Lone Star

:oops: Alright, I've fixed everything. I realized I had in fact only noted 20 points for his Enhanced Strength, and I fixed the math on that...added two more points of Impervious Toughness, and (for some reason) his Device had Hard-To-Lose written as a Flaw...so I've fixed that.

Blake's heart sunk like a ship as Summers looked at him for a moment. Oh God he's got The Look. When Summers asked him what happened, he took a deep breath, and let it go slowly. "The fact that I have my powers back is not deliberate, just to let you know ahead of time, sir. I would never have wanted to be whatever sort of thing I was before. Having regular mystic abilities was working out just fine for me." He paused for a moment, realizing he was digressing from Summer's original question. "So about three months ago, in July, the whole event with the Deep Ones rising up from the sea, and the armored madman making his big announcement on television, I was involved. Or, The Unspeakable One tried to get me involved. I had put on my costume to go down there and helped, and I got a massive headache. I felt the Unspeakable One's presence, and he was trying to empower me to use as living artillery. I couldn't let that happen, so I fought his presence in my mind, and won. The problem is, I still have my pseudonatural powers. And, that's where I am right now." He hoped he had explained it succinctly enough. "Mr. Summers, I'm sorry I dropped out of Claremont. It was a really stupid decision, and looking back on it, it was the worst decision I've ever made. Now I'm homeless, without money, or a job. I need to get my life back together, sir."

Janis nodded. "Yeah, you get a lot of things from your family. Well, my powers weren't one of them, actually." She thought about raising her hands and showing off her powers, but she felt she had done that enough to impress him, if it did at all. "But that's a story for another day." Her face fell a little. Janis really did miss her mother, although she never showed it. Her bubbly personality usually led most people off her case about it. She tapped the table a few times, then looked back up. "So what do you want to do for a living, Rift?"

Fix'd!

Janis smiled, and tapped her fingers on the table. "Well, you'd be surprised, but actually my mom got me into it. She was always fixing bikes and stuff like that, and she eventually got into auto mechanics, so I guess I picked it up from her. When other kids got Barbie dolls, I got Legos and Erector Sets. It all just fits together for me, you know? All that left side brain stuff...you know what I'm talking about. What about you and music? I'm sure you two have a long relationship that goes way back." She ran her fingers through her hair again. Well, it is good to get to know the guy outside of school. He seems pretty cool. I hope he's liking me okay.

Her father looked surprised at Vicky's gripping power. "Quite a handshake you've got, Vicky. No, I think I'll be okay without a pizza, though. I was just warming up some soup. You two have fun, and stay out of trouble." He smiled at the two of them while Janis stepped into the driver's seat. Her father clicked the garage door opened and sunlight flooded into the garage. "Drive carefully, okay Janis?" "I will, Dad!" Janis shouted back at him as she sped off. The car roared like a dragon and rode down the street at a quick, but not dangerous pace. "Woo! So where is this pizza shop, anyway? Just tell me where to turn."

Janis laughed; a short bark. Hah! Well, no one's an expert in everything, silly. Except for maybe Dr. Archeville...I hear he knows everything. Everything. I couldn't imagine having to keep so much knowledge in my head. My brain would just explode and you'd have to clean up all the greyish goo off the floor, it'd be terrible. But you're right about doing what you want...even if your career of choice isn't a lucrative one. Although I bet you've been able to defy the stereotype that musicians are poor with your music, right? I couldn't go anywhere with mine...I played the tuba for two years in middle school." She smirked at him and leaned back in her chair. Their persistent waitress came back, that same smile on her face. "Do you guys know what you want?" Janis handed the waitress her menu. "Yeah, I'll have the Freedom League steak, the 20 ounce, with mashed potatoes and green beans."

Despite the circumstances in which he was returning to campus, Blake was still glad to be back on campus. Something about it was inspiring, and during his stay at the Claremont Academy, he had made many sketches of the courtyard and buildings. There was something beautiful about Claremont. They arrived at the administration building, and he saw Quo-Dis in her business suit. So I guess she'll be supervising my execution. Blake took a final look at the two of them, and slowly entered the office. Well, whatever happens here, at least it'll all be done with. If I can't stay at the school anymore, I'll look for an art academy I can spend a few years at. If I can stay, well, then I'll count my lucky stars and study like a maniac. He opened the office door cautiously, as if expecting it to explode. Blake entered the office. "Mr. Summers?"

Kid Cthulhu The Good, The Bad, and The Eldritch Confessions of a Teenage Superhero Unwelcome Guests A Friend in Need Afternoon Shopping Mad Dog Sting Operation Zap Sunday Afternoon A Chance Meeting

Janis smiled. "Oh, that's cool! For like, labs and stuff like that? I haven't taken any lab classes, but I hear at the fancy academies like Claremont they have teacher assistants do the separate lab portions of the class. I don't know if I'll ever do that...I was thinking of going into kinesiology. You know, studying to become a personal trainer and all that. My dad doesn't want me to go into mechanics...he doesn't think that's what I should do for a living. I say, why not? I love mechanics...it all just makes sense to me. Sorry, what did you say you were a teacher's assistant for?" She blushed a little. You friggin' ditz! You've gotta stop running your jaw!

"Gawd, no kidding. I had no idea they have such a killer lunch crowd here. How was the show today? I had no idea you came out and played in the park and stuff like that." Their waitress came by, smiling in that plastic way that only a professional waiter can muster. "Hey, guys! Welcome to Champions- can I start you guys off with an appetizer or our new drink of the month?" Janis raised and eyebrow. "We're teenagers, just so you know. My friend just sat down, so we'll need a few." The waitress smiled and walked off. "Friggin' waitresses...they give me the creeps. So what have you been up to, Warren?"

Janis smiled and patted the car lovingly. "Well, I was hoping we could-" she started, when the door suddenly opened. "Oh, hey Dad. Didn't know you'd be home. I was just showing my friend the car." Her father, an older man with very tired eyes, entered the room. He looked like someone who had seen much sadness in his life, and he sighed a little. "Thank God it was you, Janis. I could have sworn it was a robber. You two just here for a little while? I could make you two something to eat if you'd like. I know how bad cafeteria food can be." He laughed a little to himself. "But uhh...have your classes been going okay, Janis?" "They sure have. This is my roommate, Vicky. She's part of the reason I've been doing so well." Her father smiled, and offered her a hand. "Nice to meet you, Vicky."

Blake's mouth opened a bit. What?! Quo-Dis told Summers? That little...snitch! It would have made things so much easier had he not heard it from a student. Dammit. He rose from the bed, a little embarassed he had been caught playing with fire, so to speak. It wouldn't have burnt anything had it accidentally hit the floor- Blake knew mystic fire didn't work that way. Still, he stood up, and tried to put a smile on his face. He couldn't tell, but it felt more like a grimace; a "let's-get-this-over-with" smile than a genuine one. "Alright, man. Let's hit the road."

Kid Cthulhu stood, his mind in other places. His eyes moved around, darting from one side of the room to the next. He wasn't watching the battle- Kid Cthulhu was preparing a particularly nasty psionic blast for one of the Grue Arcane. After a moment, his mind moved back to this reality, and a smirk crept across his face. A green hand aimed at one of the Grue Arcane, and he gathered psychic power in the back of his mind. Let's see him try this one on for size. The psychic power was released from his palm, and the air between them bent as if to accomodate his strange arcane workings. "You'll need a crapton of aspirin for that headache!" he shouted, laughing.

Alrighty! Kid Cthulhu will use his sanity-draining attack on the Grue Arcane 2. Here's the roll for the Wisdom Drain: 1d20+11=17. And here's the roll for the Ranged Mental Blast: 1d20+11=24. Sweet! So my DC block is completely off...I'll fix that ASAP. If the Drain effect hits, that's a DC 19 to avoid having Wisdom lost, and if the Mental Blast hits, that's a DC 20 Will save to avoid psychic damage!

Blake mentally raised an eyebrow, but decided against saying anything. "Can do, buddy." He went back to his room and changed into what he wore yesterday, and tried to make some sense out of his hair. Why does he want to see me right now? I don't even have my crap back from Jessica's place yet. Is he aware that...I have my powers back? Agh, whatever. He ended up putting a bit of gel on his comb and slicking it back, because that was the only way his cowlick-ridden hair would stay in one place. "Ready when you are, man!" Blake called out. He sat in his room, waiting for Corbin. Blake was bored, and summoned a ball of eldritch fire, and tossed it between his two hands. Why did The Unspeakable One want to give him his powers back? What purpose did it serve to leave him with his cthonian form again? These questions buzzed around Blake's mind as he waited glumly. Man, Summers is gonna be pissed.

Janis smiled at the comment about her getting dates all the time. "Well...I just haven't found the right person yet. There are plenty of good lookin' dudes around campus, but none of them really seem my type. Won't stop me from looking, though!" she said, giving her friend a thumbs-up. "Oh, it's just a normal car. It can go plenty fast, but nothing quite so flashy as escaping the boundaries of the universe, or anything like that." She smiled as her roommate put an arm around her shoulder, then her eyebrows went up as she realized where she was taking her. "No, wait. The car's-" "-at home. Let me finish my sentence before you teleport me to parts unknown!" she said in mock frustration. "Here- I'll take you to my place." Janis suddenly grabbed Vicky's waist with an evil grin and the two zapped off to Janis' house. They landed moments later in a small house, and the lights flickered a little. "Hate it when that happens." Janis said, annoyed. "Lemme show you the ride!" She took her roommates hand and they ran out to the garage. Janis snapped her fingers, and the lights in the garage turned on, illuminating a bright yellow hot rod. With a bright smile, she opened the door and invited Vicky to sit down. "Check out the interior. I reupholstered the seats, and tricked it out with modern stuff, like a CD player and seatbelts. Always important." Janis snapped her fingers again, and the garage door opened for them. "Let's take it for a spin!"

No problem, man. I haven't forgotten about my threads...yet. Darn you, real life!

Oh, I'm still in it. I'm waiting on Vigilance to be approved. Once he gets approved as an NPC, we can continue the thread.

Blake nodded and headed towards the bedroom. "Goodnight, man. I'll talk to you tomorrow. And thanks." He turned back and smiled at his friend. ------ He tossed and turned in the large bed. It was a rough night, and Blake kicked the covers off of his bed while he slept. His anxiety and the issues of the previous night caused him to have terrible nightmares, and he awoke the next morning looking more tired than before. It was at least good to have a plan for the day- he knew he would have a lot more things on his mind had he not been able to stay over at Corbin's place. For now, he sat on the bed, and stared at the ceiling for a moment. "Better get today started." he said, and made his way into the hallway to brush his teeth and get ready.

Janis lifted a hand and caught it, not needing to use her powers. "Well hey." she said, her face wrought with concern. "We can both teleport, right? I mean, if you really wanted to head home today, we totally could. My Monday classes don't start until the afternoon anyway. What do you say?" A lightbulb appeared over her head. "Oh wait!" she said, excited. "We can totally test out the hot rod I've been building! You'll love it, it's so cool! I made it myself!"

Janis nodded understandingly. "That's probably a good idea, Rift. I'll see you over there!" She waved to the heroic guitarist and walked off to Champions. What luck! She practically skipped to the restaurant, her bag clangling at her side. He seemed like a really cool guy- although she still wasn't sure what he thought of her. They were so incredibly different, as was shown by their first meeting, but she hoped the two of them could get along okay. Maybe I should...ask him out sometime? Her nose wrinkled up and she shook her head at the thought. No...we're way too different. It would be weird. Sh e got the two of them a table, and sat down. It was lunchtime, and the restaurant was packed. Janis was lucky enough not to have to wait for a table, and she waited for Rift.

Blake watched her fly out, his eyes full of sadness as well. He slumped down to the floor, and put his hands over his face. "This moment, Corbin. This moment is the lowest point of my life. If it's alright with you, I think some sleep would be helpful." His hands fell down to his side and he looked up at his friend. "I do appreciate you letting me stay over, man. Maybe we can see if Nick's available to discuss what my options are for the future. Then I should head back to Claremont with my tail between my knees. Or, tentacles, as it is." Blake chuckled a little and smoothed his hair back. "At least this is happening now, and not a few years down the road. I'm still young, and I know I've screwed up. There's still plenty of time to put myself back on the right path. Right, Corbin?"

Janis was less sarcastic as well, and she gave him a genuine smile. "Yeah dude, that is pretty rockin'. I don't think anyone can say they've travelled by guitar Hey, uh...you busy at all today? If you're interested, maybe I can buy you lunch. I was maybe gonna head over to Champions if you're up for it. I've only just heard about the place...but apparently they have really good hamburgers." In response, Janis' stomach gave a distinctly un-ladylike growl. She excused herself, and giggled a little. "That is, if you don't want to perform a bit more. I'm always up to listen to some good music."

Janis smiled politely. "It's perfectly fine, Warren. I was just buying some auto parts, actually." She opened the bag she was holding so he could see: inside were a variety of parts, including what appeared to be a hubcap. "I know it's a weird hobby, but this hot rod I've been fixing up at home is almost done! I'm gonna paint it yellow and totally drive it around town! I know the whole...teleporting deal makes it kind of unnecessary, but I just love cars. I guess you're just performing here, right?" She didn't notice, but a slight blush appeared on her face, which looked incredibly lovely on her.