alderwitch

Bombshell will clear her dazed and heal her bruised so Crystal Gazer is up!

Bombshell twisted, letting Jack of All Blades put himself between her and the angry SHADOW agents with automatic weapons. Without the dark wig, Bombshell's blonde hair caught the lamplight and she shook off the outer layers she'd worn over her costume. The fitted costume she wore underneath was still dark. "They were buying it." Talya replied, the pain of having been shot warring with her annoyance at having BEEN shot in her tone. "On your nine o'clock. Teenagers. Do keep the guns aimed at us, my love. I'd rather not wager that they're as hearty as the adults." She moved automatically with Jack, keeping his body between her and the thugs. One hand went to the bullet hole and with a grimace she pulled out the bullet that had lodged against her hipbone and and then flicked it on the ground with a soft 'ping' of metal. She hated being shot but she hated having to dig a bullet out after her body healed even more. Without the bullet, the wound sealed closed almost immediately, "And I liked that sweater too. I may have missed the bulk of the conversation, what with the bullets and all, but I'm fairly certain we have reinforcements on the way. Thoughts? Plans?... I'll also even take poorly thought out impulses at this point."

He's not going to save from that so I'm not going to bother rolling. Plus it works dramatically. How about you can take down one more mook rather than all the ones you should get to take down and I'll give you another HP to bank later for the daring plane escape! You can go ahead and post an IC taking out the leader and a gunman of your choice! There are reinforcements likely coming despite taking the radio guy out because dramatic timing!

Initiative Order: Jack of all Blades: 27 Bombshell: 19 Leader: 13 Crystal-Gazer: 10 Specimen: 6 Gunmen x 5: 5 Jack of All Blades is up.

Janus' had only just been relaxing at what seemed like reasonableness from the sisters when Leroy began to suggest testing weapons on a sentient creature, "That is horrifying." Janus said, their aristocratic features twisting with distaste, "Treating an enemy like that makes you no better. You can't use a creature to test weapons against their kind. Well you CAN but you SHOULDN'T." Janus was very firm. Their gaze slanted to the last member of their group in the vague hope that Adam hadn't joined in on the train to crazy town, dark pink brows arching up in a blatant request for some back up. That Janus was starting to have some serious reservations about some of their classmates traveled across their features before it smoothed out to studiously blank politeness. "As to the local dominant faith, you can't go a few blocks without tripping over it." Janus said, their words enunciated and bland enough that it was clear that the teen Danger had experienced at least a few run-ins on social media with the less pleasant elements of it. "I'm sure you'll have no trouble finding it if you have a passing interest."

Janus let out a breath and gently gave Lulu's a shoulder a pat, "That is magic that I think I will personally abstain from. Sleeping spells and trances are typically serious enough in my homeworld and I carry enough of Fortuna's magic inside me to be wary." Janus was too tactful to say that it was much harder for the Prince to see much use in feigning death in most of their day to day experiences. Their strong had squeezed Lulu's shoulder gently and they rose to their full height once more. "If you two wish to practice, I will leave you to it and return to unpacking. I dare say my heart can't take too much more of watching the two of you play at being corpses." Janus' lopsided smile took any sting out of their words and made it clear that they were merely gently ribbing the girls. "It has been a pleasure to meet you, Lulu."

"You don't murder anyone, regardless of what they might look like on the outside," Janus replied, their tone sharp and their gaze narrowed with acute dislike on Ashley, "And no, I would not put away someone for the 'crime' of being born a Grue. People are defined by the choices they make, in the end. They have done nothing wrong and merely wish a different path than one proscribed by birth and nature. That is a noble choice." Janus picked up their pen finally, jotting down their answers with the beautiful penmanship of one who had not grown up with any option other than a quill for communication. "...What is wrong with you? Do you just want people to not like you?" Janus finally wanted to know from Ashley, unable to come up with any other reason the other 'teen' might be baiting them. "That seems an extraordinarily lonely path. You have to let other people in eventually, you know. It certainly doesn't make it easier for you or your sister to make friends. We're not your enemies here."

Janus had taken longer to get dressed than usual as, for the first time in perhaps the teen Danger's life, they had been uncertain what to wear. They would have just worn a pair of board shorts and gone with that but it might make some of Janus' classmates treat them differently and Janus found themself reluctant to deal with any of that on what should have been a pleasant fun day. Wearing a swim top, however, chafed - literally as well as figuratively. Finally, they'd made do with a sleeveless fitted swim shirt but were still vaguely unhappy with the results. It's stupid. This is stupid. Grumpily, the teen pulled on their board shorts and headed barefoot down from the manor towards the ocean line. Waving once at the knot of students, Janus came down the gentle slope quickly enough to catch the tail end of conversations, "Hello and welcome - sorry for being late, Ronnie. I was having a moment." Janus paused alongside Veronica to give her a one armed fraternal hug of thanks for holding down the fort. "Hello, Adam, Lulu, please come join us. Oh, and thank you for the pie, Lulu. We've got all sorts of things set up - Prudence really out did herself with the planning, so you'll have no lack of entertainment even if you stay on the beach. Once it gets dark, we can set up a screen to watch movies if it appeals to people." Janus stepped to one side and towards the wheelchair bound student, "Though if you'd like to enjoy the waves, that can be arranged," Janus added, lowering their voice a little beyond group conversation; their manner genuine. "If you prefer to stay on the beach, we will certainly make sure that there is no end of entertainment and I'm sure there are others who are similarly disinterested in swimming but if there are accommodations that would make the day more enjoyable for you, please let me know."

"Ah, yes, conscription! The bastion of a truly just government." Janus retorted, their spinning pen coming down with a solid thwack on their pad of paper. "Blackmailers escalate. Short of murder - which hopefully even grim and gritty over here isn't going to advocate - you can't control information once its out. Your best bet is to control that information getting out. Put them in prison, hold a press conference and unmask yourself to a sympathetic public. Take steps at that point to protect your family; call on the Freedom League or the rest of the various philanthropists in the super hero community to put them under protection." And there... there you could see the Danger half of Janus' family traits; the super heroing family who had taken PR to an entirely different level. "You put your family in the public eye - SO in the public eye that moving against them is an affront to everything that good and decent people stand for." Janus flung themselves back in their chair then, adding, "And you copyright the hell out of everything to sell lunchboxes to pay for it all."

Group 1 When Ashley scowled, Janus gave the other 'teen' a dazzling smile, as sharp as their blade and probably equally as deadly. It was certainly just as unfriendly as Ashley's scowl was and that was painfully clear to anyone. "...Come up with another set of ridiculous names and elaborate costumes to hide behind?" Janus drawled their suggestion, leaning back in their chair; the pen whirling from finger to finger before tapping it on the desk. "...or, I suppose, recognize the inevitable failure that trusting safety to a scrap of fabric and the vague hope that those you anger won't peg you from perhaps a hundred different tells when you're not wearing a cape and spandex. Or, you know, a jacket and a scowl, for example."

Janus was surprised that their assault didn't land but it was surprise laced with obvious pleasure. Not only was this not a teacher that Janus could tromp into the ground in the first fifteen minutes, Janus was skilled enough to tell that Erik was better than they were just from footwork. And Janus was clearly delighted by that fact. For the first time since stepping into the dojo, Janus' shoulders relaxed and a smile lit up their features. Honestly, in a way that Janus hadn't smiled since showing up on Ace's doorstep; one of pure joy and mingled relief. For Janus, this was the first thing that Prime could offer that was better than the home that they missed quite so very much. It made Janus look more like a typical teenager (well, in an impossibly handsome and vaguely elfin sort of way). "Yes, sir," Janus said simply as they stepped backwards with quick, light steps, retreating as Erik retreated to prevent him from taking control of where they were moving away. Janus, at least, knew enough not to be baited in following Erik around the dojo on his terms if it could be helped. Closing quickly; Janus was clearly used to fighting closer in than a typical fencer, blade whirling in quick, clean slices while the hand holding the buckler bobbed and weaved; ready to block but Janus added the off hand blows. "I'm equally dominant with either hand and train to keep it so. Never know when you're going to get one lopped off by a lightsaber, after all. I also throw knees and elbows. My knight used to wake me up bellowing things like 'EVERY PART OF YOUR BODY IS A WEAPON'. Nice fellow, little intense. Well, either intense or partially deaf. No one was brave enough to find out. There's a betting pool still going if anyone ever does. I have two gold on 'intense AND deaf'."

Talya shifted in place as she continued to haggle in Russian for a better price for whatever was in 'box number three', hiding her impatience as she tried to bait in the ringleader. She was positive that this knot of men were convinced that they had the drop on the ex thief which made them predictable. Predictable meant they could be controlled and she knew Erik was waiting in the wings once the set up clicked fully into place. It should have been easy. If anything, Talya was a little bored by the efforts needed to manipulate the SHADOW agents. She should absolutely not have briefly wished for the evening to be a bit more interesting as just as the thought flickered through her mind, Adam's foot scuffed a pebble and one of the dark clad, scowling men glanced over. If the kids had maybe... maybe just walked by, it might not have all gone to hell in a hand basket. However, two people crouching on the periphery of the weapon deal unfortunately gave the gathered men the right idea. Right idea, wrong people! "ITS A TRAP!" As the guns swung up and towards Talya, she realized that if she just vanished - which was always on the table - it left two potential bystanders as the likely targets. Which meant dancing away from the kids to draw the automatic fire and hoping she could dance her way out of a hail of bullets. Not ideal but better than dead children. Tossing her coat and wig off, Talya bolted forward and away from the teens, trusting that the gunfire would follow her. Silenced gunfire filled the air with hissed pops; most of them making the distinctive whizz-ping noise of bullets embedding into abandoned train cars. Enhanced hearing might catch the one that thudded dully into flesh or the breath that whooshed out of Bombshell as she wrenched her body away and towards better ground to stand and fight on. Only someone who knew her would likely catch the hitch in her stride as she stumbled and recovered with a veteran's speed. To the pair at the end of the alley, it was all chaos and sudden violence; guns drawn and firing wildly towards the woman and a whole lot of shouting in Russian.

Let me get initiative from folks for initial scuffle. Bombshell's going at 19 . She and Jack will get an HP for the mooks getting a surprise round; firing at Talya (who's +12 on Def). Specimen will get an HP for being the one to catch the baddies attention. Attack 1 : 17 MISS Attack 2 : 15 MISS Attack 3: 12 MISS Attack 4: 28 HIT Attack 5: 20 MISS Talya's save vs DC25: 17 Talya is Bruised and Dazed at the start of combat. You are all welcome to post a reaction to the combat starting up that doesn't involve rolls while getting everyone's initiatives up but you don't have to post a reaction if you want to wait for your turn in combat. Optional post!

"There is always a system," Janus rolled their eyes at Ashley's fist pounding, "Anarchy is just another word for coup. Eventually someone gets enough of an edge - through power or through people - to enforce their will on those around them. Humanity leans ever towards some kind of order; just or unjust, but always a hierarchy of one sort or another." Leaning back in their chair, Janus spun that silver pen from finger to finger, waving the other hand to emphasize one point or another. "Speaking from personal experience, I have given my information to this government. I'm sanctioned to act in the land I grew up in- so, personally, I clearly don't have a problem working for a state that I find just. My family has a history of service to this country - one we're proud of from everything Grandfather and Aunt Rachel have told me - so, I have no issue in enforcing its laws as they currently stand. Were this place to take a turn towards drastically unjust and cruel, then personally, I feel it falls on my shoulders to be one of the first to stand up for others who might not be in the position to do so for themselves. From what is described, I see no justice in it. It is a... what's the word..." Janus muttered under their breath in the language of their birth, trying to find English words for a concept that didn't quite translate. "...Where you do a thing to make people FEEL better, but it has no actual use. This registration, as its described, gives the government no additional tools while impinging on the liberties of its citizens merely as a piece of propaganda. The government is, I have no doubt, well aware of where the likely dangers already lie. One presumes they manage to be hopefully at least halfway as informed as my Aunt Rachel... or the headmistress. It is, ultimately, performative more than anything."

"But we are like other people, that's why registration becomes an issue," Janus said, gentling their words as they didn't want to make any classmates angry. "Segregation of anyone as 'other' for certain characteristics is divisive and serves no purpose. It creates two categories and ascribes inherent value. One is 'better', one is 'worse' and those are the first lines that battles are drawn from." It sounded like Janus was quoting something, or at least translating a quote that they had heard before. With a feminine flip of their wrists, Janus indicated them-self, the expression sobering. "Either all citizens need to be registered or registration of American citizens is unacceptable. As to protesting it, unless one swears oaths or takes up arms officially for their kingdom - excuse me, country - then there is no onus to enforce anything. Most heroes, from what I gather, protect people based on their own sense of justice rather than any mandate. After all, those with meta abilities can't join the police force," Janus pointed out, as Phalanx's outing was one of the things that had made it into the summer of media consumption. From Janus tone, it was clear they disproved, "And joining most military forces is fraught at best. I think we're already on that slippery slope of us versus them and its abhorrent. At what point does one draw the line, what if one is merely a phenomenal chess player - no one else can match their skills? So should they be barred from competition?" Their hands went up into the air, their voice sharpening, their accent deepening as the conversation moved towards things Janus had stronger feelings about than the abstraction of the exercise, "It's arbitrary and stupid and worse, we're not supposed to point out that it is both arbitrary and stupid. If laws are not just, then one has a moral obligation to challenge them before good people die because of them."

"Now that is something that I do not fully understand. While I completely enjoy riding my motorcycle; tending its needs is merely a necessary chore. To each their own though. Horses, at least, can return your affection," Janus commented, following Kam's lead to turn the conversation back towards what might be more comfortable footing conversationally. Janus' self deprecating smile added humor to their commentary about the subject at hand, "But then, it took me a good month to learn what all the dials and knobs and displays meant. I fear I have little natural mechanical aptitude. Almost blew myself up replacing the power cell." Did Janus think that all cars ran on Danger power cells? Probably.

Janus eyed Lulu with considerable alarm, watching Veronica's reaction to the trance and then their gaze cut to the clock, marking the time. Three minutes without air was dangerous and Janus had serious reservations about this. "I've seen a spell like that," Janus stated and from the flat intonation, it was clear that it hadn't been a good thing. They stood up in one swift move, crossing to where Lulu rested just in case intervention was needed. Janus did not bite back the urge to check with Veronica's level of restraint. The taller Danger leaned over, calloused fingers finding Lulu's pulse point in her jaw to make certain that it continued to beat - if terribly slowly. "Didn't end well," Janus said, the laconic statement making clear just how unpleasant that particular encounter had been.

"Well, it isn't like America is currently a purely equal society as it currently stands and the illusion that it is, is a dangerous one," Janus pointed out to Judy, trying to find a gentle way to point out that the existing system wasn't perfect. "My citizenship was fast tracked due to my family's connections. I spent my summer in my grandfather's manor with a private beach while, I am certain, that when your sister crossed to this dimension; her vetting process was likely considerably different. Any sort of registration - no matter how benignly meant - is going to have similar inequalities even if implemented perfectly - and such levels of bureaucracy are rarely perfect." Janus waved their hands slightly, the light catching their rings with the gesture as if to emphasize the point that the teen Danger was facing. Clearly, while Janus had been raised to a life of privilege; their mother had taken great pains to point out its existence. "From what I understand - and please correct me if I am misunderstanding as I am certain their are nuances to the laws here that I am missing - but isn't that the actual meaning behind one of this countries pillars; that it is the duty of every citizen - powered or no - to protest and ensure that their government listens to the needs of all of its people?"

Janus flipped through the packet when their copy was distributed, absently twirling a pen between their fingertips as they glanced over the paperwork in question. "Are we assuming that the current oligarchy running this country is still relatively benign?" Janus asked, their accent more pronounced as they split their attention between reading and speaking. It was a lot harder to translate two streams of information at once, rather than one, even if Janus spoke the language with a high degree of fluency. They paused, giving Leroy a bemused look from bright violet eyes, the starburst scar around one crinkling with their moment of amusement. "Personally, all of my information is registered with multiple governments so, technically, I'd already be compliant." Janus pointed out, since part of the question is where they would fall in the spectrum, "That, said, if the government remains benevolent, there will be a process to abstain or conceal information as needed. If its the first step in an autocracy, registration will be mandated. Personally, I'm always a bit leery with a government that changes so terrifyingly often. How does anything get done, how does anyone know that what was agreed to, will remain agreed to. Its a little terrifying really."

Janus offered a lopsided smile, "I'm already able to train and sass at the same time, I assure you. Like most weapons, though, I try to make certain that when I swing it; it's a deliberate choice. And, you know, not just wave it around because I can." The younger Danger grinned before giving Erik a brief, quizzical look. Their bright gaze flicked to Ace questioningly before finally asking Erik, simply, "With my regular sword first and not the magic one, I assume?" They unrolled their equipment with care. Erik's practiced eye could see that the blades used were lethal sharp, without blunted edges but likely a good pound to pound and a half heavier than what Janus would use in a fight. Like most who dealt in heavier weapons, Janus trained with heavier blades to ensure than in an actual fight, the movements would be lethally quick. The leather buckler was simple, round and not all that much bigger than Janus' closed fist. From Janus' stance, it was clear that the off hand was just as much weapon as the sword. Janus lifted the blade up in front of them in the briefest of salutes before simply attacking as instructed with lethal speed. They were good, not just in speed or strength but the attack was aggressive while being supremely controlled. While Janus might be bated into overconfidence, they didn't start from their as a default. No, Janus had been knocked on their behind enough times by enough different teachers to have any tendency of that drilled out of them. Even if Erik didn't dodge out of the way, Janus had enough control that the wound would be superficial; the last few inches of their blade whipping up and to the side. Unlike fencing, their style focused on the sharp edges of the blade rather than any sort of thrusts and Janus closed with the long gliding strides, their off hand guard up as they were not going to make a mistake of underestimating someone that Ace called 'the best'/

Janus gave a shake of her head, "Not so much. I find my mind calms the most when my body is in motion. I'm learning the sword," Janus explained, although really - by most normal standards - Janus had learned the art of the sword. They grinned at Veronica then, "Ronnie has always been far better than I at the more meditative arts. She has a knack for magic which tends to go hand in hand with focusing. Personally, I am more of the hitting-punching-stabbing side of the Danger family." Janus shifted a little in the chair, tipping it up on the legs before thumping it down again, as if talking about getting out and moving was leaving them restless, "Paperwork is one of the burdens of this world, it seems. If you're having trouble, I'm sure we can help. If nothing else, Prudence is always looking for things to do." Technically, Prudence was always looking to make sure the Danger teens were doing what they were supposed to do, but close enough!

And here be the OOC!

Location: Just a few wrong turns from the Downtown strip of the West End Date: 9 - 23 - 18, 9:15 PM GM Post: Claremont Kids It certainly wasn't a date-date, but a 'lets check out the game store in the West End' had turned into a quick dinner and an involved discussion of the recent tabletop game shaping up for the latest crop of Claremont kids. It should have been a few quick turns to get back to the bus stop that would take them back to the safety of Claremont's dorms but a right instead of a left (or two), and the pair were decidedly nowhere near where the bus stop should be. Instead, they'd crossed the border into a dark and poorly lit Greenbank where more buildings were abandoned than not, especially at this time of night, and the rail yard loomed in the distance. They were absolutely and certainly lost. It seemed entirely deserted, at least, at first. After a few moments. Then, the faintly audible murmur of voices talking caught their attention. Peering around the corner, there was a small knot of shadowy looking individuals apparently intently arguing in low pitched Russian. At their center was a woman dressed in all black. More disconcertingly, there were certain ominous and unmarked crates sitting out. To Lulu's mental senses, the woman at the center didn't even seem to exist but she was absolutely there plain as day. Something shady was going on! GM Post: Interceptors When Talya had gotten a bit of intel on a possible S.H.A.D.O.W. cell operating near the West End, she hadn't kept it to herself. Such growth, really! Her plan, however, to infiltrate the group and ferret out the ringleader had gone over like a sack of bricks. Min, especially, hadn't been too keen on the 'I'll just let myself get captured, then we'll have plenty of information' solution of the former spy. Relationships, after all, were all about compromise. Months of work, though, and it had finally led to tonight. If everything went well, they'd finally have the information for who thought operating on the Interceptors territory was a good idea. Dressed in all black, Bombshell stood disguised in the center of some very, very dangerous people and their even more dangerous weapons, haggling for a 'good deal' for missile launchers and cluster bombs. Somewhere, out of sight, Jack of all Blades waited. She'd dropped enough hints that S.H.A.D.O.W. agents should suspect her real identity. It was a trap. Bombshell and Jack knew it was a trap, and the intended to spring it on their own terms. Everything had been accounted for. Everything, but a pair of Claremont students. Even the best laid plans...

Janus felt the vague tension from both Veronica and Kam at the mention of additional restrictions. Gesturing a little with one be-ringed hand, they made a slight calming gesture. Switching to Dakanan with only the same ghost of an accent that Janus spoke English with, "/Peace. Let us see what is on the table before reacting. 'Tis best to know the rules before seeing about how to bend them./" Their violet eyed gaze followed the girl leaving with some concern, before switching to Zenith as she glanced around. Janus arched one winged brow up at the lovely glowing girl's perusal; meeting her evaluative gaze dead on. The hell had happened up in that front row. Janus had missed the verbal exchange - they didn't have the enhanced senses that some of the other teens possessed.

Janus gave Veronica a reassuring smile; they missed their home terribly but better than anyone, Janus understood the necessity of leaving. "It is magical. Though I do enjoy the benefits of Prime. Technology isn't all so terrible, after all. I greatly enjoy my phone and driving - that's certainly an enjoyable past time. Both Veronica and I have our licenses." Watching the lightning bugs swirl with interest, Janus finally gave into their impulse to let one fingertip ghost through the illusion in question, "There are new adventures to enjoy, after all, and there is very little better than that." That might as well have been the Danger family motto.