Realistic or Modern Culmination Then Ruin

[Sol]

"Me? Loaded? Why thank you for those kind words Katriane but I'm only carrying half a dozen credit cards. I guess I could have the rooms arranged for the night if you're all fine with it. Though, like I said, I'm unfamiliar with how things work in this era, specifically how they track people. Like are still spy satellites in space or is there something more effective at tracking people down? In any case, you'd all have the privacy you all need and I don't get to wake up the following day being groped by any one of you here in this room. Everyone wins yeah?"


Winston is gonna be pissed when they send her end of the month credit card statement. Granted, she did say she'll cover all his expenses. A few luxury hotel suites isn't much to a researcher working at Reed Pharma...probably. This whole apartment was cozy and all and Robin had no qualms to staying the night. Well up until Katriane mentioned that they might all be groping each other come morning. There was no way he would put his purity on the hands of 3 other super guys and one super girl. He had to speak up and so he did, offering to pay for hotel rooms instead of being packed into one probably small bedroom.


"Oh and I think I can cover for a change of clothes for all of us, that's if our gracious host has no qualms to a Reed Pharma car pulling up with some designer clothes in it. Whatever the hell designer clothes look like in this era. I just need a general idea of your sizes....do clothes even come in sizes here or is a more flexible 'one size fits all' kind of deal now, a hundred years into the future?"

 

[Erica]

Zak Muir

Zak’s apartment: 3773 Radio Park Drive, Unit B
​

While still at a loss for how to help Kat and themselves, at least the group was starting to work together. Loosely. Gaspard clarified his position, which Zak could respect even if it was a pain in the ass. Then Kat referred to her friend as someone not pleased with the sorting system at the academy. His eyebrows lifted at that, wondering if it might be someone he knew or was in contact with. Not feeling comfortable declaring that he felt the same way in front of Gaspard, he remained silent though.


Until she insulted his cleaning skills. “Hey...” he said with mock insult, motioning around the place. It wasn’t that bad. Except maybe for the pizza left out on the table and the dust bunny army under the couch. Still, it wasn’t that bad.


Robin spoke up before he could, asking questions like a man out of time. Zak looked at him curiously, not sure how to handle the onslaught of off-topic questions but relieved that someone had a solution that didn’t involve them all camping out in his living room for the night.


“We... still have sizes,” Zak answered with an skeptical look, “And it seems like a good solution. Generous, even. Thanks. I’ll stay here but...” He looked at Kat, then Two, and back to Kat again.


“Talk where you want to but... if you need help, call.” He pulled a card from his pocket - the same one he gave out for people looking for help. It just had a number on it, no name. The number routed to his cell, but not directly - a thin layer of security to protect his identity. Usually he provided his name verbally only, reducing the chances of someone tracking him down if they found the card on an Unclassified. He handed it to Kat, hoping she would figure out the implications. Then, before he realized he was doing it, he spelled it out clearly. “I mean it. I don’t give a shit about what’s going on with you and the Academy. I’ve got your back.” After holding her gaze for a few seconds and ensuring she took the card, he glanced to Two, nodding once before he stepped past the kitchen down a short hallway.


“Give me two minutes to straighten up my filthy bedroom and you two can talk back here - unless you want to wait for the hotel,” he said over his shoulder, leaving the group in the living room to deal with the awkward alliance they had somehow formed. So much for not outing himself in front of Gaspard. It was a done deal anyway; he’d already harbored two Unclassifieds and said nothing when Kat spoke out against Madam and the Academy. He had a feeling his days of operating on the sidelines would be coming to an end sooner than he’d like.

 

[Prizzy Kriyze]

Gaspard John Iscariot


3773 Radio Park Drive

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

​

Incorrigible sense of modesty. He thought. Depends on your definition of incorrigible. He didn't harbor sexual attraction towards Kat, however. She reminded him too much of Kath, who he thought of more as a sister, as opposed to the popular belief. It was a common misconception that he had a crush on her, or something along those lines, and he'd violently corrected people who'd accused him of it on more than one occasion. He wasn't about to suggest that they should share a bed though. It would probably create further complications for his work if the person he was supposed to protect thought of him as a perverted assailant of some sort. No, that wouldn't do.


Gaspard knew nothing of the neighborhood they were in, or how popular it was to spy on people having a casual conversation in the street, so he didn't oppose Kat in that. He was about to say something when the one boy, Robin was it? commented. Gaspard sent him a small glance. The way this boy spoke was strange, and he was starting to get really interested in what his story was. Reed Pharma? Flexible sizes? He didn't even know what the boy was talking about. He almost wondered if he'd been frozen for a hundred years or something crazy like that. He just seemed so out of place. Gaspard shrugged, it didn't truly matter if he did or not, so he tried to speak up again.


He only took a breath, and then Zak spoke up. He didn't actually mind getting interrupted since he knew he was a pretty shy person and didn't like interrupting others, but Zak was taking this in a direction he didn't like. He was going to have to act now before he broke every possible rule regarding protecting someone. He finally stood up from the couch and loudly spoke "Zak, hold on." before walking over and standing in front of Two. The man towered over him like very few did, but it didn't faze him. Despite being a very clumsy and generally thought of as irresponsible and unreliable person normally, Gaspard took his job very seriously. He looked up and met Two's eyes, and then simply said "I'm going to have to stop you there. I can't allow for this meeting between you two under such unsafe circumstances without any proof that you're no threat."


His voice was monotonous, but Gaspard was actually a bit surprised under the surface. Since when did I get so serious? He thought. "... Sorry. Nothing personal. I've got one order, and one order only, so I'm going to follow it." He stated. He'd been standing as if he was challenging Two, but now he relaxed slightly. There was no need to start a fight. He just had to act in case they tried to work against him. "Besides, it's getting relatively late." He turned back towards Kat and shoved his hands down his pockets. He was still dressed quite elegantly for the first day of school, which he'd rather he wasn't, and the knives hanging at his sides where still a lot less useful than his regular knives. He wished he could head back to his apartment and switch to something better, but it would have to do for now.


"So, about that, Kat. We don't have to share a bed, but as you might imagine I'm not gonna let you very far out of my sights."

 

[Ozmic]

Subject Two

3773 Radio Park Drive, Unit B
​

Despite Two's slight smile and humor at Kat's flushed reaction (and coughing fit) to his misplaced words, the look quickly changed as everyone started talking. He waited, weighing his options and letting the rest of them chatter for a moment before he would respond. Truth be told, he didn't know all all what he was doing.


When Gaspard brought up for the second time that he couldn't allow the meeting without basically outright being there, Two's mouth crinkled into a frown as he watched the other, boring his eyes down into his. "Personally? I don't really give much of a fuck about yer' orders," he stated bluntly. "Pardon the language."


Clenching and unclenching his fists for a second, he continued. "All this talk of trust and you lot seem to forget that it wasn't that long ago that I was in Kat's house. Pretty sure if I'd wanted to hurt or kill her? Might have done it without there being all these witnesses around. Just a thought."


Turning to Kat, he forced a smile. "Look, things are just a bit crazy. If you wanna' talk tomorrow when we get a chance, that's fine by me. As for now, I don't give a shit what we figure out for arrangements. Hotel, sleeping outside, whatever works."


"Zak," he started, turning to the other, "Thanks for everything. This probably wasn't how you planned your evenin' going." He gave a dry chuckle and shook his head. "Robin, you too. As fer' right now, though, I'm going to step outside and take a walk around the block before I lose my fuckin' head. Just lemme know what we're doing or if I need to jog home from here, yeah?"

 

[Syrenrei]

Katriane Claire Alexandrie- "Dreamless"

Zak Muir's Apartment

​

Ladies' novels were full of men the 'reverse harem' concept wherein some unremarkable woman (usually a stand-in for the reader) would be surrounded by attractive men fighting for her attention and affection. Of course there was tension, but it was enjoyable nonetheless because the heroine was so desired. Katriane had found herself in an apartment with four arguably very handsome eligible bachelors. One would think this would be a very enviable situation, however the only fantasy she possessed was throwing all four out the window for their own separate and individually special reasons.


Zak was always a nice guy- too nice a guy, even, for someone as despondent as Katriane. When he passed her the card a wave of guilt washed over her anew for dragging such a kind soul into this situation. She had outed herself as a soon-to-be-Unclassified, expressed her discontent, and alluded to her desire to be rid of the hero/villain system. Kat didn't expect Zak to turn her in, so she was not surprised that he failed to do so- but she didn't anticipate his offer of further assistance. She had given them all the reasons in the world to abandon her. The reluctant hero had only extended his hand while turning his proverbial back on the Academy. What had she done? Grief and regret quickly turned towards anger before subsiding into despair. Katriane wanted to toss Zak out of his own damn window for being so foolish as to risk anything for someone was insignificant as she. No matter what he thought, there was a champion's heart dwelling beneath that breast that she had always hoped would be discovered.


Robin had also been entangled. She hadn't the heart to explain that he might be considered an Unclassified by the overzealous heroes of her league; some applied that label more liberally than others. While she couldn't be absolutely sure what abilities he possessed, she suspected he had some nonetheless. Even if he did not, she was certain he was in more jeopardy being an accomplice to her flight than he would be if he politely excused himself to discover this world of his future. A hundred years of a deep freeze and he drifted around, smiling and playing wing man for a man he just met, oblivious to the doom she spelled for all of him. Katriane had thought perhaps she could get a room for herself and Gaspard (two beds of course) and the two psuedo-Unclassified would wander off on their own. Nope. Robin's generosity spilled out past his quest to find Two. Another body for the window in her mind; another fool that ought to have rid himself of her.


And then there was Gaspard, the hyper-vigilant bodyguard, and Two, her definitely Unclassified not-so-secret admirer. Given their posturing and assertive (aggressive as well in Two's case) language, she half expected them to turn into literal lions fighting over the carcass she felt she was embodying. It was all well and good they both had earned her trust and were on her side, but this bickering only contributed to her headache and made her feel even more objectified. Didn't her opinion matter? Didn't they realize they were making the situation worse by arguing with one another than actually shielding her? If she had been Rapunzel she might have just jumped out of her tower's window to escape. Katriane hated conflict almost as much as she hated all the Seen on TV crap she bought and then failed to work properly. Both men deserved her respect and her admiration: they were both strong, trying to help her despite the danger she posed to them, and embodied half a dozen traits that she wished she could muster in her tiny frame. Had she not come between them the kindred souls might have found common ground and become friends instead of opponents on a verbal battlefield.


"I appreciate all this white knighting, but let's get something clear here. Gaspard," she paused slightly, wondering what sort of woman names her son Gaspard. "I know you're guarding me under my sister's orders and I do appreciate it, but there's no one after me yet. If Two had designs on harming me, he could have done so earlier. I'll stay in your sight, but I think it'd be easier on me if you could holster your guns and agree to be partners. And Two, Gaspard's just worried because my sister personally appointed him to watch over me after I passed out. He doesn't know anything about you and I.. just sort of proclaimed myself an enemy of my own league. I know in his shoes you'd be cautious as hell too." She took a deep breath. If Katriane hadn't known any better she would have thought she had just been shot backwards in time to her more sociable days. The days where she believed in the goodness of folk, trusted blindly, and loved everyone without reservation. Ignorant bliss had made her sparkle and dazzle as one of the twins that so enthralled others with their beauty and virtue... and then it all went to hell. Kath bled everywhere now and Kat had the 'creepy' telepathy.


"Robin, would you mind calling that car? Just get me some size 4 clothing, I don't care what it is as long as it's not spandex or skanky. And if you want to foot the hotel bill it's fine, but we can split it and get some adjoining rooms or something. I don't care. I'd sleep in a fucking bathtub at this point because my head is killing me and I'm one pop song away from drinking myself into oblivion tonight. Before you ask- pop music has only gotten worse in the last hundred years I assure you."

 

[Sol]

"Well...she beat me to the punch on that one. I'll go ahead and just call the car


We'd probably be at the hotel in the space of half an hour maybe...I'm just guessing though. Maybe traffic is handled better now. We'll see. Size 4 no skanky or spandex and I'll just try to guess the sizes of the other two gentlemen. Now if you will excuse me..."





The tension between the two people claiming and clamoring to protect Katriabe siddled him out of the picture and into silence. Even this Zack guy just let the two at it and didn't look like he'd intervene at all. He stepped out of the apartment and flipped the phone and contacted the lab. He already expected the intense round verbal scolding on the other end, responding with his need for a car as well as few sets of clothes to be delivered at Zack's place. His reason was that this would help him find a position where he may ask Two to accompany him back to labs. Except that for that to happen he'd probably have to ask Katriane to come as well and, by extension, this Gaspard frenchie. The name sounds French, ergo he is French to some degree.


After concluding the arrangements, he slipped the phone back into his pocket. Ready to rejoin the hopefully nonexistent chaos that ensued while he was gone.

 

[Syrenrei]

Time Skip of Shoddiness!

Katriane was pleasantly surprised when the summoned vehicle arrived with a few clothing options. "Size 4" was specific enough for a nice blouse, but any sort of pants was an entirely different matter as many designers had different interpretations of the measurements of the waist, hip, rear, length, etc. When their courier delivered her a parcel of options she 'borrowed' Zak's bathroom to change. There was a small utterance of surprise as she realized it wasn't quite as disheveled as she was expecting. Sure, Zak could use a cleaning lady now and then, but she had seen bachelor bathrooms that were veritably decaying: questionable substances in varying shades of green and black, hair clippings strewn about, globs of toothpaste clogging the sink, and all sorts of unmentionables. In any case, her hygiene remained intact as she slipped into a purple blouse (the color of the season) and tried on the three pairs of slacks. One of them was relatively snug but comfortable so she folded the other two, tucked them under her arm, and emerged.


The situation was already sufficiently awkward without her piss poor ability to say good-bye. She hesitated several times in exactly on how to thank a guy you know used to crush on you and was supporting your decision to be a leper of society. Katriane was freakishly confident in her choice, mind you, but these were levels of complexity she was unprepared for. She both appreciated and resented Zak's support; she was glad she was not alone in her thoughts but she was frustrated that he'd follow her into a veritable abyss. It didn't matter if he thought that pit was the way to go too, she didn't want company at the bottom. Everyone else should be happy, bright and jubilant, both free and appreciated. The telepath anti-hero sighed and tried to collect her thoughts. Which layer of emotion did she indulge?


And then an odd thing happened. In the midst of this chaos, this flurry of feeling and stress, a glimmer of the 'old Katriane' emerged triumphant. It rallied her to recognize that the four men gathered around her were heralds of hope, no matter how tentative. Faint recollections of gatherings of close friends shimmered over her vision before she stepped forward, one foot in front of the other, until she found herself with her arms flung around Zak in a hug. Oh, she knew that he didn't really like being touched much on account of his power. Any of them might interpret it as being something romantic rather than platonic. Gaspard was almost certainly going to object to this possibly breach in safety protocol. Katriane didn't care. It was what she wanted to do and she felt all the better doing it. "Keep safe," she whispered in his ear before she withdrew.


And then, suddenly a little embarrassed at her break from melancholy, she waved at the other three to follow out the door. Regardless of the commentary they made, or strange looks gifted in her direction, her focus was now squarely on getting to a hotel and getting sleep. Mittens, the faithful and terrifying loyal cougar, followed her without prompting or encouragement. It made the seating arrangement in their vehicle slightly unusual, but the feline was well-accustomed to travel and behaved splendidly considering it was a wild creature in freaking car. To keep there from being an inordinate amount of gawkers, Mittens laid on the floor in front of Katriane's seat.


She kept to herself during the relatively short car ride, staring out the window as she considered her future. Heavens knew how much longer she had before Madam realized that she had no mind to perform her assignment at all. Katherine would suspect, but be wading in denial, for the near future. The warning that being derelict of duty would have repercussions had not fallen on deaf ears. Once it was realized that she would refuse, that she was fleeing and/or hiding, they would hunt her down. What would Katherine do? Would her sister finally be persuaded that aspects of the heroes were less than noble? Would Katriane have to sacrifice herself for her cause and her twin's right to be a champion of justice? The passing buildings offered no suggestions or answers.


When they arrived at the hotel she paid handsomely to have a bellhop bring her a large box and a blanket, had Mittens hide inside, and used a bellman cart/trolley, to conceal the cougar's admittance to the room. Bathroom breaks might be a bit tricky, as would food, but that could be done in the evening when there were less eyes around the premises. People could almost be paid to look the other way. They were escorted to two adjoining suites and Katriane would share a room with two queen beds with Gaspard to appease his need to be an ever-present bodyguard.


Excusing herself from Two and Robin she showered, changed into one of the provided bathrobes, and promptly went to bed. Mittens was content with the floor after gauging the mattress to be entirely to soft for her comfort. It was only in the last moments of consciousness that she considered Gaspard's sense of privacy might be mitigated by sharing a room with his charge, or that he was uncomfortable, or that it would look outwardly inappropriate. Oh well. There were much bigger concerns in her life than if a completely disinterested man got a glimpse of bare leg as she clamored under the covers... like what the hell was she going to do if Two was seriously interested in her?


-------


@Prizzy Kriyze @Erica @Grin @Sol @Auren [just because ILU]

 

[Erica]

Zak MuirGold Leaf Apartment Complex


West Side of the City, near the black market
​

The Gold Leaf Apartment Complex lay ten blocks east of the University on a newly paved street. Trees so young that rope and anchors still supported their trunks lined the sidewalks in carefully managed patches of dirt spaced evenly along the concrete sidewalk. The rumble of Zak’s motorcycle stood out here due to the general quiet of the neighborhood, but aside from a few wary glances and one mother who pushed her stroller to the other side of the street, most people did not pay him much attention. The city’s efforts to renovate were in full force here, even two blocks over from the black market. The city was unsuccessfully trying to renovate the “criminal element” away. Meanwhile, the residents here did their best to pretend it didn’t exist and/or that they didn’t use it.


Zak parked in an open spot, removing his helmet and looking at the parking meter. He had not heard from Kat yet, but refused to worry. She had Gaspard guarding her, along with the smitten Two and the eccentric but apparently very useful Robin. Still, it helped to keep busy. He remembered Kat’s impetuous hug from the night before vividly. She had implored him to stay safe. He only hoped that she would keep in touch. He didn’t want to have to track her down later - and he would, if he didn’t hear an update in a reasonable amount of time.


But for now, he had a loose end to tie up.


Tracking Alana had not been easy, even with the softball cap in his apartment. Each time he checked, the girl had seemed to jump around. His visions had not yet hinted conclusively at her powers, but his money was on some sort of time or space manipulation. The last vision had shown him this address and a bone-thin blonde who had invited Alana and her mother inside apartment 24F.


It was a place to start.


What next, though? Knock on the door and ask to speak to a thirteen-year-old girl he had never met? The girl was already spooked, and he didn’t want to alarm her or start a fight. He only wanted to help her if he could, take care of Don if that’s what she needed, and maybe convince her to go to the University so that she wouldn’t be constantly looking over her shoulder. That was a crapshoot though: attending the University meant that you didn’t have to hide your powers, but it did mean that you answered to the head of your League. As Kat had so vividly demonstrated the night before, that wasn’t a foolproof option. So no, today wasn’t about getting her to enroll: it was about keeping her safe and letting her know that not every male Aberrant was an ass who yelled and beat up women.


As he debated how to approach them, he saw Alana and her mother exit the building. Apparently they weren’t worried about Don showing up here. They walked down the steps and proceeded along the sidewalk toward a newer supermarket on the corner. Pretentiously named Fresh, the place did have quality vegetables on display out front, which Alana and her mother paused to peruse before heading inside.


“Worth a shot, I guess,” he muttered under his breath as he hopped off his bike and fed the meter. The trouble lay in finding a non-creepy way to approach a young girl and her mother. “Hey there, I had a vision about you” would just sound like a sleazy pick-up line. Running his fingers through his hair, he followed their path along the sidewalk toward the supermarket, deciding he would have to improvise.

 

[Ozmic]

Subject Two

​

When Two's cell sounded the morning alarm, he jolted out of bed in a panic, looking this way and that before he realized where he was. He'd been dreaming, of course - that same damnable nightmare of being strapped to that table. The operation. Though the room was pleasantly warm, he gave a chilled shudder and crawled out of bed, making for the bathroom.


Pressing a few touchpads, he set the water to nearly scalding and dragged himself in after clicking on the fan above the glass encasement and undressing. The steam drifted lazily upward and he stood under the water blankly, staring straight ahead for a time, then looking down to examine his limbs. "Ugh," he stated aloud, rubbing his tired eyes with hands that no longer felt like his own. A headache pulsed behind the orbs, undoubtedly from the many oblivion-seeking beers of the previous day.


He hadn't slept well, tossing and turning in the comfortable bed until he finally left it to stand on the balcony. The cool air would have felt nice on any other evening, but his thoughts raced on the events that had transpired. He attacked himself mentally for being so damned blind to everything AND the fact that he'd not yet apologized to Kat for his actions. Reminding himself to do just that, he had looked down to the ground, shocked to the thought that filled his mind all at once and rushed all other away.


'Jump. Just jump.'


It wouldn't have been for the obvious reason one might jump from a balcony. Under all the panic and fear, all the stress, was a sickening feeling of curiosity about the new him. If he jumped just then... would he land unscathed? Would his 'new and improved' limbs cushion his fall? Hell, would have have been able to simply leap back to the window with ease? He remembered feeling very cold then, crazed icy sweat beading on his brow and sliding down the false flesh. He'd retired soon after, fearful what remaining there might bring, and forced himself to get at least three hours of restless slumber.


Tapping the touchpad once again in front of him, he stopped the flow of water and reached out for a towel, grasping one and trying off in a haze. He dressed, the new clothing fitting him surprising well (if not a bit loosely) and splashed cold water to his face, rubbing his eyes as if to wash away the bags that weren't there.


As he went back to sit on the edge of the bed and check his cell again, he found himself thinking of the one thing he'd been pushing away since the day before - Kat. It wasn't that he didn't WANT to think of the woman. He just found himself gripped with such doubt and worry and it nearly crippled him. Despite her assurances and seemingly positive reactions to his feelings for her, he couldn't help but wonder if whatever he was trying to pull with said feelings was too much and too soon. They'd just met the day before, after-all.


"Guess we'll just see what today brings then," he mumbled to himself, taking a keycard and exiting the room to go out for a morning jog. He doubted this new body was about to degrade or start to falter if he missed a run, but one couldn't be TOO careful. After all, with everything that had happened in the last 24 hours? Anything was possible.

 

[Auren]

Offical Bizness Day Two ​ Partly Cloudy / Morning / Wednesday ​ School Evening Wrapup/Morning When the rest of the simulations finished, the students were sent back to their dorm rooms. The Right Hand recorded what data he needed and reported to the Madam. The bells within the school tower tolled for lights out, and every student should have gone to sleep at a decent hour. That morning, the bells tolled again, and the Resident Assistants went through their floors to be sure that every student was awake. Generally, they knocked loudly until the students within the room answered the door and responded with some form of communication to show that they were awake. The job of RA was generally assigned to pre-determined heroes that specialized in some sort of disruptive ability. Some could make loud sounds, and others could douse students with nightmares to make them jump awake. The bells then tolled a second time that morning, some time later, to alert the students to breakfast. In the cafeteria, they served the normal breakfast goods, and then off on the side was the pizza counter for those that preferred to not eat breakfast food. @PicaPirate @Shura (( For now you guys will just do your morning wake up stuffs, and then head to the cafe where you should be able to bump into one another. Converse a bit if you'd like, and I'll have another event post for classes and then lunch and maybe other stuff. :3 Sorry this took so long v___v ))

Chloe Riverson

West Side, near the black market
​

Chloe checked her watch again as she traveled the alleys of the black market. Mr. Thumps wandered ahead of her, investigating certain spots on the sidewalk while acting as if he led the way. She didn't pay him much attention as she glanced at the surrounding buildings, and road signs.


"Alright, Mr. Thumps. First, we find the location. Next, we go to the meeting. And lastly! We get outa here,"she mumbled to the cat. He ignored her as he pawed at some trash that swayed on the corner of a building. Usually, the pair stayed out of the busier cities and towns, but with the promise of a certain group of Unclassifieds meeting, she figured she would investigate regardless of the danger that came with being too close to the University.


As she looked down at her watch again, she heard a very loud merow. When she glanced up to check, Thumps had already ran a block ahead of her. She hissed a curse before running after the cat.


It wasn't long before the two of them reached the newly renovated parts of the West Side. They were much closer to the school than Chloe was comfortable with. While she hadn't noticed many Heroes in the black market, that didn't mean they would hang out or live within the renovated bits nearby.


She had almost caught up with Mr. Thumps when he turned a corner, disappearing from her sight. When she whipped around the corner herself, she did not see a gray tabby near the Fresh super market ahead, and she almost immediately fell from her too-quick turn around the curve. Her feet stumbled, and she waved her arms wildly as she tried to steady her balance.


When she finally settled, she wiped her face with her palm. "He just had to chase something,"she moaned. She checked her watch again and sighed. She still had a few hours before the supposed meeting time. Perfect time for a cat-searching adventure, she guessed.


A woman and her adolescent daughter gave Chloe a glance, something she assumed had more to do with the tattoos of the fearsome animals that covered her arms rather than her display of mild clumsiness. She didn't think they had seen the later, assuming they had just approached. She pretended to be preoccupied with the fruit outside the store while using her peripheral vision in order to spot the tell-tale signs of a Hero looking for a bounty.


Hopefully, Mr. Thumps would catch whatever had him on his quest, and she could return to searching for whatever abandoned building was the next Unclassified hotspot. Sometimes she just wished she could control animals' will instead of just her manifestations' will.

 

[Shura]

Senna Davi


Dorm -> Cafeteria


The evening past with no real excitement after the simulation, thankfully. Senna slept well but as usual woke up fairly early, even earlier than the usual morning wake up call crew. She washed up and dressed in normal attire of jeans and a loose fit light blue t-shirt. She wasn't sure what the day would bring but it was the first day of classes so it was at least bound to be interesting. Pulling her silky black locks back into a ponytail before grabbing her small backpack and slung it over her shoulder. A few of the wake up runners were still making their way up and down the halls going about their usual task. Avoiding the runners she ducked down the hall and made her way down to the cafeteria.


Gray eyes scanned the dinning hall as she entered spying only a hand full of early risers, most looked like they were ready to head back to bed. Smiling slightly at the rare quite which overtook the hall Sen made her way to the breakfast bar and grabbed a simple serving of toast and some eggs. Light but enough to hold her over until lunch. Eating heavy was never something good when it came to someone who suffered from anxiety, even if she was calm for the moment. Taking up a table near one of the windows Sen sat and started to enjoy her meal. By the time a larger group of kids would show up she would be done and just have to wait for classes to start.


As she ate her minds started to wander to what this year meant, she would be paired up with a mentor and start actual fieldwork, at some point. She still wasn't sure what her calcification was but she hoped who ever she was paired with wasn't nearly as intimidating as Adler. The woman was down right terrifying. The prospect of going out and getting some actual experience was exciting and terrifying. Sen just hoped she would be able to handle what would be thrown at her.

 

[Prizzy Kriyze]

Gaspard John Iscariot


This one hotel place

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

​

Fondling the pillow under his head, Gaspard wasn't very bothered by the outside world at all. Originally the plan had been to stay up during the night, but after several reevaluations of what would be more advantageous should they get attacked for whatever reason he decided that getting a couple hours of sleep would help him function properly. With a gasp he retreated from the pillow he was caressing and flew backwards through the room as if he'd just seen the devil himself appear. He landed softly on the floor at the end of the bed and exhaled deeply. Truth be told, he was just a very - with emphasis on very - uneasy sleeper. His eyes wandered over the floor as he stood bent over trying to catch his breath, recovering from whatever horror he'd seen in his dream, and settled on Mittens, almost giving him a second heart attack.


A green armchair in the corner of the room had been his position for half of the night, and now he returned to it. His little sheath filled with ornate throwing knives laid beside him on a small table, and now he gave them a disappointed look. The first day of school had had him dressed up all fancy-like, yet now he was in a supposedly dangerous situation armed with nothing but the knife equivalent of a gun made out of ebony wood. If he had the opportunity to go back home he could the proper equipment, oh! oh! maybe even his axe! Just the premise of that excited him.


He leaned back and sent a couple of glances down towards the cougar spread out on the floor. The large cat bothered him in a way he couldn't describe, but not nearly as much as the barely clothed girl in the other bed did. After a lifetime of being taught about sexual harassment, women's rights, and being raised by his father, Gaspard basically felt like a rapist for having seen the upper part of her ankles at random points during the long night. Not that he was completely unexperienced with women, it's just that he didn't even know this particular woman. Her uncanny resemblance to Kath probably didn't help that either, whom Gaspard after all these years had forced himself to be in a strictly platonic relationship with. Therefore, Gaspard's eyes didn't wander anywhere near the bed that didn't belong to him, but jumped between the cougar on the floor and his collection of pointless (get it?) knives.


The clock was coming up on the later hours of the morning though, and he expected her to wake up at any moment. Personally, he'd already gotten dressed in the prior day's fancy getup and was ready for a day of... whatever they were doing.

 

[Syrenrei]

Katriane Claire Alexandrie- "Dreamless"

An Upscale Hotel Room Downtown

​

Katriane usually did not sleep particularly well, but over-exertion had meant that she had been almost dead to the world the night prior. Instead of tossing and turning she had simply laid still as death well over half the night until half of her was so insufferably warm pressed to the mattress that it created a light sweat that made her roll over. Still, no amount of light, noise, or exterior stimuli would make her stir from this almost comatose state. The rays of morning had been illuminating the room for over an hour before she finally started to stir with a groan and threw the pristine cotton sheet and comforter over her head to shield herself from waking.


It was as ineffective as predicted. The creeping noise of minds around her rose to a distracting, albeit still rather soft, cacophony in her head. They were not unified in their muddled distance so it was nothing more than a sort of 'white noise.' It was better than an overwhelming sense of mental panic pressing down on her (or some other negative emotion) but it was a headache waiting to happen. This was precisely why she avoided cities as much as possible. People could not keep their thoughts to themselves and after a while all the 'whispers' were maddening. The concierge could probably get her some pain medication along with room service for breakfast.


Although she had been aware before this moment that she was in a hotel, she was hit with the realization that she wasn't alone there. Ah, Gaspard! The devoted, stiff, and not entirely friendly bodyguard her sister had assigned in a misguided attempt to keep her safe. "If you don't mind, I'll take the the shower first. Can you order us some breakfast through room service with whatever pain killers they can bring up?" She crawled out from under the covers with an apologetic smile before half-falling and half-stepping onto the floor and staggering her way towards the bathroom. Katriane had never been the sort of woman to leap out of bed in the morning bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. The less Gaspard saw of her in this pitiful state the better- though she was pretty certain his opinion of her couldn't go any lower, she had no desire to test that theory.


Mittens watched as her friend/master hurried towards the closed door, crashed into it, staggered back, opened it, and disappeared into its depths. The sound of the shower cutting on immediately drowned out any softer noises. Stretching and yawning the cougar stood up, circled her spot a few times, and then returned to resting. There wasn't much for a predatory feline to do in a hotel room anyway and she had been firmly instructed Gaspard was a friend. He was an odd friend, the creature noted, but most humans were.

 

[Erica]

Zak Muir

"Fresh" market on the West Side of the City near the black market
​

Neat rows of fresh produce greeted Zak along with a blast of crisp, artificially cool air. Along the right side of the room behind the produce, tall shelves offered a variety of dry, boxed, and canned goods boasting trendy labels at a premium price. The left side of the room housed an extremely limited selection of frozen goods. The center of the space and back wall was busier, however, housing a bakery, meat department, and specialized deli offering everything from soup and salad to sandwiches to full meals.


It was several steps above Zak's customary grocery store, both in presentation and price range. He found himself smirking at the patrons, especially the few who gave him and his leather jacket a suspicious glance. The market was relatively quiet, which made it easier to spot Alana and her mother. They held trays with clear containers of some sort of colorful pasta salad and fountain drinks on them.


Zak paused by a display of nuts and trail mix. "Now what?" he muttered under his breath. Meanwhile, his brown eyes scanned brightly lit room. Villains were not officially supposed to be in this area so they probably avoid such a brightly lit yuppie Mecca, and heroes were unlikely to be this close to the black market. Still, it didn't hurt to be careful.


Not that every Aberrant wore a sign. (Wouldn't it be so much easier for the Leagues if they did?) Plus Zak wasn't well known, for which he was grateful.


Not seeing anyone to be worried about, he grabbed an iced coffee, paid for it, and made his way toward Alana's table. Alana's mother looked up before her daughter did. "Excuse me," he began.


Alana gripped her mother's hand, tension invading the young girl's body. For some reason, it reminded him of Kat's stressful posture the night before.


Zak held out a hand. "No need to do that." He glanced over the room, then added in as kind a tone as he could manage, "Whatever it is, best not to do it with an audience unless you can help it." He paused long enough to see some of the tension dissipate before continuing, letting his hand fall to his side. "I'm not here with anyone you need to worry about. In fact, I'd like to help." He looked to Alana's mother, wishing he knew her name. "I have a feeling you could use some help."


Alana and her mother looked at each other, then there was murmuring nearby. Zak looked for the source of the chatter and spied a cat darting through the chairs and tables. As soon as he looked at it, it headed directly for him. Rubbing up against his jeans, it wound between his legs, butting his calves and ankles with its head.


He set his drink down on the table and bent down, petting the tabby's head and slowly venturing to pick up the cat. When he looked up, Alana was smiling. Her mother motioned for him to join them.


Taking the offered seat, he set the cat in his lap and continued to pet it as long as it would allow it. Now came the hard part.

 

[Prizzy Kriyze]

Gaspard John Iscariot


This one hotel place

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

​

"If you don't mind, I'll take the the shower first. Can you order us some breakfast through room service with whatever pain killers they can bring up?" It took the utmost in willpower for Gaspard not to jump up out of his seat and instantly attack the source of the sudden sound, but it wouldn't have been very professional if he killed his protectee, would it? That is quite literally the exact opposite of what he was supposed to do as a bodyguard. Without really thinking about the question, he blurted out "Oh, uh, yeah sure." Then kept his eyes fixed on his collection of daggers as she wandered into the bathroom. He glanced to the cougar circling it's position on the floor suspiciously, expecting the feral animal to attack at any moment. It had probably been picked right out the jungle! Slayed 50 men before they managed to subdue it! Eugh, he could never understand how anyone would ever voluntarily keep one of them as a pet.


Suddenly he realized what she said, and the task hit him like a bombshell. Room service? Gaspard hadn't been in too many hotels before, much less ordered room service. How did you even get to room service? He carefully crept across the room, not wanting to disturb the monster laying on the floor, to the phone. After several awkward miscalls and strange conversations with people who thought he was the second coming of Christ, Gaspard finally hit room service and ended up ordering some random assortment of dishes, none of which he'd ever even heard of before. He managed to get the painkillers though. He did something right. Probably.


Room service popped up after a couple of minutes and left a multitude of silvery catering trays leaving a mixed smell of salt, sweet and umami. Gaspard hesitantly lifted the cover off of one of the trays, and was met with what looked like raw fish. He'd heard of this before. Sushi? Sushi. Couldn't say he was a fan of the premise of uncooked food though. He dropped the cover and it landed on the tray with a loud clang. What else did he accidentally order? "Surstromming?" He said aloud, then lifted the cover. The stench hit him like a punch to the face, and he instantly slammed the cover back onto it, holding it down telekinetically. "Oh dear god..." He got out between the coughs. How, what? Why would anyone eat that? Suddenly he wasn't very hungry anymore. He walked back to the seat in the corner of the room, and put his head in his hand, trying to avoid trauma.


@Syrenrei

 

[Ozmic]

Subject Two

​

After a bit of smalltalk with the receptionist about how the accommodations had been, Two exited the main doors and stretched a little before breaking into an immediate jog. He wouldn't go far, of course, but getting his mind off of things was already working.


He tugged up the hood on the new sweatshirt as he jogged, remembering that he was some sort of 'wanted man' and then bumped up the speed, pushing thoughts away as he pushed himself to test out a fraction of what his half-fixed parts could give him.


Now that the ignorance about his augments had been lifted and the performance boosted by the small fixes Robin had done, he found himself running at speeds that were bordering on a professional runner. Stopping, he couldn't help but grin at the revelation. Hell, he didn't even feel winded!


Taking it a bit slower back to the hotel, however, he did notice some discomfort... his stomach growled in protest and his head began to ache dully - undoubtedly from the lack of sleep and multitude of beers. "Breakfast," he said aloud, albeit quietly, and headed back into the place.


Acquiring about breakfast, he decided to just order something to the room. The meeting room that was being used for a breakfast nook seemed a little crowded and, despite his good mood, he still worried about just who might be lurking in the crowd there.

 

[Syrenrei]

Katriane Claire Alexandrie- "Dreamless"

An Upscale Hotel Room Downtown

Luna Alice Jones- "Metal Maiden"

Downtown street corner near the black market

​

Kat had picked up on Gaspard's rather blatant discomfort around her. She knew he was much more attached to her sister and was only by her side by Katherine's orders; why else would a superhero tolerate the presence of a telepath for such an extended period of time? Her melancholy made her understand the paranoia that gripped so many and thus she waited until she withdrew to the bathroom and was out of sight to employ her powers. It was also better for Gaspard not to know exactly who she was contacting either. Considering the danger she had already put him in by engaging in criticism of the League, associating with an Unclassified, and defying an order, explaining how she was mentally reaching out to a villain would be difficult to explain. It was necessary but... the less Gaspard knew the better. Plausible deniability would help keep his status in the League more intact. Besides, if he had an objection what could possibly be done? Kat was only doing what she must- nothing more.


Steeling her resolve, she wiped droplets off her face and blinked against the steam that filled the shower. How to start? With a resigned sigh she felt out the distant acquaintance's mind and assumed a 'voice' that was as affable as she could possibly muster. Luna? I don't suppose you remember me from school, but this is Katriane Alexandrie. You know, the blonde twin that's a telepath.


To say Luna was a bit surprised as a gross understatement. She remembered Katriane a/k/a Kat from when they were in college together, but no more than she remembered most of her other classmates. The twin blondes had stood out only in so much that they basked in brilliant, beautiful glory and adoration for the most part. As far as she knew they had both been placed as heroes, though one of them had started to look remarkably unhappy towards graduation while the other remained insufferably bubbly. The segregation of villains and heroes meant she never expected there to be any socialization between the factions- be it for work or pleasure. So why then was Kat reaching out to her sounding so... vulnerable? The telepathy was a little jarring but at least logical: Madam couldn't eavesdrop on minds as far as anyone knew.


Luna had positioned herself on a street corner near the black market in preparation for an Unclassified meeting. The locals had discreetly accepted her as someone they could trust as she had helped many of them elude capture provided she didn't find them morally repugnant. The last two years had required her proving time and time again that her label of a villain did not mean she was malevolent (she was just ill-tempered). Her inside information had been invaluable despite her poor attitude. The fact not everyone saw her as a terrible person anymore had made her slightly more agreeable in her League. Everyone knew of her distaste for the system, though. Luna had never been quiet about her distaste for being made out a villain for life just because she wasn't some goody-two-shoes schmuck and had a few anger management issues.


I remember you. Can't say I expected you to contact me. Boy problems? Luna teased as she put on her sunglasses. It wasn't particularly bright out but she felt uneasy fumbling through some blasted mind-conversation standing on the street. Things were awkward enough as is.


Yes, well, uh... that's not why I am contacting you. Kat's embarrassment burned on her cheeks and bled through the telepathy. There was no doubt in either woman's mind that there was a romantic entanglement on her mind. I need to have something re-shaped or removed. I... don't know who else to ask. She sighed mentally, feeling both helpless and hopeless for a brief moment. I was hoping you might help me with some discretion.


Both of Luna's eyebrows shot up. She had a modern day damsel in distress on her hands! If Kat wasn't immediately turning to her League that meant it was something that she didn't want the League to know of- or was doing something against their approval. Anything that was against either League was something she was all for. Fuck the system. All right, I'm game, but I want you to bring along this boy problem. I'll even keep this a secret between us girls, but I need to know why we're keeping it a secret so I don't get my head blown off about it later.


Kat paused. Full disclosure with Zak hadn't been nearly as risky as what Luna was asking of her. Zak was a friend, someone whom she trusted, who she knew, who had no reason to betray her. By comparison 'Metal Maiden' was a stranger that could expose her to danger and walk away unscathed with no remorse. Hell, the sorting system called her a villain and Kat had witnessed a Luna tirade or two back in the day when she didn't get her way. Still, Kat could feel through this brief mental connection that Luna wasn't a bad person. She was a dead woman walking on borrowed time already, wasn't she? What was one more gamble? Madam put this bracelet on me and instructed me to hunt down Unclassifieds. Refusing the mission isn't an option, so I'm trying to evade as long as I can. Sounds like a shitty action movie in the making, doesn't it?


For the second time in the span of two minutes Luna's eyebrows shot up, but this time she smiled. Kat's dry sense of humor and rebellion against Madam were both things she could appreciate. Meet me near the black market- read my mind if you need to. I think I've got something that might interest you and that boy problem you've got, assuming you're both on the same page.


Kat glimpsed the location and then cut off contact once she was certain where she was going. Both she and Luna were taking huge leaps of faith on one another. How could they not? Neither were living the lives they had dreamed of, waited for, wanted, worked for. She stepped out of the shower, toweled her hair dry, and brushed it quickly to get out any major tangles. Without any effort for styling the tresses she stepped back into her clothes and emerged from the bathroom both clean and determined.


Oh, Gaspard. Kat hadn't told Luna about her heroic escort, but he probably wouldn't want to join her there would he? No, even his loyalty had to end somewhere. The poor man looked to already be at the end of his rope as he hunched over on his chair, head in his hands. By the gods they were one depressed group. "Shower's free if you want it," she said with a gesture. "You've done more than enough. I'm as safe as can be expected with the choices I've made. I'm sure Katherine wouldn't hold it against you if you went home now, sincerely. I don't want to drag you down any further and I doubt you're going to want to go with me on my next 'field trip.'"

 

[PicaPirate]

Joseph, as usual, as was an early waker. Prime reason for this? He trained a lot in the evening before going to sleep. Doing a few minute workout seems like nothing to most, but for Joseph, a few minutes was so much more, due to his time dilation. In the evenings he would spend all his remaining dilation time to train himself, granting himself much more to work with.


The other reason it trained him so hard was because while operating in a slower time, he was moving 'faster' than the rest of the world. This meant the air was thicker and air would envelop him due to increased 'speed' compared to real time. This meant that he worked harder within the time frame too due to the resistance against him, as though trying to exercise in a atmosphere constantly pushing against him. It also made scientists who attempted to make logic out of it have their brains explode. Science and magic never really did agree with each other though, led to many debates.


Anyhow, he woke up rather early to sort his brain out from the scatters it was and meditated for a bit. To be exact, for roughly an hour. It would have been longer that he was in his meditative state, however the morning runners interrupted him by knocking the doors. Joseph sighed lightly and opened his eyes, wearing loose fitting jeans and a tight tank top that complemented his figure.


He walked out towards the cafeteria, where he got a bowl of oats mixed with some nuts and milk. It was basically health in a bowl, sure to scare type 2 diabetes back to wherever it resided. Joseph looked around, but found no miss Adler to tease. Oh well, there goes that idea.


Instead there was Senna sitting with a light meal on a table, so decided to join her. He walked to the table and sat opposite her, giving a casual "Greetings.", as he took his time eating his cereal.


@Shura

 

[Auren]

Spoiler

Chloe Riverson

"Fresh" Market


West Side, near black market

​

Chloe was gazing at the fresh produce on the stands outside before she saw something dark dart inside the building once the automatic doors opened. She huffed before walking in after it, assuming the shadow to be Mr. Thumps. Inside, a few of the workers eyed her and the tattoos that adorned her arms. Beasts decorated her arms in varying states of attack, as if they were about to jump out of her skin and mangle anyone in front of her. It wasn't far from the truth, but she wasn't about to let them know that.


The most notable animals were a bear and tiger, who seemed to cover up the varying birds, and other small predators. She didn't think that she would have wandered into a place that would be so high class, or she would have worn her jacket. While her tattoos made her fit in at the black market, they made her a sore thumb in this over-the-top classy place.


She crossed her arms and glanced around for the cat, hoping to grab him, apologize to the workers for him getting in, and leaving. She also kept an eye out for a hero or villain in the area. Mr. Thumps was generally better at alerting her of those with Aberrant powers, but with him occupied, she had to keep a sharper eye out. She started to walking through the store herself, stopping occasionally to gaze at the contents of the shelves as if she were a real shopper.


Shortly after her search started, she heard the unmistakable talk that signaled an animal in a store. She walked around towards the noise, only to stop upon seeing Mr. Thumps occupying the lap of a young man. She huffed again and withheld the urge to pull on her hair in frustration. Why? Why of all things would he do this to her? The cat was exceptionally smart for being an animal, something she contributed to his time living with the animal telepath.


She watched them from around the corner of her eye. The man seemed to awkward with the women, as if it were a first date situation where there was something to talk about, but neither party was good with starting the conversation. Upon further investigation, she realized that people gave him suspicious glances also, for his black leather jacket and obvious deviant attire. She considered what her approach should be, and glanced at her watch again.


No time better than the present,she thought to herself before walking over to the table. She uncrossed her arms as she approached, in order to give the appearance of not being a threat, and once she reached the table she grinned widely at the cat. "There you are, Mr. Thumps!"she said as she glanced to the cat to the man. "I hope he wasn't bothering you. Though, it is strange when he approaches strangers,"she said as she scratched under Mr. Thumps chin. He purred a bit before mewing. She tensed, but only for a moment.


He wasn't a very vocal cat, though when he did decide to make a noise, it was because of Aberrant activity. She played off her tense movement as one for looking at her watching. "I suppose I'll get him out of your way now. I'm sorry for any trouble,"she said as she tried to pick up the cat. He meowed loudly and clawed at her hands, causing her to drop him. He immediately went back to the young man's side and she put her hands on her hips.


"Stubborn,"she mumbled, and crossed her arms. She failed to notice the amount of attention the scene had caused, and it was only when she noticed the murmuring that she looked at the three around her. With Mr. Thump's reaction, it was likely that they thought she was lying, or worse, trying to steal someone's cat. She rubbed the back of her neck, and gave them an apologetic smile.


"Looks like he's really taken to you, sir,"she said. While it didn't seem that any of the folks in front of her were likely apart of the Leagues, she had been a sore spot in the store long enough to cause attention. She considering leaving Mr. Thumps to find her later while she disappeared. Last thing she needed was being discovered as one of the Unclassified Threats.

Zak Muir

"Fresh" market on the West Side of the City near the black market

​

The cat made all the difference. Alana was transfixed by it, and apparently her mother's apprehension about him diminished in the face of the cat's approval. He could not help but think what Kat would say, but then again, she would probably have implied that their trusting nature was sure to be short-lived when they heard what he had to say.


"I'm Zak," he offered, then looked to Alana's mother.


"Jackie," she offered, eyeing him and the cat with only a modicum of distrust. It was a start.


"And you're Alana," he said to the little girl with what he hoped was a disarming smile. Before they could freak out, he kept talking. "I know your name because Don came to me for help," he looked up to hold Jackie's gaze, all the while unconsciously petting the mysterious cat. "but I saw enough to know he's not the one whose side I'd choose."


Mother and daughter exchanged another meaningful glance. "Look," Jackie began as she started to stand.


Zak raised a hand, imploring her to stay. "I know you don't have any reason to trust me, but I'm here to help. Or to let you know there is help, if you want it." Although Jackie sat back down, she stayed on the edge of her seat. His only hope lay in the fact that Alana seemed interested enough to stay and listen - for now. He addressed the girl directly, careful not to make any sudden movements and spook them both. "I went to the Academy. It can help.... in some ways." He dropped his voice, hoping against hope there wasn't a hero or villain around who would overhear what he said next. "It's not for everyone, though. If you want to know more about it - or talk about what it would mean not to go - or whatever, you can call, okay?" He reached into his pocket slowly and produced a card, setting it on the table.


Alana looked at him, then the card, then back to him again before she took it, handling the small piece of thick paper like it might explode. "Okay."


He had no idea whether she would take him up on the offer, but at least he had extended it to them. Worst case, he could check in on her via the softball cap, at least for a while. In his lap, the cat pushed at his hand with its head, as if instructing him on how it preferred to be petted. Meanwhile, a tattooed woman approached the table, drawing the attention of not only Alana and Jackie, but much of rest of the store. Great. His smile disappeared as he tried to assess her. Was she in the League? Had they figured out Kat had decided not to play by the rules and tracked her to his place? No, it was too soon for that. Besides, Kat still had the watch, so they could go directly to her. Maybe this woman was a student? She was behaving too nervously to be part of either League. Then the mystery woman tried to collect the cat, who apparently objected. The whole awkward scene was drawing too much attention to their table, and he shot the woman a look as if to say, Are you kidding me? He had rarely been mistaken for a "Sir" in his life. Until she walked in, his leather jacket had been the most rebellious thing in the place. Now everyone was looking, and that made continuing his delicate conversation with Alana impossible. "Looks like," he echoed dryly before looking back to Jackie and Alana.


"I'll get going. But... about that... other issue?" Jackie shook her head quickly. Don't talk about Don? Or she didn't understand? Or maybe she didn't want Zak to continue? He could use some telepathic powers about now. "Don't worry about it. I'll make sure you have some breathing room." He stood, surprised that the cat kept circling his legs, butting its head against his ankles. Looking to Alana, he offered the girl a smile. "Stay safe, and remember you can call if you need."


Neither Jackie nor Alana replied directly to that statement, but he could see some of the tension leave their muscles, especially when it became clear that he was going to leave. They looked at Chloe, wary and expectant. Zak spotted a couple of the market's employees pointing in their direction, so he reached down to gather up the cat. "Why don't you and I step outside?" he said to Chloe with an unconscious smirk. "If this is your cat, I think Mr. Thumps is about to get us both in trouble."


Without another word, he headed for the door with the cat cradled in his arms. The new girl looked like she might be trouble - although he could not tell yet if she was a threat or not. As Alana proved, Aberrants came in all shapes and sizes. The good thing was you generally couldn't tell someone's power by looking at them, so if she were Aberrant, they were on equal ground for now.


Assuming she followed, he would lead her outside and turn a corner to step out of the flow of pedestrian traffic on the sidewalk. "Care to share?" he asked, trying his best to look imposing without threatening directly. It was a delicate balance nearly impossible to achieve with a cat purring in his arms. "Who the hell are you? And why is your cat following me?"

Chloe Riverson

"Fresh" Market

West Side, near black market

​

Chloe felt the hairs on the back of her neck raise as the man gave a curt reply. She felt the eyes of the attendants watching, and her tattoos combined with the man's leather jacket created a low mumble among them. She glanced from the man to the woman and child. Not related, but perhaps he was processing a business transaction. His statement of a later call alluded to such. Regardless, the attention of the staff and customers along with these three were enough to make her uncomfortable. Now all she needed was a Hero in the mix, and her bad luck of the day would be complete.


If he was in the middle of a transaction of sorts, it meant he was either working in the black market, or he was apart of the League with a mission. She hoped for the earlier answer, even though she knew no sane man from the black market would come to this part of town to converse about possibly illegal deals.


Of course he wanted her to follow him, to ask questions. She silently cursed to herself, and aimed her violent thoughts toward Mr. Thumps, most of which included throwing the cat into some form of a body of water. Why was he so taken with this stranger? If the man was in the League, she was just going to leave the cat with him. She did not run for five years to be caught so easily now. But that was only the worse-case scenario. Mr. Thumps already cued that the man was Aberrant, and she would just have to tread lightly until she figured out what purpose he held his powers for.


Mr. Thumps purred in the man's arm as he walked out of the store. She followed him, if only to escape the suspicions of those in said store. Hopefully, they left before anyone reported them. When questions were sprung on her after they left the sidewalk, she ran a hand through her copper-colored hair and ruffled its loose curls before she sighed.


"Honestly, I don't know what goes through that cat's head. He probably just thinks you smell awfully nice,"she grinned. "As far as introductory things go, I believe it's polite to give a name before asking for one." She winked at the man before turning her gaze back to Mr. Thumps. He was pretty attached. And while the man seemed to try to be very direct, she didn't have the time to act shocked. She had tattoos on her skin, which often were controversial enough, so that led to her always being apart of someone's mistrust. It also somehow gave others the miraculous permission to be incredibly rude towards her.


"I didn't mean to interrupt your date,"she said and shrugged. While she didn't really think that's what had been going on, perhaps his own situation would divert his attention from learning more about her. Shifting her weight to one hip, she noted the man was a few inches taller than her. He did have a pretty face which wasn't displeasing to look at, but that didn't mean he was harmless.

Zak Muir

Outside "Fresh" market on the West Side of the City, near the black market

​

If nothing else, the cat made for a pleasant companion. The girl? She looked like trouble and was full of attitude, which normally would have intrigued him, but given the stress of the last 48 hours, he wasn’t exactly patient. The cat’s purring helped him keep calm as he responded.


There was a chance, however slight, that she was checking up on him - or on Alana. Maybe Don sent someone else to track his wayward daughter. If so, there was no way this girl, no matter how pretty or clever, was going to get to them through him.


A childhood bouncing from home to home had taught him many skills: the first being how to answer questions without really answering them. Later, he learned many other skills, some of them useful, some not, but he recognized evasion when he saw it. Taking a step forward to the edge of her personal space. “If you’re fishing for my status, I’m single,” he said with a smirk, mostly to keep her off balance. “You’re dodging the question. I didn’t ask your name. I asked who the hell you are. And the fact you’re not willing to say tells me you’re trouble.”


He looked down at the cat, addressing it. “You belong with trouble here?” he asked in a casual tone devoid of the annoying high-pitched baby voice so many people use with animals. The cat did not respond, except to tilt its head upwards in an effort to direct Zak’s hand. Suddenly feeling like an evil villain stroking the feline, he held out the cat to the girl. “Take him... her... it. And try telling me why you were snooping around the Market with a cat, of all things.” Unfortunately, Mr. Thumps was not cooperating. He sunk his claws into Zak’s jacket and tried to scramble back into his arms. “Did you slip catnip in my pocket or something?” He was trying not to laugh. After all, this could be some clever plan to distract him. If so, though, it was one really nonsensical way to go about it. At least he wasn’t allergic to cats.

Chloe Riverson

"Fresh" Market

West Side, near black market

​

Chloe bit the inside of her cheek as she held back a frown. The man had moved closer to her and she didn't like his proximity. She struggled to spread her lips into a grin. The guy was cheeky enough, she'd give him that. "Well, how did you read my mind? Now that I know you're single,"she let her sentence trail off. Her gaze traveled from top to bottom and back again over the guy's figure, trying to make him flustered. If he wanted to play this game, she would play.


"You don't look like you're any less trouble," she said before turning her gaze towards Mr. Thumps. The cat was reluctant to return and Chloe held back a sigh before checking the watch on her wrist. She still had time, fortunately. The watch was the one belonging she had kept the longest, and it had survived a few fights with a couple of other Unclassifieds. Heroes were always a worry, but some Unclassifieds would get desperate for deals in the black markets. Strange as it was, she had more confrontations with Unclassifieds than Heroes. She mostly chalked it up to her avoiding fancy areas such as the one she in presently in.


"I already told you, the cat does what he wants. He decided that instead of finding the--"she stopped and bit her lip. Her eyes narrowed. "I have a place to be, but Mr. Thumps decided he had an appointment of his own, and ran to make it. I can only assume it has something to do with you," she said and shrugged.


Mr. Thumps was one of the reasons she had remained undetected for so long. He knew an Aberrant was around before she did. If she didn't have him, she would have to be even more cautious. She watched the man for a moment. Mr. Thumps meowed at her between purring for the guy. Chloe raised a brow. "I can't explain his attraction to you. Must be the leather,"she winked.

Zak Muir

Outside "Fresh" market on the West Side of the City, near the black market

​

The girl took his flirting in stride and tossed it back at him with interest. He couldn’t help but smile, which turned into a chuckle as the cat eventually reclaimed its place in his arms via threats against his leather jacket. He caught the woman's change of subject, but kept his focus on the cat as a method of giving her space to disclose more. Instead of hanging herself, though, she deflected again.


It had been a long shot anyway, but now he was curious.


Not that he had any right to go chasing after a hunch about another damsel who may or may not be in distress. He already had one of those in his life (with a trio of complications as an add-on); one who was probably going to avoid him and make him track her down to make sure she was okay. Add on a young girl inside the market who might never accept his help, and he had a full plate. Yet he couldn’t exactly walk off with this woman’s cat, could he? Not only would it be rude, but Mittens might eat it. Besides, it could be a tracking device or... something.


Smiling at his own pathetic attempted excuse, he conceded that he had already decided what he was going to do. He just had to admit to himself that he was curious enough to see where this particular tattooed wild ride might lead.


“Thumps, is it?” he said to the cat. “Well, if you insist, I’ll accompany your ... owner? Mistress? Whatever... You stick with me; I’ll stick with her. Is that what you want?” As he asked, he scratched behind the cat’s ears intermittently, effectively making the cat look like it was nodding. “If you insist.” Cradling the cat in his left arm, he looked up from the feline with a vaguely amused and thoroughly stubborn twist to his lips. He offered his gloved right hand to the evasive woman in front of him. “Zak Muir. I’ll be your cat-carrier today. Now, Trouble, tell me: where are we headed?”

Chloe Riverson

"Fresh" Market

West Side, near black market

​

Chloe debated leaving her feline companion with the man, and going on her way to the rally. Though, Mr. Thumps was half of her protection. He alerted her to Aberrant activity, which was as good as any old alarm. But she did rely on the cat a bit heavily, and it wasn't like she didn't already know that everyone at the meeting already had their own skill set of abilities. The meeting would be high-risk, but it resembled a bit of her hope for change.


Her lips twisted into a slight frown as he coyed her cat into "agreeing" with him. Certainly, the feline had an attachment, and she trusted the cat with her life. She wasn't fond of how Mr. Thumps was unwilling to depart from his new friend, and she had almost decided to just let the man catsit. But then, he continued. Any hope she had of losing this man evaporated, and she still had no idea where he stood on the metaphorical Aberrant fence. She thought about just losing him on the way there, but knowing Thumps, he would just lead this Zak back to her.


With that expression of his, Chloe had no doubt that this man was not going to let her disappear from his sight easily. If that were to be the case, then she really needed to know where he stood with the Leagues. She couldn't easily bring a Hero into the meeting, even one of the Reluctants. All of them had the capability to alert the leaders, and she couldn't have this movement go sour because she was careless.


"That's Miss Trouble to you, Cat Handler," she said as she crossed her arms and looked smug, barely glancing at his out reached hand. Perhaps he was tying to lure her into providing her name by teasing her, but she wouldn't let him know it. While her new name may not be in the League profiles, her face and powers were. They could have easily found her alias by now, possibly. She just couldn't take the chance.


"Well, I would tell you that, but I'd rather know more about you," she began as her lips curled up into an almost catlike grin. "Let's strike a bargain. You tell me more about yourself, and I'll tell you a little more about where we are going. First off, what brings a man in leather to this portion of town?" She placed a hand on her hip as she shifted her weight to the side. She didn't think it would be easy to get information out of him, but she needed to try. She was also determined to not start walking until she had an inkling of what this guy's motives were.

 

[Erica]

Zak Muir

Outside "Fresh" market on the West Side of the City, near the black market
​

Zak couldn’t help but smirk as he retracted his offered hand with a shrug and pet Mr. Thumps, scratching the cat behind the ears through the thick leather of his gloves. The girl was pushy and tried to con her way out of everything. This only increased his curiosity. Recognizing the game of evasion she was playing, he decided to show her that he had his own set of skills in that department. He could refuse to play her game, but he suspected they would go in circles for hours if he did. Better to play along.


“Do you always make assumptions about people based on how they look?” he said with a pointed look at her tattoos. He paused briefly to let that point hit home, then motioned in the direction of the market. “I don’t suppose you’d believe I had a craving for a pomegranate, and this is the only place in town you can get them fresh?” he quipped with a smirk.


He didn’t wait for her reply, adding in a less mocking tone, “You followed me in. Maybe even heard part of the conversation, so I think you have a guess or two already. I came to offer someone help.” It was a gamble, but he was almost certain she was not with the Leagues. There was a certain vibe to each organization. Madame’s tactics were far too direct to set someone like Trouble to spy on him, and Villains would have already tried to work him over, given that he was on his own. The question was whether she was Aberrant or just the “normal” sort of trouble. Whatever that was.


He leaned forward, the cat still in his arms as he whispered to her. “A little birdy told me she might need it, and I’m a sucker for an underdog.” Standing straight again, he held her gaze, his voice dropping subtly in pitch. “Now, Quid Pro Quo, Clarice. Where are we headed?”

 

[Ozmic]

Subject Two

​

Between his hangover and the extensive 'push' he'd just given his body with that jog, Two's patience as he waited for breakfast was running thing. After what seemed to be an eternity, there was a knock at the door and the delivery of more than a few small plates of various breakfast dishes.


It may have seemed like a lot to the poor guy delivering it, but with how everything had gone lately? The mechanical male was planning on eating at least enough to last him for a good bit of the day. Who knew when the next meal would come... or how much he'd end up exerting himself before the day was done?


"You're being paranoid," he told himself after closing the door and waving off the lad that had delivered his breakfast. Munching on it thoughtfully, his mind went to Kat and, on a whim, he decided that would be his next stop. 'If I can pry her away from the grasp of Oh Noble Gaspard,' he thought, adding a dash of bitterness to his breakfast.


Finishing what he could and storing the rest in the hotel's fridge for the time, he cleaned up and exited the room, heading toward where Kat and Gaspard were staying. Giving a strong rap on the door, he waited for a moment before smirking and belting out, "Room Service!"

 

[Prizzy Kriyze]

Gaspard John Iscariot


This one hotel place

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

​

Gaspard gave out a grunt as he raised his head from his hands. After considering her words for a couple of seconds, he decided that no, he did not need a shower. Come on, that shower and grooming session he had had before he visited the school was probably more in-depth than anything else he'd done in his life. "Thanks but no th-" He stopped. Katriane went on some sort of rant in yet another attempt to get him gone it seemed, but he simply smiled back at her and shrugged. "I didn't get a time limit on the order, and honestly, I've tried getting a hold of Katherine for something else to do. Can't find her." He stood up from the chair, stretched impatiently and sent a suspicious glance down towards the cat on the floor.


Rather than admitting a sort of child-like curiosity had taken him over, Gaspard loosely still held to the order. Kat would probably be able to see through it, but he wasn't about to admit anything. "So, instead of still trying to convince me to leave, how about you tell me about this 'field trip'?" A small smile grazed Gaspard's lips, giving him the friendliest expression he'd had since he joined this crazy endeavor.


ROOM SERVICE!


Eh? Gaspard sent a look back towards the table and felt his stomach turn upon seeing the catering tray he knew what he'd earlier experienced was in. There wasn't a chance they'd forgotten anything, had they? Maybe he just ordered a lot more than he thought. He walked across the room and pushed his way past Kat. "Don't answer the door. My job." He calmly stated, then opened the door with a smile plastered on his face. It slowly faded as he had to wander upwards with his eyes to look the other man in the face. "Having to look up every time you open a door in this city is turning old. Good morning... Two?" Gaspard took a step back and held out an arm to welcome the man into the room.


(Heyyo, guess who's sort of back?)

 

[Syrenrei]

Katriane Claire Alexandrie- "Dreamless"

An Upscale Hotel Room Downtown

​

Katriane let a small sigh escape her lips both at the mention of Gaspard accompanying her on her 'field trip' and his assertion that answering the door was his job. Despite his slightly stand-offish attitude, she liked her fellow hero- which was why it was so troubling she was dragging him into further danger. He had handled everything thus far with an amazing amount of patience and understanding but she wasn't exactly sure how long that would last. Even the most considerate soul in the world would likely balk at turning to a villain for a favor. How would one even broach such a topic? Just casually drop Luna's name and see if he started foaming at the mouth while accusing her of treachery? If he had not contacted Madam thus far about her blaspheme then he was unlikely to do so now and fortunately he couldn't tattle to Katherine yet. He could, however, start pointing out all the lines they were crossing and make life more difficult for the already conflicted antihero.


Her guilt was only compounded as he 'bravely' answered the door and Two was standing there. Such nice guys... yet they were making this choice. It wasn't her burden to bear how they handled the news they were dealt. Even if she felt like some sort of depressing blonde Pied Piper in some capacity, they were both capable enough blokes. Truly she knew in her heart that her cause was noble. Her methods were cowardly, her outlook bleak, and her prognosis abysmal, but it was wrong to keep pursuing the Unclassifieds they way the Hero League insisted. Innocents were caught in the crossfire. Did Two deserve harsh judgment if he used his extraordinary abilities to defend himself? What about someone with powers who was discovered too late to attend university properly? There had to be a better solution and another way.


Didn't they say something about heroes not being born, but being made when faced with adversity? Despite her apparent betrayal of a morally founded organization, this could very well be her most heroic moment. Katriane was worried, depressed, and considering running from everything... but she was also taking a stand. She was risking her life for her convictions.


"Good morning, Two. I hope you brought us something better than that tray with the questionable odor that Gaspard ordered," she greeted with a smile that was also tossed towards his companion. It was merely teasing- not meant to be biting criticism. "I can sort out the bill here and we can go to a cafe if you prefer," she offered. This was the difficult part: how to explain her next real destination. "I have someone I need to see about this bracelet afterwards, though," she started and shifted a little uncomfortably. Mittens had risen from her spot of relaxation and was now nosing the tray with the fishy scent to see if it was something that she could eat and appreciate. The clanging metal didn't distract Kat from continuing. "Someone from the Academy days... but not in our league."


Biting her lip in anxiety, she sat down on the nearby bed and ran a hand through her damp hair. Katherine had always taken better care of herself than Katriane had. It never ceased to amaze Kat that despite her apathy towards her appearance that her her golden locks still retained most of their luster. If nothing else she'd make a pretty corpse at the end of all of this crap. "She's going to help me, though, for her own reasons. She isn't exactly a fan of the organizations in general."


She wouldn't be surprised if they had a litany of questions... and possibly a lecture from Gaspard about trying to let her bodyguard leave right before she stepped into another dangerous scenario.

 

[Ozmic]

Subject Two

​

The odd look he'd gotten from Gaspard tugged a small smile to the corners of the giant's lips. "Morning!" he said briskly with a nod, accepting the invitation to enter and stepping just into the doorway of the room as he pushed the door shut behind him. Looking toward Kat, he smirked and shook his head. "G'mornin'... and I'm afraid I didn't bring anything with me. I do, however, have a bunch of leftover stuff in the fridge that's a bit more usual for breakfast."


He chuckled, but sobered a little when Kat mentioned the bracelet and meeting someone. "Hm?" he inquired, looking down a bit toward Mittens as he too caught the whiff of something fishy in the room. And, on top of that, Kat's explanation of the person they were meeting reeked as well. He stayed quiet, though and watched her, eyes lingering across her form for a moment longer than they likely should have.


"Hey, I can't say I'm the biggest fan of organizations either, remember?" he said with a tinge of humor before giving a shrug. "If you trust her, I trust yer' judgement." The words were the truth.


"However," he continued, "I wouldn't mind going along for the ride in case things get outta' hand. They have a habit of that, eh?"

 

[Prizzy Kriyze]

Gaspard John Iscariot


This one hotel place

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

​

John smiled and held the door open, which didn't last long as the giant closed the door. Feeling a little lost, Gaspard looked between the giant and the now closed door, then shook his head and shrugged. There wasn't any particular reason to get offended. Instead he turned his attention towards the large cat that had now started getting close and personal with the catering trays. John was about to stop her from doing so, but then reconsidered as memories of the smell hit him like a pile of bricks. "You know what, you can have those..." He mumbled under his breath and observed Mittens.


"She isn't exactly a fan of the organizations in general."


"Hm?" Gaspard looked over his shoulder at the two, having completely blocked out whatever conversation was on-going.


"Hey, I can't say I'm the biggest fan of organizations either, remember?"


He mentally shrugged. It wasn't as if these people not being big fans of the league was news, they'd made that pretty clear the previous day just as he had made it pretty clear he had no clue how to react. He looked back at Mittens and contemplated the situation whilst continuously ignoring whatever they were talking about. He'd never really taken the time to consider consequences to what the League did. He just liked being praised for doing the right thing. That's why he never really wanted to be in charge in the first place, and constantly looked to Kath for guidance. Then she'd be the one in charge. She'd be the one accountable, and she'd be the one who bothered her mind with thoughts of justice. He'd only learned one life lesson from his childhood, and that's that "Not only is one man's trash another man's gold, but one man's gold can be another man's death sentence." At least that's what his dad told him. He generally liked the statement though, but it also made him realize how everything's eventually going to have consequences. Consequences he could be held responsible for. Too much to bother himself with.


The sudden silence of a break in conversation behind him caused him to jerk his around. Two and Kat hadn't started killing each other yet, so that was always good news. The smile that had disappeared when he got lost in thought returned and he took a couple of steps over next to the two. With the enthusiasm of a small child he spoke up "Well, are we going to go to this place or whatever? I think I've been awake for four hours or so, and I've gotten pretty tired of this room. The addition of ancient salty fish smell didn't help. So whaddaya say, get done with the small talk on the way over?" ^^


(After a bit of thinking back and forth, I think I've caught his personality again. And on top of that, I posted! Hooray )