebrities as Kayla Taylor, the most recent Praetorian, and Tiv Krueger, son of renowned action star Kraus Krueger, have been students there. Other powered students go or have gone to the school, so there's always an element of the unexpected when it comes to attending Hal-Prep.

The early spring weather affords a crisp, chill morning after a nighttime rain that has left the campus glistening in the morning sun. Fully two-thirds of the student body live on campus, while the rest commute or rely on rides.

Everyone who's attending Hal-Prep, give me a post showing your typical school day. Do you live on campus? Commute? If you don't go to school there, where do you go? If you don't go to school, what do you do all day?

A todo list efficiently gets crossed out, one at a time. Oatmeal, milk, shower, teeth, hoodie and skirt, brush hair, gather backpack... wrong backpack, not the one with experimental subduing devices... the one with books and tablets. Her threads helping, as well as cleaning around the house.

Then they slither back in, and she locks up, her father still asleep.

Then the city bus to school, where she listens in class but doesn't participate. The only reason her grades are not perfect is that confusing need to tie part of academics to group dynamics.

In between classes, she finds a nook, curling up around her tablet, with her eyes darting nearly as fast as her fingers, lunch is the same, but also has a cheese sandwich and milk.

Her social interactions are generally brief. For example, an ass grabs her tablet and holds it out of reach, taunting "Do you want this, Nerd Girl?" but Sam simply responds with flat confusion "Yes" as she reaches for it, no threads coming out to help. Luckily, a good samaritan gets it for her and she says "Thank you" then goes to find another nook.

Late for first period. Again. At least Chloe could take some solace knowing that she'd done her duty, stepping into the role of Chroknight that morning to bust those car thieves. Even if it means that she's one more tardy away from getting mandatory detention.

But that was fine! She was a good student, As and Bs mostly, though a couple Cs had slipped through since The Change, and she wasn't failing anything or at risk of losing any potential future scholarships. Probably. She'd need at least one if she had any chance of non-community college.

Band practice ran for an hour after school. She liked it because it was easy enough to get into the rhythm of things, though she wasn't a fan of having to go to sports games to perform. But there was the Memorial Day parade coming up eventually, and that would be cool.

She had to make sure that she kept to the bus schedule. Not that she couldn't just be the other person and get there faster, but eventually there might be questions about why she wasn't using her student pass to get to school from her dad and that was something she didn't want to chance.

Lunchtime was Beebee time, and Monday manicures were the girliest thing Chloe did at school, letting her ride or die try out the next nail art design on her fingers. It definitely mismatched her hoodie and jeans look but she could care less when she had friggin' tiny cats on her fingers now in all their glossy glory.

(The orange tabby was her favorite.)

Andromeda'd gotten tacos instead of getting around to turning her stipend and vouchers into things that would help her fit in. It had its pros and cons.

1) Easy to choose her outfit.
2) Dawkins branding on her clothes meant clear social cues.
3) Fit the dress code.
4) The sweatshirt was very loose and it easily swallowed her up.
5) Tacos

1) She was a vague grey blob.
2) The sweatpants were too loose, and she'd had to triple knot the drawstrings just to keep them around her hips.
3) The sweats were too loose, and a bad ripple from her sheath could burst seams, or even shred through things if she lost concentration.

School was hard.

Just getting to school was hard.

No one thought an on-campus dorm would be a good idea for her, so a bus from near her cell at the base was a necessity.

It was so loud.

Everyone was talking; everyone was playing music; everyone was playing videos; everyone was a constant torrent of information in and out, and she was a superhero and she could still barely get her phone to work!

And then she had to calm down.

The bus had no seatbelts. She thought she remembered that, but now nothing is strapped down and everything is ready to float away or go slamming through a wall, or-

She had to calm down.

It was bumpy too. That didn't make her uncalm. It made her focus. She was touching the bus, so when the bus made sudden moves, her sheath was ready to unfurl and protect her. She couldn't let it tear through her outfit, or tear through the bus, or tear through a kid.

She had to stay ready.

Then she actually got to school and everything got so much harder. The bus was crowded but that was just dozens of people (57). The school was crowded, and that meant hundreds so far, and the number kept ticking up every time she walked somewhere new (586).

Class was so stupid. Some of it was math, or science, which was good, but everything they were talking about were things she'd drilled and filed away years ago. This was all preparation for the preparation for her preparation. It was stupid. Then there was English and History, which was stupid. She'd had a dispensation the last time she'd brushed up against scholastic requirements, but this time she had to fulfill gen ed. It was stupid. There was too much everyone already knew, too much they didn't even know they knew, too much for Andromeda- Angelica -to put on a list to study and master and feel less stupid the next time.

She had a bunch of study hall periods. They were quiet, but she was supposed to get rid of them. She was supposed to find electives, or a sport, or some stupid activity like drama or band, but it was all the same: something she'd left behind a lifetime ago, something where she was a lifetime behind.

This is so stupid. They didn't make you do this, so what are you doing? You don't see the dragon, do you? You don't see the tin can, do you? You don't see the priss, do- Oh, wait. (897) There she is. That's stupid; what's she supposed to learn here either?

Maybe I could learn French...

Percy woke up at the base as usual, just a bit after when he'd normally have to get up and rush to school in a jolt. Filled with a mild panic that he was late before remembering he didn't need to rush as he didn't need to go to Hal Prep.

He was lucky he didn't sleep as much as he used to as a human, but it did come with some downsides including hours of trying to find ways to waste or fill the extra time. Slinking from his room through the hollow feeling base to the room housing the clocktower computer he checks over the current reports. Clicking through the various threat reports that have already been handled he gets down to the more current ones. Reports of other teams already responding so they're slid away as under control. He even checks on any more news reports about Kyana and her strpfather, Mathers senior, his brood of eclectic children, Quincy's condition if he can.

Eventually Percy found himself outside the base soaring over Halcyon taking a more active approach to things. Landing on one of the rooftops he checks his phone silently hoping for contact from the rest of his old team. Finding nothing new he goes back to his patrol, stopping by one of the tea shops he'd usually visit.

In short he does patrols, and tries to keep up with the rest of the old group

The sound of the door lever opening without any care at all. Gui opens his eyes slightly to see the door opening slowly. Every. Single. Day. Then the whiskers in his ear. He lifts the blanket for Jun to enter and curl on his belly. The worst ninja ever. Fifteen minutes later and the alarm goes off.

First clothes on the pile, teeth, backpack. He never bothers to comb his hair. It is what it is. Ten minutes and he is entering Lynn's. Ding. That was the downside of having two dads: cooking whatever wasn't a thing in his life. His parents paid Miss Lynn for the whole month in advance. He liked it, to be honest, even if he wondered how it was to have a more traditional breakfast at home. Someday perhaps, when he marry someone. If she can cook.

Gui rides his black Honda Rebel to school. Foreign student. French accent. Motorcycle. Gui can feel the evil eyes coming from some guys, and while it kind of does bothers him, he tries to play it cool. He moves as fast as possible from the parking lot to the first classroom, taking care to avoid looking at the occasional couples.

Sitting on the back, Gui doesn't really pay too much attention to the classes. Not that he did not want to, but more like he couldn't. Even if he tried really hard to pay attention, soon enough he'd slip into his own mind and instead pay attention to whatever. His grades weren't great. At all, with the exception of art classes.

Lunch comes and Gui slips outside, making a quick prayer and eating away from others if possible. Too much going on and nowhere safe to look at and too much talking for him to read his book. Best Served Cold. Great book so far.

Lunch period

As classes give way to the lunch hour, students swarm the cafeteria or the campus grounds where the food trucks idle for those preferring something different than lunch line fare.

Samantha attempts to avoid the crowds, though her first attempt to sit in a nook of an outdoor art piece near the cafeteria is stymied as it quickly turns out that it's a hangout for the girls' softball team. The steps leading to the bell tower is a distant, but private, alternative.

As Andromeda searches for a place to sit that's not crowded, she finds an out-of-the-way table that's empty. A glint of something metal on the table's surface catches her eye. It's a small plaque recently set into the old wood, reading, IN MEMORIAM: SKYLER WORRELL

Gui finds the book engrossing, even though every so often he gets distracted by a girl passing into his field of vision.

Chloe is joined by Beebee who sits down with her bagged lunch. She pops open the plastic container of veggies and dip as she leans in close. "Okay. Five o'clock. Cute and literate. Don't turn around now! I'll let you know when to look. Three guesses. He's a superhero exchange student from France called Le Croissant. He's a poser who wants everyone to think he's French. Or, he's Parisian royalty who's looking for an American girl to take him to a world of cafes and baguettes." She bites into a dip-laden carrot with a snap. "Now you."

IN MEMORIAM: SKYLER WORRELL

So kids die here too

Sam calculates the amount of stairs the bell tower will have, and then decides the likelihood the average college student would use it as a reading spot would be 0.02%... unless it was raining which it wasn't.

So the ginger decides better there than here. The collection of athletic majors were starting to notice her, which is best to be avoided. Shifting her backpack in a better position, she moves across the mall toward the tower.

"...French? That's probably Gui. Uh. I know him. From the other thing," Chloe admits, trying to keep her head down and leaning towards Beebee. "He, um. Might have seen it. My face. Just a look, but he might recognize me. If he heads over here can you run interference? Also, need you after school to help with...well."

She glances briefly at Andromeda. "...Somehow ended up with the welcome wagon duty for Angelica. She's also someone I know from the other thing," She says quietly. "And she needs a new wardrobe. Desperately."

Checking his watch, Gui realizes it is getting close to the end of the lunch break. He flips a couple pages ahead. No way he'll be able to finish the chapter, so he makes a tiny mark with his nail by the paragraph before slipping a bookmarker and closing it.

He gets up, stretches, yawns, brushes some leaves from his pants and then walks back towards the main building. Coincidentally, this path leads him towards Chloe and her friend...

Lunchtime, Hal-Prep

Sam notices the bell tower and its attached building is old -- likely the oldest building on campus. The exterior steps leading up to the entrance are weathered marble, worn smooth from generations of use. The door to the stairwell is closed and locked, however, with a sign that says AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY.

=========

Beebee lifts a calculating eyebrow at the opportunity to help someone out with a new wardrobe. "So, what's she like? Does she have a style in mind or is she a retro alien from like, the fifties that doesn't have a clue about--" Beebee cuts herself off and her eyes go wide. Her arm flinches suddenly, knocking her water bottle off the table and sending it spinning to the floor!

As Gui is about to pass by a table with a couple girls having an intense conversation, one of them accidentally knocks a water bottle off the table and sending it splashing to the ground right in front of him, splattering the front of his pants!

"OMIGOSH!" the girl who had been facing his way shouts as she brings her hands up to her mouth. "I am so sorry! I'm such a klutz!"

The cute girl of middle eastern descent grabs a fistful of napkins and starts to blot at the water stains but freezes, cheeks reddening at the location of where her hand was aiming. Mortified, she holds out the napkins to Gui.

Chloe sees that the scene Beebee is making is a perfect distraction!

What do you do?

============
In an undisclosed location within Halcyon City

A tablet showing a jerky video featuring a long-range shot of a dragon-being, a demon girl, and a girl with wings is slid across the table in front of Empyrean. "Take a little vacation with your new friends, did you?" Ms. Trask asks with a tone that indicates it's a rhetorical question.

"Chicago's a hotbed of Weird. Can I assume you went there for reasons pertaining to your existence? Learn anything?" This time, the tone of her voice indicates that she is expecting answers.

Archie rolls from bed, eyes groggy and reaches for his phone. "11:46? Really?" He stares blankly at his phone, eyes unfocused. "Aw, I'm gonna miss lunch" He grumbles.

He lurches out of bed, grabs the nearest t-shirt, gives it a smell.

Eh, good enough.

He pulls on a nearby pair of pants, socks and stops by his bathroom mirror to apply about a dozen or so various piercings to his ears, eyebrows, lips, and nose. A handful of gel to slick back his hair and Archie is out the door skateboard and backpack in hand.

=================

Archie rolls through the hallway on his skateboard blasting music from his air pods maneuvering around obstacles of teenagers.

He looks down at his phone to change the song and swings around the door leading to the courtyard. Archie looks up from his phone to try and spot some of his friends and sees The Frenchman.

Archie rolls over to the small gathering, a smile on his face. "Bonjour! My dear Frenchman, How fares thee? Had a little accident there did we?" he says with a courteous half-bow.

There is a miniscule tugging downward of Sam's lips as she looks at that sign. She was unaware of this, and being unaware bothers the brain inside her head.

Reviewing the college's rules and regulations, which she memorized on her acceptance, she determined the risk of suspension or expulsion to be too great for physical exploration. Any risk of either is too great.

But the area is quiet, so she sits against the door, pulling out her cheese sandwich, and of course her tablet. She swipes away the white paper attempting to combine quantum computing with a biological strain of a highly infectious virus. Then brings up all articles, about this tower, as well as any feeds from cameras in the area, sending a script to pour over the footage flagging anything as 'interesting'