Ari
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Leroy will absolutely be involved. This cosmic love being definitely needs to experience the love of their creator.
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"It had better be." Leroy stepped back from a maintenance cover, flicking his teal and lilac robes clear as he shut it with evident disappointment.,"Otherwise this is a truly cramped and dismal universe". The Dragon Prince of Earth-2 had been enormously underwhelmed with the size and facilities of the Lighthouse, unable to stop himself from blurting out a disbelieving "This is it?" at the end of their tour. Since then he had been doing his best to find whatever it was the Lighthouse was hiding, scanning decks with what he vaguely described as "gravity senses" and poking at anything that looked like it could hide a passage. With a jump that took him to the observation bay window, he glared down at Earth-Prime. "Such ruthless devastation," he muttered, "encroaching deserts, shriveling forests, dying seas...now I understand why the dragons barred us from the surface." A queasy rumble replied "It's a little easier if you can wish food into existence, prince." Dio, for his part, was already curled up on the floor with eyes shut tight. The teleportation, for some reason, had done a number on the giant reptile, and until the next leg of their journey began he had elected to sit very still and do as little as possible. "That reminds me," Leroy said, giving his groaning companion a gentle rub on the back, "what sort of agreement do you have with the unhumans? Will we have to pay them with something?"
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"A better resolution than I had hoped," Leroy said, letting out a breath he hadn't been obviously holding as the door shut after Eira, "however it leaves us with some unfinished business." Discarding the empty plate, bowl, dirty napkin and cutlery into the dark crystal, he folded his slender hands and smiled assuringly to the rest of the present Squad. "For the present, we do require a leader. Someone to take responsibility for us with the staff and to act as a formal or informal representative. I nominate Mustafic-Markov." He indicated Mia with his ringéd hand. "She has shown, in this very moment, a willingness to change and yet a passionate intensity when it seemed deserved. As well, her mother was leader to a group of superhumans in her youth. Both scores, I think, speak well of her and I can vouch for her ability." "Second, we must have a regular meeting place and time. I suggest the caféterium, We have, at present, no secrets or shameful deeds, so we may speak freely in a comparatively neutral and open space. For meeting times, I say late afternoons. Next time I will make enough food for us all." "Third, we must have some sort of annoying in-group identifier in case we are ever suspicious that someone is a spy masquerading as one of us." He turned to Abigail "Fourth, lady Storm, Dio wishes me to say 'it's more pointed than that' and 'don't forget the barbs.' I must admit total ignorance of what he means, but trust you have it under control."
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After all their practice, Leroy had much improved since his and Judy's first, clumsy kiss at the school dance a lifetime ago. As they parted, she saw a light in his eyes that wasn't reflected from hers. "Yes. A wonderful first step. The righteous are barricaded from power by violence, so one who need not fear them has few limits. Perhaps someday you and I will also stand before a teeming throng, Dee, at the dawn of a kinder age." He stroked her cheek tenderly, smiling like that time had already come. "That is a perfect example, Micah." he added, turning that smile to his schoolmate, "We have all read the writings of Dr. Atom, how the entry of Centurion from another world flooded this one with exotic forms of radiation from countless dimensions, tying this to them and loosening the grip of conventional physics. So you have the divide between Emily Swift and the first Lady Liberty. However, that only answers one side to this question. The key problem is solving for Atlantis." Sitting up a little, one arm set free to gesticulate, Leroy went on, golden eyes brighter than ever. "According to what they claim, the Atlanteans practice the manipulation of interdimensional forces known as magic. The Sinking is even posited to be partly the result of transporting beings from outside this dimension to our own, and the Deep One guest speaker Ackwareea In-His-Mouth indicated very strongly that such beings exist and have had profound effects upon our planet. What then, is the novelty of the Centurion breaching the unseen walls and introducing this universe to the laws of others? Over a hundred millennia after that was a fact of life? Even in the adventures of the Dangers they record standing portals to worlds beyond, artefacts of origins celestial and sorcerous. There is more to this, but we lack to the pieces to complete the picture!" He sighed, slumping back a little in his seat. "I do beg your pardons, it is a subject of great fascination to me. I will pipe down." he said, having the good grace to smile sheepishly.
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At a thorough loss as to the exchanges between Mia and Eira, Leroy seized gratefully on Abigail's taking charge, and her comment. "Yes, well-said, no harm is sought by any of us. Please, Mia, remain." "I believed a more specific scenario would better illustrate the matter, lady Storm." he said to the elemental sorceress, "What we do not have might be keenly felt. Or our own eyes may blind us, seeing brilliance in an obscuring glare of ignorance. Mustafic-Markov and Night, not to mention yourself or Beaumont, have theoretically unlimited power. My youngest sister, Oloroo, is ten. You could not defeat her. Ever, even without her dragon Rawrenock. Yet, you have wisdom and wit she has not developed. Methods beyond brute and instant force, so problems dark and dauntng to 'Roo are simple as breathing." He frowned "Why you are not more advanced along your paths, I cannot fathom." "Regardless, my point is akin to yours. We must seek out our weaknesses, our flaws and shames as diligently as we cultivate that in which we excel. Otherwise, enemies may catch us unguarded, disaster striking where we never dreamed. Extracontexctual threats can be to us as a period is to a sentence." To Eira, the Dragon Prince added "As for a visit to an alien habitat, Night, consider me signed up." Leroy sighed, his shoulders slumping, "Forbidden to proselytize, alas. When affixing religious significance to Earth could only improve our standing!" "I don't think that's the way to think about it at all." said Dio, looking deeply troubled.
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Tgagedesed.
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Hustling to the inner table, Squire B'Ka chewed his own meal as thoroughly as he did Squire Kath'lana's words. Even without him talking, she could see the gears turning in his mind just by how his face shifted along the course of thought. The plainshez burrow to defend themselves from larger predators, so they can't be attacked from behind or below. So if I keep at this, I'll be exposed. But if I find a way to a more defensible position, I can just fold into that good grace I've established and be protected by it. Whuf, 'lana gives some good advice! But, how do I follow it? Wait! Traveler is saying something! B'Ka nodded politely as he listened to Sitara's broad-strokes outline of the situation, their obstacles and their plan. "Those walls look like they're from older than the Republic," he said, eyes wide, "who could've built 'em? What happened to 'em? Uh...pro'lly not important right now. I'm not much for sneakin'," he confessed, pulling a snout, "but I can bash n' blast pretty good, make a big shiny target for them to shoot at while people go 'round the tail?" "And, uh...if you don't mind, K-Kanemu, I, uh...I'd like to take you up on your offer? We do a similar thing where I'm from, but, uh, I've...never, uhm...I'd like to, uh..." the armored bull squirmed awkwardly, stammering in his seat as his ears reddened to ochre.
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The tall boy frowned for a moment, bending so Judy wouldn't have to reach so far. At last he replied "Well said. I see my error, heroism comes as often after the fighting is done, or before it begins. On most worlds, people write and think little of times of peace. When rich soil is torn and scorched, billowing to the sky, they see what it is they lost. For example," Leroy indicated the screen, nestling against Judy, some of the tension leaving him, "the people of this coastal region, Ith-Idj-" he paused, workng his mouth a little, before finally giving up and ploughing on "-Ezarl, they were often conquered, without a tie of faith hinging on the received history of the region this quiet time of subjugation might have no stories at all." "So much of what is done by supers is to preserve a...a semblance of calm and stability. Does it matter to anyone alive that Midnight defeated the Blackbirds? No. But the people they robbed and terrorized cared very much. Tectonic, Halogen, the Bouncing Beatnik, those who fell or vanished did good in their lives, though they are invisible to history." Crossing one leg over the other, Leroy sighed as the fatal rooftop pottery was thrown down, shattering the uneasy peace. Resting his head against Judy's shoulder, the Dragon Prince watched the nsuing chaos. "In this world, it seems like the finest deeds are the ones most easily forgotten. Back home, while the Army of Light has pride of place, even those who simply walk the streets and chase away loneliness in others are honoured and remembered."
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"It's like we're back home, eh prince? listening to junior cadets argue over who can empty a planet the fastest. D'you think, if we leave them go long enough, they'll take each other out for real?" Dio chuckled deep in his massive throat. Leroy's polite, polished smile never wavered. "If lady Storm has some link to an existential threat against this and all known realities, I am confident she will introduce the subject at an appropriate time." Leroy drummed his long, elegant fingers on the tabletop with a free hand as he took dainty bites and sips with the other. Dabbing at his mouth, he added solemnly to the undisguised shapeshifter "Davyd, I must commend you. It takes considerable courage to admit to inhumanity. Unless I am horribly tortured or encounter a psychic, your secret is safe with me." He turned to address the psychic in the room "Beaumont, after this meeting we should confer. There are some things too dangerous for me to know." With another flick of his fingers and a flash of light, an ornate glass of water appeared. After taking a sip, he went on casually "There is one small matter: Overwhelming force is all very well, but there are times it is neither necessary nor prudent. For example, explorers from another planet come to this one. They are all ignorance as to our customs and habits. A thoughtless gesture of ours is to them a clear threat of violence. They attempt to defend themselves. What means do we have to help resolve the matter peacefully?"
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"In a pinch, the Phoros can adjust my mass and relativet gravity to carry me aloft," Leroy volunteered, "though I have little more speed than one of your aerocraft. Adjusting the field grants me greater than average strength, and I share the common knack for creating and controlling the black diamonds. By donning them as a crystal carapace, energy and physical attacks can be blunted. As well, I have been trained to speak in any tongue tied to the creatures of Earth, including the Unhuman speech, with the appropriate instruction for soft or hard words as needed." "As a support, I feel I should excel. Should we require shelter, supplies, additional muscle or someone to complement a negotiation, whoever leads would find in me an able right hand." Dio flicked his wings "I can fly, got a link to the giant lava-dragon in your planet's core, and am a multi-ton giant lizard. I've got a bit to offer." he smiled again "Might not be available all the time, though. Heard there's something that needs looking into down the coast." Leroy frowned "I was not informed-" "Why tell you?" Dio looked down at his charge, pointed tail stirring back and forth, a cold contempt on his warm eyes.
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The Dragon Prince smiled awkwardly, his hand seeming to pass through the crystal in a flash of light, coming to the other side holding a bowl and a plate balanced perilously between his fingers. Both billowed with steam, which carried a rich, aromatic scent of peanuts, fragrant herbs and something more hearty and vegetable-y through the air. Placing the plate and bowl on the table, Leroy inspected the doughy white lump and steaming brown soup with minute care. Another pass, and a spoon and knife twirled deftly onto a pristine white napkin. Off-handed, he said "Beaumont has the right of it. At worst, this is a temporary inconvenience on the way to better things. At best, we come out the other side with friends and allies. Even the strong need those." Slicing a chunk off the dough. Leroy dipped it into the sauce and ate, wiping away a run of brown down his darker chin with the napkin. Swallowing noiselessly, he added "Besides, I understand there are to be team-building events. Such are perfect for passive-aggressive one-uphership, if we must have this feud over ill-humour at being where none of us wish to be." "Fate is in your hands." He took another bite, chewed, swallowed. "Grasp it, drop it, I have no say." "Thought that was in God's hands?" Dio asked, grinning to expose ridges of flat, block-like teeth. "That would be vengeance." Leroy said, very primly.
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"Good morning, lady Storm!" Leroy waved enthusiastically to Abigail "Night, this is Abigail, she has a talent with the elemental forces and an unquenchable thirst for justice." "I would not be so harsh, leader Mustafic-Markov. Night has certainly an accurate picture of me." Leroy smiled reassuringly. "Without the Phoros, I should be as helpless as any babe-in-arms." "That aside, I agree such a macro-scale view of our situation is unproductive and, worse, misleading. No genius or might turns a child into an adult, only time and the exercise of curiosity. So! Let us try a more short-term and personal view of each other: our immediate goals. Not what we want for tomorrow, or next year, or ten years, today. For example, I am considering how to make some fufou and hot peanut soup. Beaumont, I understand you come from a region noted for culinary excellence. Would you like to try some?" Leroy hovered a hand over the dark crystal, and within its stygian depths a cold light awakened. Lurking. Hungering.Watching. "A word of warning: the soup I was raised on is something of..." Leroy glanced at Dio, who mouthed something with an inhuman mouth unfitted for forming human sounds, "...an acquitted taste. It should, however, serve to make us feel less fierce."
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"A curious and singular time" agreed Leroy, a god in black and gold. Whether by accident or design, he'd dressed in the tunic and sandals worn by the film's villain, Masala. In place of the Roman eagle, however, a wolf's head snarled defiance while the beads were replaced with golden fangs. Unusually, the only jewelry he wore was the silver ring on his right hand, without even something to restrain his hair. Snuggled against Judy, the tall boy was unusually tense, frequently ignoring the action for long stretches to stare intently at the wiring. Occasionally, Judy heard him murmur "Please persist" during the noisier segments. "There were no heroes in this time, aside from that ancestor of Dr. Daedalus." he remarked suddenly. "Is it known why?" He indicated the Romans marching in procession "The school records I have studied claim they worshiped ordinary men as gods, whom others raised to power and fostered learning and capability. A superhuman could have accomplished wonders in this era. Even in yours, much-advanced as you are, they change the fates of nations."
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"Yeah, definitely," B'ka said, avoiding eye contact with Kanemu, "I totally taught Squire 'lana everythin' she didn't learn from Sri Darvo! I, uh, almost, uh, feel sorry for you, Dirge of the Khanate! P-people must see your horns an' figure ''this guy's not so tough, he's never been in a real fight!'" He reached for the glass slid his way across the bartop, only to freeze for a moment as he caught Kath'lana's eye. "Uh, I, uh...we're going t'be fighting soon, so I-I want to keep a clear head. Drink up, Dirge!" the Hapisian Squire thumped the Fryxian freelance heartily on the back, forcing a smile, "I'll keep watch tonight!" Casting a longing glance at the cup of tantalizing amber liquid, B'ka pushed it gently away and leaned against the bar, doing his best not to look like the most downhearted creature on Temeura II. "'lana," he whispered across to his fellow Squire, "is it bad to lie? 'Cause I sure know it can be dangerous!"
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Leroy clapped lightly "Well said, face-dancer! And good morning, Davyd, good morning Louise Beaumont, to see you is a joy!" "Those questions do cut to heart of this matter," he added to Davyd, nodding respectfully to shapeshifting boy, "well worth the asking. Though neither question has a spectacular answer in my case. A star from another dimension lives in my heart, and until it grows and consumes me its overlap with my physical and metaphysical self grants certain advantages. As for what I do, well..." he frowned at the ceiling for a good moment, "...come to think of it, I do nothing much. Largely what Judy tells me. The girl whose boyfriend I am," he added, for Eira's benefit, "I have no ambitions. Not for myself, to be clearest. I have sufficient, to seek more would be a waste and a sin." "Highest causes, lowest means." warned Dio, to the visible annoyance of the Dragon Prince.
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"My uncle," Leroy said, "was condemned for being black and valuing the oppressed over their oppressors. I confess to knowing nothing about your kinsman, Night, but I suspect mildly similar family history is not the reason we are here." "I do apologize for raising what is apparently a settled question for you. That is not what I meant, but it would be ungracious to press." Beside him, the hulking wall of green scales and leathery hide scratched his frilled neck with a claw. "There are a lot of them, that's just a fact." Dio said to Eira. "I can hook you up-." he was about to say more, but catching the angry tail of Leroy's eye, the monster sank into sullen silence. Settling back further in his seat, the Dragon Prince took a black crystal out of a pocket in his robe, setting it on the table before him. "May I offer some refreshment?" smiling at Mia he added "I have not your creative talent, leader Mustafic-Markov, but I can recreate some forms of nourishment with traditional tools."
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Sun Dragon rep table: Gather Information: DC5: Leroy Ransome-Conte is the son of Freecom City-based music instructor, composer, arts advocate and political activist Lavernius Conte. He's a notorious airhead, attends the prestigious Claremont Academy, and claims that his mother is the queen of another dimension. He also has a giant green dragon for a friend. DC10: Leroy appears to spend most of his time at school, and the one time he and his father were in the same public place resulted in a shouting match between them over Leroy's namesake uncle, apparently the Iron Age hero Golden Marvel, currently serving time for murder. Knowledge(Cosmology): DC5: Sun Dragon is from Earth-2, a relatively well-known but still unfamiliar dimension, where history is different and mythological creatures like dragons are more common. DC10: Sun Dragon's home is a union of many different Earths, brought into one dimension and coexisting alongside each other. Sun Dragon is one of the union ruler's many children. DC15: The worlds of Earth-2 are annexed by the mysterious yet legendary Army of Light, who claim each Earth was ruled by tyrants and brought by them into a utopian existence of freedom. The ruling family claims cultural descent from ancient Atlantis. DC20: The Army of Light and Sun Dragon's family wield what they call 'the One Power', rumoured to be the same source as that used by beings like the Norn. Sun Dragon does not have this power, his being tied to a Phoros living star within his body. Knowledge(Streetwise): DC5: A guy on a talking green dragon goes around the city, his name is Leroy and he always has plenty of cash he's happy to hand out. DC10: Leroy doesn't appear to come from anywhere on Earth, as he regularly misidentifies or is clueless as to everyday concepts.
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At the door, a sudden explosion of movement preceded the arrival of a tall, slender young man with long frizzy hair, darting, sleepy yellow eyes, three long white scars on each cheek, a rumpled green robe fringed with gilt lotuses and a silver ring shining on his right hand. Stifling a yawn he clambered awkwardly into a chair, waving generally at the two women. "Grrraughm, L'rry, good mrAAaaaughningmmmmm." His eyes alit on Eira, and he frowned. "Alexander? Where're the rest f'your several heads? This a dream? J's'a'mom't..." One arm pulled back, and Leroy slapped himself with a force the other two could feel across the table. "Ow." he said. "Impossible to say. Now that I am fully awake, I remember that most of my dreams are already very painful." Blinking in the light, a brilliant smile spread across his as he saw Mia. "Mustafic-Markov! so this was the correct building after all! my dream was real!" His eyes swept back to Eira and his smile, already stretching his scars out of sight, grew wider. "Hullo, miss! My name is Leroy Ransome-Conte, I am the Dragon Prince of Earth-2 and very happy to meet you!" "I hope this is not a hurtful question, but are you acquainted with our Saviour?" He propped up his head on the table with his ringed hand, eyes sparkling with hope.
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GM "Thanks, Rob! See, people, this is the kind of trust money can't buy, what I hope all of us can share one day. And it's one half of the special surprise I have for the new year!" An excited buzz began spreading through the crowd. Everyone had seen or been to a MarsTech product launch, and this was turning down a familiar and beloved road. He was too short to comfortably put an arm around Robin's shouders, so Max gestured for her to follow him across the stage, to a curtained-off section near the back. Rubbing his hands together and shooting Robin a mischievous grin, Emerald City's favourite son asked a very simple, everyday question. "Robin, how'd you like to be a superhero?" The buzz around her began reaching a fever pitch.
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It was hard to tell which approach Squire B'ka was more surprised by. He shuffled his hooves awkwardly under Squire Kath'lana's ferocity, but whatever reply he was about to make was swallowed up in the power of Dirge. "YES WE ARE STAR KNIGHTS!" he shouted before catching himself. Perking up at the 'cousin' bit, the young bull looked with redoubled curiosity at the blue giant. At the mention of victory and death, his eyes positively shone. Walking up to him, the sturdy Squire offered a hand, his armor retracting to expose callused, scarred fingers and a powerful arm covered in the same coarse hair as his square, honest face. "Squire B'ka, from the Hapis herds, well met Kanemu! She's my partner, Squire Kath'lana. We're also chasing these pirates, and these" the bull ponted eagerly to the two Lor, "are with the Prophets and the Star Navy! Taking down a pirate gang in the Colonies, that's gotta be worth a few hundred thousand, at least!" "I don't have anything to give you, Kanemu," B'ka suddenly looked very grave, staring up Dirge with his warm, dark eyes, "but I'd count it an honour t'fight beside you." He turned back to his fellow Squire, "Which is why I left Sri Darvo, 'lana! we gotta deal with this! He doesn't need our help talking to some broncos!"
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"No, don't think so." B'ka scratched the side of his snout, glancing up at the stars. "Our trainer doesn't want Squires risking themselves, so I kinda snuck away when we got close to this system. Our Knight's got stuff to do, so he's not likely to swing 'round, but it's all negotiatin' and stuff, so I figured 'lana'll come looking, and when she's already here we'll have to help out!" The young bull Khered cracked his armored knuckles, taking stock of the blasted, dreary landscape. "A true Star Knight's about action," he said, though to whom was a mystery, "d'you know when they'll show? The pirates? You're with the Prophets, right?" he asked Jolan, "y'can see the future?"
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A brilliant shooting star flared through the thin atmosphere, a pretty sight to even those jaded by cosmic routine. It quickly became apparent, however, that the shooting star was failing to burn up, and in a few seconds had enlarged into a brassy lump afire from 'sphere entry! It hurtled towards the ground, threatening destruction the little town hadn't weathered since Then the jets fired, the lump slowed, and a horned Star Knight slammed bodily into the ground, bouncing and rolling and coming to a gentle rest beside the two Lor. Unsteadily, it rose to its hooves, swaying gently before the scout siblings. Sizzling with the friction of its descent, the unmistakable armor of Mentor's Citadel of heroes shone like ruddy gold, the figure inside already hefty and imposing, made more so by faceless metal. A faint hum within indicated the activation of Star Stone-powered machinery, and the horned helmet slid back to reveal the face of the newest arrival. A fuzzy brown snout, large, floppy ears and soft, shy brown eyes peered down at the duo. Giving lie to the arcing horns of the armor, the Knight's own horns were two rough, uneven stumps. He was unmistakably one of the stodgy Khered from the backspace breadbasket worlds. "Hey," he said, looking back and forth between Jolan and Fa'Rua, "is this the planet with a lot of bad guys? I need to know before Squire Kath'lana gets here. I got us-I mean, we got lost. I'm B'ka. Squire B'ka, I mean. Who are you guys?"
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"Merely a handful, Dee. They will see, and confess, that they underestimated you." Leroy planted a kiss on Judy's ring-bearing hand, smiling across the table to Adrian. "Cousin, it would delight me if I might see you again, to make up for my hasty and careless words. The Commander is correct, a fight profits none of us." "Oh, can I come too?" the eyeless horror at the end of the table perked up, the horns framing her tautened skin seeming to strain it all the more as a fanged grin separated her jaws. Claire rose, picked up the Lictor and walked through a door into white light that opened silently to admit her while Leroy visibly struggled to find an approrpiate response. "Meet at ship." she said, before the door slid shut. "Be right with you." Adrian's face was significantly relaxed compared to how rigid and grim she'd been earlier. Returning her cousin's smile, the Demon of Earth-2 stood as well, nodding to the Headmistress. "Thanks for the meeting. Took a real weight off knowing this wasn't the disaster me or Beast expected. I'll see you next time I can, Leroy, if Judith's alright with it. If you'll excuse me, I got reports to make, worlds to save, the neverending battle..." A door of light opened behind her, swallowing the Demon and closing noiselessly behind, leaving the four alone in the conference room. For just a moment, to Judy's eyes, she saw the shadows of armies in the blazing light. Behind them soared a tower of fire from which the light came, its radiance illuminating and almost healing. But magnetic, so the eye had to fight to turn on anything else, to not be lost in the sussurating, calming flames... Then, like the memory of a dream, it was gone. Beside her, Leroy said very softly "You can see why I wanted the meeting here. Thank you, Ms. Summers," he added, rising to bow to the Claremont administrator, "for the trouble you have taken and the time given, and for your forbearance in this matter. And you, Ashley," he added with a rueful smile, "for your help I consider myself well indebted." "Would you like to go somewhere to-day, Judy? To make up for such an unpleasant noon?" he asked, golden eyes asparkle, "there is to be a performance in Liberty Park, by the city symphony. I have never heard such music before, until Kameron relayed some from the internet."
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OOC thread for this thread. Supersuits as a Service. @RocketLord
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GM January 25th, Saturday, 2020, 11.55PM Outside Emerald Tower, downtown Emerald City, OR The last lingering, heartrending notes pierced the chill night air, and UK's violin went silent. For a moment, all around Robin was an almost sacred hush as the renowned string virtuoso stood to take a bow. In the glare of red lamps that had filled the night sky, held in place by repulsor bands that turned clouds of countless paper shells into magnetically-unified pieces of airborne art, Robin saw K looking almost uneasy at the awestruck hush. Above and about flitted the newsdrones, covering the MarsTech New Years bash while other electric eyes took in events unfolding across the Emeralds. Of all the crowds, though, this was going to be the biggest. There were familiar faces in the crowd, not like looming Chung was ever going to miss a chance to carry his "THE END IS NOW" signs where a camera was going to be, but on nights like this the comforting seas of familiarity was upset with crosswinds of newcomers, people who'd look at you funny and hurry on if you asked them how they werre doing. In that moment, though, all were united, Munchkin and outsider alike, by that same thrill through every heart. To make a sound would have been blasphemous. Max Mars broke the spell, jumping out of the audience and onto the stage beside K with a single bound, applauding furiously with giant grin on his face. "Yue Kei, everybody! All you shapes and flavours out there, give her a big 'welcome home' hand!" With admirable obedience the Emerald citizens cheered, the cold winter air blasted with steam from thousands of throats. In the heated shelter UK started, laughed despite herself, and bowed in rapid succession to different areas of the crowd. Max grinned like an indulgent father. Switching off his mic, he and UK exchanged a word, the young woman nodding and beginning to clear up her music and put back her instruments. As she did so, Mars went on blithely. "Nicely done! now, Kei has to leave us for the night, but stick around! Because on the stroke of midnight, as we enter a new year, I've got a little surprise for you...well, two surprises, but you'll see! Now, may I have a volunteer from the audience?" His brilliant green eyes scanning the crowd suddenly locked on Robin's. "Well hey-hey, Rob! Glad to see you could make it to another of my little shindigs! Like to come up?" he looked deeply chagrined as he added "I promise, no giant robots this time!"
