Avenger Assembled

August 1, 2009: Jack and Taylor have a date. But what will it mean for The New Man?

This is Jack and Taylor's date.

It was late on the hot first day of August when Taylor's cell phone rang, the number an unfamiliar one. When she answered, the voice on the other end turned out to be very familiar. "Taylor, it's Jack." He was obviously out of the secret identity he used to answer the phone half the time, but he sounded like he had something serious on his mind. "I want to cash in that favor you owe me. I'm going to the skyview on top of the Pyramid Plaza." It wasn't technically on top, as well Jack knew, but it was certainly really high. "Can't ask just anyone to go there when the door's locked."

"Well, hopefully, it'll be just as special next time," said Mark with a warm smile in her direction, basking in the glow of her happy emotions as much as anyone else around them. "Harry Potter, popcorn, and who knows what else?" He technically wasn't allowed on her floor, but a quick glance revealed that no one was watching as they headed down the hall together to her door. "I'll see you tomorrow, Alex." He risked his considerable luck (because what else were you supposed to do with it?) and kissed her again, a quick peck on the lips right before her front door. "Good night, Alex."

They shared a comfortable ride back to campus, both of them happy and at ease in each other's company in that uniquely exciting, slightly dangerous way only new high school romances could provide. Mark held her hand as they got out of the car, then put his arm around her as they approached the dorm. "This was a lovely evening," he told her again, smiling happily. "Thanks for sharing it with me. Shall I walk you to your door, like a gentleman?"

Mark was feeling pretty good himself as they got back in the car and on the road, and was content to enjoy the good vibes of the moment without making any awkward comments one way or the other. Happy music played in his head as they went, vaguely falling back on the Gigantor show he'd watched as a little kid. It wasn't until they were back on the road that he dared actually made a comment. "The problem with luck powers," he said with a warm smile on his face, "that if I say anything about what a lucky date I had, it'll sound really lame. But I do feel lucky tonight."

Mark smiled down at Alex, enjoying the moment with her thoroughly. She was cute and sweet, and a very good companion. I make my own luck, he thought, half-listening to her talk. When she finished, he took this opportunity to strike out in new directions entirely. "I think we'll find a way to pass the time," he murmured to her. At that Mark bent his head, ducked down a little, and kissed her on the lips. It was a quick kiss, as befit a quick peck on a first date, but a kiss nonetheless. This was not Mark Lucas' first time on a date with a girl, by any means.

Greatly daring, Mark decided to go for broke. What was life without adventure? "The worst," he promised with a laugh. "But maybe with you around, and the two of us watching the movie, I'll be able to think of better things to do with my time." He gave her a teasing smile as they headed for the car. "You do tend to bring out the best rather than the worst." He unlocked the car as they approached, the parking lot occupied with the last couple of museum patrons.

Hmm. Not knowing that is the only thing keeping me from approving the character. The origin of his powers is going to shape a lot of things about him, things like immunities and vulnerabilities interacting with him as much as anything else.

"The asker should always pay for a date," said Mark. "But you're welcome. It seems only fair." He smiled at her as they got up. "Sure, if you'd like to. We'll figure out what time it's showing, I guess, then work out a time?" He joined her in heading out of the restaurant, still enjoying the ambiance as they reached the night outside. "That'll be great." He beamed at her. "We'll have a magical evening, I guess. As long as you don't mind the occasional terrible pun."

"Sure thing," said Mark equitably, leaving his credit card out to pay the waitress as she came by. "I think we'd better clear out of here now, though, they're prolly gonna start closing things soon." He left behind a good, solid tip when his card came back, remembering his parents' lessons about that very well. "Have you seen the new Harry Potter yet?"

"I'll steer you down the right path," Mark promised with a knowing smile. The food was good and the company was better, everything in the evening was just going as well as he'd hoped. Better, even. He lingered over his shake and the last of his burger, reluctant to bring the evening to an end. "When would you like to go out again?" he asked her, perfectly willing to let her make those sorts of plans. "I'm free most any night we're not in training."

Their food arrived about then, luckily ending the moment before it could drag on any further. He had to let go of Alex's hand to eat, but Mark could still feel the remembered touch of her fingers on his. The evening was going very well indeed, and it wasn't even over yet. "Here, you want to try a bite of steak?" he offered her, cutting a piece and holding it on his fork. "It's pretty good, it's loaded with daka sauce. Which is mostly A-1." He grinned.

Mark gave her a warm, honest smile as he met her eyes. "I really like you too, Alex. This has been a wonderful night." He leaned in close across the table, their waitress luckily dawdling a bit with their food. "I really like spending time with you. At school, and at places like this, when it's just the two of us. I'd like to do it again sometime. What do you say?"

"Oh, I'd think you'd be a good leader," said Mark with a warm smile. "You're certainly a lot better than I at making plans and stuff." He didn't sound too bothered by his lack. "And everyone else...well, they have their own strengths in their own way," he said diplomatically. "Some of them stronger than others." He gently stroked the top of her hand with his thumb. "I'd miss you too," he said quietly. "It's been a while since I've been out with anyone, and never with someone who I liked as much as you."

OK, this is much better! Have you gotten as far as the origin of his powers?

He sat down his menu too. "Mm, me too. The Halogen Special is pretty good and it's strawberry;' they put this dye in it that makes your teeth light up under blacklight." He smiled at her, both of them pausing their conversation to briefly give their order before looking at each other again. "I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to introduce you to my parents yet," Mark admitted. "They picked a pretty funny time to go off on vacation." He grinned wryly. "I thought I had it pretty rough when I had to go back to school in the summertime...but lately, I've been thinking I was lucky after all." He reached across the table to lightly squeeze her hand. "Meeting you, and everybody else."

They went for Jack then, some half-dozen of the younglings behind him, charging him growling like animals with fangs bared and eyes glowing red. Jack underestimated the sheer magnitude of their fury, and was actually bowled off his feet as his own people swarmed him. For a moment Dark Star and Scarab thought he'd fallen before suddenly he rose up, face warped in a feral snarl, throwing the lesser vampires aside like bowling pins, hurling them aside to smash into walls and furniture, as he burst out of the swarming attack. "No more blood on your hands, Melinda! Your reign ends tonight!" She hissed at him, her own fangs out, as her people parted to make way for her. "You miserable little daywalker! When I get through taking your head and putting it on a pike, I'm going to track down each and every one of your friends and turn them too!" She raised her voice at that, trying to call to the others. "Do you know what he's been doing?! He's betrayed us to the caped bastards! How many of our friends have we lost to them? How many of our children!?" At her words, something touched Jack. His face dimmed down, his unholy vampiric rage pulled back on itself. "How many of our friends have you murdered, Melinda? How many humans have died at your command because you were too weak to know how to feed! You're nothing but a monster in the guise of a pretty woman; no more fit to lead free people than a rabid dog." She looked him in the eye. "That's not what you said the last time we were in bed together." And the room went mad. As the vampires roared, Dark Star and Scarab both made out the vampire in the gallery; a solitary figure with a rifle slowly being aimed directly at Jack! For his part, Jack was entirely too distracted with his argument to notice the bead being drawn on him.

Minion attack roll vs. Avenger: Arrowhawk is not Adam West (22:11:24) FreedomBot: AvengerAssembled rolls 1d20 and gets 20. (+3) (22:11:25) angrydurf: but he is batman

Avenger blinked, horrible images filling his mind as he contemplated what Wesley was suggesting. Despite the risk to his own secret identity, he couldn't dump those kinds of memories on Wesley. "Knight," he said, rattled enough to use normal diction though he kept up Avenger's voice, "I have ways of dealing with the remains. You...you shouldn't see that kind of thing. It changes you.

Eventually they both became conscious of the passing of time, not to mention the fact that they hadn't had any supper. Mark suggested they eat at Champions, the theme restaurant attached to the museum with branches all over Freedom City. A bit like a more sedate TGIFridays, the restaurant was fairly quiet as the museum reached its closing hours. "I'd recommend the Rick Lucas Nacho Fries," said Mark with a smile over his menu, "but I suppose I am biased. They really do go great with everything. I'm going to get the White Lion Steak Burger myself."

Excellent! The door is down! OK, post that, and your action will be over.

The thought of your character being more realistic and more capable holds no terror for me, at least.

"Sure thing, man," said Rufus with a big smile. "You'll love it! You can take the whole set if you want, I've got plenty of these. They're giving them away for free down at that new supplier in the Fens. You should hit up that place, it's great." He clapped the younger DJ on the back. "We're gonna be rockin' these beats tonight, man."

Agent H looked momentarily pleased at the willingness of her colleagues to go in and fight the bad guys, though she quickly covered the unfamiliar smile on her face behind a serious look. "I can stop the cameras myself if there's a need, but if Breakdown can handle that without giving us away, I can save my resources for the heavy equipment." She nodded. "I like the idea of releasing the dinosaur. Steal the plane, blow up some of the machinery, leave the bloody butchers here for the T-Rexs...it's brilliant."