Heritage

Crystal-Gazer (2) Dakar Rally (1) Eurotrip: The Rhythm Of The Rails (1) Grimalkin [MAXED] (3) Calling on the Aunties (1) Ghosts and Grimalkins: The Wonders of the English Language (2)

Suddenly Grim hopped up to her feet, a crazy grin on her face. "Hey, know what? Let's patrol together, right now! I haven't done it in forever, and I could stand to brush up my skills. Whaddya say?" She put her arms out in a sort of downward T-pose and began to float upward, feet together and back slightly arched.

Grimalkin Grim wrinkled her nose and shrugged, which looked pretty adorable. "Eh, I've been part of two super teams in my time. Also tried two partnerships, and in another life on another world, I was a freedom fighter during a revolution." She shrugged again. "I dunno, right now I'm kinda happy to be my own boss, y'know? I'm not hurting for money, I own two businesses, and I've got some charities on the side; why complicate it by joining a team, am I right?" The changeling paused and looked thoughtful. "I mean, if I ever wanted to, I could probably talk to Velocity about it. We've known each other for years, she'd probably put in a good word for me."

Lynn took in the hug for a nice long while before wriggling herself free, her cheeks a little pink. "Alright, alright, that's enough of that now!" As Davyd describe some of his future endeavors, his changeling auntie looked thoughtful. She wasn't a tech genius it, but as a veteran superhero, she'd encountered a lot of interesting things in her lifetime, which occasionally led to interesting ideas. "So are we talking about A/V equipment that shrinks or expands to match your body, or does it stay the same size, but you can still control it? Maybe like a camera that's also a drone that you ca.n control mentally, even if you don't have hands. Because it seems like that would be ideal."

Doktor'd! Crystal-Gazer 18PP spent 4PP = raising Communication from 6 to 10, giving Lulu's telepathy a range of 200,000 miles! 12PP = raising ESP from 5 to 7, allowing Lulu to see and hear up to 200 miles away! Added two new Enhanced Feats! 1PP = Improved Initiative 1PP = Uncanny Dodge (mental) Added various features to APs! Create Object: added Affects Insubstantial 2 and another rank of Progression Damage: Removed Full Action flaw Illusion: Removed Full Action flaw, added 2 ranks of Progression Mind Control: added Sensory Link and a second rank of Subtle Move Object: added Damaging Stun: removed Full Action flaw Transform: added Affects Insubstantial Mind Reading: added a second rank of Subtle

After enjoying the view from several hundred feet in the air, Lulu shifted her sensory focus back to down to Earth, as she took her travel gear to her ecopod. She found it to be both surprisingly cool and roomy, and as she so often did she marveled at the path her life had taken since leaving rural Alabama. She was so moved that she actually sat on her bed and took a moment to pray. Dear Lord, I want to thank you for the opportunities you've given me to make amends for all the hurt I did with my family. I know I was just a kid, but I should have known better. Oh, and watch over my brother Bobby back in Atlanta. I miss him so much, and I just want the best for him. Amen. Feeling a bit better about her place in the grand scheme of things, Lulu began to unpack.

The whole time Davyd was talking, Lynn struggled to keep an idiotic grin off her face; my how there kid had grown! When he finished, she looked between him and Daphne a few times before finding her words. "Look, I think it should go without saying that as your surrogate, shape-shifting aunties, we will be proud of you and root for you in any path you choose for yourself. The important thing as that you choose what's right for you, not to please someone else. You need to be true to yourself." The changeling came around the desk, sat on the edge of it, and sighed. "As someone who's actually had kids...and grandkids and great-grandkids...I've been in this situation before. And, it never gets any easier or less wonderful. You have your whole adult life ahead of you; that means you don't have to have the answer right away. Give yourself the time and opportunity to try lots of different things; explore, experiment, make mistakes and fall down. And listen to your heart as you do it all. It might take a while, but you'll know what you're looking for when you find it." She smiled and laughed, with tears in her eyes. "It's a bit like falling in love; you just know."

"Oh, I can't even imagine! We are definitely lucky to be living in a golden age of cooking." Grim looked between Simon and then food he's been eyeing. "Are you worried about the food? It's all real, I cooked it myself. Here, I'll serve us both some." The heroine served up a hearty helping of everything present on two plates, then poured the m both a cup of apple cider. "Here you go, dig in! Well, wait, let me say a quick prayer first." The changeling bowed her head in prayer. "Barukh ata Adonai Eoheinu melekh ha'olam hamotzi lehem min ha'aretz. Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth. Amen." Then she looked up and rubbed her hands together. "Okay, now you can go for it."

Grimalkin Grim chuckled and shook her head as Ghost described his previous attempts at partnerships. "Well maybe you haven't partnered with the right people. I mean, if you ever need someone in a pinch or a stakeout buddy, let me know. I make an amazing stakeout buddy; I bring good coffee and homemade donuts." After a bit of silence, the changeling turned to him. "I'm curious. Does the Aux offer any kind of salary or benefits? Does it include housing?"

Lynn shook her head, recalling a few of the conversations she'd had with the teen about her family. "Yeah, that is so messed up! So glad she was able to get out of that environment." For a while, she said nothing, content to enjoy the food and wine. But then she got a little stiff, as though holding back a flood of emotion. "Oh, I forgot to mention the one really cool thing that came out of the last s###y year: my mom finally got to meet her grandkids." Lynn put down her fork and refilled her wine glass. "It took a lot of planning, and dealing with Taylor's weird kid, but we opened a portal to 'Otherworld', as I call it, and she got to meet them. Me and Bill's kids. Thank God they have some fae blood, or else they would've been long gone." She drained her entire glass before setting it down and staring off into space, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. "I really didn't think I would ever see them again."

"Here, let's move into office; I'll let the staff know I'll be off the floor for a minute." A few minutes later, the three heroes were in Lynn's cozy office, with its big desk, comfortable leather chairs and bookshelves full of intriguing knickknacks, some quite old and others futuristic. Above Lynn's chair were her late husband's rifle and revolver, mounted in a place of honor. The computer and green-shaded lamp on the desk continued the theme of old and new. "Have a seat and tell us all about it," Lynn offered as she dropped into her oversized chair.

Grimalkin The changeling nodded in agreement with Ghost's statement. "It's good that you take breaks; I have, too, sometimes for years at a time." She took a deep breath and sighed; when she spoke again, much of that bone weary fatigue had left her voice. "So have you been a solo act all these years? No partners before joining the Auxiliary?"

More about our accommodations.

Lynn rolled her eyes and laughed. "Omigod, Lulu was amazing! Always willing to stay late, always eager to help out." Suddenly the changeling shifted into Lulu, wearing a pair of coveralls, hair tied up and dirt on her face. "Y'all need any help with that? Ah can pick it up with mah mind, no problem!" And then just as suddenly, she was herself once more; shapeshifters made for interesting friends. "You should be very proud of her. Cheers!"

Grimalkin Grim studied Ghost for several moments, then sighed and kipped up to her feet. "Ah, I'm not gonna lie; I haven't done regular patrolling in years, in the Fens or any other neighborhood." She walked over to the edge of the roof and dropped down to a crouch, peering down at the street, her face illuminated from below. "I started to focus more on supernatural threats and left the street level crime to the kids." It was a little odd to here this kind of talk coming from a girl who barely looked old enough to drink, but there was a world-weariness in her voice which suggested someone much older was behind the mask. "Do you ever think about giving up? That no matter how hard we work, we're still trying to bail out the rowboat with a sieve?" She leaned foward, resting her chin on top of her hands. "I think about it sometimes."

Grimalkin It was getting near to the end of the half hour when a voice came out of the air to Ghost's left "Wow, this really takes me back! I patrolled the Fens a lot when I was just starting out." Grimalkin was sitting on top of an air conditioning unit, leaning back on her elbows, her dancer's legs stretched out before her on the tarpaper roof. She wore her typical outfit of black and midnight blue leather, complete with black domino mask. Her hair was short, reddish brown and spikey, and her pointed elfin ears were clearly visible. "Hiya, Ghostie! I was starting to think your phone was busted!" Her accent was very South Jersey, and her smile was downright dangerous.

Crystal-Gazer (with special guest Grimalkin!) Pier 13, Freedom City Docks. Monday, October 4th, 2021. 9:08 am The simple construction trailer served as the field office for Grim Tidings, the non-for-profit organization that ran annual haunted houses benefiting various Freedom City charities. It famously utilized superheroes donating their time for both impressive chills and photo opportunities, both of which guaranteed significantly donations at the end of the season. The biggest draw was Pier 13 itself, but the nonprofit's founder and namesake Grimalkin also made heroes available for other haunts including those run by churches, youth centers and even families struggling to get by. Its was one of Grim's proudest achievements, and she vetted each heroic volunteer personally. - - - Lulu Beaumont shifted uncomfortably in the folding metal chair as the petite heroine in black and midnight blue leather behind the desk read over her resume. Grim looked up and frowned slightly in concern. "I'm sorry, these chairs suck. Let me get you something's more comfortable" She waved her hand and a well-padded leather chair appeared. "There you go, that should be better." "Thank you, ma'am. Oh Lord, that's much better, thank you!" "Not a problem. So what kind of 'spooky experience' do you have? Kind of a weird question, I know." Lulu waved a hand and crossed her legs. "Oh, not at all, ma'am! Well, let's see. Ah love scary movies-" "Good! What's your favorite one?" "Ah like all the Scream movies....Chucky and Freddy are great, although some of Freddy's movies kinda suck. Oh, and ah love The VVitch, too!" "Okay, you've got good taste, nice!" The changeling made a few notes. "Any real world brushes with the supernatural?" "Oh, unfortunately yes, ma'am. Once ah was trapped in a real life haunted house, and a demon possessed a kid at Claremont when ah was there. Not much fun." Lulu shuddered and shook her head. "Oof, I'll bet! And lastly can you tell me a bit about your powers, if any?" Lulu beamed, proud not to have to hide her powers for a change. "Why yes, ah'd be happy to, ma'am! Ah am a telepath and psychokinetic. Ah can put illusions in people's minds, but they don't show up on camera, which can be good or bad, really. And ah can do anything from liftin' up a car to writin' mah name with a pen, slick as you please." "Sweet, let's see some!" "Alright, well, hold onto your hat, ma'am, 'cause ah'm 'bout to blow your mind!" And bless her heart, she did.

"Yeah, magic sucks," Grim nodded in agreement. She was happy to see the situation resolved without violence, even though part of her was actually excited at the thought of a tussle. This was in part, she realized, because she wanted to see a bit more of Ghost in action. On that note... "Hey, if you ever have another supernatural situation, or you, I dunno, just need someone to share a bitch session with, give me a call." A business card appeared between her fingertips, very clearly by magic; it simply read 'Grimalkin' and had her private HeroHouse number. "I'd like the chance to work together again." And then her voice dropped an octave, the huskier tones of a mature adult. "And by the way, Grimalkin may be a perpetual teenager, but I mostly certainly am not." She winked and have him double finger guns before fading from sight.

Lynn chuckled at Davyd's clear excitement "Yeah, it sure it is. Take as many as you want; I already paid Gretch for them. As far as Daphne goes..." She pulled out her cell and fired off a quick text to the excitable Grue.

Grimalkin Grim wasn't exactly sure what angle everyone was playing right now, but the one thing everybody seemed to be gunning for was getting under the lady's skin. And that something the changeling was really good at. "Okay, fine, I'll volunteer," the petite heroine declared with a sigh as she held up her hand. "I mean, let's be honest, if you've seen one Lauren Hammond performance, you've seen them all!" Suddenly Grim shifted into the form of the actress herself, wearing a particularly cheap looking Shakespearean costume, complete with badly-fitted wig. This was a bargain basement Juliet. "Romeo, OH Romeo? Wherefore ART thou, Romeo? Blah blah blah!" The fae was pulling faces right out of an old Looney Tunes short.

After the food arrived and there was a lot of rather awkward adjusting, Lulu finally cleared her throat and spoke up, a little pink in the cheeks. "Ah don't mean to be rude, but we're a little tight in here right now? Would some of y'all be willin' to head over to the lounge to eat? Ah hate to ask, but the room ain't all that big." The room was absolutely not designed to hold five people, and the hammocks Pan had conjured up certainly weren't helping.

Lynn Epstein looked up and smiled at the young shapeshifter, then looked like she just remembered something important, signaling Davyd with an enthusiastic but confusing hand gesture before turning back to he customer. "I'm sorry, could you excuse me? I have to help one of our special clients." Coming out from behind the counter, she gave the recent Claremont grad a big sisterly hug. "Welcome back, kid! How was Europe?" As they walked and talked, the bookseller led Davyd into the backroom, and towards a set of three white magazine storage boxes, slightly stained with age and bearing the delightful musty scent of someone's basement. "I have something special for you! I told Gretch to keep an eye out for any movie magazines for you, right? Well today she just sent the motherlode over from the EC store. Check it out!" Inside the boxes was a treasure troves of back iseues, bagged and boarded, of Cinefex, Cinemafantastique, Fangoria and Video Watchdog. They weren't solid runs, but they were all from the mid-80s to the early 90s, the golden age of practical f/x. Davyd saw grinning Terminators, battle-scarred hockey masks and creepy Cenobites peeking out of the boxes like old friends. Lynn stood behind him with arms folded, beaming at his visible excitement "Hah? Did Auntie Grim deliver or what?"

"Interesting! So when you were a cat all those years, did you still maintain your human intelligence, or did you think like a cat? And can you take on any others forms?" As she spoke, she once again reached into the hole in the air and began to bring out a few more items, including some Tupperware and glassware. It soon became clear that she'd brought a little feast for the two of them, including roast turkey, red potatoes cooked in olive oil and dill, and steamed broccoli. It all smelled heavenly!

Lynn took a bite of the salmon, closed her eyes and audibly groaned with pleasure. "Mmmm! S###, that's good! Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm!" Once she had a little bit of everything and another sip of wine, the changeling leaned back in her chair and smiled at her friend. "So how are things with House Harrow? Robert and the kid good? I'd love to drop by the house and say hi someday soon, if that's okay."