Blue Rose
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Posts posted by Blue Rose
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Is that... are those...
...The King? ...sort of?
"Well... this is certainly the weirdest disaster I've ever seen," she says for the camera as Mer-Elvis flops by.
As other heroes gather, Val goes for the most belligerent of the Elvices, the skeleton and fire ones. How does a skeleton even still have hair? Deep roots?
"Well here's a blast from the past. Does The King still have the pipes to keep his crown?"
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I resisted the temptation to drop a hero point and ultimate effort that.
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Perform: Strings: 1d20+27 35
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"You're the best, Max," Val smiles, bumping fists before she's called away. She sends a smile to the crowd, then turns back to Max with an exaggerated look of concern over the prince before heading to the back.
She takes one of her padlocks in hand. A silver-plated, V-engraved number. Always funny to feel; she still remembers the first lock. Just a ninety-nine cent number from a hardware store. She can remember when a day she pulled in enough money as this one lock cost would make her week.
She taps her headset, "Whenever you're ready." A moment later, Kitty Riot! starts to jam. Val locks her choker, slips the key in her bracelet, and takes Marianne in hand.
Good to go.
She gives the rest of the girls a moment to shine, then charges out, hand held high. One moment, and...
...she shreds that guitar like few this world has ever seen. This ain't her kind of crowd, but she rides their energy anyways, uses it, and when her solo's gone on long enough, the key comes out. The lock comes off. A quick scan of the crowd, and she already knows where it's going; a long lob, and she throws it out to the side, where Alice is watching. Today probably won't be her normal routine, sadly, but Val would love the chance to see that one cut loose a bit.
But this ain't the time for that! The set goes on into Val's most iconic song, kept fresh all these years by the constantly rotating bands that share the stage with her. My First Angel, a heartbreaking song about doomed first love that teaches what it even means to make that connection, and the pace does not quit until the final note of the final song, each piece flowing one to the other.
And as that final note hangs in the air, she takes the physical mike in hand and raises the horn, "THANK YOU DUBAI!" Not that the mike is hooked up to anything. It'd just get in the way of the real audio setup.
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Val considers speaking up, but says nothing. Correcting Zyte's more trouble than it's worth. Maxine's too shy to correct anyone, and he's probably not going to notice the difference.
She gets into makeup, but proceeds to mingle before the show, instead of some of her usual preps.
The entire crew is sporting rainbow war paint, rainbow band painted around the arm, even her nails are done with it. Enough that you can't miss it. Not enough to break her usual themes of black and spikes and big buttkicking boots.
"It's an honor, Prince Abdul," she bows, not... entirely sure if that whole, 'commoners aren't supposed to touch royalty,' thing applies with middle eastern royalty. Not that she's a hundred percent compliant with that anyways.
At the invitation, "That's a very gener-" she trails off, feigning distraction by some technical detail before the topic of conversation moves on. To his little private room.
...and is he drooling?
She presses her hand up against her earpiece. "I'm sorry; they're having a problem with the audio setup, and they need me. It's been a pleasure, Your Highness," she lies, and slips away to find Max.
"Hey, Max; I just used you as an excuse to get out of an awkward conversation. Pretend we're talking about a problem with the audio."
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I literally can't roll worse than that, so Val wins initiative, but I'm also not acting yet. Bev's turn.
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Wayward shoots back a smile that tells Milk they can continue this 'exchange' later, but for now, gotta get back to business.
Like trying very hard not to glare at Zyte over 'dynawesome.' But... he is actually good at tech-teching the tech-tech...
Letting the nonsensical makeup suggestion slide, "Between our drones, I know we'll get enough good footage for post, and my buddy Max is giving the audio setup the once over twice. But the drones aren't mine; they're Max's babies. I'd get my throat slit if I let anyone touch them without permission. But for this shoot, I say the more up there, the merrier, as long as they don't get in each other's way." That's how drones work, right?
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I'm game if you are.
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Aw. She's trying to banter. That's adorable.
Val shakes her head and downs her shot. Looks like she might be needed on this one.
Staying quiet, she pulls her collapsed staff from her cargo pocket and stretches a bit behind the bar. It's not far. She can probably bolt across the distance before anyone can react.
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Which of the threads we have are you referring to, HG? We've had a few hang, but I'm not in any you just listed. Kit and Elite are retired now, so anything with them would be discontinued. But I believe we had a couple threads with Wayward.
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Again, Val assures Zyte that she has her own makeup artists getting ready, and doesn't need the help, as they make their way to the pad.
Val taps knuckles with the Kitty Riot! crew, keeping things mellow. Tracy, though... she gets a lingering look. The face is unfortunate, but that body... Mm...
But, time for business. "Welcome to the sand box," she turns her gaze out to the brown haze obscuring the horizon. "Always good to start things freeform. You three jam for a bit, then I come out for a solo on Marianne. Get the juices pumping, get the crowd worked up. From there, we start at My First Angel, and go down the list to Forever." A list tailored to the occasion. A good balance of her classics, with some of the new stuff in the middle. Zyte surely wouldn't settle for not having the latest in there somewhere.
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Val's eye twitches at, 'Rockette,' but says nothing. Stay professional.
"It's nice to meet you, Zane," Val smiles and waves, but doesn't offer her hand. That would be rude to a bodyguard.
Alice, on the other hand, does get a handshake, "A pleasure, Alice," but her eyes say, I'm so sorry., then quickly returns her attention to Zyte.
"I should greet them, but we need to get to makeup soon if we're going to stay on schedule." Ah, schedule. Savior from so many unwanted conversations.
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'Missy?' 'Awesomesauce?' 'Flaunt it?' What is this guy?
Whatever. Just roll with it.
"Zyte! Glad to be here. We're almost ready on our end; makeup and costume are still unpacking," she assures him. "As to the set...?" she raises a finger, forestalling any questions. "Show's no fun without some surprises, hm?" she smirks. Now stop insulting my professionalism, you ass.
"But please; do introduce me to your friends. I didn't know you kept such lovely company."
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Val raises an eyebrow as Amanda's slips get worse, but elects not to comment. Her thoughts on pussy are a matter of public record.
"He's gonna want a meet and greet after. No getting out of that, and probably some public appearance or another to bump elbows and show the world what great friends we are. So, I'd like to avoid the meeting I can get out of until then. Keeps things a little more straightforward."
She heads over to the computer to get a look at the guy. "Mm... y'know, that really doesn't work for him. Not even if the beard matched... maybe if he bleached the eyebrows, and dyed the beard blue? Maybe then it'd look like a fashion statement, at least, instead of just wanting attention. But the beard just makes anything other than classic black hard to work with. Even bleach blond would need him to lose the beard for it to work."
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Not her preferred kind of crowd, but whatever. Sounds like a good gig anyways.
"Aw, but you and Slug made such a cute couple," Val teases, but doesn't press the subject.
"I've got someone in mind for this one. New group called Kitty Riot! This... well, let's just seem like it's their idea of a good time. And I like their style; I think they'll bring a lot to the set." She was always one to take a chance with an up and comer, and give them more freedom than they'd normally get in their situation. Sometimes it backfires, but she remembers when she was first starting out. It's good to pay it forward.
But there's something she just can't drop. "He really changed his name to Zyte. Guyste." She spaces the two words out, not liking the taste. "I hate this guy already. I'm guessing no middle name to ruin the stupid?"
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Val waves her hand at the coffee as she kicks back in a chair, looking out the window to the city below. "No, thank you; I swore off rocket fuel after the last time. You're a stronger woman than I am." Last time Val tried Amanda's idea of coffee, she was sure the crash after would kill her. Then again, Amanda's probably still alive because she drinks so much of the stuff she never comes back down.
She turns her gaze up to the clouds as she considers. "Yeah, I think we can do some good, there, and I've never been one to say no to the camera, but let's have our own security solution on this one, okay? I'd rather have a crew we trust if you're not a hundred percent on Mr. Savant, hm?" She doesn't recall a 'Burj Khalifa,' but she can figure out enough. "I'm guessing we ain't gonna fit a crowd up there. What's this, a playing all to the camera thing, wind blowing, panning city shots, that sort of thing?"
A live audience is always better. Get that energy going, revel in it, but she can do the business well enough without.
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Standing by for GM.
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Hm? Who's this?
As someone new enters the stage, talking like another cape, Val takes interest, and decides this may be a bit of a show. These two newly minted villains don't seem like the sort who could be especially dangerous. This might make for a good show.
The star digs out some cash from her pocket, puts it near the register, then grabs a glass and pours herself some Jack.
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Yeah, that's definitely weird.
This could do for a closer look.
At a gap in the exodus, Val ducks low and dives through, for the first cover she can find.
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Attempting to reduce the general chaos and get information. Skill Mastery on Diplomacy. Enhanced charisma up, and assuming Attractive doesn't apply; result of 27.
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Val wanders the street, hoodie up and shades on so she isn't immediately recognized, when a stampede busts out of a nearby club.
What the Hell...? Well, that ain't right.
She makes her way over to the group, and tries to bring a little order to the chaos. If nothing else, make sure no one gets trampled, and maybe get a few answers, "What happened?" she asks on of the more stable looking individuals as she wards off the runners from stepping on someone who stumbled and collapsed before helping them up and to the stability of a nearby wall.
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TEEPD BY HGM
Updates for Wayward.
Updated image link, now that Photobucket is dead.
Increased Mind Reading to rank 10, now capped, raising array to 11 points; increased Enhance Charisma to 10 within that cap, and both added Objects to Comprehend and increased Communication to 3, again within the new cap. Updated skill totals and Attributes for new totals. Cost: 5 PP
Added immunity to aging. Cost: 1 PP
Total PP Available: 6 PP
Total PP Spent: 6 PP
PP Remaining: 0 PP
SpoilerWayward
Power Level: 10/11 (161/161 PP)
Trade-Offs: +2 Attack/-2 Damage, -2 Toughness/+2 Defense
Unspent Power Points: 0
In-Brief: Psychic rock star buttkicker. Now fighting crime on prime time!
Alternate Identity: Valerie Cain (celebrity name), Margaret Carter Jr. (birth name), Emily Walker (civilian disguise)
Identity: Stage: Public, Birth: Secret, Civilian disguise: Secret
Birthplace: Yonkers, NY
Occupation: Rock star
Affiliations: Excelsior Records, Super-Vision
Family: Margaret Carter Sr. (Mother), Walter Carter (Father), Catherine Carter (Younger Sister)
Description:
Age: 22 (September 13th, 1991)
Gender: Female
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 145 lbs
Eyes: Green
Hair: Black (naturally brown)
Val is a tall, lean woman as lithe as they come, with shaggy black hair mostly concealing her green eyes, and an athletic build most would have to work their tails off to get.
It turns out, when you become a mask professionally, you don't need to wear one on the heroing job. In terms of crimefighting attire, Wayward sports nothing more than her celebrity persona, fighting crime in street clothes, favoring things that are dark, spiky, and show plenty of skin, in support of her rough stage presence.
History:
Margaret Carter Jr. was born to a middle class family in Yonkers, New York. Her mother was a police officer, and her father was a stage magician. She had everything she really needed, and went to a safe public school. It was a decent life.
And boring as Hell.
She wanted more. She wanted to shine, to be great, and she knew her old hand-me-down guitar was her ticket to fame. Her parents didn't see it that way, when she started neglecting her studies in favor of her music. There was a lot of yelling. When her parents decided grounding her would include taking away her guitar, it got worse.
At fifteen, she ran away. She stole enough money to buy a top-of-the-line guitar, plus cab fair to the city proper, and made her own. Lucky for her, she was as good as she thought, and managed to keep herself fed and housed by performing on the street in Central Park under a new name, Valerie Cain; she could work a crowd like nobody's business, and rock like the best of them.
In time, she got picked up by an agent, quickly going through the ranks, first as a backup guitarist, then an opening act, before exploding as a star in her own right, going on her first national tour at twenty.
But when she got back, a nagging guilt for the way she ran out grew in the back of her mind. She took some time off decided to go home to Yonkers. While wandering her old home, trying to decide how to say hello after being away for five years.
The question was answered for her, when she came on a mugging. The police became involved, and it turned into a shootout. An officer went down. One Officer Margaret Carter.
That moment was the first time Valerie's powers became undeniable. There had been subtle, suspicious things before, but when her mother was shot in the leg, she could see it, feel it in every vivid detail as the flurry of emotion in that alley forced itself on her mind as the thug escaped.
She was reunited with her family at the hospital. An awkward event, but the circumstances set grudges aside. Yet the scene kept haunting her; Val couldn't just let the situation lie. Stress, fear, bad judgment, and a heaping spoonful of fury sent her into action.
A few sly questions here and there to some members of the force who knew her as a kid, and she has as much information as the cops do. Plus, a head start and a speed advantage in the form of a lack of forward thinking. The man, Caleb Donnel, was part of a small gang with a hangout in the back of some rundown bar. A little charm, and she was invited right in, where she took every last one of them down with a pool cue.
The police weren't exactly happy about her methods, nor the risk she took, but they thanked her all the same.
When she got back to her life as a musician, however, the experience put a bug in her ear. She had powers. And she could fight. And her new label was based out of Freedom City. And she never wanted to let something like what happened in that alley again.
She could be a hero.
At first, her agent hated the idea, but with some insistence, and a little training with some professionals, an idea was born. A new image; not Valerie Cain, but Wayward. Guitarist. Superhero. TV star. With a co-op with Super-Vision and an advanced hovercam rig, they could catch her crimefighting on camera, and make a mint.
Powers & Tactics:
Wayward is one of the world's weaker psychics, with only limited control over more limited powers. A subconscious rapport with those around her has benefited her career greatly, and she can makes some conscious contact, but her mental powers are at their most extensive when turned inward.
Subconscious manipulation of her own biochemistry has allowed her to maximize benefit from training and nutrition, gaining an Olympian-level body with limited training in bursts far more intense than she would normally manage, an almost-natural array of physical gifts she only suspects might be linked to her powers. letting her focus her real efforts on her music. Likewise, her fighting style relies more on instinct, intuition, luck, and brashness rather than any form of polish, favoring a collapsible staff as her weapon of choice. And given the limits of her mental powers, her work as a hero tends to come down to the physicality and creativity available to mere mortals.
Complications:
Smile for the Camera: As it turns out, hovercams filming your every move and transmitting them wirelessly can have an effect on delicate crime-fighting situations. Especially when trying to be sneaky. And sometimes, a hovercam getting in the way isn't an accident. Gotta get the ratings, after all, so if things start getting boring beyond the magic of editing? Time for an 'accident.' And if the cameras lose our lovely heroine? Well, there's a bad day right there.
Sensitive: Untrained latent telepathy is not necessarily all sunshine and roses. Intense emotion and sensation can influence Wayward as much as the person experiencing them, and sometimes even lingering psychic impressions are enough to get to her. What's more, due to her lac of training, her psychic abilities leave her more open to mental influence, rather than less.
Only Human: Through a form of self-hypnosis, Wayward can go well beyond her body's normal physical abilities, but this doesn't change her body's limits, and if she pushes herself like that for too long, she will find the point where her body simply says no.
Vertigo: Sharing the senses of another is a disorienting experience, especially when Wayward jumps from one body to the next. She's barely aware of herself when doing it, and when she returns to herself, be it by choice or by force, she needs time to recover.
In the Limelight: Fame has a price. As much as she loves her fans, crime fighting is a sensitive business, and it can be a dangerous time for an audience. What's more, she has an image to protect. Tarnishing her reputation can hurt her career.
Sucker for a Pretty Face: Looks can be deceiving. A lesson Wayward learned when she was still a kid. However, everyone has their soft spots, and a pretty face playing innocent can find it easy to get past Wayward's better judgment.
Mindwarp: Wayward has learned the hard way that her powers make a long-term intimate relationship impossible. The last time she tried, her powers started reaching out more and more for her partner's mind without her willing it until the mental disturbance wouldn't let either of them sleep. Ever. no matter how far apart they were, until they were both hospitalized for exhaustion. With time apart, the effect eventually faded, but it made a continued relationship impossible. Ever since, she's had many relationships, quite a few promising, but all cut short before long. She doesn't give the real explanation, and not all of her many exes are entirely understanding.
Amateur Psychic: Though technically a psychic, Wayward's powers are weak and inherently unstable. There are a few things she can use them for reliably, but when she tries to push her abilities in new ways, it rarely goes smoothly.
Right to the Head: While a psychically optimized metabolism keeps her in peak physical conditions, it is not without its drawbacks. The perk is a subconscious manifestation of Wayward's own desires. However, this is not without drawback, particularly when it comes to alcohol. When she drinks, she wants to get where she's going, so her body does everything it can to accommodate, making a little alcohol go a long way.
Entourage: A rock star is never alone. Whether she's giving a reporter some time, she's giving her input on a project, or she's showing a fan a good time out on the town, when things go south, there's usually someone around that Wayward has to look out for on top of dealing with the crime.
Open Channel: The first thing many a budding young psychic learns is how to filter out which thoughts and sensations one sends over telepathic communication. Wayward never learned to do this. When she makes a mental connection with someone, she broadcasts everything she thinks and feels, and the openness of her connection makes it difficult for even seasoned psychics to filter her out.
Abilities: 6 + 14 + 12 + 0 + 4 + 14 = 50PP
Strength: 16/22 (+3/+6)
Dexterity: 24 (+7)
Constitution: 22 (+6)
Intelligence: 10 (+0)
Wisdom: 14 (+2)
Charisma: 24/34 (+7/+12)
Combat: 16 + 8 = 24PP
Initiative: +11 (+7 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative)
Attack: +8 Base, +12 Melee
Grapple: +15/+19
Defense: +12 (+4 Base, +8 Dodge Focus), +2 Flat-Footed
Knockback: -4 (-3 flat-footed)
Saving Throws: 0 + 0 + 5 = 5PP
Toughness: +8 (+6 Con, +2 Defensive Roll)
Fortitude: +6 (+6 Con, +0)
Reflex: +7 (+7 Dex, +0)
Will: +7 (+2 Wis, +5)
Skills: 100R = 25PP
Acrobatics 3 (+10)
Bluff 7 (+14, +19EC, +22A, +27Total) Skill Mastery
Climb 2 (+5, +8ES)
Diplomacy 7 (+14, +19EC, +22A, +27Total) Skill Mastery, Ultimate Effort
Disguise 1 (+8, +13EC)
Escape Artist 3 (+10)
Gather Information 3 (+10, +15EC)
Intimidate 1 (+8, +13EC)
Investigate 5 (+5)
Knowledge (Art) 5 (+5)
Knowledge (Popular Culture) 5 (+5)
Knowledge (Streetwise) 4 (+4)
Languages 1 (English [Native], French)
Notice 12 (+14)
Perform (Dance) 3 (+10, +15EC)
Perform (Strings) 13 (+20, +22M, +25EC, +27Total) Skill Mastery, Ultimate Effort
Perform (Singing) 3 (+10, +15EC)
Perform (Theater of the Mind) 3 (+10, +15EC)
Search 5 (+5)
Sense Motive 8 (+10) Skill Mastery
Sleight of Hand 3 (+10)
Stealth 3 (+10)
A - Attractive, EC - Enhanced Charisma, ES - Enhanced Strength, M - Marianne (Masterwork Guitar)
Feats: 38PP
Acrobatic Bluff
Attack Focus: Melee 4
Attractive 2
Benefit 3: Status (Celebrity), Wealth 2
Connected
Defensive Roll
Dodge Focus 8
Elusive Target
Equipment 1
Evasion
Fascinate 2: Diplomacy, Perform
Grappling Finesse
Improved Initiative
Luck 3
Skill Mastery: Bluff, Diplomacy, Perform (Strings), Sense Motive
Takedown Attack
Teamwork 3
Ultimate Effort 2: Diplomacy, Perform (Strings)
Well-Informed
Equipment: 4EP = 1PP
Collapsible Staff (Damage 2 [Feats: Mighty, Subtle]) [4EP]Marianne (Masterwork Guitar) [1EP]
Powers: 1 + 4 + 14 = 19PP
Immunity 1 (Aging) [1PP] (Psychic)
Burst Motion Array (3PP; Power Feats: Alternate Power 1) [4PP]
Base Power: Speed 3 {3/3PP} (Psychic)Alternate Power: Leaping 3 {3/3PP} (Psychic)
Psychic Array (11PP; Power Feats: Alternate Power 3) [14PP]
Base Power: Enhanced Charisma 10 {10/11 PP} (Rapport, Psychic)Alternate Power: Mind Reading 10 (Power Feat: Subtle, Extra: Sensory Link, Flaw: Limited to Sensory Link) {11/11 PP} (Sense Hop, Psychic)
Alternate Power: Communication 3, Linked: Comprehend 3 (Languages, Objects) {10/11 PP} (Telepathy, Psychic)
Alternate Power Enhanced Strength 6 {6/6 PP} (Adrenal Burst, Psychic)
DC Block:
ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT
Unarmed +12 Touch DC18/21 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical)
Staff +12 Touch DC20/23 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical)
Mind Reading Perception DC20 Will Sensory Link
Totals: Abilities (50) + Combat (24) + Saving Throws (5) + Skills (25) + Feats (38) + Powers (19) - Drawbacks (0) = 161/161 Power Points
High Note IC
in Elsewhere
Posted
...the Hell?
Val scans the group. Zyte? Panicking. Max? Completely confused.
Okay, so this is a hijacking. Great. But you know what you can't hack? A friggin' cable.
She pulls a cable from Marianne and gives a look to Kitty Riot! to tell 'em to do the same as she says Hell with wireless and just plugs 'er into the amp. Nobody's gonna turn her show into a PR nightmare. Not on her watch.
She steps back, going back-to-back with Milk. "GET LOUD, GIRLS!" But before she begins playing, she grabs Milk and pulls her down for one long, deep kiss. If this show's gonna make a splash, it ain't gonna be for some conspiracy theory bull. It's gonna be for this.
Then, she begins to jam, blasting over the broadcast. At least, until the eggheads can figure out what the Hell just happened.