TheAbsurdist

His eyes slipped closed and he reached into the man's mind, pushing as hard as he could, Elias was not gentle. What Heraldo felt was similar to a tidal wave crashing down, what he didn't feel was the sensation of a riptide underneath. The crush of his mind struck, but it was subversive and sudden pull that got him entry. The response was a whimper, an explanation to get that question to stop. To halt this. But Elias got his answers, even as he bit his lip hard enough to draw blood, trying not to cry out from the empathetic flare of pain. testexperimentfollowingcommandsneedingtodothis. haveto.> And then it came like a flood, leading to a sharp inhalation from both of Elias and the metalman.

Or do a combination! Something like Moon Knight, only yanno where she isn't crazy. And her animistic gifts react to Lotan and awaken him, and there is a merger of a sorts. Maybe even have Metamorph to switch between who is in the 'driverseat.'

So internet is out at my home. I think. I didn't get to test it today before heading off to work. Maybe it is just the router.

"Hi, I'm Elias, I'm from New Freedom. I'm not easy to get along with." He took her hand, shaking it, a little awkwardly, and whatever he had screwed together to be able talk that much kind of faded at this point. He left his hand fall from hers. "So... forgiven." And he looked down and shrugged a little, before glancing to Kristin, expecting a little self-satisfied expression the happy telekinetic's face. He had more rant, but it wasn't really needed now, wouldn't do any good. Besides, he'd tell them more as needed. Already had learned, from talking with others, that apparently his childhood was more than a little deviated from the norm. Not that anyone in this school could really complain overmuch on that. All of their childhoods were off.

He kept staring at the woman, looking through Arcturus. "Changed his genetic structure. You didn't hurt her too much, just unconscious." He was reluctant in grabbing Marcus' hand, his own hovering a bit, before finally grasping it and pulling himself up again the strength of the large boy. "She is from New Freedom." He said it with a shiver. Not that he knew her, she was older than him, easily a decade older him. "Whoever purchased her had a good bit of money to bandy out." Looking up at Marcus' face finally. "There will be transponders on them both..." He pulled out his cellphone as he looked back to the tigerman. "I have a name, Horatio, but wading through an unconscious mind is difficult, like walking waistdeep in snow in a blizzard. Worse if they are trained." He moved back to her, and unbuckled the utility belt from her, and pulled it off of her, throwing it onto the hood of the car, and then pulling the pistols out of her shoulder holsters and putting them on the hood of the car.

Amir seemed nonplussed, like Agnus, and Kristin he understood the press, though he used it as a necessary evil. Something Megan would be aware of, despite the image that the public knew of him, he was a master at playing to the crowd, to manipulating the press. Just like right now, he had barely sipped at his drink, but he had lifted it to his lips time and time again, as he watched everyone around him now. "Certainly is an invitation, though currently the track is open to the public, I can schedule a maintenance day if you want to try it out for yourself. You can bring guests too, I do not mind. Though I must say I am not a fan of the Tesla all that weight in the middle, handles poorly, plus the charge is not really viable. I actually just invested in a firm that is devoted to hydrogen fuel cells, and we are looking to expand that. I personally feel it is more viable, unless I have Voltage come around and charge my cars, but that seems like abusing the system somehow." And then he laughed a little, and glanced to Agnus, and to the girl she was talking to. "Kristin, was it? Dear, it is alright. You should see what all the mudslingers say about me, 'Reckless, dangerous, poor fashion sense. A rake and a roustabout.' I mean truth be told they a little right, after all this is mine and Agnus' first date, and I took her here. Really I just wanted to see her in a dress, and it is better to be a little open the press someone, if you make a story they can't create one." Smiling slyly and offering a conspiratorial wink, before he turned his head to grin at Agnus, "I had to promise three rom-coms..." Sighing over dramatically, placing hand over heart. "Three! This also means I should give up the Superbowl as well..." Sighs wistfully, and gives Agnus the puppy eyes, bottom lip aquiver. "Can they at least be Sandra Bullock ones? That is all I ask, to abate my suffering."

Mr. Landis was frowning a little, distracted a bit, and looking at Elias, before he grabbed the packs of chicken out of the cooler. "Mm?" Blinking a bit, the teacher looked at Subito. "Oh, well I was gonna do stirfry." He seemed amused by all the hunting and gathering, after all, he wasn't so stupid as to bring a bunch of teens into the woods without making sure they had stuff to eat. Elias kept doing prep. It was a rhythm. Something to do. Something no one could bother him while he did them. After all he wasn't the one who had issues understanding others. The same could not be said for the people he was around. Not that he disliked them or what they were doing, they only hurt themselves, but at least Subito and Cerys were moving, rather than spinning their wheels. He doubted he had any impact, after all he didn't make them act. Finished chopping the vegetables, he turned and walked to Mr. Landis, grabbing the packs of chicken out from his hand and then moved back to to the prep area, opening them up as well. Mr. Landis stopped, and looked back at the boy, frowning.

After a few more minutes, he struggled with her mind, his eyes clenched shut, and his breathing mirroring hers, and then he started to speak. "She... is running a test for someone. Memories of them are hard for me to find, like something was done to her..." His brows knitting together as he tried to find something in there. "It is harder when someone is unconscious. This get jumbled. No linear narrative. But... this wasn't the first test. And she is just a mercenary, and... you... you..." A moment before his voice twisted into spiteful venom directed at Arc, "You stupid furry fetish fantasy! How dare you mess with my payday!" And then abruptly he severed then connection, making her have a sharp intake of breath, as he exhaled, and backed away quickly, landing on his rear, and scooting against the car, just staring at her. Elias didn't move, he just stared, rattled by her the encroachment of her memories and emotions into him.

She was right. He wasn't safe, he knew that. He remembered the conditioning, the indoctrination, and then what came next. He never felt bad for what happened, or felt that others should be sorry. All he was trying to do was explain to Kristin why he didn't want to be around Kat. He closed his eyes, and he rocked a bit, and he smiled a little bit, laughing then, as he shouldered his backpack, and turned to them both. "You don't even know what I did, I shouted into a room and looked for who lifted their head. All I felt was just the reaction to what I shouted. I controlled how far I reached, only on that floor. So don't hide behind some sort of moral outrage. You are only half mad at me for that, you are as mad for what happened to you. I am convenient scapegoat for your anger because she is gone, and because I did something wrong. I am sorry, not because I got punished, I am sorry for actually doing harm to you. I didn't consider the consequences, I acted rashly." His voice soft as he looked at Kat, no longer aimed at Kristin. "I don't hate you, I wont ever hate you. I don't fear you. Though you are right, I am more dangerous than you. I never had the normal life you did, I don't have the same compass you did, a rudder to guide me. So I can't be sad for it's loss. I was raised to survive, and that is a selfish mindset, so I must consciously choose to do good, even if costs me. It doesn't help that I came into this world with these powers, powers I don't hate. They are a part of me, always have been, and I don't hate myself. But I have never been safe. I have seen the worst in the people for years, but I have no malice." He closed the distance between him and Kat, slowly, as he walked right up to her, unafraid of her. "I know you held back when you punched me. I know you could have shattered my jaw or worse. And I am not afraid of you. Because I know fear. I know it is conjured by us to fill empty spaces, it doesn't exist, unless we choose it to. I chose a long time ago to not let consume me. But I have to correct you, there are no lone wolves, only a wolf that was kicked out of their pack." He hooked his thumbs under the shoulder straps of his backpack as his eyes studied her. "People's circumstances are only as different as they imagine it to be, like you echoing what Dorothy said about you, just to me."

Elias' mind powahs! 1d20+7=14 NPC Resists! 1d20+5=13 Elias delves into mind.

"Is there any known issues with this particular building? Like local criminals using this one more or anything like that?" Asked as he followed her up the stairs and looking at the building. "Because, I mean, I did expect extensive renovations to be done. And thus far I have no reason to exclude the place. Though I am probably looking for several places, and this one looks perfect for low in-come housing. Or I think so." He shrugged a bit, "Just trying to expand my non-profits, and this at least six months of planning, but I am happy to donate."

To his credit, he showed nothing as he read her little note, and he looked at his 'assistant' carefully, rubbing at his chin as he looked at her. "Hm, she is very good... Just climb in the seat for me. You are sure there are no side effects, right?" His brows raised as he spoke to the slightly slimy purveyor of this place. "Just a demo, I will have him delete the data, I just really would like to see it happen. How about another five grand on your Christmas bonus? Hmmm? That enough to help out with this demonstration?" Putting on his best charming smile as he turned towards his put upon assistant, putting a hand on her back and gently guiding her towards the chair.

2 Designs for the female character 1 Ascended Martial Artist, inducted into an old traditional because of her contact with the supernatural 2 Animist whose skills came about and she used that to save herself. Also, could revisit Lotan as a female. With name change, of course. Though that starts to impuned on Fox and Gizmo's ideas. But still workable. Or render Lotan more as a gender neutral character.

"The mind can be really literal at time, saying you cannot do something will mean part of you believes it." His stuff was in a locker, and he felt conflicted, for a moment. Shaking his head, dismissing that he can get it. "I don't know why, there are specifics about my parents I don't know, I can remember everything... though there are gaps that I cannot explain or account for. The easiest answer is: I've always been able. All things are connected, I can feel the connections." Rolling his shoulder in a shrug as he looked at her. "I am learning refining my control over it."

Asad was aware of Agnus' discomfort over these sorts of things, and he cut back on the shop talk, and she had heard worse on a phone call where he was having a discussion in regards to the feasibility of micro-loans in South America. It was like another language. But then, if she talked about the more complicated back end of music making he really had nothing to say. "Well then, excuse me a moment, I will make myself useful and get everyone booze. Ah, everyone who is legal." He returned in time for Jen and Kristin to be there, making their introductions. Handing a champagne glass to Agnus, and then one to Meagan. His free hand listed down to brush against Agnus' glancing to her, and giving her a small reassuring dip of his head, before leaning in to murmur into her ear. "Just think of how much I will owe you. Without you being here the paparazzi vultures would have descended on dateless me." Flashing her a small smile, and a wink. "Besides, I like seeing you in a dress. It is how we met." And then he nodded a bit, reinserting him back into the conversation without skipping a beat. Amir was not really a financial wizard, however he was a people person to an obscene degree. "Oh, I did not expect to see your father here, he bas been avoiding me since he welched on a bet. Admittedly, I do not really believe he knows Journey's 'Don't Stop Believing,' but he did agree to the stipulation." Managing to look like he was taking the bet deadly serious, before a smile cracked through the facade. "It is a uniquely odd experience to see the children of colleagues whom I remember seeing in pictures with pigtails and mary janes." Laughing a little, and shaking his head a little. "I saw your car Jennifer, I admire it's... avant-garde look, but then I am not much of a Merc man. Though really, you should be asking to see my entire collection and racetrack." Grinning just a little, Amir was a known car fan, and he had a semi-public track outside of the city he used, and where some of his sportier vehicles were stored.

She is a terrorizing troublesome teenage telekinetic. At least according to a respected journalist. Sorry, couldn't help.

Stunned, so maintained.

Elias could allow a lot of leash for these sort of things, a lot. Then there was a point where his emotional conditioning failed him, where he just had it. And he turned slowly, and dipped into a crouch to set his books down, and shrugged off his backpack. No sense in anything in it getting broken. And then he walked over towards them his eyes level with both of them. His head inclined forward, as if he really wasn't paying attention to what was happening. That was far from the truth. "I have avoided you because I did not want to associate myself with you or Kat, because she was afraid of their being a connection formed in the minds of others. A connection I know will be made. I made an error in how I helped. I do not regret what I did. Even if I never get to forget it. I got my lectures, and I had to make promises. But I don't get to forget those feelings crawling in my head forever. I don't forget anything. I don't get to turn my powers off. So if I don't feel comfortable spending time in the presence of someone who hates me, I am allowed. If I want to be alone, because I am trying to shut all of you people, your fears, your insecurities, out of my mind, I am allowed!" His heart was beating loudly, all he could hear was the rush of blood to his ears now. It sounded like the ocean. Still he pressed on. He was angry. "I can't run from memories, from someone else's fear and anger and hate in my head. Do you know what feels like? I can... I can...!" His words dying his throat as he was so angry. Elias was not a scary person, but as he got angrier it started to... leak out, to spill over Like whispers at the backs of their minds, inarticulate little things as he advanced to them both, his face still twisted about in rage. And then it was gone, and he looked tired, just.. exhausted. There was more, it was clear he was just cutting himself off, and closing himself up again. Despite him wanting to talk or something. "And it doesn't matter. You aren't listening. You've both made up your mind and I don't have the words to change them. I will respect your wishes and stay away." And he walked back to his books and backpack. Capitulation was always the easiest path, and it made him sick to his stomach at that realization, and the adrenaline coursing through his veins.

Yeah, I understand the issue/implications with that. I could just switch the idea to 'desperate grizzled vet in the supernatural war selecting an apprentice,' and have no relationship.

So I am looking to make a mystically inclined character, I have a couple options/themes I want to explore. 1. Revisit my Lotan idea. Which essentially is based on Hercules, Namor, Wonder Woman. Using Sumerian, Babylonian and Akkadian mythology as his base. Basically a brawling mystic of a sort. As the literal son of Tiamat (no, not the dragon, that would be awkward), who is as much a god as an primordial force of creation. So a demi-god of sorts. The next idea(s) is me stretching a bit on what I've normally played. So Female character. Looking for either Hispanic or American born Chinese character. Leaning towards being former military, and getting discharged after an injury during service. Sustained by interaction with a supernatural entity. Afterwards falls into alcoholism, and is pulled out by her traditional grandfather, who recognizes what happened and trains her to take his place. So this is either a Taoist alchemist, learning an ascended martial art, or adopting the animist abilities, to hunt and take down the supernatural baddies.

So Metal man is stunned, and Elias drops mental grapple.

I feel like a jerk mentioning this, but: October: Asad: 11+1+12+1+8+4+3+7+5= 52 posts = 4pp Errant: 3 posts + 11 GM posts = 14 posts = 1pp November: Asad: 1+3+3+2+2+2= 13 posts + 7 GM posts = 20 posts = 2pp Errant: 10+4+15+10+1+5+6+2= 53 posts = 4pp

NPC resist probe 1d20+8=17 Elias Mind probe 1d20+7=9 Spending an HP to get a reroll. 1d20+7=27

"Weapons, toys... where..." Stopping as he withdrew what looked like advanced tech manacles, which he set on her chest. Looking down at her for a moment, and then glancing to Marcus. "They're connected. I will see what I can find, but she has talent." Sighing, and then slowly drawing in a breath, and he moved his hands to hover them over her head. And he pushed. Feeling resistance, but he pushed harder, his conscious rushing over her, and boring down through her, his face becoming a snarl then as his anger grew, and it's flames fueled his effort to pierce her defenses. And it was like a bubble bursting as his mind delved into hers, and they started to sync up.

The man struggled, first against the grip Elias had on his mind, and then on the grip that Heraldo had on him. Elias' psychic assault exploded through the metalman's mind, a shock to the system enough to get him to hold still. It would be easier to get the man down, though this was the first time he had held someone like this, while attacking them as well. It was difficult, and the connection opened up between them due to the powers, it made it hurt. A lot, but he had to persevere through this. They needed answers, and he wasn't sure he would be able to get them swiftly enough.