Lone Star

Blake kissed her back, his heart racing as he removed his shirt. He grinned a little as his lips moved to her neck, and he pecked her with sweet smooches. "I couldn't agree more, babe. Wait...one thing first." He sat up, his bare chest moving up and down rhythmically as he caught his breath. His hands moved out to either side of him, and he closed his eyes. Jessica saw a small red object float daintily down from the ceiling, followed by dozens more, and they sprinkled on the bed. As they landed on the mattress, she realized what they were- pink rose petals! "Now it's perfect. I love you, Jessica." They moved under the sheets and spent their first night of love together. Blake had never been happier than he had been that night, in their beach hotel room. It was a memory he would cherish as long as he lived.

Kid Cthulhu cracked his knuckles, and stuck out a green hand. His mind raced to outer realms, moving through labyrinthian paths as he sought the source of his cosmic magic. A portal opened beneath one of the Grue Arcane, and tentacles surged forth to grapple it. The attack wasn't effective, and the Grue sorcerer easily slipped from the bonds. "Ah, dammit. I still need to practice. This stuff isn't as easy as it looks." he said to no one in particular. "So, to arms?"

Blake's mouth opened, and for a moment, he sat gaping like a fish. "Uhh...yeah! I mean, yes babe, that sounds great!" His expression quickly turned into a wide smile, and he was soon blushing almost as much as Jessica was. "If you're ready...so am I. I've been waiting to, you know." Blake stammered for a moment, then caught himself. "Do serious stuff." His confidence soon flourished, and he picked Jessica up and walked her off to the bedroom.

The speedster laughed as he threw the King's arm out of the way. "You're so pathetic! None of you old geezers have nearly enough balls to even try to take me on! You're nothing but a bunch of idiots playing-" He was cut off by Mad Dog's fist slamming straight into his jaw. The two of them could hear a faint crackling sound as the man's teeth broke in his skull. He limply collapsed to the ground, out cold in a moment. "Ding ding ding! We have a winner! Mad Dog and the Kiiiiiiing of Suits!" Mad Dog triumphantly shouted. His words echoed in the empty building, reverberating off the walls. The dealers were caught, and their two strongmen lay outside, unconscious. One of the suited men was still lying on the floor, his arms still restrained by the bolas. "Can one of you guys at least loosen these up a bit for me?"

Blake held her hand close to him. "Of course I do, babe. The movie date, right? We kissed and held hands and it was totally awesome." He gave her a sweet kiss on the cheek. "And then we started going out and stuff, and now we're in Europe. Why do you mention it?" All joking aside, it was strange that she bring up their first date at such a random time. Was there something that happened that day he didn't know about?

So he makes the save...durn. Mad Dog is going to try one last time to +5/-5 Power Attack him! That's a 21 to hit, which hits of course...and he's currently at -2 to his Toughness. Alright, so that's a total knockout!

Alrighty! He's got a +11 to hit, so that's a 28 total, and a DC 21 Reflex to avoid being ensnared. He's going to try to trap one of the Grue Arcane. I think I'll wait for your roll to post in the IC, Troll.

The Zoom-user managed to raise his arm just enough so that he wasn't affected by the flash-bang. He smiled weakly, and gave the King of Suits the finger. "You should respect your elders." Mad Dog retorted, running towards the villain. He held his arm back, and threw a haymaker at the Zoom-user. The man rolled with the punch, but caught the tail end of it on his chest. He whirled around, his legs moving faster than any man's could. The King of Suits slammed the doors of the warehouse shut, locking the speedster inside. "It's just you and us, speedy."

That doesn't hit him, unfortunately. Mad Dog will try to, though! Let's go for another +5/-5 Power Attack. That's a hit on our speedy friend! Let's see how he does against a DC 30 Toughness save. So next round, our friend loses his Stunned Condition, and will attempt to punch Mad Dog! Zoom Survivor: Bruised x2 King of Suits: Bruised Mad Dog: Unharmed

Mad Dog barrelled towards the hopped-up speedster, one arm pulled behind his head. He figured he would land a good hit while the bastard had his back turned. The man turned one second too late, and Mad Dog's fist plowed into his face. The man screeched in pain and fell to the ground, blood spurting from his mouth. His lips were swelling larger, and he gave Mad Dog the finger and muttered something awful. "Well that's what you get for trying to attack real superheroes. And plus, you've got a glass jaw. So just do yourself a favor and stand down. King, doin' okay, buddy?"

Mad Dog is going to punch the Zoom-user in the face! He'll All-Out/Power Attack (+5/-5) Mad Dog's Attack Roll: 1d20+16=26 That's a hit for sure! DC 30 Toughness for our psycho speedster. Zoom Survivor's Toughness save: 1d20+10=21. He's Stunned and Bruised! Excellent. The King is up once again. Zoom Survivor: Stunned + Bruised King of Suits: Bruised Mad Dog: Unharmed

Kid Cthulhu grinned and stood up. "Equinox! There you are! I haven't seen you for the longest time. There was this woman that looked just like you standing there a second ago...haha. I'm so lame." He stuck out a green tongue and fluttered his wings. "They sell raccoon food here? I guess it is a big city...it's not that unlikely." The mystic shrugged once, nonchalantly. "I was actually headed to the bookstore myself. Want to head over there real quick?"

Kid Cthulhu's initiative: 1d20+7=11 Kid C's always late for the party!

Blake slowly walked towards the beach, pulling a convenient pouch of sleeping powder out of his bathing suit. "Never leave home without it." Blake said as he shook the bag. "And I think I'll help put the princess to sleep. She looks very cranky." He pulled a pinch of the potent sleeping powder out of the bag and threw it over the princess. The magic of the sleeping powder filled the air, and Blake stood triumphantly. "Need some help, babe? This is a piece of cake."

Warlock will move closer to Khania, and use his Sleeping Powder! That's a DC 19 Will save for Khania.

Oh, and Mad Dog's initiative. 1d20+4=5. He'll be going after the King of Suits.

Sure enough, the suited man ran at him with the reckless abandon of a Zoom-user. His fists swung wildly at the King of Suits, and what seemed like a thousand blows sped towards him at the pace of a Mac truck. "YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME! A-HA-HA-HA!" he screamed, and after his volley of punches, he sped to the other side of the building. Between bursts of speed, he bounced around like a hyperactive child, taunting the King. On the other side of the door, Mad Dog was fighting for his life. He ran around to the side of the strong man, and put all of his strength into one flying kick. It hit the man right between the eyes and he fell without another word, his nose bleeding profusely. Mad Dog stood over him for a moment, tutting him with his finger. "Now do you believe me, buddy? You'll have a while to rethink your strategies for next time, that is, if you're not too old when you get out." After making sure the man was unconscious, he quickly opened the steel doors to the warehouse. He watched the manic speedster run towards the King of Suits, fists flying. "I'm coming, King!" he shouted, and ran into the fray.

The Zoom survivor will use his Autofire Unarmed attack! Oooh...bad luck. 1d20+10=29. I'd assume largely that that hits, so that's a DC 25 with Autofire damage. Be glad he doesn't have Improved Critical! Meanwhile, Mad Dog has now removed his shaken condition, and will attempt to +5/-5 All-Out and Power Attack his foe. 1d20+16=24. That's a hit! He has to roll against a DC 30 Toughness. 1d20+10=11! Aaaand he's outta there!

He looked up at them again, and sighed. His hands held his head up, and his tentacles undulated as he took a moment to think. "You're right about Jessica, Corbin. I should probably go tell her after we're done talking here. If anyone needs to know right now, it's her. I guess...I guess I'm just concerned with what this'll do to our relationship. But you know, if it's gotta happen, better I tell her than she see me on the news or something." Kid Cthulhu looked up, and saw the two people he knew he could talk to about anything. His expression became a little more hopeful. "I really appreciate you guys coming down to talk this through with me- I hope it wasn't an inconvenience. I'll take your advice for sure. Whatever reason the Unspeakable One has for giving me my power back, it's probably not a good one."

Kid Cthulhu looked on in horror and slight revulsion, but he managed to keep from gasping. "Jesus, and I thought I'd seen everything. So where can we set up positions? My powers aren't exactly very subtle, but maybe I can take out some of their psychic abilities. One of my psychically-based powers involves the removal of the subject's sanity...that ought to do the trick." He bounced anxiously on his heels- it was clear he was ready for them not to be a threat anymore. He thought the Parkhurst Hotel was a safe place, but these Grue seemed to get in so easily, despite their precautions. In a sense, he didn't feel safe in the place they called a sanctuary. He looked at the more experienced mystics for guidance, although he was scared of the malign alien species being able to use the forces of magic.

Kid Cthulhu was on his feet, and he swept his grey cloak over his shoulders once more. "What's a guy got to do to get a few seconds to sit down..." he muttered to himself. A few quick gestures, and his hands were glowing with eldritch power. A small green sphere of phantasmal fire rested above his palms, ready to fire at a moment's notice. His eyebrows quirked, and he looked at the Revolting Revenant. "What? Grue? Those are the shapeshifting aliens, right?" Despite his outerworldly powers, Blake knew very little about alien species. "Have they got their hands on magic stuff, or something?

Blake sniffed a green arm, and shuddered a little. "Well, the smell is one thing..." His smile died a little, and his expression became almost stoic. "I know this form of magic is wrong- I think that's the Unspeakable One's schtick. It feels weird every time I use it, as if reality is just bending and stretching a little to accommodate it. I guess the best way to describe it is a suspension bridge creaking while tanks roll over it." He sighed and shook his head. "I'll let you know if I get any weirdness for sure, though. So! Want to do some shopping?"

Blake watched his girlfriend go to town on the princess- she amazed him more everytime he saw her go into action. His fist pumped in the air, and he cheered her on. "Nice right hook, babe! Now time for a light show." His wand, already in his hand, glowed with evocation magic, the elements channeling through it. Blake took careful aim, and an arc of lightning shot from the tip of the wand. It streaked across the air, illuminating them all for a moment. "Time to ride the lightning, princess!"

Warlock's Initiative. 1d20+3=22. Warlock goes next! He'll use his Lightning Wand on the spoiled princess. She has to make a DC 19 Reflex save (half damage if she makes it, of course), and a DC 24 Toughness if she doesn't.

Blake stood up, and held his wand out at Khania like a gun. Lightning sparked from the tip, and briefly illuminated his face. "Princess Khania, or whoever the hell you think you are, I want you to understand something. You do not start a fight with my girlfriend. If you don't leave us right now, I swear to God I will turn you into a golden chicken and sell you to the highest bidder. And if you think I'm joking with you, I assure you I'm not." He stood poised to fire, ready at a moment's notice.