Human Magus 2 | HP 21/28 | Perception +4 | AC 19 (20 with raised shield); Fort +7, Ref +8, Will +6 Hero Points: 2 | Focus Points: 0/1
Ursula plucks the offending origami figures out of the box, burning those two. She picks up the box and examines its contents. "No snake or owl, but take a look at what else is in here," She says, offering Kalla the box before going to tend to her panicked servant.
Sharlott looks relieved that the terror is over, her body shaking like a leaf from narrowly escaping a horrific blow. It seems the healing poultice will work best soothing her spirit than actual grievous injury. "It's why I stay away, but it charged so suddenly and I didn't think it would attack me and Miss Ursula is - oh, Miss Ursula! Your tunic!"
Ursula stops in front of Sharlott and Laszlo with an odd expression before checking her clothes. To Sharlott's horror, there was a gash in the sleeve where the boar's branch tusks had torn through the silk. Ursula hums in disappointment. "Unfortunate. We'll need to buy a replacement later, Sharlott. A change of clothes will suffice for now."
Sheathing her sword, Ursula takes up the wayfinder from her belt pouch. The discerning amongst the party would note that it is of a slightly different configuration from their own. She unclasps the device's lid open, peering inside, before snapping it shut. Immediately, her garments under her armor were replaced by a fresh blue tunic and breeches. The injured clothes were folded neatly in her other arm, as she hands them to Sharlott to fold and tuck into Ursula's bags.
"Once we have solved the overgrowth problem, we should consider out next investigation site. One where Sharlott will stay out of harm's way." Ursula pointedly emphasizes. "It would be terrible if she were to perish, and I was without someone who could tend to my personal belongings."
The maid nods and bows her head. "Of course, miss! Won't happen again! Thank you again Mr. Laszlo for the poultice!"
Ursula notes the healing poultice, looking at Laszlo. "You have my gratitude as well for tending to her." Her head inclines briefly in his direction.
Yeoknight speaks up. "Adjusting for outliers, the most common accepted ends to that phrase would be 'day', 'world', 'city', 'universe', 'people of Halcyon up to 15% on their car insurance', or 'whales'. Based on logical conclusion, I can infer with 92% accuracy that 'day' would make the most sense."
They look at Johnny. "Do not select 'whales' or 'insurance', because those have the lowest odds."
Human Magus 2 | HP 21/28 | Perception +4 | AC 19 (20 with raised shield); Fort +7, Ref +8, Will +6 Hero Points: 2 | Focus Points: 0/1
Ursula Vashkara wrote:
"KYAAAAAAAAHH, DON'T EAT ME!" Sharlott screams as she barely avoids a lethal hit, going pale as her dress.
"Sharlott, move out of the way!" Ursula snaps off an order, as the scared maid bounds away from danger as quickly as her feet can carry her.
Ursula is close enough to see the boar shaped construct getting ready, so she mutters and focuses her arcane energy into reinforcing her dueling sword. "There's one more coming, I'll hold it off!"Casting Runic Weapon on her sword
Ursula considers fighting, but sees she's closest to the small wooden box. Out of place here, it's obvious it might solve the problem with the attacking topiary quicker than cutting them down. She rushes through the mud to open the box, peering inside.
Human Magus 2 | HP 21/28 | Perception +4 | AC 19 (20 with raised shield); Fort +7, Ref +8, Will +6 Hero Points: 2 | Focus Points: 0/1
Ursula flicks her dueling sword to get off the loose spores on its edge, before running a cloth to wipe off the remaining material. She glances over at Kalla, standing with nary a hair out of place from the battle. "Hmm. I thought that I heard some street mutt yapping during the fight, but perhaps I was hearing things. Sharlott!"
The handmaid hops back close now the danger has passed, offering her lady a drink from her waterskin. "You worked well with the team, my lady!"
Ursula shakes her head. "The accolades go to Dawn and Laszlo. We would have fought harder if they hadn't dealt with the problem at the route. I must admit I was expecting a problem to solve, not a fight."
"That's all right, you still contributed well! You should be proud!" Sharlott encourages her, Ursula accepting her praises with a courtly posture.
"At any rate, we've dealt with the issue with the stones? We should press on to the next location. The topiary garden was suggested as our next stop. Shall we be on our way?"
Human Magus 2 | HP 21/28 | Perception +4 | AC 19 (20 with raised shield); Fort +7, Ref +8, Will +6 Hero Points: 2 | Focus Points: 0/1
"Of course. Someone has to carry Miss Ursula's bags and pick out her outfits and manage her hair, and she doesn't have as many servants as back home so I'm pulling the extra duties. I'm just glad I can help this way now..." Sharlott explains, before hearing the alchemist's address.
The maid looks a little panicked as Laszlo talks to her and ignores her mistress. "Ah...I mean, she's very strict about her diet. I can taste test for her, it's part of my duties. Just, um...Miss Ursula prefers her tea with lots of honey to sweeten it. She doesn't like bitter things."
"What are you whispering, Sharlott?"
"N-Nothing, Miss!" She jumps back from Laszlo, wringing her hands. "T-Thank you, Mister Laszlo. I hope we can get along..."
Human Magus 2 | HP 21/28 | Perception +4 | AC 19 (20 with raised shield); Fort +7, Ref +8, Will +6 Hero Points: 2 | Focus Points: 0/1
"I am - regrettably - not a direct superior to you in the Pathfinders." Ursula answers Sajan. "So I concede to that point. However, due to my education and social standing, I propose that this group allow me to represent ourselves to those of proper upbringing."
She glances back into Kalla's eyes. "Sharlott is my maid. Our relationship is beyond your scope." She scoffs, brushing her hair back. The scent of jasmine and citrus wafts from her luxurious locks.
"But I do agree that arguing won't get us anywhere. We should prioritize ensuring the Maze's continued utility to the Society. Now, I have a list of problem sites within the Maze that need to be tended to, and I'm hoping that we can agree to investigate them together."
She steps past Kalla as she looks to the others. "Now, Rising Dawn, Nixoret, and...'Lazlo Csoka'. Do any of you have a question for me?"
Sharlott skips over next to Kalla, fidgeting nervously. "Miss Ursula isn't a bad person. She is just...focused," She says.
Human Magus 2 | HP 21/28 | Perception +4 | AC 19 (20 with raised shield); Fort +7, Ref +8, Will +6 Hero Points: 2 | Focus Points: 0/1
Seated on the bed with her legs crossed is a blonde woman currently looking through documents. The way that the room looks its apparent that she's done some rifling through their effects while they were out. She glances up at the party with a haughty expression.
"It's about time that you all showed up. I'm aghast at how much you waste on frivolities when there's work to be done," She says as she shuts the ledger. She stands up and holds the book out. A white-haired woman of similar age Rising Dawn recognizes steps out to accept it from her, before stepping back.
"Lady Ursula Vashkara, House Orlovsky and Pathfinder. I'm attaching myself to your group for future Iobarian missions," She explains. "Though considering what's going on with the Maze recently, it seems more prudent to secure the route and avoid having to spend months traveling otherwise to reach it from here. Sharlott?"
"Y-yes, miss?" Nervous seems to be Sharlott's default expression.
"My notes from the meeting with Drandle Dreng?"
"Of course! H-Here," She hands her another small book, as she flips through it.
"There are several sources of activity that bear investigation. I have them marked down and will act as point for this mission. I've had Sharlott help me research all of you, so I know your skillsets for the most part. I'll assign you based on where you'll meet the most efficient useage," She informs the group. "Now, I suppose for the sake of getting out of the way, I'll let you each have one question each before we get underway."
Chloe checks herself one last time in her phone to make sure her makeup is okay. She's made sure her dad knows she's visiting Sam so he doesn't fret. She feels cute in her punk-lite outfit and is willing to even go to the Rumpus if Sam wants to go. Maybe as friends. Maybe...
She pushes the stray bad thought out of her head and knocks on Sam's dorm room door. Checking one last time for errant hairs or lint.
Sam's head shoots up, having gotten lost in the timestream data, searching searching searching for patterns that will match. A feeling her matrix tells her is guilt is eating away at her insides, driving her to continue even though her brain is near shut down, but even for that she will not miss this.
One last look around her room, then in a mirror, she then opens the door, her green eyes widen in a good way a seeing who she had expected (instead of a new problem to solve). "Hi" she smiles, a little nervous in the pretty beaming.
"H-hey, you," Chloe says, attempting confidence and stumbling a bit as she catches Sam's eyes. She hesitates briefly before boldly stepping inside. "No roommate?" She asks, glancing around.
"A requirement from my father, since I am a minor." she noted. The small room is dimmed and covered in holiday lights, Sam had done research into movies involving 'dates' and statistically they have a special moment with string of holiday lights. She hasn't gotten any farther since the gnawing in her stomach had her at her computers working on her mistakes.
Chloe looks at the strings of colored lights in some amusement, facing away from Sam so she could keep up the mystique. "Cool. So no chance that we'll be interrupted?" She asks as she approaches the computer terminal.
Her eyes linger around where any visible cameras are on the monitors or peripherals, tucking a small sticky paper booklet from her jacket pocket to implement some low tech privacy. "So...how much does your dad know?"
"He has a high school education but is well versed in several subjects. Is there a specific area of interest?" Sam clearly did not understand the reason for the question
"I mean, about you. Your studies and your extracurriculars and...the kinds of people that you're attracted to," Chloe rephrased the query as she turns to look at Sam. Her gaze looks past her at the still open door.
"I guess I'm asking if he would be worried about you having someone as dangerous and daring as myself stride into your room and ask you to close the door," Chloe suggests. She's trying her best to put on a strong act when her hands feel slick and she's trying not to let her flip-flopping stomach show.
Sam nods then "He knows what I am." she says but then amends "He knows my abilities and who I am working with, and that there will be times I am alone with them." she pauses "He doesn't think I am dangerous, and if he did understand the magnitude of it, that concern would eclipse all else."
She shuts the door, but her brow furrows a moment "Does that answer the question?" once again feeling she is missing some part of Chloe's meaning.
She went by gut feeling here and hoped that Sam remembered all those K-drama shows they'd watched in this timeline. She gets up close, before slapping the door with one open palm, doing her best to use the height advantage given by her boots to look down into Sam's face. The kabedon maneuver was successful!
However, she hadn't thought about what to do now that she was here. "...d-do I make you nervous? Your heart f-flutter?" Chloe asks, failing to do so without a slight stammer coming from her own rising heart rate.
"Do you want to k-" her tongue felt leaden as she tried to form the word, only the shape of her lips managing to finish expressing it. She clears her throat, glad the low light helps hide her blushing cheeks. "Kiss...I mean. Uh. Yeah. That. If....if you think that you've earned one."
Sam's eyes go the rest of the way wide, stepping back instinctively but being trapped by the door and her guest. Part of her understands the contrast between stating she is dangerous and retreating as she did, but most of her is instead focusing on the face of the trapper.
Her head tilts, red waves denting on her green sweater. She doesn't need the tilt so starts to shake away the command and stops as the question is asked.
No, the answer is no, she does not deserve this, not at all. She didn't kill that girl, she knows this, but still her belly burns with it.
But no is not the answer she wants to give, she knows if she....
She stops thinking and nods, whispering a simple "Yes"
Chloe hesitates, her rapid overthinking warring with impulse. She reaches out to stroke a thumb from Sam's chin along her jawline and behind her ear, getting the rest of her fingers tangled in her hair.
"...I'm going to kiss you." Chloe says. "Now." She feels awkward and worries she's doing this wrong and Sam's only being polite, but she can't help but want to rush in, pressing her mouth to this cute girl's-
click
Chloe recoils, the unexpected impact of her teeth on Sam's ruining the moment. "S!&&, sorry - you okay?"
"Physics" Samantha says a little breathless. "Based on our height differential and spinal curvatures, we should intersect at an angle of plus/minus 32." one could practically see the equations being drawn in the air around them. "Like this" her hands rest softly on the sides of Chloe's head, under the sheets of her hair, tilting as she tilts, then she leans forward, forgetting the whirls of negative emotions wishing to batter down her dampners and drown her.
Chloe's carefully planned control of events slips from her grasp as Sam takes the initiative. She resists the temptation to redo it. She's not certain she has the mental capacity with Sam's lips locked with hers.
She kisses back with a murmur of frustration, pressing herself closer into Sam's space. Now she's annoyed with craning her neck, so Chloe uses some of that super strength to good purpose to lift her up closer. She wonders if Sam likes melon taste of her lip gloss, and then she's not so much thinking as just going with the flow of things.
The smallest of squeaks is lost in Chloe's mouth as Sam is lifted with such ease. Intensive scientific knowledge of 'super strength' does not prepare one to be lifted by it.
Her hands slips from her face, wrapping around the neck, and her mind... well she knows it should turn off at this moment, to be lost utterly in the emotions, of the heart thunder, of the feeling her socked feet hooking around a thigh... but her mind never ever Ever shuts off, so instead it focuses, remembers everything, from the taste of melons, to the soft heat of their shared breath, to the door knob digging into her side.
A minute - an eternity? - later, Chloe comes up for air, breathing heavily as she presses her cheek to Sam's, the heat almost scorching. "...you're a good kisser," She admits in a soft whisper.
She glances down and notices how she's got Sam pressed up against the doorknob, a gasp escaping her as she steps back while still holding her. "Oh, crap, you should had said something - I didn't hurt you, did I?"
Samantha had researched this, this timeline version of herself ever since she grew to understand she was attracted to her friend and the possibility that Kissing could be something she could do. Sam, the other timeline had not.
After a moment of minor panic of being dropped, Samantha stumbles out "The bruise was collateral damage from my muscular collapse after mind melding with the... ... I mean No, you did not. Discomfort is from the proximity to a previous wound." she holds on, arms, not legs around, her face still so close.
"Mind melding?" Chloe whispers, the brief confusion appearing in her face before she met Sam's eyes with her own. She thought about following up here, having a proper discussion. But she didn't want to ruin the mood completely. She'd prepared for her after all. "...you'll tell me about that later. But you also tell me if I'm being too rough with you," She requests of her.
For now, she picks Sam up by her waist again, gently supporting her before sitting on her bed with her nestled on top of her lap. The better way for them to keep close without Chloe adding more bruises. "Now then. Kiss me until you're satisfied," She invites her with a coy smile.
Samantha's face narrows, her mind catching on the word and she is simple unable to say "That is too imprecise a metric."
"All right," Chloe relents, taking her phone out of her jacket pocket. Then thinking about it, she shrugs off her jacket, leaving her in her sleeveless top. "Kiss me until the alarm on my phone goes off. Then we can discuss where we go from there," She says as she tenderly strokes the top of Sam's head.
A smile graces Samantha's lips at having parameter passed on. Then she tilts her head to the optimal angle and does exactly that, ignoring all the other worries, stresses, or orders from that force.
About fifteen minutes later, Chloe's phone starts to chime. Chloe was worried it would be too much time, or too little - though how things were going, she was now worried about how her makeup was holding up after making out for so long. She definitely needed a touch up. And they both needed to actually talk. She pulls free from Sam's face, sighing contently.
"Okay...two things." Her hands were resting on Sam's hips, playing with the hem of her sweater. "One. I'm comfortable with this level of...uh, intimacy, when we're together alone. Let me know if you want to level up and we'll discuss it." She shivers a little bit. "Two. I kind of...want to go to the Rumpus with you. As me. Together. Like, presenting as together." She waits for Sam's response nervously.
"Which you?" Samantha asks as she rises a little unsteady. Her body is fatigued, which is an interesting measure. A side process in her mind calculates caloric expenditure. The question is simple and complex at the same time. Samantha waits for the answer as she retrieves her sneakers.
"Well. This me. The cute, femme presenting version that's age appropriate and gives me an excuse to be here on campus," Chloe says, checking her phone and using it to help with touching up her makeup. "Do you want to put on a little makeup before going? I can help."
Samantha tilts her head to process the answer, deciding she means Chloe not her alternate identity. "Statistical analysis of ascetics eludes me." she says as she laces her shoes on. Her gaze drifts to her monitors for a moment, then shakes them off, and rolls her chair over to sit in front of Chloe. "Okay."
Chloe had come prepared for this. She leaned in and worked on enhancing the natural cuteness that Sam brought. A little eyeliner and that melon flavored lip gloss did just enough to help bring that out. "You are just so cute, Sam," Chloe compliments her.
There is a twitch, as if Samantha just resisted a head tilt. She doesn't understand, doesn't know, is in a word flummoxed. Her matrix still suggests even with her stillness. Reams of suggestions. "You are as well, Chloe." she finally says, ignoring the suggestions completely.
"If I didn't want to mess up your make up right now..." Chloe stares, her dark brown eyes meeting Sam's green. "Ugh. I need to not wind myself up. I had way too many late nights at this age thinking about...things I wanted."
She clasps her hand on top of Sam's. "I know that...this new timeline, it's not perfectly the same. Being younger certainly makes it harder to sneak out. But despite the differences, you're my lifeline. The person I can hold onto and be steady. So...I'm being corny, but I really like you, Sam. You want to go to the dance with me?"
This time her large language model fails her completely. It probably is spewing out suggestions but Samantha cannot hear/read/see. Instead she smiles, bright as a summer day "Yes" she says simply.
Ignoring the monitors or notes on how to request interfacing with the time shifting armor to make modifications, ones that she is uncertain she would risk.
Now all she wants is to dance with Chloe.
"I was not expecting a theme. Or chaperones," Chloe comments as she looks in the hall. The flower child Ms. Yamada was kind of amusing. But she was feeling good about this. Confident, capable, and holding onto Sam's hand, like she belonged here.
She leans in to whisper to the redhead. "We can stay as long as you want. I just..." She hesitates a little. "...I wanted to make sure that...people here knew that you were already in a relationship. In case they got too interested with you. So let's dance, all right?"
The agony that suffuses Chroknight slams them back to normal relativity, clutching their helmed head and retching. It was like someone had just stabbed hot needles into every nerve ending of their body. They knew they needed to move, the tentacles whipping up closer and threatening them with a fate worse than death.
Seeing Andromeda burst through, they pull together and rally. "I'm sorry, I was about ready to hurl from the psychic backwash, but no, let's- left two yards, now!"
They dip back after seeing Andromeda getting stuck in some sticky sludge from the ceiling, preventing her from getting caught up. They're moving and calling back to her. "Keep up and don't argue, just do what I - low, two yards!" The tentacle that would have smashed them together hits nothing but air with Chroknight's warning as they lurch towards the exit.
"Bank right - up, five feet! Right six! Left up eight!" Their instructions get more curt and frantic as they go, seeing every death trap that Andromeda gets caught up in and narrowly preventing her from getting stuck. "Don't want to - down four - go to space - faster now! - in a mushroom."
It's excruciatingly slow compared to running by themself, but they can feel a thrumming now as they hit a section where the wall seems to be vibrating. "Atmosphere outside - punch through!" They direct Andromeda. The sudden sucking air that blasts out from the hole created would normally be something that Chroknight would resist - but they need to get out of there and surrender themselves to the whims of the wind.
Now they were free-falling away from the Deathcap, plummeting towards the ground. Which was not as big of a concern for them as getting up here had been. They couldn't fly, but they could certainly slow their fall more than enough to avoid pancaking onto the street.
Still, if Andromeda wanted to give them a ride, they'd allow it, twisting to salute the Bull above them as they fall.
"Ah, surrender! So pleasing to see your enemies cowering before your might!" Vorza grins down at the little smogling. "You may go...after answering all of our questions. Commander," He addresses Trevor, "Shall I restrain the prisoner? Perhaps squeezed into a tiny bottle so we may shake it around if it is less than cooperative."
Everyone scrambles to prepare for the incoming fungal invasion. Chloe for her part heads back home to her familiar (unfamiliar) room and changes into her most comfortable pajamas, lies her head down onto a pillow and commits herself to sleep.
Sleep was terrifying. Anything that happened when she was asleep was something she couldn't do anything to change. Even when she was awake and stepping back in time or slowing things down around her, she still had to be conscious. And she still got tired, she still got hungry and thirsty. Not quite a goddess of time.
She got tired faster now. Was it because of the paved over cracks, or because her body was younger? She just knew that if she wanted to be the best for her team, she needed to sleep.
Even knowing her dreams lately were plagued by a Beebee clutching the bloodied tail severed from her, staring at Chloe with betrayal.
"Are you for real life a damn prophet?" Chroknight exclaims in shock and horror that the Deathcap would be arriving soon. "Damn. Guess that means I'm not taking tomorrow off." They try not to focus on the comments about them being an 'embolistic tangle'. "Okay, if that's the case...we got to keep you here on observation."
Chroknight's not 100% certain what's what in the medbay, but there's a nifty looking console labeled 'AUTODOC', so turning that on and asking it to examine Delphi's bed sounded about right. "Do you have precognitive moments often? That's got to be a headache - I've done that before and looking into the infinite stream of possibilities really messes you up. And I'm also realizing you might not know who I am. Chroknight, Halcyon hero and temporal agent. Oh, wait, is that what's causing your seizures? I'm by definition unpredictable, and your brain probably's going crazy trying to suss me out - hang on-"
They poke their head out. "Sam, I need you to come in here and hold this girl's hand. I think I might what's making her sick. Can you do that while calculating?"
"Ah, comrades!" The vesk smiles, sharp teeth gleaming. "I go by Vorza Moonshot these days. You must forgive our mutual friend for being cautious. A friend of theirs is a comrade of mine!" Vorza laughs and pops another crunchy treat into their mouth.
"I know not the details, but they pay well for my services. I would never refuse an open tab invitation either. Here, try this. The waitress tells me it is a human delicacy - paapkern. It is crunchy but soft and drizzled in animal fats. A fine snack while waiting!" He takes two bowls and scoops up a handful of the popped kernels into it, sliding it over to them.
"Humans, for all their weaknesses and inferiorities, do have some good ideas. When the Veskarium conquers the Pact Worlds, I hope they bring the knowledge of paapkern and its production to Vesk Prime. It would do well in making jewel bugs even more delicious." The vesk leans back in his seat, looking at Trevor with amusement.
His eyes dart towards Jaedana. "Your kin are better than the humans. Better warriors, especially your solarians! Still," Vorza says as they lift a finger. A dark mote of light flickers into being orbiting their head, as they can see the light distorting around it. "Like all things of might and strength, ever this is something we can learn and adapt to our ways."
"But you have nothing to worry from me, comrades. I did my service, I came here to find good fights and new experiences. I will keep you from getting shot or stabbed, and in exchange feel free to stick a medpatch on me when I bite off more than I can chew, da?"
Chroknight cools off as they listen to Indarius - though also getting some spare clothing for the two of them that had been left here so they could change out of their evening wear. They were deliberately avoiding Andromeda and Gui, giving them a wide berth for now.
"Well, that's just dandy, seeing as we've got you, and the angel/demon pair who are likely going to be targets for indoctrination. Or your dragon rival. Seriously, it's both weird and oddly thematic to have a dragon as the head of a multinational corporation of bad guys."
They sigh, before noticing a little warning sign flashing on their HUD. Which was weird, because they had no idea what that symbol meant. They ignore it for now - if it was really important, it would be telling them audibly.
"Okay, so, let's go talk to the old dude and ask where he stashed the thing. Since it was the 80s, I'm guessing it's been converted into a wicked keytar." They look over at Samantha. "...bit of a trip to go to Canada. I don't suppose there's a secret jet-"
Indarius announces the intruder, and Chroknight straightens up. "Which tunnel? I'll check it out. If it's real bad, I can warn you right now."
Chloe hesitates for a moment. Then decides she would find out anyways. Her arms loop around Sam's neck and she pulls herself in close, dancing and ignoring the commotion happening near the center.
"Course I do. It's what I have to do." Her voice is soft and breath warm on Samantha's ear. "...I am still older than you. I mean, in experience. Uh, in that, despite the closeness of our ages, the fact I spent a lot of relative time with stuff around me slowed down means that I am older. Not a crazy amount, just by a few months."
Clearing Guilty
She leans on Sam, pressing her cheek against the other girl's. "So I guess that we're both old souls now, technically."
Well. This was actually embarrassing as hell considering that apparently everyone could tell that Chloe had a crush on Samantha in this timeline. She's blushing even as she refuses to let go of her hand right now while they're effectively left unsupervised by Chloe's family.
"...You never got to see my really amazing dress I got for this. I wanted to show off for you," Chloe says. "We did manage to avoid total temporal annihilation thanks to you. So no matter what anyone else says, you saved the universe. Not a lot of people can boast about that."
She fidgets and looks to the dance floor, before pulling Samantha towards it to try and work off this nervous energy in a way that didn't violate her personal space. "Let's dance, and celebrate, and we can worry later, okay?"
"Hey, stop it. Both of you!" Chloe intersects herself between the two. "Throwing around blame helps no one and does nothing to deal with this. Most of what's changed seems centered on me and Sam..."
She rubs her temple. "...this isn't the place to talk about this. Can we research and then meet later? And then you and I..." She looks at Andromeda. "We need to talk."
For better or worse, growing closer to the team and Sam. It was made to be so. Clearing a condition and Sam can shift Chloe's labels.
Well, slowing time works still. Allowing Chloe the time to avoid looking at her new mother with shock and horror and put on the right face for the situation. Including Beebee...no longer her Beebee. That hurt.
Of course this happened, somehow time got twisted so you were born two years later, that's insanely complicated - and somehow it happened twice!
Chloe resumes the flow as she gives a performative huff to Kaitlyn and a smile. "You should want to be here, it's fancy. And they've got a lot of those Daedalus students too if you want to meet any of them," She notes as her gaze drifts towards Johnny. Trying to ignore the marching band pins that make her realize she's a totally different Chloe with other interests.
"I'm fine, dad. Just worried we won't see all of the exhibits. Can Sam and I talk to any of the heroes here?" She asks, before pointing over at Percy. "Look, it's Silver Dragon! Sam, you can ask him how magic works."
Oh. Sam hadn't realized it yet. Chloe felt awkward to say this. The memories were there of them bonding over their lost mothers. The memories of Beebee, once always in her periphery, now seemed to have her on the edges before becoming little more than classmates with Sam occupying more of her time.
And yet, that was also a lie.
"...my mom never died, Sam. She just had to let everyone else believe she was dead. That's not what we have to fix. All of our relationships have changed because we're both younger than we were. Beebee...I think we drifted apart. Probably because I spend so much time with you here...and Joy and Deedee are missing, and my dad's fully lost his leg, and that's just what I'm noticing immediately. Don't you want your friendship with Jessie?" Chloe asks.
Pierce the Mask, Sam (Influence):2d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1, 4) + 3 + 1 = 9What are you really planning?
"Listen to her, mom! She's the smartest person in the room by a large margin!" Chloe pleads as she supports Sam. Her hand reaches over and grabs onto the redhead's, squeezing it. "She can help you save my friends."
Her eyes drift to Beebee as she takes in the scene as well, before focusing on her mother. Will spend Team to help Sam reach a 10+ result!
Hannah Rachel Parker's face in the Chroknight armor. The mole under her left eye. The lips that always curled up into a smile whenever she saw her. The shock gives way to a horrifying realization for Chloe.
I'm the same age as when she died.
The cruelty of this moment was not lost on Chloe, even as she was trembling in Beebee's arms and trying to stop crying. This would hurt her more in the end. But right now, she squirms out of Beebee's grip and rushes up to lock her small arms around her mother's torso.
"...you're not supposed to be here. How are you here?" She asks - though considering her blubbering she doubts anyone could understand her right now...
Chloe is skilled in keeping her feelings off of her face. It helps she's wearing the dress. Even if she'd just experienced a few strange skips that feel like parallel timelines - but that was crazy, her choices couldn't have caused branches like that to happen, right?
A chill runs down her spine even as she smiles at her dad, a hand on his shoulder, as she tries to assess if this means it's dangerous for her to be here. If this means the Chronowraiths are on her scent.
She clears her throat. "Y-yeah. Captain Stalwart I think would be really nice to meet. I wish this line would go a little faster, I'm not used to standing on heels," She says to her father while her eyes dart around in worry. "You think that the bathrooms are open without waiting in line? Maybe I'll get lucky and meet Mosaic."
It would be easier if Sam blamed them for not preventing this in the first place.
"...I wanted to see you at the gala and ask you to dance."
They reach up to their helm, and depress the hidden catch to unseal it. The visor comes up. Chloe looks down at Sam. Her face is streaked with tears, cat ears exposed on her head.
"I should have looked out for you better, Sam. I should have looked out for everyone better...you, Andromeda, Beebee...I'm sorry," She sniffs, wiping away tears with her gauntlets.
"Even my future thinks I'm a screw up. How messed up is that?"
Marking an additional potential for revealing her secret identity.
"NYOOOOOOOOOW! That...hurts so friggin' much!" Chroknight hisses out as they clutch their abdomen. They had experienced this sensation before in the numerous aborted attempts to kick in Shard's face, but this phantom sensation was somehow worse than that.
They answer Andromeda while recovering and getting up to their feet. "I said I can't use my powers right nyow, not that I lost them. It's complicated and related to my secret identity - Sam!"
There was a jolt of terror in them as they see Statian get close enough to throw her tech grenade at the Effigy - way too close and without any defenses. Their priorities shifted as they move to quickly step between her and the android to catch any stray attacks!
Defend Statian:2d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 2) + 2 = 10Will add a Team to the pool for being a team player here.
It was awkward for Chroknight to be traveling by bus. Mostly because people were staring at them as they just wanted to get to the bridge and get things done so they could go back to moping.
The annoying part for them though was how their armor adapted to their new parts. Which meant there was currently an armored sheath for their tail and adjusted room for their ears on their helmet. At least they could make some excuse for it like 'werewolf vaccine trials' or something else.
But of course, the bus wasn't going to stop at the bridge directly. Which meant getting off and hiking the extra two miles on foot without a temporal speed boost. It was rather humiliating and they were considering curling up into a ball and just dying.
At least the bridge was there in front of them now. It only took them ninety minutes from getting the details on the location to slipping past dragon wards and getting here. Hopefully they hadn't missed the mission.
"Are you crazy?!" Chroknight shouts at Statian as she takes the full brunt of the blast of cold. They definitely see that this particular moment was more perilous than the potential explosion at the school, but Statian needlessly became harmed opening the casing.
They grab onto her as the others work, the few moments they had stretching out to minutes with their temporal powers. They look at Sam's hands stiff and frostbitten with horror before forcing themself to focus. As soon as Aqua and Phalanx looked like they'd managed to deactivate the bomb, Chroknight was carrying Statian to the nearest first aid kit and wrapping her hands up.
"I should have been the one to open the damn case. I can take a subzero chill far better...you could have really been hurt!" They say to her, even as a snapping spark occurs in their armor. "You literally have metal tendrils, I can't believe you touched it barehanded! I just..." They sigh. "I was going to be right there. I'm sorry you felt like you had to rush into things."
C&S Statian:2d6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 2) + 3 = 11Oh, adding a Team to the pool for the 10+.
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Statistics
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Str 18, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 13, Cha 8
Base Atk +1; CMB +5 ; CMD 18
Feats
Weapon Focus: Axes (1st level)
Traits
Wati Native (Campaign)
You were born and raised in the city of Wati, and you know its streets and secrets well. Although it’s frowned upon by the city’s authorities, you have sneaked into the necropolis on multiple occasions to wander its dusty, abandoned streets. Out of respect for the deceased, you’ve never actually entered one of the necropolis’s silent tombs, but you have no fear of what might lie inside. You gain a +2 trait bonus on saves against fear effects. In addition, your knowledge of the city grants you a +1 trait bonus on Knowledge (local) checks, and that skill is always a class skill for you.
Dirty Fighter (Combat)
You wouldn’t have lived to make it out of childhood without the aid of a sibling, friend, or companion you could always count on to distract your enemies long enough for you to do a little bit more damage than normal. That companion may be another PC or an NPC (who may even be recently departed from your side). When you hit a foe you are flanking, you deal 1 additional point of damage (this damage is added to your base damage, and is multiplied on a critical hit). This additional damage is a trait bonus.
Child of the Streets (Social)
You grew up on the streets of a large city, and as a result you have developed a knack for picking pockets and hiding small objects on your person. You gain a +1 trait bonus on Sleight of Hand checks, and Sleight of Hand is always a class skill for you.
Skills
Primary Skills (7 ranks, +1 FCB): Acrobatics +7, Climb +8 (+4 with armor), Intimidate +5, Perception +5, Sense Motive +5, Sleight of Hand +8, Stealth +7 (+3 with armor), Survival +5 (+6 when tracking)
* +2 to One Ability Score: Half-orc characters get a +2 bonus to one ability score of their choice at creation to represent their varied nature.
* Medium: Half-orcs are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
* Normal Speed: Half-orcs have a base speed of 30 feet.
* Darkvision: Half-orcs can see in the dark up to 60 feet.
* Intimidating: Half-orcs receive a +2 racial bonus on Intimidate checks because of their fearsome nature.
* Orc Blood: Half-orcs count as both humans and orcs for any effect related to race.
* Orc Ferocity: Once per day, when a half-orc is brought below 0 hit points but not killed, he can fight on for 1 more round as if disabled. At the end of his next turn, unless brought to 1 or more hit points, he immediately falls unconscious and begins dying.
* Weapon Familiarity: Half-orcs are proficient with greataxes and falchions, and treat any weapon with the word “orc” in its name as a martial weapon.
* Languages: Half-orcs begin play speaking Common and Orc. Half-orcs with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following languages: Abyssal, Draconic, Giant, Gnoll, and Goblin.
Languages: Common, Orc, Osiriani
Gear/ Possessions:
Battleaxe, handaxe, dagger, throwing axe (2), scale mail, backpack, bedroll, flint and steel, holy water (3), mess kit, common manacles, explorer's outfit, iron pot, potion of cure light wounds, belt pouch, trail rations (5), hemp rope (50ft), waterskin
56gp, 4sp, 1cp
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Special Abilities
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Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A slayer is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, as well as with light armor, medium armor, and shields (except tower shields).
Studied Target (Ex): A slayer can study an opponent he can see as a move action. The slayer then gains a +1 bonus on Bluff, Knowledge, Perception, Sense Motive, and Survival checks attempted against that opponent, and a +1 bonus on weapon attack and damage rolls against it. The DCs of slayer class abilities against that opponent increase by 1. A slayer can only maintain these bonuses against one opponent at a time; these bonuses remain in effect until either the opponent is dead or the slayer studies a new target.
If a slayer deals sneak attack damage to a target, he can study that target as an immediate action, allowing him to apply his studied target bonuses against that target (including to the normal weapon damage roll).
At 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th levels, the bonuses on weapon attack rolls, damage rolls, and skill checks and to slayer DCs against a studied target increase by 1. In addition, at each such interval, the slayer is able to maintain these bonuses against an additional studied target at the same time. The slayer may discard this connection to a studied target as a free action, allowing him to study another target in its place.
At 7th level, a slayer can study an opponent as a move or swift action.
Track (Ex): A slayer adds 1/2 his level (minimum 1) to Survival skill checks made to follow tracks.
Backstory:
Fayez has lived in Bargetown for the majority of his life in Wati, into a family of fisherfolk. He spent much of his childhood that wasn't devoted to handball pulling nets and rods from the river, untangling lines and helping his two fathers with the daily chores. Fayez was brought up in the worship of the river goddess Wadjet by his family, knowing they relied on her blessings to earn their daily fish. They also knew to respect the presence of the Necropolis that darkened the district from the west.
Fayez started to rebel in his teen years, going off on his own deeper into Wati and joining with a group of pickpockets to take advantage of the influx of adventurers teeming with wealth. He was often in the role of lookout, his swift growth into adult height making him better for keeping an eye on his friends. He grew close with the human Zahra at this time, both of them backing each other up to avoid trouble with the guards.
Zahra was the one to suggest to Fayez that they try their hand at a more lucrative business in looting the bodies of adventurers who had perished within the Necropolis. Thus began their task scouring the empty streets of the city of the dead in order to fight the lost effects of those brave enough to venture within the tombs. The terror of being caught compounded with the terror of encountering one of the Necropolis' unliving denizens, and after one very close call for both of them, Fayez would tell his friend that they needed to think about teaming up with others and do this the right way, submitting themselves to the Wati lottery.
Unfortunately for them both, Zahra fell victim to a debilitating disease that left her unable to properly walk. Fayez promised her that he would find a group he could join and guide so that he could pay for her treatment and recovery. He prays every day to Wadjet for aid as he trains to be ready for the call, looking for those he feels he can count on for his goals.
"We will trade names! You've set yourself up to be my nemesis!" Chroknight shouts at them as they disappear into the fog. "I...have to work on my fighting skills. Stupid...leg binders..."
They grunt and struggle, but even their increased strength isn't enough to break free on its own. "CORVIS! Find me some kind of tool that I can get myself free," They call out to their helpful avian friend, looking around for anything to help with this.
"Well, guess I should let the team know where I am at least."
Chroknight: Bad guy robbing the medical expo
Chroknight: I don't think they're involved in the cryonuke stuff
Chroknight: Also I'm trapped in a leg binder pls send help
Chroknight shows up at perhaps an inopportune moment to address Statian in her dorm room, a cursory knock the only thing giving warning before they walked in. "So I've been trying to figure out how to explain to you how my time powers work and I think I have a model that you can understand. But it requires some leeway from you because I'm not nearly technically minded and a lot of this is instinct for me, got it?"
Sam is just in a T-shirt, black with seven red dots that seem to have no meaning. Just that. "good, you are here. I've been developing a translation algorithm to understand you." she tilts her head, letting the loose copper curls cascade down her shoulder. "I am ready "
"...first, pants." Chroknight points before turning away. "Okay, so, there's not just one way to manipulate time. I use my powers mostly to accelerate my tempo so I can move quickly - in your perspective. In mine I'm really moving at a normal pace while everyone else is slowed down."
"Now, time travel is much more different and complicated because there's several methods. I call the first the write over method, where I blip back and redo an event. Then there's the flash forward, which is kind of an emergency escape. The staple loop, where I travel back in time but avoid a branching event - that's good for a day at most."
They look back once they're sure Sam is more fully dressed. "What I want to do is potentially a stable loop, because of the dead cat clause. You know that one?"
Sam pulls on a pair of black leggings and answers "Schrödinger's cat is the most popularized scientific experiment, known by an estimated 67.34% of the population." Sam's way of saying Yes, she knows that one. She pulls her hair back into a pony tail and looks at her tablet which is charging. A small frown says she needs to replace the battery with a fusion solar perpetual something another, then she does something drastic.
She walks over to Jessie's side of the room and borrows a notebook and pencil.
"Time is consider immutable." she draws a line "Accelerating and deaccelerating..." she draws a line over it with an arrow one direction and another line under it going the other direction "... is easy to quantfy. The manipulation is singular, centered on you and you alone. Changing time..." she erases the middle line and makes it all wonky "... is either a mental condition or science fiction." she pauses, her emerald eyes holding the faceplate "But I believe you, I just don't understand how. Can you describe How you do... the rewrite option?"
"It's like I decided to scrap a panel of a comic book page and start over. I jump back to where I was previously and where I want to restart. Though I suppose the thought has occurred that I'm merely seeing the future seconds ahead and adjusting as needed." They shrug. "However it works, it works. Like how we had this discussion already, only I was distracted by your legs so I slipped back to ask you to wear pants."
"There's the biggest curse of my powers, though - I remember things that haven't happened because I changed it. Like, fighting Shard, I came at him around sixty times only to having to retry every time to avoid a lethal blow."
Sam looks down at her legs, then back up at Chroknight with a tilt, she almost asked Why, it is on her lips, about her legs, but shakes her head to dislodge that question as unimportant "Is it possible that you only see the potential of an outcome, adjust the parameters and re-perceive? Never actually travelling in time, but simply collecting data for nanosecond sped forecasting?"
"...so, moving on," Chroknight says as they change the subject. "Closed loop. This is real time travel. You should definitely watch Primer because it's scary how close it is. Anyways, this isn't quite the same because from my perspective I'm traveling back nearly instantly. I have to be aware of avoiding paradox, which my armor helps with apparently. I've tested it as much as week long loops, though the risks are greater with longer loops so I try to avoid doing that for more than 24 hours."
They look at Sam. "For something like going back all the way to the eighties, I'll have to plan a tourist itinerary instead. Where to be hour by hour, avoiding mucking around and causing a major branching incident. That brings out time wraiths like blood in the water. So I need your help in researching the Star Pharaoh's last visit. Exact dates help. I'm thinking that I need to bring back a particular item, but only after he leaves. I think it's vital to beating him and I'm getting worried his return is nigh."
Sam simply nods at the change of subject. Oddly she is used to it from people. She sits on her bed, plain gray bedspread, crosslegged to work her notebook. "I have not seen 'Primer' but will. I do understand the concept of paradox, not time wraiths, but probability suggests they are not the prime reason for my involvement." she picks a new page, draws a line, circling a point on the line, draws a nice picture of a butterfly flapping its wings, squilly lines representing wind, growing until it becomes a tornado. "You know that one?"
"Yeah, that's a moth. Changing the future through small choices. Want of a nail and all that." They tug on their left ring finger as they think. "But it's more likely that changing the past will create a branching timeline than overwrite it. Overwriting has to be subtle to work. Again, time wraiths get sensitive to things that mess with the timeline and will stop at nothing to correct them."
Sam nods again, understanding enough. "Do you need me to research the point of temporal entry, to help limit your 'mucking'?" to her, it is the logical application of her skills, but she also knows the Chronknight defies logic, so waits...
[B]"Yeah, let's take a look at the Star Pharoah's final hours in the 80s, but I also want to test things out with something that's closer to this century. I think maybe the rail disaster from seven years ago, the fight with Ultra-star and Helter Skelter."
Sam looks over at her tablet, frowns, again. A notebook will not work for this. So she rises off her bed, opens a drawer crammer with tech. A large laptop comes out, old in tech terms, and the Murphy budget. It comes up, a whirling fan in her lap, then she starts moving all over the keyboard. "I do." she finally answers. Her threads come out, pushing the back of her tshirt enough to do so and projects images, charts, video all over most walls. On her side, Jessie's spiders get annoyed at bright lights.
The event is being portrayed in dozens of ways.
"My belief is that so long as nothing massive changes, like if we avert a war or blow up a city, our timeline should be unscathed. I also believe it's possible to pull something which 'disappeared' in the past into our present without causing a branching event. Considering my abilities, something as big as a plane could be possible - like if I wanted to go and grab Amelia Earhart and her plane."
There's a manic energy to Chroknight right now as they pace the room. They pause only to look at Sam's projections. And things start to blur as time slips with them talking theory and facts, the physical distance between them getting closer every few minutes until Chroknight is sitting on the bed with her.
"...I have a weird question for you." They say, suddenly getting quiet. "How did your mom pass?"
Sam's fingers stop. Her breath shoots in as she clenches for a second, then she remembers that Chronknight understands. The anxiety that had broken through settles somewhat and Sam looks over to the face place.
For some reason her matrix whispers soft 'So close'. "Cancer..." her most hated word. "Mom choose to live her last months instead of waste for more time. I agreed, the logic sound, but by the end..." a slight welling in her eyes, then a tear rolls down her cheek, making her blink in surprise.
"Sounds like her cancer was aggressive then." Chroknight is pensive. "...you talk to her at all? Not like for real, but imagine the conversations you might have with her if she was still around. About the stuff you're too afraid to tell other people."
Sam tilts her head to the side "Yes, but I created an AI so she could answer back, in even the slightest way. It went bad." she let out a small sigh "How about you?"
"Every night. Before I go to sleep. Sometimes I swear I can hear her answering back." Chroknight replies. "...I miss her a lot. But I can't bring back the dead. Only the living."
Sam's chest aches, despite every dampener in place. Her hand tightens into her tshirt, as if it would help. "It would cause a paradox, too great a ripple?" she doesn't wait for an answer but then asks, much much softer "Do you ever go back to... see her?"
"I've had these powers for a relatively short time. The farthest I've actually traveled back is a week. And going back just to see her is too great a risk for too little," Chroknight says.
They sigh outwardly and clasp their hands together on their lap. "...I should probably go. It's been an hour strategizing and you probably have other things to focus on."
Sam looked to the hands then back up. "Do you like comic books? I read them after difficult days, to settle. I was about to do so now. You could as well?" her green eyes questioning
"...I...really want to do that." They fidget a bit. "Screw it. I've got nothing but time on my side anyways. What are you reading?"
Sam gets up to another drawer, pulling out a stack of old comic books. She plops back right next to her teammate. "I prefer older ones, not based on real heroes. Like this Super-Man. His powers divert from sense so I don't try to rationalize, too much" her fingers slide across the yellowed page
"Huh. You must really love Looney Tunes then. They don't make any sense in the way they can survive point blank shotgun blasts, falling off cliffs and getting whacked with a mallet." Chroknight says. "Personally, I like manga. Slice of life stuff where the stakes are low but the emotions are high. Sports manga is great for that. Blue Lock's my favorite right now."
Sam blinks, considering, then gets up again, pulling something else from the drawer. "I have someone that fits your preferences." she sits again with a manga called 'Fruits Basket' "It was recommended by Chloe Parker-Myeong, who you interacted with a bowling. But I don't understand it." Sam's matrix had tried to help, but the reasoning behind the interactions flummoxed even advanced algorithms.
"Oh. That's kind of old. I've read the series beforehand though and liked it," They say, suddenly uncomfortable. "...I think that I should get going. We'll talk later, we've done good on researching this for now. Might as well take our time on pulling the trigger."
Sam's brows furrow a little, not understanding the sudden desire of Chronknight for wanting to go. Her matrix nearly screams DON'T ASK, so she doesn't "Using firearm metaphors statistically end negative outcomes." she tells her teammate instead and rises. "But I will continue to research and be prepared for when you wish to 'pull'." she gives a slight tug of her lips and nods goodnight.
Chloe's House
Chloe was in the middle of trying her luck to see if Beebee had gotten phone permission back for the third time that day, texting her again, when she walked in the door. At first she was confused by her dad's energy, until she drifted to look at what was on the table.
"What - what is this?" Chloe asks, looking amazed as she takes a good look at the tickets. They seemed to be genuine. It was crazy. "Isn't this like a super high society type of gala with fancy dresses and live music? Dad, how did you get these?"
"What's bothering me? I'm not sure where to start." Chloe is trying to not get worked up here. She wipes her eyes before crossing her arms defensively. "...you never talk about her. It's been almost seven years and I still don't know the whole story. Only that you came home alone that rainy day and she was gone. I never even got to see her body. And I know you do your best, and I try to give you space and be a good daughter but I just feel like sometimes the only time we talk is when I mess up, and we don't discuss any solutions, just point out what I did wrong."
Chloe presses her hand up to her mouth. She hates this brutal honesty. But then again, how many 'I'm fine' or 'I'm okay' did she force through as a lie over the years?
"...Mom was the one who helped me to figure out how to fix things. I miss that. I miss her. And I hate the people responsible for taking her from us."
"Because he asked me what I thought of it and I gave my honest review? I didn't know someone was recording there. I would have toned it down if I'd known, but I still would have given much of the same info."
Somehow Chloe didn't feel like stretching the truth here. And then she realized she was still feeling the potion from before. Yikes.
"Whay that video doesn't show is me pointing to Craftworlds as the alternative and him buying the first three volumes. They trust my opinion, even if it can be loud and sometimes inflammatory."
...and then something came up that she had never invoked before. "Mom would have approved of me sticking to my guns than pandering sexist trash."
"Get Sam to make you a social matrix and read a social cue!"
"Okay, okay, give me a second..."
The obvious solution in Chroknight's thoughts was to accelerate the potion, since it was supposed to wear off after enough time. They reach out and grasp onto Andromeda's shoulder. "Hang on for a day."
Defend Andromeda from magic potion by accelerating time (Insecure):2d6 - 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5, 1) - 2 + 2 + 1 = 7Oh, yes! Time to escalate the situation! Also adding Team to the pool.
CORVUS caws at Sam, before Chroknight is there next to her. "Real quick, drink one of these between the fun stuff," They tell Sam, putting a bottle of water in her threads. "You're gonna be extra dehydrated without it. Also if you're taking any psych meds, probably should stop drinking anything but water to be safe."
They pat Sam on her head. "I actually finding difficult to get intoxicated since I got my powers...when I... d... j... f...."
"YES that's is great! I had a phase in grade school where all I wanted was a dragon friend and now you're my friend and I don't want you sad all of the time because we're not as structured as your old team, high five!" Chroknight says, before giving Indarius a high five. "Also I can't seem to lie and oh hey it's Max!"
Chroknight goes and retrieves Beebee to bring her over to the devilish Star. "Max, you have to help with tail fashion, because she's got a great tail but I have no idea how to help. Also you look like a Disney Princess if they did a movie about Hell. Have you met my bird?"
CORVIS caws at Max, hopping about on Chroknight's shoulder.
"No, for real, Johnny's got 'sweep the desk clean and lay me back' vibes. But I also want to snuggle like a cat with Sam. Oh, oh, look, she's got animal parts too!"
"Sam! Hey! Sam! Hey! Sam! Hey!"
Chroknight is waving their hand at her almost giddly, the other taking time to pet Beebee's new tail. It was super soft, even through the gloves.
"Sam! You've got a nice rack!" Chroknight calls out to her. "I want to curl up with you on a couch and read manga together!" They give her a thumbs up, before looking at Beebee. "So this has been a really impulsive decision on our parts and your tail is SO soft. Hey Tim! Timmy! Hey! Heeeeeey!"
They wave at the mad alchemist, and get really close to them. "I'm going to be incredibly upset after this potion wears off but mostly for me not being able to shut my mouth. And by the way, I'm really glad none of these potions mess with time because I'm already causing a ripple being here and nothing messes up a party like time wraiths."
They pause, noting the commotion with the new guests arriving. "Ava! I'm still angry you blasted me with lightning! I'm willing to put it behind me if you drink one of these potions. Pretty please."
"I think the dark purple, because you always look awesome wearing that color." Chroknight feels relaxed despite the world shattering secrets they are making. They glance over to look for CORVIS, finding the little bird is currently strutting up to Andromeda.
CORVIS caws up at her, shaking his tailfeathers as he peers up at her. Then he flutters up to the potions table, looking at all of the colorful collections and poking at a lime green concoction.
"...I think that Johnny is definitely hotter. But Sam is cuter. And I'm mad at Gui, but really I'm mad at myself for not prioritizing you over taking down the gunwoman. And I'm mad at Deedee because she promised to buy that pyramid but has been dragging her feet. Should I go for Sam or Johnny?" Chroknight asks Beebee.
Spending Team to bump up Sam's Provoke. Taking C'mon Lucky as second advancement.
"You're also friends with Indarius, who is a wonderful influence on you. And Devil Diva, who is a great influencer!" Chroknight points out, trying to help. A small light has popped up in their HUD somehow. A system they didn't know about?
Activate CORVIS assistance? Y/N
Chroknight used the ocular sensor to select Y, before something surprising happened. Something on their back plates of armor opened up - it felt like something had just dropped down behind them. And out of nowhere, an almost comically shaped crow with bright and expressive eyes strutted between their legs, before cawing up at them.
CORVIS online! Temporal integrity within acceptable parameters! Analysis mode online! Ready to assist, Ser knight! The HUD lit up with text that seemed to be from the crow below.
"...well that's new. Uh, new friend?" They suggest to Sam.
Chroknight staggers to their feet around the same time that Ava and Andromeda make a hasty exit through the window. They flex their fingers as much as possible to get the feeling back in the tips. Then they look at Sam trembling before the chastisement of her creation. Which had invoked her father.
"She's got no right to bring up a man she's never spoken to before," Chroknight says with a grimace. "Sam, you can't know what your dad is thinking unless you talk to him. And even if you don't understand each other right away, so long as you keep communicating you'll learn what each other think. She's not going to know what you think either unless you keep trying to make her understand."
"Hey, Other Mother, she's treating you like this because you're causing her friends suffering. Her friends suffer, ergo, Sam suffers, ergo, you're making your 'daughter' suffer. That logical enough for you?" Chroknight snaps at the screen. Their patience was getting thin with this, knowing their time was limited.
"Maybe instead of deciding for yourself what Sam wants, ask her properly next time and she can actually tell you how you're misinterpreting all the data, you stupid word processing assistant. Go turn into a paperclip and correct my spelling errors!" It was perhaps undercutting their arguments, but Chroknight was just angry enough to try and punch down on the AI.
"Not bad. Now, imagine she doesn't believe you about the rogue AI." Chroknight assumes a stance mimicking Chicle. "'Our systems are top of the line, we have the best teachers maintaining them, I have no reason to believe they would miss such a thing.' See how easy it is to dismiss truth without evidence, or in Jessie's case, the lack of it?"
Chroknight leans close to Sam, enough for her to catch her reflection in the visor. "You can't go at this logically to change her mind. You got to plead from the heart. Jessie's your friend, and you want to stay with your friend - or else you'll drop out."
They pause for a moment. "Your nanny bot wants to coddle you in its warped way, and it can't do that if you aren't enrolled. So when Bubblebutt calls your bluff, I'm wagering she'll get her evidence of AI shenanigans when she can't mess with your data to drop you."
"So, best thing about being a time wizard," Sam hears behind her as she finishes sending that text. Chroknight is there, their armor glinting in the light like a dark knight riding to the rescue. "I'm already here. Also, uh, not certain my powers are magic. They probably aren't. The armor definitely is not that, even if it seems to be."
They look between Ava and Jessie, before focusing on Sam. "Like, finally got the helmet to stop the stupid reverb thing when I talk. That always felt annoying. Oh, do you want to go tell off Bubblegum yourself or do you want back up? I am also not opposed to smashing up the servers until your weird nanny AI runs away."
"...I really think you're cool despite our philosophical disagreements!" Chroknight calls out before going in with Indarius to get some healing done. Which was surprising and honestly made them wonder how much of a scar would be left over...
They needed to take a break. Do something fun. They get up and look to Indarius, remembering the proposed bowling get together. "Hey, sorry again. We'll talk later," They say before becoming a blur and zipping out of there.
Bowling Night
Chloe's savings were starting to dwindle, and reserving several lanes for bowling with superheroes was certainly not helping. But until they could recover that Star Pharoah figure, they were limited - all their workplace earnings was going to trying to recover from her mess up. She needed a break from hero work. It was time for super hero fun, and to put Project Sitcom into action.
"Beebee, they'll be here. Some of them. Probably Andromeda at least, she seems to like me, if not 'me'," She tells her best friend as she laces up her shoe rentals. Wearing an oversized green T-shirt with Deku printed on it helped to conceal her healing shoulder. But she did put on a light amount of eyeliner and blush so she could be a bit more femme, even if she also put in some pokeball enamels earring for geek cred.
"The one I'm most worried about is Sam...she's smart enough to know what pi to the ninth power divided by the gross domestic product of Germany in a half-second. Hopefully she doesn't figure stuff out...as for Gui..."
Well, she'd tried to have this conversation before. But she didn't think he would out her to the whole team. "We'll just play it cool, okay? This will explain some stuff to him."
Chloe is scared. Not of Shard, but of the situation he's put her in tearing through Chroknight's faceplate. If Andromeda or anyone else sees her face...she has to get out of this. His reaction times were insane to be able to still catch her up in the air like this. She steadies her breath and glares at Shard.
"Make love, not war." She grunts out before doing something crazy. Grabbing him by the cloak, and pulling him in to plant a kiss on his lips. She was hoping the outrageousness of the act would provoke him to drop Chroknight.
Provoke Shard to drop Chroknight out of shock:2d6 + 0 ⇒ (1, 5) + 0 = 6Using my drive 'kiss someone dangerous' to gain Influence over Shard, this may determine if this moves succeeds or not.
Grow closer to the team: Chloe feels that despite Chroknight's biting personality, some of the team is still welcoming to them. Joy will get Influence for humoring them at the academy and Chroknight will get potential.
Insurance. Yay. Not looking forward to that.
"Thanks. I appreciate it," They tell the officer as they leave. Chloe keeps the smile on until she's in the store again.
"......F@*+!"
She screams once, before settling herself down, turning to Andromeda.
"...domino masks are classic, but they do nothing up close when you're with a person who already recognizes you. Also, you need more than just yellow in your costume if you don't want to look like a flying banana." She tells Andromeda.
"It's cool to know someone who has superpowers. Just don't tell my dad, he's not the biggest fan. Can you really help? Because I'm so angry at myself for getting the store into so much trouble I want to punch something. Or maybe run away, become a street kid and get a stick and poke tattoo while fending off a$*$!#$s who want to 'protect' me. That's an insane impulse, right? I think I'm panicking a bit."
Chroknight: In between sword swings, make this quick. I'm kind of worried about the clerk girl because she seemed liked she was going too break down in tears
Chroknight: So she's alone and I wish I could be there with her, but I'm extra tied up
Chroknight: It's not like I like her or anything!
Chroknight: Hey, is anyone listening to my messages?
Chroknight: BRB they're weremoths now
"OH GOOD GRAVY AND BISCUITS WHY. WHY am I soloing the frickin' Alliance ghosts of the past?!" Chroknight shouts mostly to themself as they witness what's going on. "Sucks for you, though, I have a team now and they will drop everything to help me!"
Group Chat Chroknight: HELP
Chroknight: Fighting spirits of the Alliance from the past
Chroknight: Dropping a pin, get here soon!
Elsewhere:
"Okay, you're in some serious trouble in...like four to five minutes, bub. Now then," They crack their knuckles, getting into a ready stance. "Let's make history."
The only thing that was keeping Chroknight from getting trounced by the spectres was slowing time as much as possible to dodge laser beams, supersonic shouts, flying punches and diamond bullets. To anyone else it would be a blur of motion as Chroknight manages to get up to the hoodie guy and give him a hard tap on the temple to try and drop him finally - but knowing their luck, that wouldn't stop the Alliance ghosts from continuing to fight them.
Dammit, Beebee, why do you have to be such a hero?
"Beebee, snap out of it!" Chloe shouts, turning to head into the back. It looked like she was under some kind of command, but she hoped it was as temporary as her own. Heading out into the back alley where the broken down cardboard boxes were set out, and away from the prying eyes of the store cameras, she activated her ring.
"Chronal Shift Transformation!"
A split second later, Chroknight is zipping around looking for the blighter that stole the diorama, hoping to get it back intact and without damage. And hoping that it wouldn't take much more of their time today. Considering he was on foot and she could cover far more distance, it didn't take long to find him. But the biggest danger was that wand.
"Can't help but notice you don't seem to have a receipt with that. Mind if I take a look for you?" Chroknight asks as they blitz in front of the robber.
"Give me a second-" The clicking of the pen briefly seemed to stop before resuming again. "-okay, just took a few minutes to come to grips on how utterly stupid you're being, Frosty," Chroknight says to Indarius. "Or did you forget that Big Red walked in here laughing about your magical wards? Where do you think she got the solution? Maybe, I dunno, the cool-but-not-in-a-sexy-professor-way magician on her staff?"
They take a moment before continuing. "Friends close, enemies closer. Learn from him so you know how to counter him."
And then another moment. "...Damn. I just changed my own mind with that logic."
Application:
Name (choose one or both):
Given _____
Alias Chroknight
Powers: Chronokinesis (Sounds cooler than messing with time)
Personal Contact: No touching please
Do you require lodging? N
If yes, do you have a roommate preference? N
If yes, who? ____
Do you have any dietary needs: N
If yes, please explain ____
Classes
Please select:
[]High school curriculum
[]College curriculum
[]Genius curriculum
Advanced classes:
[]Flight
[]Mystic arts
[]Psionics
[]Cybernetics/robotics
[]Advanced Technology
[]Particle physics
[]Combat - Beginner
[]Combat - Advanced
[x]Combat - Hard Knocks*
"Aw, shucks, you sure do know how to reassure a g- person," Chroknight says to Deedee, before focusing their gaze on the group of teachers here.
"Joy, so far we've got an upstate campus, students who are already forming cliques, and an eclectic group of teachers. This would totally be typical for the school experience in a JPRG where we summon demons from our brains." They can't help the quip here, even as they edge away from the creepy Psionics teacher.
"I'm disappointed there's no art or music teacher. It's looking harder for me to find a reason to change my mind and attend this school."This suit has to have psiblockers, right? Got to figure that out...
"I know the rules well enough. And I'm trying to avoid thinking about how you're both drop dead gorgeous and apparently a nerd. Just...I know a friend, they frequent this pretty stellar game store called Mortal Peril - I think you would make their day if you ever showed up there." Chroknight averts their gaze from Diva.
"...Here's a question. If we were to walk into what might be a trap, would you rather there be some people outside to help rescue the others, or for everyone to go together so we can pool our resources?" They ask in hypothetical. "I...am worried that if this isn't a trap I'll be passing a huge opportunity."
"...I think I've let some genre blindness keep me from seeing this place objectively. So I need a fresh perspective. Hey, Joy! Come over here." Nothing fresher than someone who was apparently practically less than a year old.
