NotAHoneyBadger

Temperances Gather Info Check: A few eyewitness reports detail that the robbers are surprisingly non-violent. They not only refrain from pulling out firearms or any kind of melee weapons, they also allow shoppers and staff to flee. The robbers rarely, if ever, try to break into any safes or vaults on the premises, but rather make do with whatever is on display and leave, long before police can arrive. A few witnesses described the bikers as having yellow eyes and as behaving in a feral manner, such as growling and snarling at them. One eyewitness reveals the information that the bikers all have claws on the ends of their fingers. As far as Temperance can ascertain, none of the gang members have actually slashed anyone with them, or even injured anyone beyond some nasty bruises. (Which is immediately rendered obsolete with the newest DM post. One person has been injured.) The next few days I should be around often, and can answer questions for Fantoni in (hopefully) rapid succession. After that I am planning on posting a new DM post roughly once a week, give or take a day. I hope that is enough time to avoid rushing anyone. And of course, if everyone has replied to a post and seems to be ready to move on, I will update sooner than one week if I am able.

April 25th, 10:17 a.m. West End, Sid's Cafe With the entire group assembled and pleasantries just exchanged, the knock on the door from Detective Fantoni is extremely timely. He pushes open the door a crack and announces his arrival again before entering, clearly giving anyone who wishes a chance to put on a mask. The detective is dressed smartly in a cream-colored suit and a red tie. While the clothes themselves are impeccable, the man himself seems ragged, with unkempt, dirty-blond hair, 5 o'clock stubble, and bags under the eyes. He does his best to give a warm smile nevertheless. "Good to see you all here. I'm Detective Fantoni. I'm surprised at the amount of interest this string of robberies has garnered. I know a couple of you already... Terrifica." He gives a nod. "Regardless, I'm not here to step on toes. I truly appreciate the help." After introductions conclude, the detective steps up to the table and tosses a folder onto it. "Down to business, I've got bad news and worse news. The bad news is they struck again. Granted, that means there is a fresh scene to examine, but still..." Fantoni flips open the folder and slides out a couple of pictures. One shows the storefront of a place called The Galerie, while the rest are pictures of the damage inside, smashed display cases, splintered wood, and... a frightful bloodstain on the sidewalk out front. "The worse news is that they've just put a cop in the hospital. Fantoni leans onto the table and lets out a sigh before continuing. "Officer Curtis Reagan, 21. Graduated from the academy less than two months ago. The poor kid wanders up as part of his beat, notices the robbery taking place, and tries to intervene. To the kid's credit, most rookies would either panic and freeze or pull out their service weapon and open fire. This kid at least has the good sense to call it in, then grab his taser rather than risk shooting a civilian fleeing the store. From what little Officer Reagan was able to tell us before he passed out, he tagged one of the robbers, which did nothing except piss the guy off. Next thing Reagan knows, he's got claws buried in his chest, teeth around his throat, and he's being thrown into the side of the building, two stories up." The detective shakes his head. "They don't teach you about that in the academy. Reagan collides with a second-floor window, tumbles down onto the pavement. Backup and EMTs arrive minutes later, and the kid is taken to the hospital. No one else was injured, but Reagan is in critical condition with... well, I'll spare you the details. Lots of broken bones and cuts, plenty of internal damage. He's in critical condition now, and it's a flip of the coin on whether he'll make it. The detective stands up and looks around the room, taking in reactions and faces, before finding himself a chair to sit in. "So, these robbers were low priority before, just because they didn't hurt anyone outside of a couple bruises. Now they're on the top of ever district's most wanted for touching a cop. I'm afraid the next time they're sighted by a cop, it's going to be a shooting gallery. Not only will the robbers get killed, but we're running the risk of some gung-ho, wannabe Clint Eastwood in uniform tagging a few civilians in the process of getting revenge. We're on a time crunch. Now, I've got to get back to the office and try and sort this out before some rookie with something to prove stumbles into these guys. Hopefully you guys can capture the robbers before that happens. Any questions?"

All right, let's try doing this from my phone. Sorry for the wait, people. I'm thinking about moving the IC thread forward a little by having the detective show up, and letting heritage join when he is ready, as he hasn't shown up yet. I'm not particularly familiar with the average post rate on this site, so if that's normal, let me know. Replica only manages to do the most cursory amount of research before she is called in to work on an emergency. Some careless researcher forgotten to turn off some running computers, overheating and alarms occurred, and people panicked. It was brutal (slightly hilarious). Regardless, all Replica learned is that werewolves are weak to silver, and that she couldn't find any evidence that the bikers were particularly infamous in the underworld. Temperance finds a plethora of "imaginary friends" with a lot of insight on lycanthropy. Classical werewolves (those that transform) are usually tied to the moon, although not necessarily. These are the only lycanthropes weak to silver. However, because the attacks happen in daylight, Temperance confirms LittleMissTerrific's assumption that these aren't the types of werewolves they are dealing with. No, it is more likely that the bikers are men imprinted with an animal soul. The imprinting can be natural, something from birth, or the result of a ritual that "forces" the spirit of an animal into a human body. Neither have any particular elemental weaknesses, but neither are particularly resistant to damage either. Punching them into submission or unconsciousness would work just fine. That said, both types are skittish towards loud noises and fire. They are difficult to intimidate... but not to frighten into fleeing or confusion. The main benefit of an animal soul seems to be enhanced physical strength and speed, enhanced senses like hearing and smell, and sometimes the ability to aqcuire natural weapons like fangs and claws. The latter type, those that have had a spirit forced into a human via ritual, can have the magic undone by another ritual. It would take Temperance some more time to research this ritual, however. The final piece of information that Temperance learns is that those with wolf souls can form packs, making them unwaveringly loyal to each other, and also allowing them to communicate silently, using visual cues or noises not audible to normal humans. Phone is hard to use. I'll edit this to give you your Gather Information results, but they overlap with Terrifica's anyway.

That would be up to you lovely folks. Terrifica has already arrived in costume. Would Replica show up in superhero attire as well? Showing up out of costume would not risk your identity except to the other heroes, but bear in mind that a detective will arrive. Showing up in costume would draw attention from patrons, but not in any adverse sort of way. After all, heroes gotta eat, too. Terrifica manages to get a hold of the security camera footage of a couple of locations that were hit. In it, she discovers that there are seven gang members in total. From the footage you find that the gang members eschew firearms entirely, or at the very least, refrain from drawing them. At first glance they appear to use mindless smash-and-grab tactics, but closer inspection reveals that they are employing tactics to minimize any injuries. They not only freely allow customers and clerks to flee, but encourage it by driving them out the door. While three bikers deal with that, three more take whatever they can get their hands on. They seem to focus on speed rather than monetary value when selecting what to take, smashing display cases rather than trying to break into the back. One biker always stands outside the shop, both as lookout and extra "encouragement" to keep the runners running. The gang never stays more than one or two minutes, often leaving behind plenty of valuables for the sake of speed. As a result, the only law enforcement the gang has had to deal with are guards within the shops themselves, all of whom were simply rushed and pinned to the floor before they could react. Because witnesses are sent running immediately as the robbery begins, eyewitness accounts tell little not apparent in camera footage. However, a few witnesses described the bikers as having yellow eyes and as behaving in a feral manner, such as growling and snarling at them. One eyewitness reveals the information that the bikers all have claws on the ends of their fingers. As far as Terrifica can ascertain, none of the gang members have actually slashed anyone with them, or even injured anyone beyond some nasty bruises.

Just limit yourself to one or two for the time being. There will be ample opportunity for these kinds of checks in the future. You can make a gather information check to do something like learn eyewitness testimonies, or even just a precise number of bikers. Or make a check using any knowledge skill you think may be appropriate. Something like Arcane Lore to study lycanthropy, but if you can make a case for another knowledge check, you can use that. An example would be using Tactics to derive information about the thieves based on any strategy (or lack thereof) that they use when raiding stores. I suppose a better way of putting it is that the only details you know so far is what is in the original IC thread. If you are dying to learn a detail that has not been mentioned, or want to extrapolate more from a known detail, make a case for a skill and roll the dice.

Are you talking about contacting the detective? No roll needed, he's eager to get outside help. If you're talking about the knowledge checks, they'd be for learning more about lycanthropy, or learning more about the robberies, or maybe about what was stolen. It's up to you really, if and where you want to direct your energies before arriving.

OOC thread for this thread. To start off, anyone who wants to have done digging the night before can roll for Gather Information or any Knowledge Check you believe may be appropriate. Also, because Terrifica provided a phone number to a detective on the case, let me know if you want to have contacted him to meet you at the cafe.

GM April 25th, 10:00 a.m. West End, Sid's Cafe After a few more messages sent back and forth, a meeting time and place had been set for Sid's Cafe. It had everything the heroes could want, ranging from coffee and baked goods to cider and salads, but most importantly, it had a small, second floor dining room that they could reserve. With four walls, a closed door, and creaking stairs leading up, it provided ample privacy to discuss their business while also satisfying the desire of some for a public meeting place. Arriving at Sid's gives a warm welcome in the form of tempting aromas. Judging from the crowd of people in the bottom floor happily chatting as they sip their coffee, brunch seems to be a busy time for Sid. Thankfully for those who order food, the staff behind the counter keep the line moving quickly and efficiently. The decor is precisely what one would expect from a highly modern cafe. None of the tables are of the same design, nor are the chairs. The only common thread between them is that they are wooden. The restaurant has a purple wallpaper decorated with fleur-de-lis, although hardly any remain visible under the mass of pictures and various idiosyncratic junk mounted on the walls. Regardless of one's tastes towards the design choices, the second floor proves adequate for the heroes' devices, sequestered away from the customers downstairs. The table in the middle of the roof is large enough to accommodate eight, although on one side it has a long, purple sofa instead of chairs. Along the walls of the room are three more tables, all designed to seat two people. Along one wall and leading out onto a veranda are a pair of french doors letting in the majority of the room's light. Judging from the hum of muffled conversation from below, it is apparent that the walls are thick enough to keep a quiet conversation within the room.

In that case I'll get to work on putting up Case 3 and its OOC thread later today / early tomorrow. It looks like I've got Heritage (Miracle Girl), Pheonix (Terrifica), Tiff (Miss Grue). and Trollthumper (Temperance) (and possibly Cubismo's Replica, depending on which case he decides to join). And I think just to get things moving, I'll take Temperance's suggestion from the IC thread and start you fellas off at a cafe to meet, unless someone voices an objection between now and then. Since Pheonix doesn't have any particular direction for the case he needs me to accommodate, I'll use the opening introductions to, you know, finish making it up

I mean... I don't mind running two at once. I've got the time. That being said, I'm not going to complain if you guys want to lighten the load Also, I think it's fair to assume Kai is MIA at this point? Should we start without him, or wait a little longer?

I'd be grateful if you or another could GM case #1. I don't mind taking on the other two, though. 3 games is just a little much at once, and I'm not a fan of being both a GM and a player in the same game.

So far it looks like I'm GMing all three.

Honestly, I'd just rather not run the game that I am in (Case #1). If we can get one person to take that case, I'll run the other two, if need be. Just, uh... keep in mind that I haven't run M&M in a fairly long time. Anyone in a game I am GMing should double check my work for errors.

Micah's face fell as the group brought up stealth. She would have problems in that department. The student tried sitting back again, and again almost fell off her stool. "Son of a..." That was that. With no more pancakes to eat, Micah relocated to the living room, where there were plenty of chair with wonderful, wonderful backs to slouch against. Once she was comfortably curled up, Micah returned to typing messages. As for case #3, Micah had already mentioned that she felt it was less pressing. Besides that, she had no knowledge of magic or anything like that. Several members had mentioned they were well versed in the supernatural, so she felt it would be best to leave such work to them. Despite that, Micah couldn't help but reminisce over the first crime she had stopped, which had also been a matter of dealing with some jewel thieves. "Ahhh... good times... except, you know, the part where I got shot. And the whole "burning down my dorm" thing. And the sickening terror and panic. And the horrible, excruciating pain of transforming, and you know what, actually everything about that night kinda sucked. Screw stopping gem thefts." Boom. Sent. Butterflies held a party in Micah's stomach. She was really doing this. She was actually going to meet up with an actual superhero and actually save a kidnapped child. "Holy crap, what do I do? I can't let them know who I am. How do I hide that? Do I meet them in Wharton, so no one sees me transform? How will we recognize each oth- oh, right, glowing rock monster." At least that was easily sorted. "Ugh... I should have planned more than not at all..." There was no going back now. Micah sat waiting, panicking, utterly enraptured with the computer screen until someone replied to her.

Micah understood almost nothing of what NiceIceQueen just said. Micah took that as a sign that she knew plenty about mystical phenomena. Micah was mostly curious to see what the genius of the group would surmise that the rest of them hadn't. "How did she describe it? She could out-perform super-computers... right." Micah couldn't help but feel jealous. If only she had gotten such intelligence from the accident, instead of... what she did get. She would have been able to continue her studies in peace, excelling far beyond anything she had previously done. She wouldn't have to worry about how others would look at her. There wasn't much use in grumbling about it, though. Micah was stuck with what she had gotten, and she had to deal with it, make the most of it. It occurred to Micah that she didn't actually know how much damage she could cause. She had held back quite a bit against the jewel thieves she took out before. Out in Wharton State Forest, testing her powers, she still didn't push herself, and she had managed to make her own clearing. Although, it looked less like a clearing and more like a warzone. Micah decided that if she got the chance, she would be a good idea to head out to her usual spot and really let loose, just to see what kind of damage she could do, rather than test it out in the streets of the city.

Yet another new individual arrived. With LittleMissTerrific's help, and everyone else's, there was a chance that all three cases could be looked into... although that would leave little manpower distributed to each. Perhaps it was better only to take on one or two. Reading over the newcomer's assessments again, Micah couldn't help but be both impressed and put off. On the one hand, they were brutally to the point. No pleasantries, barely anything in the way of greeting. Beyond that, though, they were very efficient. No time was wasted in formulating mock plans, including specific points of interest to investigate. Micah waited on replies to her question while thinking about ???'s comment. "Prefer meeting in person be done in private, at night..." It was painfully obvious how little Micah actually knew about any of them. A comment like that would normally sound like an invitation to be gutted with a broken bottle in some back alley. Strangely enough, Micah wasn't particularly worried, likely a side effect of having survived being shot. "Be more careful, Mikes... it might have been a fluke, and they might have bigger guns. Stay smart." Regardless, Micah still wanted a private meeting. It would be easier for her to arrive transformed, rather than as herself, and without tipping off her "fan-boys" or letting anyone see her transform.

Introduction Who are you? Sum yourself up in one sentence. I'm a college student who has been turned into... something else. Do you have any nicknames, street names, titles, or nom de plume? Some friends call me Mikes, Mikey, Em, Terra, Terry... I don't really mind what nicknames people use. What is your full birth name? Micah Nichole Terran. Where do you live? Freedom City Uni dorms! ...er, well, until I lit them on fire, that is. On accident! But, yeah. I'm staying with a friend at the moment How old are you? What year were you born (if applicable)? I'm 25, born 1993 Physical Traits What is your gender? If not applicable, please explain. Female. How would you describe your heritage? White Redneck. My parents are named Cliff and Loraine, for crying out loud. How tall are you? 5'4" What is your body type? Small, athletic. Do you have any particular weaknesses, such as allergies or physical disabilities? I can't stand the cold. How do you carry yourself? Are you graceful, or heavy on your feet? Can you be stealthy, do you walk with confidence? Hehehe... not really graceful. I weigh over 400lbs, so yeah, I'm heavy on my feet. Not stealthy, but I can walk with confidence thanks to me being a walking tank and all. Describe your skin, eye, and hair color. White skin, amber eyes, copper hair. How do you wear your hair, if applicable? Do you have facial hair? Braids, ponytails, and buns mostly. I have to keep my hair up in the lab. No facial hair. Do you consider yourself attractive? Do others? Pfft... even if I was before, I doubt I am now. I can't wear makeup, and it looks like I have a skin condition. I hope others find me attractive, but... well, I wouldn't bet on it. Do you have any scars, tattoos, piercings, or birthmarks? I had scars, but they're gone. No tattoos, no piercings, not even earrings. I would have lost them in the change anyways. Kinda the same with birthmarks... any I had are covered up by all these blotches, and they're just side effects of the change. I think they're chunks of rock close to the skin. Do you resemble anyone famous? I don't know... when I'm Igneous, I think I look like Te Kā from Moana... does that count? Do you have a dominant hand? Left handed. What kind of clothing do you wear? Not that I was much of a fashionista before, but now I wear cheap crap. Whenever I transform, my clothing rips or catches fire. Thank goodness for Goodwill. Do you wear makeup? No, nothing would set, as hot as I am now. What is your vocal range? Is your voice distinctive in some way? My range is f***ing fantastic, if you count Igneous. I drop like, eight or nine octaves or something. Do you have any distinctive habits, nervous tics, or mannerisms? Where did they come from, and what causes them? Do other people notice and remark on these habits? Do they annoy you or other people? I have a habit of wisecracking when I'm nervous. And oh boy, do people point it out. they're all like "Take things seriously," and "This is a funeral, show some respect..." That last one was a joke, by the way. In case you couldn't tell. History Where do you come from? The middle of nowhere Indiana Have you made any major moves, or do you live in your hometown? I moved all the way to FC. Before that, I've always lived in Celestine. Do you feel loyal to your country of citizenship? Do you consider yourself patriotic? How do you feel about the government of your country? Loyal? Ehh... I don't get mixed up in politics. I'm not a huge fan of the government. I think they could be a lot worse, but... you know. Greed gets in the way of things. How do you feel about the place you come from? I like to make fun of it, but honestly? It's really beautiful, and I do miss the quiet sometimes. Where is your home town? What was/is it like? Celestine, down in southern Indiana. It has like 300 people. That should tell you all you need to know. Growing up, were most of the people you knew similar to you, or were you somehow a minority? How did that affect you? No, pretty much all white folks there. The only way I was a minority was that I wanted to leave. Everyone supported me, so... I did. Is there something you've always been really good at or really bad at? How has that affected your life? I've always been good at studying... jeez, I'm such a nerd. But, yeah... that made me want to get a doctorate. It drove me to get scholarships, move to FC... pretty much everything. Were there any traumatic experiences in your early years (death of a family member, abandonment, orphaned at an early age)? Nothing really traumatic. Briefly describe a defining moment in your childhood and how it influenced your life. My science teacher claimed that the moon had no gravity, and that the astronauts didn't float away because they had... get this... heavy boots. I know, right? Anyways, I started homeschool the next year. It allowed me more time to study on my own. What stupid things did you do when you were younger? I went joyriding, once in a tractor, I shoplifted, I tipped cows... I, uh... I brewed my own alcohol and sold it to other kids, trying to save for college. Looking back... I must have been a nightmare for my parents. Where did you go to school? How much school did you have, and did you enjoy it? The only real schooling I got was at home, from my parents or by myself. I loved homeschool, especially when it was just me. Do you have any mementos of your childhood? What are they, and why did you keep them? If you have none, why not? I don't have any... they were all burned in the dorm fire... When did you decide to become a hero? Why? Did anyone influence you one way or another in the decision? I decided to fight crime because I wanted some kicks, honestly. Sure, I like doing the right thing, but until now I always thought I wouldn't really be doing anything no one else could. My professor steered me onto this path. I'm... I'm also afraid that if I don't establish myself as a hero... people will see me as a monster... Is the reason you give people for becoming a hero different than your real reason? If so, why? I don't really give a reason. I try not to talk to civilians as Igneous, and if other heroes ask... well, I think the real reason would put them off. Do you have any deep, dark secrets in the past that may come back to haunt you? Not... really? Do you represent yourself as being different from who you really are? Why? Of course I do. I'm a rock creature. Can't exactly go repping that all day, can I? If you do have these secrets, what do you fear would happen if the truth became known? How far would you go to protect those secrets? I know what would happen. People would hunt me, like f***ing Big-Foot or a chupa-whatever. So yeah... I'd go pretty far. Do you have any sort of criminal record? If so, is it public knowledge? Pfft... pretty sure I answered this in the "stupid things when you were younger" question. It isn't public, and I wasn't even charged or written up over anything. Due to varying amounts of not getting caught and cops letting me off easy. Small town, and all. Family What are your biological parents' names? Loraine and Cliff. Were you raised by them? If not, please explain and describe who raised you. Yup. What was their standing in the community? What did/do they do for a living? Their standing was pretty much the same as everyone else's. Respectable, well-liked... they own a diner. Where are your parents now? Still in Celestine. Did your family stay in one area or move around a lot? Always Celestine. How did you get along with their parents? How do you get along with them now (if applicable). Well, I was a little nightmare as a kid, so... We get along great now. Especially since I paid my way into college. How do your parents view you now, or how would they? They think I'm just a studious girl. If they knew I was Igneous... I don't want to think about that... Do you have any siblings? If so how many and what are their names? Describe your relationship with them. None. Do you stay in touch with them or have you become estranged? I keep in touch with Mom and Dad. I call them at least twice a week, usually more. Do you love or hate one member of the family in particular? No. But I do feel like my dad understands me a little better. My mom was really against my coming to FCU, it being so far away and all. He came through for me and convinced her to let me go. Is any member of the family special to you in any way (perhaps, as a confidant, mentor, or arch-rival)? Maybe since I gave a tidbit about Dad, I'll tell one about Mom, too. She's the one who taught me how to get out of trouble with the police. That information... ohh, I've put it to use. Thanks Mom. Are there any black (or white) sheep in the family (including you)? If so, please explain. Me. I went to college. Do you have a notorious or celebrated ancestor? If so, please explain, including how it has affected your life. Nope. Every ancestor gets a little spot in the limelight... within our family only, of course. We have picture dating back to the invention of the camera, let me tell you. And every single one of them is a small town farmer or Rural King cashier or something like that. Do you have a partner and children currently? If so, please describe them. I didn't date much while I was in college. Not much time to. So no, I don't. No children, no boyfriend. If you do not have a partner or children, do you want them someday? How firm are you in your opinion on this, and what might change your mind? I would like to get a boyfriend, but I don't think that's a good idea. Just with this whole hero business, and university, I definitely don't have time right now. Also, I... uh... I might have lost my chance at the whole... you know? AGGHH! I can't have sex! I might burn his junk! Anyways... yeah... I don't think I can have kids, either. Can't have a baby in the oven when it's a literal oven, yeah? Yeah... I would have liked to, but... Can we not talk about this anymore, please? What type of person would be your ideal mate? ...Fireproof. Relationships Do you have any close friends? If so, please describe them, and how you came to be close to them. Yeah, I've made a few friends. Let's see... there's Davin. He's the cool, aloof type of student, you know? Olivia, quirky, cute, really smart, but shy until you get to know her. Of all the people I've met through classes, those two are the ones I'm closest to. I'm close to my roommate, Ange. I met Andrew and Sydney and Adam in the cafeteria, we play board games every now and then, and then there are the guys from the market, and the coffee shop... Ahem... sorry. I like people. Do you have a best friend? If so, how did they become your best friend? How close are you to your best friend? Doctor Christopher Sallai. He's my professor. He's been looking out for me ever since I was an undergrad, really. And now, he's the only one who knows I'm Igneous. He was a huge help, and a real comfort when all that chaos around the accident and the transformation was happening. If you were to go missing, who would worry about you? I'd like to think a lot of people would. My parents, my friends, Dr. Sallai... Have you lost any loves? If so, how did it happen, and what did you do? No, not really. I've never dated longer than a week. Guys before college bored me, and I haven't had time during college. Do you have any bitter enemies? If so, please describe them and their history with you. Just those idiots who keep try to videotape Igneous as "The Wharton Forest Monster" or whatever. If you have enemies, how do you think they might attempt to work against you in the future? Hahahaha... they're harmless. They'll keep doing what they do, running into the woods, blindly looking for me. What is the worst thing someone has done to you? I had a stalker once who tied hitting me. I kicked the crap out of him, the piece of- Where do your loyalties lie? In what order? Uh... I didn't realize I needed a hierarchy? Who or what do you trust the most? Why? Dr. Sallai. He's helped me through a lot of crazy s***. Who or what do you despise? Why? Those idiots at university on their parents' dime that don't care, don't study, and just party. Such a waste... What qualities do you admire most in other people? Are these qualities you possess? A sense of humor, determination, intelligence. I'd say that I absolutely possess these. What qualities do you hate most in other people? Do you have any of those qualities? Willful ignorance, laziness, possessiveness. And no, I'm none of those. Do you have a secret identity? If so, who knows it? Do you hide it from people who are close to you? Why? Igneous is my secret, I guess you could call him an identity. I hide it from everyone except Dr. Sallai. He's the only one who understands, and anyone else would just call me a monster. Do you work well on teams and in groups? Are you a leader or a follower? I work pretty well. I don't really care whether I lead or follow, but if I think things aren't getting done, I'll take charge. Are you on a super team? If so, how do you get along with your comrades? Do you trust them, or do you have secrets from them? Not really, although maybe I'll join one...? Who knows. Are you a member of any church, fraternal organization, club, committee, political party, or other group? How much time do you spend on that? I'm Catholic. I go to church on Sundays, spend some time at adoration chapels. I think once I've got my degree, I'll put more time into it. Personality & Beliefs Who are your heroes? Marie Curie, Leonardo DaVinci, Charles Lyell... Pythagoras? Did you ever become disillusioned with former heroes or idols? If so, why and what were the circumstances? No, not really. The T-Rex was the biggest hero let-down of my childhood, and that's not really his fault... gentle nuzzler... come on... Do you like being a hero? If so, what is the most rewarding part? If not, what makes you keep doing it? I like the rush, the thrill. Is there anything that would make you give up hero work, or even switch sides? Switch sides? I sure hope not. Give it up? Definitely. If I can get rid of Igneous, go back to normal. What are your short term goals (what would you like to be doing within a year)? Pass all my classes. Not die to some super-villain. What are your long term goals (what would you like to be doing twenty years from now)? I'd like to be a volcanologist. What is your greatest fear? Why? What do you do when something triggers this fear? I'm afraid that Igneous and Micah will be connected, because then my life will be ruined. I won't get to be Micah anymore. When something triggers that fear... I go nuclear... Is there anything you would give you life for? I... I don't know. That's not bad... is it? How do you feel about money and material wealth? Do you desire it or disdain it? Are you miserly with what you have, or do you like to share? Is it a mark of success, or a means to an end? Sure, I desire it. I wouldn't, like, steal or hurt people for it. But all things being equal, not being poor is better than being poor. I'm not really a miser, I just don't by much. I share in the way a college student does... buying snacks and pizza for my friends every now and then. How do you generally treat others? I like to think I'm really friendly. Are you a trusting person? Has your trust ever been abused? I'm pretty trusting, and that's gone all right for me so far. Are you introverted (shy and withdrawn) or extroverted (outgoing)? Do you have a lot of self-confidence? Extroverted, absolutely. I've got plenty of confidence. How do you act around attractive, available members of your preferred sex? I don't really think about that the first time I meet someone. I'm just not the "love at first sight" kind of gal, I guess, so I treat them like anyone else. What are your most annoying habits? I've been told I get in people's personal space when I talk to them. That's less of a problem now, because I don't want to overheat them with Igneous inside me, and all. Do you feel contempt for any general category of people? Who are they, and why? Not really... Nazis, I guess? Doesn't everyone, though? What is your favorite food? Do you prefer any particular type of food? Do you take the time to enjoy your food, or do you eat as fast as you can? I loooooove pancakes. For real, though. Can't get enough, I'll take any filling, be it chocolate, fruit, potatoes with onion and garlic... ooh, baby! And I eat kinda slow. I want to make sure I enjoy that sweet, sweet pancake-y goodness! What is your favorite drink (alcoholic or otherwise)? Water's good. So's lemonade... or rum, whiskey, bourbon... I don't really do a lot of fancy cocktail, or sodas. What is your favorite treat (dessert)? Peanut butter and chocolate pancakes with whipped cream. Are there any specific foodstuffs that you find disgusting or refuse to eat? I can't stand eggplant for some reason. It feels weird when I chew it. What is your favorite color? Are there any colors you dislike? I'm not six. What sort of music do you like? Is there any that you hate? I hate country. I hate it. Rap is good. It's just... poetry, plain and simple. I like other genres too, classical to rock, but I always fall back on rap. If you have a favorite scent, what is it? Pancakes. Do you have a favorite animal? Pancakes... wait, no, that doesn't work. Uhhh... quick... octopus! I like octopuses. What is your most treasured possession? Why? A necklace that my mom gave me. It's one of the few things I have from my parents that wasn't burned away in the dorm fire. Do you enjoy "roughing it", or do you prefer your creature comforts? I just need a computer, a roof and four walls, and basic environmental control. I'll sleep on a blanket on the floor if I need. Is there a job or a task you would absolutely refuse to do? Mmmm... never thought about it, but I'd probably do just about anything if I needed to. Do you consider yourself a spiritual person? If so, how do your beliefs affect your life? How important is it to you? Very much so. My beliefs drove me to be the best person I could be. Only one life, and it's a gift, so I try to do the most I can with it. Was your faith influenced or molded by anyone special? There was a priest back home who understood why I hated school so much. He pushed me to be more than what other people expected. If you belong to a religious organization, how often do you attend? Do you have a specific place of worship, or friends within the organization? How much do you agree with the beliefs of your organization? At least once a week, I go to the same church every time. I've got a few friends there, people that go to the same mass. Sometimes we even go get brunch together after. I agree with the beliefs pretty closely... nothing sticks out as being a point of contention. Could you kill? Have you killed? I have never, ever killed, although I once kicked a pervert's head so far up his own... ahem... sorry. Could I? I sure hope not. Problem is, Igneous makes it real easy for me to. That scares me. What circumstances led to you forming that conviction, or taking that action? Murder is wrong, and there are very, very few circumstances where there isn't a non-lethal way to avoid death. Granted, sometimes it is unavoidable... but I think a lot of people give up on non-lethal methods a little too quickly. Are there circumstances under which you believe it is permissible to kill? What are they? Absolutely. If someone's life is in danger, and they can't run, no other option... then self-defense is permissible. How would you react to watching someone kill another person? Would your reaction be different if the killer was a friend or an enemy of yours? I'd probably flip out. And yeah, I'd flip out more if it was a friend. How would you react if something important was stolen from you? I'd be upset, but... stuff is stuff. It can get replaced. How would you react to public humiliation? Eeesh... not well. I like having friends, and I really like knowing people like me. How would you react if a good friend or relative were purposely or accidentally killed? Has it happened to you? It's never happened, and I hope it never does. I'd probably hunt down the killer and... well, I hope it doesn't happen. What do you consider to be the worst crime someone could commit and why? Murder. No one can recover from death. If your life were to end in 24 hours, what five things would you do in those remaining hours? I'd write a book, from scratch, and leave a note for Dr. Sallai to find. Each chapter would be one hour, and it'd all be pretty much unedited, whatever I wanted to write about my life, as Micah, as Igneous. I figure it'd be pretty good, interesting and unique at least, and it'd probably set my parents up well. In the book, I could address all the final words I want to say to my friends and family. I'd hate to just... sit there, waste it, you know? Career & Training Do you have any special training in your hero skills? If so, where and how did you get it? No training, whatsoever. I'm looking into getting some martial arts training, or something. Who taught you the most about your heroing abilities? What was your relationship with that person? As usual, I'm self-taught. Do you have any particularly unusual skills? How did you acquire them? Yeah, and I got them all from Igneous... oh, you mean mundane skills? I used to work as a farmhand. I can operate farm equipment, look after cattle, stuff like that. Do you do something besides hero work for a living? Have you ever done anything else, or do you plan to? I'm an assistant to Dr. Sallai. I plan to get a doctorate and acquire a job reflecting such. What is your preferred combat style? Redneck brawling. I go in aggressive, and overwhelm my opponents. I don't know enough to get fancier than that. Have you ever received any awards or honours? Plenty. Science awards as a kid, academic honors, dean's list... that sort of stuff. What skill areas would you like most to improve in? Is there anything you can't do that you wish desperately you could? I want to gain more control with Igneous. He's a beast, and it's hard to reign in. I want to learn boxing, or something. I haven't encountered anything I couldn't do. Nothing is impossible to learn if you work hard enough. How do you act around people who are more skilled than you in areas you'd like to improve? Are you jealous, or do you try and learn? I'm a little jealous... but I try to emulate them. It's the best way to learn. Lifestyle & Hobbies What is a normal day for you? How do you feel when something interrupts this routine? Normal days used to be waking up early, making pancakes, go to university, classes, work, lunch, more classes, more work, come home, dinner, unwind, sleep. I don't care if that gets interrupted, if anything it breaks the monotony. That was before the change, though. Now I have superheroics to deal with, getting in the way all the time. Do you have any hobbies, or interests outside hero work? What are they, and where did you pick them up? I have plenty of interests. All of them fields of study. My hobby is reading, watching documentaries. What do you do for fun? I study. Honestly, I'm just a huge nerd, nothing more. Do you have a costume? What does it look like? No, no costume. Igneous comes with a handy "turn into a rock monster." He even looks masculine, and changes my voice, so no one can tell it's me. How do you normally dress when not in costume? Sweatshirt, sweatpants, tanktops... cheap clothes. What do you wear to bed most nights? Same. Do you wear any special jewelry? What is it, and what does it look like? I wear the necklace from my mother, that I mentioned earlier. It's just a simple silver chain with a coin on it. Do you have a special place where you keep your valuables? Nope. Not many valuables to speak of. What's your preferred means of local travel? How about long distance? Local, I use a bike or a bus. If it's not across the city, I can run. I don't really travel long-distance, so I don't know. Plane, I guess? Miscellaneous Have you ever made a will, or tried to make arrangements for your death? What provisions did you make? No, I probably should though. I used to think it was really far off, but now... I'm not so sure. If your features were to be destroyed beyond recognition, is there any other way of identifying your body? Jeez, grim much? Yeah, my body wouldn't be human. It'd be made of rock, mostly. I suppose that's unique enough. What would you like to be remembered for after your death? Why so much talk about me dying? Do you believe you pose a threat to the public? Why or why not? Yeah, not on purpose though. Igneous is really powerful. If I don't keep him in check, I could easily hurt someone. What do you perceive as your greatest strength? My determination. What do you perceive as your greatest weakness? Extreme cold, or maybe the threat of people close to me thinking I'm a monster. Perhaps even my temper. As a player, if you could, what advice would you give your character? Speak as if he/she were sitting right here in front of you. Use proper tone so they might heed your advice... Firstly, Micah, keep your head cool. You'll make a fantastic hero, just give it dedication and time, as long as you don't lose your temper and you plan ahead. Second, and you won't like this, but look into why you changed during the accident. It wasn't so random as you believe.

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The image bounces up and down roughly, and sways side to side a little less so. The camera shooting the dense, dimly lit forest is handheld, and the cameraman is walking at a brisk pace. The shot features a young man somewhere around the age of twenty, with dark skin and medium length, curly black hair and the sides of his head shaved close, who is trekking his way through the woods as well. The man looks back at the camera and smiles, giving off the air of a college frat boy. "Yo, today we're gonna find it, man!" he says, laughing excitedly. The camera quickly swivels as the cameraman brings it around to face himself. He has short red hair, pale skin, freckles, and the same grin. He chimes in, "We're gonna find the Wharton Forest Monster!" The shot cuts away from inside the forest to Liberty Park, focusing on a woman, a small graphic at the bottom of the screen identifying her name as Linda. Linda recounts everything she knows about this so-called "Wharton Forest Monster." "I could hear it in the middle of the night, walking around, growling..." Less than impressive, Linda. The next shot has an older, bearded man wearing some kind of floppy fishing hat. "Dale," as the graphic so names, is clearly very eager to tell the world of this monster, his hands waving in the air and gesturing. "I saw this thing, and I was just... amazed. It was twelve feet tall, at least! I couldn't believe my eyes." Yes! Thank you, Dale! Now we're getting some kind of description! To bad it wasn't an accurate one. "I heard that it's some kind of... of... Native American spirit." Landon, you just sound like an idiot. "It's some kind of freak! It's got four arms with claws!" No, Clara, it doesn't. Just the two, claws not included. After two more "interviews," the video cut back to the two men hiking through the woods. The vaguely dramatic music track in the background just starts to get annoying, when it quickly vanishes. A few seconds later, the two men stop in their tracks as a faint CRACK! echoes through the woods. A louder one follows soon. The two men begin loudly hissing at each other to quiet down, then giggle some more. They begin moving faster, in the direction the sound came from. The image shakes wildly as the camera bounces around in the running man's hand, making the screen almost incomprehensibly blurry. There is a quick jump cut forward in time. The periodic cracks are still sounding off every few seconds, but they are much louder. They sound almost like gunshots at this point. One of the men whispers, "It's close! It's close! Quiet!" and the camera stops violently shaking. The two intrepid investigators slow down to almost a crawl, intending to sneak up on their target. The leaves are still crunching under their feet with obscene volume. CRACK!... CRACK! The noise of the monster is so loud by now that it couldn't be more than a hundred or so feet away. The two finally figure out that they can time their steps with the cracking sounds. The trees are showing no sign of thinning, but one of the men whispers, "There's a clearing up ahead." The sound stops, as do the two monster hunters. For several moments, neither speak. The black man makes a motion and mouths "I'm going in." He crunches his way forward a few steps, slowly, then leans back and forth, trying to get a good look around the trees. Then he beckons the camera closer. The image moves forward, bounces far less than normal as the cameraman walks slowly and carefully. The camera peeks around into the clearing. All along the ground are small pockets, holes of displaced earth about half a foot in diameter. An embankment on the far side of the clearing is embedded with rocks of about the same size, as well as pockmarks. Also near the embankment are large jutting stones poking out of the ground. The two men quietly freak out to each other as they look for the monster. They step forward into the clearing, the camera swiveling back and forth, scanning the area. "Yo, this has to be it, man," one says. The other replies, "Where is it? It was just here, man." Suddenly the snapping and rustling of branches and twigs can be heard. Both men turn to their left and begin rushing toward its source. They scramble up the embankment and hurry into the woods again. Then behind them comes another noise, that of someone running, crunching leaves. The camera whips around to catch a blurry glimpse of a tall, dark figure sprinting into the woods. "That's it! That's-" The image of the two running after it pauses, and Micah looks up from the cellphone in her hands. She raises an eyebrow at her friends, the two of them eagerly awaiting her response. "Well, I felt like I was watching a worse version of Blair Witch the whole time." Micah's friends collectively throw their hands up and sigh oh so painfully, but all of them smile. "Come on, Mikes," Olivia says. "What about that thing at the end? What about the holes and the rock spikes or whatever?" Micah laughs. "Any and all of that could have been staged. I mean, come on, all of the holes and stuff could have been done in an hour, and the 'monster' was probably a dude in a costume. Why else would all these monster images be so blurry all the time?" Davin takes his phone back from Micah. "You're no fun, Micah. Just entertain the idea, for us." A teasing grin is plastered over his face. "Really? I can list five supers that can fly, right now, off the top of my head. And you care more about Wharton Big-Foot?" Davin shrugs. "The mystery is only fun while it stays a mystery." Olivia chimes in. "Besides, it's good to stay informed on potential weird stuff. Knowing this city, a monster like that is probably a villain. Anyways, We've got to get back. Later, Micah." She and Davin turn and walk off, leaving Micah's heart shattered into a million pieces. "Probably a villain..." Micah had been right not to let anyone know what had happened to her, that she turned into a freak. If anyone ever saw her as that creature... But it made sense, didn't it? That's what people did, all the time. When they encounter something strange, they assume the worst. Even in a city with the impossible, men and women with superhuman strength and speed, psychics and telekinesis, genius millionaires building freeze rays, anything that strayed just a little too far from acceptable came under scrutiny. When Micah transformed, she didn't look human, that was enough, enough to say she was a monster. It didn't matter that she hadn't hurt anyone, ever... you were seen as a villain until you proved you were a hero. Once people saw you that way, you weren't allowed to be anonymous, to pick some ambiguous middle ground. You couldn't be like everyone else. You were either evil or good. "A monster like that... like me..."

Igneous Welcome to Crimebusting Monthly! (5) Night Light [Solo] Vignette Reputation HellQ

My character is not established, either, and it's not a problem. Beyond that, you could also just say that Incognito has performed jobs "off screen," so to speak, or even play it out asynchronously, posting Incognito's debut during or after joining this game.

Christopher leaned in at Cookie's explanation of her powers, eyebrow raised. "Yes, I would be inclined to agree, Micah. Unique and interesting." "I can ask her out for you, if you want," Micah quipped, smirking. She rested her head on her hands while she thought up her next response. StarGirl was eager to meet, so was HrdHat, perhaps. Micah initially felt put off at the idea of meeting so soon. "I don't even know what form I'm going to arrive in, what secrets I am willing and unwilling to tell... I need more time." On the other hand, they didn't have that kind of time, did they? Micah settled on a response and typed it in. Micah leaned back to think, forgetting she was on a stool, and nearly fell off. With a grumble, she resumed propping her head in her hands instead. While waiting for more replies, Micah started trying to determine what information about herself was critical to be shared with the others, as well as whether she wanted to portray any sort of fiction about herself to create a healthy cushion of anonymity.

Christopher placed the laptop on the kitchen counter top while Micah swiveled around to set down a heaping plate of syrupy pancakes. She took a look at the screen. "Hey. LittleMissTerrific already replied," she said, cutting into the pancakes. She took a bite before sitting down on a stool. A few bites later, and a second user replied. "All right, let's do this." Micah's fingers fluttered across the keys. #general Micah turned to Christopher and asked, "What does she mean about lycanthropy being about vikings, not werewolves?" Sallai shrugged. "Some vikings wore wolf-skins, and were sometimes identified loosely as 'wolfmen'. I wouldn't know what she means in this context, however." Micah returned to the keyboard, her fingers motionless for the time being. She liked the idea of testing her mettle against a gang of drugged up viking battleragers... but the other two cases seemed more pressing. The first one seemed... tame, compared to the second. Micah instantly felt a pang of guilt. "Really? You're willing to let a girl get kidnapped because you want to tussle with the mob?" However, either way, letting any of the cases go could lead to something bad happening, and unless a lot of people joined in, they wouldn't have the manpower to take on all three cases. Micah began typing again. #herostuff

Parkside 1:47 a.m. Micah knew where Dr. Sallai's home was. She and several other grad students had been invited over for dinner more than once. Micah moved from tree to tree in the park, dodging streetlamps and late-night pedestrians, doing her best not to be seen. Thankfully, those that did see her couldn't get a good look because of the darkness, and merely hurried away, unsure of Micah's appearance and intentions. Thus, Micah reached her professor's home without any problems. After a few deep breaths, Micah walked up the stairs to the front porch and rang the bell a few times. She could tell when the Professor got out of bed and began walking to the door due to her tremor-sense, and took a step back from the door. Her appearance would be a shock no matter what, but it would likely be at least a little better if she wasn't in Sallai's face when he opened the door. The porch light turned on and the door was opened just a crack, the chain still in place. The familiar face of Dr. Sallai, sleepy-eyed and bedraggled, peeped out from the crack. Upon seeing Micah, the professor startled back with a shout. Micah flinched and put up her hands, softly speaking to calm him down. "Doc, it's me... Micah." Sallai surprisingly didn't slam the door and call the cops. He leaned forward to peek throw the crack again. "Mi... Micah?" he tentatively asked. "What...?" Micah almost broke into tears again, but she held them back purely to avoid melting the porch. with a shuddering voice she replied, "The accident... it changed me..." Before she knew it, the door had been unchained and opened wide. "Don't worry, Micah. I can recognize any of my students, especially you, even if you look and sound like this." In front of Micah stood, open-armed, an understanding and concerned Dr. Sallai, no hint of disgust or fear on his face. Despite herself, Micah broke down and cried again. Sallai moved in to hug her, but she held up her hand and shook her hand. "Don't. I'll burn you... but thank you. Thank you so much... I can't tell you how happy it makes me to hear that." After a minute, Micah calmed down again. She wiped her magma-streaked face and made sure she wouldn't burn down her professor's house before accepting his invitation inside. The home was spacious, considering Sallai lived alone. His salary at FCU allowed it to live quite comfortably, it seemed. A kitchen, a bedroom, a living room, a study... it was everything a work-obsessed scholar could want. Few decorations dotted the space. Where candles or pictures or figurines would be in most homes, piles of papers and books lay scattered instead. Sallai led Micah into the living room and moved a pile of book off of the sofa for her to sit down. She poked the cushion tentatively, making sure she wouldn't burn them before taking a seat. The professor took a seat next to her and gently began asking questions. "So tell me, Micah, when you're ready... what happened?" Micah took a few moments to collect her thoughts and choose her words. "I set fire to my dorm room." Sallai opened his mouth to speak, by Micah waved her hand to quiet him. She knew what he would ask. "The second floor was pretty much consumed. I think the fire department kept the first and third from taking too much damage. I don't know if anyone was hurt... I... I hope not." Micah took a deep breath and looked Sallai right in the eyes. "I slept through it. The fire. I just lied there in bed, everything around me burning. I was on fire, and I didn't feel it. I wasn't like this, either." She motioned to her body. "I was still normal then. I jumped out the window... and then I ran away. I made it about a mile, or something. Almost to Wading Way. Then I turned into this. The pain went away afterwards, mostly, so at least there's that." "I have other powers, too. I'm strong, I'm fast, I can do some kind of crazy Avatar earth-bending stuff. I'm bulletproof, too, or bullet resistant, at least. Long story." Looking up, Micah saw Sallai's mouth open slightly, then close. He shook his head and blinked a few times, unsure of what to say. She was prepared for the interrogation, the inevitable storm of questions. But all he asked was, "Do you want to eat first, or go to bed first?" Micah's eyes widened, and she began to stutter questions, but Sallai raised is hand. "I think we both need time to process this. So... get some food, get some sleep, and we'll talk about this in the morning. Okay?" A sigh of relief escaped Micah. His suggestion was just what she needed. Micah nodded silently, then got up. She took a few more breaths. "Thank goodness. Okay... it's going to be okay. Dr. Sallai will help. I'm okay..." With the chaos of the night over and done with, Micah could finally relax. Her stomach growled ravenously. She sighed again, then shot her professor a sly grin. "Can we make late-night pancakes?"

"Micah! Get in here!" At the sound of Dr. Sallai's voice, Micah looked up from the pancakes she was making. "Yeah? What?" called back. No response. Micah glanced at the mountain of pancakes she already had plated and ready, almost drooling. "Take them with me... no, it'd be rude to drip syrup in the study." A sigh escaped her lips as she switched of the gas stove. "I'll be back, my loves..." Dressed in a Hoosiers sweatshirt, sweatpants, and fluffy socks, Micah walked out of the kitchen and into her professor's study, pulling her copper hair out of her ponytail as she did. "What's cracking, Doc?" she quipped as she entered, finding the professor seated and staring at a glowing computer screen. Dr. Christopher Sallai was young, especially for someone with multiple degrees, only in his early thirties. Short black hair, a thin, well-trimmed beard, and still dressed in work clothes rather than sleepwear, despite the fact that it was late and he was in his own home. "I guess he's been working on his computer for a while," Micah thought. Sallai turned around in his chair, looking at Micah with blue eyes underneath a smart pair of glasses. "Come in, Micah. I found you a mentor for your extracurricular activities," Christopher said, his face displaying some excitement. Micah was less excited. Her raised eyebrow dropped and her eyes narrowed. "I thought I told you I wasn't doing that," she said flatly. "Come on, now. You have the power to do some real good. You stopped those jewel thieves. Besides, what else have you been going to Wharton for, punching trees for if not practice?" Micah crossed her arms and allowed a playful bite to creep into her tone. "There's plenty of heroes to do good, and I go to Wharton to let off steam. I'm like a corgi that never gets taken on a walk when I just sit around." The part about why she went to Wharton was only half true... she also just enjoyed the feeling of power she got, but she wasn't about to let her professor know that. "And one of those thieves shot me. In the stomach. Three. Times." "And you survived!" Sallai retorted. "Yeah, that time. I'm not keen on playing Russian roulette." Sallai threw up his hands. After a pause, he said, "Fine, fine... it's your decision. But if you're looking to let off steam, I think this would be a good way for you. You could test out your powers in a... controlled environment. Just take a look, and give it some thought, okay?" Micah looked back and forth between Sallai and the computer. A part of her was curious as to what he found... and she was more than a little curious to find out exactly what she had become. Micah let her amber eyes settle on her professor. He had been... nothing short of extraordinary. Even before she received her powers, he had taken a personal interest in helping her academically. When the accident struck and Micah changed, he did everything he could to keep in a secret, keep others from finding out. He gave her an alibi for the dorm fire, and even let her crash at his home, under threat of his guest room burning down and rumors of an affair between the two of them, just so she would have a place to stay without worrying about hurting anyone or being outed as a freak. Micah had no reason to distrust Chistopher in even the slightest, so if he thought it was a good idea... why not at least give it a try? "Fine. This is payment for all the food." Micah walked around the desk and leaned in over the professor's shoulder to get a good look at the screen. "Whatcha got?" Sallai clapped his hands together and rubbed them excitedly. "Glad you asked. There's this forum, Crimebusting Monthly." Sallai ignored Micah as she rolled her eyes. "It's been... well, it's been pretty well hidden. I only got here from a single-use link in a dead forum. Whoever made this dangled a line to see who would find it. Maybe they can mentor you. My suggestion... bite the hook, see where it takes you. Micah nodded slowly. "Okaaay... you do know that the fish usually dies when it bites, right...?" "I'm bad at metaphors, sue me. My point still stands. Whoever made this is clever and discerning, just what you want in a teacher, and they're looking for people like you. Are you in?" The computer screen and web page remained motionless, impassive, as Micah stared at them. Part of her wanted to just turn it down... it would be better to ignore it, all of this... superhero stuff. But... there was that other part of her. She wanted to see how far she could go, how far she could push her powers. She wanted that same adrenaline rush she felt when she beat up those burglars. "Screw it." Micah tapped a few keys and hit enter. "There. User name Svarog. Slavic god of fire and earthquakes. Fitting enough." "That's Peklenc." Micah swiveled her head. "What." Sallai grinned. "Svarog is a fire god, but he's like Hephaestus, a forge god. You're thinking of Peklenc - sometimes called Ny - a diety of underworld fire. He's the one that makes earthquakes." Micah blinked. "Oh." Another blink. "...Welp, too late now. Pancake time!" She stood up straight and spun on her heels, before promptly returning to the kitchen to finish her midnight snack. "Bring the laptop. We can surf and eat that the same time. Pancakes!"