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  1. Sunday, July 27th 2014. Silberman's Books, the corner of Pratt and Frederick. Early morning. For the second time in living memory, Lynn Epstein's hand shook as she tried to fit the key into the front door of her grandfather's...of her bookstore; it had been almost three years Earth relative since she'd set foot inside the place, but of course it felt longer, two or three lifetimes ago at least. The last time she'd been in here it was to tidy up after her and Bill's wedding (still hurts, of course), which had been relatively quick due to most of the decorations being glamour, other than Stesha's amazing floral arangements. The ageless fey finally managed to get the blasted thing open and made her way inside. Today her hair was longish and curly, the way she currently favored it, and she wore big plastic sunglasses, a light short-sleeved cotton blouse, khaki shorts and open-toed leather sandals. Her face and body had filled out a bit since last she was in town; no longer a girl, she now looked to be a young woman. Tucking the building's keys back into her small leather purse, she carefully closed the door, then paused to take in the place with all her senses: beneath the dust, it was like the wedding was just yesterday, with all the flowers, hair spray and aftershave lingering like olfactory ghosts. Bill was still here, as were Erik and many others; Grampaloo's spirit puttered around by the back office, keeping himself busy as in life. Small tears appeared in the corners of Lynn's eyes as she turned back towards the door, arm stretched out and back as she smiled and spoke to no one. "Come and see." After a few moments, she let her hand drop as she moved over behind the long wooden counter and put her purse down next to the vintage cash register she has every reason to keep using, just as her grandfather did; with a sigh, she realized her new staff would soon grow to hate her strong sentimental streak. At least there would be new computers for inventory and everything else, and who knows, in time she might even be able to let the register go. Maybe. On to more practical matters; tomorrow Lynn had appointments with the gas and electric people to have all the utilities switched back on, then Tuesday the IT people descended on the place like a biblical plague, with their miles of optical cables. "This is going to work." The tiny heroine nodded to herself. "I know it will."
  2. Player Name: Heritage Character Name: Grimalkin Power Level: 12 (250/250PP) [271] Tradeoffs: +2 Defense/-2 Toughness (+2 Attack / -2 Damage, +2 Defense / -2 Toughness, in Pixie Form) Unspent PP: 0 Progress To Orichalcum Status: 151/180 (32PP earned pre-bump, 109PP earned post-bump) In Brief: Shapeshifting faerie with a human soul, recently returned to Freedom after a three-year absence. Alternate Identity: Lynn Epstein Identity: Secret Birthplace: Atlantic City, NJ Occupation: Bookstore owner Affiliations: Former member of the Knights of Freedom and the Interceptors, currently freelance. Family: Elaine Epstein (mother), Harold 'Butch' Epstein (father), Benjamin Epstein (brother), Edna Epstein (sister). Zachary Reynolds (son), Ruth Reynolds (daughter), Jonathon Reynolds (son) Description: Apparent Age: Mid-twenties Actual Age: 108 Gender: Female Height: 5'3" Weight: 121 lbs. Eyes: Brown Hair: Brown; shoulder-length and curly as Lynn, short and spiky as Grimalkin Lynn is a lovely young woman who typically wears comfortable jeans, T-shirts, hiking boots and a denim or suede jacket by day, but is wrapped in skintight leather of black and midnight blue, complete with domino mask, when she prowls the dirty streets at night. Unless she is going undercover, she always wears a leather lanyard around her neck, from which dangles a dark black ring with a row of diamonds set along the top; she frequently fiddles with the ring while deep in thought. Her ears are pointed and tapered; as Grimalkin, they are clearly visible, but 'Lynn' keeps the tips discretely hidden under her hair. History: A young runaway from Atlantic City, Lynn Epstein turned to a life of panhandling and petty crime to survive; one day it became too much, and she crawled into a dark alley on a chill winter night to die, but instead awoke the next day transformed! For many months she used her powers selfishly, living the high life and swindling ‘suckers’, until one night she saw a young streetwalker attacked; the FCPD’s profound indifference to the crime appalled her, and she swore that night to use her powers to help those the Powers That Be would not help. For several years, she was a member of the West End-based superhero team known as the Interceptors, along with Dynamo, Fulcrum, Jack of All Blades and William ‘Colt’ Reynolds. Three years ago she married Reynolds and retired from active crime-fighting, and she had not been seen in Freedom City since. Upon her return, Lynn reopened Silberman’s Books, the store she inherited from her grandfather on her twenty-second birthday; the building had been shuttered since she and Colt where married in it 2011. Lynn currently occupies the apartment above the shop. She recently revealed to her former teammates that time moved differently on Colt's world, where she'd been for the last three years, and she's now closer to one hundred and eight. Personality & Motivation: Being that she's a shapeshifter, it's perhaps not surprising that Lynn is rather hard to pin down; she lives very much in the 'now', making few great plans and doing her best not to dwell on the past. Her emotions are intensely felt, and she can switch from playful to angry to sad almost in the same sentence. Lynn also finds comfort in the little things, everyday wonders like bike rides in the park, ice cream of nearly any flavor, and lazy afternoons spent lying in the grass; she never seems to have enough of the simple pleasures, which makes her cherish them all the more. As a crimefighter, Grim is driven by many things: the desire to see a wasted life blossom once more, an end to cruelty, injustice and indifference, and a strong personal desire to constantly improve her technique. She likes teaming up with other heroes to see how she measures up and maybe pinch a trick or two, but she is frequently very self-critical of her own performance, to the point of downplaying her many successes. Like a trickster goddess with a vengeful streak, her personal brand of justice might seem somewhat capricious, but she would never willfully take a human life in the pursuit of the law. Powers & Tactics: Grimalkin's powers come from her faerie nature; some of them are innate, such as her keen senses and high tolerance to cold, but many of them come from her ability to manipulate glamour, the very essence of the fey. Seeing as her body is now wholly composed of glamour, she can alter it in a number of ways, such as completely changing her appearance, making herself nearly undetectable, or eluding capture; a favorite form is that of a pixie, just under one foot tall with a two pairs of gossamer wings for flight She can also create various objects seemingly out of thin air (actually her own glamour), which she uses as props, furniture or just her own amusement; she has now found a way to maintain a connection with these objects, and can use this link for surveillance purposes. In combat, Grim prefers the stealthy strike to take better advantage of her claws; when forced into a 'fair fight', she uses her wits and charm to befuddle her foes to level the playing field. She has also learned how to use glamoured objects to capture or obstruct her opponents. Complications: Cannot Eat Normal Food: Though she can still consume mundane liquids, Grim's faerie body can no longer process mundane foodstuffs; her body violently rejects any human food. Enmity of the Fey: As a fey with a human soul, and thus the capacity for genuine creativity, Grim is resented by most faerie creatures, and sometimes even considered an abomination. Prejudice (The Rich): Due to her lower middle class upbringing, Grim frequently has a hard time sympathizing with the well-to-do. She’s the Boss: Lynn employs a small number of employees at her recently-reopened bookstore; sometimes they are overly curious or manage to get into trouble. Abilities: 2 + 16 + 8 + 4 + 4 + 16 = 50PP Strength: 22/12 (+6/+1), 4 (-3) in Pixie Form (Heavy Load: 520/130 lbs., 20 lbs. in Pixie Form) Dexterity: 26 (+8) Constitution: 18 (+4) Intelligence: 14 (+2) Wisdom: 14 (+2) Charisma: 26 (+8) Combat: 24 + 12 = 36PP Initiative: +12 Attack: +12 Ranged (+14 in Pixie Form), +12 Melee (+14 in Pixie Form) Grapple: +20, +12 in Pixie Form Defense: +14 (+6 Base, +8 Dodge Focus), +3 Flat-Footed. +12 Enraged (+6 Base, +8 Dodge Focus, -2 Rage), +3 Flat-Footed. +16 in Pixie Form (+6 Base, +8 Dodge Focus, +2 Size), +4 Flat-Footed Knockback: -5, -4 in Pixie Form Saving Throws: 6 + 8 + 8 = 22PP Toughness: +10 (+4 Con, +6 Defensive Roll), +8 in Pixie Form (+4 Con, +6 Defensive Roll, -2 Size) Fortitude +10 (+4 Con, +6), +15 Enraged (+4 Con, +5 Rage, +6) Reflex +16 (+8 Dex, +8) Will +10 (+2 Wis, +8), +15 Enraged (+2 Wis, +5 Rage, +8) Skills: 152R = 38PP Acrobatics 12 (+20) Bluff 12 (+20) Craft (Artistic) 8 (+10) Craft (Structural) 8 (+10) Diplomacy 7 (+15) Disguise 0 (+8, +38 Morph) Drive 2 (+10) Gather Information 7 (+15) Handle Animal 2 (+10) Intimidate 2 (+10, +6 in Pixie Form) Knowledge (Arcane Lore) 8 (+10) Knowledge (Behavioral Sciences) 3 (+5) Knowledge (Civics) 3 (+5) Knowledge (Pop Culture) 3 (+5) Knowledge (Streetwise) 8 (+10) Knowledge (Tactics) 1 (+3) Language 1 (Hebrew) Notice 13 (+15) Perform (Dance) 2 (+10) Perform (Singing) 2 (+10) Pilot 2 (+10) Ride 2 (+10) Search 13 (+15) Sense Motive 3 (+5) Sleight of Hand 7 (+15) Stealth 14 (+22, +30 in Pixie Form) Survival 3 (+5) Swim 4 (+5) Feats: 36PP Acrobatic Bluff All-Out Attack Ambidexterity Benefit: Wealthy Defensive Attack Defensive Roll 3 (+6 Toughness) Distract (Bluff) Dodge Focus 8 Elusive Target Equipment 2 (10EP) Evasion 2 Grapple Finesse Improved Initiative Move-By Action Power Attack Rage 4 Setup Sneak Attack Takedown Attack 2 Taunt Uncanny Dodge (Auditory) Equipment: 2PP = 10EP Silberman's Books (PL12 HQ) [10EP] Size: Small [0EP] Toughness: +10 [1EP] Features: [9EP] Communications Computer Fire Prevention System Garage Gym Library Living Space Security System (DC20) Workshop Powers: 4 + 18 + 3 + 21 + 7 + 12 + 11 = 76PP Comprehend 2 (Languages 2 [speak Any, One At A Time, Understand All]) [4PP] Glamour Creation 8 (16PP Array, Feats: Alternate Power 2) [18PP] Base Power: Create Object 6 (6 cubes, Toughness +6, Lifting Strength 30 [Heavy Load: 1,600 lbs.], Extras: Duration [Continuous], Feats: Innate, Precise, Progression 2 [25ft cubes], Selective, Subtle, Drawbacks: Limited [Cannot Create Metal], Power Loss [Contact with Iron], Flaws: Feedback) [16PP] Alternate Power: ESP 7 (Range: 200 miles. Auditory, Visual, Flaws: Medium [Created Objects], Feats: Subtle) [1PP] Alternate Power: Teleport 7 (Range: 200 miles. Extras: Accurate, Feats: Change Direction, Change Velocity, Disadvantage: No Extra Weight, Flaws: Medium [Created Objects]) [1PP] Dimensional Pocket 3 (Flaw: Range [Touch], 500 lbs.) [3PP] Glamour Body 9 (18PP Array, Feats: Alternate Power 3) [21PP] Base Power: Morph 6 (Any Form, +30 Disguise, Extras: Continuous, Flaws: Limited [Cannot Mimic Metal]) [18PP] Alternate Power: Concealment 10 (All Non-Tactile Senses, Flaws: Passive, Feats: Close Range, Selective) [12PP] Alternate Power: Emotion Control 9 (Extras: Action 2 [Free], Area [Perception/Visual], Flaws: Limited to Fear, Range 2 [Touch]) [18PP] Alternate Power: Flight 4 (100mph / 1,000ft per Move Action, Drawbacks: Power Loss [Wings]) [7PP] + Shrinking 8 (Tiny: 2.5ft Space / 0ft Reach, -8 Strength, 1/2 Carry Capacity, +2 Attack, +2 Defense, -2 Toughness, -8 Grapple, +2 Knockback, -4 Intimidate, +8 Stealth, Feats: Normal Movement) [9PP] (Pixie Form) [16PP] Immunity 7 (Aging, Cold, Disease, Heat, Starvation and Thirst, All Suffocation) [7PP] Strike 6 (Extras: Penetrating [2] [DMG 7, 12 with Rage], Feats: Improved Critical 2 [18-20], Incurable, Mighty) [12PP] (Dark Faerie Claws) Super-Senses 11 (Accurate Extended [100ft Notice Increments] Hearing, Accurate Acute Extended [100ft Notice Increments] Tracking [1/2 Speed] Smell, Darkvision, Danger Sense [Auditory [11PP] Drawbacks: (-2) + (-6) = -8PP Vulnerability (Iron, Frequency: Uncommon, Intensity: Major [+50% DC]) [-2PP] Weakness (Iron, Frequency: Uncommon, Intensity: Moderate, -1 CON per minute [10 rounds]) [-6PP] Abilities 50 + Combat 36 + Saving Throws 22 + Skills 38 + Feats 36 + Powers 76 - Drawbacks 8 = 250/250 Power Points DC Block: ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Medium DC16(18*) Medium w/ Rage DC21 Tiny DC12(14*) Claws Touch Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Medium DC22(24*) Medium w/ Rage DC27 Tiny DC18(20*) Create Object Touch DC16 Reflex Trapped Fear Perception/Area DC22 Reflex No Effect DC22 Will Shaken/Frightened/Panicked *Sneak Attack
  3. Fairy Tale, warning, Unapproved NPC still in the works. Otherwise, the build for Military Fairy from AA oddballs will be used as minions for this thread.
  4. GM May 19th, 6:37pm News had been slow to travel, but it didn't matter, there was still time. The prey was shopping, moving around the mortals like she was one of them. Didn't matter, she could move as she pleased, however, that ritual was unacceptable. Not that she'd get to do it anyway. It was not hard to do, child's play really, something easy to replicate, simple magic. The hunter let the illusion was over him, into that of a young man, not much older than sixteen with jeans and a U2 t-shirt. Leaning out of the ally, he watched as she came into sight. The bag's strap snapped with easy, and it was a quick trip to sprint past her and down back into the alley.
  5. The senses-shattering conclusion to the Evil!Dok saga! For now, just the six Interceptors -- Colt, Dynamo, Fulcrum, Grim, Jack and Jill -- should post. (They'll find the inside of the house empty, as by now Scarab's already warnedAvenger & Phantom of what's going on.) Others can come in by invite, and other threads may be spun off from this one as needed.
  6. Date: June 17th, 2011 (Friday), later afternoon/early evening Continued from ArchEvil: Terrible Bosses and News. In one of the darker corners of the historic waterfront of North Bay lay a spooky old house, complete with a graveyard off to the side: the home of Jack and Taylor Faretti. In the middle of the seldom-used street which ran by it, a pinpoint of blue-grey light appeared, which exploded into a great sphere. Out of this strode a grim figure in black and blood red armor, followed closely by six figures of equally dark, though very familiar, mien (one notably taller than the others). "Come along, Auffängers!," ArchEvil commanded. "This Doktor has a housecall to make!" ArchEvil stopped mid-step. "Auffängers," he said between gritted teeth, "secure the perimeter... and find the witch, the vampire, and their abomination of a child!"
  7. Date: June 17th, 2011 (Friday), later afternoon/early evening Continued from ArchEvil: Revelations The Brownstone! Home to the Interceptors! Dynamo, Fulcrum, Jack of all Blades, and Jill O'Cure, plus newer members Geckoman, Thrude, and Willow, were in the basement training hall, joined by former members Colt and Grimalkin, who had stopped by to pick up some forgotten items and were roped into the exercise by Jack. Some blocks away, a new potential recruit, Ferros, approached, having been told by Archeville himself -- secretly the founder of the fabled team! -- to come by for a tryout with them. ArchEvil appeared in the basement of the Interceptors' Brownstone, next to Vince's computer core. "Hey, boss-man, the gregarious AI's upbeat voice greeted, appearing in mechanic's overalls on the monitors along the walls. "Whatcha do- yeow! What happened to-" "Attend: Stratus. Nietzsche. Wave. Neper. Tornado. Shark. Venus Flytrap. Viktor. Vince. Viktor." Vince's image froze, the eyes went fuzzy, then his entire form flickered as the long-buried overrides were activated and hidden subroutines booted up. Now the AI was dressed in a very crisp, black uniform, with hobnailed jackboots and a leather trenchcoat. "I obey, Herr Doktor," he said, all trace of his jovial nature gone with the click of the back of his heels. "As shall you all, Vince. As shall you all." ArchEvil walked out of computer core chamber and towards the training room, as a hunchback!Vince began pulling on virtual cords, locking down the Brownstone. He entered the training room, using his Belt's intangibility function to simply bypass the door, so as not to interrupt their session. Eventually, of course, the Interceptors did notice the strange bare-chested fish-man in a labcoat and khakis standing in their danger room.
  8. 10 am, September 21, 2010 Interceptors' Brownstone, West End "Everyone is looking forward to meeting you," said Mona as she and Erin landed, "Even Jack. Well, here she is: the Brownstone." Sweeping one arm wide, she indicated...a large three story house on a tree-lined street. "Really beauty isn't she?" she added while heading up to the front door. She hoped everyone was available. Yes, officially this visit was for a tour, but frankly a base was only as awesome as the team that dwelt therein. She wanted to provide the full tour! Not to mention she didn't know the nuances of the place as well as the long-time residents. Grim, Colt or Jack, on the other hand, were the go-to people for the full package tour. Not to mention the decor was their handiwork. Opening the right side doors, she motioned Erin inside and peeked around, "Anyone home?" The entrance opened into a perpendicular hallway running the length of the house. Just ahead, the archway to a large living room loomed, and on right, another hallway, stairs and a large, open room.
  9. The Freedom City Medical Center was seen as a safe haven to many before the announcement earlier today. Its staff was measured in the thousands and had state of the art medical equipment; there was no where in the world where you could get better attention. As violence swept the streets, the hospital was soon filled to the point of breaking. Now if Atlas's threat comes to pass, the hospital could very well turn into a feeding ground with a death toll measured in the thousands.
  10. Date: June 2010 Deep under the streets of Freedom City's West End, the swashbuckling hero known as Jack of all Blades finished stretching in the Underground's training room and began bouncing lightly up and down on the balls of his feet, eager to get his first lesson started. Rather than his traditional greatcoat and bandanna mask, the tanned young man wore loose-fitting workout clothes: black shorts and a white tank top that revealed layer of lithe muscle marred by the occasional faint scar. He'd told the rest of the team to show up similarly attired, but hadn't revealed anything else about his lesson plan. Looking up, the fencer nodded to Colt where the cowboy sat in the room's control center, visible through a large translucent panel in the far wall, then turned to look at a digital readout of the time as he wrapped his hands with a roll of tape.
  11. Several of Freedom City's heroic types received a large invitation slid under their door around the middle of June; the cards appeared to be handmade either by someone in their late teens or perhaps merely addicted to clip art, glitter and caffeinated soft drinks. Some people did not get hard copies at all, due to Lynn's unfamiliarity with their current living arrangements, but she still made sure the word got around.
  12. The Brownstone. Saturday, April 10th 1:15pm Lynn paced back in forth in the living room, gnawing on a thumbnail. She really hoped her teammate wouldn't think ill of her for doing this, but you never knew with Jack's sometimes; the man was driven and extremely protective of his family, but she sincerely felt his sister 'Jill' might help her in dealing with her brother's many moods. Vince, bless his electronic heart, agreed to contact Jill through whatever mysterious channels he had to arrange for this meeting, and now that is was actually going to happen, the tiny shapeshifter was starting to regret it. "It'll be fine; if he asks, just tell him the truth, and he'll totally get it...right?" The faeling was barefoot in pair of navy blue sweats and a Fraggle Rock t-shirt, and had put on a fresh pot of coffee on in anticipation of the teenager's arrival.
  13. Date: June 2010 The monthly Interceptors meeting had gone well enough, for all that no one on the team cared overmuch about the business side of things. What really mattered was that their financing was going well, their publicity was at an all-time high, and in the wake of the Grue invasion, things were going very well indeed for the defenders of West Freedom. Avenger had been bored through most of it, though he'd missed a couple of minutes to slip away and take calls from Phantom from that other dimension. Getting her and Jack Jr. out of the house but for their daily visits had been the right safety precaution after Dracula's attack, but it had given him free time: perhaps too much free time. You know what they say about idle hands... When he'd approached Dr. Archeville about testing the brownstone's security for him, he'd originally only planned to stay a couple of hours, but truthfully the sheer excitement of the moment had kept him around longer than he'd intended. It beat looking at a barely-used nursery. Wonder if that means he'll pay me more...or _less_? Truthfully, maybe lurking around the Casa del Interceptor for a whole day and a night had been a little unethical. For Avenger, at least, it was really hard to sort out what was and what wasn't the right thing to do when it came to matters of privacy and watching people at night while they slept. He decided to split the difference and just let them know. Don't need to tell them who I'm working for, I guess. Appearing in one of the empty seats at the table just as the meeting was wrapping up, Avenger waved. "Evening. Just popped in to let you know you need to fix your security systems. I'd recommend something that can monitor air movements."
  14. January 13th, 2010 8:03 pm (Continued from Interceptors: Liquid Therapy) Morena Colby was banging around her small kitchen, chopping up veggies and mixing up a batch of her famous spinich dip; away from work, she was barely recognizable in baggy cargo pants and a faded Phish tour shirt, her shoulder-length hair in a simple blue headband. She finished the dip, took a swig from her Corona, then yelled back over her shoulder into living room, where a TV blasted loudly. "Ma, I'm gonna have some people coming over, so I'm gonna be downstairs! I set the TiVo up to record Top Model!" There was no response, so she headed down into the basement, carrying the tray of snacks downstairs with her beer clutched in her free fingers. Her father had alwasy wanted to finish the basement, but he was killed before he ever had the chance. There was a full bar and half the walls were panelled, but then the panelling just stopped. It made her a little sad whenever she came down here, but it also reminded her of how important her work was for the force. Colby set the tray on the bar, hopped up on a stool and nursed her beer, waiting for her guests to arrive... Still wearing her civvy clothes, Lynn gave the house a quick once-over from across the street in the shadows: decent-sized, maybe a three-flat, on a quiet street in a working class neighborhood. "Okay, there is is; she said to head to the back door and ring the bell." She turned expectantly to her fellow teammates.
  15. The skies above Freedom roiled with dark grey clouds, distant thunder rumbling ominously. As the city's residents listened below, the booming grew louder and more distinct, and flashes of light appeared just above the stormy curtain. Suddenly, a sleek form burst through the clouds, the roar of engines and the ozone smell of heavy laser fire filtering down to the city streets. Long and narrow, with broad fins jutting from the rear at ninety degree angles, the gleaming vessel was soon joined by a second craft, made of darker materials and bristling with weapons. The pursuing spaceship fired, white-blue light arcing out from multiple points to strike the smaller ship. It shuddered, electricity surging across its surface, then began to plummet with dangerous speed. The ground shook as it crash landed just outside of Parkside, near Lantern Hill. It’s attack followed, hovering above its victim.
  16. Every now and then people wake up with that feeling in their stomach that the day is going to suck. They’ve got no reason for that belief. As far as they know, this is just another ordinary day, and most of the time it really is just a normal day. Other times however... you wish you had stayed in bed. Today will fall into the latter category. The early morning passes just like any other day. People get up, say good bye to their families and head off to work or to school or run some errands. But then, right before 11 o’clock things turned real sour, real fast. Monsters were lose in the streets, seemingly appearing out of no where. Heedless of the danger, the heroes sprang into action as the first explosion broke the early morning silence. The scene before you was one of wanton destruction. It was a rampage, nothing but the after effects of brutal savagery. And judging from the roars and shockwaves, there was still something out there hell bent on destroying everything it came across. Smoke was already billowing high into the sky, and you could taste the ash in the air.
  17. Date: a few days before February 8th, 2010 Earlier at an Undisclosed Location: Grim sat in her chair, legs dangling; the room was small, lit by a single recessed ceiling fixture, and contained nothing more than a table and four chairs, all cold metal and hard plastic. Her sensitive ears could tell the room was soundproofed, and her amazing nose detected little more than stainless steel and traces of Endust. A single sliding door allowed access to the lifeless chamber. Sure, she was restless, but when the boss tells you to wait, you wait; luckily, the young faeling had numerous ways to amuse herself. She conjured forth an oddly-shaped set of wooden blocks that she precariously balanced on the table in various positions, testing her reflexes, control and the lightness of her touch. And she waited some more...
  18. Ever since she was little, Lynn loved Halloween, for a wide variety of reasons. For one thing, along with Thanksgiving it was one of the two non-Jewish holidays her family celebrated. Her father was a fairly relaxed Conservative Jew who loved horror movies, and he saw no harm in letting his kids dress up like monsters and eat candy; after a fairly heated discussion, he finally convinced her mother it was one thing the kids could share with their Gentile friends and schoolmates. During her Aladdin phase, young Sherilyn Epstein dressed up as Princess Jasmine three years in a row, and cried for days when her mom told her she'd completely grown out of the costume and would have to be someone else. The memory of her childhood tantrum made Grim smile as she perched like a gargoyle over Broadway, watching people troop in and out of one of the ubiquitous Halloween stores, shopping bags in hand. It always amazed her how man of these places popped up in empty storefront in October, like black and orange mushrooms after a dark and stormy night. What was it about fake cobwebs and rubber skeletons that thrilled her so? Even as a little kid, the morbid and ghoulish fascinated her, especially stories that touched upon her family's past, and both sides of her family tree had a few dark and twisted branches. Her great-great-grandfather Karl Epstein was an opportunistic thug who supposedly fled a murder charge in Germany, sailing to America using a dead man's name; he became a bootlegger and mob enforcer, at one time almost as feared as the legendary Dutch Schultz. Her great-grandfather Ira Silberman started as a simple cabinetmaker, but started designing trick trunks and tables for master illusionists like Blackstone and Berastro, eventually performing on stage himself as "the Amazing Al-Kazara". However, when the limelight faded, he used his genuine occult powers (discovered quite by chance) to fight evil in the shadows, even aiding the Liberty League on occasion. He pulled off his final vanishing act back in 1957, and hadn't been seen since. So in a very real sense mischief ran in her veins, the blood of tricksters and thieves, mummers and murders, all before her transformation into a living breathing fairy tale. After meeting Mr. Silver at his Lantern Hill shop back in September, it all started to make sense; magic didn't just touch the life of anyone, it sought out those who were pre-disposed to it, either by birth or circumstance, or possibly both. And that put Lynn right in the mystical crosshairs of the universe. A loud gurgle from her stomach told her it might be a good time to make dinner plans, so Grim quietly made her way down the side of the building, invisible to all, and stepped out of the alley in her street clothes, as herself. Sometimes it was like her life before the change had happened to somebody else; she could barely remember a time when she couldn't look and dress exactly how she wanted to, slipping from one guise to another as easy as blinking. She almost pitied the rest of the world, stuck in one body and one face from cradle to grave, to be instantly judged, labeled and categorized by others by all who see them. How did she live before she broke free of the shackles of self? As she stood in line by the pushcart, waiting her turn for a kosher red hot, she suddenly felt the vast gulf that separated her from the rest of humanity; did being able to be anyone mean that she was, in fact, no one? Her guts twisted and her head went light, but soon the moment passed. No; everyone presents a mask to the world, a different face for lovers, coworkers, children and bosses. She was just better at it than most people, that's all. She was still as human as anyone else, she just had more options. Smiling at the push cart vendor, she took her dog and diet Coke and wandered off into the night, humming a tune to herself that she didn't quite recognize. But once she did, she laughed and belted out the lyrics as loud as she could. "I gotta be me! I gotta be me!"Â
  19. (This little scene take place in May the week before Memorial Day [making Grimalkin the very first victim of the effect!], on a largely deserted street in Riverside; the tune is original, and I’m hoping to have my sisters record it as a duet.) Sometimes when he touched her, she’d melt beneath his fingertips, but other times she flinched like a whipped dog. He thought he’d drown in her eyes like pools of dark brown coffee, except those days when all he saw was ice and fear. He finally decided to ask her about it on a warm spring night in Riverside after a movie, when her mood was light as cotton candy, and a street corner combo played guitar, pedal steel and fiddle. For a while she was quiet as she stared down at the sidewalk between her toes, and then she began to sing. Long Train to Nowhere (Grimalkin’s Song) When I was growing up back in New Jersey I always dreamed of heading out West Stuck out in a trailer My daddy was a failure And Momma never gave him a rest But I thought if I could make it to the railroad I could leave that sadness far behind I was riding the long train to nowhere Hoping and praying I was not found There’s a thousand miles between me and you But somehow it still feels like you’re around I met you in a camp outside Altoona You held me at night when it got cold To you, it wasn’t much But I shivered at your touch Remember I was just fifteen years old So we lived from train to train out on the railroad A freedom that I thought I’d never find Yes we’re riding the long train to nowhere Hoping and praying we don’t get found There’s a thousand miles between me and you But somehow it still feels like you’re around Then somehow it all changed out in Montana You tried to take something I could not give My back against the wall You were twice as tall And I found out just what I’d do to live Well I thought I would be safe out on the railroad But the strangers that you meet aren’t always kind So I’m riding the long train to nowhere Hoping and praying I don’t get found There’s a thousand miles between me and you But somehow it still feels like you’re around Now I find myself back in New Jersey And I see you in the eyes of every man It’s the price I’ve had to pay Never give my heart away I might dance, but lonely I will stand You can try to hide yourself out on the railroad But you can’t run away from your own mind I’m still riding the long train to nowhere Hoping and praying I don’t get found It’s a thousand lonely miles back to your grave But somehow it still feels like you’re around
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