It hadn't taken long for Dylan and Sunset Studios to get them relocated back to Emerald city.  The network had had to relinquish some control over their staff, so there weren't as many people around, but they were going to be saddled with Dylan, three rotating members of a camera-crew and the Aegis liaison, whoever that was going to be.

For many, Emerald City was already home.   So, they had family and friends there, already.  It was definitely something that would make the transition to an empowered life much simpler.

Located on the Eastern slopes of Sunset Hill, Hubert House looks out over much of the University district.   A former upscale bed & breakfast, Hubert House had been featured several times by Sunset Studios in movies and serials, but the reality was a little different from what appears on TV.

It is currently in the process of being renovated, and has been leased in an arrangement between Aegis and Sunset Studios for the purpose of Imminent Ascension.    It wasn't exceptionally glamorous.  Most of the B&B furnishings had been swapped out for network-provided sets.  Functional if not expensive.


If your character has family in the area, or this is where your character's home was originally, then you are welcome to reside outside of Hubert House, but you're expected to spend a lot of time there.   If you don't have off-site accomodation (or don't want it), you've got living space here.

So...  With returning to Emerald city and the change in direction of the game... what does your character do?

Hubert House is a big place, but it's not a fortified headquarters.

Emerald City took Alexey farther still from the Midwest than he had been since his family came to the country, which was a good thing.  Maybe.  Probably.  He wasn't ready for them to see him just yet, let alone have to explain the various other changes he had undergone since they saw him last.  They had been rattled enough by the news coming out of Michigan; the idea that Alexey no longer resembled the man they knew or that he could easily lift a car with his mind was going to need to be handled delicately.

The best part of being in Emerald City was access to certain amenities that locked down hotels and military bases sorely lacked.  Clothing stores.  In Alexey's case, though, thrift stores was more accurate.  He went out in as socially acceptable of a hodge-podge of reclaimed articles from the hotel and base lost-and-founds and came back with vast improvements.    He ended up making three or four more trips, each time painfully aware of the amount he was spending, as more activities revealed themselves to require vastly different attire.

Starting at the base, and continuing to Hubert House, Alexey had started experiencing a new and unpleasant feeling - for the very first time in his life, he was bored.  He tried to help with renovations, though the number of times he smashed his own hands with a hammer made him grudgingly stand back from anything other than heavy lifting.

Jana, for one, was excited to be back.   When she'd immigrated to the United States, Emerald City was where she'd settled.  She'd even witnessed the Silver Storm personally--albeit from University Hill, well away from the center of activity that destroyed two high-level metas.

Hubert House was big and pretty in a turn-of-the-last-century kind of way.  And she could appreciate  the photo-worthy hostelry, but it still wasn't quite home was it?  More than anything, the place ne3eded to feel like it was theirs.  Not a place that was a bed and breakfast, or a place owned by some earth-spanning organization for meta-charity...


The first thing she wanted to do--after assuring her sister and her roommate that she was alive and well--was to go shopping!  So, she took it upon herself to approach the others.   if they were going to have to spend time together--and not as competitors--they needed to re-design their relationships as much as they needed to redesign their living-space.
And for that, a  couple of trips down the Yellow Brick Row, Emerald City’s most famous shopping area  (Parts of it really are paved in yellow-painted brick, kitchsy as it is!). This open-air mall runs along a main street that extends roughly north-south, away from the Riverfront and towards Royal Hill.  The street is closed to vehicular traffic for eight blocks after 10AM.   Yellow Brick Row is lined with a variety of shops, restaurants, and cafes.

Jana suspected that with their new physiques, both Nala and Maria were going to need new clothes.  And fortunately, Jana knew just where to get some killer deals.  Hopefully, her designer friends were still going.

She wanted the boys along too.  Alexey, at the very least, needed to seriously loosen up and enjoy his soon-to-be-stardom!   If they weren't really into shopping, surely there was something they could do!  I mean, everyone needs furniture, right?

So, after  not-a-little cajoling, convincing, and in at lest one case outright blackmail, Janava convinced them all to head down to there Yellow Brick Row to find things that would help make their transition to Hubert House a little more palatable.

She'd dragged the girls to Pompeii, where her roommate was a partner.  It sold mostly upscale clothing but Marcy was also able to front some of her own fashion.   And Jana knew that Marcy had the wit and the deft touch to be able to arrange the appropriate tailoring for the girls.  Seriously, if this wasn't a show of goodwill, Janava didn't know what was!

Marcy screamed when she saw Jana.  She bounced over and threw herself at the little blonde thing, even as two of the customers looked on in their conspicuous Givenchy and Chanel labels.

Marcy was a few inches short of six feet tall, with a physique that screamed "runway"!    She had dark brown hair that looked like she'd just stepped out of a salon, and dressed head to toe in some sort of variation of a classic pinstriped palazzos with a traditional Japanese obi and a loose Grecian style top.  It was effective at conveying elegance and power without pushing it too far.  Especially in a retail position.


Also, those who are there and are particularly astute will notice that there's a dark blue steel bar where one of Marcy's shoes would be  (so... amputee).   
This message was last edited by the player at 08:22, Sun 15 Nov 2020.

"Oh my God!" Marcy was wide-eyed.  "I thought they were going to keep you locked away forever!  Like, I know you said it was all cool.  But It totally had that "captured by the government" feel and that you were never going to see daylight again.  Did they torture you?     Did they stick you with, like, really long needles?  So, with Shakedown canceled, what's the story?  Are you coming back?  And did you bring everybody?  I want to see who I get to play with!"




Marcy is a fashion designer.  So by "play" she means dress you up.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:22, Sun 15 Nov 2020.

Saying 'no' wasn't a natural response for Alexey.  So, saying that he let himself be dragged around wasn't as accurate as stating that Alexey couldn't muster the wherewithal to refuse, and any effort to do so made him at least as uncomfortable as the outings themselves.  Never mind that some of Janava's haunts apparently sold socks that cost more than Alexey had spent on his entire post-growth-spurt wardrobe, shoes and work-boots and all.  That was going to be a different conundrum for the chronically money-tight immigrant to worry about when it arose.

At least he wasn't floating six inches off the ground.  The purchase of shoes meant that Alexey only stood out as much as any other tall hard-body who looked ready to step into a shampoo commercial if one could forgive the faded polo, worn jeans, and scuffed sneakers long enough to get him out of them.  He carefully averted his eyes from any gawkers, the bright red of his cheeks fessing up to embarrassment over outright rudeness.

He winced slightly at Marcy's excited screaming, his gaze breaking its lock on his own toes long enough to gape at her.

Jen was an Emerald City gal by birth, her parents New York Irish who moved to the West Coast to raise their family. To the young woman the city was home, full of familiar sights, smells and sounds and somehow felt strangely familiar and strangely disorientating to be back here after everything.

She had a job - somewhat miraculously given her ability to cause a major accident in even the emptiest of rooms - in Blue Moon a New Age bookstore run Barbara, a friend of her mother's who even the devoutly superstitious Jen had always found a little on the spacey side. Still it paid the bills and gave her a place to hang out other than home.

Of course now she had two places.

Arriving at Hubert House Jen had taken a moment to compose herself. The pretty, hazel eyed brunette still felt jazzed after her experiences on the show and she was wearing her favourite red leather jacket, matching minidress and killer heels. Still no matter how confident she felt she'd at best only swapped names with the others before now. Time for a second chance at a first impression.

She didn't get much of a chance to try before running into Hurricane Janava and being conscripted into a shopping trip. The bemused Jen hadn't been too put out (she liked shopping as much as the next fashion conscious girl.)

"So, do we all dress in massing tones?" she'd joked as Jana introduced everyone to Marcy.

The color--literally--drained from Jana's face.

"Oh God."  she whispered. "They're going to make us wear, like, silly plaid skirts and private school uniforms.  Like we're at Claremont or something."   She grinned at Jenn, then offered, "I'm glad we didn't go to Freedom City.   I don't think we've got anything like that here."

"I don't know..." Marcy said. "I could use a contract like that.  Designing your school uniforms."

Her face lit up.  "And trying to accommodate whatever crazy super-power you've got.  That would be kinda cool!"

She turned to Jenn.  "I mean it would be a bummer if you turn to flame and burn out your clothes every time you change...  So,  is it rude to ask what you do?"

Jen laughed and smiled back at Janava. "Maybe, I think we could pull off those costumes, even if blue and yellow are so not my colours!"

The brunette turned back to Marcy and gave a rueful shrug. "I'm lucky. Like really, really lucky. I didn't use to be but I guess the planets aligned for me!"

Whatever language the ladies were speaking didn't sound like any English Alexey had heard before.  What were 'massing tones?'  Or 'plaid?'  "Claremont?"  He muttered unintentionally as he tried to place the name.

Alexey coughed at the open and public discussion of their powers, suddenly choking on nothing.  Weren't those supposed to be secret or something?  Or their identities?  This seemed like the sort of thing Dylan would be disappointed in them for participating in, and then Jen went ahead and spilled the beans.  The tall man, winced, face screwed as if in pain.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 22:08, Sat 21 Nov 2020.

Matt had been having some rather serious headaches he had been keeping to himself, as he didn't want to go under the medical examiner's table... again. Dylan had said something to the effect of that Matt didn't need to sign anything yet, but come along to Hubert House, and just see.

So that was what Matt did. Even if the headaches meant he did sleep in a bit, he would still just wander about... not really committing to anything there either.

I'm going to fore Matt's hand and say that Matt was similarly coerced into going shopping along the Yellow Brick Row with the others--at the moment Janava, Jen & Alexey.

"Well, damn."  Marcy grinned at Jen.  "Come stand beside me, then!"

But then ,Marcy's eyes went wide as she glanced at the front of the store.   Outside, it had become as dark as night within moments.   Slowly, some of the photo-sensitive streetlghts ere flickering on, but mostly, it was darker than usual, lit only by the lights of the stores along the Yellow Brick Row.

Then there was a the sound of tearing metal, a woman's scream of shock the unmistakeable sound of broken glass.

"Holy Shit!" someone outside shouted.

Three women and a man burst into the storefront, wild-eyed and  anxious.   "Call 9-1-1!"  one of the women shouted. "Some guy just stepped into traffic--and he totalled a SUV!"

Jen's hazel eyes (whose irises now had a trace of ruby red) almost popped out of her head and she glanced at the others. "I think we should..." She gestured towards the exit - and the guy who had just totalled an SUV.

The change in lighting didn't register immediately with Alexey; he mostly only noted it based on other people's reactions, so it took the sounds of destruction to hone the tall man on the the nearby threat.  Alexey felt a little pang of guilt at how eager he was to bolt out the door, but bolt he did.

Once outside, he leapt of the ground and kept going until he could see the source of the disturbance.

Marcy and the other girl--who hadn't been introduced-- went to the threesome who'd just come inside.  Marcy had her cel-phone out.  (It was curious that none of the three, themselves, had bothered to call emergency services...)

It wasn't far at all.

Outside, it was murky, as if a post-sunset fog had rolled in.  Only it was mid-day!

Maybe forty feet away from Pompeii's, a small crowd had gathered, but it was only perhaps a dozen people, and they hadn't gotten too close to the vehicle.   It was a blue Toyota Forerunner, on it's side, wheel's still spinning, the engine still running   Shattered glass and metal was strewn across the road, but Alexey didn't see any bodies on the pavement.

The crowd was keeping their distance, though, because a man stood on just the other side of the Forerunner, plaid shirt ripped open to reveal an enormous mass of tentacles writhing about in the air between him and the car, as if they were blindly reaching out, sensing the area, tasting the atmosphere.

They were pruplish grey masses of rubbery flesh that seemed to expand and contract as they moved.

The man's head was thrown back, but Alexey could make out shaggy blonde hair and a scruffy beard, corded muscles that suggested he was a fitness buff or a labourer.   Whoever he was, his mouth was open in an expression that could've been agony or could've been ecstacy.  But his eyes were squeezed shut and his fists were clenched so hard that Alexey could clearly see the tendons sticking out along his forearms.

It was brighter where the tentacled man was, too, as if he and the vehicle were the center of a massing storm.

Another goddamned storm on the Yellow Brick Row.

A woman nearby clutched a baby to her shoulder as she ran in the opposite direction.

"Jesus Christ!" someone swore,  "What is that thing?"

One of the tenacles went still then lashed out,, and though he couldn't see it from hi vantage point, Alexey heard the dull thud as flesh hit glass or metal.

The plaid-shirted man stepped forward as if drawn zombie-like, and approached the downed SUV.   more of his tentacles jabbed out, until there was the sound of broken glass again.

"Are you getting this?"   some nameless guy nudged his friend.  They both had cel-phones up.

"Yeah, it's goinh live..."

Then all of the tentacles shot forward into what Alexey must have guessed was a shattered sun-roof.

Cythi was out and about enjoying exploring the city and hoping where she grew up would never find her here either.  If they did then that would not be something fun to take care of but for now it is time to live in the present.  She would have shopped but having no sense for that she decides to wait until maybe one of the people she has been teamed up with comes and helps.

That said Cythi approaches the group.  Honestly she would have called the police herself but literally has not bought one yet and frankly has not needed one should ever the number be disclosed and she can be tracked.   She remembers where she grew up that is why they did not have one ever.  Well the leader did.  "Can someone call the authorities on this or should we help?"  She asks actually showing genuine concern.  "Anyone?"  She asks  not only the group but if anyone else around can.

Marcy waved from the counter near the rear of the store, a receiver at her ear.   One of the three that had just come into Pompeii's was with her, telling her al the details.     Eventually, Marcy just rolled her eyes and gave the young woman the store hone.

"Oh, It's Saturday."  Marcy came up beside Cythi near the front window.  "That means it's time to rip off your shirt and show everybody what a monster you've become."  She didn't quite come across as bored as she might have hoped.  "There was a time when this wasn't normal.  Now it's like... once a month.   You're new in town, too?  I'm Marcy."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:25, Wed 02 Dec 2020.

Adrianna had experienced so many changes recently it left her head spinning. A sudden change in career, where she lived, and now powers..... she was dealing fairly well all things considered in her new semi insane situation. She'd spent her time since recovering experimenting so now she at least knew what SOME of her powers were and how they worked. So that was a mark in the plus column at least.

She'd decided to go shopping on the Row to clear her head. She'd always loved shopping and could use a new wardrobe as her old clothes didn't fit quite right anymore. She hadn't really grown, more like her muscle mass shifted. Weird but pretty low on the list of her concerns recently. Shed been shopping for quite a while when she heard crashing sounds and breaking glass. The kind of noise that either follows a car crash or some sort of small explosion.

She ran down the block until she caught sight of some..... freak she could only think. The guy had tentacles growing out of his chest. Tentacles that were now trying to slither their way into the sunroof of an overturned SUV. The guy just looked creepy and the SUV didn't get to it's side all by itself so she surmised the guy was the aggressor here. A quick glance showed her that several people on the street were on their phones by now. Either to record the freak show or to make a phone call, some of which had to be directed at 911.

This is what she'd been waiting for. A moment to clarify her thoughts and make her decide the new path for her life. She would become the heroine the world needed. Not for glory or fame but as a role model. To show girls everywhere that they were more than just pretty faces. Having made her decision, all in a fraction of a second thanks to her newly improved intellect she sprang into action.

She grabbed a thumb tack from her purse and jammed it into her palm. She instantly felt that little tingle telling her that her engine was now at full throttle. She bolted toward the SUV and grabbed a piece of metal from the bumper that had broken off. She made sure to stay subsonic as a sonic boom would kill or injure all the norms close by. She hopped up onto the SUV side so she was standing atop it and flung the bumper fragment at the reject from a tentacle hentai.

Hey Lovecraft! Wanna step away from the nice people?

She hurled the bumper right at the mass of tentacles in the middle of Lovecraft's chest top speed.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:56, Wed 02 Dec 2020.

Cytheria turns to the girl that just intro'd herself wearing light gloves, "This happens a lot?"  She questions before continuing,  "Oh and good day I am Cythi."  She says introducing herself and holding out her hand to shake. "I am wondering if I am ready to go help down there or not." She says more to herself without thinking.  "I just wish I had a cellphone."

Alexey stared in horror at the scene below, though his reaction was a little delayed.  A lot delayed, actually.  Doing too much to get noticed or on the police's radar was about the worst thing Alexey could think to do, and floating ten-to-twenty feet up was a couple meters beyond his normal line for the former already.

Adrianna's challenge to the instigator finally won Alexey over.  Gritting his teeth, he scooted closer, and launched a gout of his silvery fire at 'Lovecraft.'  His hand swung first at the menacing figure, then upward; the coach at Hubert House would have been on Alexey for the unnecessary gesticulation.

"Stop!"  He shouted at the figure, already blushing.


OOC:  Move Object on 'Lovecraft' to grab him and raise him as high as possible
11:40, Today: Alexey rolled 20 using 1d20+7.  Move Lovecraft.

Virginia stands outside of Pompeii's. Her lips are wrapped around a pink straw and greedily suck a stream of milkshake decadence to her mouth. The sweet vanilla with tiny shreds of chocolate morsels feed her mind a rush of sugar. Her eyes are fixed on a pair of equally sweet high heels displayed in the store window. They look delicious!

As a cloud shadows the sun she slowly leans forward into the glass studying them. When it grows so dark her nose touches the glass she realizes something is wrong. It is much too dark! Why can I not see these better? She slurps once more from the milkshake and peels herself back from the glass. Turning around she sees it has almost become night. Was there an eclipse scheduled today? The last cool sugary taste fades from her tongue.

As the straw dangles against her open lips, her eyes drift toward the sky. What is this fog and where is the sun? Then she hears the sound of metal being wrecked down the street! She clinches up and freezes like the bottom of her shake in reaction. Then she sees the people begin running around frantically.

Ok, this is not an eclipse. She turns her head and sees the chaos a block down. Holy calamity of Maleficent what is that?! Virginia takes a small step up the street AWAY from the matter. She sees the tentacles and glimpses of a smashed SUV too. She takes a few more steps away. The milkshake sweats with fear in her hand.

That fear is about to spread to Virginia when she sees a mother with child running away from the scene. She stops. That is not right. Not right at all. We do not put children in danger. I do not put up with that ever! I am a helper, not a run-awayer! Ok sometimes I am a run-awayer but not when children are involved. She looks down the street to see what else happens. The milkshake returns to her mouth and she takes a deep contemplative suck of it. Brain freeze sets in immediately but she endures it, her mind readily pouring over the cocoon events from a few weeks ago. It all seemed unreal. Was she just the victim of a secret diet drug experiment delusion or did it all really happen? Did she really have "powers"??.

She steels herself and takes another deep swill of freezing liquid. Her eyes grow wide and she quickly opens her mouth realizing she has just over done it! Her face contorts and her tongue begins licking at the roof of her mouth frantically trying to warm it up. She dances around looking for a trash can to dump the cup. Hustling over to a large dumpster she tosses the shake in and squats down beside it. She focuses on Mr. Tentacles and watches. Her head stings with cold. Children in danger. Does she summon the fairy or not?! She concentrates...

Jen hesitated for a further few moments, then rushed towards the car that had born the brunt of the tentacle assault. The young model did not feel up to going toe to toe with the freakshow just yet but she had to assume there was someone or someones in the vehicle that had just been assaulted and maybe she get them out while Mr. Grusome was distracted.

"C'mon stay lucky, stay lucky..." she whispered to herself as she joggged out in her heels.

Adrianna  grabbed the shorn bumper from the SUV and with a few steps, she bounded atop the SUV--moving fast enough to be a veritable blur.

Inside, a man and a woman were moving, struggling to ubelt themselves and get out.  But they were moving.  The man had blood on his face.  So, a head-wound.  He didn't seem particularly traumatically injured and head-wounds tended to bleed like all get-out.

"What?" the woman  in the passenger seat kept saying as she fumbled at her waist, finally freeing herself  "What?  I don't... what?"   Thus mobile, she moved to help her male companion who was stuck in the driver's seat further off the ground

So passenger side is to the ground

Adrianna turned to face the tentacled man and called out, "Hey Lovecraft! Wanna step away from the nice people?"  Then she hurled the bumper right at the mass of tentacles in the middle of Lovecraft's chest top speed.

Galvanized into action, Alexey reached out with an arm of silver fire, which wrapped around the shirtless man.

The tentacled man jerked suddenly, stepping back and his head swung around as the SUV bumper flew wide and landed to his side.  His eyes glowed an unearthly light blue, as if his whole body was crackling with pent up energy...


To Alexey, it was always an interesting feeling using this fiery arm to grab things. He didn't feel it like he wound if he were holding something in his hands.  There was no sense of texture of warmth.  But there were sensations, like a itching all along his scalp...

Grabbing Lovecraft was like like trying to hold onto a next of snakes.  Holding Lovecraft felt like there were things slithering all over his scalp, with the subtle dry scritching of scale on scale.

Lovecraft roared and several of the tentacles pulled back, writhing in the air around him like some sort of perverse aura...


--
Side Notes:
Adrianna:
She made sure to stay subsonic as a sonic boom would kill or injure all the norms close by.
While possibly true, I'm not going to take it that far...  'cause this is not a gritty grimdark iron age setting, I'm not going to have her mere presence cause irreparable damage to witnesses.  Now, running through someone at those speeds... that's another matter entirely.  For our setting, I think dizziness and loss of balance might be a logical outcome asa complication.  Although if you're doing it on purpose, it should be bought as an alternate effect somewhere.
This message was last updated by the player at 11:53, Fri 11 Dec 2020.

__

• Adrianna grab SUV bumper and throw it at Lovecraft
  
  • No dice-roller roll made.   GM didn't ask player didn't offer
  • GM rolled Adrianna's throw:  rolled 09 vs DC16 - FAILED
  • +01 Hero Point to Adrianna - GM offered for railroaded bad-roll
• Alexey Grab Lovecraft with Move-Object power
  
  • Rolled 20--SUCCESS!
  • Lovecraft rolls 19 resist Grab DC19 (with Crit 16-20)
  • Ties goes to PCs - So grab is successful
  • Alexey is hindered and vulnerable while maintaining the grab
  • Lovecraft is Restrained (immobile and vulnerable)

And that leads us to initiative, in case it matters...

• 40 Adrianna
• 25 Jen
• 23 passenger woman in car... (person in vehicle)
• 17 Cythi
• 12 Lovecraft
• 09 Virginia
• 06 Matt?
• 05 Alexey
• 05 driver man in car... (person in vehicle)

This message was last edited by the GM at 11:54, Fri 11 Dec 2020.

Adrianna cursed her terrible aim! Now that Lovecraft was fairly stationary and relatively isolated from other people she saw her opportunity. She knew she needed to take out the tentacles but she didn't think punches or thrown objects would do the trick. Doing a little mental math she figured that a sonic shockwave would probably do the trick without hurting any bystanders. They were far enough away..... probably.

Everyone cover your ears!

She zipped up to Lovecraft Turned pináta and slowed right next to him just long enough to grin at him cheerily and ask "Have you ever heard a sonic boom?"


07:43, Today: Adrianna rolled 10 using 1d20.


She then put on an adrenaline fueled burst of speed that would shame a Porsche breaking the sound barrier in an instant, within a foot of Lovecraft's immobile form.

Cythi still in the store and the lady not answering back lets out a sigh as she creates her staff and teleports to the area where the battle is going on preparing to join the fray.

So, hey... Alexey...  Now that you're grappling with Lovecraft's love-child, what are you gonna do with him?

of course he's going to try to escape, but you've got the initiative advantage here.

This is where I'm at right now:

• 40 Adrianna
  
  • "Everyone cover your ears!" Adrianna called out.  She zipped up to Lovecraft and slowed right next to him  "Have you ever heard a sonic boom?"
  • 07:43, Today: Adrianna rolled 10 using 1d20.
• 25 Jen - No action defined
• 23 SUV passenger - Actions withheld from display
• 17 Cythi - No action defined
• 12 Lovecraft Attempt to escape - results pending
• 09 Virginia - No action defined
• 06 Matt? - No action defined
• 05 Alexey - No action defined
  
  • Alexey is hindered and vulnerable while maintaining the grab
  • Lovecraft is Restrained (immobile and vulnerable)
• 05 SUV Driver - Aim firearm at Lovecraft +5 circumstance on to-hit for next turn

This message was last edited by the GM at 07:47, Sat 19 Dec 2020.

40 Adrianna
"Everyone cover your ears!" Adrianna called out.  She zipped up to Lovecraft and slowed right next to him  "Have you ever heard a sonic boom?"

Adrianna rolled 10 using 1d20.

• Rolled 1d20(10) + Sonic Boom (Damage 8) ToHit vs (10 + Parry) - FAILED

And Adrianna was off, leaving the rush of the sonic boom in her wake.

It washed over tentacle-man, suspended in the air, held by a crackling silver bond by the big Polish guy--Alexey...  An open reveal!  But then, she was in the same boat, wasn't she?

23 SUV passenger - Actions withheld from display
Behind them, the lady from the SUV kicked out the remains of the sunroof, and poked her head out, glancing around.   "What is he?  What happened to him?"  She called out, but the crowd was far enough back, buffeted by the remains of Adrianna's sonic boom, that nobody answered her.


12 Lovecraft Attempt to escape - results pending

• Lovecraft rolled 24 vs (10+MO:9)
• Alexey is no longer hindered and vulnerable
  Lovecraft is no-longer immobile
• and vulnerable

In the wake of the blow-back from Adrianna's sonic-boom, the tentacled-man groaned briefly, then arched his back suddenly, shattering Alexey's hold on him..

He fell to the ground, landing with a solid thump on the pavement, sending shattered pieces of metal and glass and fiberglass in all directions.

"Oh." he said rolling on to his side.  He extended one arm towards the SUV and the tentacles once again lashed out towards the woman.

Amazingly, she dodged to one side, side-stepping the lashing of the writhing tentacles with a dancer's grace, and crouched down, her eyes never leaving Lovecrafts.


05 SUV Driver - Aim firearm at Lovecraft +5 circumstance on to-hit for next turn
Behind her, the driver of the SUV, a thick-set guy in a nondescript black suit, popped up out of the driver's side window and trained a thick-pistol sighting on Lovecraft's form with slow, calm, unperturbed intention.  Even despite the blood streaming down from the facial wound.

--
OOC: So, I'm trying a slightly different format with this.  Does it work better for you, the Mechanics/IC thread derived from it?  Or does it even matter to you?

This message was last edited by the player at 01:30, Tue 22 Dec 2020.

I liked it. It was entertaining to me for what it is worth.

PC Initiatives & Conditions

• On-Site:
  
  • 40 Adrianna (no conditions) - No action defined
  • 25 Jen (no conditions) - No action defined
  • 17 Cythi (no conditions) - No action defined
  • 05 Alexey (no conditions) - No action defined
  • 09 Virginia (no conditions) - No action defined
• Unknown
  
  • 06 Matt (no conditions) - No action defined

NPC Initiatives & Conditions

• 23 Blond woman, SUV passenger (No conditions)
  Her actions haven't been telegraphed, no supposition available
• 12 Lovecraft (No conditions)
  He seems pretty focussed on tentacle-grabbing the blond
• 05 Black Suit man, SUV Driver - (Staggered)
  He's probably going to shoot Lovecraft with his pistol

This message was last edited by the GM at 04:26, Tue 22 Dec 2020.

Virginia
Huddled down beside the dumpster, Virginia felt a presence moments before she heard movement.

She glanced up and found a young man--university age at leas--with a dishevelled Malory College sweatshirt and a old well-worn canvas backpack.   He had brown hair just a little too long for the conservative look, and clothing just a little too well-worn for the Malory-College Prep-school elite.

He glanced up and down the alley, then cocked his head to one side, before stepping forward.    "It's okay." he said, almost placatingly.  "Whatever the big guy's on about, I don't think you're in any danger.  Still, it's not a bad idea to clear the area and let the ... wait.  Are you hurt?  Do you need help?"

He offered her a hand up, but his eyes still seemed focus on the crowd  at the end of the alley, a dozen feet away...

Oh I am over this violent loon. Also the lady appears to be a precog. I hope her bodyguard can handle himself.

00:12, Today: Adrianna rolled 3 using 1d20.

Eat this!

Grabs a piece of twisted metal and hurls it at Lovecraft. (Also spending a Hero Point to ensure a successful hit)

Realizing she is being observed, Virginia holds her pose beside the dumpster for a moment. From her squatting position she probably looks like she is about to take a piss in the alley. Awkward! She is (mentally) relieved when he asks if she is hurt!

She takes his strong outstretched hand. Quickly she rises to her feet and presses down her dress properly with her hands. She tries to smile but with the brain freeze it comes across as more of a wince.

"Oh thank you! I am quite alright, ...really! It was only the milkshake." She points to the dumpster as if he would know she just tossed it in. "Have you ever had..."

The rest of her explanation does not come out. She sees him get distracted by what is going on down the street, in zero seconds flat! Not paying her a bit of mind! It slightly offends her. Her priorities shift.

"Oh!" She accidentally-on-purpose falls into him. She throws her arms around him and buries her face in his lovely long hair with a distorted brain freeze grin. She takes a deep breath of his scent and pulls back.

"Oh my god, I am SO SORRY! I must have... I don't thiiiiink I am hurt." She keeps one arm on him indulgently "for balance" and totally fakes some hobbling action. "Oh! I think I got caught in a crack in the pavement. I am so clumsy!" She puts on an act and gives a ditzy giggle.

"Ok, I am alright now. Honest." Yet, her arm is still around him. "What would I have done without you here?!" She waits to see if she has his attention NOW and takes the moment to reassess the situation up the street for herself.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:16, Tue 22 Dec 2020.

(OOC - I like what you are doing.)

Cythi taking a moment to get her bearings decides that she does not have enough information to determine what needs to be done.  Still she does realise she may need to help people around or help against the tentacle thing.

She lowers her hand and shoots a beam of pure dimensional energy at the creature (Lovecraft)

Strike - 10

(DC21; +4 to strike; affects insubstantial: Full; Increased Range 2; Perception; Incurable)

20:44, Today: Cythi rolled 10 using 1d20+8.  Strike.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:45, Wed 23 Dec 2020.

Alexey's eyes went wide for a moment, the silvery fire grippign Lovecraft burning out as the monster feature escaped.  The last time he'd fought with his powers he'd let things go or thrown them without; no one had ever slipped free from him.  Eyebrows furrowed, and Alexey reached once more with his power without the unnecessary gesturing.  His 'grip,' too, was far less gentle.

<orange>OOC:
17:25, Today: Alexey rolled 15 using 1d20+7.  Move Lovecraft.

Alexey is going to try grab and squeeze (his power has 'Damaging').

Virginia

Whoever he was, he had a pleasant scent.  No cologne, but a subtle woodsy scent that suggests nature and idyllic pastoral life.

""Jesus.  These guys  are tearing stuff up.  The whole place is going to be crawling with police and Aegis, soon." he said for a moment, his own hands lingering around her waist. "They're going to want to question everyone.

Just outside the alley, a woman in a busines spant-suit vaulted over the top of the downed SUV, and her partner popped up out of the driver's side window with a gun.  He popped off a couple of shots, but Virginia couldn't tell what the results were from her field of view.

Alexey, however, appeared to have a big silvery tether of some sort wrapped around the guy with tentacles coming from his chest, and Adrianna was zooming around the scene flinging all sorts of stuff at the behemoth...
This message was last edited by the player at 15:27, Fri 01 Jan 2021.

Virginia closes her eyes. His rustic scent has triggered a memory. It is a wonderful memory! Her mind drifts and she bends subtly into his waist hold...

... but it is only for a fraction of a second. The gunshots go off and just RUIN IT!

Her eyes snap open with irritation. "The police?  Aegis? You make this sound like it happens everyday! OOH!!", she reacts to the tentacles, metal tossing, and energy tethers.

"Who is that up there? What is Aegis? Should we help? What should we do? " She clips and spins once in her heels as if she expects to have an epiphany.

Virginia watches what she can of the 'battle royale'. She knows sheeee cannot do anything. And these 'powers' she has, who even knows if she can control them? Then there is this regular guy right here with her. What if she 'transformed' in front of him?! Would that be bad? What is the etiquette for things like this??

Besides he MIGHT need help!? She likes the thought of that!! For the round she stays here with him, "protecting him" !

40 Adrianna (no conditions) - Throw metal wreckage at Lovecraft

• Rolled Throw(+7) + 1d20(+3) = Result(10) - FAILED
• spending a Hero Point to ensure a successful hit
• Control, on behalf of Adrianna, rolled 25 using 1d20+7 - SUCCESS
• Lovecraft rolls vs DC16 - FAILED -  Takes 1 degree of damage
• BRUISED -1 to Toughness checks further in combat this scene

Adriana zipped back into the wreckage arc of the UV, and grabbed for one of the torn metal fragments of what had been the door frame.  There weren't that many to choose from, and what sh grabbed was maybe the size of her forearm, a combination of metal and rubber, the lining to the window on the passenger side door.

She hurled it at the tentacle-man and caught a glancing blow on his shoulder, sending him teetering to one side.

----
23 Blond woman, SUV passenger - vault backwards over the downed SUV to put the vehicle between her and Lovecraft. - SUCCESS

At the same time, the blond woman jumped to one side, and ran around the edge of the SUV, placing the bulk of the vehicle between her and the tentacled guy.  She moved fast and with confidence that suggested confidence or training.

----
17 Cythi (no conditions)

• Rolled 1d20+8(10) + Accurate(+4) for 14 strike - FAILED

Cythi extended a hand and a beam of dimensional energy erupted from her hand, but scored the pavement between the tentacle-man's feet.  It seemed to enrage him.

----
12 Lovecraft (No conditions)

• Blonde is behind cover, tentacle attack aborted
• tentacle attack on male gunman /driver - FAILED

His tentacles already extended, groped and reached and writhed forward, seeking the blond.  With her out of reach, it flicked back and forth looking like maybe it was reaching for the driver, with the gun.   But it didn't seem to be able to find a target, so instead, the tentacles writhed back and forth like frothing cilia...


----
05 Alexey (no conditions)

• Grab Lovecraft again and squeeze!
• Alexey rolled 15 using 1d20+7. - 1-degree of SUCCESS
• I have Move Object 9 on file... so I think I was expecting 1d20+9, not 1d20+7.  But there's also the -4 for inaccurate targetting...  Doesn't matter though .  I've applied a hidden circumstance bonus that might or might not be revealed down the road.
• This time with damage! - two degrees SUCCESS!
• Lovecraft takes on Restrained (Immobile & Vulnerable), Dazed, and two Bruised conditions (-2 to Toughness for the rest of the scene).
• Since it's a Move Object power and not a physical grab, Alexey does not take on any Conditions other than the need to maintain it with a Free action.  Lovecraft will get the chance to break free at his turn next round.

Buckling down and focusing, Alexey snarled and reached out with the silver net of his will, and scooped up the tentacle-man once again.   He felt like slippery snail-sweat against his skin, wet tentacles against the surface of his mind.

And when he Alexey, the tentacle man let out a pained roar of surprise and anger.

----
05 Black Suit man, SUV Driver - (Staggered)

• Shoot Lovecraft - BOTCHED!

Having spent the last moment aiming, the gunman calmly fired off a couple of shots, but if the bullets hit, they didn't appear to have made any appreciable impact.

----
"I think you need to blind it!" the blond woman shouted.   "He can't touch what he can't see!"


----
ELSEWHERE

• Jen (no conditions) - No action defined, kept her head down.
• Matt<i> not in the current scene
• Virginia<i> (no conditions) - not involved directly in this conflict.

This message was last edited by the player at 15:54, Fri 01 Jan 2021.

On-Site:

• 40 Adrianna (no conditions)
  
  • Adrianna rolled 22 using 1d20+3 - to smash bottle of perfume in Lovecraft's face
• 25 Jen (no conditions)
• 23 Blond woman (Bruised) - Behind the SUV
• 17 Cythi (no conditions)
• 12 Lovecraft (No conditions)
• 05 Alexey (no conditions)
• 05 Black Suit man gunman (Staggered)

ELSEWHERE

• Virginia (no conditions) - not involved directly in this conflict.
• Matt (no conditions) - No action defined

This message was last edited by the GM at 18:07, Fri 01 Jan 2021.

Blind him huh? Let's see about that.

Adrianna dashes into a shop and grabs a bottle of perfume. She then dashes right up to Lovecraft and, hopefully before he notices her sudden presence smashes the bottle directly into his face. Right across the bridges of his nose.

11:52, Today: Adrianna rolled 22 using 1d20+3.
(Also assuming some sort of bonues is in place since he is immobile and restrained. Unsure what to apply there though.)

Now you smell pretty.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:55, Fri 01 Jan 2021.

@VIRGINIA

The guy grinned.  "My ex used to say, 'what day is it?  Oh, they're fighting.  It must be Tuesday.'"

He stopped for a moment, as if in thought--though Virginia could tell that that wasn't really the case--he just wasn't that good an actor.   "You want to get a better view of the action?  I can get us up to the roof."   he jutted his chin to the side of the alley behind him.

He paused for a moment.  "Aegis is a police thing.  Like SWAT, but for metas, I think.  Though I'm not sure how you fight a guy with tentacle coming out of his chest like that."

"Tentacles out his chest? You have not been on the dating scene in a while have you dear?" Virginia mocks as if that is not so uncommon.

"But a rooftop view sounds great. Let's hurry!" She follows where he leads.

The weight of a meta police force is not lost on her though. Along the way she imagines the indignity of being shot in the ass by a tranq dart and then put on display behind glass. I wonder if they would consider cooking the meat before throwing it to me??

"So what happened to your ex? She was not dating someone with tentacles coming out of their chest was she?" It was always good to know where the exes stand in the mind of your prey.

@Virginia
He led her away from the dumpster, to one of the nondescript doors that led out from behind the shops that lined the Yellow Brick Row.  He produced a key--so likely he had legitimate access.

He shrugged at Virginia's question.  "Could be.  We wanted different things."  It was obviously a practiced response, but there didn't seem to be much of any emotion behind it, either.

"I'm Matt."  he said as he opened the door. "We run the dry-cleaner.  Not much to look at, but it's a good location and when shit like this goes down, it's got a killer view."

He led her up a narrow stairway, black vinyl coverings on cement stairs, red-painted steel hand-railings and sulfur-tungsten lighting casting everything in a bizarre yellow light.

He took her up two flights to the third floor, which opened out into a small rooftop garden.  Lots and lots of green, and carefully tended rows of vegetables.

While buildings on either side were taller, he hadn't lied.  The view from the rooftop had an angle on one of the cross-streets that allowed a vision right up Senator's Avenue, to View Royal.

The accident was only four or five shops down the street, towards the waterfront, but from their vantage point, Virginia had a pretty good birds-eye view of everything that was going down.

Cythi randomly teleports to make sure she keeps the enemy from attacking her or getting a bead on her.  But as such she does a bit of focus and tries to attack using her dimensional blast again.


Strike - 18

OOC - Forgot it had penetrating on it
Dimensional Energy Blast - Colony Teleport, Metahuman, DC21, Accurate -2 (+4), Affects Insubstantial - 2, Increased Range - 2: Perception, Incurable, Penetrating - 6

19:16, Today: Cythi rolled 18 using 1d20+8.  Strike.

On-Site:

• 40 Adrianna (no conditions)
  
  • Adrianna rolled 22 using 1d20+3 - to smash bottle of perfume in Lovecraft's face
• 25 Jen (no conditions)
• 23 Blond woman (Bruised) - Behind the SUV
• 17 Cythi (no conditions)
  
  • Dimensional blast - rolled 18 + (Accurate:+4) using 1d20+8
• 12 Lovecraft (No conditions)
• 05 Alexey (no conditions)
• 05 Black Suit man gunman (Staggered)

ELSEWHERE

• Virginia (no conditions) - not involved directly in this conflict.
• Matt (no conditions) - No action defined

@VIRGINIA
"Just so you know..."  Matt said, leading her to the edge of the rooftop.  There was a little ledge all the way around it, conveniently at arm-resting height.   "I don't typically bring girls her on the first meeting."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:00, Sat 09 Jan 2021.

40 Adrianna
Adrianna rolled 22 using 1d20+3 - to smash bottle of perfume in Lovecraft's face
GM: Attempting to blind him. reading this as a an affliction (vision impaired / blind) attempt.   SUCCESS!
Lovecraft resists and soaks the physical damage, but failed the Affliction-effect, and is now Vision Impaired


Adrianna blasted into one of the nearly shops, nearly blowing the doors off it's hinges, and certainly leaving customers and the more safety-inclined gawkers startled and bewildered by the sudden rush of air and  energy around them.

With a delicate bottle of fluted glass in her hand, she closed the distance with Lovecraft, who was caught up once again in Alexey's silver-fire claw of doom, and--without stopping--she smashed the glass container against the side of the mis-shapen monster's face.

Tentacle-man roared with pain and surprise and tried to lash out at Adrianna, but all he managed to do was grasp after her doppler-effect after-image.


17 Cythi
Dimensional blast - rolled 18 + (Accurate:+4) using 1d20+8
GM:  SUCCESS! (One Degree of Damage)

Capitalizing on the distraction, Cythia unleashed another bolt of pure dimensional energy catching Lovecraft in the chest and forcing him to spasm in shock and discomfort.  He didn't roar this time, only issued a strangled "Urk!" as his movements seemed to slow down considerably.



12 Lovecraft
Bruised x3, Dazed, Restrained (Immobile & Vulnerable) by Alexey, Vision Impaired by Adrianna
GM: Lovecraft attempt to break free of Alexey's grab this time - FAILED

05 Alexey
GM: Maintain hold or regain hold if broken
Alexey(Control) rolled 22 using 1d20+7. to continue squeezing the vice apply new damage with MO Lovecraft. SUCCESS
Lovecraft's attempt to soak damage FAILED by two degrees.  As he's already Dazed, he's now out of the picture INCAPACITATED.


But Alexey could feel the big man pulsing, like he was trying to build up the energy to burst free from the energy-grip.

Through the psychic projection, Alexey could feel the slimy tentacles writhing in his containment, and Alexey doubled down, clamped down on his will and forced the vise to squeeze just that little bit harder....

With a certain sickening relief, Alexey could feel the tentacled man relax in his grip, succumbing to the lack of oxygen provided by the vise-like clamp around his mid-section.


05 Black Suit man gunman
Staggered
GM: Fire again, damn it! - SUCCESS! Lovecraft soak FAILED by 2 degrees

And then there was another gun-shot.  The suited-man caught Lovecraft square in the chest, causing the behemoth's whole body to rock and shake in Alexey's gripm, until after a moment, he simply hung limp, suspended in mid-air by Alexey's silver-fire.

In the distance, the sound of sirens could be heard.  It seemed that Emerald City's finest were  on their way.

How convenient that it happened after the battle... but still.... this whole fight was was less than a minute from start to finish.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:56, Sat 09 Jan 2021.

Note:

We are now out of combat

@MATT

"Wow this is perfect! Look at those ... people", she is not sure sure people is the right word but combatants seems over taxing.

Virginia is very comfortable with strangers. Especially the ones who look and smell good! And she absolutely loves inadvertent inner confessions. Despite the activity going on down below she cannot resist jumping all over what he said.

"What? Like, is it fooorbidden?! No girls allowed on the rooftop?! No wait ... you said first. So you HAVE had girls up here? AHahAH! What fooor? Huh? Is this like a third "meeting" special place? Just what goes on up here??" Her tone is slathered with playful accusation as she pokes around looking for his inhibitions and making things as awkward as possible just for fun.

She watches the activity below on the off chance she actually needs to do something. It also gives him the moment to catch his breath and catch up to her being a mess.

Suddenly the report of the gun goes off below. She gasps as the tentacled man goes limp. Her hands go to her mouth. "I hope he actually was the bad guy here..."

Adrianna is amazed by what just happened. She runs up to the others at a semi normal speed.

Hey! We were supposed to be on the show together but obviously some things happened. Its great to finally meet you all.

She then stands there literally physically vibrating with adrenaline and excitement.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:14, Mon 11 Jan 2021.

Virginia

"Yeah, 'cause is this the most romantic place I can think to bring someone.  Like I'm going to bring strange girls up here for...  some sort of romantic..." he made a strange gesture to indicate he didn't have the words, then, "..rooftop tryst."

He blushed a little, and smiled.  "I just didn't want you thinking this was a plan, is all.  Like I'd planned to find you getting all woozy in the back-alley and bring you up her to have my way with you."

He acted like he was all blase about the monster combat on the street, but Virginia could see the pulse beating at his jawline, thrumming rapidly.

She looked at the scene below.  She could see the police-cars--still a good dozen blocks away.  She could see the wreckage of the SUBV.  From her vantage point it look like ht had been grabbed and swung to one side, so it collided with a traffic light.  And she could see a blonde woman in a conservative royal-blue pant-suit pushing her way through the crowd of gawkers, then running toward the entry-way of the  same alley she, herself had ducked back into.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:32, Sun 10 Jan 2021.

@ON SCENE: Adrianna, Alexey, Cythi

The gun-man climbed out of the drivers-side door, slowly.  He had a head-wound and there was blood on his left side.   ""You strong enough to keep him unconsious?"  He asked Alexey.  "Because whatever he did--that thing with his eyes--it made Tiffany lose her shit. I didn't think she was going to..."

He looked around.  "Tiffany?"  he asked, his eyes scanning the crowd.

But the blond woman who'd been the passenger in the car.  She was just gone...

For the record, none of you saw the tentacle-guy actually do anything with his eyes.

@MATT

"You're very sweet. I knew you were not some creep. I would not have come with you otherwise", she smiles having had her fun with him.

"Follow me. Something seems odd down below. I want to see what is going on."

Seeing the woman running away while others are closing in to see the aftermath seems odd. Plus, was she mistaken or did she see this same lady at the scene? She wants to check her out or possibly follow her. She is either suspicious or still in danger, Virginia is not quite sure.

She trots back the way they came up hoping to have a closer look.

Cythi herself stays off to the side.  She only did a bit of work to help the group but not sure if there is anything else needed.  Still for now she waits to see what the rest wants to do.

Alexey flinched as tentacles went limp in his 'grasp.'  Slowly, carefully, he lowered the two of them back to the ground and looked more closely at his captive.  For all that the fight had been intense, and now that it was over the look on Alexey's face spoke volumes of his brain trying to catch up.

"Keep him...?"  Alexey echoed, peering into the haze of silvery fire.  The hair on the back of his neck stood up at the sound of sirens.  His eyes flicked to the speaker and back to the unconscious captive.  His hands flew up defensively, his power not actually requiring him to gesture.  his heart thumped with a panic that hadn't been present during the actual fight.  <aqua>"I not want be with trouble with police.  Green card."<aqua>

Oh my! There's virtually no way the police can adequately detain him until he's in a cell.

She looks around for a store that sells duct tape. Seeing one she zips off, grabs several rolls, slaps a 50 on the counter on the way out, then proceeds to wrap Lovecraft in a cocoon of duct tape 12 rolls thick leaving only his nose and eyes clear.

The mass of tentacles were difficult but they're separated out all over his body to prevent him from being able to use their strength together.

That should hold him. I hope.

Duct tape?    Oh, that's cruel!  Snort.

@Virginia
Back down in the lower-level, she could actually hear a woman talking before she burst out the back door to the dry-cleaners.

"I don't know!  Somewhere on the Yellow Brick Row.  She said, ehr voice breathless and on edge, on the verge4 of tears, "There's... a Starbase and a Pompeii's...  I didn't get a chance to look around.  Whoever he is--whatever he is--he was going to kill me.  I'm not safe here!"


@Alexey, Adrianna, Cythi
The suited man slipped the pistol behind his back--presumably into a holster--and raised both hands as he approached Alexey.  "Seriously, you don't need to worry about the police.   You saved our lives.   Nobody's going to make you pay for that.  You're a hero!  You're all of you heroes.  Just..." He stepped a little closer and eyed the tentacle man.

He nudged Lovecraft with a toe, then nodded with a slight frown.  "Someone called him Lovecraft.   Do you know this guy?"

Regardless of your answer, this guy now has a public codename, whether he wants it or not...
This message was last edited by the player at 09:35, Fri 15 Jan 2021.

Yeah that was me. It just seemed to fit ya know? I'm not personally a huge fan of H.P. Lovecraft's work but I have read his entire collected works.

Adrianna admits with s sheepish smile.

"So, you don't know him?"  the suit said. "Crap.  I was hoping you might have some insight into why he lashed out at us.  I mean, he came out of nowhere."

He stopped for a moment and closed his eyes, bringing his thumb and finger to the bridge of his nose as he let out a short sigh.  "Okay.  give me a second."

He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a cel-phone.  It's face was shattered, but apparently, it was still functional.   After a moment, "Yeah, it's William Martel.    There was a situation on the Yellow Brick Row.  You know those stormers that were on the news?  Well,one of them totalled the SUV.  And... I Lost Miss Grace.   I think it was going after her.  I'm going to be tied up with the police.  But she wasn't injured, the last I saw."

His face fell as he listened to whoever was on the other end, then "I'm injured.  Will need to go to the hospital.  Probably just a mild concussion."  Then he hung up and gland at his phone with a black look on his face.

He put a hand to his forehead and glanced at his fingers.  "Oh.  Maybe more than a concussion."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:58, Wed 13 Jan 2021.

And in that time, two police-cars and black tactical unit van pushed their way through the crowd.  Given that it was a no vehicle zone, it wasn't that difficult to do.

The lead officer, a heavy-set black woman with narrow-set eyes and a perpetual frown stomped out of the van.  She glanced at Martel, then at the crowd--that was quickly dissipating into the surround area--and then at the gathered PCs.  "So.  Who wants to tell me what the hell just happened?"

I'll be right back.

Rushes over to Mr. Martel and picks him up in a princess carry.

Hold on tight, try not to freak out, and hold your breath.

Adrianna speeds off toward the nearest hospital at top speed making sure to cradle Mr. Martel's head as she does. Traveling at over MACH 1 it won't take long to get him to care and back.

In under a minute they arrive at the ER.

Hi! This man has a concussion, a scalp laceration, and some scrapes and bruises from blunt force trauma. All acquired from combat with a super on the Row downtown. He is law enforcement.  Treat him well.

All this to the receptionist working registration before setting Mr. Martel in a wheelchair and speeding off again.

Cythi was about to step forward and offer her assistance in either healing or teleporting the man but when Adrianna took off with him she decided that it would not have mattered.  Not knowing she hopes speed travel does not hurt or aggravate the injury further but guesses that the person that took off knows better than her.

"Does anyone one else need aid as I can open a portal to the hospital or offer healing."  She asks out to anyone else in the area.

Adrianna reappears just then.

Okay who needs a debrief?

Virginia hears what the lady says. She seems to be talking into a cell phone.

Virginia thinks. She cannot be certain what the situation is. For all she knows tentacles was the good guy and the others were the bad guys. Regardless, a something is up. If she does not get involved, who knows what will happen next. She steps from the doorway.

"Psst? Do you need help? I might know a safe place for you to go" she makes an offer.

Virginia does not know if 'the house' really is a safe place for her to go. She does know there are are more people with powers there. Considering what just happened, it kind of makes sense to offer to take her there.

@Alexey, Adrianna, Cythi
Pretty much wrapped up here...


@Virginia
The woman glanced around, then spying Virginia, she visibly relaxed.  "So long as you're not with that walking hentai poster-boy." she said after a moment, "I think I'll be fine,.   But I would feel better getting away from here.   Billy's going to be furious with me, though.  He must be worried sick.  If he's not dead, I mean."

"Did you see what happened?  This bloody Octopus-man lifted my car like it was nothing."

Matt came up behind Virginia.   "Here.  Come inside.  Get out of the alley, at least."

"Yes, yes come this way. At least get out of sight for a minute."

Virginia does the beckoning hands to invite her into the doorway. She considers adding that this is the passage to the "most romantic place" but drops the silliness as this might be a serious situation.

The woman followed, without hesitation.   She looked at her phone and pulled up another contact, then dialed.   It went straight to voice-mail.

"So..." she said after a moment.  "This is kind of awkward.  My name's Tiffany.  I'm really lost.  But I really don't want to be involved with the police.  It's all sorts of complicated.    Like 'I-don't-have-my-passport' complicated.   If I can get to the Marstech or the Canadian Embassy, I'm sure I can clear it all up.  Can you help me?   I... I have money."

Virginia considers the woman's words. Lost, police, passport, embassy. This sounds like a spaghetti mess! She does not look like some kind of hostile threat, and a terrorist would probably use threatening language. She focuses in on four words. Can you help me?

"Psh, keep your money. I am Virginia, of course I can help! This is Matt. He is very careful about who he is romantic with on rooftops." She tries to lighten the situation. "Wouldn't you like to help as well Matt?" she gives him a sweet smile and then the 'DO IT!' eyes expression. However she is prepared to go without him if he balks. She could not blame him. She has not gone easy on him.

"It really should not be a problem. Like who is going to even know who you are around here?" Then Virginia thinks about the spy movies she has seen and second guesses herself.

"Which way is the embassy from here?"

OOC Is this pre group acquaintance or post group acquaintance? I think we have all been playing it as pre. Just asking to be sure.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:39, Sun 17 Jan 2021.

Let's make it prior to the group meeting.   I don't actually have any plans for Tiffany.  Getting her to the embassy should be no problem.  I mean, there isn't actually anybody after her.  But winding down this thread with a NPC having a debt-of-gratitude isn't a bad way to go...

Off to run errands.  something in-character later tonight.

"If they are looking for you, then that means they are not looking for three. Why don't we all take a casual walk in the direction of the embassy?"

Virginia gives Matt the sweet eyes this time hoping he will play along. She puts Tiffany in the middle, and the two of them to the sides. She looks for any visual details she can swap with the woman, sun glasses, purse, hat.

Off they go to look for their next companion along the 'yellow brick road', or the embassy. Whichever comes up first!

Tiffany seemed honestly relieved.

Matt fell into line with an easy smile.  He even unzipped his sweat-shirt and offered it to Tiffany.

Despite the initial presentation to the contrary, he was actually in fairly good physical shape.  Though understated, he obviously worked out.

Matt called up a map app on his phone and they were on their way to the Canadian Embassy within moments...

And that seemed a good enough to let this go.

Rest assured, both Matt & Tiffany will be appearing again...  I just haven't figured out in what capacity...