Cube

The next morning was a whirlwind of activity at the Ross household. “Alright, the bus leaves at six.†Audrey said, as she struggled to balance a stack of binders a tablet, and a bagel in her sadly overloaded arms. “You’re supposed to meet with Ms. Green in the carloop. I’ve already paid for her lunch. Don’t go crazy on the souvenirs.†“I won’t, honey.†Said Lou, â€Need any help with all of that stuff?†“I’ll be fine, I was supposed to be on the road five minutes ago anyway. Faye! Be good for Daddy, alright?†Her daughter grinned, crumbs of Freedom Crunchies falling out of her mouth. “I will, Mom! This is going to be SO COOL.†“Don’t talk with your mouth full, sweetie." said Audrey, from behind her stack of work. "You two have fun, okay?â€

"One, you didn't stop a Deep One invasion, you caused it." said Pyre. "Two, you're the one who prances around dressed like a fish, so don't call me a freak. And three, if you say one more word I will go and get a can opener, so don't push it." Without taking his eyes off the supervillain, Pyre called out. "You alright over there, Ms. Fleur? He didn't get you with those spears, did he? "

"And you're afraid people will be scared of you?" Audrey smiled as she gave her husband a kiss on the cheek. "Honey, Faye loves you. I love you. You're still that goofball I met back in FreeSA, even if you did turn into a handsome devil." Lou blushed imperceptibly under his red skin. "I keep telling you not to use those nicknames." "I only do it because it's adorable to see someone like you get all flushed." Audrey smirked at her husbands embarassment. "I'm sure you'll do great." Lou relaxed. "I guess you're right." "Good, now I'm going to get ready for bed." said Audrey. "I've got a long drive tomorrow. Be at the school by 6, alright?" "Alright. But you owe me for this." Lou grinned. Audrey just shook her head and smiled as she headed into the bathroom to prepare for bed. Still, she had a point. Lou felt like he could relax a bit now. I mean, what was the worst that could happen?

That evening, Lou laid awake in bed for quite sometime before Audrey finally came upstairs. "...Hey." "Hey..." Lou's massive chest heaved as she sighed. "...Look, I'm sorry about all of this, Lou." Audrey sat on the side of the bed. "I shouldn't have put you on the spot like that." "It's fine, honey." said Lou. "I probably would've done it myself anyway. It's just..." "You're nervous?" "...Yeah." Audrey chuckled. "You're bigger than my car and you're afraid to take a bunch of little kids on a field trip?" "No!" said Lou, though it wasn't very convincing. "I just... you know, I haven't gotten out much lately..."

Pyre barely even reactive as the spears slashed his lower back, blood staining his shirt. It hurt, but he wasn't going to show it in front of this jerk, even if he was blind for the moment. "I'm fine!" he shouted, as he shut off his flame aura and charged toward the convenient Pod o' Ray Fleur had created. "Thanks for setting him up!" With two of his mighty fists, Pyre SLAMMED the pod directly where Ray's gut should be.

All Out Attack vs. Devil Ray (1d20+10=16) Boy, am I glad I did that. I mean... not like he can act this round with the snare, so it couldn't hurt. DC 30, Fists are not on Fire.

"What?!" Lou's eyes went wide. Faye immediately ended her tantrum, looking straight into her father's eyes. "You'd do that, Daddy?" "I... I don't think I..." Lou's words trailed off as the sight of his daughter's quivering lip. "...Alright. I'll do it." "Yay!" Faye gave her father a big kiss on the cheek before leaping off his lap. "I'm gonna go get my stuff ready for tomorrow!" "Alright sweetheart!" said Audrey, biting her lip. "...I'm sorry, Lou." Lou sighed. "It's fine..." "I'll just... call Ms. Green and let her know, okay?" "Sure thing." Lou immediately turned his attention back to his work. Tomorrow was going to be a long day...

"...Oh." Lou could feel the mass of child in his arms begin to quiver. "B-but..." Faye started to tear up. "You said you'd come with us on the trip. You promised Ms. Green!" Audrey sighed, as she stepped over to give her daughter a kiss on the forehead. "I know, but this is really important for mommy's work. Maybe someone else's mommy can chaperone?" "No!" Faye screamed, with all the fury of an enraged eight year old. "Now we'll never get to go because we need two chaperones and we only have one and the everyone is going to be mad at me!" "Oh... please don't cry sweetheart..." Audrey said, as she tried to calm her daughter's tantrum. "Uh... maybe your dad could take your class?"

"Lou." Audrey Ross stepped into Lou's office, her normally jolly expression replaced with one of deep concern. "I've got some bad news." "That was New Horizon." said Audrey, "They want me to do the score for that Captain Thunder movie." Lou blinked. "Honey, that's great! Your work in an actual movie? You know what that means?" Audrey sighed. "It means I have to drive across town tomorrow to their offices because it's the only opening they have until January?"

Of course, the Winter Field Trip at Lieber Elementary was coming up soon, and Faye had been gushing about it for weeks now. Lou ruffled his daughter's hair. "Heh, you excited kid?" "Oh yeah!" Faye bounced. "I'm gonna go see Centurion's Cape, and Doc Holiday's Robo-Turkey, and a whole bunch of cool toys, and maybe I'll meet another superhero like you, Dad!" Lou couldn't help but smile at the kid's enthusiasm. "Heh, well I can't wait to hear about what you see. Where's your mom?" "Oh, she's on the phone!" said Faye. "She looks really serious." "Huh? Really, wonder why that is..."

"Hey Daddy!" Speaking of kids, the eight year old child raced into the room with a speed that could have rivaled Johnny Rocket's as she leapt at her father. Lou had to catch her with one of his spare arms, but soon managed to bring his daughter into one of his ceremonial after-school snuggles. "Hey Kiddo," he grinned, a pair of tiny tusks protruding from his lower lip, "How was school?" "It was great! We read this story about a kid who steals a ladies purse to buy some shoes, but the lady stops him instead of a superhero! Oh, and we were working on our times tables, and the teacher played this old cartoon about the number three and it was really cool!" Faye beamed. "Oh! And tomorrow Mommy and I are going to the Super Museum with my class!"

November 2011 It was always weird having to draw yourself getting beaten up. Still, the latest issue of Dr. Mystery wouldn't draw itself. One of the unique issues involved with being turned into one of your own characters. Still, people wanted more Doc Mystery beating up Lord Pyre. Even if it did have a tendency to make his superheroic side work kind of awkward... At least Mister Wiseman was sympathetic. Not many people would keep someone like Lou on the job, what with him being a giant demonic monster an all. But Harry understood. Besides, Lou had a kid to feed.

1d20+15=21 Only a 21, Dazed and Bruised. Spending my last HP to shake the Dazed condition. 0 HP, 1 Stack of Bruised.

... Uhh... ... I'm just going to go here for a moment...

Pyre River Monster Parental Obligations Reputation Sheet.

"Well you just broke the first rule of supervillainy, buddy." Pyre growled, as his hand burnt with a brilliant orange flame. "Don't insult a lady in front of Pyre!" He clenched his fist, as the flames in his hand were extinguished. Meanwhile, 50 feet in the air, in the fuel tanks of Devil Ray's jetpack, the very flames themselves began to rebel. The sparks igniting the fuel ceased to fly, as the villain's jets collectively decided they weren't going to hold up this jerk anymore. Pyre grinned as he watched the jets extinguish themselves in midair. "Now, what was that about not fighting on your Prey's terms?"

Attempting to use Fire Control to counter Devil Ray's flight! Power Check vs. Devil Ray (1d20+10=18) Hero Point Rerolled to... Power Check (HP Reroll) (1d20+10=23)

1d20=14 Bluff score? What is a bluff score? At -5, that sets it to a 9!

Pyre was momentarily distracted when Fleur burst onto the scene. Just long enough for him to let his guard down. The flurry of spears smacked him directly in the chest, but each one barely nicked his toughened flesh. "Alright Ray, you just made a big mistake!" he said, as an orb of flame burst into being in one of his hands. "If you wanna prove your such a good hunter, why don't you try taking on some prey that isn't in diapers!" Pyre lobbed the bolt of fire like a softball, as it took on a life of it's own in midair, darting and weaving in a wild corkscrew before slamming into Devil Ray's armor. "If you're such a good hunter, why don't you come down here and show me what that armor of yours can do?"

Alright. Using Blast 10 1d20+10=21 I believe that hits. DC 25. Let's do this!

Toughness vs DC 27, + Initiative 33 total toughness, because PYRE LAUGHS AT PUNY SPEARS. 19 total on Init because I got lucky. On a side note: K. Pop Culture to recognize Fleur. (1d20+10=19) Using her rep chart for that.

"...Babies?" Pyre couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the hordes of baby deep ones scratching uselessly at his toughened hide. Why were babies attacking? Fortunately for him, answers have a convenient way of presenting themselves in Freedom City, as the figure in black and red power armor burst forth from the ocean. Lou had drawn that distinctive set of power armor enough times to recognize it on sight. "Do I want in on this?! You've got a child on the end of your speargun you freak! What is wrong with you!?"

http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3277916/ 11 Pop Culture (Rolled a 1), and 12 Notice. Blurgh. EDIT Reroll! (1d20+10=13) 3 upgrades to 13, for 23. I'm down to 1 hero point. :D

Louis Ross Pyre

Gah, my post was too long. Also, I decided that Lou should at least make an effort to maintain some normalcy. It's a quiet day in the part of town where he spent most of his life, so he's confident enough to try and take his daughter there even if a few people might freak out. Which they may! Mostly though, I'm hoping familiarity is enough for Lou not to cause a scene by just walking down the street. Also, any terror provoked by his presence is drowned out by OH NO, DEEP ONES,