Heritage

The trios of boys all continue on their separate ways; the group Megan is keeping her eyes on are nearly by the dorms, and one of the students pulls out a cellphone and makes a call.

Hmm, maybe I shouldn't have brought up this particular friend of mine. The various boys who've been hanging around admiring the three lovely ladies are also making faces and off-color remarks at the mention of Carmine, her squat neighbor back at the Imperator Hotel. Lynn starts picking at a piece of electrical tape on her handlebars with a thumbnail. "Uh, he uh, he has a place, where he lives; it's nice, he really...keeps it clean." The young biker makes a big show of looking around and checking her watch. "Y'know what, I am technically on lunch right now, and I was hoping to snag some pushcart dogs and a Diet Coke; do you guys want to join me?"

Lynn smiles as Ren recalls the animated film. "Yeah, that was a good one - not even Robin Williams could screw it up, and that's saying something." The young woman nods in agreement, and she shifts her dress into a set of baggy New Jersey Devils sweats as she helps clean up; as she does so, she looks thoughtful, until she finally speaks up. "So you're like...a robot with a soul, I guess, which makes a weird kind of sense; it's like you evolved from organic to inorganic, while remaining the same person. Weird." She shakes her head as she finishes the last of the tidying up, then turns to Ren on her heel. "Hey, you never answered my question; you dodged it by making my cry like a girly-girl." She chuckles and wipes her eyes self-consciously. "How would you feel about me, y'know, getting a place closer to you, now that I know your deep dark secret?"

Grim nods as she checks the extent of her injuries. "Yeah, i think I'm okay." Once she sees Rival start working on the latch, she reflexively ducks behind him. "Whoa, be careful with that!"

At Foreshadow's signal, Grim stops dead in her tracks and disappears, all her senses on full alert.

Hmm, my Tarzan avatar mysteriously disappeared. To replace it, I uploaded a logo I created for my long-running War Journal campaign on another website. It represents 'Richter's Raiders', the 1st Regular Army Battalion of the Greens; the other major factions were called the Blues and the Grays, all colors of plastic army men :D

Once she becomes an active character, Gossamer will be interested ;)

Lynn grins as she starts tucking into her MRE. “Oh is that right, Mr. Technology Man? I hear a lot talkin’ and haven’t seen any walkin’, so we’ll have to settle this in the ring.†However, her genial tone soon evaporates as Ren broaches several very sensitive subjects that hit uncomfortably close to home; as he speaks, her face first goes slack, and then crumples up with grief. The plastic fork snaps in her hand as Lynn’s eyes well up with angry tears. “Is that what you think I want, to bring kids into this crappy world? A world where kids are beaten, starving and filled with disease?†She slams her Chinette plate off the coffee table, sending it spinning across the floor trailing noodles and peas. “Why would I want to bring anything into this horrible world?!†The small girl collapses on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably for almost a minute, but gradually the volume decreases until she’s just sniffling. “Okay.†Lynn sits up, her eyes red from crying, and wipes her nose with the back of her hand. “I’m not gonna lie; I have thought about it. I wasn’t even trying to; it’s this…like this insidious force we’re born with, or maybe we get programmed with it from when we’re little kids.†She smiles, but it almost makes her cry again. “I remember the first time my mom gave me my own dolly, y’know, not one my sister had already busted? I held it so tight I nearly broke the darn thing; I loved it so much, and it was rubber and plastic, but it was my baby, and I would bite anyone who tried to take it away from me.†She runs a hand through her hair and actually laughs. “Yeah, I was a biter. So yeah, I’ve thought about it. It’s like when you look at a boy you like, and there’s this…little computer in your head that starts running all these scenarios. You know it’s crazy, but you can’t switch it off because it’s like bundled software; it comes with the package. And all that crazy girl software starts doing the math pretty early, but you get pretty good at ignoring it.†Lynn has been sounding very reasonable up until this point, but now she gets this face like she just swallowed something disgusting, and she gets up, shaking her head vehemently. “But y’know what, no - I don’t believe in impossible, not any more; we traveled back in time, for Pete’s sake, saw a world that never should have even existed! I don’t care if we have to build them from a kit or plant ‘em in the ground like spuds, I am not gonna let something silly like ‘impossible’ get in the way of having a family. If, y’know, we ever…†She stops when she realizes just how scary she sounds, and laughs with just a hint of sadness. “Look, I don’t want you to think I’m some obsessed baby-making machine, I don’t want to put that kind of pressure on you. But I do want you to know my feelings for you are strong enough to make me have these thoughts, and that’s all that means. The fact that you said what you said, and the fact that it hurt so much when you said it – not that I’m mad or upset, but it hurt, like having to get a shot or something. The things we are saying and feeling mean a lot, to both of us, I think, and that’s…good.†The beautiful young woman, her tear-filled eyes filled with love, steps over to Ren and gently caresses his face. “For however long it lasts.†Lynn offers a lopsided grin and playfully punches Ren in the arm. “So let’s agree to put the robo-tater babies up on a shelf for now, okay, and enjoy this for what it is; I’m crazy about you and I think about you all the time, and that’s what makes the world go ‘round, right? It doesn’t matter what we’re made of or who made us, or whether or not we eat or sleep.†She gives him one of her killer smiles. “And I know you dream about me, even though you’re always awake.†:love:

Ooh, such a doozy! :clap: And here I was hoping I would have the pre-emptive strike with the bomb-dropping!

Lynn nods in agreement with Velocity. "Yeah, I would hit the Waterfront for good fish; better yet, get a job at one of the places at Pier Two." She nods sagaciously, as though she's offering the wisdom of Solomon. "Get paid in dollars and fish." The biker just shrugs. "Not really; it's actually kinda cool. You live in Freedom City, after a while nothing really bugs you." She grins. "Speaking of, I know a guy who actually is one; y'know, a giant bug? Freaky as all get out."

Lynn laughs from deep in her belly. "Me, live in a church? Nah, I'm Jewish; Father Jim is just a friend." The elfin girl starts flapping her hands excitedly, her face a mixture of horror and glee. "Omigod, right?" She turns back to Kizzy. "Avoid the VIP rooms like the plague, like something worse than plague, like...vampires with mullets, or something equally hideous." She waves a finger between herself and Velocity. "Trust us on this, seriously." Lynn sighs and rests a friendly cycling-gloved hand on Kizzy's arm. "You're a lucky girl, y'know that? You've only been in town a few months, and you've met two of the coolest people you will ever meet in one day." The young biker gives Velocity a playful wink as she drapes an arm over the dark-haired girl's shoulders. "We...shall be your guides; maybe not at the same time, but like in tandem, or tag-team or whatever. Velocity with the super stuff, and me with more of the day-to-day stuff; shopping tips and what-not. Whaddya say?"

Okay, I'm finally done tweaking Lenny/Grim's post; I now have to walk away and just let it rest in piece :D

Lenny shakes his head and flutters his hand dismissively. "Nah, nah, nah, none of that noise; Whisper is a straight shooter, a pro, not some nutjob like a lot of these mooks you see around town." He leans in close, and the mixture of alcohol and chewing gum on his breath is rather repulsive. "This girl is new in town, like me; she's looking to establish herself in the local business community. That means no tricks, no drama, no BS, no nothin'. Nothin' but the job, ya see? She's focused." He snaps his fingers. "Razor sharp." Lenny smiles indulgently. "After, sweetheart, after. It's my job to bring the parties together; after that, I fade into the background. I make sure my girl is happy, and that's all there is to it." I am getting way too good at this, thinks Grim beneath Lenny's oily facade. Maybe I'm in the wrong line of work? Lenny leans back from the bar, just enough to catch a peek of the new guy past Letta's shoulder, then shifts back to his original position, frowning. "The backpack's what got me interested; they let you carry those things in here? There oughta be a law. He could have a piece, he could have anything in there." The young hipster snickers. "What's if he starts selling Girl Scout cookies or somethin'? This is a classy joint, am I right?"

One of the older looking boys nods, and three of the young men rise, shoulder up their backpacks (which appear to be rather heavy), and start heading in the general direction of Baker Hall. About a minute later, the same boy nods and three more boys get up and start making their way across the grass towards the dorms. A full minute after that, the lead boy nods, and he and the last two students head around to the back of Cole. Now that all the boys are up and moving, it's a bit easier to pick out details; for one thing, all their movements are sharp and angular, like hummingbirds darting from flower to flower. The exception is the lead boy, much larger than the rest, who walks with a peculiar rolling gait; even though he's built like a linebacker, there's a litheness to him you wouldn't expect from someone his size. No one pays them much attention as they cross the campus...

Lynn's face splits in a wide warm smile. "That would be beyond awesome!" But it quickly turns into a frown. "Of course, I don't actually own a car; maybe Father Jim would lend me his Oldsmobile..."" After a few moment's thought, she shakes her head and waves her hand dismissively. "You know what, it's not a problem. I can get us into any club in this town; all I need is-" The young messenger's cheeks suddenly go pink as she shifts uncomfortably on her bike seat, her eyes flicking between Kizzy and Velocity, the costume-wearing crimefighter. "Or we can just go to Midnight Hour; DJ Marmalax spins on Thursday nights, and he's the best in the city anyway, so..." :oops:

Lynn shrugs as she continues opening the many boxes-within-boxes of the MREs. "I dunno, he's into guy stuff, building stuff with his many arms; I mean, he looks totally gross and everything, but he's funny and smart. Y'know, cool." Her eyes go a bit wide at the mention of the game consoles. "Wow, really? Before I left home, the best thing we had was an N64, and we played the heck out of that thing, mostly Gauntlet Legends and Super Smash Brothers." She smiles at the memory. "Fun times." After a moment, she stands with a hand on her hip, waving a pouch of sunflower seeds at him. "Of course, you know you have to invite me over now, just to play games if nothing else; you can't dangle that in front of me and just walk away, right?" Then she gets silent and very thoughtful, chewing on her thumbnail as she studies Ren; at length she tosses the pouch on the coffee table and steps over to him and grabs his hands. "Actually there's something I wanted to talk to you about, why I invited you here." She smiles coyly. "First of all, I got a job; it's really cool, and I love it, but..." She stops and looks into his eyes. "Do you know if there are any open units in your building, or even just nearby? I spend more time on the Southside now than I do up here, and I would really like to own a working shower." Lynn peers up at him through her lashes and gives him a little half-smile. "I could be...your little Southside girl."

Just so you know, Grim's place does not have an actual kitchen, as she mentioned herself in her last post; it's an old hotel suite, so two large bedrooms joined by a bathroom ;)

Colby takes a step back herself, half-serious and half-joking, and reaches into her jacket to put her hand on her piece. "I've got you covered, Miss Kato; let me know if I need to take the shoe out." She grins. "Won't be the first time I've shot footwear."

Grim shakes her head in frustration. "There's something weird about the fire down there, like it's been, I dunno, exaggerated? Like an illusion or something that makes it seem bigger than it really is; I think we stand a better chance down there than up here."

I don't know an exact number (which says volumes by itself), but I think I have somewhere between 10 and 15 first cousins; my mom has two sisters and a brother and my dad was an only child, and I don't think any of the branches has had more than 5 kids. Our branch lives in Illinois, there's another group in Indianapolis and the rest all live in Western Pennsylvania, which means they all talk like Jimmy Stewart :D

From Grim's journal May 3rd, 2008 So you'll never guess what happened today! No seriously, you'll never guess, so I'm just gonna tell you. I freakin' melted! That's right, I melted like a tasty grilled cheese sandwich, or more like the molten lava cheese that squirts out and hits the roof of your mouth if you take a big bite too soon after you've cooked it. It happened after a long night of patrolling (my pay-as-you-go phone says it's 3:05 am right now); I got home from working my two jobs (messenger-slash-crimefighter, that's me), sore in every part of my body. It's a good thing bikers get pounded fairly frequently, so no one at my day job questions all the bruises. Anywho, I was so darn tired and ready for bed, and I tried to switch out of my combat outfit, and I couldn't do it; the clothes I created wouldn't budge. I tried again, and again, and the sweat starts popping out of my forehead. What the frick, right? So finally I push and I push, feeling like a pregnant woman in a Lifetime Original Movie Event, when all of a sudden, it's like there's this 'pop' in the back of my head; not like an actual noise, but like a little balloon in my skull just burst, and it's like this warm liquid is flowing out of my head and into the rest of my body, and I feel all dizzy until I just sort of collapse. Into a pool of primordial goo. Unless you have ever been goo yourself (and I highly doubt you have), you have no idea how scary this is; your senses are all messed up, you can feel just how dirty the floor is (major eww), and your cats go crazy at the sight and I'm guessing smell of you. It took about an hour to reform Goo-Me into Me-Me, the scariest hour of my entire life. What if I could never have a human shape again? I just found Ren, and it looked like I might lose him, before we even...well, you know (she blushes like a red, red rose) So I've been just laying here for about an hour or so since the 'Goo Incident', and I seem to be pretty solid for now. As scary as that was, I can't help but wonder if this is something I could use, if I could only figure out how to control it. I could do all kinds of crazy stuff, like squeeze into and out of places, or have myself bottled as a health drink; ok, clearly I need sleep bad, because that was the sickest, most grossest joke in the history of ever. I think I'll skip work tomorrow; the rest of the Fleet will have to go on without me. p.s. 'Goo-me' sounds like a TV show Ren would have watched as a kid; its theme song would be something like this: Goo-me Goo-me Goo-me-san! Something, something, she's not sushi But possibly a soy product of some kind Goo-me Goo-me-san!

I took a little min-break from posting recently, but I plan on getting caught up again tonight. And welcome back, Andy Dick! We missed you. :D

Wow, that was surprisingly easy! I made the two changes you asked for, so now I guess she's ready to be mothballed until Red Queen's ready for retirement - thanks! :D

Sure, he approves it, but then he tells me about this new 'DC Block' thing I need to add to be fully 'FC:PBP compliant'! Rasm-frasm... I'll figure it out and add it later tonight ;)

Character Name: Gossamer Power Level: 13 (189/200PP) Unspent PP: 11 Alternate Identity: Dr. Estelle de Havilland Height: 5' 9" Weight: 141 lbs. Hair: Blond (reaches down to her ankles) Eyes: Blue Appearance: Estelle is a beautiful blond with refined features and an elegant bearing who always dresses to impress. Though her face and figure are both extremely attractive, the first thing anyone notices about Estelle is her amazing hair, which floats about her like a cloud of luminous gold. In its natural state, it cascades over her shoulders and down to her ankles, but she often wears it up or in a thick braid to keep it out of the way. Normally she dresses quite well, as her mother taught her, eschewing jeans and T-shirts for simple dresses with classic lines and open-toed shoes; she likes diamonds and vintage jewelry, but keeps the pieces small and tasteful. However, if she's not planning on going out, she will revert to collegiate sweats and gym shoes for comfort and convenience. As Gossamer, she wears an experimental protective suit (in blue and white), designed by ASTRO Labs; though the material appears to be rather thin, it is actually well-insulated and includes a combination communicator/wireless uplink on the left wrist. History: Estelle de Havilland grew up wealthy - she is neither proud nor ashamed of this fact, as it has always been part of her environment. It's been said that the de Havilland family owns a third of the Eastern Seaboard, and while this statement is obviously an exaggeration, it is true than Estelle need not have worked a day of her life, if she so chose. The family estate on Long Island was like a magic castle for the de Havilland children, who were essentially raised by its staff; however, young Estelle manifested a questing intelligence at an early age, more interested in science and reading than charity balls and fashion shows like her brother and three sisters. Her very traditional parents were somewhat flummoxed - a bright daughter is nothing to be ashamed of, but one who displayed no interest in either the family's investments or impressing the sons of other wealthy dynasties did present a bit of a problem. It was decided that she would attend the best schools and university (the de Havillands have been linked with Harvard for nearly a century) while still being raised as a proper lady. Estelle dutifully worked on her calligraphy and proper manners, took dance and tennis lessons, and went to all the right parties in all the right dresses. She never resented these family obligations, and always managed to enjoy herself, fully aware of both the importance and silliness of this rarefied world. In time, Estelle grew to be a beautiful young woman of grace and poise, and her parents breathed a sigh of relief - at least she wasn't a tomboy, like her cousin Arlene. Once at Harvard, Estelle felt truly alive for the first time in her young life. No one cared how much money she had; all that mattered was hard work, dedication, and the occasional raucous party to blow off steam. She made many friends and earned high marks, and was glad to find that she'd more or less dropped off the cultural radar, no longer interesting enough to regularly show up in gossip magazines along with her younger sisters Selene and Celeste. She went on to pursue her doctorate in organic chemistry, and took a position in one of her family's research labs in Freedom City, and it was here that her life would change forever. Her older brother Jason had been effectively running De Havilland after their father had stepped down to an advisory position to spend more time with his wife, who has been fighting cancer for several years. Jason, eager to bring the company into the 21st Century, authorized research involving synthetic compounds based on samples of Grue DNA, especially for use in the medical and beauty aid divisions; at first Estelle was leery of working with the compounds, but Jason showed her data that convinced her, and told her everything had been run by the FDA. He told her to keep her findings secret for now, but due to issues of industrial competition she didn't really question it at the time. One late Friday night in the lab while she was trying to isolate certain protein strands, a tired and overworked Estelle spilled some particularly caustic reagents on herself and one of the compounds, so she rushed into a nearby emergency hazmat shower to save herself from serious burns; as she stood in the tiny stall ripping off her contaminated clothing, the fumes rose up, making her dizzy, and she passed out right then and there. When she awoke the next day, half-naked and damp, she discovered that she'd somehow inadvertently triggered a strange mutation - her hair had grown super-long, and was animated by her very thoughts! After some time experimenting, she wrapped herself in a fire blanket and took a taxi to the Albright Institute, as she had clearly been somehow altered. However as she described the circumstances that lead to her transformation, she was shocked to find out that not only had the FDA not approved the research, but in fact the samples she'd been using were mostly likely from actual Grue, and had recently been stolen from that very lab! The subsequent investigation cost the de Havillands millions, and put Jason in jail, as well as making public his drinking and gambling problems. The first thing Estelle's father did when he took over the reins of power once more was to fire her and shut down her lab; a truly loyal daughter would have kept it in the family, within the company, not bring ruin down upon them all. Cut off from her inheritance, she decided to seek out Dr. Clarence Macleod's help, and he was able to find her a position at ASTRO for the time being. Her older sister Sunny is still on speaking terms with her, as is her ailing mother when she gets the chance, but otherwise things are quite chilly between her and her family; the de Havillands are too rich to be wiped out by such a disaster, though it will take years to undo the damage to their reputation. For her part, Estelle sees her bizarre new circumstance as a sort of ironic message from the cosmos to get over herself and think about others more often. Personality: Estelle is no 'frosty blond' - despite her breeding and refined upbringing, she's both friendly and approachable, and has a wicked sense of humor. Her laugh is surprisingly loud and contagious, and she tends to laugh a lot - how else should she respond to her bizarre new condition? No one, not even Estelle herself, would deny that she can be a bit vain, but as true as this is, it does her an injustice; she is very passionate about both her chosen field of study and to helping those who are less fortunate. Though she may seem shallow and image-obsessed at times, all concerns about her appearance go out the window if someone is in genuine need; of course, she will most likely bemoan her bedraggled state at length after the fact. She collects first editions of Russian literature, and loves to go out dancing with friends whenever she can 'slip away'. She also owns several vintage Gibson electric guitars, and plays along with her favorite albums when she needs to unwind; now increasingly confidant in her musical talents, she is finding more and more opportunities to perform in public. As far as dating goes, Estelle has been seen on the arms of some of Freedom's most glamorous superheroes, including Dr. Archeville and Divine. She is currently in a relationshop with Gregory 'Mad Dog' Matthews, who's heroic identity is a closely-guarded secret. Powers: Estelle has full control of her hair, which she can form into up to twenty-five tendrils that lengthen at will up to 100 feet; her hair limbs are just as dexterous as her own two hands, capable of such complicated tasks as typing a letter or shuffling cards. Despite its rather lightweight appearance, her hair is surprisingly strong, allowing her to lift up to six tons with ease. She can also automatically style her hair at will, and often does so to playful or sensual effect. She is constantly finding new ways to use her powers through experimentation. Abilities: [0+6+4+8+4+6 = 28pp] Strength: 10/30 (+0/+10) Dexterity: 16 (+3) Constitution: 14 (+2) Intelligence: 18 (+4) Wisdom: 14 (+2) Charisma: 16 (+3) Combat: [20+16 = 36pp] Attack: +10 Grapple: +10, +23 w/ Hair, up to +33 if using all her Hair for nothing but a Grapple Defense: +8 (+4 flat-footed) Knockback: -10, -9 flat-footed; -2 w/out Suit, -1 w/out Suit and flat-footed Initiative: +7 Saves: [6+7+8 = 27pp] Toughness: +12 ( Impervious 8 ), +10 ( Imp 8 ) flat-footed; +4 w/out Suit, +2 w/out Suit and flat-footed Fortitude: +12 (+2 Con, +10) Reflex: +10 (+3 Dex, +7) Will: +12 (+2 Wis, +10) Skills: [92r = 23pp] Acrobatics 5 (+8) Bluff 4 (+7, +11 w/ Attractive) Computers 1 (+5) Craft (Chemical) 6 (+10) Craft (Mechanical) 1 (+5) Diplomacy 4 (+7, +11 w/ Attractive) Disable Device 6 (+10) Drive 1 (+4) Gather Information 5 (+10) Knowledge (Arts) 2 (+6) Knowledge (Current Events) 1 (+5) Knowledge (History) 1 (+5) Knowledge (Life Sciences) 4 (+8) Knowledge (Physical Sciences) 10 (+14) Knowledge (Popular Culture) 1 (+5) Knowledge (Streetwise) 1 (+5) Language 2 (French, Russian; English is native) Medicine 1 (+3) Notice 8 (+10) Perform (Dance) 1 (+4) Perform (Stringed Instruments) 7 (+10) Profession (Teacher) 4 (+6) Ride 1 (+4) Search 6 (+10) Stealth 7 (+10) Feats: [23pp] Accurate Attack All-Out Attack Ambidexterity Attractive Benefit 2 (ASTRO Labs access, Wealth 1) Chokehold Connected Contacts Defensive Roll 1 (+2 Toughness) Equipment 2 (1pp donated to The Lab) Grappling Finesse Improved Grab Improved Grapple Improved Initiative Improved Pin Improvised Tools Luck Power Attack Skill Mastery (Bluff, Diplomacy. Knowledge [Physical Sciences], Perform [stringed Instruments]) Takedown Attack Well Informed Powers: [22+30 = 52pp] Device 5 (Bodysuit, 25 points, hard to lose) [22pp] Communication 4 (1 mile, radio; Flaw: Limited [One-Way]) [2pp] Datalink 4 (1 mile, radio) [4pp] Immunity 1 (cold) [1pp] Protection 8 (Extra: Impervious 8 ) [16pp] Feat: Quick Change 2 [2pp] Prehensile Hair 6 (Container) [30pp] Prehensile Hair 10 (10PP; PF: Alternate Power x2) [12pp] BE: Additional Limbs 5 (25 'tendrils'; Sustained Duration) + Elongation 5 (100 feet) [10/10pp] AP: Deflect 8 (slow projectiles) [8/10pp] AP: Snare 5 (Extra: Engulf) [10/10pp] Enhanced Strength 20 (to 30/+10; Limit: Only with Prehensile Hair) [10pp] Super-Movement 2 (Slow Fall, Swinging) [4pp] Super-Senses 1 (Analytic Touch, Limit: Only with Prehensile Hair) [0.5pp] Super-Strength 3 (effective Str 45, Hvy Load 6 tons; Limit: Only with Prehensile Hair) [3pp] Drawbacks: None DC Block Unarmed -- DC 15/Toughness -- Damage Hair -- DC 25/Toughness -- Damage Totals: Abilities 28 + Combat 36 + Saves 27 + Skills 23 + Feats 23 + Powers 52 = 189/200 Power Points