Marcus and Samantha  were, ultimately, pleased with the results.  Despite whatever had happened to Gagamba, they'd managed to confirm Exalt-related incidents and uncovered some disturbing information.  Exalt could have a direct impact on both flora and fauna.

The South Creek at Seahurst Park was now an active police investigation, as human remains had been found inside the cave from whence the spider-thing had come.  Professor Cortez, though a professor in Astronomy, was able to put the group in contact with a Biochem professor David Strong, who had been the lovelorn Glen's work-study advisor.  Strong theorized that prolonged contact with Exalt by the newly hatched cluster had transformed the clusters that Punching Bag had come into contact with into something much more.  The remaining clusters held by the group may hold the key to discovering who the remains belong to.  The unspoken assumption is that the remains are of someone with metahuman powers...

Glen's had been cultivating a small crop of Exalt-infused potatoes and had actually had a plan to integrate small doses of those potatoes into the university food supply.  Ultimately, Strong performed some tests, but found that his yield was not a threat.  The potatoes were disposed of by the university.  Glen, however, did appear to have an Exalt-related power.  He simply scaled people's intelligence up or down in a large radius around him, linked to his emotional state.  Without regular contact with Exalt, he was not a threat.   Btu he was still being charged with various counts and is currently under suspension.

More to come on the Mob Mentality thread as it plays out.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:53, Fri 21 Oct 2022.

Through these events, you've also gained contacts with the University of Washington Faculty, the University of Washington Police Force, the Seattle Parks department and Washington State Department of Natural Resources.

The demonstrated success of the ARCHIE program has netted you guys an invite to meet with Tech mogul Carter Wilson.  Marcus, your computer guy, was beyond ecstatic.  While you've all had some exposure to Wilson, he's mostly kept a low profile for the past several years.  You've had way more exposure to his wife, Jennifer, the former meta Radiance and current spokesman for The Foundation Program a Washington State housing initiative to promote legislation and projects pushing affordable housing.

You are invited to meet to discuss the potential of your group taking on a more active and recognized role in Seattle.

Edit to remove location...
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:58, Mon 24 Oct 2022.

Chrysanthemum Noodles had become  a semi-regular place for the group to go to.  And it was one of the first places Marcus suggested when Carter Wilson's secretary had called to make the invitation.  The wait-staff were familiar with them now, and waved them to the rear

The garden area surrounded by lattice-works and creeping vines, flowers in high bloom.  For all that it was really just a back porch in an inner-city restaurant, it still felt like a great escape.

Cater and Jennifer Wilson were there already.    Jennifer waved them over as they entered.  Carter offered a slightly more formal--perhaps slightly more uncomfortable--greeting.


My goal with this thread is to broach the conversation about you guys  taking on a recognized role in the city.    There's also likely going to be codename and public-relations discussions.  We can go in-depth or as big-picture as you want.  I just want to establish that the conversation has happened.

Really it's kinda an open thread, too... for whoever is actually active.

Jennifer Wilson Radiance	Carter Wilson Vigil

This message was last edited by the player at 03:07, Mon 24 Oct 2022.

"Hey!"  Jennifer waved as the folks came in.  "How new is this place?  I didn't know it was even here!  And given how often I'm at the gym..." she gave a mock surprised look.


--
OOC: Both Jennifer and Carter are in civilian clothes.  Her identity as Radiance is publicly known.  Carters isn't "public" as having been inside the Vigil suit, but it's not exactly a well-kept secret.

I prefer that you are okay with Carter and Jennifer knowing your secret identity, if you have one.   I will not penalize you down the road for being in civvies here.  This is to be considered a private enough place.

PB and Stitches enter the establishment and make their way to the back. Handshakes and smiles are exchanged before sitting down. PB nods and motioned to the backyard setting. With a small chuckle at the situational irony he said, “Yep pretty new. Best kept secret in the city. We hope you’re having a good day today.”

Virginia comes in next. She smiles and is cordial with everyone.

"Hi! How is everyone?"

After friendly greetings she noses into the menu looking for the next thing she has not tried yet.

Carter was the quieter of the two, even in private.  The press used to joke that he kept himself so busy with a huge slew of projects in order to avoid some inner demons...  But try though they might, there just weren't that many demons in his past.

Those familiar with neurodivergence would probably see that he was likely on the spectrum as he started a lot of projects he never finished... But then, he'd made so much of his fortune just from starting things.  He was the operations lead for Vigilance (former super-team, disbanded about a decade ago); And the technology he'd created then opened up so many avenues that he was still on the frontier of innovative science.   But now... he was a healthy man in his fifties with a beautiful wife on a late summer day.

Carter shook hands with Kevin.  "We needed the chance to get out.  I hit a roadblock or two and Jenny's... well, we both need the break.  Heard about your thing in Burien.  No offense, btu I'm glad it was you dealing with spiders and not me." He grinned.

Burien - where Seahurst Park is, and the whole spider-cluster thing.

Jennifer gravitated to Virginia immediately.  While they might not have been friends, they'd both run into each other often enough at Piasa Square, when Jenny came to work out.  Usually in the off-hours.  Though that was starting to get harder and harder to book as the city was starting to cotton to the fact that several metas seem to gravitate to the place.

"I heard about Angel." Jennifer said.  "Is there any word on how she's doing?"

Angel == Gagamba.
Any of you can make something up for what happened to Gagamba after her seizure and rush to the hospital.   I assume she's not coming back to the game.  Just... don't kill her off.  I lean towards a recovery... perhaps even her family (meaning Portia) taking care of her for a few days.  I'll roll with whatever you choose to make up.  Better drama than inconsequence!

Kevin smiled and shrugged. “I hope I lived up to the stereotype of the crocodile wrestling outback animal enthusiast. It was certainly a first for me. Not too thrilled to see what long term exposure to that drug will do. How are you enjoying the cafe? A little hidden gem right?”

"Angel? Yes, yes, she is fine. We got a message from Portia. They seem to think her seizure was the result of a CNS infection. She is being treated for viral encephalitis! They are going to run more test once that clears to be certain there are no other underlying causes. And for safety's sake, the doctors have grounded her for the next six months. No driving. That would be the worst!

So you guys have not ordered yet? I am not eating any squid!" Virginia replied to Jennifer and made a face!

Cythi had just arrived.  As she spent half of the night with Angel giving Portia a chance to do anything she needed to and upon return home needed to sleep before visiting her Café.  Now however that she is awake and good to go she arrives at the noodlehouse.

"My apologies for being late."  Not that it mattered not needing to eat she also generally did not eat at all.  That and she was super picky.  But here had a really good house made ice cream and they even let her put chocolate syrup on it.

She at least caught the end of what Virginia said in the end which makes her feel better.

It turned out that Portia was actually genuinely concerned for Angel.  The two had known each other for most of Portia's life...  Their relationship was complicated.  Like many sisters.

And Portia was brought in to be Gagamba's foil./  Without Gagamaba, I don't see any reason to keep Portia front and center at the moment.  But it's always nice to have name & face recognition in the back pocket for down the road.

Cameron entered the cafe and with a wave to the wait staff, walked back to the garden area to join the rest of the team.  The tall auburn haired young woman arrived just as Jennifer was asking about Angel.  "Cythi and I checked in on her after the mission and her sister Portia was taking her home for recovery," she informed the others with a tinge of sadness in her voice as she shared what she knew.  "We weren't family so the Doctors weren't willing to share her condition with us,"

"Hello Jennifer," there might be a bit of hero worship in her voice, at the least a lot of respect for someone who has taught her a lot about fighting in the air.  She turned to Carter and nodded at the man respectfully, "Carter." She nodded at Punching Bag, "Hello Kevin," respect in her voice for her martial arts teacher.  "Hey Virginia," she smiled at the blonde, "I think I meet someone like you," she informed the blonde hesitantly.

It would take Marie awhile to show up, but it always took Marie awhile to show up. They always knew why though, she felt uncomfortable about her powers in groups and in public and this place was exactly that, in public and a group. Still, she would come because they wanted her too. Cythi would always say it'd 'help her'. Right. She'd walk up to the group, and in her usual emotionless tone offer a small wave. "Hello everyone. Sorry I am late."

"Oh? How nice..." Virginia gave a clinched smile and froze for a moment. She was not sure what that meant or if she even wanted to know. It could go in so many directions!

Her eyes slid to the side and she continued, "Sooo, it is nice to get everyone back together! And without all the craziness going on. Oh look, here comes Marie!"

Marie lifted a blonde brow as she glanced to Virginia. She wasn't sure how to take the other woman's way of announcing that she was coming, so she simply shrugs it off for now.

Ace nodded her head, "Yeah, he used something that looked a lot like your fairy dust, but it changed people," she explained to Virginia as she sipped from the glass of water in front of her.

As Marie stepped up to their table, the redheaded young heroine nodded at the other woman, "Glad you could make it Marie."

Marie looked to Ace and gave a simple shrug. "Thanks." She said in her usual emotionless tone, finally she would sit down at the table with the others.

"Fairy dust that morphed people??", Virginia's eyes darted about as she worked out what that could possibly be like. Did he drink of the same strange water? Were there others like her?

"Did he shrink or have wings like me?" she asked Ace. "Do we know where he came from?"