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Bummer Masumi, hope everything turns out okay but uhh yeah i dunno, I like Savage Worlds, but I've tried a couple times to play it online and haven't been able to get into it properly. Maybe it's just coincidence, or it's just a game system I only like in RL/face to face.
Well Uhh, sorry but I think think I should pull out, just not feeling like posting at all lately and I don't want to hold you guys up any more. Apologies.
"Oh? Well, see you guys there then." Thoughtform says, fading from sight as he lets his illusion dissipate, and turns his attention to locking onto the phantom instead. With a few moments focus he pinpoints the hero and... shifts to appear invisibly beside him.
"Err, well some of those are a bit tricky." Thoughform answers, having created his opaque old man image for the photoshoot which he continued to maintain for the interview. "You could say I'm something of a lost soul... I don't remember much about myself, but I know this is my city, and I'm going to do what I can to protect it. I feel honored to be a part of the masquerade, and uhh... well that's about it really. I'm still catching up on recent events, so you'd have to be more specific about whatever situation you're talking about. Phantom is helping me sort everything out, so I'm following his lead."
uhhh right. I've kind of neglected the forums a bit lately, so reply may be a bit lackluster in the aim of just getting something out there :p
"Yeah... apparently I can rummage through other people's heads just fine, but my own is a disconnected mess." he admits with a sigh, frowning at the costume in the case.
"Really? Right bastards they were, with their flashy weapons..." he frowns at the costume in thought as more images dredged from his past float through his head, each an unconnected node in a thoroughly scrambled neural network. "Well... good to hear there's some of the lads still around, what about... about..." he snaps his fingers as he tries to put names to some of the images before letting his shoulders slump with a sigh.
Thoughtform greets the news of the publicity stunt with a frown, muttering to himself about 'getting into character'. That would be easier if he knew who he was. The idea of his character being a 'friendly ghost', well... perhaps it was worth entertaining. He'd have to think about it. He looks up at Phantom as he calls him, 'walking' over to join him at the display case. He quickly nods, looking at the suit. "Yes, the war of course..." he murmurs as the suit and Phantom's words again stir up his murky, disjointed memories. The smell of blood and smoke, and the softened sounds of gunfire and explosions surrounds him for a moment as his recollections drift into his mental projection before fading again. "Cap. There was... a shield? and a symbol... like an octopus." he mutters.
"Yes, he may have been a tough one, but his mind was fairly easy to penetrate. I'm still not quite used to that, it was very strange... interesting though."
"Oh it would be nice to eat again... there was this pub I used to go to that did such nice steaks..." Thoughtform says wistfully as he watches Felix chow down on snacks. "Welcome back Masumi. You did well." he compliments her with a smile.
HQ: "Well, that went pretty well. Did anybody get hurt?" Thoughform asks as he manifests his illusory self, hovering slightly above the sofa in a seated position. "Are we waiting here for the others then?"
Docks: "Er, Ma-Ravager would like to apologize for scaring your officer. She forgets he can't talk sometimes. She says she'll be at the station in a minute." he translates for the officers as he begins walking towards the armored van. He stops as he's about to get in. "Should I... let him go once he's in?" Whatever response the cops give he climbs inside and settles himself in as comfortably as he can and either extracts himself from Croc's brain or else settles in for the ride.
Docks: "Well... how does this killer croc normally get around? I've been... away from the city for a while." he asks, tapping one clawed finger against his cheek as he thinks.
Docks: "Well... If I'm heading to the police anyway, I expect this guy can carry the others." Thoughtform observes, stooping down to pick up the unconscious would-be smugglers, tossing them casually over his shoulder. "Can you just... make sure the police don't attack me please."
docks: "Uhh... a very large, and strong scaled fellow. I'm currently in control of his body." he says once the message is relayed somehow. "I'm not sure if he's capable of anything beyond brute force though, I'd have to go digging."
Docks: "Hmmm, now what to do with this fellow." Thoughtform/scaley muses as he looks down at himself, and then around the area for something to tie up the mooks. "How does the city handle supervillains these days?" he asks, looking around at his allies. He suspected things had come a long way since his day from all the other strange gadgets he'd seen the last couple days.
"Yes, I expect it would. Really now guys, just give up already, you're clearly outmatched."he tells the armed men as he advances menacingly to the next one.
"Whoops. This guy is strong isn't he?" Thoughtform/scaley says, having winced slightly at the bone-jarring impact of the thug. He tries to bonk the next one on the head instead.
Docks: "Ahah! Got him!" the scaley brute suddenly says, at the same time as Thoughtform disappears completely, even to Masumi's ever-present gaze. He also stands up straight, taking on a completely different stance "He seems oddly sluggish and... Ah my side!" the brute suddenly exclaims, looking down at his scratched up side and putting a hand over it. "Damn... Hadn't expected that..." he mutters, grimacing at the pain in his side. A very strange experience this was proving to be. "Right. Let's sort out these others and then we'll have to figure out what to do with this one." he suggests, turning away from Masumi/Ravager and lumbering towards one of the unsuspecting thugs to give him a backhand.
Docks: Damn! I needed more time! he sends out, the brute managing to rebuff his efforts this try. He briefly confers with Her, but ultimately bends his will to subsuming the reptile's once more.
Docks: Damn. I need more time. Simon mutters over the mental link. He continues to drift forward slowly until he phases through the wall of the warehouse, keeping up his assault on the scaled figure's mind.
Docks:
Docks: Oh uh... you can? Hm... well I guess that's alright. Uhh, seems a couple people on the team have been able to figure out where I was. Hope I don't run into anyone on the other side who can!he thinks back, forcing some joviality into his voice to hide the note of unease he felt in the pit of his 'stomach'. No matter how much he told himself he didn't have a body any more he couldn't help thinking like he did.
A moment later the 'fuzzyness' disappeared as he turned his attention back to the matter at hand as Darkstorm reported back. Right uhh, Darkstorm. If you hear my voice then chances are good I'll still be there to hear you if you want to reply just uh... Think in my direction. he trails off, frowning at the statement he'd just beamed out to the rest of his team. What a mess that was. Alright. I'll see if I can handle the alien one, guessing he's the leader from what Phantom said. Shouldn't be too hard... Everyone ready?
Docks: Fuzzy? What? he asks Masumi in confusion, before looking to the commlink she still held as it buzzed with conversation. Damn. How was this meant to work... he needed to tell them what he'd found...
With a pause and a momentary effort he reaches out to find the other team members converging on the same location. He connects to them all. Hello? This is Thoughtform. I sense a dozen men in that warehouse, and... something else. Does the name Cardinal mean anything to anyone? Mick, watch out, I think he's on to you. he says as he picks up the brute's thought. He continues to move towards the warehouse and digs deeper in, searching the brute's mind for information about this Cardinal or what else they were up to.
No worries JK :) and yeah I'd say it's safe to assume so.
"Uhh... I'm not sure I can use a radio..." Thoughtform observes with a slight frown. "Or Masumi." Docks: As they all begin to leave the hideout and make their way towards the docks Simon on Her advice takes a moment to memories each of the 'mental signatures' of the team so that he'll be able to keep track of them and contact them even without seeing them.
Thoughtform appears suddenly at Ravager's side, looking around in amazement as he finds himself on the edge of the docks. He'd been having trouble keeping up with even the slowest of the others on his team when She had popped up with another suggestion. He was still a little reluctant to admit it, but he really did need her, it seemed they could do quite some amazing things... like honing in on somebody he knew and simply... popping up next to them. He would have caught up to Masumi sooner but Her explanation had begun to give him a headache; all he knew was, for them it seemed distance was... quite flexible. Incredible. Well. Lets see about these smugglers then. he suggests to Masumi. Even when he wasn't projecting an illusory body he still couldn't help but think in terms of having a physical form. To Masumi's ether piercing 'gaze' the ball that is Thoughtform floats and settles down to the ground and becomes more translucent as it swells lightly. While in Simon's mind he settles himself into a comfortable seat on the ground and attempts to expand his mind as They had been discussing and practicing earlier during the day.
"Umm, she'd rather not say. I think anyway." thoughtform sounds puzzled. I'm not reading your thoughts... it's more like... you're shouting them at me. Just calm down, and uhh... think quietly.
"I don't believe I had any powers though... I'm just...borrowing some now I think. I don't really understand it." he replies before looking to Masumi in confusion.
It's fine Masumi. I can hardly complain about someone looking a little strange. I'm pretty sure I died over 40 years ago. he responds with a mental chuckle. "Ravager, hmm." he muses as Phantom shares Masumi's alternate identity. "Yes, I'm ready as I'll ever be." He says, allowing his avatar to fade away. "Just call if you need to talk to me and I'll connect to you. Then just think!" says his voice from where his avatar had been.
"Well... I'd have thought that a mind reader with no physical form would be good on the stealth information gathering mission, but I'm happy to get to test out my new abilities on something a little simpler. As to Masumi communicating..." He pauses to mentally regard Her presence.
"I should be able to relay information if needed. Perhaps we could use hand-signs or the like for more immediate signalling? Something to think about if we end up on different missions in future."
Well. I'd say the feeling is mutual, you look quite 'weird' yourself. he shares with a smile, shifting his gaze from the monstrous Ravager to the rest of the group. "It's Masumi. I recall she said something about looking different yesterday. This is apparently that. She says she can't talk in this form."
"That would be uh... damn, what was her name." Thoughtform murmurs as he shimmers into being, frowning at the Ravager. She may look very different but her mind hadn't changed, and he found himself relying on that more than what his 'eyes' told him anyway. He'd spent a very enlightening day re-familiarizing himself with the city and accustoming himself to his new relationship with... She still hadn't given any sort of name, or information about Herself and he hadn't decided whether or not to question Her directly yet. Still he was feeling much more comfortable with both his abilities and himself; he might not be any closer to his family, but he was making progress at the least. Masumi would feel a presence intrude upon her thoughts before the voice of Thoughtform spoke. My apologies but I was distracted yesterday. What was your name again?
Thoughtform seems genuinely shocked when Phantom relates that he is Russian and withdraws somewhat from the conversation as he contemplates this, to the point that his avatar fades away. <Does it matter which part of the planet he comes from?> Of course it did, what a silly question to ask. His ancestors might not have come from here, but this was his home and he had fought for it! But then... so had Phantom... He broods silently to himself for a few moments before starting to pay attention again. "I have nowhere to go..." he says, the avatar reappearing with a slight shrug. He could feel a pang of loss at the admission, but without anything to tie it to it was difficult to get too upset about it. <We can practice our abilities.> Yeah... that worked. If they were going to fight criminals tomorrow night he didn't want to rely on Her directing him the hold time. "Hey Phantom. I need to work out my abilities a little. Where do you recommend?" he asks, his tone noticeably cooler than it was before.
"No, really. What year is it?" Thoughtform repeats, still looking expectantly at everyone "I remember... we beat the bloody reds to the moon, and... I suppose Nixon's not in power any more. Uh... Hey have we got space colonies yet? That'd be worth a look!"
"What year is it anyway?" Thoughtform asks suddenly, looking around at the gathered individuals. He knew this wasn't the same time as he'd come from, but had never thought to investigate it when there were much more pressing issues. Now he was starting to feel a little more... stable however; even if his past was still largely a mystery he was starting to actually look forward and well... this talk of reputation made him realize that he likely didn't have one. For all intents and purposes he didn't exist.
Thoughtform's illusory body remains as he plucks a thought from Darkstorm's head, but when he shifts his effort to manipulating his actions that form disappears and his 'true form' streams forward to envelop the young hero before sinking completely into his body (for those two able to see such things). The experience is strange to say the least for the both of them as Simon's mind slips in to envelop Darkstorm's own. The control itself if simple Simon finding it just the same as it had been with the illusory form, like it was simply his own body. When he relinquishes control he reestablishes his glowing body. "Uhh, thank you..." <He is known as Darkstorm> "Yes. Thank you Darkstorm."
Internal Dialoge (Feel free to read):
He could feel Her drawing closer. With a wave of his mental hand he gestures to the discussion on powers. What was in it for him anyway...
<As we are we can perform only the simplest of functions. Accept what is and there is much more we can do. The minds of the native species are simple things, easy to read, manipulate, deceive or disrupt. Simpler even to manipulate the local environment and our place within it.> the voice says calmly. It was not quite emotionless, but She seemed very... clinical. He didn't particularly like the way she talked about the 'native species', but he couldn't help being a little intrigued. What was to stop Her from taking him over though, if he was such an inferior species? <Do your scientists want to control the things they study? The being known as Simon was different, it's potential unrealized while it lived.> Eh, Different? Unrealized potential? What was She talking about. But that name... That was him! Holy smokes! How did She know that? <Told you. Accept what is, you know too.> He could feel his resolve faltering... She wanted to study him, and to do so he had to accept her, and he would regain his memories. Had she taken them from him then?! But... no, that didn't feel right. Stubbornly he tries to hold onto his independence, but finally he gives a mental sigh. Alright, he would do it. It started as a small flare of light, like a sparkler and grew rapidly in brilliance and size; the size of a baseball, a basketball, then it took on the shape of an egg, which sprouted symmetrical lumps at base and upper sides. No not an egg, a torso. In a few more seconds the uncomfortably intense light began to fade, leaving the figure of a lightly glowing, mature gentleman wearing neat, dress fashion that was several decades out of date, with a large bushy moustache, and a bowler hat, though it all appeared to be made of the same glowing substance as the rest of him. The figure seems to be staring at his hands in shock. Those who were able to see Thoughtform before would find this new 'body' enveloping the ball that had been floating in midair before. "What... what is this?" he asks in confusion <This is a mental projection of Simon. We thought it would be easier for those the one known as Phantom wishes us to join with.> She answers his question, speaking only to Simon. "Er...yes. I suppose so." he says to apparently noone as he brushes himself down and tugs at his vest. He shifts his attention to those around him who may be surprised at his sudden 'entrance'. "I suppose you can call me Thoughtform. Nice to meet you all." he says, his manners taking over as he tries to get control of himself. He holds off on sharing his newfound name, though he casts a glance at Phantom, beaming a short thought to him as he begins to instinctively manipulate the powers that She was feeding to him, feeling her gentle touch guiding him. Does the name Simon mean anything to you? I believe that is who I was. "Right! We were talking about what we can do! Well uh... I have no physical body normally, but as you can see I can create images and, uh, yes sounds. I am, I believe what you would call a psychic! None of that rubbish fortune telling mind you but... uhh if someone would volunteer perhaps?" he says, hoping he could trust Her to support his claims. He gets only a surge of positive feeling in response as he feels her presence fading as it wraps itself around and he believes through his own. It was distinctly unnerving and his avatar shivers visibly.
for the volunteer to read:
In due time he said... Thoughtform stews silently as the others talk about whether to fight or not, or some-such ridiculousness, but tunes in again as Phantom speaks once more. <They want our help> Her again... at least that was the impression he got, not that he could say why. That was an all too common occurrence these days, if only he could find his family he was sure... sure that he would be able to remember. A catch 22 if ever he heard of one. He was delaying though, he felt the tug of Phantom's words, knew that She was right; Eden was his city, he knew that much like he knew that Phantom was... a friend. If things were as bad as Phantom said--and he had to take his word for it, the place was so different from the vague memories he had--then he had to help. But... how? <Accept. Together we are strong.> Damn Her...
Phantom feels the same mental presence as Thoughtform's voice slips into his head. What is this? You told me to come here and you'd help me. Who are all these people? I... I need to find them... my family. I can't... he trails off but the Phantom would be able to feel his agitation, and those who could see into his plane of reality would see the ball swirl and cycle through several different colors. Who am I? Why do I remember... mud, blood, the sounds of gunfire and... that suit!
Thoughtform lets out a soft Harumph before terminating the connection with the doctor as he gets distracted by more new arrivals. Now that he notices the others however he starts to pay some attention to them, though most of the conversations seem rather frivolous... When the invisible alien sidles up to him he shifts his focus once more, staring eyelessly at the fellow who seems to be addressing the empty air several feet away. I'm not shy, this is just what I am now. his tone is distinctly grumpy as it sounds in Mick's head. What in the 7 hells are you anyway? You feel... weird.
The connection remains but is silent for a moment, the cloudy form churning gently. Of course I have a name. he snaps back to the former villain. <Be calm. Noone here means us harm. Can't you feel that?> The insufferable voice interjects again and Simon grumpily wishes he had arms still so that he could cross them. He could feel the emotions whirling around the room though, curiosity, amusement, nervousness, excitement, impatience, but no hostility, none except his own agitation clouding up the air like a bad smell. Hmmph. Yes this is me, you can call me... The name eluded him... something sibilant, short and sweet. <Thoughtform. That is what we are.> That's not a name! Bah! Fine! Thoughtform. he thinks 'aloud'
Thoughtform doesn't even notice as he brushes through the goggle-wearing girl, lost in his own world as he drifts towards the suit and idles in place. <They're talking to us> He snarls, the formerly peaceful cloudy orb swirling violently for a moment before settling down as Simon realizes what the voice was talking about, feeling the gaze of at least one person in the room on him. It was somewhat unnerving to have someone actually address him. He 'stares' in puzzlement at the stereotypical 'mad scientist' for a moment as he tries to remember how he had spoken to the Phantom before he feels his sense of those around him dull somewhat as a... connection of some kind is established with the figure. 'What? What did you say?' his voice appears in Dr Apocalypse's head, and it is... a surprisingly normal voice for a floating ball of mental energy; male, strong but slightly crackly as he demands an answer.
Thoughtform had to catch up to the elevator as he found himself passing through the roof, his thoughts distant... confused. He just wished he knew what was going on; everything was strange, and his thoughts were muddled, disjointed, clouded. <Stop resisting. Accept what is.> The damn voice again! He shoves it away, blocks his ears--at least he would if he had any--and feels it retreat... but not far enough. There it is, lurking in the back of his mind... waiting. He wasn't going to let it get him. The roiling blob of thought and emotion floats out of the elevator, past the others... the man, he had said he would help, and he knew he needed it damn it! Even him, he was tauntingly familiar but he didn't know why only... only that he could trust him. He soon finds himself floating, bobbing slightly in front of the filled case. Yes! The suit! He almost had it now...
Here's the new Alias btw. Am just putting his character sheet into it now :) Done. Also included complications this time :) |
