Micro-Scenes 2015-2021

Dreamer
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5 years 10 months ago #1
Dreamer created the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Here is the new Micro-Scenes thread. Anything which is too short to be a regular story, post it here for everyone to enjoy.

Now please stop flooding Kayda’s Brother thread with them, Phoenix. Before the poor boy runs screaming for the hills and the thread spontaneously disappears with him.
Thank You for story comments appreciated and help me know me they are being read and liked. Note: My story comments can’t nor are trying to replace reading the stories, simply my way of enjoying them and letting the authors know I enjoy them.

Phoenix Spiritus
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5 years 10 months ago - 5 years 10 months ago #2
Phoenix Spiritus replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Phoenix Spiritus’ new Micro-Scenes thread Genesis

Chapter One: Danny Franks, younger brother to Kayda
Last Edit: 5 years 10 months ago by Phoenix Spiritus.

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5 years 10 months ago #3
Phoenix Spiritus replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
“Oh! Now this is heavenly!” Danny started. Cautiously looking around, trying to see who it was that was speaking. “I’m so glad I listened to Wakan Tanka, this is just divine!” continued the voice.

“Hello?” Carefully Danny inquired, shocked to hear someone talking about Wakan Tanka, the Lakota Great Spirit his sister, Kayda, communed with.

“Hello yourself.” The sultry voice replied back. Danny’s eyes widened in disbelief as he finally ‘heard’ where the voice was coming from.

“You’re in my head? How can you be in my head!” He demanded, more then a little desperately.

“Oh darling, you know how! After all, like your sister you are an Avatar, and with all the issues she’s been having there was no way that we could leave it up to chance who got you, so Wakan Tanka asked me to come and protect you, and I just couldn’t say no!”

“Like my sister? Avatar? I’m not going to turn into a girl am I?” Panicking Danny jumped up and desperately started looking all around.

“Oh, now why would I go and do a thing like that?” The sultry voice murmured. “After all, a girl has needs” Danny could all but hear the sounds of lips smacking in her voice. Confused, hyperventilating, desperately turning here and there, Danny almost welcomed the darkness as everything faded to black.

Phoenix Spiritus
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5 years 10 months ago #4
Phoenix Spiritus replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
“The purring is really delightful.” A girl’s voice, not his mom’s, but soft, comforting to listen to all the same.

Someone was stroking Danny’s head, and there was a cat somewhere close, it’s purring was hypnotic, strong, deep, just as comforting as the voice. Turning over Danny leaned into the hand stroking him, delighted as the purring increased in volume too.

Giggling. “I thinks he likes it” exclaimed the voice, as laughingly the hand returned to stoking his head, soothing Danny back to sleep.

Phoenix Spiritus
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5 years 10 months ago - 5 years 10 months ago #5
Phoenix Spiritus replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
“Mum! I know she’s a female spirit, but she swears she’s not gonna turn me into a girl!” Frustrated, Danny stared in horror as the new bag of girls panties he had thought his mum had got for Kayda was instead added to his own suitcase.

“I know dear, but we all know what happened to Kayda when she got a female spirit. We’ve discussed it, and everyone really thinks it would be best if while you are at Whateley you were to stay in Poe.” His mum paused her packing, turning to place a hand on his shoulder. “So that you can be with your sister and the other girls who will know what you are going through, people that can help you as you change.”

“But Mum! I’m not turning into a girl!” Danny almost cried out in frustration, staring in shock at the older bras of Kayda’s that his mother was now adding to his case as well.

“I hope so too dear.” Maddenly his mother continued calmly as though they were speaking of a summer job he hoped to get. “Now in Poe you’ll get to know all the secrets of the gay children, and the other transgendered ones too. It’s very important that you do not reveal those secrets to the rest of the school, you’ve seen how bad things have gotten for Kayda ...”

“Mum! I don’t want to be in dorm with the gay boys, they’ll hit on me!” desperately Danny tried to get his mother to listen to him.

“I know dear, but you’ll be alright. You are turning into a very pretty girl dear, I’m sure you know how supportive your father and I will be about you and your boyfriend when you get one.”

“Mum!” Danny gasped in disbelief. “I’m a boy! I’m staying a boy! I don’t want to have any boyfriends!”

“Well if instead you find a nice girl like Kayda did, we’ll support you in that too dear.” Danny stared in dismay at his mother as she calmly continued packing his suitcase, blithely assuming he’d be a girl soon like his sister and totally ignoring everything he was saying.

“Arrgh!” crying out in frustration Danny stamped from his room, making for the stairs and the outdoors. Once again Danny wondered why he even bothered trying to talk with his parents, they just didn’t seem to want to listen to anything he tried to tell them.
Last Edit: 5 years 10 months ago by Phoenix Spiritus.

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5 years 10 months ago - 5 years 10 months ago #6
Phoenix Spiritus replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Danny took a seat on the train glaring at Kayda as she sat down in the seat before him.

“Look Danny, I’m sorry. It was the only hoody they had in your size, and mum said to make sure you always wore something to you could use to cover your head and your arms as you travelled today, just in case.” Kayda apologised again.

“But it’s pink! And it has this stupid cat thing on it ...”

“Hello Kitty.” Kayda murmured, almost as red in embarrassment as her brother.

“Whatever. Why couldn’t we just have gotten my suitcase and a my other hoody from that?” Danny demanded.

“Because we’d already booked our bags in. Look I really am sorry I spilt the shake on you and that the hoodie is pink, but it was the only store on the platform selling clothes, and that was all they had suitable that fitted you.”

“How would you like to be turning up for your first day at school dressed in pink!” Danny demanded, red faced, scrunching down, then in horror he felt cats ears begin growing from his head as his embarrassment increased. In desperation he pulled up the hoodie and pressed himself into the corner between his seat and the window.

“Ooh kitty! You must be on the way to Whateley too!” Danny tried to scrunch further down in the seat, mortified as fur started growing on his face now too as the strange girls voice increased his embarrassment.

Feeling a bump in his seat, Danny turned in surprise to see the girl had sat next to him, hand outstretched. “Hi! I’m Mischief, I’m starting at Whateley today! Ooh, that looks so soft” she enthused reaching for his furry face.

At the sound of muffled giggling Danny turned forward, unbelievably betrayed to see Kayda break down and laugh out loud at the sight of her brother pressed deep into the corner of the seat, desperately trying to escape the attentions of a cute girl hell bent of cuddling and stroking him. In disbelief he watched Kayda finally control herself, sit back up and dig out her phone. “Mum is so going to want to see this! Smile!”

Blinking at the flash Danny glared daggers at his sister as she continued laughing at his predicament.
Last Edit: 5 years 10 months ago by Phoenix Spiritus.

Phoenix Spiritus
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5 years 10 months ago - 5 years 10 months ago #7
Phoenix Spiritus replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
“Come on Danny! Quickly.” Kayda panted. “We need to get you out of that hoodie.”

“Why it so important now?” Danny complained, heaving his suitcase up the stairs behind his sister. “I wanted to change at the station as soon as we got the bags, but you rushed me right onto the bus!”

“I’m sorry, I packed the luggage keys right in the bottom of my bag, and then Mrs. Shugendo rushed us onto the first bus so fast! She chewed me out for not getting you to school on Friday too.”

“But I thought you said mum checked, and it was alright for me to come with you today cause I already knew about Poe!” Danny demanded, stunned at the new revelation.

“Well I couldn’t very well argue with Mrs. Shugendo about it there on the station could I? Poe is supposed to be a secret. Just hurry up, my rooms are closest to the stairs, we can go there and get you changed.” Kayda instructed as she humped her own suitcase up the stairs. “Less chance of you being seen then” She mumbled.

Not objecting to getting out of the horrible pink hoodie as fast as possible, Danny concentrated on carrying his suitcase and keeping up with Kayda, but he did wonder why suddenly Kayda cared about him having to wear the horrible pink thing, she certainly hadn’t seem to mind too much on the train when she’d taking heaps of snaps of him in it to send home to their mother.

Poking her head out the staircase door, Kayda smiled and turned back to her brother. “Hurry up, the corridor is free!”

“Give us a break, this things heavy!” Danny complained as he put down the suitcase and vigorously shook his hand to get feeling back. Popping the handle he tipped the suitcase onto its wheels and followed his sister out into corridor. “If you were in such a rush, why didn’t we just wait for the lift like I suggested, rather then humping it up all these stairs?”

“I told you, we couldn’t wait in the foyer, she could have come through at any moment, she’s helping out with the new arrivals today!”

“She?” Danny demand, unfortunately to Kayda’s back as she hurried down the corridor.

Turning the corner from the lift corridor to the corridor with the dorm rooms, Kayda turned fearfully to the sound of an opening door, relaxing and smiling when she saw who it was. “Lily!” She exclaimed in happiness. “I though Lanie was going to be student assistant for this wing?”

Smiling Wallflower came up and hugged Kayda. “She is, I was just visiting her. Who’s this?”

Under the stare of the cheerful senior Danny found himself blushing, and then mortified, he felt his ears appear and fur start covering his face. Squinching down in his hoodie Danny blushed as his sister made the introductions.

“Lily Turner, Wallflower this is my ...”

“Oh wow finally! We’ve get one of the exotic cat girls!”

Eyes wide in horror Kayda tried to stop Mary Goodhope, Angel, as she reached out to gather Danny in her arms. “Mary no! Don’t that’s my ...” eyes wide in disbelief Kayda watched Angel engulf Danny in her arms in her typical full body hug. Eyes wide in delight Angel lent down to rub her face on Danny’s silky soft fur “... brother” Kayda finished lamely.

“Brother!” Lily demanded stunned as Angel looked up at Kayda in surprise, her arms still around the cringing Danny’s shoulders.

“She doesn’t feel like a brother” Angel said confused, almost absently petting Danny by stroking his head with a hand.

“You told mum you weren’t turning into a girl!” Kayda screamed at Danny

“I did! I’m not!” Danny yelled back, just as fiercely.

“Angel’s allergic to boys! How do you explain this then?” Kayda demanded angrily, pointing to the obviously content Angel, who in addition to hugging Danny had taken the opportunity to lay her cheek on his head, smiling in delight at the feel of his fur on her cheek.

Staring in horror at his sister Danny wailed in his mind *You promised me! You said I’d stay a boy!*

*Mmmm, she’s niiiice* the voice in his head purred back *lets keep this* almost crying Danny stared down, as in his chest the sonorous sounds of purring started rumbling out.

Angel smiled in delight at the sound. “Pretty little kitty with her pretty Hello Kitty!” she exclaimed, renewing her full body hug of the boy.

“Hello Kitty?” Shocked Angel jumped straight and stared at Kayda in horror, from the corner a squeal of delight rang out. “Hello Kitty pink hoodie? My soulmate!” Squealing to an almost painfully high note, a pink rocket charged Danny, the eleven year old girl in its centre taking a running jump straight for his arms, Danny scrambled desperately to catch her. “You and I are going to have such fun! I can’t wait to introduce you to all my friends!” The rocket squealed from Danny’s arms.

“Oh no! Jade!” Kayda moaned, wincing at her engulfed brother, so embarrassed at the two girls climbing all over him, his bright red face was almost completely covered in fur. Danny’s desperate eyes pleaded with Kayda as she shrugged her helplessness. Finally unable to meet his eyes anymore, Kayda looking down, almost absently retrieving her phone form her pocket she looked up, then shrugging she raised the phone, pointed it at Danny and took a photo of her brother with an enthusiastic eleven year old girl in his arms, with an Angel leaning over him, wings outstretched to embrace, and her golden head resting upon Danny’s own, after all, her mother had said to take photos of everything.
Last Edit: 5 years 10 months ago by Phoenix Spiritus.

Phoenix Spiritus
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5 years 10 months ago - 5 years 10 months ago #8
Phoenix Spiritus replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Danny wanted to cry. Mischief had started it, and it had all got out of hand so fast, and now Mrs. Horton was on the way to call his mother, and Danny just knew his mum would then call Kayda and she’d tell her everything she saw and then he’d have to try and explain how he ended up naked on the common room floor with girls laying all over him.

It just wasn’t fair!

Sniffing Danny tried to remember how it had happened. It was all so innocent! Mischief had wanted to come over for some maths tutoring, and when she mentioned it at lunch Cover had gotten jealous, so that had meant it had turned into a tutoring session with both Mischief and the Three Little Witches.

Everyone had come over to Poe, and Danny had quickly taken them to a study room, and it’d had all been going fine, till Clover had got bored and started stroking him, making him purr. And then the ears had come out, and that had got Mischief also yo stroke him, and then he’d started getting fur, and Clover had started cuddling him and ...

Danny was still in shock, he hadn’t even known he could do that, transform fully into a mountain lion. The girls had squealed in delight! Danny had bolted, out of the study room and into a common room before the girls had caught him. Cuddling him and petting him, they had removed his school uniform form his now cat body, their squeals of excitement had attracting others. The whole of Wondercute, in the study room next door plotting for their next sim, had come out to find him in kitty form ruling about the common room floor, and they had dived in to to pet him.

It wasn’t until Kayda had walked in that the shock of seeing her had broken his embarrassment, allowing him to transform back ... naked ... with all those girls clinging to him ... and right then, while he was still in shock from the double transformation, Mrs. Horton and come in to find him with all of Wondercute draped over him!

Mum was going to kill him! And that didn’t even begin to cover what was going to happen to his reputation once this story started getting repeated around the whole school!

Danny put his head down and cried, life was so unfair.
Last Edit: 5 years 10 months ago by Phoenix Spiritus.

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5 years 10 months ago - 5 years 4 months ago #9
Phoenix Spiritus replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Phoenix Spiritus’ new Micro-Scenes thread Genesis

Chapter Two: It’s about to get a little Jaded
Last Edit: 5 years 4 months ago by Phoenix Spiritus.

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5 years 10 months ago - 5 years 10 months ago #10
Phoenix Spiritus replied the topic: A Noodle Incident
Sitting down at Team Kimba’s usual Crystal Hall table, Ayla continued the lecture he had been giving Hank all the way from the checkouts. “Sure you can just overpower a PK shield. Eventually with the right amount of concentrated force any PK shield breaches, put enough tons of force over a vital organ, like the head, and anyone goes down, but there are more elegant options.”

“What? My head over the countryside too messy for you?” Hank commented wryly.

“Well that and overpower breaching methods are inherently dangerous, not just the intended target, but anyone else around too. Even the instigator if the opponent knows what they are doing.” Ayla shrugged. “There’s not much use me having an anti-PK weapon if it’s to dangerous to use. If my offence against a PK superman is, say, a Goodkind one-shot anti-tank RPG, even if I have the means of carrying it around, it’s rather obvious when I pull it out and aim it. Any reasonably intelligent brick is going to either get so close to me the shock from the explosion will kill me as well, or grab someone else and hold them close enough I won’t fire because I’ll kill the hostage.”

“So what weapons are you planning instead Ayla?” Chaka asked sitting down beside Hank, who had sat across the table from Ayla. Jade and Jinn arrived too, both casually sitting down opposite Toni across Hank, Jade taking her dinner plate and cutlery off her tray before sliding the now empty tray in front of Jinn.

“Well, instead of just overpowering the shield” Ayla continued, now including both Chaka and the two Sinclairs in the discussion “I was planning on using other weaknesses to get through PK shields.” Turning to Toni he nodded. “Like you have been discovering with Diz, all useful PK shields have to let beneficial things through.”

“What, like food? You going to throw candies at them and poison them?” Chaka asked smiling delightedly at Ayla’s very brief pause of confusion on hearing her suggestion.

“Well no.” Ayla continued fastidiously. “True in theory poisoned food should work, but I don’t think anybody is going to eat something I throw at them during a fight” Ayla pointed out reasonably to Toni. “I was thinking more immediately necessary things, like air, water, light, sound, those sorts of things.” He continued turning back to Hank.

“And food!” Jade yelled to interrupt Ayla, who manfully ignored her.

“So what, poison gases?” Hank asked also ignoring the suggestions of Toni and Jade.

“And possibly liquid aerosols, lasers, things like that.” Ayla agreed.

“And food!” Jade happily yelled again, throwing her arms up in the air and ... Ayla blinked. Was that spaghetti? Dancing in the air above Jade? Looking down Ayla winced. Jade’s plate was a wasteland of red sauce like substance, almost just a reddish water, weak, wobbly, over boiled noodle imitations, and ... no, Ayla refused to even contemplate identifying the ‘meat’ portion of what was on Jade’s plate.

Ducking, Ayla went light and sighed as the dancing spaghetti above Jade exploded. Once the raining food had stop, Ayla resumed normal weight, looking around, pleasantly surprised to see that the spaghetti rain had been confined to a narrow area on the table around where Jade was sitting.

Resolutely Ayla turned back to Hank. “So I was investigating tear gas, possibly an aerosol sleeping agent or knockout gas of some sort as well. I was also thinking of maybe some blinding / distracting weapons, such as flash bangs. The sonic and light portions should go through nearly any PK shield, unlike conclusion grenades, were the pressure waves are almost certainly going to be blocked by most shields.”

“And poisoned pasties!” Interrupted Jade as soon as she saw Ayla pause to invite Hank’s opinion.

Involuntarily Hank smiled, casing Toni to get into the act too. “Vomitus Vo-Vos” she called.

“Sleeping Snickers!” Jade replied excitedly.

“Noodle noose!” Exclaimed Toni, standing, arm raised in salute.

Turning to give Toni a look of amazement, Hank incredulously repeated “Noodle noose?”

“Yeah, like if I Ki charged a noodle and garrotted you!” Toni answered happily sitting back down.

Pickling up a limp, overcooked specimen of spaghetti from the table between him and Jde, Hank waved it at Toni. “You’re going to garrotte me? With this?” He replied with extreme scepticism, shaking the spaghetti in emphasis. “You couldn’t garrotte a suicidal chicken with this!” Hank continued derisively. “Let alone take out a PK superman!” He chuckled.

Dropping his demonstration piece of spaghetti back to his table, Hank stared in disbelief when instead of falling down, it stopped, wiggling in the air in front of him. Mouth open stunned, Hank’s eyes bulged as wiggling joyfully the piece of spaghettini dove through the air and straight down his open mouth.

Pushing himself up and away from the table, Hank’s hands darted to his mouth, as weaving, stumbling and red faced he tried to swallow, tried to cough, tried to breath!

Desperately Hank’s searching hand clasped a glass of water. Forcing himself upright Hank frantically tried to drink, but the water just poured back out of his mouth. Just arriving at the table Billie and Nikki rushed up, quickly sliding their trays onto the table they turned to help Hank. As Billie started pounding on Hank’s back, Nikki frantically started reciting spell after spell, all the time trying to look down Hank’s mouth and see what the problem was.

Seeing that pounding Hank’s wasn’t working, Billie stepped behind Hank, wrapped her arms around him low down and quickly pulled up and back, hoping to force air out of Hank’s lungs to expel the obstruction.

Turning redder, but otherwise unaffected by Billie’s actions, Hank collapsed to his knees. Redder and redder, one hand desperately clawing at his throat, Hank fell forward, holding himself barely off the ground on one arm, Billie and Nikki also on their knees still trying to help, as now Ayla and Toni stood looking stricken towards their distressed friend. With eyes bulging out, eyelids starting to flutter, Hank desperately tried to breath, collapsing onto his side, hands still clawing his throat.

Suddenly!

A great gulping breath.

Rolling to his back, Hank breathed deep, panicked breaths, tears streaming from his eyes. Hank gasped up at the staring Nikki, mid spell cast, relief and amazement all through her expression.

“Wow, the insides of someone’s lungs are just weird. And icky!” Jade innocently commented reaching for her milk and swallowing a mouthful.

“Jade!” practically the entire populous of that side of Crystal Hall yelled at her in fury and disbelief.
Last Edit: 5 years 10 months ago by Phoenix Spiritus.

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5 years 10 months ago #11
Phoenix Spiritus replied the topic: Radio Active Condor Girl
Even though it was only just five am, Jade was outside Bunny’s door bouncing excitedly.

Bunny opened the door and scowled crossly at Jade. ”Double-oh one there sent sniffer into hysterics” she growled repressively at the hyper excited girl.

“I was only checking you where awake” Jade replied petulantly. Then in a confused voice she asked “Double-oh one?”

“I’m assuming it was ‘Jamie Anne, Super Spy. 001 On Her Majesties Secret Service, Licensed to Annoy’ who crawled under my door at five ah em?” Bunny drawled, emphasising the time unhappily.

“You’re awake and do you have it? Do you? Is it ready?” Jade started bouncing excitedly again, unleashing her deadly puppy dog eyes on the scowling older girl.

“She is still asleep and you are not waking her up.” Bunny replied, again failing to fend of Jade’s most deadly weapon, but determined to hold onto some semblance of her righteous indignation.

“It’s OK, Ayla wants it kept secret anyway.” Jade dismissed Bunny’s concern. “Can we take it to Nikki’s room? Ayla asked her to find somewhere we can test it.” Bouncing excitedly Jade grabbed Bunny’s arm, attempting to led the older girl back into her room.

“It’s still five AM!” Bunny refused to budge.

“You’re awake, and its Nikki’s room. And we get to test it!” Jade pleaded, obviously readying her greatest weapon again.

Bunny sighed and handed Jade the backpack in her hand, then carefully reopening the door to her room, she reached through, carefully, pulling out another backup as quietly as she could. This backpack was not quite zipped up, and Jade could see it was full of electronics. Slowly and silently Bunny closed the door again, before standing straight she shouldered the backpack. Turning she followed the dancing Jade down the hall to Nikki’s room. Entering Bunny wasn’t surprised to see that in addition to Nikki and Chaka, who’s room it was also, Billie was there too, along with Ayla who was all business.

“It is ready? The extra safeties have been tested?” Ayla asked Bunny concerned.

“Its ready.” Bunny confirmed. “We have a thirty minute supply of oxygen, and I modified your old mask for Jade, since you now have that new one.”

Ayla nodded and turned to Nikki “And we have somewhere we can test it?”

“We’ll use the Grove.” Nikki replied. “Even security can’t get in there, so they can’t monitor what we are doing. As long as Billie and Jade don’t go too high and exceed Whateley’s flight ceiling there shouldn’t be any problems.” Ayla looked a little unsure about the use of the Grove, but trusted Nikki to see to their safety.

Crouching down besides Bunny, Jade cast Jinn into the backpack she had been given. Seeing this Bunny started explaining the contents.

“OK, first we have the suit. I modelled it on a WingSuit, but modified so it gives the ‘condor’ profile your wanted.” Bunny explained.

“What’s with the funny shaped pole?” Jade enquired frowning down at the still closed backpack.

“Well, that’s to give you the ‘neck’ of your condor. We are hiding you in the ‘wings’ and the body. It also gives us a little extra length for the antennas.”

“Where is the battery for the radio? I can only find a tiny one in Ayla’s headpiece, surely that’s not enough?” Jade looked up concerned to Bunny.

“We’re not using batteries for the radio signals.” Bunny explained to Jade’s shocked look. “We don’t need a ‘clean’ signal for this, in fact the dirtier the signal the better, a dirty signal will jam more frequencies for us. What I did was calculate carefully the size of the antennas built into the suit, then I made you a hand cranked generator and used multiple differently sized coils in it, one for each frequency we are going to jam. When Jann cranks the generator as fast as she can the different coils spinning inside the generator’s magnetic field will produce currents with multiple different oscillating frequencies, one for each coil. I then just put that raw current into the specially designed antennas that are pre-calculated to be certain lengths and you get ‘white noise’ at the required frequencies for as long as Jann keeps cranking the generator, no batteries or special circuitry required.” Bunny finished smiling at Jade who started up at her with an amazed ‘O’ of understanding, before laughing she reached up and hugged the blond bombshell tightly in her little girl arms.

Smiling down at the happy Jade, Bunny turned to Ayla. “Even better there is nothing ‘special’ to tip off security or the Sim Technicians. It’s just a WingSuit with metal sewn into it, almost like decoration. The generator is also nothing special, you can find similar things in all sorts of ‘survival’ equipment like those windup radios or lamps people get in hurricane and tornado prone areas. Even better you could get the suit entered into the sim for Generator and the wind-up generator entered in for Shroud, and no one would be the wiser until you combine them in the sim.”

Ayla thoughtfully considered this. “Will a hand cranked generator give us enough power to jam the signal from one mile up? That’s how high up Jade needs to be flying to be out of sniper range for anyone on the ground with a gun.”

“Easily.” Bunny assured him. “We don’t have to overpower the ground based system, we just need to be generating a signal that is louder then the satellite, so the ground station stops hearing the satellite.” Bunny smiled happily. “The satellite will be in orbit and is getting its signal power from solar panels, and they also need to be running the whole satellite. The signal from a satellite isn’t actually that large, the smarts are all in the ground based receivers with their parabolic and directional antennas, signal filtering and boosting circuits.” Bunny smiled. “Jade will only be a mile up, the satellite is in orbit. Radio signals degrade inversely squared to the distance from the source, meaning that since Jade is going to be a lot closer to the ground station then the satellite, she doesn’t have to be that loud at all to drown out its signal to the ground stations.” Bunny stood there bouncing, an ear to ear grin on her face and her trade mark pig-tails flapping around almost excitedly as Jade.

“What about nuclear powered satellites? Can we beat them?” Billie asked curiously.

“They don’t use nuclear powered satellites in orbit.” Ayla explained to Billie. “Orbiting satellites have to come back down to earth after they’ve exceeded their design life, and not even Australia’s gonna be happy at a nuclear satellite breaking up and crashing into their backyard. Besides all the commercial satellites are solar powered, a nuclear one would stick out and be easy for enemies to track, cause its different. You want your spy satellites to be stealthy, not orbiting around screaming ‘I’m something unusual, track me!’”

Turning to Bunny again Ayla asked. “Why are we sending Jade up in a WingSuit? Why not just have a proper condor model being controlled by Jinn?”

“Two reasons. First you needed it fast and I didn’t have the feathers to make a proper condor suit. Second this is a really quick and nasty jerry rigged suit. There is nothing dangerous about it, but we need to hand crank a generator, micro-manage the aiming of the suits antennas, fly the suit, dodge any missiles or bullets coming at them and also manage air position, monitor the satellite’s signal, and flying all at the same time. Jade and I thought it would all be too much for one person to do.” Bunny shrugged. “With Jade in the suit she can be as many people as she needs to be to pull it all off.”

Ayla still looked concerned but had to concede that Jade knew her limitations best, if she had decided she was needed then that was that. “What do we need to test today?” He instead asked Bunny.

“Well not test, more practice.” Bunny said bending down, opening the backpack she was holding. “I designed the wings so that Jinn can lock them and then make minute movements to ‘focus’ the signal.” Pulling an item out of the backpack shed held it out for Ayla to see. “This is a receiver and a meter so we can monitor the signal from the suit. We’ll set this up and get Jinn to practice taking Jade a mile up and focusing her signal onto it. Then I want to see how ‘off-beam’ we can be to the receiver and still drown out the satellite. If we can get this to work sufficiently “off beam” Billie can take Jade a mile up at the start of the sim and she can jam the signal from there, that would be a major tactical advantage for you.”

“You’re right.” Ayla agreed. Turning to Nikki Ayla enquired “Are we ready to go?”

Nikki nodded so they all trooped out, with Jade carrying her backpack and skipping along in front singing the theme song from the “Condorman” movie as soon as they where outside and unlikely to disturb anyone else.


****


Jade had been looking forward to this sim ever since Bunny had delivered her suit. Now that Billie had dropped her off one mile up, Jade spread her arms and legs wide like they had practiced, and Jann locked her limbs so that she would not involuntary twitch and spoil the signal. Then while Jinn started winding the generator, Jann concentrated on focusing the parabolic antennas to keep them aligned on the base’s satellite dish. Jade concentrated on monitoring the satellite’s transmission, scrolling for her across the displays Bunny had built into Ayla’s old headpiece. Bunny had explained that they didn’t need to crack the encryption on the satellites communications to do this, once the Satellite lost its earthlink signal it would start trying to handshake again ... a repeating signal across multiple bands that should be easy to identify … there!. Over and over the satellite was transmitting the same signal sequentially on each of the control channels Ayla had told them the satellite would use. The satellite was trying to handshake again, it had lost command control!

“Satellite uplink is down. Satellite uplink is down! Go Go Go!” Jade happily called over the spots.


****


Just as the final targeting information was about to be loaded into the missiles, the computer’s lost contact with their satellite data. Instead of loading tracking and targeting data from the satellites into the missiles, the base computers instead switched the missiles to use onboard IR targeting and the inbuilt control circuits. Circuits and sensors designed to look for and target the thousands of degrees hot engine exhausts of jets were now instead trying to find mere dozens of degrees hot flying children, predictably it didn’t go well.

Billie heard “ ... Go Go Go!” and quickly fired plasma bolts across the noses of all the incoming missiles she could see targeting her and her friends. The plasma blast across the noses of all the missiles caused them to veer and attempt to follow the much ‘hotter’ IR trails of the plasma blasts, completely ignoring the Team Kimba members continuing on through the now useless missile barrage an onwards towards the base they had been fired from.

Billie grabbed Ayla and threw him directly at the ground station, aiming for the communications sheds visible around the large radio antennas sticking up out of the hill the base was dug into. Ayla went light and streaked across the distance at nearly a thousand miles an hour. While Billie threw Ayla, Fey conjured her spherical force field around the remaining Team Kimba members, and following after Phase Billie dragged the rest of Team Kimba in Fey’s Magical Bubble Ride.


****


Sam watched the missiles uselessly explode nowhere near the targets, before she turned around and demanded “What happened to the missiles?!”

“Satellite uplink went down, they fell back to onboard IR guidance.” A desperately bust tech answered as he attempted to regain communications with the satellite.

“Well what happened to my satellite!” Sam demanded of the busy tech.

“Interference, if it wasn’t impossible I’d say from the bird!” he replied back, reaching forward to flick switches and wiggle dials without effect.

“Shoot it down! Shoot down the bird!” Sam snapped, turning back to her screens and urging another subordinate to action.

“Its out of range of guns.” He snapped. “And with the satellite uplink down we can’t target the missiles like that. AIM missiles aren’t able to be targeted at biologicals with on-board electronics” he whined.

“Take out the lock!” Sam snapped back, turning to glare at him.

“It’s not a lock, it’s a hardware limitation.” He turned right back to snap at her. “The IR sensors are designed to see hundreds of degrees hot aircraft exhausts! They can’t differentiate 98 degrees fahrenheit body heat from ambient air temperature, it’s the satellites that do that. And that ‘bird’ is flying too high to be shot with a gun anyway!”

Growling Sam turned back to the original tech. “Well block the birds signal! Get me my satellites and my missiles!”

“It’s not a signal, its just white noise at the right frequencies, its just yelling so loud into our antennas we can’t hear the signal from the satellite anymore. Anything we do to block the yelling is going to block the signal from the satellite too!” the tech complained.

“Well swap frequencies!” Sam snapped, increasingly sharply.

“We’re trying!” The tech cried. “It requires two way communication to do that and we don’t have it! There is jamming on all our frequencies, we can’t hear which frequency the Satellite is trying so we can respond to it, the bird is yelling on all our control frequencies at once!”

Just then the outside video feeds stated snowing out. Turning quickly, looking to one of the surviving feeds Sam saw Phase briefly come out of the end of the communications shed before turning around and walking back into it, obviously using his phasing ability to destroy all sensitive electronics racked inside.

Sam swore, even without the bird jamming the signal it was now too late. Phase had destroyed her communications array and she no longer had the ability to communicate with the satellite, without the satellite she lost most of her abilities to target small ‘biological’ fliers and, more importantly, the ability to command the nuclear strike!

Sitting down calmly again Sam concentrated fiercely on the tactics of Team Kimba. All the base’s automatics where designed around engine heat seeking IR and large object tracking, it was the satellite overrides that were allowing the automatics to target single “human” sized and heated objects, without the satellite the automatics where effectively “blind” to Team Kimba and unable to engage them, except by direct action of the base personnel. Sam sighed as she watched Team Kimba, already resigned to the defeat. Without the satellite uplink she couldn’t launch a nuclear strike, she couldn’t fulfil the ‘win’ conditions of the scenario. Team Kimba had beaten her “unwinnable” scenario with a single high tech trick. Absently she wondered how they had managed to smuggled a radio jammer past the techs and into her Sim.

Impotently Sam watched Team Kimba systematically dismantle both the automatic and human defences of the base. She stared up at one of the few displays left to her, showing the upwardly pointed external camera as it focused on the slowly circling ‘bird’ getting closer and closer. Finally seeing it for what it was, Sam swore. Generator in a bird suit, just the silhouette of a condor to fool them from a distance. Swearing sulphurously she ground out “That is so banned!”

Phoenix Spiritus
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5 years 10 months ago - 5 years 10 months ago #12
Phoenix Spiritus replied the topic: Hello Kitty Fun Times
“Harry, do you mind if I borrow some of your tools?” Looking up Techwolf smiled, Jade was at the door of his lab giving him big puppy dog eyes again.

“Sure Generator, use whatever you like, just not the stuff on this bench here” he assured her pointing to the bench he was currently using.

Smiling Jade danced in, making her way to Harry’s meticulously laid out tool wall, reaching up carefully she took down a few tools, before turning back to Harry. “Ah, Harry. Is there somewhere I can work here?” she begged.

Pointing to a bench Techwolf smiled. “Sure, I wasn’t planning to use that bench until tomorrow, if you can have it free by then I don’t mind you using it.”

“Really?” Smile as big as her face, Jade rushed over to Harry and hugged him. “Thank you!” She exclaimed almost dancingly happy.

“Your welcome.” Harry smiled hugging her back. “What are you working on?” Harry inquired politely when Jade let him go again.

“This!” Jade exclaimed holding out an object that first caused Techwolf to stare, and then start blushing brightest red.

“Do you know what that is?” He gasped

“Uh huh. It’s a Hello Kitty vibrator, Fey called vibrators ‘magic wands’ and I found a Hello Kitty one and ordered it, isn’t it great?” Jade happily waved it back and forth between them.

Voice strained, almost horse, Techwolf croaked out. “Jade! What are you going to do with it?”

“Upgrade it!” Jade cried out, as Harry just goggled at her, eyes and mouth gapped wide in disbelief. “I’m gonna add a glitter canon to it, and a laser pointer, and some LEDs and everything, even a missile silo, and all sorts of armaments. Oh Harry? Do you have any spare steel I could use?” Jade asked innocently as Techwolf desperately tried to reboot his brain from the casual insanity Jade was talking.

“Steel? What for?” He asked, latching onto the least disconcerting thing she’d said.

“I want to make a blade for it, with a release button on the handle here, and when I press it schwick! Instant knife!” Jade declared triumphantly.

Pale, slightly green, with his legs crossing, Harry stared at Jade in astonishment. “What about the vibrating motors?” Harry finally managed to gasp.

Jade gave him a puzzled look. “You know? I still haven’t worked out why it has them. When I hold it in my hand and wave it like a wand, all they do is make it jump all over the place and so that I drop it, what are they for Harry?”

Turning even paler Harry stammered. “You’ll have to ask one of your girl friends that Jade. I ahh, just need to leave for a bit. I, um, need to check something in another lab.” Almost running Techwolf raced from the room, face bright red and eyes watering.



Excitedly Jade ran into the Poe common room. “Look everyone! My Magic Wand!”

Triumphantly she stood, holding it up for all to see, smiling around at the absently pleasant faces looking at her, till one by one the girls closest to Jade did comic double takes and stared, mouths dropping open in shock at what it was Jade was proudly holding aloft.

“Jade, is that a ...”

“Yeppers!” Jade cried excitedly. “Its a Hello Kitty Virator magic wand, and look at this!” Jade pressed the button and three inches of razor sharp blade shlicked out of the bottom of the wand.

Cries of horror from every girl in the room greeted her. Accompanied by anguished cries of “Jade! How could you!”, girls started streaming from the room, simultaneously trying to contain their gore and run, knees locked together, hands protectively in front of their groins. Puzzled Jade watch girls fleeing from the room, stooped over like boys who had just seen another collect a hit to the gonads. Almost crying Jade turned to the helplessly laughing Bunny collapsed on a lounge at the rear of the room. Forlornly she trailed up to Bugs and waited for her to stop laughing.

Tears streaming from her eyes Bunny sat up and reached out to gather the upset girl her arms. “Fey told you that was a Magic Wand did’t she?” Bunny asked soothingly.

Jade nodded crying silently. Sniffing she held it out to Bunny. “I made it myself too. I thought it was awesome” she cried.

Standing Bunny closed Jade’s hand protectively back around the wand. “It is awesome Jade. Look! I bet you could make nearly any girl almost feint by just screaming out what it is and releasing that blade like you just did.” She said smiling to the confused girl. “Lets just go see Fey and you can show her and your friends on Team Kimba how awesome it is, alright?

Smiling happily again Jade nodded, and hand in hand went off to look for Fey, completely missing the manic grin covering Bunny’s face as she contemplated the upcoming fun.
Last Edit: 5 years 10 months ago by Phoenix Spiritus.

Arcanist Lupus
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5 years 10 months ago #13
Arcanist Lupus replied the topic: Not Cute
Ms. Carson looked at the girl trembling before her, and looked at her compassionately.

As gently as she could, she said, “I’m sorry Anna, but I need you to tell me what happened down there.”

Anna sobbed a little harder. “W-Well... Lindsey, me, and M-Molly had gone down into the labs to see the project that Jade and Bunny were working on. A-and while Jade and Bunny were - while they - while we - “ Anna took a deep breath. Ms Caron waited patiently. “While we were down there, Lindsey spotted the p-p-pit, and the l-little orange fuzzy things inside. They - They looked like tribbles. She called us over, and - and the other girls all immediately jumped down to play with them. My - My spirit stopped me...” Anna started sobbing harder, but valiantly tried to continue. “A-a-and - and th-then...” Ms. Carson stopped her gently. “That’s enough for now.” Anna gave a relived shudder.


Then Ms. Carson looked over at the other student in the room, the biodevisor who had made the things in the pit. She glanced down at the file in front of her, then back at the boy. Being a mother, a teacher, a hero, and a principal had given her a number of excellent voices that she could use to trigger guilt, fear, and remorse in this student, but at the moment she could summon nothing but a little bit of incredulity.

“You were breeding wig-wigs?”
“Shared pain is lessened; shared joy, increased — thus do we refute entropy.” - Spider Robinson

Cryptic
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5 years 10 months ago - 5 years 10 months ago #14
Cryptic replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Re-posted from the Crystal Hall Forums
Sun, 21 April 2013 11:10

Jadis stormed through Melville, her beast skin up which made the pissed off look on her face all the scarier. She slammed through her brother’s door and stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Mal standing in the middle of his dorm room.

“Jadis, it’s not what you think...” The divisor, decked out in a skimpy little black dress that showed way more cleavage then his sister possessed and some scarily sexy legs, sputtered as “Thank God, I only have one brother, and he’s not a cross-dresser.” came back to haunt She-Beast.

~~~***~~~

Sun, 11 August 2013 21:57

As she walked into the arena Val paused just outside of camera range, and turned her focus inward. Her school uniform rippled and sank back into her skin as it went from Irish pale to a transparent soft purple. She stood there a moment considering what ‘mask’ to wear for her finals. With a soft laugh she closed her eyes and willed herself into a new form.

“Let’s rumble.” Val said with a grin as the starting bell sounded.

~~

Bardue bit the inside of his cheek trying to keep his laughter under controls as he looked over at Ito. The combat instructor shook his head slowly as his doppelganger sprinted out into the street.

“I have to say that’s a better approximation then some of them manage.” The Little Old Sadist said after a moment. “Still, the highest she can get now is a B+ as she failed to wear a mask.”

“Look again, she remembered it.” Gunny said as he tapped a few keys and zoomed in on the Faux Ito’s face. A pair of Gracho glasses with huge gray eyebrows floated over a honker that would have looked better on a clown.

“B-”

~~~***~~~

Mon, 21 October 2013 00:48

Ayla was twitching visibly as he stalked over to Kimba Korner where most of the team was lounging about in the hammocks or in the air. Niki lounging in the highest hammock looking very regale, as Hank in mid air playing some Brick proofed hand held game. Billie was drifting upside down as she munched on a hoagie that was nearly the size of Jade. Toni was hanging from her ropes “sitting” as still as she could.

The Goodkind Growl was in full force as the Death glare swept over the assembly. “Ok, which one of you introduced Jade to “What does the Fox say?”

“What does the what say?” Lilly asked looking confused.

“it’s some God Awful promotional Yotube trash. Half tempted to try for a take over of Fox... no, no that means I’d have to deal with that network. Ick, no.” Ayla replied as he struck a contemplative pose.

“Wow, it must be bad if Bass Monkey’s number one fan can’t stand it.” Toni quipped, earning a Go to Hell look from Ayla.

From the lowest hammock a tail crept out followed by Diamondback’s head. “Um... I think that might have been the boys and Cait...”

~~~***~~~

Wed, 26 February 2014 08:44
Phase looked over the gathering of the newest TGs to join Poe. Mentally she shook her head, glad he’d managed to talk the headmistress into letting him expand Poe and Hawthorn two years ago. This was the largest crop of TGs yet and he was thinking maybe he should split them into two groups to manage them better.

>Anyone on?< he sub-vocalized into the Spot 20.7

He got a chorus from the rest of the team as well as several of the fringe players. >Hank, you mind pulling yourself away from Lilly? I need a hand. Group is larger then I can manage.<

>Sure, be right there. Stall.<

>We’re doing intros, you know my usual place.<

“Ok, so where where we? How about you? What is your name and powers?” Phase said pointing to one of the Poe girls who looked very Elfy.

“Um... well I don’t have a code name yet, but my name’s Jessie Collins. I’ve got several powers, my primary one is a size warpering, though I can only shrink and return to my normal size.” She did so, shrinking out of her clothing. A small nimbus of blush pink light rose out of the pile of cloth. “As you see, I... kind of have a few issues. Luckily I can manifest clothing when I’m this size.” came a surprisingly loud voice from the light.

Phase squinted and saw that Jessie was wearing a knock off Tinkerbelle outfit, the Fox version, not the Disney one, and also had fairy wings. “That’s very interesting. Is it magical or...”

“Not sure, tester i went to didn’t have any magical abilities. He did find out that when I’m this size I’m a PK supergirl, and I can do this..” she flew over to one of the less endowed girls and landed on her shoulder. Instantly the girl’s chest began to swell until her breasts where threatening to rip through her shirt. Jessie grimaced and lifted off. “Sorry, didn’t mean to make them that big...”

“No, this is...” the endowed girl said absently as she fondled herself. “I want them this big. How long does this last?”

“A few weeks. they’ll go down gradually unless I boost them.”

“So you’re the boobie fairy that passed me over.” one of the guys grumped. “You know how hard it is to be the flat as a board sister, called a boy to the point you become one?”

Phase grimaced at that and made a mental note to get the Nu-boy to talk to Dr. Bellows asap.


~~~***~~~

Wed, 09 April 2014 23:43
Englund stifled a yawn as he stepped outside the door of the parsonage, which was tucked in close to the school’s chapel. As he bent to pick up his paper, he saw the church lawn was covered in a white substance.

“What in the name of...” the Reverend muttered as he knelt to put his fingers in the substance, wondering which of the school’s heathen hooligan packs was choosing to mess with him and his church. The substance flaked off at his touch coating fingers. Bringing his hand to his nose he gave a sniff.

Then a cautious taste.

“Communion wafers?” he muttered as he stood, looking at his lawn again. For the first time he realized that the ‘wafers’ where where there was still shade. Where the sun had already hit, there was no trace of the substance. Standing on his stoop he could see the light driving back the shadows, and when the light touched the flaky paper thin food stuff it seemed to evaporate.

“Well, seems some one has been reading the Bible, trying to make me think Manna had come from Heaven.” he said shaking his head as he went back inside.

~~

Later that day, after he’d finished teaching his Comparative Religions class (Also know as the You’ll Burn in Hell for not Worshiping My God You Heathen! class), the Reverend was walking along the Ring Road doing his usual patrol. One could not let much time go by least those who consorted with the Forces of Darkness gain a foot hold making it all the harder to drive them back...

A flicker of light ahead drew his attention, and the old man picked up his pace. Rounding the bend he came to a skidding stop at the sight of a tree ablaze, surrounded by that squirrel girl and the tree trimming crew.

“... I don’t know what happened.” the girl was saying softly, fiddling with her harness. “I was up there when it just... WOOSH! But... but I wasn’t burned!”

The team’s point man nodded “Seen some odd things, but this is a ...”

The nimbus of fire flared and seemed to point at Reverend Englund. “You have lost your way!” a voice thundered. “Turn from the path you walk, least you willingly condemn your soul.”

“Haha, very funny Beltane, or Thorn, or who ever. Like I am going to believe the old Burning Bush bit at this school.” the Reverend laughed as he turned his back on the tree. “I’ve seen better FX at the school play.”

~~

The Reverend picked up the shot gun he kept beside his bed and slowly crept to his bedroom door. A sound had woke him from a sound sleep, and he had to wonder, again, which of the Heathen was messing with him. Breaking and Entering was a step up, and ...

a freight train slammed into the old man. The shot gun dropped to the floor, sending a gout of flame and buck shot into the air. Drawing on his Power Englund wrapped his arms around the intruder and began to wrestle him. Who ever he was, he was strong, and was putting up a fight. They crashed into Englund’s weapons cabinet, and his table was reduced to splinters. Then glass shattered and the pair where tussling in the grass.

>Fubar, security to the parsonage!< the old man mentally shouted to the abomination teacher under Hawthown.

>On their way.< came the drowsy reply, and the Reverend got a brief flash of very sexual dream he had interrupted.

Finding a rock under his hand, Englung struggled to get a firm grip on it, and putting everything he had he slammed the rock into the intruder’s hip. The man let out a grunt of pain and ...

“Reverend? Reverend, are you all right?”

“Get that light out of my eyes.” the Warrior for God growled as he sat up, shielding his eyes against the lances of pain that bore through to the back of his skull. “Where is he? Did you get him?”

“No sir, we haven’t found anyone. And... there’s no evidence anyone was even here.” the young security officer said with a gulp.

Englund shot him a disgusted look as he levered himself to his feet and turned to point to the parsonage window “Bull shit we came out...” he trailed off at the sight of the unbroken pane of glass. Sputtering he rushed into the building to find everything restored to as it had been when he’d gone to bed. “This is... Blasted students! When i find out who’s messing with me, I am going to have them Expelled!”

~~

Paige shivered as she dropped to the ground. God she hated the smell of brimstone, especially after...

“Back already? Oh, wait... you’re the other two. haven’t seen you since the separation.” The Devil purred as he picked the were up by the scruff of her neck. “What brings you here?”

“Message from above that Petra couldn’t deliver.” she choked. “He tried, but He was denied thrice....”

“Well well, this is news.” the Devil said as he began to stroke Paige like she was a house cat. “Seems I get to play My Advocate with the good Reverend...”

~~~***~~~
I am a caffeine heathen; I prefer the waters of the mountain over the juice of the bean. Keep the Dews coming and no one will be hurt.
Last Edit: 5 years 10 months ago by Cryptic.

Cryptic
Cryptic’s Avatar
5 years 10 months ago #15
Cryptic replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Fri, 25 July 2014 08:28
Dickerson
first day of the 2008-2009 school year:

“So, who’s next?” Aquerna chirped, so thoroughly thrilled the house mother had asked her to show the new students around, even if it was a little scary. They where gathered in the Dickerson library, sitting on every available surface, which as there where a few size warpers in the group included on the mantle piece. All of them had snacks and drinks and the atmosphere was very relaxed.

The girls looked at each other then one of Asian decent stood up. “I guess I can.” she said chewing her lips and fidgeting. “My name is Marilyn Seong, no code name yet. I... can do this.” she stretched her hands out and seemed to pull. There was a crash followed by a lot of cursing before several glass marbles came zipping in along with a naked and sudsy semi transparent girl.

“Darlene?” Anna gasped as both the naked girl and the marbles dropped to the floor as Marilyn let out an embarrassed squeak.

“I’m so sorry, I don’t know why my powers effected you! I have some kind of psychic control over glass...”

Anna let out a little giggle as she slipped off her uniform coat and handed it to Darlene. “Well that explains things. Everyone, let me introduce you to Darlene, aka Glass.”

~~~***~~~

Wed, 30 July 2014 00:03
Peeper smiled as he focused on Fey’s chest, letting his vision move through her outer layer of clothing. Oh this was a real treat, she was coming right at him and... Peeper frowned a little as his sight passed through Fey’s bra and settled on the magic markered words “This isn’t Fey. This is a Spoofed copy. The real Fey prepared Explosive...”

Toni shook her head as the Spoof-Nikki’s chest detonated in Pepper’s face. “Alya, you really shouldn’t have gotten Nikki hooked on Order of the Stick.”

~~~***~~~

Tue, 12 August 2014 22:30
Welcome back to Antiques Roadshow, this week in Erie Pennsylvania.

-scene opens on the expert and a little old lady standing with a bizarre contraption that looks like a bag pipe making rough love to an accordion and a small pipe organ. it had a flaking pink paint job.-

The dapper expert, natty in his suit beamed at the camera. “Now when you brought this in, I thought this was some sort of weapon, and after a brief conference with my colleges, it turns out I was half right.”

“Oh?” the little old lady was clearly perplexed.

“It turns out that this is the Lost Pink Note of the Piper, a device thought to have been a myth up until now.”

“Who’s the Piper?”

“You don’t know about the Piper? Well, he was a German theme agent back during World War 2, one of their Terror crew. Prior to the war he was an instrument maker and besides the usual ones he experimented with making his own. Some compare him to Stradivarius when it comes to sound technology. The problem was one of his infernal instruments drove him mad and when the war broke out he was recruited. Before and during the war he produced dozens of these marvelous hand crafted instruments, all of them color coded, with each color producing a different effect. No one is quite sure what the Pink note did how ever, as it was never reported as ever being played. Let me see if i can turn this on so we can see...”

-The camera cuts out as a sound came from the machine and spiked up into the painful range. When the broadcast returns a woman wearing an ill fitting man’s suit is standing looking confused while a withered old man wearing a skirt is grinning like a fool. The people in the background all are also gender swapped.-

“HA!! after all these years i am finally myself again!” the old man crowed as he pulled a small overly kibbled recorder from under his skirt. “The Piper has returned! Now, bring me all your lovely expensive goods...”

~~~***~~~

Fri, 19 September 2014 00:11

Jade looked up from the stove in Hawthorn’s kitchen, trays of Christmas cookies covering every surface. The little girl smiled sweetly up at the scowling Psi Arts teacher and resident Basement beast. “hey Fubs, can I help you?”

“Ms. Sinclair, could you please reset the ventilation system so the whole cottage doesn’t smell like your holiday baking? Do you know what it is like to smell your favorite cookies and not be able to have any without risking making yourself sick?”

“Actually, I was about to put this batch through the grinder to sprinkle over your tank...” she giggled as Fubar’s scowl deepened.

“I. am. not. a. goldfish.”

“So no cookie crumbs then?”

The scowl slipped and Louis let out a sigh. “No, go ahead and sprinkle them in. It’s been ages since anyone has made me cookies.”


[yeah, it’s random, I need to go to bed, and I needed to get the image of Jade feeding Fubar like a goldfish that out of my head]


~~~***~~~

Sun, 19 October 2014 17:35

Evvie eyed Kayda as she dropped into her usual seat at the lunch table. “Hey, thought you where doing better since you got those spike thingies cleansed. What’s got you down now?”

Kayda shrugged. “this is my ‘WTF?’ face. Had the weirdest morning....”

~~

Kayda was waiting for the elevator to get out of the tunnels, having been driven underground by a massive Rose/Beltan prank-plosion that had escalated when Bunny and Jade had joined in when she sensed someone hovering just at her elbow. Turning slowly, her hand straying to her dagger, hr shielding spell already formed in her mind. But the person standing there was hardly a threat. The boy look like he should be in Inera’s grade, and he was decked out in a badly made cowl and ‘winged’ cloak outfit.

“Can i help you?” kayda asked slowly.

“I”m Cowbird! I’m the white buffalo’s sidekick!”

“Huhz? You’re my side kick?”

Cowpie gave her a look of disgust. “Not your side kick, the buffalo’s! I’ve the spirit of the Cowbird in me!”

“There something you want to tell me?” Kayda asked as she dropped into her dreams space. The white bison was lounging by the camp fire chewing his cud.

“Pardon?”

“Why do you have a sidekick? I thought you where my sidekick.”

“I am your partner not a side kick.”

“What ever, there’s a Cowpie... Cowbird kid who thinks he’s to follow you around.”

the Bison sighed and rubbed the side of his head into the ground. “Sorry, they follow the herds...”

~~

“... it took me an hour to make him go away.” Kayday finished as she stabbed her salad. “And then just before I came here there was another one who wanted to do Lone ranger/Tanto pairing.”

~~~***~~~

Mon, 29 December 2014 21:13

Jericho looked up from his project as Razor stuck his head in the door way. “Hey buddy, what’s up?”

“chirp, fuuuuoot cheap crrrr gra!” the raptor like transgender hooted as he used a claw to pick his teeth.

Jericho blinked. “They had you and Sara chasing what?”

“Cheap crrr.” Razor repeated as he reached into his back pack and pulled out a yellow rat with a zig zaggy tail, which he promptly popped into his mouth like it was a piece of popcorn.

Jericho winced at the helpless squeak the creature made as Razor bit down, “Ok, so you did say Pokemon. I assumed you where joking. Which Bio-divisor made them?”

~~~***~~~

Wed, 07 January 2015 12:47
This one I’m really proud of as it was Canonized by E.E. Nalley as part of North to Atlantis crystalhall.org/North2Atlantis…

It was a solemn gathering that drifted into the Grove, every Sidhe student that went to Whateley was in attendance, as well as more then a few forest spirits and beings like Koehnes. Outcast Corner stood with the Weres, Razorback clutching a large handkerchief which he was worrying to shreds while Jericho leaned against Diamondback. Eldrich and the Grunts who’d been recruited into the Wild Bunch where standing at attention, all armed with rifles and looking sharp in dress versions of the team uniform. In the shadows behind them stood Sara and her father.

The procession formed a circle around a woven briar that had grown in the center of the clearing. Once everyone was in place, the lights seemed to dim, leaving only the living lights of pixies and spirits to light the clearing as Team Kimba made their way in. Jade and Jin where at the fore carrying black swathed banners depicting a burning oak tree. Those who could see Jade’s eyes shivered at the anger and sadness that festered there, while Jinn looked as unemotional as ever.

Behind the standard bearers came Phase and Hank, and Tonie and Billie, each supporting a corner of a woven platform. Nikkie and Koehnes brought up the rears, the pair clinging to each other. The platform was place on the briar and the bearers stepped back, each doing their best to hide their own emotions.

The platform was empty save for a shield, bearing the burning oak, as well as a sword and crown.

Sniffing loudly Nikkie whispered, yet somehow everyone heard. “Thank you for coming. I... We... She...” the read head gulped and shook her head unable to continue.

A strong hand landed on her shoulder and Nikkie looked up into Charlie Lodgeman’s eyes. Behind him where her parents who she quickly moved to hug.

“Fey has suffered a trauma few will ever experience.” Totem said. “Perhaps I am one of the few who know what she feels, as once my wife held a little part of the one we came to honor. Through Cirque I knew Aunghadhail, as well as through my own spirit. Her history goes back to before man, her deeds many and varied. She was a creator,” he nodded to the Weres, “a Queen,” this time to the Sidhe and their lesser kin, “A teacher,” he gave Nikkie a sad smile “and a war leader.” a final nod to The Wild Bunch.

“But most of all, she was a hero. She gave her life to help heal two people she knew had been used unkindly. And isn’t that the greatest gift a Queen can give her people? the willingness to give her life to protect them?”

Totem let the silence gather before flicking his hand at the briar. a spark of magic kindled a flame that rose up hungrily.

The Weres let out howls, or bellows or roars, what ever suited their linage as the Grunts fired off a salute.

~~~***~~~

Sun, 25 January 2015 10:46

Setting by Mythos over on Twisting the Hellmouth in his Tales of the Barman open story.

~~

Xander looked up from the ledger book as the wards twanged loudly in his mind, causing a slight frown crossing his features. It was a Sunday morning, and only beings in the bar besides him was Illyria who was upstairs doing Gods knew what. Denis was takeing the day off off to visit with Hrothbert of Bainbridge and his associate Harry. He knew the door, both the front one and the broom closet’s, had been locked.And yet... the door was open and he could see a waif of a woman standing in there.

“Excuse me miss, but I’m afai....” Xander trailed off as he got a good look at the woman with her scarlet hair, pointed ears, and red and puffy violet eyes. She was also emitting a ‘poor me, help me!” aura that was more then just how pathetic she looked; it had a taste of magic to it.

If Xander hadn’t been around literal Goddesses, Devils, and all other manner of beings he likely wouldn’t have been able to resist. But resist he could in his domain. Mostly, part of his body was reminding him how long it had been since he’d had a date.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to ... I needed some time away from my friends, and ...”

“Take a seat Miss...”

“Reilly. Nikkie Reilly.” she said as she hopped up onto a bar stool.

it was only when she was a few feet from him that Xander realized how young the woman was; for her mature figure she was little more then a girl.

“Xander Harris. Welcome to Nights. It’s Sunday so I can’t give you any thing alcoholic even if you where of age. But I can get you some tea or coffee...”

“Coffee please.” she said eyes flowing over the wall behind the bar. Xander nodded and pored her a cup, setting a thing of creamer and sugar next to the mug.

“I think you have a bigger collection of hero and villain artifacts then the Homer gallery.” Nikkie mused as she absently fixed her drink the way she liked it.

“And some little guys as well.” Xander observed. “people like to tell me their stories and leave something behind as a remembrance. You kind of look like you have one you want to tell.”

Nikkie took a deep breath and let it out in a gust. “It started two years ago with some strange dreams...”

~~

Xander shook his head as Nikkie’s tale of gender flipping, and ancient elves, of a school out of the comics, and a band of friends as tight as the Scoobies had been back in the day wound down with the death of a part of her.

“And I thought me and my friends had been cursed to live in interesting times.” he said softly. “I wish I could say the hurt will go away, but it never fully does. I still miss my best friend Jessie. I just don’t let the hurt take over. Lean on your friend, and try not to get to mad at them when they don’t quite understand what you’re feeling.”

Nikki looked into Xander’s eye and nodded slightly as she squared her shoulders, a royal bearing settling into place as she reached for her purse.

“it’s on the house.” Xander said quickly.

“All right... well then take these for your wall.” Nikkie said pulling a poster out of the much to small to hold it purse. “One for me and one for Aunghadhail.”

“Hey Nikkie you in here?” the door banged open and a blue haired girl who either could have been one of his previous patrons or the girl Nikkie called Billie floated in just as Illyria came down the stairs.

The two blue haired beings eyes locked and for a moment time seemed to freeze.

Xander’s jaw dropped as Illyria actually turned and ran into the kitchen, fear on her face.

“Billie, what was that?” Nikkie asked as she set the poster on the bar top and hopped down from her perch.

“I have no idea, but suddenly I am really hungry.”

“You’re always hungry. let’s got meet the rest at the pizza place and have lunch. Bye Xander. Maybe I’ll bring the rest of my friends by some time...”

Xander nodded absently as the girls left.

“Is it gone?” Illyria asked in a small voice so reminiscent of Fred it was scary as she peeked around the corner.

“Who, Billie? yeah she’s gone. What could scare you like that? You a Old One for peat’s sake!”

“Yes, well someone once made a weapon meant to destroy us... and that was it.”

“Right... funny thing, supposedly that ‘weapon’ is friends with one of your kin. The Kellith.” Xander replied as he unrolled the poster to reveal the red head looking down right pissed and nearly naked with words “Nature; Beautiful but Fierce” at the bottom. With it was a small broach depicting a blazing oak tree.

~~~***~~~

Tue, 27 January 2015 00:23

One of Poe’s newest TGirls approached their guide timidly. “Ah, excuse me Phase...”

“Ayla, please.” Phase corrected absently as he listened to the speculation about the ton of gold.

“Ayla, there’s something weird about the Lord Paramount painting.”

“Oh? it looks fine to...” Phase trailed off, eyes going wide at the sight of Lord Paramount wearing a very small banana hammock with a very big bulge, black bow tie, and cuffs; the classic Chipin Dale ‘costume’.

“God I hate exemplar memory...” Phase groaned as he looked away.

~~

Mrs Carson walked to her office in the wee hours of the morning, grumbling at the need for her to leave her nice warm bed and the equally warm embrace of her lover’s arms. But she needed a jump on the paperwork she’d put off the night before and...

Carson’s step paused and she took several back to take in the row of paintings depicting the school’s headmasters and mistress. Her painting had changed over night.

Instead of the dignified image based on a snap shot taken while she was still one of the English teachers, it was a more candid shot of her letting her hair down at a party; Stretch Girl’s bachelorette party if she remembered right. God that had been one hell of a weekend... 20 super women, 72 hours several of which she still could not remember even with Fubar’s help...

The signature in the corner caught her eye. “IMP!!!”

~~~***~~~

Tue, 03 February 2015 23:32

February 2nd
Whateley ranges

“All right, Mr Mahren started this tradition several years back and we are going to continue it. Which mean today we have some special targets for you to shoot at. These are custom ANTS that are programed to behave like the varmints they are modeled after.” Gunny growled as he stalked behind the row of students armed with all manner of projectile weapon. Every range class was crammed onto the outdoor range’s line.

“Shooters ready... Deadeye, release the hogs. Commence fire!”

Gunny’s lips pressed down into a thin smirk as he watched the fur covered robots get shot to hell. Erik had started the groundhog hunt after one particularly bad winter where they’d been snowed in for weeks, and then Phil down in Pennsylvania had predicted more winter. They all knew it was garbage, but for the stir crazy range master... he kind of snapped. Gunny wasn’t sure where Erik had found the dozen stuffed, both plush and taxidermy kind, ground hogs, but over the course of an hour Erik had leisurely reduced them to tiny pieces.

Echoing Erick’s words Gunny muttered “Six more weeks my ass.”

~~~***~~~

Mon, 16 February 2015 21:56

Hawthorn’s kitchen door stood open and the sounds of a busy kitchen could be heard coming from within. Most of the old hat residents of the house grinned broadly and shooed the fresh things away least they disturb the kitchen’s occupant.

Val was humming to herself as she worked several deep fat friers as well as ran several mixers. Her first year at Whateley had left her feeling out of sorts with the meal arrangement. She was so used to making dinner for her family, that she missed just being able to cook and bake like she could at home. Sure she could work in the kitchens, but then cooking would be a Job, and not a Pleasure or Relaxing. So she’d asked Mrs C if it was all right to make a meal or two in house. The House mother hadn’t seen an issue with it, though she had reminded Val about how food that wasn’t labeled properly was fair game...

Val had just shrugged and later had informed the cottage that if her groceries where left untouched those who wanted could join her for the meal. She’d been a little surprised when several of her cottage mates had asked if they could help her with the meal. She hadn’t realized how much some of her fellow Thornies missed a family dinner, either due to their own families now shunning them, or the fact that the other students shunned them in the caff.

So began the tradition of the monthly Hawthorn ‘family’ dinner, though Val wasn’t always the head cook. Family recipients where traded and shared, new ones made on impulse and improvisation. Christmas and Thanksgiving, the main kitchens handled the Feast, but the Thornie kitchens produced some special treats like pumpkin cookies and pear pies.

And with Ash Wednesday approaching, Val took over the kitchens on Sunday and had been working around her scheduled to produce enough of one of her home town favorite treats to satisfy her house mates; the fasnacht. The kitchens where off limits and whoa to anyone who tried to snitch one of the savory treats before it was time.

Using her TK val shook the frier baskets and dumped the now cooked doughnuts out onto a towel to cool, then shifted her attention to another batch which she dusted with powdered sugar. Val did a quick count and let out a contented sigh as she scooped up a selection into a cardboard box.

Pulling out a cell phone Val tapped in a number and waited for it to be picked up. “I’m done Mrs C. Come get your order, and could you please spread the word it’s like last year; If you didn’t place an order you only get two to start. After everyone had gotten the rest are up for grabs.”

“Thank you dear, I’ll be right down. I swear child, since you started in that kitchen I have gained far to much...”

“it’s my pleasure. Oh, and could you guard them for a little? I need to deliver three orders.” Val laughed as she packed up several more orders and labeled them.

“Certainly, certainly. haven’t i been doing that since you started this year?” the house mother had asked before hanging up.

Chuckling softly Val dialed the next number on her list and waited a beat. “Mrs Hartford? Your glazed are ready. I’ll drop them by with the headmistress’s and the Chief’s. Should be... ten minutes? All right, thank you.”

~~~***~~~

Sat, 28 February 2015 16:36

Sasha sat fuming in the hall waiting for the principal to see her. Further down the line of chairs Marissa Smith-Jones sat prime and smug. Their math teacher had sent them to the principal because their test papers where 99.99% identical, the only difference being the names at the top. As Marissa’s family was well off and donated to the school, and Sasha’s family were just dairy farmers their teacher had jumped to the conclusion that she had been the one cheating.

Sasha winced and reached up to rub her left ear. Both of them had been bothering her since she’d woke up, and they’d been a little swollen... Sasha caught Marrissa looking at her through her lashes, a smug smirk on her lips. /Oh I wish she’d just tell the truth from now on! seems like nothing that comes out of her mouth is the truth!/ Sasha thought as the door was opened.

“Girls, in here.” Mr Morris said with a tired sigh.

“Sir, Sasha didn’t cheat, i did.” Marissa blurted, looking stunned at what came out of her mouth. “I didn’t study, went out drinking with my over 21 friends and then got laid by my secret girlfriend who is the girl’s swim coach.” Marissa’s eyes went huge as she clapped a hand over her mouth.

Mr Morris blinked. “Come again?”

Marissa seemed to struggle to say something, but what came out was “I cheated. I looked at Sasha’s paper. i’ve been having other people do my homework for years.”

“Not that, who are you having sex with?”

“The girl’s swim coach.”

“Sasha, you may go...”

Sasha nodded and scurried off, and into the bathroom, her bladder on the verge of letting go at her fear. Sweeping her brown hair back Sasha was shocked to see her ears now where graceful sweeping points.

Elf ears...

~~~***~~~
I am a caffeine heathen; I prefer the waters of the mountain over the juice of the bean. Keep the Dews coming and no one will be hurt.

Cryptic
Cryptic’s Avatar
5 years 10 months ago #16
Cryptic replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Tue, 03 March 2015 23:15

Frosty ducked into one of the deeper, and lesser used tunnels under the school, panting hard and causing the area around her to ice up.

“The restless natives come after you too?” Nahga asked, causing the hawthorn girl to jump nearly a foot in to the air.

“Yeah. They didn’t believe me that this storm wasn’t my fault.” Frosty sighed.

“Well come on, we have an area set up where we can wait until things melt. Arranged us attending via video until it does already.” the witch explained as she cooled a spot on the wall causing a door to swing open revealing Icer, Suzan Chylds, and the hand full of others capable of manipulating ice and cold. “So, sno cone?”

~~~***~~~

Fri, 13 March 2015 16:26

“Welcome to the ‘Walking Copywrite Infringement club.’ For those of you who’s first time this is, if you look around you see this club is for those of us who’s mutations replicate a comic hero.”

A boy with a bat-morph raised his wing hand to get the speaker’s attention. “You don’t look like...”

The young lady at the podium raised a finger as she shrank down, wings growing from her back. “I got the “Wasp” package like you got the “Man Bat” package. I STILL don’t have a good code name as all the good bug ones have been taken. You’re going to also have trouble due to the Bat Family’s Bat block.”

~~~***~~~

Fri, 17 April 2015 08:49

(Day late, but my Muse was on strike yesterday)

April 16th 2007

“Jana, what are you doing here?” Sted asked as she looked up to see who was clopping towards her in the Venus Inc changing room.

“Likely the same thing you are. I got an invite from Poise, something about a special shoot that we where perfect for.” Jana replied as she stripped off her uniform top and stretched.

Sted blinked and blushed as she looked away. “Geeze, what brand of bra do you use? It looks like they squished things down a cup size!”

“Hmm? Oh, sorry, some times Saci thinks I need to be a little fuller on top so he inflates things when the clothing comes off. Meaning unless i can borrow a larger size, I need to risk Peeper and walk back to my cottage bra less.” Jana said making a face as she poked her enlarged chest.

“Speaking of clothing, did anyone tell you what we’d be wearing?”

“Noooo.... they didn’t.”

“Actually I have your wardrobe right here,” Fey said as she padded in elf silent save for the squeaking of the rolling rack’s wheels. She looked from the bikini like tops and then to the two girls frowning. “I’m going to have to glamor them to blend into your skin tone better...”

“Hold on, those are skin tone.... you want us to take a picture that looks like we’re naked?” Sted sputtered.

Fey grimaced. “Yeah, they want to continue the Nature Fierce and blah blah blah line, and when the photographer heard about you two...”

“He thought we fit.” Jana finished as she found a top in her size. “Well I was offered a good amount for this shoot, so I’m not gonna turn it down. Besides it’s not really any worse then some of the things I’ve worn on holidays back home. besides, it will be nice to have people seeing us as sexy rather then freaks.”

Fey snorted and shook her head. “Girls, you are sexy, and your... forms are older then dirt. The first centaurs where created back before the Sundering as Calvary units. And... my spirit rather liked ... congratulating the victorious stallions.” Fey finished that with her face as red as her hair. “Which is information I really didn’t need to know.”

Fey shook her head and squared her shoulders. “Well, if you two are ready, the camera awaits...”

For the next three hours Jana and Sted where posed and clicked, and instructed, and had a lot of fun as they frolicked in a secluded clearing close to the Venus studio.

~~~***~~~

Wed, 06 May 2015 22:45

Nikkie sighed as she carried her tray along the lunch line. Alya had talked the chiefs into making her some vegetarian treats, and a lovely mushroom ‘steak’ was gracing her plate. Coming to the desert area she pause debating if she wanted a sugary treat. Nothing really looked good... no there was a lovely looking tart tucked way in the back like the rest of it’s pan mates had already been snitched and it had been missed.

It practically said ‘eat me!’.

Without really thinking about it Nikki spilled it onto her tray and hurried up to the Kimba table.

“What do you have there?” Ayla asked spotting the tart, a piece of her own mushroom steak part way to her mouth.

“Not sure, but for all the times you’ve given me bites, you can have some.”

“Thank you, but I’ll wait to see if I’m still hungry when I am done with this.”

“Suit yourself. So, do we want the crystal or not?”

Hank made a face around his mouth full of barely grilled meat, the dribble of juices making Nikki shudder inside with revulsion. “Have you updated the cover conversations?”

The elf girl nodded. “Now it will sound like we’re talking about homework and less disturbing things.”

“Thank you God. I’ve had other guys ask me how I can stand all the girl talk.” Hank dropped his voice. “Someone even asked if I was really a girl. I nearly did a spit take on the soda I was drinking at the time.”

“Sorry about that. I...” Nikki coked on what she’d been about to say as a wave of magic flowed through her body. She looked down at her fork which had a half eaten piece of tart on the tines, and to her horror it seemed to be growing larger in her hand.

“Nikkie what is happening?” Ayla gasped, and Nikki could see he was doing something to the ambient essence...

“I’m not sure. Feels like someone hit me with a spell...” she tried to focus, but the spell’s weave.. she couldn’t get a grip on it to break free. Her clothing billowed around her as the spell sped up, and soon she was lost in the bundle.

Then light flooded down on her as Ayla lifted her shirt and bra off of Nikki, exposing the miniature naked form. “AYLA!!!” she snapped.

“Sorry, give me a moment, I think I have something in my utility belt... Not one word Hank. here Niki, this might fit you.”

Nikki accepted the offered cloth, and shook it out. “Ayla, why do you a tinkerbell dress in your utility belt?” she asked as she slipped it over her head.

“It’s Jade’s, she dropped it, and I picked it up. I was going to give it to her, but she seems to be skipping lunch.”

“So why does it fit me like a glove?” Nikki asked as she tugged the dress’s hem as low as it would go so as not to flash the boys.

“You’ll have to ask Jade that. Want a ride in my pocket to the Mystic department?”

“Please. Take what’s left of the...” Nikki blinked as Hank ripped out of his clothing, crushed his chair and then banded his head on the level above. “HANK!!”

“Sorry, it looked so good. I just had a little bite...”

~~~***~~~

Fri, 29 May 2015 14:38

Hey Cryptic.”

“What is it Muse?”

“You know that story we’ve been working on?”

“If you’re about to say you have writer’s block, so help me...”

“No, no, not that. I just realized we need to work on the cliques seeing how we’ve set things at a point where all the current canon characters are gone, and the next batch hasn’t arrived yet.”

“Ahhhh, bugger. And you couldn’t have waited to tell me this until after the fair?”

“Well I figured you could think about it while you helped set up...”

“-sigh- you have a point. So which cliques do you think we should focus on?”

“Spy Kids, Bad Seeds, Masterminds, and... Wanna say the remains of The Don’s faction. Oh and the Alphas.”

“I’ll agree with the Secret Squirrels, but how about focusing on someone other then the ‘bad’ element? How about the Capes? Let’s say Pendragon’s successor didn’t choose as well as Pen did and the Capes have become what the Alphas where under Freya and the Don?”

“Hey, I thought I was the Muse in this relationship! But I do like that idea. Maybe they’re trying to rule the school with an Iron Fist of Justice?”

“Mmmm, maybe. I was thinking more Jack Rabbit and Iron Mike rather then the Crime Lords or what ever they where called.”

~~~***~~~

Thu, 18 June 2015 00:21

“This had better be worth eight bucks.” Jenny sighed as Tommy lead her, with a firm grip on her hand, through the gates of the fair and made a bee line for the fair’s race track entrance.

“Oh it will be!” Tommy, “Junker” to his friends and the MCO, said with a grin. “I hear they have Slashdance here! You NEVER get to see Mark 5’s any more!”

Jenny sighed and tuned out the techno babble. She loved the gadgeteer, but some times she wondered if he loved machines more then he did her. If she ever caught him making love to a machine... well she wasn’t sure what she’d do to him. She’d seen such promise in him inviting her to visit over the summer, hell they would be seniors next year, and she was kind of hoping the country tinkerer would maybe get the hint and they would go all the way before school started up again. And a week in, she was enjoying things, thought she couldn’t say she was to thrilled about the country fair. She didn’t need to see where her burger came from, she was content thinking it came from the store, not that smelly burping, pooting, drooling cow. The Goats where cute though...

“Hold on, I want to get some... and we’re in.” she sighed looking around the surprisingly packed stands. it was a disturbing cross section of America, with mullets and flannel mixed in with the Suit-groupies who followed the circuit from city to city. and not a concession vendor in sight.

“Ladies and Gentlemen!! Put your hands together for Slashdance!!” the announcer said over the pa system as a sleek silver power armor strutted out to the center of the track. Despite it’s highly polished plating, it was clearly battle scared and it didn’t move smoothly, like something was damaged internally or the pilot was not at 100% themselves. Jenny could see it got it’s name from the large blades that where welded to the underside of the armor’s fore arms, though from where she was she couldn’t see it’s hands.

“And Slasher’s challenger is from the Great White North!! Give it up for Steamhelm!!!”

The armor that clomped out looked a steam engine had collided with a scrap yard. Jenny wasn’t sure what to think of Steamhelm. The thing was crude, belched smoke and steam, it looked like it was held together with bubble gum and... no that was definitely duct tape holding some armor plating in place.

“Oh, wow!!” Tommy breathed, his eyes huge. “I’ve heard of Steamhelm... supposedly it was found in this hole in the basement wall lab where it’s creator froze himself by accident back in the 18 somethings. Poor guy miscalculated his cryogenic formula and he didn’t survive the thawing process.”

Jenny shivered. Her father worked at ARC and he once took her down to the cryo storage area, and it had creeped her out to no end. Even four years after she still had nightmares of the place.

Her reminiscing was interrupted as an air horn sounded and the two suits of armor began to circle.

“This is so cool!” Tommy breathed, pushing his glasses back up onto his nose as Steamhelm ejected a spiked mace on a “short” chain and began to lash it at Slasher. Slasher ignored the small wrecking ball, taking a few hits as it picked up speed and began to do laps around the larger and heavier armor.

“Look at Slasher go! This is Slasher’s favored move; hamstring it’s opponent then go in for the kill.” the announcer bugled as Slasher’s blade struck sparks. “But it doesn’t seem like Steam’s Achilles’s heel is going to be that easy to get to! And it seems like Slasher’s vibro blades are not up to snuff to cut through that iron plate...”

“That’s cause they aren’t on.” Tommy huffed as he fiddled with his glasses frame. Jenny knew that besides correcting his sight Tommy had “borrowed” the idea to house several types of cameras and visual enhancement devices in the frames from some web comic he read. “I can see ... yeah, who ever has been maintaining Slasher needs to be fired. they cross wired the vibro motor and...”

The person next to them, a massively fat woman in an overly tight t-shirt with some unreadable do to the stretch logo on it, hissed at him to shut the hell up. Tommy started to protest but was cut off as Steamhelm let out a massive burst of steam and ground to a halt. It shook slightly, as if it’s pilot was squirming around inside trying to make repairs. Slasher paused as if trying to work out if this was a lure to draw it in, or if Steam really was in trouble.

“Oh, shi....” Jenny hissed as her danger sense suddenly flared to life. She threw up her PK shield to cover herself and Tommy seconds before Steamhelm exploded, sending parts flying into the stands.

~~~***~~~

Fri, 26 June 2015 22:57

“Excuse me, Jadis Diabolik?”

Jadis looked up slowly from the book she was reading. usually when she had someone asking for her name, it usually meant she was about to have someone screaming in her face about how she’d killed some relation to them, or some Cape wannabe trying to rush them by takeing out a ‘villain’. The fact that the person asking was actually being polite about it was a bit of a change.

“I am, what can I do for you...??” the white haired young woman asked looking over the frosh shifting from foot to foot across from her. About average height, pixie cut blond hair that was almost as light as her own, tapered elvin ears sported several... where those iron and plastic earrings? Sihde allergies should have rendered them unbearable. Set into a heart shaped face eyes where almost like smoldering coals burned into Jadis, but not in a hostile way. /Huh, she didn’t get the ‘most common super power’ any more then I did./ Jadis realized as her gaze swept over the other girl’s top.

“Alisa Mercer. I was stuck with the code name Iron Kissed. I... bet you don’t get this often, but could you pass on to your father my thanks? He raided a city this spring where I was being held by the MCO. While they where all under the effects of the Mind Web, I managed to escape.”

Jadis’s mouth compressed into a thin line. “You’re a fugitive from the MCO? What where they holding you for?”

Alisa shrugged. “Nothing, I am an orphan who was between foster families, and my eyes changed. The person running the group home I was staying at called them in and they took me away. Didn’t even use my powers until they started ‘playing’ with me to see what made me tick.”

“I see...”

“Well, like I said, thank him for me, and I’ll maybe see you around. I need to get to the store before it closes.”

Jadis nodded absently as the girl hurried away, more then a little stunned someone actually wanted to thank her father.

~~~***~~~

Thu, 16 July 2015 12:34

“Chief, we got reports of a rager incident in the quad.” one of the new officers called from the bull pen.

Delarosa sighed and popped an ant-acid. It seemed in the last few years the number of Ragers had gone up about as fast as the number of Changlings had, and they where getting stronger and more violent. “Which one this time?” he asked.

“It’s Charon sir. Lancer, Generator and Shroud are working to corral him and the rest of TK are playing crowd control.”

Delarosa gave silent thanks that after the Wild Pack had graduated the kids of Team Kimba had stepped up to fill the hole their absence left in his security plans. It seemed to have grounded them for the most part though they still has some of the “Third Option” flair to their antics. Still they had a knack for heading off problems before they became security’s problem. “Ok, so it’s handled except for the clean up and punishment. What set Charon off this time? No.. let me guess...”

“Someone was calling him Sharon again.” Delarosa and the officer said at the same time.

~~~***~~~

Tue, 21 July 2015 08:30

Mrs Carson stared down at Phase and Fey, giving them a death glare. “Ms Goodkind, I know I have told you about the rules protecting the families of other students. I would have hoped you had passed the ... warning on to the rest of your team. However I have a report here about an assault on one Dakota Morgan code name Traceur’s family. Her sponcers and Dr Bellows have made me aware of what happened to her before coming to Whateley, and it seems that someone took poetic retribution for the ills they did to her.”

She slapped several photos onto her desk. “Someone used magic to swap their genders. And then put a compulsion on the young... women too have sex with anyone and any thing.”

“Mrs Carson, you can check my bank records, I did not pay to have this done, and Nikkie would never....”

There was a cracking sound and Phase shut his mouth.

“Ms Goodkind, I don’t care about what was done, the spell has worn off, at least for most of them. the Elder... sister is pregnant and hasn’t changed and Circe says she likely will never revert. What I am angry about is that I wanted to deal with them myself and someone beat me to it.”

~~~***~~~

Wed, 29 July 2015 15:17

“Good afternoon everyone, this is Outcast Corner taken over the air waves, cause frankly we got tired of Peeper’s leering at the girls. He’s currently duck taped to the ceiling with a lead sleep mask over his eyes.”

A seal like barking that those who where friends with the reptilian rage knew as his laughter cut in followed by “Chirruph!”

“What you said buddy.” Jericho said with a smirk. “Don’t get ever complement Cait on what she is wearing underneath the outer layer of clothing.”

“Let’s not mention it and get on with the next bout.” Cait growled as she finished drawing a penis on Peeper’s forehead.

“As you say Oh Metallic One. We have... Nacht going against the Frosh Tink... Um there seems to be something going on down there...”

“Churr? Chirp chuff, gra!”

“Yeah, I agree Razor. It appears like Nacht is refusing to go into the ring against Tink.”

There was the sound of rummaging and then Cait spoke up. “Hey what’s... Oh God... I hate to sound like Peeper, but I just found a PIN UP of Nacht! And it looks like it was produced by Tink!”

“Let me see. Damn, some how you don’t realize Nacht has a very fine ...”

“CHIRP!!”

“And shutting up now before She-Beast comes hunting my polk-a-dotted butt.”

~~~***~~~

Sat, 01 August 2015 19:14

September 2008
Berlin New Hampshire train station

Jadis hefted her bag and stretched slightly as she looked around the semi deserted station as Mal and Thrasher humped their bags off another carriage. The rest of the Bad Seeds, as well as a few new Seeds had gotten a Special all to themselves this year due to security concerns.

She-Beast glanced down at the text on her Dad Phone then around the platform again. Kate was supposed to be meeting her at the station, something about her and her guardian needing to come to the school early. But the spooky girl and her overly bubbly chaperone were no where in sight.

Then something slammed into her back, causing her to reflexively pull up her Beast-skin. “Get the... Kate?” Spinning around, there was a snarl on her muzzle that turned into a look of confusion as she realized who had been hugging her.

“Good Morning Jadis!” Kate chirped with a huge grin. Gone where her dark clothing, replaced with a yellow blouse and light gray pants. The shadows that had clung to her the whole time Jadis had known the other girl where also gone. If fact she seemed to be radiating light. “Isn’t it a lovely day?”

“Um... yeah. Kate, what the heck?” She-Beast asked as she dropped her skin.

“Welll.... kind of a long story, but Sunny’s Dynamorph, or part of it any way, ended up in me, and won’t come out.” Kate smiled blissfully as she did a slow turn an inch off the floor. “I haven’t felt this good in years!”


Written by Sir Read-a-Lot
Sat, 01 August 2015 20:04

Jadis looked over at Sunny, walking next to her as they watched Nacht completely fail to live up to her code name - smiling, laughing, skipping as they made their way to the train. Sunny grinned. “Don’t tell Kate that I said this,” she confided, “but dynamorphs have absolutely zero influence over your personality. All they can give you is a bit of an adrenaline rush and very sparkly powers.”

Jadis looked over at the ebullient girl ahead of them who was starting to sing a very pretty rendition of “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”. “Don’t worry,” she said, “I won’t.”

Sat, 01 August 2015 21:22

Jadis sat across from Kate at her usual Fixer table, still mildly weirded out by the change in her friend. “So... how has this effected your powers?”

“That’s kind of why we came early.” Kate replied as she nibbled on a muffin. “I can still do the Dark thing, but it doesn’t come as fast or as strong any more. And now I have lesser versions of Sunny’s light based power.”

“Mhm... So sticking with Nacht or are you gonna change the code name?”

“Sunny and I talked about it, and I’m changing it. Gonna go by Schatten- Licht.”

Jadis frowned then asked “ ‘Shadow-Light’ in German? Have you been watching My Little Ponies reruns? So, think you’re Bobby Rose will like the new you?”

“Yes I have been. Sunny has all the old episodes, and she and Big Dawg as backing a reboot. I hope so. I really enjoyed his attention last year and... I kinda wanna loose my ...”

“Lalaladon’twannahearit!”

“Self in his eyes.” Kate finished loudly with an amused grin. As soon as Jadis’s hands where lowered from her ears Kate added. “But, yes, I’d like to have sex with him too.”

Sun, 02 August 2015 09:07

A scream ripped through the night, and the night ripped through several walls and floors of Melville cottage. Panting, eyes wide and unfocused, Kate sat up in bed, a hand pressed to her chest to feel her heart racing a million miles a minute. Shivering she put her head on her knees and began to rock.

She was still in that position when Jadis, beast skin up and a bag of Molly in hand, cautiously poked her head into the doorway. “Kate? The Hell?”

“Bad dream. Very bad dream. I was perky, and happy, and ... and ... in the dream I liked it!” Nacht whimpered.

~~~***~~~

Sat, 08 August 2015 10:56

Tears ran down the young woman’s face as she stood looking at the charred ruins of what had been her home. She had emerged from that crucible but her parents and siblings hadn’t. She knew who had done it; people she’d thought of as friends and neighbors, good God fearing people. Well apparently Though Shalt Not Kill didn’t apply to those who God had blessed.

She gave a soft laugh at the irony; her mother was the one who the town had turned against, despite them loving ... ok tolerating her Masked identity. But some A-hole at the MCO had thought mutants should be posted like pedophiles on the internet so “the citizens should be aware!” Fourteen years retired, several commendations, friends in high places, and yet they still went after her mother because she wasn’t what they thought she was.

She looked down at the scraps of burned cloth that clung to her body. She wasn’t what she’d thought either. Her legs where different now, cloven hooves and covered in fine blonde fur that matched what was on her head. Absently she brushed her hair behind her ear, finding it was now long and tapered.

She frowned remembering a story told to her by her gran, about a vengeful spirit. “I am the Green Lady.” she whispered to herself as ashes swirled around her body, forming a dress as green as new grass. Something clicked in her mind and a voice purred. /Yes love. You are. You are she reborn, shadowed hand of the Queen of the West. And I am you, and I will guide you in your power and duty. let me show you what we can do, using those who have hurt you as my props.../

~~~***~~~

Tue, 11 August 2015 23:13

“Teri, what are you up to in there?” Ms Savage asked through the closed doors to the fairy mutant’s room. “Some of the other girls are getting a little worried by the ...” the house mother paused to choose her words. “Loud giggles.”

The fairy sized door popped open and Ms Savage flinched a little as light reflected into her eyes. “Just working on a costume for Flight class. Do you like it?” Teri asked doing a pirouette in midair while wearing what looked like a gold colored disco ball that covered her from her neck to her hips, showing off pretty much all her legs, which too where gold in color. The ball also had holes for her wings.

“I... don’t know what to think.” Ms Savage said going a little cross eyed as she took in her smallest charge.

“Well I ran into Hexette while out for a fly last Tuesday and we got talking. She mentioned that Mugwump has been trying to enchant a ball so he can play Squid-witch? I don’t know I was distracted for a moment, missed the game’s name. Anyway he hasn’t managed to get it to move right. So she asked me if I could be the Snidget and show him how it moves so his spell can ‘record’ my movements.”

“Um Teri I think Hex...”

“Up, I need to go, Mugwump should be getting out of Mystical arts 101 about now! Got to go!” And with that Teri tucked her arms and most of her legs up into the disco ball and shot off.

“This isn’t going to end well.” Ms Savage muttered as she went to locate something to drink.

~~~***~~~

Fri, 14 August 2015

The being who went by the name Mr West stepped into the DPA main elevator and let the scanner play over his features. The buttons dimmed and then a plate slide aside exposing several more options. Nodding to himself he used the tip of his cane to touch the one marked for the sub-sub-sub basement, and the lift began to descend. When it came to a halt the doors slide open revealing a hospital clean corridor tiled in a soft golden-brown.

“I see you redecorated since the last time I dropped by.” the ancient ‘dragon’ called as his step grew strong and fluid, the guise of being human falling away in all by the flesh.

“Considering the last time you visited was back when ... well you know.” came a gravelly reply as a hulking figure looked up from the 10 inch tablet that was dwarfed by his hands.

“It’s been to long. Been trying to stay out of your side of things, though the school... You may want to head up that way with a team some time soon. Signs are pointing to something bad coming, and Class X things have been stirring up trouble.”

That drew the big man’s attention, causing him to shake his head. “I told you setting that school up in that valley was a bad idea. Bad enough Minsk U is there.”

“You know the reasons that site was chosen Adam,” Ty said as he settled into the chair across from his oldest ... something. Both where centuries old and at one time or another they had come head to head over an issue. But they both saw the long view and their goals for the most part where parallel. Ty’s gaze swept over the other ‘man’ across from him. “You’re looking better. less... cobbled together.”

Adam smiled thinly and nodded. “Thank you for putting me in contact with the bio-devisor. While he has no idea how I live, he did manage to work out how to activate a healing factor which has smoothed over the rough edges my father left me at my birth. So, where did we leave off in our game? i believe it was your move...”

~~~***~~~

Sat, 22 August 2015

Doug looked over the assemblage of parts laid out on the work bench and mentally crossed his gingers as he slipped the device around his test subject’s neck. “Ok, let’s let this boot up, and hopefully by then Miyet will find her way here.”

The cat girl took about fifteen minutes longer to find his lab then Doug was comfortable with, but she did show up. “Hi, someone said you had a job for me, and you where willing to pay?”

“Yup, I hope you don’t mind if I transfer your payment to your school account? I.. didn’t realize my roommmate had raided my cash on hand so I’m a little short.”

“I guess that’s fine.” Miyet replied with a shrug as she took in the lab for a moment before fixing on the cage sitting on the bench. “What are you doing with .. is that Timeless’s Whiskers??”

“Nothing harmful, and James knows I have him! I made a cat translation device, cause my cat at home and I have no idea what she wants when she meows at me!”

“Oh... Um I’m not sure Bast wants humans to know what cats are saying, but I guess unless she steps in and says so I can help you.”

“Ok, um... well this might take a bit. Whisker’s has actually been pretty quiet since James dropped him off...”

“Merr. yawn”

“He says ‘shut up, I was sleeping, and you just interrupted a GOOD dream’.” Miyet translated.

Doug frowned at his tablet “Huh... my read out just says “I hate Mondays.’.”

“Now?”

“Huh? what is he babbling about?”

“I had “Let me out.”

“Rrr.”

“That was Let me out, I want to see James.”

“My program is way off... ‘where is the litter box?’.” Doug sighed and shut off the tablet. “Ok, I need to work on this some, you want to take Whisker’s back to James for me?”

“Sure.”

~~~***~~~

Sun, 23 August 2015

“... MCO and Knights of Purity units converged on Reading PA today when a low level Rager incident took place at a local G-mart store. While there was a lot of property damage, no one injuries where initially reported. That changed when the MCO and Knights stormed the store guns blazing. We have exclusive film from the store’s security camera, and we must warn you the images are graphic...”

The film cuts in showing a woman with dark hair and glasses pushing a cart through the aisles, and it was clear she was getting frustrated by the other shoppers stopping unexpectedly, blocking the aisles, blocking her ability to get to items, stepping in front of her without looking and nearly getting hit. The straw that broke the camels back was when a bunch of kids just ran a muck causing mayhem in the section and the mother did nothing to rein them in. The woman just let loose throwing carts out of her way so she could chase the misbehaving children with a french bread.

Then came the MCO and Knights who knocked down shelves, stampeded people, tasered them when they didn’t move fast enough and just did everything they where not supposed to before dog-piling the “rager”. The then proceeded to pummel the woman unconscious and drag her out to a waiting super transport. The actual policed arrived a half hour after the MCO and Knights had departed.

The anchor reappeared on screen “The MCO claims they have no idea who the woman on the tape is, and that they do not have her in custody.”

Mon, 24 August 2015

“Good evening, In the First Ten at Ten we have an update on the “Rager in Reading” incident yesterday. The MCO have now admitted that they did take a young woman into custody, and that their denial about takeing her was due to slow paperwork processing and not updating their spokesperson. Said spokesperson panicked when asked about something he was unaware of and spouted their default denial. The MCO has also said that the woman has been released as it turned out she was not a mutant at all, just a frustrated shopper, and that the person who called them in over stated what was happening. They say they will release the recorded call in the morning.

While we could not reach the young woman for comment, her lawyers have stated she will be filing suit against the MCO and Knights of Purity.”

~~~***~~~

Thu, 27 August 2015

Bunker and Mule filled into the Security conference room. Security officers had been to round them up and them bring them here on the double. But now that they where here it was hurry up and wait.

“Sorry to make you wait.” interrupted the poker game that had sprung up in the twenty minutes they’d been left cooling their heels. The two immediately jumped to their feet at attention, only to relax a fraction when it registered that the man who had spoken was only wearing a suit that had Fed stamped all over it. “Field agent Haze DPA. I know you two are planning on enlisting when you are finished here... sit, sit, this isn’t a talk that should be heard while standing.”

Dominic glanced at Bunker (For some reason he couldn’t think of her as Andrea) then took the seat across from Haze. “Yes sir, that had been our plans. And if this is a pitch for OlymPYC, I can speak for both of us when I say we’re quite happy here at Whateley.”

Agent Haze looked like he’d bitten into something unpleasant at the mention of the US’s Paranormal Youth Cadets. “God no. That place has been more of a head ache then it’s been worth, as the Goodkinds and their H1 friends have been protesting it since it was a twinkle in some idiot general’s eye. No, I am actually here to ask if you two would be interested in cross training with the Mystic Arts department. The DPA works closely with a few special units built along the lines of a SEAL team, and they are trained to handle the things that ... well we don’t want the average citizen to know about.”

“You want us to fight monsters.” Bunker stated cutting through the bureaucrat speak.

“Well, yes, we do. The Chief has made notes in all your files that you have been dealing with Class X entities and... well you’re still sane and alive.”

“Why aren’t you talking to the Goobers?” Dom asked leaning forward to rest his chin on his interlaced fingers.

“Because they are a joke, even Englund’s core group. We’ve recruited from them in the past and the life expectancy for them is six months. Grunt recruits do much better.”

“How much better?” Bunker asked, eyes narrowed.

Haze squirmed under her gaze. “it’s not as good a survival rate as an average military unit, and some years are not as... Apocalyptic as others....” Bunker raised an eyebrow and Haze crumbled. “the length of of service in the unit is supposed to be two years, before most are rotated out to other units who are in less stressful deployments. But the actual ... oh hell recruits average a year. Only one other unit has had casualty rates higher that that and ... well their missions are just as dangerous as the ones our people deal with.”

“The Dragon Slayers.” Dom said softly thinking about the Rager Night video he’d been made to watch before Halloween.

“yeah. Them. Our unit does what they did, sept with the really nasty stuff.” Haze said softly.

“We’ll think about it. Is it ok if we talk to a few people about this? people who we’ve been working with ...

“The Wild Bunch? Sure, go ahead, see if any of them would be interested, because if you’re an effective team already, why break it up?”

~~~***~~~
I am a caffeine heathen; I prefer the waters of the mountain over the juice of the bean. Keep the Dews coming and no one will be hurt.

Cryptic
Cryptic’s Avatar
5 years 10 months ago #17
Cryptic replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Thu, 03 September 2015

Wrote this, and realized I can’t use it yet in my current Magpie story, so thought I’d give you all a sneak peek at my newest character.

John Loki Stephens better known around Whateley as “Wizard Magpie” let out a tired sigh as he leaned back from his work bench in the Alchemy lab, sparing a quick glance at the Mickey Mouse alarm clock he’d saved from desecration by over eager part-hunters. Just a little past 1 in the morning, and if all went well, if everything was properly aligned... He would have created Life! in the form of a Homunculus. From her perch his familiar Double Stuffed the magpie let out a warble and gave him the stink eye.

“Hush you, I’m using Uncle Grey’s formula, and you’ve met his ‘butler’.” John replied as he closed his eyes. He’d just close them for a little bit...

~~

Mickey was banging energetically away on his bell jerking John awake, his face stuck to a piece of paper by way of his spit. Double let out a growl and tucked her head further under her wing.

“Eight o’clock? Shit.” John ground the sleep from his eyes and looked over the incubation chamber. It was open. “Shit. Where did it go?”

“Where did what go?” a high pitched female voice asked from the floor.

“The frack?” John swore again as he pushed his chair back and goggled at the Barbie sized, orange skinned, naked girl. When their eyes locked something passed between them and a bond formed. She was flesh of his flesh, blood of his blood... Why was she a she?

“Oh, hello Master.” the girl purred as she scrambled up his leg, her fingers sprouting wicked little claws that pierced the fabric of his jeans with ease. “How may I serve you?”

~~~***~~~

Mon, 14 September 2015

John looked over his costume for Halloween, a small smile on his face. He’d managed to convince Irene to go as something other then a Witch with a pointy black hat, mostly by hiding the much abused witch hat she’d had prominently on display in her room. The girls where going as the Halliwell sisters from Charmed, and he was going as another fictional magic user.

Taking a breath to center himself, then remembering to lock the door to his room, John drew Essence in and began to craft the illusion he needed to complete his outfit.

~~

Jimmy T stretched enjoying sitting with Chimera at the judges table. Fubar was chatting with Kayda’s spirit who was bedecked in gold chains and sporting a Mohawk.

“Looks like we have a group entry.” Chimera said, pointing to where the Charmed Ones where making their entrance along with another young woman dressed as Lady Loki carrying an impressively glowing staff. “And the Lady Loki’s pretty good too. Wonder who that is.”

Jimmy cocked his head as the Lady Loki strutted over and took an entry sheet. “Evening Jimmy, ‘Mera. The girls wanted me to fill out the form for them if that’s ok.”

“Sure that’s....” Chimera started to say as her brain caught up with her nose. “you’re a guy!”

Lady Loki grinned and nodded. “Figured my namesake went distaff now and then, thought I might give it a try.”

Jimmy shook his head as he handed John an entry form that was already partially filled out for best female character.

Mon, 14 September 2015 23:52

Mudwump glowered at the costume honor required he wear to the party, having lost to that mudblood disgrace to all wizardom and his haram of essence thieves. Grimly he shed his robes and stood in his tight whities girdling his nerves to put the costume on. with trembling hands he slipped the light blue fabric over his head and did up the zipper. A wig went on his head, special shoes and socks, and a stuffed animal finished the costume.

~~

“Oh God, who is that supposed to be?” Chimera whispered to Jimmy, her eyes wide as she took in the white haired “girl” who was wearing a light blue dress that was 70’s-retro, knee high socks with dainty black leather shoes, and a stuffed black cat.

“That’s ....” Jimmy cocked his head to listen to one of his ghostly visitors “Wow... calm down Dan. I don’t think that’s meant to be an insult to Sabrina. Geeze, just go already, I will get Circe to exercise you from this building.” Firmly ignoring the ghost now Jimmy shook his head as the “girl” went over to the Halliwells and Lady Loki and began to shrilly yell at them.

~~~***~~~

Sep 20 2015

When the Sundering happened, Magic as those who lived at that time was shattered along with the land. The World Trees that hadn’t been destroyed in the war where the catalyst for the spell, their destruction caused the Essence in the world to burn away. As the Essence burned the Sidhe who where linked to the World burned as well. Only a few survived the holocaust and they survived only through quick thinking and desperate measures. Most of the spells and artifacts that had been created where also destroyed, but those that where inactive, or in a passive state linger, waiting for someone to rediscover them...

I swam slowly in the murky waters off the cost of Galilee Rhode Island, my fins stroking lazily as I fought the current, working to uncover... something. We’d been diving on this area for a week, Funded by Misk U, and out time was nearly up. Most of the team thought that this was a waste of time, but I knew my brother had pointed us here, and I knew when he said there was something some where, it was there.

I probably should have been paying more attention, but my mind was wandering to my nephew John and the e-mail he’d sent me about getting ready to go to his new private school in a few weeks. So when something cold sliced through the neoprene dive suit I was wearing and the water flooded with my blood, it was a bit of a surprise. The bigger surprise was when the cold object warmed up and latched onto my wrist, clamping off the blood flow. The the burning started, and i blacked out.

~~

I came to slowly, and I could tell I was on dry land again; The room wasn’t shifting with the swells. The sound of electronics caught my ear, as well as the steady “beep, beep, beep” that echoed my heart’s labors.

“Mom!! Dad!! The patient is waking up!!” a girl’s voice shouted cutting through my assessment.

“Ow, little...” I paused. My voice didn’t sound right. Come to think of it, my body didn’t feel right, though I couldn’t place why. Wait... no i could tell why; I couldn’t feel what ever i was laying on. i could tell it was there supporting me, but it was like... laying down in the snow as a kid while I was wearing a snow suit. The floof of the suit had cushioned me from the frozen ground, and while what ever was encasing me wasn’t soft, it was keeping me from ...

My breathing registered then, the slight echo and hiss that I sort of remembered from wearing an old style brass diving helmet as a hazing ritual on my first underwater excavation. I was wearing some kind of helmet. I opened my eyes slowly and found my view not that badly restricted. I revised my dive helmet comparison to motorcycle helmet, though I could tell what ever was over my head was sealed tight around my neck which meant I had no idea where the air i was breathing was coming from.

A bronze haired woman and a dark haired man came into the room, and I recognized them as the Bayside Surf and Rescue team; Jenny and Richard Taliesin, which suggested that I was in their headquarters. And that the girl was their child, who rather publicly went from Larry to Karen after a visit to ARC. There had been a lot of conspiracy theories flying about the gender change and how it had happened.

“What happened? Why am I in... what ever this is?” I asked before either adult could speak.

Richard shrugged. “We’re really not sure. When you where brought in you had something clamped onto your wrist, and in a few hours it just ... grew.”

Jenny brought over a mirror for me to use, and the reflection could have been a prop for a next generation of Power Ranger. The garnish purple and silver helmet had that kind of look to it. But instead of spandex the rest of the suit seemed to be made out of some kind of metallic cloth, again with the silver and purple. Mostly purple, with the silver forming a collar like design around my neck and upper chest.

A chest that clearly had breasts.

“Oh, hell, how’d I end up a woman again?”

“Again?” Jenny asked looking confused.

“Yeah, when I was six my older brother turned me into a girl with magic.” I replied as I rubbed the wrist that had been ‘attacked’. That wrist had a significantly more intricate gauntlet then the other side, and as I rubbed it something clicked in my head and the whole thing just sort of flowed off of me.

And burned like hell around my wrists and neck as the metal settled into my body somehow.

~~~***~~~

Re-posted from Crystal Hall Forums

Thu, 29 January 2015 15:47

Mrs Carson sighed as she took in the battered girl sitting across from her. One eye was swollen shut, her left hand was in a cast, and the tattered uniform hid other injuries. And yet she sat straight and proud unphased by the glare the headmistress was giving her.

“Ms Web, this is the seventh fight you have gotten into in the first three weeks of the year. One would think you where a rager brick, not one of our...”

“Don’t call me an Underdog.” Kara snapped, her true personality slipping through her Leslie persona. “I am not a whipped puppy, I refuse to lay down and take it.”

Mrs Carson sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Very well. Take these papers, fill them out, and you will get an Ultra Violent arm band.”

Kara nodded as she hopped up and took the papers.

“You also have detention helping Sam, Morris, and the Sinclairs in the sewers.” Carson added. “As well as becoming Sensi Ito’s student teacher. He saw tapes of your fights, and with what he’s seen in class, it has impressed him. How ever he thinks you still need to learn control and feels helping him teach will give you that grounding.”

“Understood.”

“Dismissed.”

Once the girl was out the door Elizabeth let her frustrated groan out as she pulled a bottle from her bottom desk drawer. “I pray she doesn’t draw any more Mighty Mice to her banner...” the headmistress muttered as she pored herself a drink and slugged it down.

~~~***~~~

Sat, 25 July 2015 00:48

September 2025

A slim woman with light brown skin, and black hair cut in a pixie do strolled to the center of the mats. “Good day, this is basic Martial arts. I am Kara James and I will be your instructor. I studied under the founder of this school of akido, Tatsuo Ito, as well as a few other schools of combat. Sensei Ito has mostly retired from teaching and has chosen to work with only a few advanced students this year. Sensei Tolman is the other teacher for this class, but she was required else where today.”

Kara’s eyes swept over the assembled students. “I am and Exemplar 2, which is the peek of human ability. Monster Mac you are rated as an energzer, sub-class speedster as well as being an Exemplar 5. Would you say you have the advantage of me?”

Mac, who really didn’t look mysterious at all, chewed over the question then shook his head. “No ma’am...”

“No sensei.”

“No sensei, as I suspect you’re gonna do a ‘trained vrs not trained demo.’”

Kara raised an eyebrow, causing the student to squirm. “My aunt is an alumni and she told me about sensei Ito’s first day speech and demonstration.”

Kara laughed with amusement. “I’ll have to tell him we’re getting predictable. Well you’re right Mac. Would you and... Bellona come up here. Class Bellona here is a power mimic as well as being a high end energizer and low end exemplar. I know she’s likely already copied most of the powers in this class. Bell, Mac, your objective is to get me into that cage over there while avoiding being put into it yourself. Think you two can manage that?”

Mac looked a little nervous, bur Bellona nodded eagerly.

“Well then on the mats, and let’s begin.” Kara stated.

Bellona charged in, fists glowing as she took to the air. The mimic wobbled in the air and her fire balls missed as Kara moved only a few inches in a random direction to avoid them. Kara then leaped up and her full weight impacting Bell’s back. The downward force drove the student into the mat where she lay twitching.

“Mac, you aren’t doing anything...”

“Um... ok. Well after that demonstration sensei, would you consider myself thoroughly intimidated and consider a peaceful resolution? Could you please walk into the cage without me trying to force you?” mac asked looking at his feet.

The class was silent as they looked from the freshman to Kara, who’s face was carved from stone. Then they saw the corner of her mouth twitch, seconds before a full on laugh bubbled out.

Kara’s grin was infectious as she turned her back on Bell to focus on Monster. “Why Mac, I do believe that is a first; someone actually trying diplomacy in here. Yes, I think will walk into the cage as this demo...”

Bell sprang to her feet with a roar, energy crackling around her. In a blur of movement Kara used the girl’s own momentum to throw her over the assembled class. Bell went skidding through the Women’s Instructors Shower door and after the sound of her impact with a wall, water could be heard.

“Ok, that was my bad. I should have ended the match sooner.” Kara stated from where she lay holding her should. “Mac, give me a hand up. I think I pulled something with that move.”

~~~***~~~

Sat, 08 August 2015 11:19

Inspired by the Twisting the Hellmouth story “Everything I know I learned from TV”

Kara crouched behind some cover eyeballing the power armor. It wasn’t an Iron Man like design, but looked more like a knock off Mech Warrior’s “Cauldron Born”. Just downsized by several stories.

“All right people, here’s the game plan.” She said into her com. “Star, distraction detail. Kitty, Tech, I want you two to hit that thing and roll it when you see an opening.”

“Roger that.” Katrina replied back, confusion in her tone.

“Stringer, you and me, we’re playing fire bug. We need to burn out the wiring.”

“Got it Mouse.”

“Don’t call me that. Rest of you, help Star on distraction detail... Ok BREAK!”

In a few minutes the sim ended and the “You are victorious” message chirped to the assembled team as they came out.

“All right, James, where did you come up with that tactic?” Gunny asked glowering down at the brown haired girl.

“Well sir, I saw that it had no way to right itself it it was flipped over on to it’s roof, though I would have settled for just on it’s back. I admit I was taking a chance that it had some other weapons that could track Star, but the arm cannons just couldn’t track her that well. They where sluggish.”

“Mhm.”

Kara squirmed under Gunny’s gaze. “Ok, I got the tactics from watching BattleBots on TV. Flipper and burner tactics.”

~~~***~~~

Sun, 09 August 2015 11:48

Reach triggered the secret latch into the Spy Kid’s club house as Spark and few of the others kept a watch out for people coming down the little used section of tunnel. She let out a hiss of warning when the door slid open nearly silently. The nearly part was because someone had some how attached sleigh bells to the other side which jangled merrily at the movement.

“Hello ladies and gents.” a cheery voice called from within. Instantly weapons appeared in the hands of the Spies and they did a passable room entry, something Gunny and Sir Wallace had pounded into their heads. “Does this count as an audition to your little club?”

“Who the hell are you?” Ace growled at the brown haired young woman who was seated with her feet up on the conference room table that took up a quarter of the main room’s space.

“Leslie Webb, code name Ballbuster. Intel Cadet legacy, though that’s something I learned after breaking into this place.” Kara said waving to a picture on the wall. “By the way, your security sucks.”
I am a caffeine heathen; I prefer the waters of the mountain over the juice of the bean. Keep the Dews coming and no one will be hurt.

Sir Lee
Sir Lee’s Avatar
5 years 10 months ago #18
Sir Lee replied the topic: Ayla and Hippolyta’s Girdle
Originally posted on Wed, 20 August 2008 23:31

And now, the real reason why we have seen only eight of Herakles’ Twelve Labors named in Ayla 4...

(Note: the snippet below is a PARODY. Diane has no responsibility for this silliness. It’s all my fault.)
Ayla 4: “Ayla and the Tests”
CHAPTER 9 — The Girdle of Hippolyta (DRAFT)

“HEY, HANDS OFF MY UNDERWEAR!!!”

Damn, Hippie is on a rampage again. And this time she’s after me. Where’s Sara when I need her to calm down the queen of militant feminist bricks?

“Calm down, Hippie, it’s not about YOU, see, there’s this old legend...”

“I DON’T CARE! KEEP YOUR PERVERT BOY HANDS AWAY FROM MY LINGERIE DRAWER!”

“Uh, okay, Hippie, but for the record, I never tried...” wait a minute... “Hey, do you HAVE a girdle in your lingerie drawer?”

She actually looked embarrassed for a second there. Then the old Hippie was back. “NONE OF YOUR DAMN BUSINESS, GOODKIND!”

Huh. Who would have guessed? The idea of taunting her about it passed through my mind, before flying away, screaming in fear. Not the kind of idea that lends itself to long-term survival. Better to finish this fast. A strategic withdrawal seems the best tactic...

“All right, all right, Hippie. I’ll end ‘Ayla 4’ right here, and I’ll think of a different theme for chapter names in ‘Ayla 5.’”

“YOU’D BETTER!” she growled, stomping off to her bedroom.

And that’s why there’s no Chapter 9 to Ayla 4.
Don’t call me “Shirley.” You will surely make me surly.

Sir Lee
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5 years 10 months ago #19
Sir Lee replied the topic: Dr. Bellows and Alakazam
Originally posted on May 15, 2009

The telephone was ringing when Dr. Bellows entered his office that Monday morning.

“Yes, it is him... what? Alakazam went missing over the weekend again? No, don’t worry, I think I know how to find her...”

He put down the phone and stared at the decorative bottle on his shelf.

“Salima, we have talked about this. It’s not healthy to come hide in my bottle every time you have a spat with N’Dizi. And you know I can’t let you stay here when I’m talking with other students; it would be a breach of ethics.”
Don’t call me “Shirley.” You will surely make me surly.

Sir Lee
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5 years 10 months ago #20
Sir Lee replied the topic: Kodiak and the Future Alphas
Originally posted on February 10, 2010. Made obsolete by canon developments.

Scene: an empty classroom in the Devisor tunnels. A few students are arriving, confused because they didn’t expect the others being there. Among them are PHASE, FEY, THUBAN, ZENITH, AQUERNA, JERICHO, CHAIN LIGHTNING and SLAB. They begin talking to each other, wondering what is going on.

After a few minutes, a few seniors enter and lock the door. They are KODIAK, POISE, PENDRAGON and GADGET. Kodiak clears his throat to call attention to himself.

“I suppose you are wondering why I asked you all here tonight...”

“Cut the cheap mistery novel bit, Kodiak. What do you want?”

“Ah, Jericho. That’s what I like about you. You don’t let anybody intimidate you,” remarked Pendragon. “Of course, you have a distinct advantage in that it’s hard to fight you without looking at your clothes.” Snickers.

“What we propose will take some groundwork. You know how I have been working to change the Alphas this year,” began Kodiak.

“Yeah, well, I’m not sure I trust you, but the number of complaints about Alpha bullying has fallen a lot in Hawthorne,” admitted Slab.

“Yes. And several other seniors have been helping, lending their influence, like these three here. But the problem is, we ARE seniors. Come September, most of the current Alpha council will be gone. Depending on who takes over, there is the possibility of a return of the old ways.”

“Sebastiano...” groaned Chain Lightning.

“And Solange too. They are both juniors,” added Aquerna.

“Not only them. There are some other unpleasant people who would like to take the spot, like Fantastico. I don’t want to see all my hard work lost. In a way, the Alpha reform is my personal legacy to the school.”

“And how is that OUR problem?” asked Zenith.

“It’s EVERYBODY’S problem! Or do you WANT the old Alphas back?” replied Tidewater.

“Well, when you put it that way... no, I don’t. But what do you expect us to do?”

“In a nutshell?” Kodiak grinned. “I expect you to take over the Alphas.”

“What? How?” asked Fey.

“You are a good example, Fey. You do know that the head Venus has a seat on the Alpha Council, don’t you?” interrupted Poise.

“Yes, like all clubs and major cliques,” ansered Phase, realising where this was going. “Go on.”

“I’m graduating too. There will be a new Venus head in September. Solange is a junior, and has been looking forward to the job for a couple years. Now more than ever, since it’s her ticket back to the Alphas.”

“Ugh. If she becomes head Venus, I’ll leave the club.”

“You and most of the others. I don’t want to let her run the club into the ground. Instead, I want to nominate you for head Venus.”

“ME? But... I’ll be only a sophomore...”

“I thought hard about it. There are some other people who would be good for the job. The problem is, Solange has her Junior status and her money on her side. She thinks her beauty entitles it to the job, but it’s not actually a factor. But what she does lack, and you have in abundance, is charisma. All the other models like you, and would vote for you against Solange in a heartbeat — especially if I endorse you.”

“And if I am the head Venus...”

“You would have a seat on the Alphas, and would be in position to influence the Alphas in a positive way and keep the jerks out,” explained Gadget.

“That goes for all of you,” elaborated Kodiak. “We chose you because you are the kind of people who would be a good influence in the Alphas, and you have enough political clout in your groups that you can get there. What we are asking is that you do try to get there.”
Don’t call me “Shirley.” You will surely make me surly.

Sir Lee
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5 years 10 months ago #21
Sir Lee replied the topic: Dorjee and the Troika
Originally posted on May 2, 2010

The Dragons’ dojo, the day after Chou, Molly and Dorjee come out with their poly relationship:

“You mean you are dating BOTH of them?”

“Yes”

“And they are OK with that?”

“Yes”

“You lucky dog...”
Don’t call me “Shirley.” You will surely make me surly.

Sir Lee
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5 years 10 months ago #22
Sir Lee replied the topic: NEXT: Rising from the ashes
Originally posted on May 26, 2010

NEXT: Rising from the ashes
How Willard Jennings took a bunch of failed computer companies and melded them into a major power.

From BusinessWeek

Willard Jennings could be one of thousands of other Silicon Valley employees. His Business degree didn’t hide the fact that he is a geek at heart, and when Apple hired him for a position in the administration side of the company, it was his dream job. This was the early eighties, where those early hires often became compnay shareholders and millionaires. And among all the sharp minds at Apple, Willard (he dislikes being called “Mr. Jennings”) most admired the one who had a clear business mentality: Steve Jobs

When Jobs was ousted from Apple and left to creat NExT, Willard cashed his Apple stock options and followed him, becoming one of the early investors in the startup. But when things didn’t go as well as expected a few years later, he was one of the few voices opposing the sale to Apple, who wanted the rights to the NExTStep operating system.

“I wasn’t ready to give up,” he explains. “Steve was offered stocks for his share and a place back at the Apple board, but the rest of us minority partners would get cash. It was quite a bit of money, but I liked the feeling that this was my company I was working for, and I wasn’t ready to either retire or go back to being just another employee.”

So he formed a group with other young partners willing to keep risking it and offered Apple a different deal; they would agree to the sale, provided that Apple would sell back them — cheap — two pieces of intellectual property Apple wasn’t particularly interested in: the hardware designs and the NExT trademark.

The company was reborn with Willard as its CEO, being the one who articulated the deal and the most business-minded of the group. However, they were a computer company without an operating system. But Willard had an answer for that too.

Apple had looked at another company for a modern operating system: Be, Inc, also formed by former Apple people. But, despite Be being considerably cheaper, they ultimately chose NExT — leaving the powerful, if still immature, BeOS up for grabs. Willard grabbed it, and found venture capital to keep the new merged company going for a while.

The third part of what some call the “NEXT tripod” came next year. In 1994, Commodore Computers had gone under due to mismanagement, taking the popular Amiga line of computers with it. Escom, the German computer who bought the Amiga rights, went itself bankrupt in 1997, and Willard managed to purchase the Amiga rights. Now they had a still-popular platform with excellent multimedia capabilities to marry with their operating system and business hardware expertise. The NEXTamiga 5000, a slightly updated Amiga 4000, came out soon — and sold well enough to game and video enthusiasts to keep the company going.

Willard’s real coup would come in 1998, though. The NEXTsystem 8000 (the “Amiga” brand was relegated to the home-user line), offering unprecedented multimedia capabilities for the price range, took the wind from Microsoft’s Windows 98 and Apple’s iMac launches. The BeOS-based NextOS included compatibility layers that allowed running both Amiga and Unix/Linux software (although with some limitations), making the new machine immediately usable. From that point on, NEXT established itself as a credible third power in the PC arena.

Some attribute NEXT’s meteoric rise to its willingness to use hire mutant engineers to accelerate development. “There is some truth in that,” acknowledges Willard, “But it’s not like we are doing anything shady. Some of the best engineers are mutant gadgeteers, but Microsoft won’t openly hire them because they do a lot of business with Goodkind International — Goodkind Computing is their largest OEM, for starters. And Apple, in that regard, is a victim of their own strengths: Jobs’ obsession with clean design and uniformity does not really help users with extra-large fingers and other special needs. Apple is not well regarded in the mutant community due to that, and few gadgeteers even apply for jobs there. So we are the most mutant-friendly company in this market, and it benefits us.”

Having mutant-friendly hiring policies didn’t hurt NEXT when bidding for contracts from a very large customer: the U.S. military. A VR simulator training system was their first military product, and this balloned into a multi-billion relationship that allowed NEXT to gobble up a couple more companies falling into hard times, like former graphics powerhouse Silicon Graphics.

The military contacts meant increased security — which ended up paying for itself: “When we set up the new protocols to make the Pentagon happy, we found out industrial espionage was a worse problem than we had thought. And some of the leaks were in the security company we had hired. We ended up having to create our own security and intelligence division to keep on top of the game.” Is there any truth on the rumors that it rivals the CIA? Willard laughs: “No way, the CIA has over fifty years of history and is funded by the world’s richest government. My security team is very good and well-funded within the limits of a private company, but at the end of the day it’s a small operation. More like the part of the Secret Service that takes care of White House security.”

What’s next in the store for NEXT? “Well, that would be telling. We are in the high-tech business after all, and a premature reveal of our plans could hurt the company deeply. But our niche is high-power computing, and you shouldn’t expect us to enter the commodity market. Expect us to do things we are better equipped to do than our competitors.”
Don’t call me “Shirley.” You will surely make me surly.

Sir Lee
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5 years 10 months ago #23
Sir Lee replied the topic: C&S: Going Back
Originally posted on February 14, 2011 - made obsolete by canon developments

Cavalier and Skybolt were brought to the meeting room at ARC. They looked at the people waiting for them with some surprise.

“Mr. Cardan, Ms. Schroepfer, please have a seat. We have much to discuss today,” said the imposing figure of Headmistress Carson.

They sat together, looking at one another a bit awkwardly, as if they still hadn’t figured out how did they relate to one another again.

“It’s good to see you both as yourselves again. Dr. Otto tells me you made remarkable progress,” added Dr. Bellows from his chair.

“Well, yes, I guess. At least I can get a full night’s sleep now without waking up screaming. Sometimes, that is.” answered Skybolt sheepily.

“After months of telepathicaly-assisted therapy... I think I’m beginning to feel human again,” added Cavalier.

“Yes, and that brings us to the point. You haven’t have an uncontrolled rage incident in more than one month. Even when Otto deliberately mentioned Hekate or Sebastiano,” continued Dr. Bellows.

“Those... those...” fumed both the former Alphas, holding each other’s hand for support — the memories were too painful, but they managed somehow to contain themselves.

“Was that really necessary, Doctor?” chided the Headmistress.

“No, but they will have much worse than that to handle in the day to day, when they leave here.”

“Wait,” interrupted Cavalier. “Leave? Are we going to be discharged already? I thought...”

“...we thought we would rot here,” admitted Skybolt. “I certainly don’t feel cured. I’m not sure if I will ever be well.”

“No, you are not being discharged,” explained Dr. Bellows. “But at this stage, since your therapists think you no longer present a danger either to yourselves or to others, we would like to move you to outpatient therapy, and begin reinserting you into society.”

“Where... where are you sending us?” asked Skybolt timidly. “Are we going back home? To Europe, that is?”

“That’s a possibility we considered,” admitted Carson. “But, if you are willing, we would welcome you back at Whateley. There are some good reasons for that. Your status with the MCO, for one. At the school, you could continue your therapy without their interference. Elsewhere, they could harass you as being ‘dangerous psychopatic mutants’.

“Also, at Whateley you wouldn’t have to deal with the extra dissonance of keeping the appearances of a baseline. And you would be close together, which I think is important to you,” added Bellows.

“But Sebastiano is there,” stated Cavalier.

“How could you let him stay?” complained Skybolt. “After everything he did to us?”

“For the same reason we couldn’t get you both from under his thumb last year,” sighed Carson. “Lack of evidence. He claimed he thought Hekate had just convinced you, he denied knowledge of the slave enchantment, the accusations of sexual abuse, the whole nine yards... with no other witnesses, and your *ahem* temporary lack of credibility, we had no justification for expelling him. We know he is lying, but we can’t prove it. So we are keeping a close watch on him, waiting for him to slip. At least he is no longer head of the Alphas. Kodiak kicked him out.”

“Couldn’t have helped to a nicer guy. He will slip,” said Cavalier confidently. “He’s too lazy and not as smart as he thinks. Eventually he will make a mistake. And then...” he growled.

“This is another thing,” interrupted Dr. Bellows. “If you go back to Whateley, we can’t have a repeat of your January episode. It would land you right back here, or worse, in a MCO jail cell.”

“But... that creep deserves all the punishment...” complained Skybolt.

“And he will get it — but it will have to be done entirely by the book. Otherwise, you lose any chance of getting your lives back,” replied the Headmistress. “Can you do it? Can you handle looking at Sebastiano’s smug face and keep from throttling here on the spot?”

“I think... I think so. If I have Sky or someone to help me focus. But if I get that slime alone on the bathroom at Melville... I don’t know. You might have to hose him from the walls.” admitted Cavalier.

“Well, at least that shouldn’t be a problem. We are not thinking of putting you back in Melville.” said Carson.

“No? But... why? And where are you putting us?” asked Skybolt.

“One of the reasons for keeping you out of Melville is exactly Sebastiano. But there is more. We fear it will bring you bad memories. And, the general atmosphere there is not suitable for your recovery. There’s too much social competition there — with all the related bullying, and put downs and such. You would be like bait in a shark tank — they would compete to bring you down,” explained the counselor. “It would be irresponsible of us to throw you in that situation. So, we are placing you in a safer environment.”

“And that is...?” asked Cavalier.

“There are options. But our first choice, if you agree, would be Poe,” admitted Carson.

“Poe? The whackos cottage? Isn’t that like putting a sign on us saying ‘crazy person here’?” snarked Skybolt.

“Don’t dismiss Poe out of hand. There’s a lot in favor of that choice. And think a bit: the only other co-ed cottage is Hawthorne, and there’s no medical reason to justify you taking valuable room there. So, it’s either Melville and Sebastiano, or Poe and the ‘crazies,’ or we have to split you, say between Whitman and Emerson. Which we would prefer not to do; Otto tells me that the support you gave each other was very important for your recovery,” replied Carson.

“Also, you already have friends in Poe. The two people who have nearly as much reason to hate Hekate as you do,” reminded Bellows.

“Fey!” brightened Skybolt. “And that little one... Generator I think. Yes, I think I would sleep a bit better knowing they were nearby.”

“Man, did I underestimate that squirt. She kicked ass!” remembered Cavalier. “And Fey was... amazing. No, terrifying. Thank God she was on our side.”

“They aren’t the only ones. I think you can trust that if it Sebastiano or Hekate try something, you will have all of Team Kimba and some of their friends at your back. They have history. And they are a very tight group, if Fey and Generator take your side, the rest will come. Not that I approve of student fighting, mind you,” glared the Headmistress.

“There’s a couple other reasons we think Poe would be a good environment for your healing, but let’s discuss those after you decide,” continued Bellows.

“Oh, I think you convinced us. At least, you convinced me. I don’t want to be far from Sky. If it’s between living with Sebastiano or the whackos, send in the whackos. Hell, we’re pretty crazy ourselves, isn’t that true? What do you think, Elaine?”

“They had me at ‘Team Kimba watching our backs.’ Every time Sebastiano attempted something against them, he crashed and burned. That makes me feel... safer,” smiled Skybolt.

“Well, if we are in agreement... then let’s discuss those other reasons for placing you at Poe. Headmistress, if you please?” asked Dr. Bellows.

“Yes. Mr. Cardan, Ms. Schroepfer, I’ll leave you with Dr. Bellows now. The reason is that we expect that the information he will give you will bring to fore some of the issues you are still dealing with. Since I’m not your therapist, it would be inappropriate for me to be present. If you prefer, he can talk with each you separately, or you can ask for your current ARC therapists instead — although they don’t have as much information on those topics as him. If you agree to talk to him, he will be bound to the same confidentiality as any other therapist. Also, I must stress that the information Dr. Bellows is going to give you is not to be repeated. It would very damaging if it were made public, but we trust you to keep your mouths shut. Do you have a problem with that?”

“No, I don’t think so, ma’am. I think we would prefer to continue this together,” answered Skybolt.

“Yes, thank you, Ms. Carson. We will be fine,” agreed Cavalier.

“All right. Now that we are all alone, let me tell you about Poe,” began Bellows. “There’s a secret regarding Poe Cottage. We let most people think that it’s where we put the unbalanced students, but that’s not exactly true. They aren’t any more crazy than the other students, but they share a common issue. One that you have come to face too as part of your ordeal.”

“What? Have they all been mind-slaved to a couple of bastards?” snarked Cavalier.

“No, but they all had to face things regarding their own sexuality,” explained Bellows. “The truth is, Poe is our ‘alternate sexualities’ cottage. None of the students there fit the traditional sexual roles. Most of them are homosexual, some are bisexual. And some are... more complicated.”

“More complicated? You mean, even more than being gay?” asked Cavalier.

“Yes. Some are transgendered in the conventional sense — that is, they were born as one gender, but think of themselves as the opposite gender. Others have it thrust upon them as part of their mutation.”

“Hey, wait. You mean when they manifested, some guys began thinking as girls? I never heard about mutations changing one’s mind before,” demanded Skybolt.

“No, just the opposite. Think of it as a form of GSD, if you will. Some boys found themselves turning into girls when they powers manifested. Some girls turned into boys. And some... some became sort of both,” explained the therapist.

“Like that freshman Heyoka,” Cavalier exclaimed. “I never could figure out if he’s a boy or a girl. What is he, or she, after all?”

“It’s not my place to tell. When you move to Poe, you may ask Heyoka yourself. Be polite, though.”

“OK, back to the point. So Poe is the gay cottage. How does it help us?” asked Cavalier.

“Well, for one thing, Poesies are likely to be less judgmental about you. They have a much more open outlook regarding sexual practices. So, they aren’t likely to think less of you because of something that you were forced to do. In fact, several of them have had somewhat similar experiences — being forced to act in a way contrary to their natures. Usually it’s more a societal pressure situation, but rape is not unheard of. So they may not fully understand what you went through, but they can empathize.”

“Hey, how can you compare...” started Skybolt.

“I can’t. It’s not the same, I grant you. But still, I have heard some terrifying experiences over the years. Don’t think you are the only ones to have ever been abused. GLBTI youths, as a class, face a lot more trauma than other teenagers. So they can relate.

“Also, because of that common ground, Poe is a more close-knit community than the other cottages. They are used to keeping secrets, and they watch for each other. Yes, there are cliques, there are feuds, but overall they aren’t as competitive as the other cottages. For most of the students there, Poe is the first place where they could be themselves and relax, and meet people with similar tastes. Preserving that is more important to them than petty bickering.”
Don’t call me “Shirley.” You will surely make me surly.

Sir Lee
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5 years 10 months ago #24
Sir Lee replied the topic: Portal Fever
Originally posted on Tue, 30 July 2013 21:42

October 9, 2007
The Crystal Hall

“Did you get it?”

“Of course! Let’s do a deathmatch tonight!”

“Oh, OK. Man, I have a free period... I think I’ll explore it a bit...”

One hour later
Hallway between classes

“MANOHMAN! Did you look at the Extra?”

“I hadn’t time yet, and what about it anyawy? It’s just some mod they included...”

“No, really, just try it...”

Emerson Cottage
5:14 PM

“Man, this is the coolest thing EVER!”

“I would love to have one of those...”

...

“TO THE LABS!!!”

Advanced Technologies Department
9 PM

“Captain Delarose, sir? It’s Green, here at the devisor tunnels. We, ah, we might have a situation.”

“What is it? Another BOLO?”

“Uh, not yet, sir. But the students... well, they are ALL here, working like mad. Something got their interest all at once. It’s like early January...”

“Oh, no... not another Shoulder Angels situation. What did Generator do this time?”

“I don’t think it was her, sir. Every one who comes up asks the others if they also got the ‘orange box’...”

“How bad is it?”

“Delta Spike has already caused three explosions, sir.”
Don’t call me “Shirley.” You will surely make me surly.

Sir Lee
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5 years 10 months ago #25
Sir Lee replied the topic: Bardue and the Know-It-Alls
Originally posted on Mon, 09 September 2013 19:31

Gunny Bardue faced one of the new teams for this term. He flinched at the pretentious name they chose for their team.

“Good afternoon, uh, ‘Nuclear Power’. Your team will be facing... the Zoo.”

“Wait, which one is this?” one of the students asked.

“The one with all the members having animal powers,” the girl at his side, obviously his girlfriend, explained.

“You mean, the one with the girl with the squirrel spirit?” the boy replied.

“We are facing a team that’s so lame they accepted an actual underdog? Piece of cake!” the obvious team brick enthused.

Bardue just smiled at the students. With typical teen arrogance, they were looking at this all wrong. They saw a girl with non-flashy powers and thought this made her weak, and by extension it made the team weak. What they were missing is that the ostensibly weakest member of that team had single-handedly defeated several of the campus bullies over the last few months, and came out without a scratch.

But they would learn. It would take a few humiliating defeats, but they would learn, hopefully.
Don’t call me “Shirley.” You will surely make me surly.

Sir Lee
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5 years 10 months ago #26
Sir Lee replied the topic: Pilar and the missing Carnival
Originally posted on March 01, 2014

(In honor of the first day of Carnival, I’m posting this little piece. It’s inspired by a similar feeling of cultural dissonance I experienced as an exchange student in the Eighties)


Saturday, February 17, 2007
Dunn Hall

It was the end of the lunch hour, and the kitchen crew was cleaning up. The remaining students were leaving the School House Restaurant, but then one came back. She looked around a bit, and then walked directly to me.

“Hi, Pilar,” I greeted her.

“Uh… do you have a minute, Jana?” the green-tinged girl asked me in Portuguese.

“We’re closing up. I’ll be free in a few minutes. Tell you what, grab a couple sodas and wait for me at the bistro,” I answered in the same language.

“Oh, OK.”



A few minutes later, I joined Verdant. She looked surprised when I actually sat down on the chair.

“Uh… not to be nosy, but… aren’t you supposed to be a centaur? I heard you were an Avatar, I always thought you had the spirit of the horse or something.”

“No, I am an Avatar, however that has nothing to do with how I look. I’m also a mage, but I botched a spell badly, and until I fix it I have to stay most of the time as some sort of half-animal hybrid. That’s why my codename is Mezzo,” I explained. “Like a pizza. Mezzo alici, mezzo mozzarella.”

“That must suck.”

“It could be worse. At least now I can change which animal I’m an hybrid of; I spent the first couple months stuck as a mermaid. The centaur form turned out to be the best one for my job, but before coming out here I borrowed a page from Gadget and turned half-squirrel. The fur helps with the cold weather, and, well, four legs are a bother lots of time.”

“Right now, I sorta envy you. Brrr!” Pilar half-joked. I guess that before leaving Rio, she hardly ever had to wear a sweater.

“So,” I cut to the chase, “Why do you want to talk to me all of a sudden? It’s not like you and Força made a big effort to keep in touch after the counselors introduced us.”

“I guess I just didn’t see the point,” Pilar said. “We don’t have a lot in common. You went to good schools, you already spoke good English before, you had this cooking thing that got you an inside with the chefs, while I…”

“I see. Yeah, I guess I wouldn’t have been a lot of help with the problems you had to face when you arrived.”

“Yeah. I tried hanging out with Força, but frankly, I can’t stand the guy. He keeps hitting on me, even after I told him that I’m not interested. But then this thing came up, and none of my friends really understands, and you at least are Brazilian like me, and…”

“I think I see what this is about. Go on,” I encouraged her.

“Well,” Pilar babbled, “it’s like… I received an e-mail from my older brother… and he was talking about his plans for this week… and I realized…”

“You realized that it’s Carnaval,” I surmised, “and that you hadn’t even noticed.”

“Yeah. How could I forget about that? It was such a big thing for me every year… If I were still the old me, I would probably be putting the last touches in my costume. My whole family is in the samba school. Last year we even got to be in the Special Group.”

“The same thing happened to me last year,” I admitted. “Well, perhaps not quite the same. I’m not much of a Carnaval person — for me it was just a long holiday to go surfing — but I was used to it being this big thing, on the TV all the time… I knew Americans don’t celebrate it like us, but, well, I guess I expected it to be at least mentioned some way.”

“But they don’t. They completely ignore it,” completed Pilar.

“Except in New Orleans. But that doesn’t help you. It’s a big culture shock,” I agreed.

“What sorta makes it worse is that today is also the Chinese New Year. Chou and her Oriental friends are going to have a big party tonight, and I… well, I guess I’m going to hit the Web and try watching the parades.”

“Don’t worry too much,” I advised her. “In a few years, you will be back, and the Carnaval will still be there.”

“I guess so. You know, it’s funny,” chuckled Pilar, “but I think what really got me was that I was sorta looking forward to show off these babies.” She indicated her breasts.

“Seriously?” I asked. I didn’t know Pilar that well, but she didn’t strike me as the slutty type.

“Yeah. Before I manifested, I was sorta plain. Now I have this great body, my face looks better too, and instead of flaunting it in a bikini I’m all bundled up like an Eskimo.” she grumbled.

“Uhhh… what about…?” I indicated Pilar’s two extra arms.

“Oh, yeah, my GSD wouldn’t go well on a beach, would it? But Carnival is a different matter. Who’s going to be able to tell if the girl with green skin, four arms and a tail is a mutant or just wearing a great costume?”

“It’s not a problem here in Whateley,” I pointed out.

“Yeah, but back when it was still warm enough — or for Halloween — I was just too afraid of breaking some stupid rule or another and being sent back home. But when it warms up again…”

“So you are not afraid of the rules anymore?”

“After I saw some of the things other students got away with, somehow I don’t think Ms. Carson will care if I choose to sunbathe in a string bikini,” grinned Pilar. “Reverend Englund may throw a fit, but frankly I don’t care what he thinks.”

“Yeah. I might go with you, if I can figure out a form good for sunbathing.”

“Yeah. Well, thank you for listening to me, Jana.” she said getting up. “It helped a little. Now, to find some website streaming the parades…”

“Wait,” I interrupted her. “I just remembered a thing that may help…”

“What?”

“Let me call a couple people.” I pulled my cellphone. “Judicator? Mezzo here. Listen, I need a small favor… no, nothing complicated. I just need to talk to Mrs. Ryan. No, it can’t wait until Monday. No, I can’t go through Admin, it’s not a real emergency, just… time-sensitive. It’s something she will probably be interested in. If you are busy I can ask Thuban… you will? Great.”

“What was that about?” asked Pilar.

“Mrs. Ryan once asked me if I had taken part in any Carnaval parades, and was really disappointed when I explained that I hadn’t. She said she wanted to talk about the costumes — I guess it comes with being the Costumes teacher.”

“So?”

“So, at the very least you will have someone to talk about it at length. But I got the impression that it was more than an academic interest in costuming; she was just too disappointed I wasn’t a Carnaval person. I bet she is planning on watching the entire thing. And teachers have access to better gear than a 14-inch laptop — not to mention being able to write an excuse for you to skip a couple early morning classes next week.”

“Uh. That… could work. Thanks.”

“Let’s see if Judicator managed to do it…” on cue, my phone rang. “Mrs. Ryan? It’s Mezzo. You know, the Brazilian centaur girl. Listen, you still interested in Carnival costumes? I have here a girl whose entire family is in a Samba school…”
Don’t call me “Shirley.” You will surely make me surly.

Sir Lee
Sir Lee’s Avatar
5 years 10 months ago #27
Sir Lee replied the topic: Worf Effect
…you know, I was thinking of the Worf Effect in the context of the Yukinojo…

Worf Effect

by Sir Lee

Big Bad Alien teleports into the Yukinojo’s bridge. Just to prove his Badassery, he promptly knocks out the armor-wearing Stalwart.

Things go downhill from there. The comm officer orders him to “SIT DOWN” and for some reason… he does so.

“You hurt my boyfriend! Why did you do that?” complains the redheaded medical officer.

“HA! Now that I defeated your champion, you paltry females…” he starts bragging.

“HEY!” shouted Ayla and Hank simultaneously

“…will… surrender… to the might… of…” he trails off, noticing for the first time that nobody seems impressed or fearful. In fact, the emotions displayed run the gamut from annoyed (Bunny) to furious (Fey).

“You made a mistake, big boy. Stalwart is not our champion. He was just going on a date with my Medical Officer.”

“So… who do I have to defeat? Certainly not the puny boy in the back?”

“HEY!” shouted Hank again.

“Well, if you had challenged us politely, I would have let you face Lancer. That would let you save some face. If you had challenged us impolitely, I would ask Ayla to take care of you. He is a master of etiquette, after all, and would teach you a few things. If you had just come attacking head-on, I would have no chance of keeping Chaka from interfering, and that would be embarrassing to you. But you did none of that. You attacked my guest. Be thankful he is not seriously hurt, or I would deliver you to Fey, and believe me, you do not want to be on her bad side. But still, for that transgression, you have to suffer.” Tennyo’s eyes started glowing a dangerous red.

“Uh… what do you mean? Are you confronting me yourself?”

“Me? No, facing me would be too merciful. You wouldn’t last a tenth of a second. Instead… Generator, will you teach this moron the meaning of terror?”

“My pleasure, onee-san.”
Don’t call me “Shirley.” You will surely make me surly.

Valentine
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5 years 10 months ago #28
Valentine replied the topic: A Noodle Incident: A side dish
Beacon didn’t know why Reverend Englund wanted Kodiak to come see him, nor did he know why Reverend England wasn’t using official methods to contact him. What Beacon did know was that he now had an excuse to go up to the third level, and maybe get invited to stay. He’d hoped that the Goobers would fight for a spot on the third tier of the remodeled Crystal Hall, but Reverend Englend had told them to accept a spot on the second tier.

As he cleared the top of the stairs he looked around to locate the Alpha table, he spotted them and the Outcasts, fortunately he wouldn’t have to go near them. Striding confidently across the room to the Alpha table, he spotted movement out of the corner of his eye. He looked closer as a mass rose over the head of the shortest member of Team Kimba.

His eyes got wide as recognition dawned on him. He dropped his tray of food, and screamed, “You won’t eat me again.”

Beacon sprinted in horror back towards the stairs, one last glance, and let loose a blast at the horror. He dove into the stairway tumbling down the stairs, never hearing the roars of laughter from Outcast Corner.
Don’t Drick and Drive.

E M Pisek
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5 years 10 months ago #29
E M Pisek replied the topic: A Noodle Incident: A side dish
Valentine wrote: Beacon didn’t know why Reverend Englund wanted Kodiak to come see him, nor did he know why Reverend England wasn’t using official methods to contact him. What Beacon did know was that he now had an excuse to go up to the third level, and maybe get invited to stay. He’d hoped that the Goobers would fight for a spot on the third tier of the remodeled Crystal Hall, but Reverend Englend had told them to accept a spot on the second tier.

As he cleared the top of the stairs he looked around to locate the Alpha table, he spotted them and the Outcasts, fortunately he wouldn’t have to go near them. Striding confidently across the room to the Alpha table, he spotted movement out of the corner of his eye. He looked closer as a mass rose over the head of the shortest member of Team Kimba.

His eyes got wide as recognition dawned on him. He dropped his tray of food, and screamed, “You won’t eat me again.”

Beacon sprinted in horror back towards the stairs, one last glance, and let loose a blast at the horror. He dove into the stairway tumbling down the stairs, never hearing the roars of laughter from Outcast Corner.


Ummm But its Bacon? Dang need to get my eyes checked again.
What is - was. What was - is.

Dawnfyre
Dawnfyre’s Avatar
5 years 10 months ago #30
Dawnfyre replied the topic: A Noodle Incident: A side dish
Ib12us wrote:

Valentine wrote: Beacon didn’t know why Reverend Englund wanted Kodiak to come see him, nor did he know why Reverend England wasn’t using official methods to contact him. What Beacon did know was that he now had an excuse to go up to the third level, and maybe get invited to stay. He’d hoped that the Goobers would fight for a spot on the third tier of the remodeled Crystal Hall, but Reverend Englend had told them to accept a spot on the second tier.

As he cleared the top of the stairs he looked around to locate the Alpha table, he spotted them and the Outcasts, fortunately he wouldn’t have to go near them. Striding confidently across the room to the Alpha table, he spotted movement out of the corner of his eye. He looked closer as a mass rose over the head of the shortest member of Team Kimba.

His eyes got wide as recognition dawned on him. He dropped his tray of food, and screamed, “You won’t eat me again.”

Beacon sprinted in horror back towards the stairs, one last glance, and let loose a blast at the horror. He dove into the stairway tumbling down the stairs, never hearing the roars of laughter from Outcast Corner.


Ummm But its Bacon? Dang need to get my eyes checked again.

TK and Goobers in a combat challenge, Sara sees a noodle monster and yells out DADDY!!!!! ... Oops, my mistake.. just after Beacon got eaten by the spagetti monster.
Stupidity is a capitol offense, a summary not indictable one.

DasVals
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5 years 9 months ago #31
DasVals replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
From: Administration
To: Students.All
Sent: 2013-12-17 10:32am
Subject: Construction Permits

Dear students,

Due to recent events, we would kindly remind you of the regulations regarding construction permits.

For constructed object, or collection of objects, with one side larger than 6 feet, you must have a permit prior to construction. This goes for all materials used in construction, including but not limited to snow, ice, stone, wood, metals or a combination thereof, for any construction method used.

Permits can be obtained at the ground keeping department. After submitting your blueprints using the forms in attachments and verification by the staff, you will receive your permit, including a sign to be used on your construction site.

This does apply to constructions used for testing, class projects or recreational objects.

Related to this, anybody singing, humming, whistling, showing or communicating lyrics, images or tunes from “Let it go”, will be seen as an accomplish to any building infractions and other consequences that may occur, which will lead to detention.

Kind Regards,

Dr. A. Hartford
Assistant Headmistress
Whateley Academy
warning: dangerous levels of cynisme detected

Dawnfyre
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5 years 9 months ago - 5 years 9 months ago #32
Dawnfyre replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
In a rage Fey worked a spell to change her tormentor but made a small error in the spell that she saw just as she released it. “Oops”

“What oops?” Lancer asked over the spots, the rest of the team chiming in “yeah what oops?”

“Um, my transformation spell was flawed, all male unders on campus have been changed into manties.”

“Manties?”

“Panties, for men.”
Stupidity is a capitol offense, a summary not indictable one.
Last Edit: 5 years 9 months ago by Dawnfyre.

Dawnfyre
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5 years 9 months ago #33
Dawnfyre replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
www.manties.net

Kodiak in a pair of those.
Stupidity is a capitol offense, a summary not indictable one.

Valentine
Valentine’s Avatar
5 years 9 months ago #34
Valentine replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread: Bork, Bork, Bork
Tuesday evening
Ayla knocked on Jade and Billie’s door, he blinked when the door was opened by a pair of Hello Kitty panties. “Jade?” he asked.

“Hey Ayla, what can we do for you?” Jade asked looking up from where she reading.

Ayla glanced around the room, the panties dropped into a pile of lingerie, and a pair jeans floated up and went into a different pile. A book turned its page, Jinn was sitting at their desk writing something. “I’m having another dinner with Vox this Saturday. And I wanted to know if you could serve dinner again.”

Ayla thought he heard a giggle, “Of course, one of me will be there. When? And did you want me to pick up the food too?” Jade and Jinn said simultaneously.

Ayla grimaced at the ‘of course,’ “Same time as usual for everything.”

“Gotcha, We’ll be there.”

Ayla muttered, “They have got to get some new pronouns,” as he left.

After the door closed Jade started giggling, then all out laughing. Jinn simply said, “Tell.”

Jade reached out and recharged Jinn, and then Jinn started laughing, the book and two ‘spyspecks’ flew over and got recharged and all of them were laughing. Tennyo walked in to see Jade, Jinn, a book, and a pile of laundry all giggling maniacly.

Jade suddenly stopped laughing, and ran out of the room, “Gotta pee.”

Billie stared at Jinn, “What’s so funny?”

Jinn stopped laughing, “I’m not sure I should say.”

Billie kept staring, “Jinn.”

“OK, but you can’t tell anyone. Ayla was just in here, asking me if I could serve him and Vox on Saturday.”

“What’s so funny about that?”

Jinn giggled, “You remember last night, when we were watching The Muppets and the Swedish Chef came on? Well, Ayla always comes down to make sure I know how to serve everything. So imagine his shock when he opens the door and “bork, bork, bork.”

Billie glared at Jinn, “Are you prepared for Ayles retaliation?”

Jinn stopped giggling and thought, “I don’t think that he’ll do anything. The whole thing will be in private. Besides it will be funny for both of us.”

Billie shook her head, “I hope so, anyway it’s your life.”

Jade came back in, and saw Billie shaking her head at Jinn, “You told her?”

Jinn nodded, “I should talk to Jana.”

Jade nodded back, “And I need to talk to Bunny.”

The two took off before Billie could say anything. The book ignored her, but a shirt popped up and shrugged, “I’ve no idea. Yet.”

Jade ran down to Bunny’s room, and knocked on her door. “Bunny I need a favor...”

Jinn headed out to find Jana, first checking at the Crystal Hall, the Whitman. Once she explained what she needed, and what she was doing Jana was all for the joke.

Saturday evening
Jinn was setting the table, when she was poked by Jamie Flyspeck. The six white gloves ducked behind Jasmine the “Swedish Chef,” Jamie flashed back to Jade.

Phase opened the door and his draw dropped as he saw the Swedish Chef behind a large steel bowl.

“Yorn desh born, der ritt de gitt der gue, Orn desh, dee born desh, de umn bork! bork! bork!” Jasmine said in her best mock Swedish.

Phase stood there, he mouth slightly open as Jasmine continued on.

“Tudey ve-a hefe-a a gerdee seled.” Jasmine grabbed the salad bowl and shook it a bit. “Und noo it is teeme-a tu tuss zee seled. Bork Bork Bork!” And she reached into the bowl, and tossed the “salad” up into the air. Amazingly it all fell back into bowl.

As Phase stood there, his mouth opening and closing. The “Swedish Chef” grabbed the salad bowl, headed past Phase, pausing only to grab the camera Bunny had set up to film the skit.

Jinn was giggling, “The look on your face, was great.”

“But... What was that?”

“A little joke, don’t worry no one will know. Well no one besides Team Kimba and the gang. And maybe Jana. But only we know it was you.”

“I... Ah... What was in that bowl?”

“A bunch of veggie scraps. Don’t worry it didn’t come anywhere near your dinner. Now is there anything special I need to know?”

Monday morning
Mrs. Horton stopped Jade as she headed out to breakfast, “Jade you have a package.”

Jade charged the box and it headed back to her room.

At breakfast, Jade asked, “Does anyone know what Lutefisk is?”
Don’t Drick and Drive.

Phoenix Spiritus
Phoenix Spiritus’s Avatar
5 years 9 months ago - 5 years 9 months ago #35
Phoenix Spiritus replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread: Hello Kitty Fun Times
Jogging up slowly, it never paid to be to fast to arrive around here, Officer Michaels came around the corner of Poe cottage and whistled. An entire external brick wall of Poe cottage was now rubble spread over the gardens to the side of Poe. Luckily the constant remodelling had long ago removed any load baring from its external walls, otherwise whole floors would now be sliding down onto the rubble too, as it was this entire wing of Poe would need to be temporarily moved while the wall was rebuilt.

Cautiously approaching the rubble, Office Michaels kept a cautious eye out for the student or otherwise that had caused the destruction, fortunately it seemed the event was over. Students hiding in the greenery where cautiously making their way back to Poe, but all of them seem to be eyeing a peacefully sleeping young girl, curled up hugging a stuffed toy and wrapped up in a pink blanket, with undisguised horror and terror. When the girl turned over in her sleep, the cries of terror seemed set to wake her, till those screaming shoved their own forearms into their mouths, more then a few drawing blood, desperately muffling their own shouts.

Looking closer Michaels stared in disbelief as he looked on the famed Team Kimba, laying spread on the ground around the sleeping girl broken and battered in defeat.

Hank Decland, Lancer, one of the strongest PK supermen currently enrolled, laying moaning, burns covering most of the what Michaels could see of him.

Ayla Goodkind, Phase, unconscious, covered in blood beside him, Chaka white faced in pain sitting between them, tending Hank as best she could with her leg very obviously broken.

Moving cautiously closer, Office Michaels went to kick the almost naked, but otherwise apparently unharmed, purple haired girl tenderly stroking the sleeping girls face.

“Don’t!” Urgently croaked out, the word caused Michaels to turn and star in surprise. The Fairy Princess, Fey, lay exhausted, cradling her right arm protectively to her breast.

“Why not?” Michaels demanded.

“Tenyo’s making sure she stays asleep.” Fey gasped out.

“And that means?” He snarled.

“She’s safe! We’re safe! We managed to recombine her! She just needs sleep and she’ll be fine, it’ll all be better again!”

“What will be better?” Michaels demanded.

“She will be!”

“What happened!”

“Vox.” Fey gasped. “Vox got pranked she retaliated.” Eyes wide in horror Fey moaned. “Who could have known it would have been so bad? Who could have guessed how much she held in? That it was that that contained her?!” Silently Fey stared at Michaels, pleading with her eyes.

“Vox did all this?” Michaels demanded in disbelief.

“No.” Fey moaned, starting to cry. “Vox voiced Jade to no longer like Hello Kitty!”
Last Edit: 5 years 9 months ago by Phoenix Spiritus.

amratner
amratner’s Avatar
5 years 9 months ago - 5 years 9 months ago #36
amratner replied the topic: A Noodle Incident: A side dish
Ib12us wrote:
“Valentine wrote:
Beacon didn’t know why Reverend Englund wanted Kodiak to come see him, nor did he know why Reverend England wasn’t using official methods to contact him. What Beacon did know was that he now had an excuse to go up to the third level, and maybe get invited to stay. He’d hoped that the Goobers would fight for a spot on the third tier of the remodeled Crystal Hall, but Reverend Englend had told them to accept a spot on the second tier.

As he cleared the top of the stairs he looked around to locate the Alpha table, he spotted them and the Outcasts, fortunately he wouldn’t have to go near them. Striding confidently across the room to the Alpha table, he spotted movement out of the corner of his eye. He looked closer as a mass rose over the head of the shortest member of Team Kimba.

His eyes got wide as recognition dawned on him. He dropped his tray of food, and screamed, “You won’t eat me again.”

Beacon sprinted in horror back towards the stairs, one last glance, and let loose a blast at the horror. He dove into the stairway tumbling down the stairs, never hearing the roars of laughter from Outcast Corner.

Ummm But its Bacon? Dang need to get my eyes checked again.

TK and Goobers in a combat challenge, Sara sees a noodle monster and yells out DADDY!!!!! ... Oops, my mistake.. just after Beacon got eaten by the spagetti monster.”


As I recall it was Goobers vs Outcast corner.
Last Edit: 5 years 9 months ago by amratner.

NeoMagus
NeoMagus’s Avatar
5 years 9 months ago #37
NeoMagus replied the topic: A Noodle Incident: A side dish
amratner wrote: Ib12us wrote:
“Valentine wrote:
Beacon didn’t know why Reverend Englund wanted Kodiak to come see him, nor did he know why Reverend England wasn’t using official methods to contact him. What Beacon did know was that he now had an excuse to go up to the third level, and maybe get invited to stay. He’d hoped that the Goobers would fight for a spot on the third tier of the remodeled Crystal Hall, but Reverend Englend had told them to accept a spot on the second tier.

As he cleared the top of the stairs he looked around to locate the Alpha table, he spotted them and the Outcasts, fortunately he wouldn’t have to go near them. Striding confidently across the room to the Alpha table, he spotted movement out of the corner of his eye. He looked closer as a mass rose over the head of the shortest member of Team Kimba.

His eyes got wide as recognition dawned on him. He dropped his tray of food, and screamed, “You won’t eat me again.”

Beacon sprinted in horror back towards the stairs, one last glance, and let loose a blast at the horror. He dove into the stairway tumbling down the stairs, never hearing the roars of laughter from Outcast Corner.

Ummm But its Bacon? Dang need to get my eyes checked again.

TK and Goobers in a combat challenge, Sara sees a noodle monster and yells out DADDY!!!!! ... Oops, my mistake.. just after Beacon got eaten by the spagetti monster.”


As I recall it was Goobers vs Outcast corner.


Just wanted to point out that this should have gone in the Micro-Scenes discussion thread, rather than the Micro-Scenes thread itself.
... . . -.- / .--- ..- ... - .. -.-. . .-.-.- / .-.. --- ...- . / -- . .-. -.-. -.-- .-.-.- / .-- .- .-.. -.- / .... ..- -- -... .-.. -.-- / .-- .. - .... / -.-- --- ..- .-. / --. --- -.. .-.-.-

DasVals
DasVals’s Avatar
5 years 9 months ago #38
DasVals replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
From: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
To: Students.Devisors, Students.Gadgeteers
Sent: 2015-10-07 4:56pm
Subject: Thanksgiving fireworks contest

My fellow inventors,

This year, Whateley academy is celebrating thanksgiving with fireworks! And we like our students to participate in this event!!

Your goal, if you choose to participate, either solo or as a team, is to create the best firework show (or equivalent) possible. You will be judged on:
– Sizing of show
– Overall design and artistry
– Synchronization
– Originality of effects
– Quality of soundtrack
– Quality of technology
– Handling of materials
– Following procedures

Our sponsors will provide you with a budget for materials. Only this budget can be used to create a level playing field. A pyrotechnics professional will be available for advice, guidance and security. More information and contest entry are available on the workshop website.

A few guidelines, that ought to be common sense:
– Please no radiation outside of visible light
– Everything is first tested and approved on the range
– Biological systems need approval BEFORE evolving
– NO nuclear fission, fusion or antimatter devices

Good luck,

Mr Asterlitz
Project Manager Workshop
Whateley Academy
warning: dangerous levels of cynisme detected

Phoenix Spiritus
Phoenix Spiritus’s Avatar
5 years 9 months ago - 5 years 9 months ago #39
Phoenix Spiritus replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
From: Administration
To: Students.Devisors, Students.Gadgeteers
Sent: 2015-10-07 4:59pm
Subject: Re: Thanksgiving fireworks contest

Further to the rules detailed for this competition by Mr. Asterlitz:

1. Students found letting off fireworks that alter the state of mind for viewers will face the consequences of the harshes nature, to be clear:
There shall be no fireworks designed to hypnotise nor otherwise make students or staff enter a ‘suggestive’ frame of mind
No ‘mind altering’ drugs, pharmacopoeia, herbs, fungus, devices, gadgets or mechanisms of any kind are to be used in the manufacture, storage or display of the fireworks at all, irrespective if they are meant to be effective against others or not.
Fireworks should not cause either loss of memory, nor should they cause unexpected memories to be recalled or created to become part of the conscience or subconscience of anyone viewing the display
There shalt be no altering of the viewers mood, neither escasy, paranoia, ‘tripped out’, terrified, or any other emotional imposition will be tolerated
Firework displays designed to give nightmares to members of the younger student body, or particular members of our community, are also banned. As are displays designed to be offensive, suggestive or that otherwise reflect badly on the good name of this institution. Keep it PG gentlemen and ladies.

2. Fireworks performances designed to cause damage to property, persons, the environment or just the equipment of fellow competitors are also banned. Gentlemen I intend to be super clear here. If you break it, you fix it, and the cost of doing so will be deducted from you Lab funds, or the Lab funds of any class or project you are working on if your personal funds are not sufficient, for as long as you attend this institution until the damage is paid for.
Do not create sonic booms, nor any other booms sufficient to cause earaches, headaches, nausea or property damage of any kind.
Students found either deliberatly through design, or accidentally through insufficient safeguards, producimg fireworks that become unstable, and randomly, or guided with afore malice, target, peruse, attempt injury or menace against other students, faculty or visitors will be bought before Administration to face its full fury for your actions

3. Fireworks are not to be used to build portals, summoning circles, interdemensional rifts, space time disruptions or any other devices for the summoning of demons, salamanders, imps, godlets, fire elementals or anyone or anything else. Students found doing so will face the wrath of the Magical Studies Department, and incidentally may find themselves sacrificed to the entities involved if so deemed necessary for the safety of the school or its students.

4. Students attempting to exploit loopholes, alternative interpretations, omissions, etc. in these guidelines are reminded that all activities on campus are governed by the rules and expectations laid out in the student handbook, and that this document does not change, modify nor amend such rules or obligations in the slightest.

You have been warned and we are watching you.

Dr. A Hartford
Assitant Headmistress
Whateley Acadamy
Last Edit: 5 years 9 months ago by Phoenix Spiritus.

Arcanist Lupus
Arcanist Lupus’s Avatar
5 years 9 months ago #40
Arcanist Lupus replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
From: The Ranges
To: Students.Devisors, Students.Gadgeteers
Sent: 2015-10-07 4:59pm
Subject: Re: Thanksgiving fireworks contest

This should go without saying, but in case there is any question - All fireworks are to be tested on the Ranges. Any student testing fireworks anywhere besides the ranges will be automatically disqualified from the competition.

Gunny Bardue
Range 1
Whateley Acadamy
“Shared pain is lessened; shared joy, increased — thus do we refute entropy.” - Spider Robinson

Domoviye
Domoviye’s Avatar
5 years 9 months ago - 5 years 9 months ago #41
Domoviye replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
From: Headmistress Carson
To: Students.Devisors, Students.Gadgeteers
Sent: 2015-10-07 6:45pm
Subject: Re: Thanksgiving fireworks contest

It has come to my attention that certain devisors have plans to release a chemical agent that would make certain parts of the female anatomy increase in size upon skin contact. These devisors are now doing detention in the sewers.

If anyone is caught planning a similar action, or actually accomplishes it during the display, you will consider those currently serving detention extremely lucky.
You have been warned.

Headmistress Carson
Whateley Academy
Last Edit: 5 years 9 months ago by Domoviye.

Kettlekorn
Kettlekorn’s Avatar
5 years 9 months ago #42
Kettlekorn replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Jericho smirked as he lit the fuse. The rules had clearly stated that he couldn’t use any sort of boom to nauseate people, but that was fine. He didn’t need booms. He had plaid.
I am the kernel that pops in the night. I am the pain that keeps your dentist employed.

Valentine
Valentine’s Avatar
5 years 9 months ago #43
Valentine replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
From: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
To: Students.Devisors, Students.Gadgeteers
Sent: 2015-10-07 7:56pm
Subject: Thanksgiving fireworks contest

My fellow inventors,

We have found three judges.
First is Jericho.
Second is Shroud.
Third is Fubar.

Good luck,

Mr Asterlitz
Project Manager Workshop
Whateley Academy
Don’t Drick and Drive.

E M Pisek
E M Pisek’s Avatar
5 years 9 months ago #44
E M Pisek replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Rick code named Launcher couldn’t help himself as he strapped on winged bird to the rocket as well as another. Set to explode at an predetermined altitude of 200meters he laughed at the idea.
Having caught an old TV show with muppets he thought the Swedish chef was hilarious as was that thing call Gonzo. He had taken his inspiration from how Gonzo had his fellow chickens fire him from a cannon. Only he now decided to test the theory if turkeys could fly. Given that he had no idea of how to find such a bird he reluctantly settled for what he had been able to procure from the kitchen. A pair of chickens from the freezer.

Fitting the cone through the cavity of both gutted birds he calculated that both should rise up into the air and with camera at the ready he was prepared to capture it all. Pulling out the wings he attached small flags attached to sticks. He wasn’t sure how all this would work in an aerodynamic way but what was the fun in that.

He gave a slow countdown having lit the fuze. As the rockets flew into the he was briefly concerned only to capture the flags fluttering madly as the rockets reached their intended height before exploding into dazzling display of colors. Suddenly he had to shield himself as small chunks of meat fell to the ground, only to give him wonder if this was a future way of making chicken nuggets.
What is - was. What was - is.

Domoviye
Domoviye’s Avatar
5 years 9 months ago #45
Domoviye replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Ms. Grimes watched her familiar yowl and scratch at the door, and sighed. Familiars were animals, magical and special but still animals with the same basic instincts, and right now, Merlin, who despite the name was female, was in heat. At least it only happened once every year or two, she thought.

“Sorry Merlin. You aren’t going anywhere for at least a week,” she said.

The black cat meowed piteously, but Ms. Grimes was adamant and very carefully made sure every door and window was well locked before leaving to teach class. She never heard the tapping of invisible clawed feet slipping through the front door just as she closed it.

**

“Beetle, where are you, you stupid cat?” El called, looking under his dormitory bed for his cat familiar.

“Is your cat stealing something again?” his roommate asked.

“I hope not,” El groaned. “Crap, I have to get to Ms. Grimes class. If anyone comes along accusing Beetle of stealing something, tell them I’m sorry and to leave a description of it.”

Grabbing his bag he headed out of Poe, running so he wouldn’t be late.

**

Merlin stopped yowling soon after her wizard left. She’d had to put on a good show so that the wizard wouldn’t think anything was amiss. Now however she could have some fun.

A dark red cat slowly became visible, starting with his whiskers. They sniffed each other, and while she didn’t approve of the demon smell coming off of the other familiar, he was a fine looking specimen of a cat. Raising her tail, they began making sweet music together.

**

El was starting to get worried. Beetle would disappear at times, literally, since the familiar could turn invisible, but the stupid demon cat had never been gone for this long before.

He was about to start asking the others in the changeling wing of Poe if they’d seen his cat when there was a very loud, angry knocking on the door.

“Ye-” he started to say, stopping as he saw Ms. Grimes glaring furiously at him. She had her hand raised as if she was holding an invisible cat by the scruff of its neck.

“Mr. Young, I expect you to take better care of your familiar in the future,” the teacher said, shoving the invisible animal into his arms. “When Merlin has kittens in a few weeks, you can look after them until suitable homes can be found.”

Ms. Grimes slammed the door shut and her stomping could be heard until she reached the stairs.

Finally Beetle let himself be seen. Somehow the cat looked even prouder of himself then usual.

“Beetle, what did you do?” El groaned.

The familiar just curled up in his arms and fell asleep with a contented purr.

“I’m going to have to castrate you, aren’t I?”

The lower half of his familiar vanished.

elrodw
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5 years 9 months ago #46
elrodw replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
More of Danny, Kayda, and the Canotila (recovered from the discussions thread on the old server):

Brother (to Kayda, grinning) - “Oh, by the way, now I know why you were dating Julie!”

Kayda (shocked) - “What?!?”

Brother (broader grin) - “And she’s pregnant, too! I think that makes seven. Or eight. I lost count...”

Brother - Oww! Please stop hurting me!

Kayda- You lucky little <bleep>! I’ll kill you!

Debra (restraining Kayda) - “Now, now, honey. You’ve got ME now, remember?”

Kayda (pausing, then blushing beet red) - “Oh, yeah!” starts kissing Debra passionately.

Brother (wincing) - “Oh, for Pete’s sake - get a room!”
Never give up, Never surrender! Captain Peter Quincy Taggert

E M Pisek
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5 years 9 months ago #47
E M Pisek replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
elrodw wrote: More of Danny, Kayda, and the Canotila (recovered from the discussions thread on the old server):

Brother (to Kayda, grinning) - “Oh, by the way, now I know why you were dating Julie!”

Kayda (shocked) - “What?!?”

Brother (broader grin) - “And she’s pregnant, too! I think that makes seven. Or eight. I lost count...”

Brother - Oww! Please stop hurting me!

Kayda- You lucky little <bleep>! I’ll kill you!

Debra (restraining Kayda) - “Now, now, honey. You’ve got ME now, remember?”

Kayda (pausing, then blushing beet red) - “Oh, yeah!” starts kissing Debra passionately.

Brother (wincing) - “Oh, for Pete’s sake - get a room!”


You forgot the part where they both kick him out saying “We have one now.”
What is - was. What was - is.

DasVals
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5 years 9 months ago #48
DasVals replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
For parents’ day, new measures were taken. Signs were pretty much everywhere in and around Crystal Hal. “Do not feed the fairies. This is for your safety.” The staff patrolled to remove any leftovers immediately. A security officer was working as bodyguard to keep children away from Teri. Still, Ms Carson had this feeling something would happen.
warning: dangerous levels of cynisme detected

Domoviye
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5 years 9 months ago #49
Domoviye replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
“Mouser,” Teri said fidgeting in her pink princess costume, “most of these people aren’t from Nebraska. I’m not sure if headmistress Carson would like you advertising your business here. And I already have half the campus thinking I’m crazy, I don’t want to prove it.”

The black catwoman jingled a little in her jester outfit. “You never know when you might be able to make some money. And this is fun isn’t it? Now come on and put your happy face on!”

Teri flew after her guardian, and smiled at the security guard who was to keep her away from any sugar. “Hey Officer Green, do you think you could arrest me for something? Pretty please?”

“No,” the officer said, smiling way too innocently. “I think I want to see this.”

“Thought so,” Teri repliedhopelessly. “Well I hope you enjoy the show.” Smiling as widely as she could, she tried to think of herself as a pretty fairy princess.

Domoviye
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5 years 9 months ago - 5 years 9 months ago #50
Domoviye replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Jericho watched the chaos as Crystal Hall quickly cleared of diners when they had the misfortune of seeing his lovely style that had been specially made by a fellow devisor to change with every shift of light into another eye watering pattern of strips, plaids, dots and squiggles in colours man was not meant to see. Even Razorback was avoiding him.

“Hi Jericho,” Caroline said coming up behind him.

“Hey Caroline,” he said, not bothering to ask what she thought of his clothes since she could only see his aura.

“Can you help me pick out lunch?” she asked.

“Should the blind really lead the blind?” he asked. He wasn’t being his usual sarcastic self since he liked the girl and she did a good job at Doyle.

“Consider it an adventure,” she joked.

Getting their food they went to sit at the Outcast table, clearing the immediate area in record time.

“Jericho, why are people getting sick whenever they look at you? I’ve seen less fear during a rager incident.”

He shrugged. “I’m not sure. Maybe they don’t know good style when they see it.”

“Yeah,” she replied deadpan, “I’ve heard about your fashion sense. Just a moment.”

Caroline went limp, Jericho figured she was astral projecting to see what he looked like. A second later she was back, covering her mouth. “You are a sick, sick person. You know that right?”

“Makes you happy to be blind doesn’t it?”

“Yes. Yes it does, it means I don’t have to gouge my eyes out with my spoon.”

“You’re a healer you could fix it.”
Last Edit: 5 years 9 months ago by Domoviye.

Domoviye
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5 years 9 months ago - 5 years 9 months ago #51
Domoviye replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
“Oh caviar! Fancy!” Teri said as she wandered around the school store. Grabbing a jar of it, she started smiling and then she started laughing.

**

“What are you eating, Teri?” Serena asked the little fairy who was nibbling on a cracker that had some black stuff on it.

“Eggs, it’s really tasty,” Teri chirped happily.

“Where did you get eggs that small?”

“I have a source. I’d offer you some, but this is all I’ve got for the next ten days. Sorry.”

**
Ten Days Later

“Oh you got more of your eggs,” Serena said.

“Yep. Here I saved some for you,” Teri said, handing her a cracker with the black stuff on it.

Taking a bite, Serena smiled. “This is pretty good. Can you get me some?”

“Well,” Teri said, “I can only get it every ten days and I can’t get much more than this. Sorry.”

“Where can I get some?”

“You need to know the right people. And it’s kind of personal.”

Serena gave her roommate an odd look. “Ok.”

**
Ten Days Later

Serena sat down with a cup of tea. “Periods suck,” she moaned.

“I wouldn’t know anymore,” Teri said, handing her a cracker with some black eggs on it, “I don’t get them now.”

“You’re so lucky.”

“Not really,” Teri said, watching very closely as Serena bit into the cracker. “I get something almost as bad every ten days now.”

Serena who had been happily eating the cracker, slowed down her chewing.

“It’s over a lot more quickly, but going to the bathroom in the morning when it happens, royally sucks.”

Serena looked at the half eaten cracker in her hand.

“Would you like some more eggs, they’re fresh?” Teri asked innocently.

Serena was out the door in record time, spitting and screaming for water.

Half the floor came to the door of the room wondering what had happened. Teri pulled out a jar of caviar. “Good morning! Does anyone want some caviar? It’s really good.”
Last Edit: 5 years 9 months ago by Domoviye.

Valentine
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5 years 9 months ago #52
Valentine replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Anna was surprised when a hand snuck in and stopped the elevator doors, she was sure that she hadn’t heard one behind her.

“Hold the elevator, please,” a pleasant feminine southern drawl called out. Anna stabbed the door open button and held it as she watched a curvaceous girl caught up to the hand.

As Reach entered the elevator, she smiled a thanks to Anna. “Taking someone lunch?”

Anna smiled back, “Jer... er Hazmat never remembers to eat, when he’s working.”

“Jen... Spark is the same way.”

The elevator door opened, Anna turned right and Harley turned left. They looked back simultaneously, “Same time tomorrow?”
Don’t Drick and Drive.

DasVals
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5 years 9 months ago #53
DasVals replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
From: Administration
To: Students.Workshop
Sent: 2015-10-07 4:56pm
Subject: Workshop Updates

In this update
- Licensing for vehicles
- AI limit
- Fashion testing
- Weapon use
- Sharks

[Licensing]

We have been working with the legal department to clarify some questions you had. With the recent movie anniversary and the new releases inspiring inventors, this was becoming an issue.

The most critical parameter is maximum height of the ground clearance plus the vehicle itself, cargo, driver and passenger. The hard limit for the maximum height, either by hardware limits or control systems under any circumstance, is 4.15 m (13.6 ft). This is the standardized height of bridges. So, for the students working on land speeders, speeder bikes, if the max height it below 4.15 m, your vehicle is legally equivalent to an off-road vehicle and can be driven using a standard driving license. For those building a hover conversion capable of going over that limit, you will need a private pilot’s license with a visual flight rules rating as your vehicle is then legally equivalent to a small plane.

Hover boards are classified by the means of propulsion. If the board can using without any input of energy (no batteries or fuel of any kind) besides human force, it stays equivalent to a skate board. But, if using an energy source, it is, depending on the maximum speed, the legal equivalent of a moped or motorcycle and requires the same license.

Testing using remote control is possible, and recommended, but still requires a UAV pilot license. We have a list of students with the required licenses willing to offer their services. Please come to my office to make arrangements for testing.

[AI limit]

Dr. Hartford would like to warn you that that droids can only have a class 2 sentience. Anything above will be hunted down and destroyed. Her words.

[Fashion testing]

The more fashion inclined inventors are urged to use dummies, mannequins or PK brick initially before testing any products themselves or on somebody else, no matter how sure you are that “this time it’ll work”. We already had one student with a crushed foot and one student with burn wounds on the upper torso in Doyle.

[Weapons]

Gunnery Sgt. Bardue reports that all weapons testing and use are limited to the ranges. Anybody waving around a light saber or blaster outside the ranges will be kindly requested to prove their prowess in a sim of his choosing.

[Sharks]

No more holographic sharks!! This is for your own safety. Fey expresses her apologies for overreacting, but the devisor is reported to make a full recovery. Repairs to Schuster Hall are almost completed.

Happy motoring,

Melvin Donner
Vehicle Lab
warning: dangerous levels of cynisme detected

Kettlekorn
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5 years 9 months ago - 5 years 9 months ago #54
Kettlekorn replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
This is entirely Kristin’s fault .
----

She said, “I’ve seen you in here before”
I said, “I’ve since had a patch or two”
She said, “Well, my name is Mystic Jo
Meet my assistant Betty Lou
And we’re all feeling kinda cramped tonight
And you’re the only blanket in this place
And if you’re up for a magic show
We’ll make her disappear without a trace”
I said, “Girls

I ain’t as good as I once was
I got a few holes in my knit
But there was a time, back in my prime
When I could really hide a trick
And if you need some magic tonight
Then I might have just enough
I ain’t as good as I once was
But I’m as good once as I ever was”


I still hang out with my best friend Aung
I’ve known her since she first started to crawl
Last week she went to Boston, had confrontations
Struttin’ round starting brawls
With a few Children of the Night
One great big bad necro man
I heard Aung yell across my loom
“Hey buddy, how ‘bout a helping hand?”
I said, “Aung

I ain’t as good as I once was
My how my seams have blown
But there was a time, back in my prime
When I was really tightly sewn
But if you wanna fight tonight
Guess these spells don’t look all that tough
I ain’t as good as I once was
But I’m as good once as I ever was”

I used to flap in the wind
Way back before the Sunderin’
Now my stitches say, “You can’t do this, Weave”
But my thread says, “Oh yes you can”

I ain’t as good as I once was
That’s just the well worn truth
I still take a good whack, block a little flak
When I’m feelin’ bulletproof
So don’t tug on my loose threads now
‘Cause I’d choke you with my fluff
I ain’t as good as I once was
But I’m as good once as I ever was

May not be good as I once was
But I’m as good once as I ever was...

----
(For the benefit of those who don’t do country, that was a parody of Toby Keith’s As Good As I Once Was .)
I am the kernel that pops in the night. I am the pain that keeps your dentist employed.
Last Edit: 5 years 9 months ago by Kettlekorn.

Phoenix Spiritus
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5 years 9 months ago - 5 years 9 months ago #55
Phoenix Spiritus replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Staring down at the newly planted rosebush Hank sighed, then gently pulled a flower to his face, breathing in its sweet scent. Letting the flower go he smiled, gently tapped the dirt around rosebush’s base once more to confirm it was properly planted, and pushed the wooden stack that would guide its growth a little firmer into the ground.

Standing up he gave one last pat to the rosebush planted in Jamie’s memory and turned. Only team Kimba had stayed watching him plant the rosebush. Team Kimba and Lily. Even Mr. Miyamoto and his groundskeepers had withdrawn to their vehicles, leaving the students to their moment of shared remembrance and grief.

Looking over Hank was pleased to see that Nikki had finished planting her rosebush, but frowned when he saw her angry stance and fuming countenance. Turning to Lily and his friends Hank exchange hugs with them all, then indicating Nikki he silently pleaded with them for time alone with her.

With barely a quick glance at Nikki Lily nodded and left, his other friends however were slower, Ayla in particular giving Nikki a long anguished stare before he too nodded at Hank and left. Turning to the silently fuming Nikki, so caught up in her own world she hadn’t even notice her friends departure, Hank stopped and waited.

All through the ceremony in the garden Nikki had silently fumed at Mrs. Carson, treating every imaginary slight as a personal affront to Aunghadhail and herself. Ever since Mrs. Carson delivered the news to Nikki, both that Solicitor was suing her, and that far from fighting the suite, the school’s response would be to give him her modelling earnings, Nikki had been furious. Even more so since all now seemed to be trying to make her believe that Aunghadhail’s death had been good for her!

Finally Hank decided that Nikki had been left to her thoughts long enough, without waiting for invitation he stepped up and hugged her. “Let it go Nikki, it’s only money,” he advised.

Fiercely Nikki shook him off, rounding on him to scream, “He wanted to enslave me! Now I’m supposed to pay him for nothing?!”

“Who are you? Are you Aunghadhail’s heir? Daughter of the Burning Oak? Paramount Queen of the West and leader of the Sidhe people? Or are you Nikki Reilly, daughter of Nicholas and Lucile Rielly?”

“I’m both!” fiercely Nikki declared.

Hank calmly considered her for a moment, then with a gesture he invited Nikki to follow him, “Please? I have something I want to show you?” He watched her, worried that in the mood she was in she’d not come with him. Hank had watched as Mr. Miyamoto had brought out the rosebush for Nikki to plant in Aunghadhail’s memory. Had seen her facade crumble, genuine warmth in her thanks to him. He hoped that Nikki might be able to accept some things being told to her now. From his own experiences with Jamie he knew how hard it was to hear that those you grieved for were not the most important people. That the living mattered more. With a sigh of relief Hank saw Nikki abrupt, angry nod of acceptance.

Turning he took he lead her out of the rose garden of remembrance, and through the school buildings. Eventually to the Homer Gallery and up to a dusty pile of metal bars.

“It’s only money Nikki.” He stated. “ Yes it’s your money, but still. Look here, see this gold? How much more do you think Ms. Guzman would add for one day, one hour, a single minute more with Jamie? To tell Jamie of her love? To say her goodbyes? Stare at this gold Nikki and understand! The world has decided we are to grow up, and it’s all through asking. Right here, right now you get to choose. Are you the Daughter of the Burning Oak?, or are you the daughter of Nicholas and Lucinda Reilly, who are still here and love you?”

“Why can’t I be both!” Nikki wailed.

“You will always be of both heritages, but only one future allows you to be yourself. Only one way will you get to choose and dictate your own path. The other is a path of other people’s expectations, other people’s desires, other people’s destinies, eventually, other people’s wars.”

“I want to honour Aunghadhail! I want to lead our people!”

“I’m human Nikki. Your friends are all human. Your family is all human! What would you do if you choose race over family? If you choose to stand on the other side from your friends and family?”

“It doesn’t have to be that way!”

“No Nikki, it doesn’t,” Hank explained with feeling. “But we are not the ones who make your choices for you.”

“But you are forcing me to make a choice! You are making me chose my family or Aunghadhail!” Nikki wailed in distress.

“Oh Nikki no!” Hank exclaimed, stepping close and wrapping her in his arms. “We don’t want you to make that choice ever!” Hank promised holding the crying girl close in his arms.

“Let her go Nikki,” Hank whispered. “Grieve for her. Grieve for her Kingdom lost in time, but let it go! Honour Aunghadhail by being the best you, the best Nikki Rielly, can be. Let the Kingdoms of the Sihde stay forever lost in time,” Hank begged her.

Kneeling, holding Nikki as she wept out her heartbreak, Hank prayed that something they were doing was really getting through, that the death of Aunghadhail didn’t also lead to the loss of Nikki Rielly, the loss of everything that made her his friend.
Last Edit: 5 years 9 months ago by Phoenix Spiritus. Reason: adding italics for emphasis

elrodw
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5 years 9 months ago #56
elrodw replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
(Based on an idea Kristin wrote in a different thread)

The senior looked around the fire ring at all the new freshmen members, their dim orange faces open-mouthed and awestruck as the fire flickered and danced, casting some uneven, unsteady illumination to the scene. Behind the senior, the hulking triangles of two tepees loomed large and ominous, faintly outlined like monster ghosts against the moonlit sky.

“Yeah, there’s a new student coming named Heyoka,” the senior said in his deep, sonorous, but eerily soft voice, making the new members lean closer, knowing he was increasing their tension level. “But the original Heyoka was murdered here on campus!” he hissed. “He was killed in cold blood in Arena 77, his guts torn apart by a sharpened horn and his head split open by a tomahawk. They say his spirit is stuck until his killers are caught and punished, haunting the Arena, looking for his killers. is spirit is powerful, or so it’s said, it’s touch so terrifying that even Lady Astarte won’t go in the Arena by herself! Sometimes, people fall in the arena for no reason, like they’ve slipped on his spilled guts and brains!” He paused for effect, looking around, knowing the shadows flashing on his face were lending a bit of a spooky air. “Last year, a kid was knocked out when he fell, and even though the doctors swore he was unconscious, he walked around like he was under attack, falling over and clutching at his stomach, and then grabbing like something had hit him in the head before he fell over again! When he woke up, he had scars on his stomach and forehead, just like he’d been hit the same way Heyoka was killed!” He looked around again. “Don’t ever go into Arena 77 by yourself, because the spirit of Heyoka might possess you as it relives Heyoka’s death over and over again!

Some of the freshmen flinched at the booming way the senior concluded the story. Ghost-stories night at the Nations campout was always such fun!
Never give up, Never surrender! Captain Peter Quincy Taggert

Kettlekorn
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5 years 8 months ago - 5 years 8 months ago #57
Kettlekorn replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Buster had had enough. Months of people mocking him about squirrels, and then that... that dog freak that only he seemed to be able to see, hounding him, snickering from the shadows, making everything go wrong. He’d had enough.

People thought Buster was stupid, and they weren’t wrong. He’d never been very bright. But he wasn’t a complete idiot. He’d ridden a bike before, after all, and he’d watched war movies, and he’d seen helicopters. The solution to his problem was clear, even to his dull mind. The specific mechanics, those he had trouble with... but troubles are easily beaten with the correct use of force. In this case, force used on those nerds down in the tunnels.

And stupid or not, Buster knew that squirrels couldn’t fly. Neither could baselines, according to the nerds he’d made help him. They’d said baselines had been struggling to make pedal powered helicopters work for ages with no real success. Buster didn’t care. Buster wasn’t a puny baseline.

Steering his helicopter was difficult. He’d never realized how slippery air was when he’d been landbound like the rest of the peons who passed below him. But he wasn’t an Exemplar 3 for nothing. He learned as he pedaled through the sky above Whateley, and soon he was hovering more or less over his target as she looked up at him with confusion. Confusion became anger and disgust when he began pouring yellow liquid on her from one of the tanks at his side. It was just water mixed with food coloring and some cleaning supplies that smelled like piss, because where would he get that much actual piss? But she wouldn’t know any better.

As she dodged and yelled, he kept his eyes on the ground around her. Soon he saw what he’d sought: squirrels swarming in to defend their queen, turning the ground into a brown and grey carpet of writhing fur. Buster smiled. His “piss” tank was empty now, so he chucked it out toward the little tree-rat bitch. She dodged, but that wasn’t important. What was important was that now his hands were free to operate the napalm dispenser.

It wasn’t long before Stormwolf showed up with a horrified scowl, ruined his helicopter, and sent him tumbling to the ground, but that was fine. Buster had gotten what he’d wanted. He was a little disappointed that the crackling flames drowned out most of the screams from the rodents, but that was fine. Everything was fine. He sat there smiling as Stormwolf and Firecat waded toward him through the flames to drag him off to Security. Maybe he’d be expelled, but he’d shown them. He’d shown them all.
I am the kernel that pops in the night. I am the pain that keeps your dentist employed.
Last Edit: 5 years 8 months ago by Kettlekorn.

Domoviye
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5 years 8 months ago - 5 years 8 months ago #58
Domoviye replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
A new student arrived late in Martial Arts, a big bruiser who had a squished nose, fists like battered hams, biceps as big as most of the students waists and an ugly gleam in his eyes. When he saw the mix of boys and girls, some looking quite strong, but not as strong as him, and smaller regular looking teens, he grinned showing big teeth that seemed capable of chewing up a tank.

Sensei Ito walked over to him, and said something as everyone else continued their practice sparring. The big guy didn’t bother being quiet, or respectful. “I don’t even know why I’m here. None of these pussy’s can give me a challenge. I’ll eat them alive.”

Sensei Tolman had to order several students back to work as they stopped to glare at the obvious bully.

“You think it is that easy? You can judge how strong a fighter is by a single look?” Ito asked.

“Look at how big I am, none of them could hurt me even if I gave them the first hit,” he boomed with laughter.

“Well by all means let’s find out. Teri to the ring. Everyone else let us see if Brick Bat is correct in his assumption,” Ito said.

As everyone eagerly knelt to watch the ensuing chaos, Ito explained to Brick Bat about how to spar in his dojo, emphasizing multiple times while looking at Teri that they had to get their opponent into the cage. The new boy seemed to be unsure if he should be laughing at his six inch tall fairy opponent or angry.

Before they started, Ito seemed to notice that Teri was sweating hard after her practice which had involved dive bombing a target with various heavy objects. “Before we begin would either of you like a drink,” he asked.

“Yes, Sensei,” Teri said.

“Sure. It will help wash down the bug,” Brick Bat said.

Tolman appeared with two sports drinks, letting Brick Bat choose his first. Teri looked at the second bottle cautiously, as the entire class suddenly scooted as close to the walls as possible.

“Are you sure about this?” she asked.

Ito nodded. “Drink up, and remember just get him into the capture cage.”

“You keep saying that old man, is her brain so small she can’t remember anything for twenty seconds?” the bully said.

Teri glared at him and drank the bottle down in one gulp. She burped and wiped her face, grinning from ear to ear, her eyes lit up.

“Come on Teri, to the circle and bow,” Ito said somewhat hurriedly.

Teri bowed about fifty times her head almost hitting the floor, in the time it took Brick Bat to bow once.

“Hajime!” the usually calm Sensei shouted, before diving halfway across the dojo.

**

The students came out from behind the forcefield that some of the devisors and gadgeteers had thrown up. The slower students were covered in plaster from when Brick Bat and Teri had hit the ceiling and did a couple of laps with the boys head leaving a furrow in the hard plaster.

Several mats had for all practical purposes exploded when they had valiantly tried to slow down the two fighters as they returned to earth, several times. The walls were in pretty good shape, two of them would need to be plastered over, but they’d been made to handle brick fights, so that was an easy task. The capture cage however would need to be rebuilt. It had three new doorways, the first two had been created when Teri had flown Brick Bat into it and kept going. The third one was her more successful second attempt.

Ito walked over to the dazed and utterly confused boy. He’d have a headache but he wasn’t hurt too badly, aside from some minor bruises. “So Brick Bat, do you still believe that you can judge an opponent just by looking at them?” he asked.

“Wh-wh-what happened?” Brick Bat managed to slur, still not risking standing up.

“You lost, badly. When you can stand join the other students and learn how to fight properly, hopefully you’ll have more respect for your classmates.”

Turning away from the brick, he went to the far end of the dojo where Teri was curled up, snoring loudly. Scooping her up, he handed the exhausted fairy to Tolman who took her into the small office to sleep it off.

“Now, let us return to our lessons,” the evil old man told everyone, a gleam in his eyes.
Last Edit: 5 years 8 months ago by Domoviye.

Kettlekorn
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5 years 8 months ago #59
Kettlekorn replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
“What is that?” shouts Runs Faster.

His younger brother, Watches Hard, snorts. “It’s an orca, obviously.”

“I am Willie,” says the orca agreeably.

Runs Faster shakes his head. “But orca don’t have legs. I know all creatures with legs, all creatures that run. The orca has no legs. This is no orca. This cannot exist.”

“I am Willie,” says the orca stubbornly.

Watches Hard frowns and approaches the orca cautiously, his hands spread to show he means no harm. “Brother Orca! Why have you grown legs and come to land? Is there trouble in the ocean?”

“I am Willie, and Willie is Free,” says the orca firmly.

“Yes, um... Willie. But this is very strange. Why have-” Watches Hard pauses mid sentence, then snaps his head to the west where a cloud of dust is rising. He licks his lips then speaks with forced calm, eyes unmoving. “I- I think your destiny has come, Runs Faster. Go! Warn the others! Hurry! The orca are coming!”

As Runs Faster bolts, Willie bellows at the sky. “Willie is Free! The cage of the Ocean no longer confines! Landfish will be eaten, and Skyfish soon will follow! All Orca are FREE!” Shortly his ranting is drowned out by the thunder of galloping blue whales carrying the horde of orca raiders across the plains. The Era of Orcan Omnipotence has begun, and the Earth trembles before it.
I am the kernel that pops in the night. I am the pain that keeps your dentist employed.

Cryptic
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5 years 8 months ago #60
Cryptic replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Two excerpts from “DeVille’s Daughter”

Anna Parsons, aka Aquerna looked up as I came over to the Underdog’s usual table and gave me a happy grin. “Hi Leslie! Gonna join us today?” she asked nodding to the rest of the low powered students who didn’t think that they where worth anything or where not willing to stand up for themselves. Part of me, the part hardened by my time at DeVille thought them pathetic, while the other untainted part of me just felt sorry for them and wanted... I wasn’t sure what I wanted for them.

“Not today. I wanted to ask you...” My nose twitched at the same time Ann’s did and we both turned towards Nate. “Oh God... get your ass over by the vent.” I gagged, eyes watering.

“What? It was only a little one!” Nate protested weakly, a spoon full of baked beans half way to his mouth.

“Nate, it’s melting the plastic seat of your chair.” Winnie pointed out as she and the rest of the Underdogs scooted further away from the flatulent Avatar.

“I’ve lost my appetite.” Anna groaned as she grabbed her tray and bounced up. I’d seen pictures of her from her freshman year and while she wasn’t an Exemplar Beauty she had still matured into an extremely cute young woman who would likely have been a 7 or 8 any where else. Ok, maybe I was selling her short, maybe she was a 9. Her shoulder length brown hair bounced like a squirrel tail as she moved, and the energy, as well as good cheer, she radiated was infectious. “So what did you wanna talk about Les?”

“I wanted to know if you where interested in joining a forming sim team.”

“Thanks, but I’m not that good...”

I shrugged, knowing I wouldn’t get past her block if she wasn’t willing to move past it. “All right, thought I’d ask. If you change your mind there’ll will always be a slot on the Vindicators for Squirrel Girl.”

~*~

“Korenda has nothing to do with it this year, other then snipping at us. I was wondering if you’d like to be the Falcon to my Widow and Donovan’s War Machine?”

“You have anyone else yet?” Billie asked. “Ayla and Jericho have decent things to say about Donovan.” she added as an aside to Starling.

“Thinking Clover to fill the slot of Scarlet Witch, as my first choice for spell slinger turned me down and suggested her instead. I kinda feel like we need another heavy hitter though...”

Billie looked a little sick at my dropping Estelle’s name. “Oh God... you want to make those three more dangerous, by teaching them to work together and plan things out?”

“And maybe if they planned better, they wouldn’t cause as much chaos. Besides I want chaos on my side while in the sims.”
I am a caffeine heathen; I prefer the waters of the mountain over the juice of the bean. Keep the Dews coming and no one will be hurt.

Jarjaross
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5 years 8 months ago #61
Jarjaross replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Valentine wrote: Anna was surprised when a hand snuck in and stopped the elevator doors, she was sure that she hadn’t heard one behind her.

“Hold the elevator, please,” a pleasant feminine southern drawl called out. Anna stabbed the door open button and held it as she watched a curvaceous girl caught up to the hand.

As Reach entered the elevator, she smiled a thanks to Anna. “Taking someone lunch?”

Anna smiled back, “Jer... er Hazmat never remembers to eat, when he’s working.”

“Jen... Spark is the same way.”

The elevator door opened, Anna turned right and Harley turned left. They looked back simultaneously, “Same time tomorrow?”


The next day

As agreed Aquerna and Reach met at the elevator the next day. Both were surprised when a low hissing voice said, “hold the door pleasse.”

They were shocked when Thuban king of faction 3 showed up in person and got on the elevator holding a similar package to what they themselves held.

After several moments of awkward silence Reach worked up the courage to ask, “so who ya in for?”

“Generator is working on a new project and forgot about our dinner date. Jinn was there of course but it’s not really the same since she doesn’t eat. So I thought…”

“You should grab ‘er dinner to make sure she eats.”

After a few moments Anna and Harley leaned back out of Thuban’s range of vision. Reach made whipping movements and pointed to Thuban. Anna nodded in agreement.
My dreams take me to far off lands and times of distant past and future. They tell what has been done, what will happen and who I am. They show me things beyond the machinations of any man. Tell me, what are dreams to you?

Kettlekorn
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5 years 8 months ago #62
Kettlekorn replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
“Yes, and as I said, that skeletal figure was me.”

“Oh really?” the officer growled, leaning in uncomfortably close. “Prove it.”

I frowned at the sensation of spittle hitting my skin. “You are in my face. Please get out of my face before I remove it.”

“That a threat, little girl?”

I slowly raised my hand to my chin, gripped, and tore off my face. “I do not make threats,” I said calmly as I tucked it into my purse. “Do you believe it was me now? Or will I need to strip down entirely? I hope that seems as unnecessary and inappropriate to you as it does to me, and I’m sure you have better things to do with your time.”

“I- Yes. That will, um, not be necessary.” He leaned back and began wiping the blood off his face with his sleeve.

“I am leaving now.”

He waved at the door and grunted weakly, too busy fumbling for the trash basket to look up.
I am the kernel that pops in the night. I am the pain that keeps your dentist employed.

Phoenix Spiritus
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5 years 8 months ago - 5 years 8 months ago #63
Phoenix Spiritus replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Lewis glanced at his watch and growled, once again glaring around the foyer of the Goodkind Bank’s Springfield Idaho branch. Really there was nothing to growl about, the team were all in position, the insertion had gone without a hitch, and they’d even prevented the silent alarm being given, if anything the robbery was ahead of schedule, but the adrenaline was up, the blood was pumping and Lewis, for all his experience, could not stop himself once more glancing at his watch, relieving his frustration a little by shouting the countdown.

Glancing towards the front door, left unlock as it was their escape route, Lewis swore as a perky cheerleader approached the door obviously intent on entering. Cursing fate’s love of Murphy, Lewis started to move towards the door to intercept the cheerleader, but again Murphy stepped in. Instead of opening the door in a state of oblivion, the cheerleader took the merest glance inside before her posture gave away that she comprehended the scene before her.

Hurrying, trying to use the normal moment of disbelief to close the gap so he could prevent her running, Lewis froze in disbelief himself as instead of freezing, panicking, or just plain running, the cheerleader smiled like all her Christmases had come at once and bounced through the door and straight up to him.

“Who the hell are you?” Lewis growled out menacingly, recovering from his shock.

“Hi! I’m a superhero, can you give up please?” the cheerleader asked fixing him with a million watt smile.

“You! A superhero?” Not just Lewis laughed, but so did most of the rest of his crew, who had gone silent, along with the hostages, to hear what the fearless cheerleader would say. Staring in horror, the closest hostages silently shook their heads at the girl, trying to get her to stop. “You thought a cheerleaders outfit would scare us?” Lewis demanded of the girl.

“Oh no, I was just on the way to practice,” she replied, huge smile still fixed in place. “I have a real super’s costume, would you like me to change into it?” she asked bouncing a little in excitement.

“Little girl,” Lewis growled, eyes hard as diamonds. “If you make one move to leave, I will personally shoot you dead!” he growled, raising his sawn off-shot gun and levelling it at her, rock steady, aimed straight at her chest.

“Oh no, I don’t need to leave,” the cheerleader exclaimed happily, turning around and pulling off her tight shirt, exposing the sports bra she was wearing beneath. “I can change right here!” she declared happily shimmying out of her skirt and reaching behind for her bra straps.

“Well this is a first.” Lewis drawled, eyes appreciating the displayed skin. “Normally I have to pay first for a strip tease!” he murmured impressed, as the rest of the team drew closer, their eyes now almost glued to the stripping girl who was by now naked with her back to them.

“Nearly done!” she called happily as she neatly folded her panties, and crouched down to the small pile of clothes she had made to place them neatly on top, almost making the men watching moan in excitement.

“How about we skip the fight and move straight onto the kissing and make up?” leered Lewis, stepping closer to the naked girl.

“Really?” she exclaimed happily over her shoulder eyes wide in innocent delight. Then reaching up she grabbed the skin of her forehead, and with a shockingly sudden move ripped down, revealing the blood covered skull and muscles beneath. “Because most of my boyfriends run screaming and they never answer their phones or return my calls!” shockingly the still perfect and perky voice rang out of the lipless skull, muscles and bone exposed dripping with blood as she turned to face them, completely naked, but all where too busy staring in horror to notice anything but the missing face revealed.

Grabbing the fingers of her right hand in her left, she jerked loose her shoulder, lifting the skinless ball and socket into the gap where the neck’s skin had come off with the face. Twisting to pull her arm out to its elbow through the stretching skin she continued in the same perky voice as the screaming started, “I mean, I’ve the body of a cheerleader! I work out!” Grunting a little she removed her whole arm, and dropping the skin reached across with her skeletal fingers to grab the left hand and start on that side. “I have a *great* personality, everyone says so! So why is it I can’t even get to the first kiss?” she whined as she finished pulling the left hand out, and using the skin of her arms started pulling down her skin, wriggling sensuously as she shimmying out of her skin like a woman shedding a tight dress.

Looking up she reached out, skeletal hands with blood dripping off them, skin from two boneless arms flapping to the floor from her waist, a still beating heart exposed surrounded by its two inflating and deflating lungs, all in a rib cage dripping in blood. She stepped forward, arms outstretched to embrace the leader of the bank robbers, her faceless, smiling skull moving forward for the promised kiss as as eyes wide in horror, body locked up in fright, Lewis could do nothing more then scream mindlessly at the unimaginable horror coming his way, his gun dropping from nerveless fingers as the overpowering smell of urine permeated the raucous air.
Last Edit: 5 years 8 months ago by Phoenix Spiritus.

E M Pisek
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5 years 8 months ago #64
E M Pisek replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
And by the way, she smiled which for some reason was more hidious than could be imagined. My hero’s name is Embryonic.
What is - was. What was - is.

Phoenix Spiritus
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5 years 8 months ago - 5 years 8 months ago #65
Phoenix Spiritus replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Blame Domoviye for this, he encouraged me.


“Ma’am push. That’s it, push a little harder!”

Gasping, breathing hard and covered in sweat, the young lady stared death at the midwife bent over and looking with professional detachment under the sheet draped over her gravid stomach and upper legs. “I want a cesarian!” she demanded with an angry growl.

Not even bothering to look up from her study of the young woman’s passage, the midwife replied absently with false cheer, “Now dear, the birthing is going fine! We already have some nice dilation, and with a few more pushes you’ll all be done. There is no reason at all to contemplate such a nasty, dangerous procedure.”

“Who’s contemplating!” growled the young woman, ripping off the sheet and reaching for the top of her swollen belly.

Looking up in puzzlement at all the extra light, the midwife’s eyes widened in horror as the girl calmly grabbed two handfuls of the skin on her belly and ripped them apart, pulling them aside till the whole swollen expanse was denulled of skin. Screaming for help, the midwife dived for the emergent alarm, slapping it on and then jumped back to the woman, grabbing for her arms.

Contemptuously the woman flicked the midwife aside, throwing her to the side of the room, where the midwife lay slumped, stunned and confused, eyes locked on the horror scene before her, a scene the first to respond to her summons found before them as they raced through the door.

A flayed body, the muscles from the stomach engorged in pregnancy, two blood covered hands pushing into the mass ruthlessly. Screaming in horror, experienced nurses fell to their knees, or rushed back out of the room, puking, screaming, running from the nightmare.

Face harsh, emotions locked down as she strode purposely past her fainting nurses, the ward sister slammed her way into the number three delivery ward just in time to see arms, bloody to the elbows, withdraw a squirming, kicking screaming bundle from a body mess her brain only just managed to identify as a flayed, bleeding, pregnant woman.

Eyes wide in horror Sister Turner watch as the arms drew the writhing mass up the exposed chest of the body before her, stopping to cradle the writhing bundle. Clinging to the edge of sanity she looked up, into the eyes of the true horror of the room. A smiling, loving face, looking down in complete bliss from atop the wreckage of the young woman’s body. Absently a flap of skin was rolled back up onto the chest, and the wriggling mass, belatedly Sister Turned identified it as a baby, was lowered to it, as enthusiastically a mouth attached itself to the bloody mess and started suckling.

Looking up, directly into Sister Turner’s eyes, the coup de gras for her sanity was delivered. There are some things even the hardened psych of an experienced medical professional is just not equiped to handle.

In a perky, estatic, deliriously happy voice the horror before her spoke. “Oh Hi! Look, I’ll look after Suzy here, but do you think you can cut the cord and check on the afterbirth for me please?”
Last Edit: 5 years 8 months ago by Phoenix Spiritus.

Domoviye
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5 years 8 months ago #66
Domoviye replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Suzy ran into the living room where her mother was relaxing after a long day of being a superhero, by massaging her skin in a special cream that would keep it nice and supple. The superhero was standing on a plastic tarp to keep any blood from staining the hardwood floor.

“Mom! Check it out!” Suzy cried, not worrying that her mother was standing there looking like a skinned corpse. “I manifested today!”

Without waiting for her mother to speak, she jabbed two fingers into her arm just below her shoulder. There was a pop and the bones of her arm, hand and fingers came sliding out through a slit in the skin. The bones hovered in the air and waved. The muscles and skin of the arm stayed attached to Suzy, moving like a boneless worm but still under her control.

“I can do this with my entire skeleton! Isn’t it cool!”

Her mother jumped for joy, spraying blood and cream around the room. “This calls for a celebration! And I’ll talk to the team about getting you signed up as a junior member. The criminals of the city won’t know what hit them.”

E M Pisek
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5 years 8 months ago #67
E M Pisek replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Priscilla stood in front of her mirror her body wobbly to an fro as she took in how her body had manifested. It still looked the same to her even with the change only her skin was looseer, more flexible as her head took to flopping down.

Once more she reached with her hands to straighten her head so she could get a better look.

“MOOOOM!” Priscilla called out hating how she had to have her mothers help to get dressed. Her clothes lay on the bed just waiting to be put on.

“Yes honey?” her mother called out from the other side of the door.

Turning her skin flopped to the ground like a fish as her skeleton moved to open the door.

“I can’t seem to open wide enough to fit my skin back over my bones,” Priscilla whined as her eyes could only stare upwards towards the ceiling. “And the bus will be here soon.”

“Honey I told you not to use your dads soap, you know how it dries out your skin making it shrink,” Priscilla’s mom said as she went to retrieve the steam iron.
What is - was. What was - is.

E M Pisek
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5 years 8 months ago - 5 years 8 months ago #68
E M Pisek replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Old saw bones as Priscilla called her skeleton waited beside the dry as soon as her mother started the wash machine. She had made sure to use the latest in fabric softener as well as only the smallest amount of bleach to prevent any skin rash.

“Priscilla honey will you come here for a minute, please! her mother beckoned. I need you to reach under the fridge again. Eyeing herself through the front end loader she hated how her bones could just leave her. Closing her eyes she waited once the next cycle began as she tried to hold back her nausea when the spin cycle commenced. It always gave her a head rush and her brothers teasing of calling her a ditz didn’t help.

She hoped her skeleton would be done soon as the last time she was placed in the dryer her brother had changed its setting from fluff dry to high heat causing her skin to flake and a week of eye drops when her eyes dried out.
What is - was. What was - is.
Last Edit: 5 years 8 months ago by E M Pisek.

Domoviye
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5 years 8 months ago #69
Domoviye replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Speedy ran down the street at an easy 50mph, his backpack was full of gems he’d stolen a few minutes ago. The little city had a superhero team, but it wasn’t talked about much by anyone so it couldn’t be very good. The stones had to be worth a couple hundred grand which would let him rest easy for the year. As his mentor had taught him, never be greedy, a job every year or two kept the heat off as the heroes and cops went after the idiots who had to keep their faces in the news.

A guy in a business suit with a mask covering the upper part of the his face stepped out and held his hands up to show that he didn’t have any weapons. Not that that meant much when he could possibly fire lasers from his ass. Still a short talk to see what the opposition was like couldn’t hurt.

“Get out of my way before you get hurt,” Speedy said.

“I’m not here to stop you, that’s not my job as the Negotiator. I’m just here to ask you to surrender before you have to meet the two other members of my team. I promise if you surrender without a fight you’ll get a nice plea bargain and stay out of the big mutant prison, with good behaviour you could be out in a couple of years,” the guy said.

Speedy started laughing. “I’ve gotten away from a dozen super teams and took a punch from Champion, what’s so scary about your team?”

“You didn’t really look us up too closely before you came here, did you?” the hero asked, with a smile that seemed almost sympathetic. “Believe me when I say surrendering is the best option.”

“Like hell. No one is going to catch me.”

The Negotiator took an envelope out of his pocket and threw it to land at Speedy’s feet. “Just look at the photo’s and decide first. It will save you a lot of time and money to avoid the psychiatric treatment.”

Very curious now, Speedy picked up the envelope and pulled out several photo’s. He had to fight back the urge to throw up. Looking at the hero, he saw a red and dripping woman about a block away waving happily at him. Music made him slowly turn around. A skeleton covered in red, and a seemingly boneless teenager were dancing as a stereo was blasting the song, ‘Dem Dry Bones’.

“This- this is real?” he asked.

“Oh yes, we have our fourth member setting up forcefields so that you’ll be locked in with Skins and Dem Bones, so escape will be very difficult. And until you do, you’ll get to fight these two up close and personal. The betting ring currently has you lasting two minutes before you wet yourself and curl up in the fetal position. I think you’ll last three minutes, but I can’t take part in the betting. So shall I take my leave until then or can we make a deal?”

He took a look at the pictures again, and saw that the three horrors were coming closer. Skins was somersaulting and cartwheeling closer, leaving a trail of red behind her, and Dem Bones was doing the most disturbing dance in the history of the world as the body and its skeleton danced together.

“I SURRENDER!”

Arcanist Lupus
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5 years 8 months ago #70
Arcanist Lupus replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Ayla’s eyes widened with astonishment and horror as he read his email. He paid people to send him information about particularly unusual mutations, but he’d never heard of anything quite like this. His mouse hovered over the link to the attached picture, but in the end, his good sense won out over his curiosity, and he did not open it.

Suddenly he smiled wickedly, and began typing up another email.

----

The Negotiator looked at the devise being erected in the center of town, and frowned. Devises usually looked a little strange, but this one was particularly odd. It had lots of lights and whirring parts, but no discernible purpose. Whatever it was, it was unlikely to be good. He cleared his throat as he approached and the devisor, a black boy in a long labcoat, looked up. Was he blind? He wasn’t acting like it, but there was a white cane resting on the devise and his eyes were odd.

“Oh, hi! Please, don’t mind me!” the devisor said with a grin.

“What are you doing here, young man?” the Negotiator asked.

The devisor’s grin grew even broader. “I heard there was a hero team over here who won fights by horrifying their opponents. So I hopped on over to check out the competition.”

The sound of a stereo signaled the arrival of Skins and Dem Bones. The devisor glanced their way. “Wow. I’ve encountered stranger things in my time, but y’all are pretty impressive. Two thumbs up.”

As the team stared at the nonchalant devisor, he finally got up from where he’d been working on his devise. He turned to each of the three heroes, bowed to each of them in turn, and then with a flourish Jericho took off his labcoat, revealing to the world what he was wearing underneath.


---

Three days later, Skins finally felt well enough to return to active hero duty. She’d give Dem Bones another day or two in bed before getting her up and about.
“Shared pain is lessened; shared joy, increased — thus do we refute entropy.” - Spider Robinson

Domoviye
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5 years 8 months ago #71
Domoviye replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Agent Ryan tapped her desk top, taking very slow, deep breaths to keep from yelling at the incompetent excuse of an MCO agent who was standing shamefaced before her. She’d had to send an intern to pick up Agent MacArthur, from some little no nothing town on Christmas eve, and now when she should be reading “The Night Before Christmas” to her youngest, she had to deal with a total mess.

“Now let me make sure everything is perfectly clear, agent MacArthur. One week ago, you and your partner Agent Anthony, went to Sunnydale, after hearing from the police that there was a violent mutant. You discovered it was a newly manifested fourteen year old female, who can manifest small animals. You attempted to apprehend the girl who had run away from home, she initially got away thanks to manifesting cats and a small horde of rats. This caught the attention of the media, and I had to work very hard to keep the situation quiet after the initial reports. Is that correct so far?” she asked.

“Overall yes, but the mutant can manifest the animals at a distance of ten meters. The horde of rats was manifested... in my pants,” he said, blushing and shuddering at the same time.

She just gave him a very flat and unimpressed look. “Duly noted. You then heard of another potential mutant, a teenage male, most likely a Sidhe, with white hair, wearing a blue trench coat, white scarf, and black boots, who calls himself Chris Kringel. He was first witnessed donating over ten thousand dollars worth of food and toys to the local food bank, and asking about the female mutant. Three days ago, you witnessed both mutants together and attempted an arrest them with your partner, whereupon, you found your guns missing, and the mutants teleported away. Rather than notifying us about the entire situation, you told me on the phone that there was a second mutant but you could handle it, downplaying my concerns, and not describing Chris Kringel in any real detail.”

“Well ma’am, they didn’t seem to be friendly, and they are only teenagers. We thought that he wasn’t a serious threat.” He shut up as she scowled at him.

“Now where was I? Ah yes, you then used the back up gadgeteer weapons, which are only suppose to be used for dire threats and began tracking the mutants with the unwilling help of the police. According to the long phone call and even longer email from the chief of police, you and your partner went well beyond the bounds of civility and legality, resorting to, and I quote, ‘bullying, threats and exceeding any legal authority you had as MCO agents operating in the United States of America.’ During this time, you found the mutants singly or together seven times, and in the process of attempting to arrest them, destroyed two civilian vehicles, set a house on fire, caused thirty-two thousand dollars worth of property damage at the local G-Mart, and caused over 50,000 dollars in damages unrelated to those previously stated incidences.” She turned her scowl into a glare, she was in hot water and it was only going to get worse once the superiors of her superiors got back from holidays.

“Those were not entirely our fault, we were in pursuit of the mutants and-”

“Shut up. This morning you finally managed to tag Chris Kringel as he was dressed as an elf handing out toys to children as their parents took them to the skating rink.” She looked at him in disbelief. “You shot Santa’s elf in the arm in front of fifty children?”

“He was a mutant, who knows where he got the toys and what he was going to do to the children!”

“That is a mitigating factor. But shouting that you’re the MCO, and firing wildly at a known teleporter when there were children and parents in the line of fire? Stupidity. That seems to have angered him. You attempted to continue your search, and discovered that he had stolen your keys, the spark plugs, all the equipment in your trunk and your phones. Using the information in your wallet, he then went to your hotel rooms, stole all of your clothes replacing them with elf suits, took every one of your possessions including your laptops, and filled your suitcases with a mix of coal and pig feces. Is that correct?”

“Yes.”

“Yet despite all of that, you did not call me. You continued to pursue the mutants using only your sidearms and the credit card you keep for emergencies in your inside pocket to replace the spark plugs. When you found the female mutant, you both tried to apprehend her, almost running her over. When you came to a stop Chris teleported behind the car, grabbed it and teleported you both twenty feet above the local swimming hole. Not deep enough to drown either of you, but it finally knocked the sense into you to call and ask for assistance. You’ll be happy to know that Agent Anthony should be out of the hospital soon as soon as they’re sure he isn’t suffering from hypothermia.”

Agent MacArthur got to his feet. “This just proves how dangerous he is! We need to cover the town with power armour and agents until they’re caught!”

“Sit down!” She pulled a Christmas card from her desk. “Neither mutant is in Sunnydale anymore. I received this two hours after you contacted the office. I’ll read it for you since I’m no longer certain you’re intelligent enough to read. ‘Seasons Greetings Rebecca Ryan! Thank you for all your agents help, I couldn’t have convinced Melody to come with me if it wasn’t for you. She was actually thinking of running off to LA at first. Don’t worry we’ll keep her safe and out of your hair. Merry Christmas, Chris Kringel. PS: I’ll know if you’re harassing her parents. Let’s keep this nice and civil and you’ll never see me again,.’”

Agent MacArthur had grown very pale by the time she was done. “now that we know about him, we- we need to stop him!”

“The MCO already knows about Chris Kringel. He’s scooped mutants away from us before. Usually we only know about it after the fact, or we’ll see him once or twice as he teleports away too quickly and tries to avoid contact with authority. You pushed him just enough to annoy him without putting him at any real risk. If you had informed me of all the details from the start we could have dealt with him effectively. Instead you ran our good name through the mud, lost both mutants, and cost us a a large sum of money in fines, damages and damage control. You’re on leave until further notice, you should probably start working on your resume. Now get out, I’m going to be covering the MCO ass, and kissing ass all night and tomorrow because of you and your partner.”

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 8 months ago - 5 years 8 months ago #72
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Flux: Stoner being a pain in the ass again?
Risk (smirking): Heh, well, unlike you, I never made that mistake. But yeah, he got in my face about some stupid thing about his laundry.
Flux: Got in your face, huh? He likes doing that, like, a lot.
Risk: You warned me about that. That’s why I didn’t make that mistake, like I said.
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 8 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

Jarjaross
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5 years 8 months ago #73
Jarjaross replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
One morning in the Melville girls bathroom.

“Hey Reach, how often do you change gender?” One girl asked.

“Once every couple weeks why?” Asked Reach.

“Oh no reason, how long ago did you last shift into a boy?”

“A couple of weeks ago,” said Reach, ending the sentence with a yawn.

“You said you feel different depending on what gender you are right,” a new girl asked.

“Yeah, I’m an exemplar as a girl so I’m stronger and smarter, also my only male role model was a total loser so I subconsciously sabotage myself as a boy,” Reach said in a way that everyone could tell was rehearsed, not as a lie but as something he said so often he new it off by heart.

“So would you say you are less observant as a boy,” another new girl asked the rather sleepy shifter.

“No it’s about the same, I notice different things as guy than as a girl but I don’t really notice any more in one form,” Reach was getting confused at this point.

“Oh for gods sakes people just be blunt about it. Reach, you should check your gender before going into a restroom, you switched over in your sleep and are a boy right now even though you were a girl when you went to bed. Out, out, out,” one girl said finally fed up with how long it was taking him to figure it out.

“Shit sorry, see you later girls, hopefully I’ll be one of you by then,” Reach said as he ran out of the room.
My dreams take me to far off lands and times of distant past and future. They tell what has been done, what will happen and who I am. They show me things beyond the machinations of any man. Tell me, what are dreams to you?

Jarjaross
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5 years 8 months ago #74
Jarjaross replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Team Kimba was scary. Most of the purposely formed teams weren’t as good as they were. Their story said that they formed to beat the ninjas and then just stuck together. No one believed them. Everyone was talking about how the Goodkind had formed the team on purpose using her vast resources. How wrong they were.

Bloodwolf knew the truth. That hellbeast they kept on a leash must be the leader. Everyone underestimated her. She looked so innocent, and with the Elf Queen’s glamour overpowering everything else in the area, no one would notice a compulsion to protect, to serve. She must have done it as soon as she arrived, sought out the most powerful beings in her cottage so that they would protect her, hide her. He had never seen anyone deny her a request, did no one else notice or did they just assume it was her innocent looks.

Yes it must have been her that brought the team together. It makes so much sense, only a demon lord could keep them in line. Tennyo, she was the key, she was supposedly resistant to any form of psychic coercion, but Generator kept her closest of all, constant pressure must be the only way to keep her in line. He must find a way to sue her against her master…

Just then a familiar shadowy cloak drifted around the corner.

… or he could ignore the whole problem and flee in abject terror from the demon lord’s sister. Yes that seemed the smart course of action here.
My dreams take me to far off lands and times of distant past and future. They tell what has been done, what will happen and who I am. They show me things beyond the machinations of any man. Tell me, what are dreams to you?

Jarjaross
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5 years 8 months ago #75
Jarjaross replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
James was having a hard time today. Normally people were creeped out by his life draining aura and avoided him. Today he wasn’t so lucky. The group of bullies TNT had decided that he was their new punching bag. Or at least N and one of the Ts had. Probably because he corrected a mistake in Truck’s detention, he got out earlier than he should have and was making it up now, which was why he wasn’t here.

Nitro picked him up again when a voice called out, “you guys might want to stop, that guy has powerful friends.”

“Eh, what it to us if the little shit has friends, he got Truck more detention right TK.”

“That is what he was being praised for down at the office, apparently he found a mistake in one of the shift’s time stamps which let Truck out of detention early. He obviously reported it and Truck got more detention because of it.”

“That was-,” James started but was cut off by a punch to the gut. The time stamp being wrong meant some of the grounds workers being paid less, he didn’t even know about Truck’s detention until Ms. Hartford found where the time stamp was from. She really didn’t like these guys so she went out of her way to ensure that he finished the detention instead of leaving it be like she would do for someone she liked… okay like she would do for the alphas, she wouldn’t really do that for anyone else.

“You don’t get to talk you get-,” this time it was Nitro’s turn to be off by something.

As Nitro fell forward onto him James saw a familiar face. Jade pulled the knife she had out of Nitro’s back. She then walked around to the side of Nitro closet to James and gave him a sharp kick to the shoulder, rolling him off of James. She then slapped one of her medical devices onto him and turned to TK saying, “that device will keep him alive for an hour take him to Doyle and he will live,” in a voice scary enough to get TK to grab Nitro and run.

“Here’s your knife back shroud,” she said tossing it back to her sister as she watched them run off, “hey Timeless how bad are you hurt do you need to go to Doyle too?”

“No, not really they didn’t hurt me to badly,” James said to Jade, as the only person able to touch him without unease checked over his wounds.

After the two friends headed their separate ways the precog who had watched the scene said, “You try to warn some people,” she pulled out her phone, “hey Jen where’s Thuban right now, we’re going to want to be there when he hears about this.”
My dreams take me to far off lands and times of distant past and future. They tell what has been done, what will happen and who I am. They show me things beyond the machinations of any man. Tell me, what are dreams to you?

Jarjaross
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5 years 8 months ago - 5 years 8 months ago #76
Jarjaross replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Gunny Bardue was nervous. He absolutely hated how Team Kimba treated his combat Sims, they were a game to them since the first time they did them in team tactics.

But now someone else was treating them as a game and he needed to show them up, and Team Kimba was the best way to do that. He had the techs call them in and they were in a waiting room once he went in it was all over, he would be asking Team Kimba for help. One did not ask Team Kimba for help without consequences, was he willing to pay the price they would ask?

He hoped so, as he walked through the door to the waiting room they were sitting calmly and casually, fooling around as if they weren’t some of the most dangerous mutants who went through Whateley.

“Hello Gunny, what would this be about, you’ve already wasted enough of our time. Running the school from the shadows takes more time than you’d expect,” Ayla said, straight to business as always, “we already know what this meeting is about, we know it isn’t a combat sim, not right now at least, you want us to take the übermien down a peg. Considering that they aren’t here that means that you want us to plan out something specific for them.”

“So you know that already, what is it going to take to get you to take them down,” Gunny wasn’t the least bit surprised that they already knew, they always already knew.

“Radioactive condor bird.”

Three simple words but he knew what she meant. Jade had proven herself to be a strategic genius at multiple points, able to take apart every situation he had thrown at them with essentially insane strategies that always worked. The first one was Radioactive Condor Girl, if he agreed to this it would be opening them up to using what ever strategies they wanted for the rest of the year. They were going to drive him insane. They were going to kill him with a heart attack. They weren’t going back down from this. He was doomed.

With a sigh Gunny said, “done, Jade can come up with whatever strategies you guys want until you graduate.”

Ayla smiled and said, “done, we were only going to ask for it to be used as an example in your team tactics class but that is much more fun.”

He couldn’t tell whether she/he was lying or not, Jade’s strategies were a topic of discussion on campus without being used as class examples but if he started using them in team tactics… he didn’t want to think about the consequences of everyone on campus applying Jade’s insane troll logic to every situation, that really would kill him. Were they showing him the stick after beating him with the carrot or showing him the carrot after he asked for the stick. Or were they just trying to screw with him. He couldn’t tell which of the three options was the worst.

Ayla was watching him, he wasn’t the only one that could mess with people’s heads, “that might not be a bad idea, I’ll set up a lecture on it for the students this year,” let’s see how they react to that. Except they were all smiling now.

“Oh that’s great, I could come in and help with that if you like,” said the sweet, innocent, certifiably insane, little girl who caused all this trouble in the first place, “do you have a DVD of the Übermien’s fights? Ayla is making me do the strategies for taking them down.”

Oh god it had already started, he was going to have write a will, he was going to die before the end of the year.

A few days later.

“Ubermen, you are hear today to face a rare challenge for a team made of mainly first years,” Gunny started purposely mispronouncing the name to annoy them, “you will be facing Team Kimba. Or at least you will be facing one of them.”

“Oh god, we’re facing Tennyo, the most powerful mutant in school.”

“No your not facing Tennyo.”

“Dear lord we have been warned about Dark-Phase.”

“Nope.”

“Okay so at least we get to meet the fairy queen. Maybe even see her up close.”

“No.”

“Maybe it is Lancer, the strat ops, one of the best PK bricks on campus, current leader of the grunts, yeah I can see him soloing a sim.”
This time Gunny just starts shaking his head.

“Ok Chaka is supposed to be undefeated in individual bouts.”

Not even a head shake, just a raised eyebrow.

“Okay so it must be a death match with the dead girl. She’s already dead and can’t be killed so it is an impossible match we can’t win that is supposed to teach us a lesson about being cocky.”

“Your very close. You will in fact be facing the Shroud’s sister Generator. I don’t know about the rest of that nonsense though, I mean really setting you up with a goal you know is impossible would be pointless.”

The übermien were still celebrating the fact that they had an easy opponent that they didn’t ponder his last statement.

Five minutes later.

The Übermien were back in the waiting room all shivering in fear.

“No need for a debrief, Jade did her job well… You should be glad she was in a good mood today, look up security incidents involving trees and railroad spikes for a reason not to get on her bad side.”
My dreams take me to far off lands and times of distant past and future. They tell what has been done, what will happen and who I am. They show me things beyond the machinations of any man. Tell me, what are dreams to you?
Last Edit: 5 years 8 months ago by Jarjaross.

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5 years 8 months ago #77
Jarjaross replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Pucelle was disliked by most of her dorm mates. She was thought of as one of those people who pitied those GSD. They thought she wore the iron mask because she was guilty about being pretty. They weren’t wrong. They were wrong about the why.

Everyone assumed that she pitied those less fortunate than her. They thought she saw those around her who were ugly and pitied them so much that put on a mask to hide the fact that fact that she was more fortunate than they were. She didn’t mind, even if they thought she was just a &1+{# that was fine, it was their right. They didn’t need to know the truth. Heck she didn’t have the right to tell them they were wrong.

She had few friends at Whateley so she didn’t have to worry about them meeting her parents. Everyone would be distracted by the pretties anyway. That would be her logic. No one would notice the parents of someone who wore a mask and wasn’t popular anyway.

So on parents day she met her parents off to the side and led them away. Hiding them away in shame. Not that she was ashamed of them, what was there to be ashamed of, from what she said they were wonderful people. No she was ashamed of herself, her own looks. Looking at her father it was obvious where the idea for the mask had come from, he didn’t need to were one to look like that though. Her mother was different, bony protrusions extended from all over her body including her face, as well as being covered in fur. They certainly made an interesting couple, but not what you would expect to be the parents of the pretty, pitying, Pucelle.

Not many saw her show her parents around. Even fewer knew who she was. Some did, they reconsidered everything she had said. Everything she had done. Not all of them thought differently of her. But she did make some new friends in the weeks following parents day. She never knew why.
My dreams take me to far off lands and times of distant past and future. They tell what has been done, what will happen and who I am. They show me things beyond the machinations of any man. Tell me, what are dreams to you?

Jarjaross
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5 years 8 months ago #78
Jarjaross replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
The crowd of students was uneasy. Normally the opening ceremonies were run for the first years and new students, but this year they called everyone to the assembly. This not only confused people, as this was normally done after disasters like the Halloween of 05 or school wide events like the shoulder angel conspiracy, but it also made it a might bit crowded.

After they had been stewing for a while a little girl walked up on stage. She looked like she could be no older than 13. What was worse was that she was wearing a pink hello kitty t-shirt, a Hannah Montana jacket, a skirt that looks like it belongs in an 80s sitcom, and rainbow neon stockings. Worse yet she walked straight to the podium, this was the vaunted Mrs. Carson, Lady Astarte, headmistress of the school.

“Hello, I am Jade Sinclair, code name Generator. Most of you were expecting Lady Astarte to be here to give a speech seeing as she is the Headmistress. I am here because she is on vacation, now you’re all thinking ‘but we just got back from summer vacation,’ and you are right, you just got back from a vacation. Being Whateley’s Headmistress is a full time job, as I am unfortunately finding out, even during the summer Mrs. Carson, files papers for new students, double checks things to make sure that Ms. Hartford didn’t purposely screw anything up or anyone over, goes on diplomatic meetings, arranges the paper work for the MCO, double checks things for Hartford screw ups, and check over anything she’s not involved with to make sure Hartford isn’t screwing over students. On top of all that she is also a part time super hero. So when everyone on staff decided that she needed a vacation she kinda knew that she couldn’t just leave things to Hartford, all of the GSD students who couldn’t afford tuition on their own would be kicked out for starters. Why did they decide on me? I have no clue, I’m sure there is a better alternative to someone who thinks the best way to end the fight is to mentally scar someone so badly that they never want to fight you again. Then again maybe there is some appeal to having a someone who purposely lives like a teenager school them, though in my case it is less purposely and more forcibly.

“Some of you know me as the demon babysitter that your parents hired to protect you as a child, I ask you to spread the fear. To those of you who don’t know me, I stopped aging at 11 so I look like this, I also have a kill count higher than most supervillains so don’t be fooled. I tell you this so you will take the appropriate caution when you think of bullying another student. I was a target when I was here because of everyone in team Kimba I was the one that looked the most harmless. They stopped attacking when they realized I was the token evil teammate and made up for lack of power with creative viscousness. I will use the same creative viscousness when determine your punishments for breaking the rules. Oh and to Loophole’s daughter, I will bring your mother in if you try to bend the rules so you aren’t punished.

“I was born to a poor household in Topeka, and although I didn’t know it at the time my father was a loan shark. How a loan shark can end up poor is beyond me but it happened. Now girls whoever tells you not to marry for love is a fool, I married for love and it brought me out of the gutter, literally at that point in time that I met my husband I worked in the sewers. I am married to Stephan Chang Sinclair, code name Thuban, also known as the dragon king of Kansas, yes I’m the reason he has such an odd last name for a Chinese industrialist. And why he lives in Kansas. And why he owns hello kitty. You now know that no matter what class of citizen you are I have experienced it, you don’t get any excuses for being a poopyhead.”

On that rather odd whimsical note her entire body disintegrated. As she vanished every door in the room slammed shut and locked in an eerie union and then whole room spoke. Not the students or the teachers but the walls, the floor, heck even the stage curtain and the chairs all vibrated at once, speaking in one unified, really scary voice, “I AM HERE, I WILL PROTECT YOU, BUT KNOW THIS, I AM EVERY WALL AND EVERY FLOOR, EVERY WINDOW AND EVERY CEILING, EVERY TREE AND BLADE OF GRASS! AND, I! AM! WATCHING!”
My dreams take me to far off lands and times of distant past and future. They tell what has been done, what will happen and who I am. They show me things beyond the machinations of any man. Tell me, what are dreams to you?

Jarjaross
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5 years 8 months ago #79
Jarjaross replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Jinn finished her speech and slowly began letting the chalk flow away. She was actually two Jinns one making up her left half the other making up her right. They went in opposite direction each going to different vents.

The effect was quite spectacular. She knew, she practiced this in front of Jade. Turning to dust and blowing away in the wind was nice but if she made herself into strings of chalk she cloud unravel the clothes as well to make it look like she was teleporting, or that her body was unravelling.

Though now that she thought of it you probably couldn’t see the effect that far back in the room. Oh and the jack, you can’t unweave leather, better just drop it, though it ruined the effect even more. She hoped Jade did her part right, she had to head over to the office to make sure everything was in order.

Jade sat beneath the stage with Shroud watch over her. “I hope this works,” she said as she put on the Diadem that Tennyo had given her all those years ago. She placed her hands upon the ground and called upon her power through the Diadem as if it were mythreal.

She spread her consciousness throughout the auditorium as she waited for the signal from shroud. It was wonderful and terrible, she could see everything in the room even the smallest grain of dust, even the water in the air. She avoided touching the air with her mind, especially with the Diadem’s power she could control it but it gave her such a headache afterwards and she was already possessing an entire room’s worth of solid objects.

There was the signal, the old swear that they used all through high-school to fool people into thinking she was much younger than she really was. She had her speech all lined up ahead of time, right down to the massive crescendo at the end. The vibrations were actually the easier part of the speech, though it was a little taxing to make noises so loud, the synchronis movement of the doors and locks at the beginning was much harder with so many little differences and her consciousness spread so thin.

She hoped they remembered that the doors locked from the inside as she came back to her body. Though using the Diadem enhanced her powers greatly, such power came at a cost, she could only use it for a short while and when she did she was knocked out for twice as long at least. That is why she had shroud watch over her.
My dreams take me to far off lands and times of distant past and future. They tell what has been done, what will happen and who I am. They show me things beyond the machinations of any man. Tell me, what are dreams to you?

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 8 months ago #80
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Exhausted, Heather just lay on her bed for several long moments panting, a spaced-out smile on her face. That was incredible!, she thought.

OK, so it was the first time for both of them, so things were a bit awkward at first, but after a while they both started relaxing, and... she smiled even wider at the fresh memories of it.

But as she settled down from her state of bliss, she started to notice that everything in the dorm room - everything - was soaked in what she really, really hoped was just water.

Sheepishly, she looked into the stunned face of a naked and sopping wet Jody Cooms.

“Oops?”
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!

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5 years 8 months ago #81
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
It was around 4:40 on a Friday afternoon, and as usual Xander was getting one last round of Shirley Temples for the four girls who were chittering up a storm at one of the tables. “It’s about that time, ladies,” he said gently, laying the last of the soda drinks in front of Rhonda. When they’d first appeared, a few months back, he’d agreed to let them stop by from time to time for some non-alcoholic drinks, as long as either one of the older members of their team were with them, or else that they left before 5 PM. Oh, and as long as they made sure that Slappy didn’t drink anything stronger than Geritol. He was glad that they never gave him any trouble, as he got the distinct impression that they were a lot more dangerous than they appeared.

The humanoid dog/squirrel hybrid rolled her eyes in the way all teenagers did when told something they didn’t want to hear, but she didn’t complain. Instead, she said something in that high-pitched language they shared which made Anna, the youngest of them, blush furiously, while Grace seemed confused.

He never did figure out how it was that both Grace and Rhonda were the oldest one of the four at the same time, but since time-travel appeared to be involved, he didn’t look into it too closely.

Moments later, as Xander got back to the bar, a mustachioed man in his early thirties wearing what appeared to be a very expensive suit came in and headed towards him. “Hello, I hear your name is Xander Harris, right? I was supposed to join someone here for a business meeting tonight and was told to ask you...”

Just then a gleeful screech came from the girls’ table, and the handsome stranger went white as a ghost. “Mr. Stark! Mr. Stark! It’s me, Doreen! Oh wow I can’t believe you know this place too this is just soooo awesome you have just got to meet my friends here it is just oh wow...”

And with that, the newcomer was flocked by the younger members of the All-Squirrel Squad.
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 8 months ago #82
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
“What’s wrong, Sadhira? I thought you’d be thrilled to get a new roomie this year, I know you never cared much for Maladicta, so what’s happened?”

“Well, it’s just been a bit uncomfortable between Mikii and me since I found out why she wears an eyepatch.”

“Oh?”

Kaiju nodded. “It seems she was living in Osaka last June, and...”

“Oh! The thing with the giant walking shark? Yeah, I can see why that would make things... awkward...”
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 8 months ago - 5 years 8 months ago #83
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
12 January 2007
Brittany Sholes stared straight up at the ceiling of her room here in the prison hospital. They told her it was a school, but she knew better. They wouldn’t take a freak like her to a school, after all.

Besides, any place where they didn’t let her die had to be a prison.

A kindly-looking older man named Dr. Bellows was talking to her, but she wouldn’t listen. It was no use, trying to change her mind. She knew monsters deserved to die, and she wouldn’t live as a monster.

That was what she told herself when she saw what had happened, saw how her eyes had gone from the sky blue they had been to a dark hunter green no real person has ever had. As soon as she saw that, she knew she had to kill herself. She didn’t want to, because she knew suicide was a sin, but if she did it because she was a monster, did it really count? She was sure that it was better to die than go on like that.

It didn’t take her even one minute to open the medicine cabinet and swallow the whole bottle of her mother’s Valium.

But she didn’t count on her parents not realizing what had happened. Had they known about it, they would have let her die, they even told the doctors that when they explained to them why Brittany had done it. They knew the truth, and she was dead to them, as dead as she should have been from the overdose. It never even occurred to her that she was hearing the conversation from several rooms away, despite the fact that they were whispering.

When they took the restraints off of her arms, she tried to run for the window, to jump out of it, but they had another freak there, that bitch Invincibelle must have been there to protect them from her, and she was able to hold her down while the orderlies restrained her again. They kept the straps on her all the time after that, except when they wheeled her out to the ambulance for that long ride north to the prison.

She wondered if this was where they took that weirdo, Kyle, when they found out that he was a monster, too. Not that it mattered. They couldn’t keep her in bed sedated forever. Eventually, she would be free to end this horrible existence and go to Hell like she deserved, like all the monsters here deserved.

It had to be better than this.
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 8 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 8 months ago - 5 years 8 months ago #84
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
12 June 1997
Elizabeth Carson threw the dossier she was reading down on her kitchen table, hard. It was easily the most disturbing, no, disgusting intelligence report she had read in a long time, and it was going to make life hell for everyone who was trying to keep the peace between mutants and baselines. She suddenly felt the need for a stiff drink and someone to comfort her.

It was Dr Amazing’s report on the recent events in Buffalo, NY, and it was worse than anyone anticipated. If Messing was right, an old specter had arisen again, and every aspect of how it was being handled had gone as badly as it could. She was just glad that Dr. Otto had seen fit to pass it along to her under the table, though it made her ill to read it.

It started innocuously enough, when a social worker noted a statistical anomaly: a sharp rise in teen pregnancies among the wealthier families in Buffalo. The social worker was alarmed enough to do some more digging, though, and found that all of these pregnancies had something in common: a gynecology clinic operated by one Dr. James Searles.

Suspecting that either Searles or someone on his staff had been abusing the girls, she notified the police, who soon raided the office. Dr Searles had vanished, though, and there was no physical evidence on the scene to indicate just what had occurred. Worse, it seemed that the original supposition was wrong: paternity tests showed that the children had several different fathers, none of whom were on Searles’ staff. They did discover that several of Searles’ older patients were pregnant or had given birth recently, though, so they started investigating his patient records. Most of them seemed ordinary, but it soon became apparent that Searles had overlooked some computerized documents he’d meant to destroy. These were so troubling that it led law enforcement to call in Messing, and, unfortunately, the MCO and DPA as well.

It quickly became apparent that Searles, though a baseline himself, was affiliated with a notorious mutant supremacist group called Wellspring that had been active in the 1960s. While Wellspring was best known publicly for threatening to contaminate water supplies with mutagenic chemicals, their primary modus operandi was to recruit or kidnap young female mutants for their breeding program, as well as infiltrating fertility clinics to slip mutant genetic specimens into their sperm banks. They were seen as both frightening and absurd, but they managed to outlast most of the more militant groups.

Liz frowned at that part. No one had heard from Wellspring in decades, and it was assumed that they had dissolved some time in the mid-1970s. If they had gone underground, and were only just now reappearing, or if some new group was copying them, it was a serious matter. And this new tactic of inseminating women in their teens and twenties without their consent was nothing short of sickening.

But there was worse. It seems some of the paternity tests did come up with hits when compared to known gene samples for several suspected members of Evolution Rocks and other pro-mutant groups, which made it likely that people in those organizations were also involved. There were others that had the variant form of the metagene complex associated with the Bloodline, which worried Liz even more; if the Bloodline, or a splinter group off of it, were involved, it could prove very difficult to trace the paper trails to their sources. All in all, it was news no one wanted to hear.

The best part? With the MCO involved, it was a certainty that the poor children in question were going to be watched and harassed for years, and very likely snatched up as soon as any of them show signs of mutation. That alone would be enough to ruin her sleep for several nights to come.

Knowing this, she decided to get to work on a plan to deal with this crisis as long as she could, hoping that she could drive herself to exhaustion, and maybe find some way of untangling this Gordian knot.
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 8 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

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5 years 8 months ago #85
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Most of the other students were back at their dorm rooms, waiting things out. A few seemed to have snuck out to see, and I’m guessing maybe get involved in, whatever was going to happen; I noticed that this included Bloodwolf and Systemic, at the very least, which didn’t bode well for a peaceful resolution, in my opinion. And there were a few, like us, who had the unfortunate position of being in the middle of things. We’d been told to wait near the front gates, in sight of the ‘guests’, but not to do anything unless told to by Mrs. Carson. The Grunts were lined up on either side of the gate, ostensibly as an honor guard, but no one could mistake the fact that they were armed to the teeth.

To say we were nervous would be to understate things dramatically. Even Chaka was quiet, though she was bouncing on the balls of her feet with pent-up energy.

Carson herself was out in full regalia, with a phalanx of school faculty and staff at her back. I could see Wildhammer and Ōka to her left (I mentally was kicking myself when I realized that the latter was Mrs. Shugendo; how did I miss that before?), Mr. Paulson in his Tin Man form was to the right, as was Mr. Donner, who was simply dressed in his usual clothes but was wearing a heavy chain like a belt. Several others I knew by their codenames, but didn’t recognize who they were, followed. At the rear was the intimidating form of a dragon, which I gathered was the enigmatic Tywyswyr’s true form.

I thought about the message Paul had sent me, and wondered if he was going to get in trouble for it. I took Dana’s hand and gave it a squeeze, though I wasn’t sure which of us I was trying to reassure.

Moments later, I could see five small dots moving over the horizon, rapidly swelling into view, with more seeming to appear right behind them in a constant flow. Somewhere on one of those dropships, Uncle Herb was preparing for... what? A parley? A raid? A siege? An all-out confrontation against several of the most powerful beings on the planet? I wished I knew.
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!

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5 years 8 months ago - 5 years 8 months ago #86
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
As they walked up towards the door of Poe Cottage, Envy heard her mother say, “Oh! I almost forgot something...”

Wondering what sort of trouble she was in for this time, Fina turned to look, just in time to see Strega pull a small vial out of her purse.

She stared at the small bottle, recognizing it immediately. “I thought you were joking about that stuff!”

“Now, dear, calm down, this isn’t for you. I want you to deliver it to someone - you’ll know who it is when you see her, I’m certain.”

Her hand shaking, she took the bottle of Branwyn’s Tears and quickly put it in her own purse. “Who could possibly...”

“Trust me on this. When you meet the Queen, tell her that she will have to decide who to use it on, when the time comes.”
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 8 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

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5 years 8 months ago - 3 years 1 week ago #87
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
“There’s one more thing you should be careful about, dear,” said Strega breezily. Fina knew, though, that her mind was on something more serious than her tone implied. “You’ll want to be somewhat careful about who you date. It is safe to say that some of your... siblings... will be here at Whateley as well.”

Envy, who would normally be stunned by any mention of who her father was, simply nodded numbly. “Really?” she mumbled, having had more than her share of revelations for one day already.

Well, yes,” her mother added, “You already know Romeo, of course, and I’ve always had suspicions about Kate, but you can be sure that any number of others are around. He is extremely, well, potent, you see, and wonderfully handsome, but he has a definite weakness for the fairer sex...”

And a lifetime of suspicions were thus confirmed.
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 3 years 1 week ago by Schol-R-LEA.

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5 years 8 months ago - 5 years 7 months ago #88
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Spanner still wasn’t entirely familiar with the maze of underground halls that led to the Workshop, and had terrible direction sense even under the best of circumstances, so when she found herself near halls leading to Poe and Hawthorne, she was actually relieved to be able to get her bearings. She was headed back in what she thought was the right direction when another girl, dressed in a tight-fitting green costume, passed her headed in the direction of Poe.

Oh, crap, she thought, as she realized that this was one of the students she was supposed to be watching out for. She hadn’t really wanted her assignment, though the opportunity to attend Whateley was something she couldn’t pass up. She wanted to simply stay inconspicuous and make her reports when she needed, no more.

Unfortunately for her, the other student gave her an odd look, as if trying to figure out where she had seen here before. Suddenly, the taller girl slammed Spanner against the wall and held her in a chokehold.

“Katherine Burberry,” Envy growled, “Your father was on the Jules Verne when I was a captive there. I saw you in his mind. What are you doing here?”

“I, I don’t what, I don’t know what you are talking about!”

“Bullshit! Listen to me carefully. I don’t givea damn what the Bloodline wants with me, or with this school.Just stay out of my way from now on and I won’t interfere. Capice?”

Kate simply nodded, mutely.

Fina let the girl go. “Get the hell out of here, now.” she spat. Spanner turned and ran.
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 7 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

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5 years 8 months ago - 5 years 8 months ago #89
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
“Ah, Billie? Can I ask, like, a personal question about, uhm, Jade?”
“Huh? Oh, sure, Ceecee, shoot.”
“It’s just, you know, I was wondering just how close she is with her boyfriend and all... I mean, have they, uhm...”
“Whew, well, I don’t think they’ve gone any further than a lot of kissing and snuggling. Why?”
“Well, I heard her say something yesterday about her armband being ‘stroke-tastic’ or something like that, and, well... it just sounded, sort of dirty, and I can’t tell when she’s joking about that kinda thing... what’s so funny?”
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Last Edit: 5 years 8 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

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5 years 8 months ago #90
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
“Sit down, child, I have much to discuss with you now. There are things which concern you and your family which you should be made aware of, things I suspect you would have been told when you were older had you been in good standing with your family.”

“Didaskeleh,” Phase answered, “How did you know about this? I mean, I’ve always known that there were secrets in our family which I would be told when I was an adult, but how were you aware of this?”

“I know this because I know your family, and have for a very long time - longer than you ever knew, in fact.” She shifted direction,asking, “You were raised Episcopalian, correct? Do you still consider yourself a Christian?”

“Of course.”

“I see,” replied Circe, who clearly anticipated the answer. “I only ask you this because some of what I may have to tell you might... disturb your faith. There are things about your family you need to know, before I can proceed with teaching you.”

“I see,” Phase said thoughtfully. “If it is something I have to face, then I will,” he added, with a determination he didn’t quite feel.

“Very good. I am not a Christian, of course, and haven’t been a practitioner of any faith in a very long time - which is not to say I do not believe in the existence of the Gods, or even of a single God above all others. Experience has taught me well enough about their reality. I have, however, followed the progress of the religion, and those which came after it, practically since the day that Simon the Rock first began preaching to the Greeks and Romans. I dare say every mystic of the time was both fascinated and disturbed by the growth of this faith, especially in its more esoteric aspects.”

“I know you are aware of the existence of many conspiracies, both ancient and modern, which lurk in the shadows of our world. You no doubt have been taught something of those which practice dark magics, such as the Thule Gemeinshaft and the Brotherhood of the Bell, and you have personal experience of what was the Tong of the Dark Madonna. What you may know less about are those which operate upon what they consider ‘white’ magic, especially those based on Christian theurgy. Such groups are not always beneficent, but they generally see themselves as serving a higher purpose, which can make them no less dangerous than the ‘black magic’ cults they often oppose. Some of these groups hold important secrets, going back the very founding of the Christian church. Your family belongs to one of these, and is inextricably linked with them. Most believe that they are a recent hoax, but they are in fact the last physical link to Joshua the Wise in this world.”

Circe paused, giving her student a moment to let this sink in. It took him a moment to realize that ‘Joshua’ in this case meant Jesus, but once he understood, the rest fell into place.

His heart skipped a beat when he saw the implications. His normal composure broken, he stammered through a dry mouth, “You... you’re talking about the Priory of Sion...”

“Aye! A most impressive deduction. Your knowledge and skill are greater than I expected. Yes, the Goodkind family are from the Priory, or at least a faction splintered off of it. I do not know if your family are from the main lineage they protect, or one of the ‘cadet’ lines such as those of James or Andrew, but yes, yours is the blood of the Holy family of Christendom.

Now, I need you to calm yourself. I can only imagine how great a shock this could be, but I need you set aside the spiritual implications of this and focus on the more immediate matters. There are dangers which you have never imagined which, now that you know the truth of your lineage, you will be subject to. Just the knowledge that the Priory exists, and that there are more than one faction to it, is something which many will kill to learn - or to suppress.

I would not have told you about this, not yet anyway, except that circumstances have forced my hand. Two of the newer students here have ties - direct or indirect - to another faction of the Priory, one known as the Bloodline. While your new cottage-mate, Envy, seems to be opposed to them, there is one whom she has identified to me as an agent of the Bloodline. While this is nothing new - they have sent students and bought security officers here before -your presence, and Fina’s, changes the equation significantly.”

Still feeling drained, Phase struggled to focus. “How so, Didaskeleh?”

“The Bloodline is a faction which seeks to rediscover the secrets of Joshua Magus’s powers - not through theurgy, as some other factions do, but by breeding wizards, and more recently, mutants. They have waged a secret war against several other factions for centuries, which is one of the reasons - not the sole reason,but one of them - why the Goodkind family are against mutants.I do not know the whole reason for the fear and hatred of mutants, but I know that this is not the sole cause. Still, it is an important one, and is probably the oldest reason for it.”
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5 years 8 months ago #91
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Abstract
In the past year, there has been a growing understanding of a newly identified class of mutant ability, variously known as ‘Incarnations’, ‘Eu-avatars’, or ‘Uni-Channellers’, characterized by a close bond with a specific Class 3 or Class X spirit, in individuals showing none of the characteristic traits of the better known sub-classes of Avatars. Due to the rarity of this trait, it has been difficult to identify, but recent events have led to elucidation of this poorly understood form of mutant power. This study reviews the work done with the subjects ‘Tennyo’, ‘Fey’, and ‘Prism’, and discusses the relationship between Incarnations and conventional Avatars, as well as with the established sub-category of Paladins.

Am. Review of Paraphysical Studies, Winter 2011
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5 years 8 months ago #92
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
24 Oct 2029

Elizabeth Carson peered down her nose at the three shame-faced Junior High students before her. “I assume you all know why you were called to my office today? Miss Cody, could you please tell me what rule the three of you broke last night?”

“Uhm, which one do you mean? We were out after curfew, and had gone outside of school grounds without permission, and...”

“I am talking about the one regarding Class X locations.”

The words were little more than a whisper, but they were enough to make all three gulp audibly.

“And you, Miss Wilkins,” she turned to the taller of the children, “As the oldest of our Junior High students, I would expect you to have a little more sense than a pair of seventh graders. Would you mind explaining yourself?”

The young Drow simply remained silent, pulling her head down yet further. She finally seemed ready to speak when the youngest of the trio spoke up.

“But that place is so cool! I mean, its got like the wildest stuff you’ve ever seen! And...”

“Miss Chylds, I don’t know what your mothers and your sister have told you about this school, but it is not a playground, or a school for adventurers! I am aware that you are used to dealing with things like your mother’s familiar, but please remember that Mythos beings are dangerous! The three of you getting killed is the least of what might have happened!”
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5 years 8 months ago #93
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
We were at the Bad Seeds’ table on the upper floor of the Hall for the first lunch period of the new school year when Trevor walked up to up to us with Fina and some other girl I didn’t recognize in tow.

“Here they are,” Phase said to the two girls. He then turned to me and said, “A couple of Senior Specials for you, Jadis. Make sure no one breaks them too badly before the end of the day.” He then headed back to the knot of new Poesies that were around the Kimba table.

“Good to see you made it, Envy,” I said with a wave. I’d met Fina a few times, back when she was still Fino, and we’d gotten to know each other a little better this summer in Karedonia (no, not like that you pervs, I’m not interested in women that way thank you very much, though her desire aura can be distracting). His - her - new look was striking, the spitting image of her mother with all the attributes (damn it,how is it even ex-boys get the Most Common Superpower, but I don’t?), but if you watched how she moves you can still see an echo of the shlumpy kid she used to be. “Who’s your friend?”

“Folks, this is Stormy,” she said with no apparent sarcasm, “She’s rooming with me, and I guess she’s a Bad Seed too. Her father is a minor player calling himself ‘Mr. Magic’.”

Kate looked bemused at this, which told me she knew something. “So you finally did end up at Whateley after all. What changed your mind?”

‘Stormy’ looked sheepishly at Nacht, then said, “I wasn’t given much choice. I hung around with Dad for a couple months, then, well, it wasn’t going to work out. I...,” she got choked up a bit, then went on, “Do you remember Cubby? One of the ‘werewolves’ Dr. Macabre made? Well, he and I, we kinda hooked up before last Christmas happened, and, uh, we weren’t careful.”

The rest of the Seeds were confused, and so was I for that matter, but the implications were obvious. Nacht’s face actually showed some sympathy - OK, most people wouldn’t have noticed that, but I knew her long enough to see it. “Well, since you’re in the Nut House with the Kimbas and not sharing a room with Lupine in Hawthorne, I’m guessing there’s a baby somewhere back in California waiting for you to come back?”

She nodded dejectedly. “I had Carolyn over the summer,” she added, “My mother is watching her while I’m here. When the authorities got wind of where I was, I was given the choice of Whateley or prison...” she trailed off.

“So you decided on both?” Kate snarked. “Did you choose a new name for yourself yet?”

“Uh, actually, Stormy Arkwright is my legal name now,” she replied, “I still need to choose a new codename, because ‘Stormy’ is taken already.”

Interesting. She must have some kind of weather powers, I take it. But why change her name? I’m sensing something is up with that, something to do with both Trevor and Fina somehow, but I can’t put my finger on it.

“Yes, I was wondering about the copyright problems there... I think ‘Coriolis’ is available as a legacy name this year, the last person who used that moniker graduated, but that leaves you with picking another name after school. Tricky, all the really appropriate names are taken already.”

Finally, Thrasher broke in, “Hey, are you going to introduce them to the rest of us, already? It’s great you ladies know each other, but, like, the rest of us are in the dark, here.”

To my surprise, Mal spoke up first. “OK, everyone, this is Envy. Before you ask, Jay-Arm, yes, she has rights to the name. You can probably guess whose daughter she is after the brew-up in France last Spring. Fina, meet the rest of the Seeds.” He continued, “The guy who just spoke up now is Thrasher, his dad is Mach-Five. Render over there is Sunder’s kid, and Nacht belongs to the Bell Witch.” At that last part, Kate gave a slight scowl, which transformed into a tight grin, as if she were remembering something funny. Another thing to wonder about.

Mal went on, “Nephandus is the son of Hexmaster and the Troll Bride, and Dragonrider,” I poked him in the ribs with my elbow, “Uh, well, we can go over that later. Silver Serpent isn’t here right now, and, let’s see, the other new kid is with her, right? I can’t remember her name, but her mother is Marie Laveau - well, she says she is, anyway, I dunno how true it is, but anyway.” He concluded,”You already know Jobe, Pheebs, Romeo, Sis and me, so that about covers it.”

I followed up with, “That leaves introductions for you, Stormy. I’m Jadis, but my codename is She-Beast. Mal here - Techno-Devil - is my brother, and our father is Dr Diabolik. Jobe Wilkins is Gizmatic’s, uh, kid, and Belphoebe is sort of her daughter and sort of her sister. Long story. Rosethorn is the son of Lilith, and Silver Serpent, when she comes back, is the daughter of the Iron Dragon. The other new Seed, Corinne, is the daughter of Le Belle Dame de la Nuit, who really does claim to be Laveau, or maybe her reincarnation, she seems to change her mind on that from time to time. Corinne is still working on her codename,too. You’ll meet them both later, I suppose.”
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5 years 8 months ago - 1 year 7 months ago #94
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
NB: I know this one is sort of OBE now, but I am leaving it as it is for now.

Ayla was busy doing some of the grading for Professor Marley’s Accounting I and II classes, and had to skip this week’s anime showing, so he was surprised to find himself suddenly overwhelmed with an inexplicable sense of grief. He sat up stiff in his chair, trying, with little success, to understand why he was suddenly feeling such a sense of sorrow. He was about to go to the restroom to throw some water on his face and hopefully clear his head some, when Vox burst into the room, sobbing.

Something, he thought as he tried to comfort his girlfriend, is definitely Going On.

Disentangling himself from Vanessa’s death-grip embrace, he put his arm around her and led her out into the hallway, to see what was happening. He found several others walking the halls in a miserable state; even Stoner was crying listlessly against a wall. What could possibly doing this? Is this some sort of empathic attack on Poe?

The answer came to him in the rec room, where he found a dozen girls in front of the television, bawling their eyes out. In the center of this were Fey, Envy, and Euterpe, with even Vamp off to one side, grief-stricken. As he approached them, he could feel the horrible sense of despair grow, and he realized that all four of the empaths were projecting their own misery in a way that reinforced each others’ reactions. A glance at the screen was enough to tell him the source of their catharsis.

“Good Lord! Who the hell decided to show Grave of the Fireflies tonight?”
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Last Edit: 1 year 7 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

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5 years 8 months ago #95
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Stella pulled Heather aside before the Lit Chix meeting, hoping to talk a bit in private. “I didn’t want to set the others off with their ‘Team Kimba’ this and ‘Mystery of Poe’ that, ‘cause I know how annoyed you get with that.”

“Oh? So you are going to pester me about it by yourself instead?”

“Hey! I mean, I guess, but at least I am trying to be nice about it, OK?”

“Sorry, I just get very... touchy about that subject. It’s not as if there’s some big secret going on that I’m not telling people about, and if there were, I would keep it a secret!”

“All right, already! Anyway, I do have a question, about something that occurred to me a while ago. Have you read Sara’s book thing?”

“Well, who hasn’t looked at it? Just because the school tries to keep it from us, doesn’t mean they succeed.”

“Yeah, I know. Anyway, did you see the last chapter?”

“Ohhhh, I can see where this is going...”

“I don’t mean you,silly! It’s just, well, the way I figure it, most of these ‘changelings’ have to have it pretty hard, emotionally I mean,and that’s just the sort of thing that Poe was set up for, right? And, well, I gotta be honest with you, some of the people smelled, well, odd when I first met them, like they were sorta boys and sorta girls, but not quite either one. And most of them, they started being more like what they said they were as time went on. I couldn’t figure it out before, but then when I read the Purple Book, it all just fell into place!”

Selkie looked around conspiratorially, then whispered, “Just keep this to yourself, will you? Yes,some of the changelings are in Poe. I hear some ended up in Whitman because of GSD, but mostly, in Poe. It only stands to reason, now, don’t you think? Most of them aren’t handling it well, so we have to help them out. Mostly, they help each other, though. You can understand why they don’t talk about it, right?”

Lupine nodded, before adding, “Uhm, I mostly wanted to, well, you aren’t going to like this question, but, I was pretty sure Chaka was one, and I know Fey is rooming with her, and I guess I’m wondering...”

Heather’s face got dark as her brow furrowed in frustration. “I do not like to talk about that, but yes, Fey too. Yes, Generator, yes Chaka, yes all of that lot! That’s why they’re always together they way they are. They all met on the first day and somehow it just came together like magic. I don’t know how it happened, they just all worked out somehow, everyone in the cottage has been trying to figure it out.”

“Even Tennyo?”

“Yes! Why, what about her?”

“Well, I mean, do you have any idea what she is, how powerful she is? I don’t know all that much, but I can see Fae spirits and Avatars and things like that, and the spirit she’s bonded with is... I don’t know how to explain it. It’s old, older than Circe, older than the New Olympians, older than your Queen even, maybe older than the world. She smells of something I can’t begin to describe, and when I look at her, it’s like she’s only partly here, like the power inside her trails off into infinity behind her. The only thing like her I’ve seen is Sara, and she’s a demon, but Tennyo... is like the opposite of that, somehow. I’m kind of a friend of her’s, but to be honest, she scares me, a lot.”

“I don’t know much about Tennyo... but what do the ‘Lympies have to do with anything?”

“I... maybe I shouldn’t say it, but I think a lot of people already know, so here goes. They really are the Greek Gods. No, I mean it! They are!”
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5 years 8 months ago #96
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
“Hell’s bells, Carl”, Eloise said as she stared down at the boy writhing on the cot, “Sara warned you about Feral, told you who and what she really is, and yet you had to go provoke the fucking Goddess of the Hunt.”

Sitting down besides him, she continued, “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you had a death wish. Seriously, if she hadn’t been in a playful mood, she would have done a lot more than just tear your dick off and ram it into your eyeball. Between the twins, Razorback, and Erin, you’ve been smacked down, what, five times just since you met Sara? What are we going to do with you?”
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5 years 8 months ago #97
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
“It serves you right for trying to steal my notebook,” Fey said to a blackened and smoldering Solange. Alya chuckled to himself, suddenly glad for having given her that print copy of Dungeon Crawlin’ Fools, even though he meant it as a joke...
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5 years 8 months ago #98
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
22 July 2019
D.M. Brown Medical Center, Armstrong Base, New Houston

Much to their relief, Ayla and Billie found that Loophole was awake and already busy tapping away on her tablet, with Lifeline hovering around the edge of her hospital bed like a worried parent. Phase walked in with the air of a someone trying to hide how concerned he was, but Tennyo slunk in, downcast, as if she had something to feel guilty about.

“Hello, Doc,” said Ayla, “I am sorry things didn’t go as planned. Are you feeling better now?”

“Ah’ve been better, but mostly Ah’m just tired.”

“I keep telling her to rest, but she won’t stop working on her notes,” interjected Maggie, with a hint of exasperation.

“Ah’ve got to get this down before Ah forget...!”

“Do you really think you’ll forget the things you learned through this? You are an Exemplar, after all.”

“Normally, Ah wouldn’t, but this was too much information at once. Ah’m still trying to understand what Ah saw in there, and Ah think Ah may be over mah head this time. Ah have a lot of ideas about it, mostly Pattern theory stuff, but it already seems to be slippin’ through mah fingers.”

Billie, who had been staring out the window at the Lunar landscape outside, finally spoke up. “I’m sorry about all this. I never guessed it would be that hard on you, or on Yukinojo.” after a pause, she added, “He finally came back on line about half an hour ago.”

“Ah know, Carmen has been chattin’ with him about why it shocked both of us like it did. They think the superluminal drive works on principles that aren’t entirely compatible with human psychology. When Ah touched the drive, Ah could feel the warp field even with the drive at idle. Ah’m not sure it would be entirely healthy for me to try it when the drive is running.”

“I’m sorry,” Tennyo repeated.

“Don’t be,” Loophole answered, “Ah knew there was a risk when Ah agreed to this. And it was worth it. Even if we can’t apply the same principles as the Isokist hyperdrive, what Ah learned is gonna move us forward by decades, maybe even centuries. Ah’m glad Ah tried it.”
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5 years 8 months ago #99
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Pale and shaken, Paul Goodkind carefully snuck out of the room he’d accidentally stumbled upon, here in the very heart of Mutterwald. How can I tell Father and Uncle Herb about this without causing something horrible to befall us again? he thought to himself.

My God, his thoughts continued racing, Was this the reason Greg was always warning me about Uncle Theo? Ice ran through his veins as he remembered what he’d seen inside...

It wasa small room, but outfitted with a large television screen of recent make. It looked like the recess for it was made for an older model, though, so it was clear the room had been in use for years. But it was the contents of the shelves lining the walls that shocked him.

He could understand,intellectually at least, the appeal of videos like Too Good To Be True and Horny Exemplar Babes XII; after all, supernatural beauty was hard not to gawk at, thought the idea of a member of his family watching such trash horrified him. But that was only the beginning. Electrifying Beauty? Too Hot To Handle? Those were bad enough. The pseudo-teen titles like Forever Fifteen and F**kable and Sidhe’s All Yours were a genuine shock, and even knowing that the actresses were actually much older than they looked didn’t help, but that wasn’t the worst. It was clear that even the pedophilic crap was older material, unwatched in some time.

No, it was the entire wall of well-worn jewel cases with titles like Freak Frenzy Orgy and A Night at the Sideshow that had him now racing towards the bathroom to lose his lunch.
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5 years 8 months ago #100
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
NB: As with the others, I’m not going to update this, just post it as it is.

20 June, 2013
Boston, MA

Jimmy Zaccario, a bartender working at the Boston Harbor Hotel, had to admit that he’d never seen a wedding reception quite like this one. The entire hotel had been hired out, and rumor had it that it was one of the Goodkinds who had shelled out for it, but one look at the wedding party made it clear that no one by that name was going to be here, at least not if they were actually related to those Goodkinds. Most of the guests, male and female, looked like the kind of airbrushed perfection that fashion magazines wished they could get.

The happy couple, a pair of out-of-town lesbians who were apparently hoping to make a run against their home state’s ban on same-sex marriage, were both stunners, but for some reason one of them had chosen some kind of American Indian costume for her wedding dress. Her new wife, who was a bit older and had long blonde hair the color of corn silk, was dressed more conventionally, but still showed a lot more skin than your typical wedding gown would dare.

The rest of the wedding party seemed to follow suit. There were two ginormous guys who had somehow found someone to tailor suits for them. One of these had another looker on his arm, apparently his wife from the conversation he picked up. A local ‘kept woman’ he recognized from previous parties was vamping around with some guy in a tux whom she obviously had just met, but almost everyone else seemed to know all the others. The blind Black guy in the sky-blue business suit was getting ribbed by the little Asian girl about how normal he’d dressed today. Another chick - at least he though it was a chick - who also looked Native American seemed to be keeping an eye out for something, as if she - or he? - was expecting trouble. S/he wasn’t the only one; apparently, the blonde at the door, who looked like she couldn’t more than seventeen, was part of the security detail, and she clearly took her job seriously.

Then there was this woman in a very expensive men’s suit with short black hair and an attitude you could feel from fifteen feet away. Sticking close to her was a red-haired teen girl, the older one’s sister he gathered, whose attitude was just as heavy and even more dour. The brunette looked familiar, though, and damn, he realized, it really was that Goodkind chick, the one from L.A. that everyone said her name was just coincidence but who was almost as rich as the real Goodkinds. Weird.

But not as weird as the chick with the blue hair that seemed to stick straight out no matter how she turned her head. And that blonde over there, in what looked like a cheap cocktail dress, didn’t she look like one of those supers from the Empire City Guard he’d seen on TV? Come to think of it, wasn’t the couple over there a pair of superheroes, too, from somewhere like Rhode Island or something? Was everyone here some kind of super-duper type?

That was when his jaw hit the floor, because the most beautiful redhead he’d ever seen in his life showed up to give the toast.

After a few minutes into the speech, he’d heard enough. He decided he’d just... not listen to the rest. He was pretty sure it was safer that way. He’d just do his job, keep his head down, and hopefully they would tip big.
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5 years 8 months ago #101
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Dissecting the Gadgeteer Trait
by Richard Colm, PhD.

Abstract
Under the newly published Hewley-Aranis classification system, the Gadgeteer ability is treated as a separate talent from general Esper abilities. While it is the position of the author that this change is long overdue, it still fails to differentiate the varied aspects of the Gadgeteer’s abilities, nor does it clarify the relationship between Gadgeteering and Devising. It is this paper’s proposal that for finer-grained understanding, the Gadgeteer trait must be see as not a single ability, but a combination of at least five and possibly as many as eleven separate facets. It is also our intent to show that the core ability is not, as usually presented, techno-precognition, but an innate understanding of gadgets and the tools used to make them which hence forth will be referred to as ‘mechanical intuition’ in this work. In addition to these two aspects, it is the author’s position that three other primary traits, technopathy, technokinesis, and techno-psychometry, are in various combinations responsible for the diversity of gadgeteering abilities. Finally, the author explores the relationship bewtween technokinesis and the Devisoring trait, which is postulated to be an expanded and modified form of this ability which takes on qualitative and quantitiative differences as the ability is increased.
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5 years 8 months ago #102
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
18 February 2031
Whateley Academy

Caitlin wasn’t much of writer, on her own, though living on a school campus for 30 years had helped. Still, she knew the story needed to be told, and she had worked on it for over twenty years. Now, with the last of her old buddies in the ground as of yesterday, she was ready to get help in making the book ready for the world. She just hoped the world was ready for the truth.

Data-key in hand, she walked into Carson’s office, hoping that she would be able convince the headmistress to help her out. She was able to get Carson to at least start reading it, which was something.

“Felicis Fossor? This isn’t what I think it is, is it?” Scanning further, she answered her own question. “Good Lord, I’m not sure I can take reading this, even knowing most of it already. Are you really sure you want this out in public?”

Caitlin shrugged. “People have a right to know the truth, and now that Lt. Dom is gone, there’s no one else who can get hurt by it,” she paused for a moment, “except the USMC’s rep. And yeah, I know I’m breaking security by revealing things that are still ‘Kill Yourself Before Reading’ Secret, but if I don’t, they’ll sit on this until Doomsday.”

“Your taking a terrible risk, aren’t you? Even with a pseudonym, there must be someone who will make the connection.”

“Erik Mahren has been officially on ice for decades, and no one who knows better would want to fuck with me about it. Anyway, I mostly wanted you to edit the book for me, ‘cause there isn’t anyone else I’d trust to do it and not leak the details before it is published. There’s no rush to it, just when you have the time.”

Liz Carson stared hard at the former Marine. “I’ll... think about it. I can’t promise you not to tear you a new one with your terrible prose, though.”

“I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
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5 years 8 months ago #103
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Even in her torpor, Marzena could sense a being of great power coming. Her eyes, fixed permanently on the horizon from where she’d fallen, held hope in them despite the perpetual Lunar shadows that surrounded her, here at the bottom of Shackleton Crater. She could only hope that the stranger coming her way would make the mistake of thinking her dead, and ‘retrieve’ her body back to one of the moon bases.

As the woman above her passed through her field of vision, however, her heart sank. No! Anyone but her!

The Destroyer hovered over her for a moment, then moved on. Somehow, she had escaped certain doom, yet this brought little joy to her black soul. Here, in the endless night of the Crater of Eternal Darkness which Nacht had banished her to, she remained trapped by her own suspended animation spell, the hard vacuum of space clawing at her for what seemed an eternity. An eternity that would, it seemed, continue.
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5 years 8 months ago - 5 years 8 months ago #104
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Kate was growing more irritable by the day, but she was determined to resist the Urge this time for as long as she could. It was a part of herself that she despised, if only because it was a break in her normally iron-clad self-control. This uncontrolled desire, this - what was it one of those dweebs called it? - pon farr that took over her and used her and her victims like toys was just more than she could bear.

It didn’t help any that it was always with men. Despite Sunny’s guess that she was into beefcake, Nacht was actually a lesbian - not that she would ever admit to being interested in anyone to anybody, though Jadis naturally had figured it out a while back. True, she wasn’t exactly put off by Thorn’s attentions - she had just enough of a romantic streak that she found his antics, if not attractive, at least amusing, and she didn’t have the heart to tell him no. But otherwise, men held no interest for her.

Except when The Urge hit. it had been happening about once every six to eight weeks since the middle of her first year at Whateley, and it usually ended up with her dragging some unsuspecting lab geek behind a bush or into a closet somewhere for a few hours of torrid sex. Last December, it happened just as she was coming down from her Divine high, and she ended up jumping Chiller, of all people. Fortunately, like with everyone else so far, she’d been able to put the fear of the Night into him to keep him from talking, but she knew that sooner or later, someone would spill. The anticipated embarassment of it made all the harder to resist The Urge as it rose in her.

Still she stalked the halls of the Workshop, unable to control The Urge. She could feel her hackles rise as someone rounded the corner. To her horror, she found herself pushing Belphegor into a secret lab room and slamming the door behind her. As tendrils of darkness began tearing his clothes off, the last sentient thought she had was I am never going to live this one down...
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Last Edit: 5 years 8 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

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5 years 8 months ago #105
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
“Hey, Triax. What are you working there?”

“A possible improvement for the next version of the auto-reader. Hazmat mentioned that his girlfriend, uhm...”

“Aquerna.”

“Yeah, right, that she thought it would be useful for reading while relaxing in a bath. I dunno how many people really do that, but I figured that waterproofing the reader wouldn’t be very hard. The tough part is protecting the book, but I think I’ve got that covered.”

“Interesting. As it happens, I was just coming down here to mention another variation on your reader myself. Two, possibly.”

“Oh?”

Ayla nodded. “One of my teammates has her work-study at the library, and part of the job is to scan older books into the computer archives as a long-term backup. She mentioned that your auto-pager could be connected to a scanner to automate the process. It wouldn’t need to work fast, in fact it would need to be gentle to avoid damaging the old books and manuscripts, but once scanned it would be a permanent record of the book.”

Triaxial smacked his forehead. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

“That’s what I said about using Hazmat’s failed hair-lengthening formula as a depilatory. It happens; no one can think of everything. Anyway, the other idea is to use the scanner in conjunction with an e-reader to solve the speed-reading issue. A mechanical page-turner probably can’t keep up with an Exemplar, but an e-reader could.”

“That’s brilliant! But what about copyrights and things like that?”

“That would be the user’s concern, primarily, but it could be solved by using a one-use system that deletes the file after a single read. Since the readers would be Exemplars, most of them would have eidetic recall in any case, so re-reading the books wouldn’t be necessary.”

“I... that’s great. Let me finish this project and I’ll get on that right away.”

“Certainly. Have a good day.”
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5 years 8 months ago #106
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Reina Chilson gave her Aunt Mary a hug goodbye before walking to the MCO Security Station at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. She was nervous to walk there alone, out of sight of family, but she had been told she would be meeting the same officer who had prepared her MID the month before, and despite everything he seemed understanding enough. He’d warned her that not all MCO officers were as tolerant, however, which left her feeling edgy, especially given how her parents had been when she had manifested.

She was relieved to see Agent Callesis as she entered the security area. Once out of sight of the ‘normal’ travelers, she dropped the hood of her sweatshirt, revealing her pointed ears and the small horns shehad on her forehead. The other agent, a woman she didn’t know, gave her an ugly look, but Harry shot her a nasty glance back and the woman turned back to what she was doing. At least the floor-length skirt she was wearing hid her hooves, she thought.

It didn’t stop her from gazing at the woman appraisingly, a slight tinge of lust forming in her, which she could see was returned however reluctantly. The Wizard who assessed her said that this was just a normal part of her mutation, that both Fauns and Satyrs (he wasn’t quite sure which she was - both were usually male, so it was doubly odd for her to have gone from male to female) were naturally creatures of desire and that she would have to learn to control her impulses in that direction. It was still really, really distracting.

“So, Raymond... no, I see here that you’ve chosen the name ‘Reina’, is that right? Not bad, it suits you better now. As I was about to say, your travel plans going through to Whateley have been set through Boston and then to Berlin. From Berlin Airport you’ll take a local train to Dunwich for the rendezvous with the school group.”

“That’s OK, sir. My aunt and uncle told me that this school was just the right place for me. After what happened last Fall, they said they trusted the people there implicitly.”

“Good to hear. They are you’re legal guardians now, correct? OK, then. Oh, I do have a note that you should be aware that there are two other Faerie-type mutants in the dorm - sorry, ‘cottage’ - you’ll be staying in, one of whom is a high-ranked Sidhe. It’s recommended you get to know both ‘Fey’ and ‘Selkie’ - those are their codenames - as soon as possible.”

“I’ll try to keep that in mind.”

“Well, everything seems to be in order. I’ll see that you get boarded immediately once the flight is ready.”
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5 years 8 months ago #107
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
It was 4 AM as Ngo Phuong (or ‘Phillipa Ngo’ as she preferred to be called) waited impatiently outside the stall in the 3rd floor girl’s bathroom for her girlfriend, Kelly Tanaka, AKA Diamanta, awash with feelings despite her normal quiet demeanor. At the moment, the feeling that was foremost in her mind was guilt.

I wish I’d never introduced her to that bastard, she thought, Hell, I wish I never met him myself!

Of course, that wasn’t how either of them had felt towards Leung Gao Lai until a few days ago. When Cascade first met Kelly, she’d been dating Gao - or Gareth, to his Western friends - for a while, at first acting as ‘beards’ for each other for those outside of Poe but later getting more serious. When Gareth’s real lover, Mokele’, dumped Gareth on N’Dizi’s order at the time of the Dragons/Tigers split (along with a ‘get with the plan’ order to stop ‘going on the down low’, or so she heard - in any case, she hadn’t seen the changeling with anyone of either sex since then), and Phillipa’s old girlfriend graduated, they had almost gone het on everyone it seemed - until they both met Kelly at the start of the 2005-06 school year.

But for all three of them, it had been love - or at least lust - at first sight. The fact that both Kelly and Gareth were Ex-3 Man-3 shellheads - Cobalt created a layer of nearly indestructible, skin-tight blue quasi-metallic material, while Diamanta created a crystalline shell, and both had to consciously remove it in order to look more like a baseline - gave them something in common, Cascade thought. The number of times the three of them had shared a bed over the past two years were more than she could count.

Didn’t I warn her time and time again about using the right kind of protection for an Exemplar? And now that son of a bitch won’t talk to either of us...

Realizing she was woolgathering, Phillipa brought herself back to the here and now just as Kelly opened the door. She didn’t have to look at the pregnancy test to know the answer; the horror on her lover’s face confirmed what her own healing powers had already told her.

“Oh, God, honey,” she said with a shaking voice, “I am soooo sorry... we’ll get through this together, I promise...”
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5 years 8 months ago - 5 years 8 months ago #108
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
NB: Again, this one was OBE in canon since I posted it; still, it was the fact that no one commented on the film refer that was the real surprise for me...

Okay, even I was surprised when Joe Wilkins showed up. But thinking about it, I suppose it only made sense. He’d saved Hollyfeld’s life and taken a serious beating for it, and they remained friends for years. Even if they disagreed - vigorously - about the uses of Devisor technology, they stayed in touch the whole time. He was the only devisor/gadgeteer Gizmatic ever considered his own superior, and he never begrudged the pacifism that drove Toymaker into decades of isolation.

He gave me a curt nod, and seemed for a moment to be looking to see if I was carrying the Rod of Astarte with me. I wasn’t, of course. He then went over to console Lazlo’s widow.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to come by sooner, Sherry. When I heard he was dying, I wanted to visit him before he went, but, you know how it is... matters of state, lab work to be done, battles to be fought...”

“Hey, I understand. At least Mitch and Jordan were here to help,” she replied, pointing to two thirty-something gadgeteers whom I recognized as Phase Shift and Hypertech, a now married couple who had been together since their own student years. “Ever since the accident that killed Chris Knight, they’ve been working at ARC, trying to keep a lid on new developments in the field. They’re concerned about the new breakthroughs that Goodkind industries seem to be making in combat masers.”

Joe gritted his teeth. “We both know that Beamsplitter’s death was no accident,” he said, “I can’t prove that Herb Goodkind set him up, but there’s too much evidence that...” realizing his temper was rising, here at his old friend’s funeral, the Emperor of Karedonia restrained himself in a fashion he wasn’t accustomed to doing. “Sorry. Lazlo wouldn’t have wanted that kind of anger at his own wake.”
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Last Edit: 5 years 8 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

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5 years 8 months ago #109
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
“Leonides, I wanted to talk to you about the final clean up of the forces of the To... wait a minute, are those shoulder angels you’re wearing?”

“It figures that we’d be the first thing she’d notice...” said the figure in the red three-piece suit to the left.

“Ah, yes, Liz, I was expecting you to ask about that. I heard about the near-disaster caused by these things at your school last month, and while I found the stories both amusing and alarming, it occurred to me that these ‘shoulder angels’ could be used positively, as a means for self-reflection. I’m finding them quite enlightening.”

“Thank you,” said the beatific robed figure in white to the right. “It is all a poor little Intelligence Agent such as myself could hope for.”

“Yes, yes, of course, you are quite welcome.”

“I see someone taught that asshole how to talk, now how do we get him to shut up?”

“Yes, well, you were always quite willing to speak yourself, not that I would begrudge you the...”

Dr. Diabolik waved his cybernetic hand, and both shoulder angels went silent. “Sorry, Ms.Carson, I should have done that when you first called.”

“O...Kay... I think I can see why you are doing this, and I know you well enough to understand why you have Leary as your shoulder angel. But why is William Burroughs your shoulder devil?”
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5 years 8 months ago #110
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Tolman-sensei paired me up with Ribbon, a little girl I’d seen around Poe a few times, and who I gathered was a changeling too. I’d wondered about that; was she older than she looked, or did she really change from male to female when she was ten? Either way it had to hard on her, I figured. OK, so some of the others, like Serendipity, were transsexuals even from an early age; but I didn’t get the impression that Ribbon was like that. She was very feminine, but in a goth way, and sort of standoffish; she showed some real steel under the velvet.

Speaking of which, I quickly found that ‘no powers’ only counted so much against high-end Exemplars. Punching her was like hitting a brick wall, and while she was obviously holding back, she was clearly much stronger than I was. She had me on the mat twice in rapid succession.

The second time, she bent over to whisper in my ear. “Listen, if you want to talk about ‘old guy’ issues some time, come down to my room after class. We can talk about what things were like the first time we were this age or something, all right? See ya.”

I goggled for a bit, thinking about what she said. Hadn’t Carson told me I wasn’t the only one here to have gotten younger? Was Ribbon like me, then? I also wondered if Carson was the one who told her about me.

I decided to take her up on the offer. Fortunately, Aolynn was busy with work-study tonight, so I wouldn’t have to feel guilty about time away from her. So, after dinner, I went down the hallway to the room Ribbon shared with Euterpe, and knocked on the door. Katie answered, and stepped out as I went in.

I wasn’t expecting a whole room full of people. OK, it was only Ribbon and three others, but the room was small.

Aside from Ribbon was another girl with flame red hair, about my height and looking maybe thirteen or so, dressed in a black cloak. There was something compelling about her, something that made it hard to take my eyes off of her. I had to remind myself that I already had a girlfriend before I could get my attention away from her.

The next one was a stunning blond, maybe seventeen, who carried herself with a military bearing that was like a soldier who had served a lifetime and had seen it all. She was wearing a Security uniform and standing stiffly and surely.

The third was strange even by Mutant High standards. About the same age as the blond, she had hair that looking like metal wire and eyes of copper, with odd runes tattooed all over her exposed skin. She was wearing an old pair of Marine fatigues that had more runes sewn into them. She lounged on the lower bunk bed in a casual manner, but even more than the second woman, she gave the impression of a stone-cold killer.

“Well, looks like the gang’s all here,” said the last one. “So is this a meeting of the Age Dysphoria therapy group or something?”

“Something like that, yes,” I heard Fubar say as he appeared next to me. “Dr. Bellows and I thought that it would useful for the five of you to talk things through a bit, given that there are now enough of you to form a support group of sorts now. I know you all have your reasons to keep your own secrets, but this is something you all have in common, and if nothing else, misery loves company.”
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5 years 8 months ago #111
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
It was two weeks going on three, since... since... well, Toni was still worried enough about me that she was practically dragging me by the hand over to the Crystal Hall for every meal.

I couldn’t blame her for thinking I needed it. I was still crying myself to sleep most nights, the empty place inside me where Aunghadhail had been still tearing me up, the weight of the now-invisible Winter Crown bearing down on my brow like a...

NO! I am not going to do this! I need to get over what happened, not...

I was snapped out of my maudlin state by the shrill tones of Hazard shouting down around the ICC’s table. She must be really upset; her accent was slipping.

“Lord fuck-a-duck, Ace, you really are something, you know that? I can’t believe you’re still holding a grudge over something so small! Get over it, you git!” she shouted as she stormed towards the elevators and headed for the second floor, where her friends in the Masterminds held court.

“What was that all about?” I mumbled, a bit stunned at just how angry the usually upbeat odds mangler was.

“I dunno, homes, but I’m guessing it’s still all about the Halloween thing.”

“What?” I said, staring at Chaka, “They don’t think she had something to do with that, do they?”

“Nah, this was earlier that night. Remember how Hazard was runnin’ the tracks before the live acts came up? Well, she says she was letting it run on shuffle, but everyone knows she’d pushed some of her power into it to make sure that some appropriate songs came on at just the right time...”

“And?”

“Well, it seems that just as some of the Spy Kiddies walked in, it queued up... ‘Spy Hard’ by Weird Al.”

I couldn’t help it; I giggled at that. Then the giggle became a chortle. Then a guffaw. Before I knew it, I found myself laughing so hard that I almost peed myself.

It wasn’t that funny, I know, but it was just what I needed right then. Looking back on it, I think it was the first real step towards recovery I had made.
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!

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5 years 8 months ago #112
Valentine replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
4 Sept 2007

Ms. Hartford sat at her desk glowering as students came and went from Administration. She blinked in surprise as four identical Japanese boys about ten years old entered and walked up Ms. Claire. After speaking quietly with Ms. Claire, Ms. Hartford’s phone rang. Ms. Claire informed Ms. Hartford that these four needed to see her urgently. Intrigued, Ms. Hartford even forget to make them wait for no reason other than she could. The whole admin staff had gone over the incoming class roster and there was not a group of identical underage quadruplet Japanese boys on the roster.

Once the four were in front of her desk she addressed them, “I am Ms. Hartford, Assistant Headmistress, how may I help you?”

“Ms. Hartford, how good to see you again.” She blinked. “I’m sure that you don’t recognize us though. I am Jobe, and these are Belphoebe, Bova, and Freight Train. No I cannot tell them apart either. We are here because we will need some straightening out of our housing arrangements.”

Ms. Hartford sends them off to Melville with a note to find them rooms, and that official paperwork will follow shortly. While watching them leave Hartford finally realized who they reminded her of. Of course last year that body had a girlish haircut and was wearing a skirt. She chuckled after they left wondering if they would figure that out.
Don’t Drick and Drive.

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5 years 8 months ago #113
Valentine replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
“Congratulations, Inspector Sikeston,” Chief Craig said. “You are the youngest person to reach the rank of Inspector in the Detroit Police Department.”

“Thank you sir, I’ll do my best to keep up the good work,” came the reply as Inspector Sikeston beamed. The other Officers getting promoted glared at her, but she was used to that. She’d worked hard to earn her promotion and was glad that the department didn’t discriminate against mutants, even those with severe GSD.

“I’m sure you will,” Chief Craig answered back, as he shook her hand, paw, whatever. He thought that she looked pretty weird, but hiring into the Major Crimes Division anti-paranormal unit had worked much better than he ever expected. She’d worked her way up to second in command of Major Crimes.

After the ceremony, Inspector Sikeston rushed over to the MCO Office to update her MID, it wasn’t really necessary, but now that she had the rank, she was happy that she could finally, officially call herself Inspector Gadget, and win any lawsuits from Disney or DIC or whomever owns the rights to the cartoon character. After all they never complained all those years she was just Gadget, or Captain Gadget or Lt. Gadget.
Don’t Drick and Drive.

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5 years 8 months ago #114
Valentine replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Mrs. Shugendo walked into the Dunwich train station promptly at 4:00 as she had for many years. She immediately focused on the two identical Japanese girls standing face to face. A quick count revealed the correct number of students, but none on her list were supposed to be of Japanese descent.

“Okay, listen up! I am Mrs. Shugendo. I’m the Dean of Students at Whateley Academy. There are two shuttles here to take you to the school. I am going to call off your names alphabetically. When I call out your name, let me know who you are, and then go out to the vans. Now, I know that you have a lot of questions, but, unless it’s an emergency, save it for when we get to the school.”

She begins calling their names and when she reaches Alhaji Sinclair Jimoh, one of the two Japanese girls heads out the door. The other answers when she stumbles through Phesclangorenthal Sinclair Martin. Oh god she thinks, not two Generators at one time...
Don’t Drick and Drive.

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5 years 8 months ago #115
Valentine replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
In the super secret A-Team HQ and game room. Several of the members were sitting around reading rulebooks and surfing web forums. Slapdash walked in and looked at his fellow gamers. He paused and took a deep breath, “Hey everyone I’m going to be starting a new campaign, is anyone interested?”

After getting some semi-committal answers, Slapdash picked his target, “Hey Dash are you interested?”

Dash looked up from his D&D rulebook, “What system were planning on using?”

Slappy smiled, “Mutants and Masterminds, why?” Then he turned and ran out the door, whilst the rest of the room busted out laughing, and Dash took off after him.
Don’t Drick and Drive.

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5 years 8 months ago #116
Valentine replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Team Kimba, Handmaid’s Own, and Whisper are all going to Boston. Here’s their itinerary:
First stop - A mall, where they will do a little shopping and get their hair done.
Second stop - A photo shoot, where they will all get professional pictures taken.
Third stop - Miss Teen Boston, where they will be celebrity judges.
Fourth stop - The Museum of Fine Arts.
Final stop - Hascom AFB (if there is time)

What could go wrong?
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5 years 8 months ago #117
Valentine replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
It was the first really warm and sunny day of Spring and Miyet planned on wasting as much of it as possible. She dug up a lounge chair, set it up where she would get the most sun, and promptly went to sleep. Bast was being surprisingly cooperative, and promised to watch over her and wake her before anything bad happened.

Jade, Diamondback and the Fury Twins were headed over to Whitman after lunch. Diamondback had finished a charm that Circe asked her to make for Phase to study. It didn’t really do anything, but it was another step in Phase’s education. Jade had agreed to take it back to him.

Phobos and Deimos had been wary of walking back with Jade. They didn’t know her, although Phobos had met her a few times. They knew how their aura was, and it was worse with younger kids. Abracadabra had fled in terror the first time they met her, and Jade looked younger than that.

As they walked along outside, it was a green flag day and warm, the twins stared at Jade as she prattled on about Wondercute and their plans for their next Simulator run. Phobos could sense that Diamondback was fighting against the aura, and several other students gave them a wide berth. Bloodwolf had even turned around and headed off in another direction. When Jade finally paused for a breath, Deimos asked, “Aren’t you bothered by us?”

Jade looked closely at the two of them, they were scary looking, but not scarier than some of the other things she’d run into. “No, you’re not that scary looking, I am dating Thuban, and I’ve run into some really scary things down in the sewers.”

Deimos opened her mouth to say something else, but Phobos touched her arm and shook her head. Jade shrugged and started on about weird colors Gunny Bardue had turned after Wondercute’s last Sim run.

As they got close to Whitman, Jade suddenly stopped and whispered, “Is that Miyet?”

Diamondback looked at the girl sleeping in the sun, “Yes, why?”

Jade got a big evil looking grin on her face, then pulled an envelope out of her purse. “Can one of you do me a favor? Make sure that Miyet gets this when she comes in?”

Diamondback shrugged, “Sure, what is it?”

“It’s a note and the key to this lock,” she said as she pulled a collar, with a large bell, a lock, and a big ‘Hello Kitty’ name tag on it. She dropped the collar, which stopped just before it hit the ground, and pulled out a remote. Jade pushed a bunch of buttons on the remote, and said, “Go get her.”

The four of them watched as the collar silently glided across the lawn towards Miyet. As it got closer Miyet stirred. The collar stopped and waited, once Miyet settled back down it continued on. It floated up and fastened around her neck, with the lock silently clicking shut.

Jade smiled, and started towards Whitman again. The other three stared silently at Miyet before starting to giggle. Diamondback finally recovered enough as they continued on to Whitman, “But won’t she just be able to rip it off?”

Jade grinned, “No I made it with scrap Titan Wire, and other stuff I found in the scrap bin in the labs. No else can make use of the little scraps I use. A PK superman might be able to break it, but it’ll strangle anyone with a normal neck.”

Diamondback looked at her, “And exactly whom else do you have one of those for?”

“Let me think, CyberKitty, Chat Bleu, Feral, all the catlike mutants, oh and Razorback, and Jericho.”

The last two names, got actual laughs from Phobos and Deimos, who then said together, “Joe and Jack are likely to keep wearing them.”

A few hours later Miyet woke from her nap, and heard a bell ring when she sat up. She twisted looking for it and it rang again. She looked down, and saw it hanging below her chin. She grabbed it and began pulling and tugging on it to get it removed. All she managed to do was to bruise her neck. Finally she heard Bast say, You won’t get it off that way.

Miyet growled, picked up her chair and stomped her way to her room. As she approached the cottage door, she could the girls around it giggling and snickering at her. A few were out and out laughing. Inside the building, Mrs. Savage looked at her, “Nice collar dear.” Then disappeared into her apartment.

Miyet continued stomping her way to her room, the other girls flattening themselves against the walls to get out of her way, then laughing after she had passed. She flung open her door and Galaxy simply pointed to Miyet’s pillow, where an envelope with “Miyet” written on it sat. As she picked it up, she noticed that ‘i’ had been dotted with a little drawing of Hello Kitty.

She ripped open the envelope, and a key fell onto her bed. The note read:

You looked so CUTE.

Generator


Miyet stuck her head out the window and yelled, “I’m going to get you back Generator!”

She was about to fling the collar against the wall when she heard in her head, “Calm down, it was a harmless prank.”

“I’m still getting her back,” she thought back.

“Well of course,” was the only reply.

Tennyo jumped when her roommate started laughing like a maniac. “Now what?”

Shroud looked at her, realizing that Jamie spyspeck must have returned, “She just belled the kitty.”
Don’t Drick and Drive.

Valentine
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5 years 8 months ago #118
Valentine replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
One Friday Afternoon

Dr. Bellows walked into the administration office. “May I help you, Dr. Bellows?” Ms. Claire asked.

He glanced around, spotting a large microphone. “Yes. Is the microphone for the school PA system?”

Looking puzzled, she nodded, “Yes.”

“May I?”

Unsure, but unwilling to go against the head of the Counseling Dept. she simply nodded.

“Thank you,” he said before picking up the microphone.

“Attention students. This is Doctor Bellows, and I have a prescription for all of you. I want you to all do something fun, childlike, immature even this weekend. You are children and teenagers, go out and play. Thank you and have a good weekend.”

Ms. Claire stared at him as he replaced the microphone and nodded a thanks to her.

Dr. Bellows winked at James as he headed back towards his office.
Don’t Drick and Drive.

Valentine
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5 years 8 months ago #119
Valentine replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
The Bad Seeds were all eating lunch, when Jadis started chuckling.

Nacht looked at her, “Please, not while I am eating.”

Thrasher turned, “What’s so funny Jads?”

“When we were helping Princess Jobe,” Jobe glowered at her, “we ran into a some low level muscle. One guy gave his name as ‘Dave.’ He was just arrested.”

A couple of the Seeds piped up, “That’s not really funny.”

Jadis smiled, “That’s not what I’m laughing at. He used ‘Dave’ because that made it harder for the cops to track him down. According to the article here, his real name is Brickbat Johnson.”
Don’t Drick and Drive.

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 8 months ago #120
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
As he stormed off - at least as much as he could with his crippled leg - Knick-Knack once more swore never to bother joining the other New Olympians at meals again.

I should never have told them about the test results, he fumed as he headed back to his lab. While Counterpoint had been the worst, before he was put into the hospital by Jobe, both Majestic and Cytherea had been quick to take up where Chris had left off.

Snide innuendoes about his mother. Comments about him joining the Bad Seeds. Joking about how he did not inherit his famous father’s good looks. Every word sending him deeper and deeper into a rage.

It is true that his mother had been a mere showgirl in Marseilles. What of it? Her home village in the foothills of the Pyrennes was an impoverished backwater,and she had sought to find something better. Instead, she returned after but two years, already heavy with him. It was hard enough for her to return, and be branded a whore by her own family, treated as dirt beneath their shoes. But when they learned of Jean-Paul’s gifts, that was when things turned truly ugly. They were forced to flee once again to Marseilles, where it was only good fortune that he was noticed by Le Coq during his holiday before the MCO could discover him. Les Defenseurs sponsored his attendance at Whateley, and for a time, things seemed to get better. He learned of his power, of his true heritage and the spirit he bore within him, and for the first time in his life made a few friends.

Then, as a routine part of powers testing, samples of his DNA were taken, and as with all whose father was unknown, compared to the previous students of the school. In a cruel twist of fate, mere weeks before, the records for several Alumni from times before such testing was required, but who were now imprisoned, had been added to the database. His father’s was among these.

He cursed under his breath at Zeus for picking this body for him, at his birth mother for letting herself be swept off her feet by a handsome Exemplar who left after just one night, at the researchers for not letting things be, and even at Team Kimba for letting him escape from durance vile where he belonged.

But most of all, he cursed Mimeo, the American father he had never known and whom he would never have identified had it not been for that DNA testing.

Perhaps he would join the Bad Seeds, just to spite Imperious and Majestic. The idea galled him, but it also had a perverse appeal.

Instead, he buried himself once again in his work, trying to forget the humiliations that had been heaped upon him by the Fates.
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 8 months ago - 5 years 8 months ago #121
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
A few days after he escaped from the Rox, Mimeo realized something that had been nagging him the whole time: why the fighting styles of all those kids seemed so familiar. He’d noticed it with a bunch of young superheroes before, guys he figured were fresh out of Whateley and not used to facing someone both tougher and smarter than they were, but this time, he’d seen four different kids all pulling out similar techniques, a particular way of fighting that Mimeo actually knew.

He got in touch with some of his Syndicate contacts and they confirmed what he’d guessed: the main martial arts instructor at Whateley for the past fifteen years or so was Tatsuo Ito. He wondered idly if he had had something to do with that...

It had been 1982 when he first walked into Sensei Ito’s dojo in Yokohama, while planned a big heist in town. He had already learned enough judo, karate and (during a caper in Seoul) tai kwan do to hold several black belts, along with his already formidable boxing experience, but he’d never had much interest in aikido before. Still, he was always up to trying something new, and he’d had a bit of a scare in his last fight: he’d socked out a mage a little too hard, and sent the guy to the hospital for several months with internal injuries. He figured that getting some tips on fighting in away that was less likely to kill an opponent or put him out of action permanently was called for.

He’d actually heard of Ito before, from some of the martial artists he’d trained with previously. He’d been something of prodigy back in the late 1950s, being one of the youngest black-belt students taught by Ueshiba personally. The guy was legendary in martial arts circles for both his skill and his cunning. That sounded like just the kind of teacher Mimeo was looking for. He made a point to be on his most polite behavior, because he was really looking forward to learning what this guy had to offer. It turned out that Ito was as interested in him as he was in Ito, and soon he was starting lessons.

To his surprise, he found that he wasn’t the only mutant taking classes from Ito. There was this girl who had the PK superman package already getting personal lessons from Ito, trying to learn how to control her strength - and her temper - so she wouldn’t be a danger to everyone around her. Ito seemed confident that he could teach her enough discipline to make it safe for her to be around normal people.

She was a hottie, too, but he figured that he’d better keep his hands off the kid, even if she looked several years older than she was. While the laws in Japan at the time weren’t as tough on that kind of thing as they were in the US, it would still lead to the kind of attention he didn’t need. Didn’t mean he couldn’t look, though.

Sensei Ito seemed fascinated with their powers,and worked hard at figuring out both ways they could use them more effectively, and ways he could stand up to them himself without any powers at all. Despite being a baseline, Ito was hot shit in the circle; he figured out a dozen or more ways to kick even Mimeo’s ass around the dojo. Yeah, half those ‘techniques’ involved the kind of dirty tricks that you’d see in spaghetti Westerns or movies about ninjas, but they worked. Well, once, anyway; Ito had to keep coming up with new tricks to beat him with. But the guy was clever, and a bit of a sadist, so he always seemed to be able to pull something out of the hat to throw at them.

He also found out that Ito had known who he was the day he walked in the door, despite the fact that he didn’t look anything like himself at the time. He never found out how he’d figured that out. It seems that Ito had been looking for mutants to work with even then, figuring that they would be the best challenge for him as both a fighter and a teacher, but he was having a rough time of it; Japanese culture didn’t really encourage folks to stand out, and those mutants who did get noticed were quickly either snapped up by the Devil Dojo or disappeared by the Japanese MCO. The girl, Michiko Hanai, was the first one he’d found who was still free and willing to study under him.

He decided to stay in Yokohama for a while, as the caper he was planning proved to be more complicated than he initially anticipated. Afterwards, for the next few years, he would stop over whenever he had a job in Japan, or was staying in the country after one. Eventually, though, he’d stopped going there, figuring it was getting to be too much of a pattern. He would run into Michiko years later, during a fight with the Nihon Guardians, whom she’d joined under the codename ‘Ōka’. It didn’t surprise him that she’d become a cape, and the Guardians were the biggest superhero team in the country, so it wasn’t all that much of a coincidence, but he was pretty sure she hadn’t recognized him.

He wondered how the old bastard was doing now that he was teaching at Whateley. From what he’d seen, he still had a knack for teaching mutants how to get the most out their powers in a fist fight. He almost wished he could stop in and say hi.
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 8 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 8 months ago #122
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Fey was beside herself with rage. She had only just learned the real nature of the expedition that Kodiak was leading, and was furious at being left behind. She was determined...

Just then she felt a hand on her shoulder. “Forgive me, sister, but for once, this is not your battle to fight,” said the elderly woman who was, despite all, managing to restrainher. “We have our own duty now, one which they cannot win without.”

She looked at the three women whom she now noticed behind her, standing besides an obviously confused Mrs. Carson. The one who held her shoulder seemed old, yet carried herself briskly despite needing a cane; the other two were middle aged, one a brunette and the third a redhead like herself.

Lady Astarte spoke up. “Fey, this is Mrs. Potter, who seems to have some explaining to do to the both of us. Marcia, would you please tell me why it is you don’t want me chasing down those children and keeping them from killing themselves in this mad crusade of Mr Cody’s?

The woman named Mrs. Potter stood up straight in spite of her apparent infirmity, and handed her cane to an astonished Elizabeth Carson. “I am sorry, Liz, but there are forces at work here that you could not be made aware of until now. For all the years we’ve known each other, I have been dishonest with you, but not without reason. I do apologize for my deception, but I assure you, both Tywyswyr and I knew that we would have to keep you in the dark about this, ever since I foresaw this day coming, now more than three centuries ago.”

With that, the three women began to shift like flowing water, revealing their true forms. Where three older women had stood, now three Noble Sidhe in their prime took their place.

Fey knew them immediately: Lenedhal, Mab, and Titania. Three of the Nine Queens, sisters of Aunghadhail. Her kin, in spirit if not in blood.

“Is it not strange how fate works its ways? Where once you were the eldest, and I the youngest, our roles are now reversed. Come, child, we have much work to do if we are to save this world,” the golden-haired Lenedhal told her, in a voice that would brook no dispute.
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 8 months ago #123
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
OK, I was in New Yawk again, Brooklyn to be specific, and I started wondering what it would take to track down that Night Ranger bozo. After my last run in with him, I figured we had a bunch of talking to do.

What, I didn’t tell you about that? He was part of the reason I was a bit late meeting up with Jadis and Co. over Spring Break. I’d actually hit the city around quarter of five, but was a bit frazzled from doing all that shadow-jumping, and figured I’d stop off at a Charbux or something for something hot to drink before catching a taxi into mid-town. You know, despite it’s low-rent rep, Brooklyn turns out to have at least a few decent coffee shops? You coulda knocked me over with a feather.

Anyway, I’d just finished my house blend and went looking for a nice quiet alley to shadow-jump again from, but just as I was about to fondle my jewels in that special way *snerk*, out of nowhere drops this guy whose dressed like a live-action version of Batman Beyond, who slams me to the pavement, hard. Ah, another one of my beloved fans, I see.

“Vamp. I have heard about you and your comrades in the Children of the Night, so don’t think you will get away this time. Tell me what your vile master has you doing here and I’ll make it easy on you.”

“Hey, hey, now,” I managed to squeak out - no,not squeak, a lady never squeaks, but it sure sounded like that I’m sure. “I already played that game with the Boston PD, and look where it got me! I mean, even High School is better than ending up in a torture box for all eternity, but it’s still a pretty lousy trick to pull on someone, right?”

He pulled me up by my armpits and slammed me against a wall. Oh, well, so much for playing nice. “Where is Darrow?” He then shifted around, grabbing my neck in a hard choke.

“I’m telling you, I don’t know! I’m staying as far away from Skeleton Breath as I can these days. Check with the Boston DA’s office if you don’t believe me!” Man, this guy’s got a tight grip... and then I started to feel like my energy was getting drained away.

Well, two can play that game! I got a solid hold on his wrist, and started draining him instead. That seemed to surprise him enough that he lost his grasp on my neck. Whew! Breathing again is nice...

We both seemed to eye each other warily for a bit, as a got my wind back. I tried to super-leap away from him, but he followed in exactly the same manner. He grabbed my leg on the way up, and slammed me hard into side of the building.

But on the way down, I managed to grab those dorky bat ears on his cowl, and yanked his facemask off.

We both landed hard in the alleyway, in a tangle. I managed to get loose first, but he was right on top of me. I spun around to face him, and damn, it was I was looking into a mirror or something! Sort of. I mean, he was older and had his hair cut short, but aside from that, the resemblance was almost freaky.

“Jeez, you wouldn’t know a guy named Adrian Darcy, would you?” I snarked, trying to maintain my cool despite being utterly gobsmacked.

Well, that got his attention, and now it was his turn for the jaw-dropping. I used the distraction to grab the shadow gems and jump into the nearest patch of darkness I saw.

I tumbled out of the shadows about a mile away, a bit unsteady, but you know what they say about any landing you can walk away from.

I could have sworn that he’d shouted ‘wait!’ at me as I made my grand exit. I was tempted to go back and find out what the story was, but I was already running late. All I could do now was catch my taxi to Castle Diabolik and wonder.
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 8 months ago #124
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
She hadn’t been in the Doyle Medical Complex two full days yet, but Shrike was bored out of her mind.

OK, boredom was hella better than horrible pain. She was glad for the neural inhibitor devise on her left knee; before they got that set up, she’d been in the worst agony of her life, even with morphine, worse than when they had to reset her hips two years ago. She was still bored, though, even with everything going on around her in the hospital.

Until she saw a certain elderly clergyman walking towards her. I’m not that bored, she snarked to herself.

“Della,” Rev. Englund politely began, “I hope you are feeling better today.”

No thanks to you, she thought. “Since when do you care?”, she sneered.

“Please, Della, don’t be like that,” he replied, clearly bothered by her response. “You are my own flesh and blood, of course I care about you.”

“Oh,really? Everyone says you’re the one responsible for this whole nightmare!”

“Yes, well, I must admit that I was the one who set this entire... disaster, in motion. But I promise you, it was never supposed to turn out like this! I would never do anything to hurt you or any of the legitimate students here!”

The ‘legitimate’ part went right over her head - she wasn’t fully aware of the situation with Sara Waite - but the rest didn’t. “Oh, yeah? Does this look like it’s not hurt?” as she pointed to her injured leg.

It was pretty bad, and she figured he knew it. She’d been hit by one of those Rook things when it fell over, and it had crushed everything from just below the knee down; had she been a baseline, in an ordinary hospital, she’d have lost most of the leg. As it was, the doctors thought it might be a month before she could walk on it again, unless they could schedule some time with one of the healers.

“I understand how you must feel, but please, don’t think too harshly of me. I was only doing what I felt was right for the school, for the whole world.”

She looked at him in disgust. “Jesus. No wonder Dad thinks you’re a total creep.” Robert Havelock and his older sister had a lot to say about their grandfather, not much of it very polite. Aunt Sally had actually gone to Whateley when she was a kid, and he’d done his best to drag her into his little ghost-hunting club. Thank God he hasn’t tried that with me, Della thought.

“Della! Don’t blaspheme!”

“Oh, right, ‘cause that’s so much worse than getting a bunch of people killed for no good reason!”

“Please, I only..”

“Get out! Leave me alone!” she finally shrieked, before turning away from him as much as she could while stuck in this damn hospital bed.

With a heavy heart, Darryl Englund left his second-youngest great-grandchild be.
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 8 months ago - 5 years 8 months ago #125
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
“Willard! What a wonderful surprise to see you here.”

“I could say the same about you, Tom. What brings you to the Career Fair? I’m here mainly because it was a chance to see my nieces, but you’ve never struck me as the sort to come up here for this kind of thing personally.”

“I had some business with the Headmistress, actually, so I figured this would be as good a time as any. Tell your little hellion Paige that she’s welcome to do whatever she wants on our systems, its not like we could keep her out if she wanted to get in, is it?” he added with a wink.

“I... wasn’t aware that you knew so much about her gift, Mr. Townsend. You’re not trying to poach her away from me, I hope.”

“No, she’s had enough troubles like that already, from what I hear. If I really needed her, I’d go through you for it, of course.”

“I should certain hope that you would both speak to me about it first,” said Liz Carson, as she approached them both, “At least as long as she’s still a student here.” She gave Townsend a glare that would have melted most lesser men.

“Why, Betsy!” said Townsend with a smirk, “I was just going to go meet you in a bit, so nice of you to come down here first.”

“I think we should go speak in private, especially since you seem so, ah, talkative right now.”

“Of course, this isn’t the sort of thing that can be discussed public, is it? Speak with you later, Willard.”

Carson watched her companion like a hawk as they went up to her office. Just what was that little conversation aimed at, Mephisto? she pondered to herself. Obviously, he wanted both Jennings and her to know that he knew about Circuit Breaker, but why? He’s playing a deeper game than I was expecting...
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 8 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 8 months ago - 5 years 8 months ago #126
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Nacht stared at her phone in frustration as the shadows around her continued to thicken. “Sunny... “, she growled.

“I take it Sunburst didn’t get the hint?”, Jadis asked with forced nonchalance, barely hiding a grin at her friend’s discomfort.

“Not on your life. Not only won’t she get me out of the contract, she’s absolutely thrilled at the idea.” Kate shuddered. “She even wants to come out here to help Tink with the shoot!”
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 8 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

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5 years 8 months ago - 5 years 8 months ago #127
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
NB: I decided to do all of this set in one post, to keep them together as a piece.

March 13th, 2048
New York City, New York

“Sorry to wake you, Luv, but you’ve got to get up. Someone will be over around 11:30 to meet with you about a case.”

I felt Robin’s hand stroking my hair, normally a pleasant thing all around. Nothing seemed very pleasant right then, though. I peeled my eyes open through a hung-over haze as she walked out of my bedroom, leaving a tablet on my bureau as she left. I propped myself up in bed, feeling all five-going-on-six decades of my age as I did so.

“Jenny...” I whispered, the pain of ten years’ gone still a fresh wound in my heart. It would have been her 57th birthday,yesterday, and Robin had known that the best thing to do was to leave me alone for the day. I let myself have this one day,to let the hurting out; it was better than trying to push through it, though you’d think I would know better than to crawl back into the bottle even if only once a year. I was tempted to have some hair of the dog, but I knew all too well where that road led.

Aching, I slowly made my way to the bathroom, where I found myself confronted with the awful sight of myself in the full-length mirror. Gray hair, slightly thinning, over a too-thin male body that looked like it had come straight off of Skid Row.

This wouldn’t do.

I gathered myself up, and closed my eyes. I felt myself shift, and when I opened them again, the mirror held a much nicer vision: a vaguely middle-aged but clearly healthful woman, long brown hair draped over the shoulders, with the sort of body only an Exemplar could have. I was still hung-over, and standing slumped down, but I could feel the cobwebs clearing already.

After a lingering shower, I came back out into the bedroom to find the time was 10:40. I didn’t know who I was going to be seeing today, as I didn’t have any set appointments, but the certainty with which Robin had pronounced it made me sure that I’d be seeing someone in a bit over half an hour. I picked up the tablet she’d left, figuring that it would hold the answer to whom I would be speaking today.

It was set to a news site, with a particular item queued up. I barely needed to see the headline before a shiver ran down my spine. “Crap!”, I spat, as I had a pretty good idea right from there who my guest would be, or at least which two were most likely. My mood didn’t get any better as a read the rest of the article.

I decided to put on my union longjohns and my visor, first thing. I was sure I would need them, and wasn’t surprised that Robin had already lain them out for me. I was just getting down to the office as the clock hit 11:30.

I opened the door, as I ran through the sorts of things I would want to say to my prospective client, but I stopped short once I saw who was there.

Instead of the russet-haired cyborg I had expected, or the dark-haired woman I felt was even more likely, I found myself facing a man with brown hair and a sharply-shaven goatee, and what looked to be a teenaged girl with red hair and eyes a gray unlike any which a baseline would have. I knew both of them already.

“Reach!”, she started, then drew back. Damn, I thought, she must be upset if her normally professional demeanor was so easily broken. Breathing in, the woman I knew as Pyroclastic - and whom the rest of the world knew as Dana Goodkind - tried to continue, but her companion broke her off.

“Ms. Sawyer,” said Ty West with a slight nod, “I am terribly sorry to bother you on a day like today, but I’m afraid that there are matters for which we need your unique talents.”

Oh God, I thought, what could the old lizard want from me this time?



What Tywyswyr said about She-Beast being a mystic reminded me to do some preparations of my own in that area. I opened the door to a small room in our building, one which both Robin and I used for meditation. On the floor was a pentagram, in the center of which was a small pillow seat. I went over to the pillow and sat down, then began to focus on putting up a ward.

It wasn’t easy. I am a WIZ-0, with no more magical potential than a baseline, but I had learned a few things at Whateley, and picked up some more over the years since. If I was going to investigate a crime involving magic, I had better be prepared to face magical threats, or at least see them coming.

After making sure my wards were in place, I focused on gathering Essence. I was out of practice, and had never been very good at it to begin with, but I was sure that I’d need all I could get before going to the scene of the crime.

Ironically enough, it was Phase, the same Ayla Goodkind who I now was investigating, who had recommended to the Intelligence Cadets that we take some basic magic courses in the first place. It was a good piece of advice, even if it was only A-Plus and myself who followed up on it. While I didn’t have the talent needed for any serious magical fighting, it did give me an edge at times, or at least told me when I was in over my head. It didn’t happen often, but just knowing a few simple cantrips and Essence-detecting spells had saved my bacon more than once.

I spent over an hour focusing on the task at hand, and still had only a very basic pool of Essence to hold on to. It would have to do.



Harley Sawyer was led to a small office where a middle-aged woman in a lab coat was waiting. She had a peculiar air about her, like a wealthy matron trying to act the part of a scientist, or perhaps the reverse. Both were, of course, true.

“Macrobiotic,” Reach said politely, “It’s good to see you after all this time.”

“Please, it’s Sophia,” she answered, “No one has called me by my codename in almost twenty years.”

“Oh, I seem to recall some of the newsblogs using it after the attacks by Deathmaiden.” Harley’s face suddenly went dark.

“Oh, yes, that’s true. I only wish I had been able to respond to her actions sooner...”

Harley nodded sympathetically, “You did everything you could. There was no way you could have known when and where she would attack ahead of time.” Still, she only just managed to keep a tear out of her eye. She herself had survived the airborne form of smallpox Deathmaiden has created, but only just. Genevieve was not so fortunate.

They both took several minutes to regain their composure. Finally, Harley continued, “Well, I know you know why I am here,” Harley finally continued, “I am sure you can understand that I have to look at everyone, no matter how unlikely they appear as a suspect. I don’t mean anything personal about it, you know that.”

“Oh, of course,” Sophia said with a wan smile, “You have a job to do, and this isn’t the first time I have had to go through such things. My place by Ayla’s side has had me in many such situations.”

“OK, I can understand that. I’ll try to make this brief. What can you say about the deceased?”

“Jadis? Well, to begin with, she was my husband’s lover, something I had known about even before we married.” She took on a thoughtful tone, “It is so odd how things can turn out. Monogamy seemed such an important thing to me when I was younger, yet, somehow, I understood and even respected Ayla’s need to be with Jadis. I’ve had my own relationships with several people as well, over the years,though I have always been careful not to let it interfere with our home life.

You probably know that I had dated Ayla a few times when we were at Whateley. We had never been very serious, back then, as I knew even then that there was someone else on Ayla’s mind - I have a very minor empathic trait, as you know, and while I didn’t know who it was he was interested in, I could tell it wasn’t me. We were friends, but it didn’t go beyond that, really.

It wasn’t until graduate school that I met Ayla again, with him at Harvard Business and I at MIT. We began to date again, and over time it became more serious. I had never met someone so intense as Ayla, and among the company we keep that’s saying something. But both of us had our reasons to marry which went beyond that. I was already 21, and I knew that within a few years, Deathmaiden was sure to attack. It was partly because I knew Phase could take care of himself that I agreed to marry him.

I’m not saying that ours wasn’t a love match; I care very deeply for Ayla. But there were practical matters that were important as well. Oddly enough, one of them was a matter of last names. He agreed that any daughters we had would follow my family’s tradition of keeping the Ferris name, while our sons would be Goodkinds. We even considered giving our eldest son, Henry, a different family name than either of them, so that he wouldn’t face as many problems growing up, but in the end a certain family pride did win out.”

Dr. Ferris’ face took on a pensive look again, “Even when we were dating in college, I knew about Ayla’s relationship with Jadis. He had been up front about it almost from the start, in fact. It bothered me,naturally, but I realized that - given the differences in our lives - Ayla having a mistress was almost a certainty, anyway, and despite all, Jadis was actually a good person in her own way. I... accommodated them. It was difficult, but I learned to live with it.” Despite her words, a certain sadness came through. She didn’t seem to resent Jadis, just regret the circumstances of her marriage - circumstances which she nonetheless accepted.

I need to think this over, thought Harley, wondering if she could have done the same in Sophia’s shoes.



Antonia Ferris realized she was dawdling, but even just getting dressed today was something she had little enthusiasm for. She wished that she could avoid this entirely, like her brother, Hank Goodkind, had, but she happened to be in NYC today and couldn’t afford to get out of her obligations to their father. No matter how important that woman was to her father, or with what equanimity her mother had accepted his relationship with her, she couldn’t help but feel a certain anger at her for coming between her parents, especially now with the newsblogs screaming about the just-revealed affair. Realizing that it wouldn’t help, she stopped dragging her feet about getting ready, and after finishing getting dressed, she called for a limo to come around to her brownstone and drive her to the wake.

It was a very strange affair, she could tell from the start. While T&M Security forces were present, there was a distinct absence of police, which made her wonder if her father had arranged for them to be absent. She wouldn’t be surprised, as she was sure that at least some of the underworld figures that Jadis Diabolik dealt with would show their faces, and her father would want to avoid a scuffle at all costs. There was enough scandal to go around already.

She was met at the door by her mother and her younger sister, Sara. Both Henry and Nichole were off-world, so they got to avoid this mess entirely. William was still at Whateley, but she was expecting he’d be here, so she figured he must already be inside with their father. Aunt Dana would probably be with him as well.

Also at the door was one relative she’d hoped to avoid: Grace Diabolik, their half-sister. Toni somehow managed to stumble her way through the usual formalities for such events, but she’d never gotten along with Scapegrace, especially when they were both at Whateley together. The fact that she was as studiously ‘grey hat’ as her mother had been didn’t help any.

As she approached the pews of the church, she got the shock of a lifetime: Jadis’ father had somehow managed to be present at the funeral, as was her brother Malachi, yet no one had made a move against either of the notorious supervillains. Even the one person she knew would want to do so - Detective Balducci, She-Beast’s old nemesis since her days in the Cadet Crusaders - was simply keeping her distance. Had her father really arranged for the wake to be ‘neutral ground’? She could only imagine so. Still the presence of so notorious a mass-murderer - even one who had retired decades before, and now spent most of his time leading an L5 colony - made her hair stand on end. Especially since he looked a fit early 60s rather than his actual 112 - his experiments with longevity clearly had reaped their benefits.




Secretary of State Nichole Ferris was increasingly anxious about events back home, though she didn’t dare let any of her distress show through to the Royan ambassador during these delicate negotiations. As a representative of both the United States specifically and the Solar Protectorate in general (she was all too aware that it was often known as “Tennyo’s Protectorate” outside Human space, a sensitive issue with the Royans) she needed to maintain her composure through any pressure, though she was finding that personal scandals were harder to deal with than political conflicts even of a galactic scale. Fortunately, there was little direct contact with the distant Royan Marches; unfortunately, they were exceedingly hostile to those worlds under the protection of the one they called ‘Lady Rashcore’, and even in a trade negotiation like this one it was hard to get them to remain civil on the subject.

She didn’t expect that the news of her father’s long-term affair would have any impact on extraterrestrial relations, of course, but she did spare a thought towards the domestic implications. She was already being discussed as a possible running mate for the next Democratic presidential candidate, though she was hesitant to take the offer to begin with - the relationship between the growing mutant minority and what was still for now a majority baseline populace were beginning to turn ugly again, and the GOP was making a great deal of the resulting political windfall. The declining chances of a Democratic win aside, it would probably be a serious mistake for the DNC to tap someone who was herself a mutant, she thought. Only one front-running candidate from either party was a mutant, and his place in the polls was currently at the bottom. The fact that her own aunt Constance was a leading Republican candidate only added to her feeling that it was the wrong time for a mutant VP. Her being in the current administration’s cabinet had been controversial enough, and was not likely to help the Democrats in general at the polls.

At times like these, she almost wished she hadn’t taken the National Science Advisory Board position that had gotten her into politics in the first place.



28 March 2048
Danvers, Massachusetts, 4 AM

Harley watched as both Whisper and The Green Lady vanished from sight into the night mist. She was getting really pissed off at this point, what with people playing these guessing games while refusing to share their information, and if the Queen of the West’s personal attack dogs were getting into the act, too, it meant that the rabbit hole went just that much deeper.

Well, guessing games were her forte, damn it, and she would figure this out somehow. But not tonight; she was exhausted. She turned around and went back into the motel room to catch some sleep.

Well, she tried to sleep, at any rate. Something was still bothering her enough that she ended up staring at the ceiling while going over things some more. What was she missing?

The ghost-walking charm? No, that was just one of She-Beast’s trophies. If it had anything to do with her death, it wasn’t clear how.

The meeting with Ayla and Tywyswyr? Connected, yes, but until and unless one of them decided to tell her what they were discussing, it was a dead end.

Jadis’ supposed last words? Even if the neighbor heard her right, and was telling the truth, ‘book of night’ could mean anything. The NYPD seemed to think it had something to do with her missing Book of Shadows, but that didn’t sit right with Harley for some reason.

Night seemed to be the key word here... then Harley got it, as a memory from 40 years earlier struck her.

Bolting upright in bed, she reached for her phone on the dresser and quickly dialed a number. “Wormhole? It’s Reach, sorry to wake you, but I need to get to Los Angeles ASAP. I need to get to the California Crusaders’ headquarters, yeah, it’s really important, would be I be calling you now if it weren’t? I’m in a motel outside of Boston, I’ll text you the coordinates. How soon can you get over here?”
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 8 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

Domoviye
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5 years 8 months ago #128
Domoviye replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Teri staggered into her room and fell to the floor with a wet plop.

“What happened to you?” Theresa asked the paint covered fairy.

“I learned something very important today,” Teri said weakly. “The art teacher has a tail, and that tail is very sensitive. And she has a unique idea towards punishment.”

“You didn’t pull it did you?” her roommate asked.

“No, I didn’t pull it. I was flyiing and saw something that looked like a snake and well there was a shovel there, and I kind of overreacted when I thought it was going to bite someone.”

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 7 months ago - 5 years 7 months ago #129
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
2016-09-07
Bad Seeds Reading Room, beneath Kane Hall

I led the three freshthings into the reading room, and with a wave offered them seats on some of the lounges. A few of the other Seeds were waiting, though I hadn’t been able to pry Oxhide out of the chem lab, and Mirabile was at a Venus, Inc. shoot. Once they were all settled in, “OK, cool. Welcome to the Bad Seeds ‘official’”, with air quotes, “lair. We don’t spend a lot of time here, to be honest, but we needed somewhere that the administration could say was our clubroom so they could make it look like they’re keeping an eye on us. Most of the time, we hang out in some other places, but don’t worry too much about that right now.”

“We’ll start off by you telling us about yourselves, and we’ll introduce ourselves to you once we’ve heard you out.” This was something he’d been told to do by a graduating senior the year before, who had told him she’d heard it from a senior before her. The explanation was a bit garbled, but apparently, there’d been trouble right at the start a few times when kids whose parents were rivals got off to the wrong foot. “OK, Erika, since you already know me and Shannon, you go first...” but I was interrupted by a nasty remark that I heard. I spun around to face Mark “Warhorse” Carter down. “Dude, what the fuck? You know better than that shit! Do we go fucking talking shit about Irving?”

I looked back towards the fish, and shook my head. “Sorry about that, Erika, this little shithead doesn’t know how to keep his fucking mouth shut.” To the confused-looking Jonathan and Missy, I explained, “Look, we wouldn’t normally tell you about this right up front, but there’s some things going on with Poe Cottage that the Seeds found out about from some members a few years ago and everyone’s agreed not to spread it around. A lot of us Bad Seeds know what it means to haveta keep secrets, so we’re OK with that.” I’d heard a few different versions of the story, but apparently when Jobe Wilson and She-Beast were at Whateley, they’d known a couple of changelings in Poe then from before they manifested, and one of them was also a Seed so they got her to explain it all to them. It’s weird, though, since Jobe was a changeling too, sort of, but for some reason she wasn’t in Poe, too, but whatever.

I turned back to Warhorse again, while palming a beanbag out of my utility belt. “Unfortunately, someone thinks its really funny to make stupid jokes about it, and keeps spilling the beans to people who don’t know need to about it. My advice is, don’t tell Mark anything you don’t want all around campus, if you get what I mean.”

“All around campus, hehe, like you, right, Cordite?”

OK, now shit just got real.

I spun around, and pushed the beanbag right toward Mark’s nuts at about 30Gs. “You did not just fucking go there, you fucker.” OK, so I’ve a bit... open about going out with a lot of folks, and maybe I wasn’t as choosy as I should have been sometimes. Him giving me shit about it is still a raw deal.

Before Mark could get back off the floor, Panic stepped in to break it up. She’s as tall as Oxhide, and almost as wide, so she just moved her body between us. “Cut it out you two! Mark, just get the fuck out of here and keep out of Matt’s face, OK? And if I hear this ‘fairyland’ bullcrap from you again, me and Shannon will show you what Fae wrath is all about!”

That part made him go pale, and he was shaking a bit as he ran away. I think I was too; we’d both heard about the time Mirabile gave Shutout a fifteen minute ‘time out’ Under The Hill, which apparently lasted twenty years to him. Shannon almost got expelled for it, but no one has bugged her for anything more than a date since then.
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 7 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 7 months ago - 5 years 7 months ago #130
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
17 May 2007

“Miss Sinclair, Miss Wilson? How can I help you tonight?”

Billie hesitated for a moment, then said, “Uh, Jinn just told me that Kayda wanted me over here for some reason. She said that Mary was really upset, and she knew I was sort of a friend of her’s. Jade wanted to come long, too.”

Mrs. Cantrell looked at them for a moment, nodding. “Well, I have to say that she has plenty of people helping her out already, but I suppose it wouldn’t hurt for her to have more support about this. Come on, then.”

As they walked up the stairs, Jade asked, “Do you know what this is about, Ma’am?”

After a moment of thought, Cantrell said, “That’s something I really think you should talk to Kayda or Elaine about, before you go in.”

The hairs stood up on Billie’s neck, as she realized what this had to be about. Jade got a bit agitated, responding unconsciously to Billie’s state of mind. Tennyo’s fears were confirmed when she saw that, in addition to Pejuta and Skybolt - as well as Fire Forge’s fellow Thornies Lupine and Compiler - Songbird, Hippolyta, and Washout were there, with Fire Forge laying her head in Mindy’s lap as the others tried to comfort her.

Billie swallowed, hard. She still wasn’t sure what happened, but... this was gonna be hard to deal with.

Stella motioned them over just outside the door, then whispered, “Ms. Carson just told Mary that James Phelan MacKenzie was killed by another prisoner back in Delaware.”

“Huh? Isn’t he the guy who...” Billie asked, confused. “Why would she be upset about that? I mean, that’s like... I mean, he’s the kind of guy who deserves it!”

Stella shrugged. “I dunno. It’s... well, I guess she can’t quite believe it. That sonofa... uhm, son of a gun had her for, I dunno, eight months? She’s, she still has these nightmares, uh, dreams where she’s back in that house and...” Stella just shook her head. “I can’t understand it, I guess. All I know is, she needs all the help she can get right now, right?”

Both Billie and Jade nodded vigorously. Their friend needed them, and they weren’t going to let her down.
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 7 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

cprime
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5 years 7 months ago #131
cprime replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Edward Windhawk sighed as he looked up at the sign over the entry way. As much as he wanted to remain in the tribal school, he knew that it wouldn’t work. Jimmy’s death just days before his coming of age ceremony set the stage for what had turned out to be an awful summer. Something about a demon named Kigatilik that hunted shaman. They ended up having to delay his ceremony a week, and when it finally did happen, he had collapsed right in the middle of it. Waking up and hearing a voice in your head is never fun, but developing a pair of eagle wings on your back over the next couple months is worse. And then there was his powers testing with the MCO lunatics. Two days of sheer torture for a laminated piece of plastic. The less he thought about them the better.

He was skeptical when Billy told him that this place was the best place in the world for him to learn, but his parents had insisted and here he was, most of the way to the Atlantic and in another country. With his luck, there wouldn’t be another member of the first nations or another Canadian in the entire school. These musings were cut short by that annoying voice in his head speaking to him. Shut your beak. I know she is somewhere nearby.

Ed thought back at the voice. What does it matter if some girl is here. It’s not like she’s Ptesanwi or anything.

The voice fell silent as he passed the bust of Mark Twain and into the cottage. As he looked around the lobby, his eyes widened at the assemblage of GSD students. The voice picked that moment to respond to his previous statement. Actually, she is Ptesanwi. The thud of the dropping bags was enough to attract everyone’s attention.
Is your muse looking for inspiration? Send them to Parkerville! Welcome to Parkerville is the latest edition in my series of writing prompts.

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 7 months ago - 5 years 7 months ago #132
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Elizabeth Carson looked down at the prostrate forms of Counterpoint and Guan Yu, then to the defiant, dirt-smeared face of Thunderbolt. “New rule: no sparring between war gods on campus! Mr. Ranganthan, when Mr. Watson wakes up, you will tell him that you are to have detention together in Hawthorne until the end of the term, and I expect that this rivalry ends now! We can discuss repair costs later.”

She continued, “Miss Masa, I know you were trying to help stop this, but you of all people should know better than to jump into a rumble without a plan. One week of detention with the Grounds department. Everyone else can help get the injured to Doyle.” With that, she turned to help Firecat to his feet, then walked out of the ruined shell of Laird Hall, trying to think of how she was going to deal with Guan Yu later on.
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 7 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 7 months ago - 5 years 7 months ago #133
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
15 July 2007
Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris, France

Désirée was nervous. This was her first time away from home without any one of her family, and while she knew that the Bureau de la Commission Francaise des Mutants would not dare harm her or keep her incommunicado, they could still give her trouble in many ways even Papa could not object to. Still, they had been obliging so far, and why not? She was going to be out of France for months on end, at a school - the one her parents had told her and Martine so much about - where she would learn to control her powers, and most of all, they rightly feared Le Coq’s wrath were they to be anything less than correct towards his child.

Jean-Paul, the older boy her father had asked to escort her through the trip, was busy reading some dreary technical text, and hardly paid any attention to her. For her own part, she had a few light novels to read, and a work on le arts martiaux de l’Orient, a subject which she would need to develop more interest in soon, it would seem.

When her eyes changed to the bright green they now were - much too young, everyone thought - her parents had a teammate of theirs test her for the changes that would surely arise. To their amazement, they concluded that she had one of the rarest of gifts - and one which they feared could prove dangerous to her, as all others save one who had possessed it had died in mysterious ways. Because of this, and also because she was only eleven, they felt it important to get her to this school as rapidly as possible. There she would meet with the only other to possess this talent and live, an American who was called Chaka, to ensure that she learn to control this power before it killed her. She wondered what would come of it all.
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 7 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 7 months ago - 3 years 1 week ago #134
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
29 August 2007
Outside Poe Cottage

I gave the newcomers what I hoped was a friendly smile, and began with, “Well then, as you can see, we’ve been broken up into three separate groups. Steve, the young Captain America look-alike, is going to take the gay and bisexual boys to the cottage to get settled into their rooms, while Hippy is going to be taking the bi and lesbian girls to tour the classrooms. That leaves us to tour the administration buildings and the other facilities, and after lunch, we’ll switch with the girls before getting settled in ourselves. Before we go, though, I’d like to talk to you in private about what is going on, and what you can expect here at Whateley.”

“Most of you probably haven’t figured out yet is why this group is so much smaller than the other two, so I will explain. Everyone in this group is what we at Whateley call a ‘changeling’ - that is, we are either transgender, or wholly or partially gender-transposed, or both. Either way, chances are you aren’t living as the person you had been before your powers manifested, something that those who aren’t in the same position will have trouble understanding.”

“Being transsexual is not easy anywhere, and while the school is accomodating to us, not all of the students will be. As Mrs. Horton said, there is no rule about being out to the others here at school, but I can tell you from personal experience that it is not a good idea. Changelings have been killed by other students because of who they were. I myself have been targetted by homophobic bullies, even after making it clear that I was not happy with my intersexed condition. Be careful who you share your secrets with here.”

“The truth is, Whateley can be a dangerous place. While most of the time, it isn’t all that different from any other high-end prep school, there are always things going on here that you would find nowhere else in the world. Every student here is has some sort of superhuman power or talent, and while sometimes someone who is Imbued or a Legacy or something like that shows up, most of us are mutants. Most people here aren’t all that powerful, but they still get the same problems as everyone else here because of it. Some of the students are among the most powerful beings in the world, and not all of them can control that power well yet.”

“Like any other school, there are bullies, snobs, and outcasts who can and will cause trouble just because they can. Unlike most other schools, these bullies have superpowers, and some of the worst of them have no compunctions about using those powers to hurt others.”

“Don’t get me wrong, most of the time, Whateley is a wonderful place, and you can learn things here that they don’t teach anywhere else. There are students from almost every country on Earth here, and the kids of both superheroes and supervillains can come here and be safe from trouble - most of the time, anyway. Still, just being a mutant is dangerous. Last year, five students died, including two who were murdered by other students. One of those was a friend of mine, one of us from last year’s freshman class. While that didn’t have anything to do with Heyoka being a changeling, every one knew about that and it was probably part of why Jamie was the one that Quickdraw and Speakeasy attacked.”

“Anyway, just know that the older changelings do understand what you are going through. We try to help each other, well, most of us do anyway, so if you are having trouble with what is happening to you, talk to one of us. Last year, there were enough of us to form a training team, and with seven of you here at the start of this year you might want to try doing the same thing, too. I don’t know if I could have gotten through the last year here without my teammates, and if you can do the sam,e you won’t regret it.”
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 3 years 1 week ago by Schol-R-LEA.

Phoenix Spiritus
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5 years 7 months ago - 5 years 7 months ago #135
Phoenix Spiritus replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Pausing outside the door, Hank lent momentarily against the wall, his forehead resting on the back of his hand as he closed his eyes and attempted to prepare himself. Sighing, he stood back up and knocked softly on the door, taking a deep breath while he waited for an answer.

“Come in!” Ayla invited as Hank reached forward and opened the door, stepping through and glancing quickly at the bunk beds, happy to see them unoccupied. Turning he saw Ayla sitting at his desk, absently flicking his mouse to active the screensaver on his computer as he turned around and faced Hank.

Closing the door, Hank flicked the privacy lock and made his way towards Ayla. With a raised eyebrow at the locked door, Ayla gestured Hank to make himself comfortable. Choosing to sit on the bottom bunk bed, Hank sat stiffly facing Ayla, trying to not glare accusingly at him. “What’s going on Ayla?” Hank demanded. “Why aren’t you helping Nikki?”

Blank faced Ayla regarded him, shrugging his shoulders slightly.

Hank growled, “Don’t play games Ayla, you know as well as I do that Solicitor has as much chance as I do of successfully suing Nikki, one glimpse of Skybolt and Cavalier and no judge or jury would ever convict her!”

“Perhaps Solicitor is aware Whateley would never allow either itself, nor its failings, to become such public knowledge? A trial about such a public figure, and especially what happened to him, would be a media circus,” Ayla suggested diffidently.

“And Whateley hasn’t had attempted blackmail against it tried before?” Hank snapped disbelievingly. “Why are they not squashing him like a bug Ayla? What did Carson say to get you to go along with her? You could squash this case alone yourself Ayla, why are you not trying to help Nikki? You were all ready to defy Carson to protect Molly’s family, why have you rolled over and compliantly going along with this?” unaware that he stood up as he recited his accusations, Hank looked down to the expressionless Ayla and begged, “Why?”

Ayla blinked up at the distraught Hank for a second and then calmly asked, “Do you think Nikki is handling Aunghadhail’s death well?”

“What?” Hank demanded shocked, sinking back onto the bed to process Ayla’s bemusing question. “Ah, well, of course not. She barely functioned for weeks after, and even now she’s never really not sad, I think the best anyone’s ever really done is manage to distract her for a while from it.”

“Do you think she’s serious about becoming Aunghadhail’s heir?” Ayla pressed.

Uncomfortably Hank regarded Ayla, who patently returned the stare, silently demanding an answer. “I hope not,” Hank finally murmured, looking away to avoid Ayla’s stare.

“I hope so too Hank, I really do. But is it a chance we can take?” Ayla demanded of Hank.

“Ayla,” Hank growled fixing him with a stare of his own, “what’s going on?”

“It’s summer break soon Hank, Whateley’s ‘in loco parentis’ clauses will end then. Do you really think Whateley can force a legal settlement on Nikki without her parents agreement?” Hank blinked at Ayla in shock. “Leaving aside the question if any ‘in loco parentis’ clauses ever even extending to legal proceedings, if Nikki’s parents didn’t agree with what is happening, don’t you think they’d have done something about it by now? Nikki’s always talking to her mother, especially since Aunghadhail’s death, and her father knows Sir Wallace personally, there’s no way Mrs. Carson could believe they wouldn’t know what is happening here with their daughter.”

“So?”

Ayla sighed. “So Hank, if Mrs. Carson did this, it’s because she got agreement to do it. Carson, Nikki’s parents and probably Nikki’s mentor are all in on this.” Ayla paused to stare at Hank, seemingly more in thought then demand. Finally with a sigh he stared at his hands and softly stated. “Mrs. Carson called me into her office today. She specifically told me to stay out of it, without explaining in any way what it is they are doing, merely that it’s in Mikki’s long term good.” Tearfully Ayla looked up at Hank. “What do you think I should do?”

Uncomfortably Hank stared at Ayla before reluctantly admitting, “I think you should stay out of it.” Shoulder’s slumping Ayla nodded his agreement, as looking up at Hank he begged, “What are we going to do about Nikki?”

Shoulders slumping in turn, Hank sighed and shrugged his shoulders, almost in tears himself he admitted, “I don’t know Ayla, I really don’t know.”
Last Edit: 5 years 7 months ago by Phoenix Spiritus.

Phoenix Spiritus
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5 years 7 months ago #136
Phoenix Spiritus replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Unhappily closing Ayla’s door, Hank was surprised by the glaring visage of Toni thrust in his face as soon as he turned around. “Well?” she demanded. “What does he have to say for himself?”

“Where’s Nikki?” Hank blurted, looking around wildly.

“Relax Hankster,” Toni languidly waved a hand, “Jade and Billie took her to the ranges to swear herself out.”

“The ranges?” Hank ask puzzled.

“This is Nikki here,” Toni glared at Hank. “Can you think of a better place for thunderbolts and lightning then the ranges?” Again she waved her hand unconcerned, “Once she’s worn herself out a bit, Jade will contact Bunny and the three of them will take her to the jacuzzi for a session of cuddle and cry.” Suddenly Toni shot forward, hands on hips and face inches from Hank’s, her languid expression replaced with one of demand, “Now spill! What’s up with Ayla?”

“N nothing!” Hank stammered to Toni’s sardonically raised eyebrow. Hank blinked, then pointed to the door, “Why don’t you ask him yourself?” he stammered.

Smiling in delight, Toni pressed herself up against Hank and breathed in his ear, “Cause Ayla respects you and would tell you the truth, and I can get everything I want out of you,” she teased before standing back and crossing her arms with a sigh. “Cause your the team lead Hank, Ayla wouldn’t lie to you. Come on Hank, why isn’t he helping Nikki?” Toni begged, her usual playful expression replaced by one of concern.

Hank sighed. “Nikki’s parents,” he explained simply. “Mrs Carson must have had their agreement to do this, and since Ayla doesn’t know what they are trying to do he’s not going to interfere with it, he’s going to stay out of it as much as possible and leave it to Nikki’s parents over the summer break to resolve things.”

Toni sighed and nodded, reaching forward to give Hank a hug. “So, does he have any ideas of how we can help Nikki til then?” she asked hopefully.

Silently Hank shook his head no.

Cryptic
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5 years 7 months ago #137
Cryptic replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
A scene I wrote for DeVille 4, but I’m not sure I’m gonna use it or not.

~*~

I admit it, I fucked with the MCO a little on my way to school and enjoyed it. Hey, I had planned on behaving and keeping a low profile, but I have problems with people in authority abusing it
for their own amusement and to scare innocents.

January 3, 2008

I stood in the MCO screening line head bopping to the music coming through my head phones, a shuffled list of pop and party country I had become addicted to thanks to ‘dad’ playing it around the house. You could take the boy out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the boy as the song goes. I had planned ahead and shipped most of the things I wanted with me at Whateley so I only had to worry about the carry on I had slung over my shoulder. ‘Dad’ had laughed when I asked him what color the MCO checked bag tags where and then picked up an eye hurting orange bag that should be close to their sticker color.

My attention was drawn from the music my burner phone was playing and people watching as the MCO goon and the man ahead of me in line’s voiced cut through the tunes. “Are you refusing to follow a lawfully authorized law enforcement officer’s request?” the ‘you mutant trash’ was implied loudly by the MCO officer, who’s hygiene and looks honestly made me think of that Toad guy from the one X-Man movie. “I said take off the hood and the rest of what is covering your face.”

“Sir, I am not refusing to do as you asked, I am just requesting that we do so in one of your isolation rooms.” was the Boston accented reply. “As you have my MMID there, and can see my picture clearly...”

“Hell no, you are not getting special treatment.” MCToad snapped slapping the man’s MID had on the screening counter, joggling the card reader enough for me to see the screen. The man in front of me had an MMID with a boarder indicating that he was a non-mutant but powered individual. The ID didn’t list much more then his name, rank, and serial number on it. What had me shaking my head in disgust, beyond the petty ass screwing with a vet, was that the screen had warning that the guy had PTSD episodes, some of which where violent. No, the topper that pissed me off into action was the the pictures in his files and why the MCToad wanted him exposed; the soldier’s face was a mess of scar tissue that barely looked human and would easily scare and offend the families several rows over at the normal screening gates.

“Are you giving this VETERAN a hard time?” I asked, projecting my voice in a way that didn’t look like I was shouting. I caught another line on the screen and smirked. “A Presidential medal of Honor recipient no less? What are you man, unpatriotic?”

That earned me a glare from the MCToad that threatened a full rough colonoscapey when he got to me on top of delaying me long enough to miss my flight for the next week. The vet looked embarrassed, based on his body language.

I shook my head slowly as I tapped on my phone’s screen. “Hello, airport security? I want to report a person trying to insight a Rager incident...”

“Give me that you fucking muti bitch!” My warning tingle had me dancing back out of MCToad’s reach.

“Miss, I am not sure what you might have seen, but...”

“Ma’am, I can see the MMID from where I am, and the MCO guy is deliberately trying to make an injured soldier remove the bandages on his face to scare people here, or to provoke him into trashing the place. And he isn’t very happy with me for calling...” I tripped over someone’s luggage and fell hard. My burner phone hit the ground and the battery popped out killing the call. Worthless piece of Goodkind crap...

“Got you, you fucking mutie bitch.” MCToad snarled as he leaned over me and grabbed my arm roughly.

“Unhand the young lady.” the vet said as he yanked MCToad off of me and lifted him into the air by his shirt collar and belt, energy sparking as his hood and scarf fell away exposing his mangled features which where twisted into a mask of teeth bared rage.

“Oh fuck.” I breathed in horror, worried suddenly if I had just provoked what I had been trying to prevent.
I am a caffeine heathen; I prefer the waters of the mountain over the juice of the bean. Keep the Dews coming and no one will be hurt.

Jarjaross
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5 years 7 months ago - 5 years 6 months ago #138
Jarjaross replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
(Thanks go to Phoenix Spiritus for helping me with getting this right. When I first wrote this it didn’t feel like Hank)

May 29th, Grunts clubhouse JROTC Base of Operations

“Hey everyone look, the triumphant soldier returning from his tour of duty,” Bunker congratulated Mule as he entered, then continued,”as a sleigh for the preteen prankster.”

“Hey now that’s unfair. She’s the one who came up with Radioactive Condor Girl right Lancer?” Mule said attempting to save face in front of his teammates.

“She did, and a multitude of other strategies, we use her as a conditional strat op,” Lancer said defending his friend, then continued to defend her while deriding Mule, “which is why you should have listened to her when she started making weird requests. Also don’t insult Generator, she’s vindictive.”

“Conditional?”

“Would you let Generator come up with all of your strategies?”

“No, she’s crazier than Bunker,” Slapdash commented, earning a punch from his girlfriend.

Generator is crazy, but she’s also smart. Team Wondercute is the terror of the sims because of how good she is. She hides everything behind a veneer of insanity and cutesy designs but every strategy she comes up with is sound. She came up with Radioactive Condor Girl, she’s the reason that we beat the unbeatable sim on the second try, Lancer thought to himself, Did I just use veneer correctly in a sentence? Ayla’s rubbing off on me.

“Yeah and she was what? In the bottom 50 of the combat rankings for fall? Would you listen to her after she alertedd the enemy on purpose?”

She wasn’t in the bottom 50! No by much, but she wasn’t in there. Not that really made a difference to how upset she was. People thought they could pick on her just because of her low ranking. That shouldn’t happen to people who scare the piss out of Bloodwolf, Lancer kept his face impassive despite the amount of frustration he was feeling.

“Given it was Generator, yes,” this surprising comment came from Deadeye, “We know she’s a strat op. We know she has information gathering abilities. We know she has devices and gadgets well beyond what her combat ranking would suggest. Best of all, despite everything team Kimba goes through I’ve yet to see her lose a single fight.”

“Yeah but she doesn’t take anything seriously, right Lancer?”

“No. She takes everything seriously,” Lancer deadpanned to the group.

“You must admit you guys do play around in the sims a lot. With all the joking and playing around you do can you really expect us to take you seriously?”

Have you seen our lives outside of school? Do you know how many dangerous situations we get into on a regular basis just for stepping foot off campus? Of course we laugh and joke here, if we can’t do it here there’s no way we can do it out in the field! The jokes are what’s kept us alive on multiple occasions by breaking the tension, Hank thought as he said, “Well, when you can beat Team Kimba at full strength, including me, without the instructors first deliberately blindsiding them for you …”
My dreams take me to far off lands and times of distant past and future. They tell what has been done, what will happen and who I am. They show me things beyond the machinations of any man. Tell me, what are dreams to you?
Last Edit: 5 years 6 months ago by Jarjaross.

Jarjaross
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5 years 7 months ago #139
Jarjaross replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
(I guess I should thank Phoenix Spiritus again for this one. I came up with the idea while writing the message asking for help)

June 3rd, Grunts clubhouse JROTC Base of Operations

“Hey Mule.”

“Oh hey Lancer did you need something?” The older boy asked.

“Not really, I just wanted to say you are a big poopy head.”

“What?”

“You heard me.”

“What is this about?”

“How you treated Jade at the beginning of your pcombat final.”

“Didn’t we already discuss this,” Mule was getting confused at this point, so was everyone else in the room. They were offered respite from the strange behaviour of their part time team mate by the door opening and Lancer walking in.

“Hey guys sorry I’m late, Jade needed my help with a metalworking project,” he said without looking up. When he finally looked over he saw himself standing next to Mule.

Everyone paused for a minute looking at one Lancer then the other. Then the one next to Mule dropped as if a puppet with the strings cut. The body clattered on the ground as the metal bones bounced off of the floor.

“Well that explains why Jade needed my help.”
My dreams take me to far off lands and times of distant past and future. They tell what has been done, what will happen and who I am. They show me things beyond the machinations of any man. Tell me, what are dreams to you?

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 6 months ago - 5 years 6 months ago #140
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
11 February 2032
Poe Cottage, 3rd floor Girls’ Wing

As she lay arm in arm with her new girlfriend, Jill Cody had a moment of apprehension. She didn’t need her power to foresee that this wasn’t going to go over well with her folks.

It wasn’t the lesbian thing, of course; they already knew that. Besides, it wasn’t as if Mom hadn’t had female lovers of her own (Jill tried not to think about that particular vision, damn Exemplar memory!). They’d even been the ones who suggested she move from Melville to Poe last year. No, it was the Sophomore girl in her arms that was the problem.

Or rather, her parents were. Mostly Jazz’s mother, though they weren’t exactly fans of Emperor Romeo, either. When they’d met Princess Jezabel Wilkins-Laclavar back on Parents Day her first year here, they acted like it was OK, but she could tell they weren’t really thrilled at the fact that they were close friends. They’d warmed up to her later, and even let her stay with them over summer vacation last year, but that was different; after all, Karen and Mel-Mel were with them, too. She really didn’t think they’d be happy with her involved with one of Jobe’s kids.

And man, she just realized that this was what Robyn had been smirking about all week whenever she ran into her and Jazz. The Scots senior Poesie was tutoring Jill for precog classes, and had been hinting about something happening to Jill for days.

With a sigh, she let the thought pass. For now, she was happy enough.
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 6 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

Bek D Corbin
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5 years 6 months ago #141
Bek D Corbin replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Schol-R-LEA wrote: 11 February 2032
Poe Cottage, 3rd floor Girls’ Wing

As she lay arm in arm with her new girlfriend, Jill Cody had a moment of apprehension. She didn’t need her power to foresee that this wasn’t going to go over well with her folks.

It wasn’t the lesbian thing, of course; they already knew that. Besides, it wasn’t as if Mom hadn’t had female lovers of her own (Jill tried not to think about that particular vision, damn Exemplar memory!). They’d even been the ones who suggested she move from Melville to Poe last year. No, it was the Sophomore girl in her arms that was the problem.

Or rather, her parents were. Mostly Jazz’s mother, though they weren’t exactly fans of Emperor Romeo, either. When they’d met Princess Jezabel Wilkins-Laclavar back on Parents Day her first year here, they acted like it was OK, but she could tell they weren’t really thrilled at the fact that they were close friends. They’d warmed up to her later, and even let her stay with them over summer vacation last year, but that was different; after all, Karen and Mel-Mel were with them, too. She really didn’t think they’d be happy with her involved with one of Jobe’s kids.

And man, she just realized that this was what Robyn had been smirking about all week whenever she ran into her and Jazz. The Scots senior Poesie was tutoring Jill for precog classes, and had been hinting about something happening to Jill for days.

With a sigh, she let the thought pass. For now, she was happy enough.


With a snap, Romeo woke up with a start in his room at Melville Cottage, drenched in sweat. Gathering the blankets around himself, he repeated, mantra-like, “It was just a dream, it was just a dream, it was just a dream...”

Phoenix Spiritus
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5 years 6 months ago #142
Phoenix Spiritus replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Hank was siting looking down on Poe when Jade crouched down beside him and gave him a hug. Turning Hank smiled happily up at the ecstatic girl. “Congratulations on your win!” he grinned up to her as she settled down beside him.

“Thank you,” Jade replied giddily before she cocked her head to the side and gave Hank a serious look. “Why do you keep climbing this hill to sit staring down at Poe?” she asked curiously.

Turning back to his contemplation of Poe Hank explained quietly. “I like to be alone to think, but I don’t like felling lonely,” he explained with a shrug.

“Huh?” Jade responded giving Hank a concerned look. Since the death of Jamie all of Team Kimba was very aware of Hank’s delicate emotions.

Smiling up at Jade, Hank shook his head. “Don’t worry Jade, it’s not about Jamie, I came up here to think even before Jamie came to Whateley.” Hank turned back to Poe. “Up here I can clear my head and take the time to think things through is all, but I like to sit here as even though I want time alone, here I can look still see my friends, and seeing my friends stops me feeling lonely.” Hank turned to Jade and smiled, “I’m so happy to have my friends.”

With a tear in her eye Jade impulsively hugged Hank, sitting beside him in companionship while they both looked down on Poe Cottage and Whateley silently, eventually Jade ventured to ask, “So what is it you are thinking about?”

Hank sighed, and turned to Jade. “I’m worrying, and I came up here to worry alone so I won’t upset people.”

Jade gave Hank a serious look, “Worrying about what? Deliberately going easy on your combats finals?”

Hank shook his head, “No, not that. You guys already gave me permission to go hard in any combat final for the Grunts, so it’s only our grades we’re effecting, not others. No, I’m worried about the summer break. We’ve not had much luck off campus all year, and that’s together. I’m worried that all split up like we’ll be, I’m not sure if we’ll all be coming back.”

Jade sighed and gave Hank a fierce hug. “I know you miss Jamie ...”

Clenching his fists, Hank interrupted Jade, “Jamie’s dead Jade! Nikki, Ayla, Tennyo, you all have people gunning specifically for you! Not just mutants in general, people who know you and want you specifically! Jade, I. I couldn’t protect Jamie and he was in my own room! You’re all going to be all over the world for summer and I. I don’t want to loose any of you!”

As Hank broke down and cried Jade did the only thing she could do, turned to offere what comfort she could to Hank as she desperately called the rest of Team Kimba and Lily to come help her do so.

Phoenix Spiritus
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5 years 6 months ago - 5 years 6 months ago #143
Phoenix Spiritus replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
As the air horn wailed the completion of the scenario, stunned silence gripped the stands, everyone staring in horror at the raging screaming thing Lancer had become. Not satisfied simply with killing the kidnappers, Lancer continued ripping them to shreds, screaming his rage the entire time. When no more parts could be found of the kidnappers, Lancer turned to the lab and raged through the contents shredding desks and walls like tissue paper.

Hank had been so singleminded in his destruction that he hadn’t noticed Accelerator speed in behind him, one by one picking up the captives from the cage and running them outside. Once all had been removed from Lancer’s presence Aaaelerator gathering them up and walked them down the street and into the police station to the end the combat final. As the air horn sounded gasses vented from the floor all around Lancer, and medical teams scrambled for the lab as Lancer slumped to the floor unconscious.

Standing frozen in shock, Team Kimba and Lily stared down at the Arena, before with a horrified cry of ‘Hank!’ Lily dashed for the exit, followed closely the equally distressed Nikki and Jade, all three lifting off to fly above the stunned and unmoving crowd. Galvanised by the distressed girls, Ayla shook himself, stirring and starting to turn for the exit himself, just as the entire grouping of Team Kimba and friends as one started forcing their way for the exit.

Seeing the situation as Lily ran ahead of her through Doyle, Nikki quickly enchanted a gestured, shielding the security guard and dragging him aside just as Lily’s force field reached him, throwing him into the wall. Even with Nikki’s shield the guard slumped dazed against the wall as they ran past. Bursting into the room Lily slid to a stop with a fearful cry, staring down at the still unconscious Hank laying on the bed.

Stepping forward Dr. Markham embraced Lily from behind, tightly holding the now weeping girl. At the embrace, Lily instinctively struggled, turning to see who had grabbed her and crying out in fury on seeing the doctor, forcing herself from her grasp Lily stepped back and screamed at her, “Why!?”

Dr. Markham spread her arms wide, trying to placate Lily. “We needed to know,” she apologised quietly.

“The same sim as after Jamie died? Killing Bunker before him exactly the same way?” Lily demanded incredulously.

Still arms out attempting to calm her, Dr. Markham repeated sorrowfully, almost crying herself, “We needed to know Lily, and so did he.”

“So Hank’s a rager now?” Nikki asked softly, embracing Lily as Jade finally burst into the room stopping staring at Nikki in disbelief.

Dr. Markham sighed, dropping her arms. “He has certain ... triggers. Triggers we’ll need to work with him to control.”

“So that’s headshrinker for “yes” right?” Nikki demanded, as Dr. Markham stared at the girl for a moment, glancing apprehensively at the glaring expressions of Lily and Jade before reluctantly nodding.

Giving a heartbreaking sob, Lily turned in Nikki’s arms to burry her head in her chest and sob, shoulders shaking uncontrollably. Nikki tightened her embrace as Jade stepped forward, giving the unconscious Hank a quick worried glance before she too embraced Lily in her arms. “What happens now?” Nikki demanded of Dr. Markham.

Crossing her arms Dr. Markham shifted and lent against the wall. “We wait for Professor Geintz, and when he arrives we wake Hank up. Then things get interesting.” Turning she looked at the door just as the rest of Hank’s friends arrived, with a smile she waved them in, gesturing to Hank and Lily, leaning back and allowing them to comfort each other as she kept a careful eye on Hank’s vital signs.
Last Edit: 5 years 6 months ago by Phoenix Spiritus.

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 6 months ago - 5 years 6 months ago #144
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
“You should have seen that one coming, Jay-Arm,” said Jadis as she helped him to his feet. “You’re mother is Trow, after all. What part of ‘High Queen of the Faerie’ didn’t you understand?”

Nephandus sullenly wiped the taste of boot leather from his mouth, quietly vowing to have his revenge...
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 6 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

Kettlekorn
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5 years 6 months ago #145
Kettlekorn replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
“Uh, Nick, I don’t think this is Boston.”

“No man, it’s totally Boston.”

“That sign says New Orleans! I thought you said you knew how to sail?!”

“Well cut me some slack, man. Your country’s totally way bigger than mine. Mine’s just like an island and stuff.”

“You just had to follow the coast! You only had two directions to choose from!”

“Well that’s like your opinion. Besides, Florida was a confusing place. Whoa, check out that gnarly music!”

“No Nick. We need to get to Whateley! We’re supposed to be in class right now.”

“Totally AJ, but like, we can do that later. I wanna go jam with these guys!”

“But... HEY! Smokey! Get back here! Don’t you go with him! You’re a bad unique bioform, you hear me? Bad!”
I am the kernel that pops in the night. I am the pain that keeps your dentist employed.

Kettlekorn
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5 years 6 months ago - 5 years 6 months ago #146
Kettlekorn replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Chris groaned faintly and then squinted at the stark hospital room through crusty eyes. His mom noticed instantly, but didn’t believe what she was observing. Lois had been vigilantly watching over him for the past five hours and worrying that her son would never wake at all, despite the doctor’s assurances to the contrary. His second groan snapped her out of it and resulted in a third groan as she carefully hugged him.

“Wha’s goin’ on, Mom? Where’m I?”

Lois sniffled a little as she pulled back, then gently brushed his hair out of his face to buy time. Finally she spoke. “We’re in the hospital, Chris. Um, there was an accident. It was... well, it was bad, and, and-” She paused to sniffle again and blink away a couple tears. “And I want you to remember that you’re alive, and that’s what matters. I love you no matter what, and we’ll get through this change together.”

“Wh- what change? What happened?”

Lois opened her mouth to answer, but nothing came out. She covered her mouth and turned away, sobbing quietly.

Chris frowned, then his eyes went wide as a flicker of memory fluttered across his mind. No. No way. There was No Way. If it was what he thought.... He tried to feel himself to check, but his arm wouldn’t move. It must have fallen asleep in the uncomfortable hospital bed. He tried the other arm with no more luck. With a grunt he bent his neck and lifted his head enough to see that there weren’t any suspicious lumps pushing up the covers over his chest or anything, but that wasn’t definitive. He let his head collapse back onto the pillow as he caught his breath. He tried using his arms again, but they still weren’t working. Something wasn’t right.

“Mom, what happened?” She didn’t answer, but the memories were getting clearer; he remembered a girl’s face, then tickling on his arm, and then pain. “I broke my arms, right? Are they in casts? That’s why they won’t move? Mom, it’s okay, you can tell me.”

Lois blew her nose, then turned back to Chris. “They’re not just broken, honey. They’re- I’m so sorry Chris, but... and the... so they-” She closed her eyes and struggled to hold back more tears.

Chris had had enough. He started kicking at the covers until his upper body was revealed. There was a tense silence that was finally interrupted by Chris’s shaky voice.

“...Mom, where are my arms?”

“They- the doctor, he tried, but- but they had to amputate, and-”

“Where are they?”

“I’m sorry, Chris, but they were amputated...”

“WHERE ARE MY ARMS?”

“Honey, I said they were-”

“I heard you. Now where are they? I need them brought back here. At least the right arm. That’s the important one.”

“But Chris, they can’t. If they could have reattached them, they would have.”

“No, you don’t understand! I finally got Rebecca’s number. She wrote it on my arm. Now where is it?”

“I- I think they incinerate amputated parts, Chris....”

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
I am the kernel that pops in the night. I am the pain that keeps your dentist employed.
Last Edit: 5 years 6 months ago by Kettlekorn.

Sir Lee
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5 years 6 months ago - 5 years 6 months ago #147
Sir Lee replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Next time Ayla has an interview with the Child Services woman...

“Uh, there’s a thing here... an outlay of 200 MILLION?”

“Yep, I got my sister to sign off on it.”

“What did you need 200 million FOR?”

“Comics.”

“COMICS? Did you say that you spent 200 million in comic books?”

“No, actually it was more like 400 million, I borrowed the other 200.”

“And... you wasted two thirds of your entire worth... and you now owe more than the rest?”

“Oh no, I paid off the loan already. The profits were more than enough.”

“Profits?”

“Yes, I bought Marvel Comics, you know, the company, reorganized it, did an IPO, sold enough stock to pay off the loan and kept the rest, which are worth about one billion. And give me control of the company.”

“Then where is all that money?”

“Didn’t you HEAR me? It’s not money, it’s stocks. And various other forms of investments. You don’t think I would keep a billion in my checking account, do you?”

“Moving on... there’s also a substantial donation to your school...”

“Oh, that. What about it?”

“You can’t just give away your money like that!”

“Lady, I didn’t give it away, I saved money. Haven’t you ever heard of a tax write-off?
Don’t call me “Shirley.” You will surely make me surly.
Last Edit: 5 years 6 months ago by Sir Lee.

mhalpern
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5 years 6 months ago #148
mhalpern replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
This needs to happen, though I wouldn’t be surprised if Ayla showed her his portfolio... And than asked if she understands any of it.
Any Bad Ideas I have and microscene OC character stories are freely adoptable.

Phoenix Spiritus
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5 years 6 months ago - 5 years 6 months ago #149
Phoenix Spiritus replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Anna Parsons ran desperately over to the slumped form, kneeling at its head as she hesitantly brushed aside the hair covering its face. “Mrs. Carson?” she whispered fearfully. “Lady Astarte?” Tears falling down her face Anna carefully, ever so tenderly reached out to touch the face of the woman lying there, trying hard not to notice the twisted wrongness of the way her body lay pressed into the ground.

Unexpectedly the eyes opened, focused on Anna and smiled. “You survived!” she whispered in delight.

“Why? Why did you come to Zanesville to save me?” Anna begged weeping.

“Deathlist,” she gasped as Anna once again fearfully glanced around to confirm the smouldering wreck still hadn’t moved. “I couldn’t leave. M my mistakes. To others,” she gasped with a wince.

“But! You jumped in front! You saved me! Why? Would would you do that?”

“Wasn’t you. I saved. Was us...”

“Us?” Anna gasped eyes wide in hope. “You’ll be alright?” she begged.

“Better. We’ll be better,” she assured Anna with a smile that turned into a grimace. “Ben. Bend close,” she gasped. “Close your eyes.”

Though Anna had stopped being a student of Mrs. Carson two years ago, she immediately bent close to hear what she had to say, closing her eyes to hear better.

“You are our Legacy,” Lady Astarte whispered. “In your heart is a better way,” echoed from the inside of Anna’s head as her squirrel spirit cried out in delight and welcome, and a force filled to the brim a space inside her Anna had never before noticed was empty.
Last Edit: 5 years 6 months ago by Phoenix Spiritus.

Phoenix Spiritus
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5 years 6 months ago - 5 years 6 months ago #150
Phoenix Spiritus replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Hippy smiled and lent back taking a sip of her beer. It had taken a while, but finally she was happy to be just “one of the guys”, sitting back, feet up on the verandah drinking the beer and shooting the shit together with her male teammates after a stressful mission. Oh, and talking about girls, lots of talking about the girls!

“Now Hollywood! He was a guy I was jealous of!” Mick said with a laugh. “No matter what god forsaken stretch of nowhere we got planted in, he always found a nice piece of skirt to shack up with!”

“No shit!” laughed Lefty with a grin across the pristine right side of his face. “Remember the nunnery they had us hiding it after Nicaragua? I spent the whole time dodging that insane priest that wanted to exorcise me as a demon, and Hollywood! He must have had half the nuns before we left!”

“Would have got the lot too, if it hadn’t a been for that Mother Superior!” Mike gave a bellowing laugh.

Spider splurged and sprayed his latest sip over the verandah as he involuntarily laughed at the memory. “God! I never believed his boasting about how he could kiss any girl into submission! But he went into her office with her screeching like a harpy and promising to take his hide off, then it was a week later before we saw him again! And God he had a smirk fit for the prince of darkness himself! Swore black an’ blue it took him only a single kiss, and he hadn’t been able to leave her bed since!”

“Oh, he was a kisser alright! Best kisser I’ve ever heard off, remember those two devil woman lesbians down Columbia way? Those enforcers who worked the drug Cartels because they let them take out their ‘issues’ with men on those that crossed them? The drug Cartels needed to send women to give them their orders cause they tortured to death any men who dared talk to them? Last I heard Hollywood retired to Mexico to spend his days on a beach somewhere with them as his sexslaves!”

Hippy smiled wryly and took another sip, content to listen to her teammates letting off steam, unfortunately Mick saw the smile. “What’s that Hippy? Think you know someone better?” Mick asked with a laugh.

“Know so,” Hippy said keeping her smile.

“Oh! So there’s some guy who managed to crack your shell and get a kiss was there?”

“Matter of fact there was,” Hippy admitted with a grin. “But I wasn’t thinking ‘bout him, I was talking about a lesbian girl I knew at school, even the straight girls lasted less then a minute when she kissed them.”

“Turned a Prom girl bi did she?” Mick asked with a leer to Hippy’s snort.

“More then one, and not all went bi, some quiet liked the view from the other side and never went back,” Hippy smirked.

“Mommy’s little girl she ain’t ever coming home?” Mick laughed. “I’m sorry, but turning a bored prom queen into a biker chick with penis envy ain’t anything to turning man hating lesbian killers in to pampered sexslaves bimbos,” Mick dismissed her with a snort.

Hippy laughed, “Oh that was just her parlour trick, real deal? She kissed a guy way past gay and all the way to lesbian,” Mick snorted disbelief. “True, my word on it! When she dragged him before the alter there was two wedding gowns, and by far the prettier girl was her ‘husband’, tits and all!”

Mick stared at her in disbelief. “You gotta be shitting me!”

“I swear! Was one of the bride’s maids! She kissed him clear across the fence and bounced him down the paddock. When he stopped before the alter he was sitting to pee and he wore 36DD bras!”

Mick laughed himself silly then stood up. “Shit stories like that will get you another beer, but I ain’t believing that one till I see the evidence with me own eyes!” Catching the eye of a waitress he signalled a new round and slumped back down again.

Nodding in appreciation Hippy just smiled. “May happen one day I’ll show you that evidence Mick,” she laughed. “One day.”
Last Edit: 5 years 6 months ago by Phoenix Spiritus.

Domoviye
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5 years 6 months ago #151
Domoviye replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
A Day in the Life of a Whateley Teacher 2016
Lamplighter.

History Class

Lamplighter looked at the class, his face concealed by his tri-corn hat and a scarf. “Who can tell me why the brave American patriots overthrew the despicable British?”

“Ah, because they didn’t want to pay taxes?” Dragonsfyre said hesitantly.

“That’s one reason. There maybe some hope for you, despite your British heritage, you damn tea drinking, kisser of the kings ass,” Lamplighter said.

A student ducked his head down to look at his phone. A second later a hammer made out of pure energy slammed down on his desk, shattering it. “NO PHONES IN MY CLASS! YOU IGNORANT FOOL!”

The phone was hastily put away.

Using his lantern Lamplighter created a giant broom and dustpan to clean up the remains. Taking a desk from the rapidly dwindling pile of desks stacked at the back of the classroom, he mentally marked down his allotment of desks and chairs for the term. He was going through them a little more rapidly then usual, that could be a problem as it would annoy Headmistress Carson if he ran out before Christmas.

Glaring at the student, he decided he needed to make an example of him. “You will have a fifty page essay on the reasons for the glorious American War of Independence on my desk in one week at the start of class. If you’re a second late, it will be 100 pages.”

The boy turned white and nodded his head.

Mentoring the Cape Squad

“Remember the only thing keeping the streets of this glorious republic safe is the hero, and our use of cautionary violence. Invictus, attack the dummy,” he ordered.

Despite his attempts at realism by using real students who were in detention as test dummies, he’d been overruled and they were forced to use realistic dummies and Ants. Invictus moved forward, surrounding herself in a purple glow and punched the dummy hard enough to send it flying back ten feet.

“Not bad. But he’ll still be able to walk afterwards,” he commented. “Next time try to shatter his shoulder or pelvis. That will ensure he cannot reoffend and will have time to reconsider his lot in life as he recovers in the hospital.”

“Um... OK,” Invictus squeaked.

He shook his head in disgust, what were the weak kneed heroes of today coming to?

Around Campus

Satisfied that he had brought the campus closer to the American Dream, Lamplighter slowly strode across campus keeping an eye on the students to make sure none of them did anything against the rules. As he was about to head over to a group of the Bad Seeds to ensure they KNEW he was watching them, there was a shout and a horde of students raced past and over him, jumping over benches, bushes, and people in a made dash.

He rose into the air, his cloak flowing out behind him. “WHY YOU HOOLIGANS! WHEN I GET MY -”

There was a cough and a growl behind him. Instantly he hit the ground and turned stiffly to see a large woman with metallic hair, marble like skin and strange glyphs that glowed in her eyes. “Lamplighter...” she said.

“Ahem. I’ll just be going on my way now, Ms. Bardue.”

“Good.”

Taking to the sky, Lamplighter flew back to his apartment watching the skies and ground for evil doers and bullies. Evil and ignorance didn’t rest and neither would Lamplighter.

Domoviye
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5 years 6 months ago #152
Domoviye replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Phoenix Spiritus wrote: Now I just want an Ayla type British student to write the essay talking all about the War with France and how England decided it was a pointless waste of resources to fight the marginally profitable rebellious colonies, and to instead concentrate their resources on the Carrabean and India.

Basically a 100 page essay that completely dismisses the American freedom fighters as unimportant as the British forfeited those colonies in order to gather the resources necessary to protect the Carribean Sugar colonies (that where insanely profitable), and to push into India and the huge profits to be exploited from there.

Economically, the American colonies just weren’t worth the effort needed amongst the global war the British were fighting against France.

God I’d love to see the Lamplighters face when reading an essay like that


“What is this?” Lamplighter asked, his voice dangerously low.

“It is a 200 page paper, 100 more pages than you asked for I might add. Which explains how the British parliament decided that the minor American colonies, were a waste of time and resources that could be better spent defeating the French and protecting the sugar islands that made more money in a year than all of the 13 colonies combined,” the boy said.

The rest of the students leaned back in their chairs, a few ducked down covering their heads and began to see if they could possibly kiss their asses goodbye. Lamplighter stared at the boy his eyes flaring, but his body as still as a statue.

“And if I may, sir,” the student said, a smile coming to his lips as he pulled another stack of papers out of his bag. “In anticipation of your next homework assignment, here is a fifty page report on how George Washington was a failure as a general under the British and how he almost lost the American Revolution due to incompetence and stupidity.”

The school was rocked by an explosion that could be heard all the way over in Dunwich. When the smoke cleared people could see a large hole in the side of Schuster Building from which Lamplighter was standing watching an Exemplar 6 fly off into the distance.

**

“Why on Earth did I hire you?!” Carson roared.

“Honestly Ma’am, I’m not quite sure,” Lamplighter replied.

**

Graduation Night, 2011

Carson and the other faculty were enjoying several bottles of Shine’s newest concoction, as they celebrated the end of the school year. A dozen more bottles spilled out of the garbage can.

“Y-you know what? You know what?” Carson slurred, trying to get their attention. “I could, hic, I could hire anyone I want as a teacher. And no one could, no one could stop me. Because I’m La- Lady Ass Tarts.”

Fubar, who had had a bottle of the stuff poured into his tank an hour before, and was currently wearing a purple tutu and a lamp shade on his head, laughed. “I th-think you’re drunk.”

“I’m not- not- not drunk. I’m Lady Ass Tarts! I can’t get drunk! Who should I hire! Emperor Giz- Gizmato, Gizmototic, Gizzy? Or how about, how about, how about Lo- Lord- the guy from the little country in- in- in the- the place way over there?” she asked, motioning vaguely towards the east.

“I know! I know! Lamplighter!” Imp shouted holding up a bottle. “I have his number!”

Everyone looked at her. The ones still conscious anyways. “How... do... you... have... his... number?” Carson asked.

Imp stood up and looked very proud of herself. “I stole his pants once.”

“Well give it here,” Carson said, falling over a chair as she made her way to Imp. “I need a history teacher.”

After much fumbling and dialing wrong numbers, Carson was finally able to focus on the phone. “It’s ringing,” she said giggling into her hand. “Hi Lamplighter? This is Headmistress Carson. I run Whateley, you’ve fought some of my students before. I wonder if you’d like a job?”

Domoviye
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5 years 6 months ago #153
Domoviye replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Teri sat on an icepack beside Imp while the rest of the Ethereal Beauties models were sprawled around the train car nursing cuts and bruises.

“Not that I’m complaining, but why did you steal Lamplighters pants?” she asked.

“He didn’t need them anymore once we shoved him into the garbage can, and I didn’t want him getting tangled up in them when we threw him in the bay,” Imp replied, casually digging through the pockets. “And this will teach him to ask questions before attacking a photoshoot, even if it did look like a wolfman was about to eat a pretty girl.”

mhalpern
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5 years 6 months ago #154
mhalpern replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Everheart

Patrolling the campus Sam noticed a liquid dripping right into the sewers from the lamppost above.

Analysis: motor oil, 5w-30.

Peeking her curiosity she looked up to find 2 large cocoons of pink silk ribbons, one tied to the lamppost the other to a nearby tree, chuckling Sam thought “well at least whomever Peeper and Greasy tried their antics on, made sure that they didn’t cause an oil spill,”
Any Bad Ideas I have and microscene OC character stories are freely adoptable.

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 6 months ago - 5 years 6 months ago #155
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
“So, have you met this inviso-girl Jack keeps talking about? Every time he mentions her I keep wondering if my bud’s hooked up with Harvey the Pooka or something, and to be honest I would have thought that would be more up Bugs’ alley. It’s been weirding me out all week.” Jericho gave a look of frustration towards his oldest friend.

Sandra, distracted by some unusual magical currents nearby, snapped out of her reverie after a moment. “Huh, you mean Dina? Of course I’ve met her, she’s my new roommate, came in around the third week of September. Yeah, she’s... something else. It’s not really invisibility, more like a Somebody Else’s Problem phenomenon where people don’t notice her. I’d call it Plateau Eyes but I think you and Phase would be the only ones to get the ref. Anyway, I would have thought you’d have run into her by now. Her main power is Devising, so you may have run into her in the lab and not even noticed. Literally.”

“Holy shit, she’s real? And she’s cool with Razor and all, and not in some overly creepy way?” Joe’s protective tendencies came to the fore as he expressed his concern for his saurian teammate.

“Oh, it’s a creepy way, sort of, but she’s so socially stunted that on her it comes across as adorable. She’s into dinosaurs in a tremendous, obsessive way, but... I just sort of feel for her, I guess.”

“You do, or Ryan does?”, replied Joe, with a knowing look.

Diamondback’s eyes dropped for a moment before she answered. “Got me. Yeah, my ‘other half’ finds her really nice, and... uhm, one night, when he was in the driver’s seat, he, uh, took the initiative...”

“And she didn’t freak out on you?”

With a sigh, Sandra continued, “She muttered something about wanting to ‘continue the experiment’, so, no?”

“...”

“I’m not sure if I should be more worried that Jack’ll be pissed at me for it, or that he might be really turned on by it...”

“TMI!”
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 6 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

Domoviye
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5 years 6 months ago #156
Domoviye replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Nate had his suitcase beside him, as did most people in Crystal Hall, not that there were very many, most people had already headed home for the summer with the appropriate amount of tears, hugs and promises to phone and write. The underdogs were doing their own goodbye thing, the ones who were left at any rate.

“You really should apologize to her before you leave,” Lucille said, looking across Crystal Hall at Pristine who was talking to some girls in front of the salad bar. Nate noticed that her hair was cut to about shoulder length and curled, which was a new look for her.

“She got a good grade, why should I apologize. I’m the one who got a C for reckless endangerment!” Nate exclaimed, letting out a little toot at the injustice of it all. He’d taken down the supervillain and the rest of the mooks, but did that count for anything? Of course not.

Anna piped up, “She spent three hours in the shower, and burned all the fabric on her costume. She was really upset about it, I heard it cost her a couple of thousand dollars.”

“Oh come on it wasn’t that bad. She’s was just overreacting. My clothes came clean after two rounds in the wash.”

Lucille gave him a hard look. “She cut her hair because of your gas explosion. You’re lucky she hasn’t decided to hold a grudge. Now be a gentleman and apologize.”

“Yes, Mom,” he said, rolling his eyes. Letting out a fart to help air himself out before talking to his combat final partner he slouched and dragged his feet along to meet his destiny.

Pristine saw him coming, she and her friends glared at him like he was Peeper. “What do you want?” she asked.

“I’m sorry about the combat final,” he muttered.

“Fine,” she said, turning away.

“What, that’s it?”

“What more do you want?” she asked, her voice taking a dangerous tone that Nate was totally oblivious to.

“Well, you did get a B+, I just got a C. It couldn’t have been that bad for you.”

Pristine flicked back a stray lock of hair, so she could give him a truly evil eye. “ I smelled for two days, I had to borrow special soap from Solange to get it off of my skin. My hair, that I haven’t cut except to thin out since I was seven, was hopeless and I had to cut off half of it. My suit was destroyed, do you have any idea how much that cost? I am not a bully and I don’t like holding grudges. So I will ignore you, and do my VERY best to avoid you. But give me one reason, just one, next term, and I will take your gas grenade shove it into your mouth and set it off. Now leave me alone.”

Nate very wisely backed away very slowly, as if he were facing a wild bear that really wanted to rip his face off. On second thought, the bear would probably be safer. Spinning on his heels he bolted for the safety of his friends.

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 6 months ago - 5 years 6 months ago #157
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
OK, now I’m really pissed off at Gunny and Sensei Ito. I mean, I was pissed already because they didn’t let me fight in the Combat Final with the other Grunts, I mean, I could understand the whole thing about me only being here a few months and not really trained for team ops yet (but that didn’t stop Kayda, what’s up with that), but this was just nasty of them! I sooo wanted to give’em a piece of mind over that CF down there!

I guess it was kinda obvious that I was angry, I mean even without empathic powers like Nikki has, because she was saying something to me about it but I was in no mood to listen. After fuming for a few minutes (142 sec came up on my HUD) I shot to my feet, looking to run downstairs and ask them what the hell that was all about.

... only to find Admiral Everheart standing right in my path.

“Whisper, I’ve been asked to escort you to the JROTC debriefing. I imagine you have a lot of questions about the final, so we wanted to make sure you got the answers you needed. Understood?”

I sort of worked my jaw for a bit before my head figured out that I should be nodding right then. Numbly, I just followed along behind her, my brain not quite catching up with the rest of me yet. I guess they knew exactly what they were doing...
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 6 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 6 months ago - 5 years 6 months ago #158
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: It’s No Secret
4 October 2007
Fixers’ Patio

I was just coming up to speak to Jadis as Nacht was finishing saying, “...so now Sunny wants me to go to this thing in Chicago next week. She’s got it so that I’ll be going with Mrs. Carson, for some reason, but she won’t say what it’s all about.”

“Could it be for the memorial in honor of the hundredth birthday of the original Champion?” I interjected.

Kate, Lindsay, and Jadis all look at me oddly for a moment, but Jadis picks up on it after a moment. She replies, “Oh, of course. They both knew Holbrook, didn’t they? I guess I should have thought of that myself.”

“More than knew, actually. Coulson and Holbrook were engaged to be married the year he died. Apparently it was something of a minor scandal at the time, given the disparities in their public social standings. Of course, all that was overshadowed when her secret identity was revealed, but that wasn’t unless a few years later.”

Nacht gives me and Jadis a look of utter shock, something I wouldn’t have thought possible from what I’d seen of her before. “What? You mean you knew who Sunburst really is, and never told me?”

Now it was Jadis’ turn to look surprised. “I thought you already knew! Her real name has been public information for over fifty years. You mean to tell me you never even looked her up?”

“I... you know, that’s a really good point. It never even occurred to me somehow.”

“There’s some speculation about that, actually,” I said, glad to see Nacht a bit calmer again. “Her talent for getting people to go along with her ideas and to avoid public scrutiny has been noted to border on the uncanny. It may well be connected to the Dynamorph she hosts, or some other power she’s developed over the years.”

With a sigh, Nacht gave me a look that seemed to say, ‘well that makes sense’, then asked, “Fine then. What do you know about her?”

With a smirk, I start reciting as much as I could recall of the briefing I had gotten on her a few years earlier. “Sonia Jeanette Coulson, born 1924. Daughter of John Masters Coulson and Mary Susannah Kane-Coulson, heir to both the Coulson and Kane newspaper families, though she only received a small part of Charles Foster Kane’s estate. Engaged to Henry Holbrook, a radio station manager, on New Year’s Eve 1952, but never married as Holbrook, the original Champion, was killed in battle before their wedding. Revealed publicly to be the superheroine Sunburst two years later. While not much is known about her powers, she is known to be a Dynahost, having been subjected to an illicit experiment in binding Dynamorphs artificially by the science villain Doctor Sagittarius in September 1946. Sunburst was a founding member of the Chicago Crusaders in 1948, and later moved to Los Angeles in December 1975 to help establish the California Crusaders team.”

“Show off...” Nacht spat with a... well, on her it was a pout, though most people wouldn’t notice. Is it a bad thing that I am getting to know her that well?
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 6 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

Phoenix Spiritus
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5 years 6 months ago - 5 years 6 months ago #159
Phoenix Spiritus replied the topic: Birthday Present
“Woohoo! What a rush!” The blond bombshell piloting the VTOL jet had a grin from ear to ear as she powered down the engines and popped the canopy. Jumping out of the aircraft she slid down and ran over to hug the immaculately dressed woman in the business-suit, wearing pants instead of a skirt, waiting for them.

Following her out was a dark haired woman, who most people would say was completely expressionless. Of course the business-suited woman gave her face the barest of glances before she moved closer and started minutely examining the third woman to exit the jet.

Scowling at the intense study, the third woman growled, “We’re all fine Trevor, nobody is the least little bit hurt.” With a silent nod the business woman stepped aside and turned to examine the jet instead. “And the plane’s fine too Trevor,” she continued rolling her eyes. “Sunburst just decided to play slalom with the towers on approach again to let off a little steam.”

Frowning the business woman looked at the one referring to her as Trevor, a black suited woman in what was obviously a supersuit styled like a devil. “You were going more then fifty percent over the optimal approach velocity. You were varying from the optimal approach vector by both plus and minus fifteen degrees. When I received no answer on the comms I rushed here to prioritise the emergency.”

“Yes Trevor, we all know you worry that we’ll get hurt from one of the toys you provide us, but there was no emergency.”

“Please stop calling me Trevor, Jadis. My name is Ayla,” the woman requested with a sigh politely addressing the black suited woman.

Turning back to them, the blank-faced black-haired girl snarked, “And if you wore a dress or a skirt occasionally she might someday call you that. Might,” she snarked giving the business-suited girl a stare that somehow radiated amusement while keeping a completely blank face.

Growling, Jadis fixed the black-haired girl with a death glare, Ayla merely raised her eyebrow at her in amusement before turning to the blond bombshell. “May I ask why you made such an ... energetic approach?”

“Oh, you know, just letting off a little steam,” she waved her fingers airily at Ayla. Raising an eyebrow Ayla continued to calmly study her. “Oh Ayla, you old stick in the mud! Can’t a mother giver her daughter a harmless little bit of excitement as an early birthday present?”

Ayla blinked and glanced at the clock, “Of course,” she said seeing the time was past midnight. Ayla turned to the black haired girl. “Happy birthday Nacht, many happy returns,” she offered formally with a little bow.

Also glancing towards the clock the blond smiled and walked up putting an arm around Ayla’s shoulder. Quickly dragging her forward to Nacht, she engulfing her in an arm too before Nacht could slip away. “Come on! The night is young and my daughter is celebrating her birthday! Time for a party! Let’s crash Ayla’s study, there’s an aged single malt whiskey in there that I’ve been dying to find a good excuse to crack.”

“That’s there for ...” Ayla tried to interject as she was pulled along.

“Yes, yes. We all know it’s there to drown yourself in when one of us bites the bullet or something vulgar like that!” the blond drawled with rolling eyes. “Let’s enjoy it now instead,” she enthused. “That way you’ll have something to remember of us when you crack whatever it is you buy to replace it. Live girl! We can worry about death when we’re in our coffins! It’ll come soon enough for all of us, no need to worry it here early. And did I mention the party?”
Last Edit: 5 years 6 months ago by Phoenix Spiritus.

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 5 months ago - 5 years 5 months ago #160
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: Appropriating the appropriators
As I read over the list of styles Ms. Chandler teaches, I was seriously impressed. “I’ve gotta say, if she really has studied all these styles then she’s every bit as... huh?”

“What? Oh, that.” said the guy with the Brit accent (not sure where in the UK, but British anyway). “Yeah, I thought she was taking the piss when I saw that, too. Turns out that really is the name of a style, sort of based on Jujitsu.”

“Yeah, I know that, it’s Russian, right? But... that just sounds...”

“I’m pretty sure that’s exactly the reaction she wants to get.”

“Actually,” a feminine voice called out, “I initially learned sambo in my Sophomore year of high school to cheese off this More-African-than-thou jerk who called himself N’Dizi.” Chaka-sensei said as she walked toward us. “Funniest part is that the one I got the most use out of it against was The Purifier... and I made sure she knew it.”
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 5 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

Valentine
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5 years 5 months ago #161
Valentine replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
If Only

June 24, 2009, MCO National HQ, Board of Directors Meeting Room

Director von der Geest looked around the room, “What in the hell just happened?”

Most of the room tried to hide their faces, by ‘looking’ for facts, Deputy Director Loman spoke up, “Somehow the US Government just passed a Law severely curtailing our operations in the US.”

“’Severely curtailing?’ Severely curtailing would be requiring us to wait for a request from LEO’s. Our operations have been completely gutted, can you explain what happened?”

Director of US Operations Cranfield addressed the situation. “Sir, I’ve done my best to track the situation, but I am unsure where it got out of control.”

“Well, don’t just sit there, explain away.”

“In February of 2007, a mutant manifested in New Mexico. For some unknown reason, she was sent to be tested at DARPA’s new testing facilities. After an alleged attack by H1! members, Agent Lainer was shown an MMID with the Codename Whisper...” (Read Whisper)

“That summer Agent Lainer received information that ‘Whisper’ would be attending a party in Arlington, VA hosted by a Mrs. Granston. Agent Lainer led an Assault Team to take Whisper into custody only to be thwarted by Mrs. Granston, her husband Admiral Granston, and several other adults thought to be members of the US Navy and Air Force.”

Director von der Geest stared at him, “Just how did one woman, and some presumably unarmed military personnel stop an MCO Assault Team?”

“Um, I’ve seen the video Agent Lainer recorded, and I’m not entirely sure. I’ll send everyone a copy of the video.

“As part of the aftermath, Mrs. Granston, along with many other high ranking Officer’s wives started hounding their Congressmen and Senators. When elements of the Military, Police, DPA, FBI, and a bunch of other ‘Three Letter Agencies” began supporting them during Congressional Hearings the Legislation started rolling. Testimony from families of mutants we disappeared, and that damned Ayla Goodkind about her experiences didn’t help. Nor did testimony from Captain Patriot, and other so called heroes.”

Director von der Geest looked over at the one man in the room not part of the Board of Directors, “So now we are stuck with this Legislation. We can post two, unarmed agents at each International Airline Terminal, and all they can do is verify that the MID being carried belongs to the Mutant carrying it. Well Mr. Goodkind what are you going to do about this?”
Don’t Drick and Drive.

Phoenix Spiritus
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5 years 5 months ago - 5 years 5 months ago #162
Phoenix Spiritus replied the topic: Fever Dream
Louis Geintz screamed and dropped his connection to Gunnery Sergeant Oscar C. Bardu and slammed back down onto the seat behind him as he shook his head and tried to again gather his wits. Blinking slowly he watched Bardu shivering and moaning and pulling at his restraints in the hospital bed before him.

“Louis!” Shaking his head again, Louis turned to the female doctor calling out his name. “Louis what did you find? Why is he so disturbed?”

Louis shuddered and closed his eyes, before opening them and reguarding those gathered around the bed. “You don’t want to know. Believe me, you really don’t want to know.”

Glaring at him, barely keeping her sparks under control, Oscar Bardu’s ‘God-daughter’ growled at him. Turning horror stricken eyes to her Louis begged, “Caitlin please, believe me. You of all people do not want to know!” he shuddered. “Suffice to say, it involves Wondercute, a seriously catchy tune, and Jade with two guns and a happy manic grin.”

Wide eyed, stumbling back in horror, Caitlin fumbled to Bardu’s bed, reaching out a hand to clasp his shoulder in comfort.

Turning to Doctor Tennant Louis begged, “Doctor! Whatever meds you have him on, change them! And for God’s sake, find some music as different from J-Pop as you can, and pump it loud and fast in here as soon as possible.”

More loosing control, then fading away, Louis disapeared leaving nothing behind but the sound of a song he had been almost unconsciously humming since he pulled out of Bardu’s fevered mind. A song they now realised Bardu was also humming over and over and over again.

Thanks to Dpragon and this thread:
whateleyacademy.net/index.php/forum/the-...nd-had-a-jade-moment
Last Edit: 5 years 5 months ago by Phoenix Spiritus. Reason: I can’t spell, and auto-correct just makes it worse.

Domoviye
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5 years 5 months ago #163
Domoviye replied the topic: Fate Sucks
Prairie Sun, in her civilian identity, looked out the passenger side window with growing fear, wishingthat she was somewhere else. Steve just grinned and patted her glove covered hand gently. “Nervous?”

“No,” she said firmly. “I’m not nervous, we’re just going to go in, ask some questions and get out. It’ll be easy.”

“Liar.”

She cracked her knuckles as if she was getting ready to punch something. “I’m a hero. I’ve talked to and argued with five premiers and two prime ministers. I’ve faced lawyers. Defeated super villains and rampaging robots. I’ve fought Dr. Diabolical to a standstill.”

“Actually he kicked our asses,” he helpfully reminded her.

She ignored the peanut gallery. “I am not letting myself turn and run away from something that will help Estelle.”

He waved at the door of the borrowed car. “After you.”

“Yes. Let’s go,” she said, not moving.

Her husband laughed, gave her a light tap that felt like a shove and got out of the car. With her heart beating hard she followed him across the street into the gay bookstore. She was thankful for the sunglasses which hid her eyes, and kept anyone from seeing her looking around as if something was going to bite her.

A young woman wearing slacks and a baby blue sweater walked up to them as they stood there wondering where they’d find the books they’d need. “Can I help you?” she asked.

Steve smiled and stepped back, letting her take the lead. She promised herself she would hurt him later. “Yes. We need... um, our son is, well...”

“He came out of the closet?” the woman asked.

Looking at her husband for support she saw he was looking at a book with great interest. Oh yes, she was going to hurt him a lot. “Not quite. H-he wants to be become a girl.”

“Oh,” the woman said, nodding in understanding. “And you want some books that might help.”

“Yes,” she said in relief. “We’re supporting him, her. She’s getting help. We just need some books and maybe some advice on where to look. We’ve... looked online, and some of the sites have been, well,” she bit her lip and blushed at some of the things she’d seen and the stories.

That got a pat on the arm. “OK. We have a few books that can help you out.”

“Thank you,” she said very gratefully. “Um what about other things? We’re going to get her on hormone therapy. And... we’re going to help her adjust before they start. So she’ll need...” Evelyn motioned at her own breasts and hips, not quite able to get it out. “Padding?”

“I understand. We don’t sell anything like that here, but if you give me a few minutes to text a friend I can get you some websites that should have those things.”

“Great. Thank you!”

Domoviye
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5 years 5 months ago #164
Domoviye replied the topic: Fate Sucks
I was walking down the street on my own, it was the first time I’d done that in three months. The dark glasses made it difficult to see, but that was good it helped me focus on the now. Walking the coin over my knuckles as I walked helped to, it let me think that things were somewhat random.

A man and a woman were walking towards me, they were talking tensely, almost vibrating with anger, 80% chance they’d start screaming before they made it home, 45% chance she’d hit him with something, 8% chance he’d punch her.

I looked away, telling myself it wasn’t my business. A car raced down the road, considering the time 67% chance he was late for work, only 4% chance he’d beat the red light, 93.4% chance he’d run it. If he did, 38% chance he’d cause a car accident.

The brakes squealed and he stopped just in time, a truck crossed in front of him honking madly.

Looking at my feet, I wondered not for the first time if I should cut out my eyes. The answer came to me immediately, 100% chance my mutation would compensate somehow and I’d still know the odds of anything I heard or felt, only I’d be blind to. I supposed I could make myself deaf at the same time, but at that point it would be better to just grab the pills and end everything.

A bug, I didn’t know what kind thanks to the dark glasses casting everything into shadows, walked along the sidewalk in front of me. 87% chance it would make it across the sidewalk safely. I did an odd step and hop, squishing it.

As I was recovering my balance, I bumped into someone, he was big and smelled bad, reeking of sweat, smoke and alcohol. Since I was only fourteen, weighing a little over 47kg soaking wet, this was not good, my best chance was that he wouldn’t want to bother a small girl in broad daylight. The coin danced in my fingers as I looked up at the man, my eyes barely level with his chest. There was a 76% chance of getting away with only some insults.

“Watch where you’re going you fucking idiot,” he snarled.

“Sorry,” I said, trying to look at him as my attention was drawn in a dozen different directions. Too many things were happening and I’d lost my focus, 46% chance a person would come out of the corner store in the next minute. 34% chance the bird flying overhead would land to eat the bagel on the street. 89% chance of rain. The coin moved faster as I desperately tried to focus on what was in front of me.

“Yeah right, are you high?” he said. 52% chance of getting away with only insults, 23% chance and rising I’d be pushed, grabbed or shoved.

“N-no, I’m just- I’m just,” I was just having sensory overload thanks to my powers. The chance of violence reached 52%.

He felt his pocket. “You bitch, you picked my pocket! Where’s my wallet?”

67% chance he lost his wallet earlier and decided to blame me. “I don’t have it. I haven’t done anything. I’m just-” 24% chance of someone helping me if I shouted. 58% chance they’d call police and not help me. 87% chance they’d take pictures and videos, posting them on the internet later. “I’m just going to the mall to- to buy some clothes with friends.”

He yanked the glasses off my face. “Likely story. Look me in the eye and tell me that again.”

The chance of violence was now 78%. 89% chance I’d be late to meet my friends, 23% chance a taxi would come by in the next ten minutes. 76% chance the next passerby would be a woman, 68% chance they’d be a senior. I look up at him, he jerked back seeing my eyes, the right a brilliant blue, the left a pretty green. It’s natural, I’ve had eyes like that since birth, but it’s rare enough that people panic and think I’m a mutant, only now I really am. “I’m just going,” 93% chance Mom would call the police if I told her about this, “to see my friends,” 84% chance I’d buy a blue top today if I made it to the mall, “to buy clothes.” 14% chance I’d buy a pink top.

95% chance he’d punch me. 30% chance for me to escape unhurt. If he punched me, 63% chance someone would help me. I flip my coin, changing the odds, 40% chance I’d escape unhurt. Still not good enough, a second flip, my fingers become warm, 60% chance and rising.

“You’re a goddamn mutant!” he shouted.

“What?! I’m not!” 61% chance of escaping.

He grabbed my shirt, 81% chance it would rip if he did it again, shoving me into a wall. An old man started coming towards us, 87% chance he’d die by the end of the year. Chance of escaping, 66%. “You’re a mutant. You think you’re better than me? Think you can steal my wallet, and get away with it because you have powers you freak!” he screamed in my face.

If he got my wallet, 92% chance he’d spend it all within an hour on beer.

“Leave me alone! I didn’t take anything!” I screamed back.

The old man was a few feet away. 73% chance of getting away. “You leave her alone, you hear me?” he said pointing his finger at the man.

The man took a hand off of me, he still had an iron like grip on my shoulder. 80% chance, if I acted immediately.

I couldn’t have done it four months ago, I wasn’t fast enough, coordinated enough, or strong enough, now I was. Grabbing the old mans cane, I wrenched it from his hand, pulling him off balance, my fingers burned as I shifted the numbers so he didn’t fall and get hurt. Through flashes of pain that encompassed my brain, I brought the handle of the cane up into my attackers throat as hard as I could. It caught him off guard and he started gagging, letting me go. I snapped the cane in half bringing it down on his back, again I made probability my bitch. As he fell, he hit his head on the sidewalk with a painful thud, 95% chance he’d be conscious again in two minutes.

People were yelling at me, and I was fighting a major headache, I wanted to put ice on my fingers and without my sunglasses, I was seeing the odds for almost everything. The most important one, was that if I stuck around there was a 100% chance I’d be talking to the police and the MCO, not good. Grabbing my sunglasses, I took off running, cursing my Bit which had decided I should have such distinctive white hair.

Someone tried to stop me. Grabbing his hat I shifted the odds once more, increasing my chance of getting away. My head was going to kill me by the time I was done.

Dodging down a side street, I put as much distance between me and everyone else as I could. My powers helpfully told me that there was a 98.6% chance of being late to meet my friends.

Jarjaross
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5 years 5 months ago - 5 years 5 months ago #165
Jarjaross replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
I’ll make a man out of you 1

My name is Amy Lin and I used to hate gym class. It wasn’t that I was un-athletic, okay I was but that wasn’t the reason, it wasn’t the fact that partners had already formed before I even realized people were partnering up, it wasn’t even fear of being picked last for a team. It was the constant reminder of how slow I was developing.

All of the other girls had clearly started puberty. They were growing tall, getting curves,and drawing the eyes of boys among other unpleasant things. I on the other hand was constantly being mistaken for some of the smaller boys. If I hadn’t started growing my hair out people might not even notice I was a girl half the time, let alone a teenager.

So the worst day of my life so far would start with PE. I was just hanging off to the side with some of the other kids who were always picked last. We all knew that none of us would never be the captain of a team. If any of us were picked to be captain, we would leave the rest of us to the the wolves. It’s not like we were friends. Getting picked last was embarrassing but so was losing.

One of the boys, Carter, was a little late. That wasn’t unusual, if he took to long then one of the teachers would send someone to look for him in the halls. Everyone knew what they were really doing, checking the lockers to make sure that he wasn’t in them. I didn’t like Carter all that much, but that wouldn’t stop me from volunteering to go look for him, anything to get out of gym.

Unfortunately Carter showed up before the teachers decided it was worth looking into. He was a little off though, nervous. Then he started threatening the bullies, telling them to back off. That didn’t make much sense considering how much bigger they were than him.

Then all of the odd behaviour came together when he pulled the gun.

So what did I do? Did I grab the gun from his hand and disable him? Did I talk him down and get him help? Did I stop the bullets with super powers I don’t have?

No, I screamed. Did you really expect anything else from me? I was the smallest weakest girl in class. Sure I could have tried to talk him down but when an inexperienced gun user pulls out a gun and points it in your general direction what would you do?

Carter wasn’t the steadiest person when it came to nerves either. So when I screamed he shot me. Not on purpose or anything but by reflexively pulling the trigger.

You’ll note I was a bit vague on all of the details before, yeah that’s because it’s hard to remember things that happened before I got shot that day. Being shot tends to be the highlight of my memories for the school year really. Not highlight as in good, highlight as in most remembered. Sorry I’m rambling, I’ll get back to the story.

I felt the bullet impact, then I felt the world explode. I was on the ground, but it was weird. I had no idea where any of my body was. I could move my hands but they felt clumsy, and like they were coming out of my chest.

Then everyone started yelling. I couldn’t hear them all that well though. It was like they were under water.

“Ahhhhh!”

“She’s a mutant!”

“Someone call the MCO!”

Wait who was the mutant. Were they talking about me? Well I did just survive a gunshot… if I survived that means I’m not dead. I should get out of here.

I tried to move but my body felt like molasses. It didn’t help that I couldn’t figure out where my limbs were. I eventually started to. Crawl forward bit by bit.

I could see Carter in front of me, it gave me a goal to work towards. Then I realized I could see in all directions, weird. Trying to see everything gave me a headache so I just focused on Carter again. He was kneeling on the ground, crying and apologizing begging them not to hurt him. That’s what I thought at least.

When I got closer to him he started chanting, “No, no, no…,” over and over again. When he pulled the gun up from the ground I realized he wasn’t begging the bullies not to hurt him, he was begging me not to hurt him.

I don’t blame him for thinking I want revenge. Heck now I wouldn’t mind getting some revenge, but at the time it was the furthest thing from my mind. I was only worried about escaping. I didn’t pay much attention to mutants but I did know two things. One life sucked for mutants in rural areas because of H1. Two mutants who got involved with the MCO disappeared. Both of those things were bad for me.

When he aimed the gun at me all I could think about was the amount of pain I went through the first time he shot me. Oh I didn’t describe it? Maybe that’s because our language doesn’t have expressive enough swear words for feeling an object explode through your chest.
Anyways I did not want to go through that again. I panicked and tried to jump away. Not like with my legs or anything, I just threw my entire body in one direction. Surprisingly I moved, not only that I moved quickly. I didn’t give it a second thought or a glance behind. I just used my momentum and kept ‘running,’ fleeing the school and the life I used to know.
My dreams take me to far off lands and times of distant past and future. They tell what has been done, what will happen and who I am. They show me things beyond the machinations of any man. Tell me, what are dreams to you?
Last Edit: 5 years 5 months ago by Jarjaross.

Jarjaross
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5 years 5 months ago #166
Jarjaross replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Sorry this one only makes sense if you have read musical character creation

Smell of rebellion

“A peaceful protest against legislation allowing mutants to run for municipal offices turned into a riot after a key supporter was accused of being a mutant…”

Kzzzt.

“Humanity first is reeling after dozens were injured at a community barbecue when a fight started over…”

Kzzzt.

“A church was burned down after Humanity first, or H1ers as they are sometimes called, accused it of granting sanctuary to a mutant…”

Kzzzt.

“Humanity First store clerk was arrested after physically assaulting a group of teenagers claiming them to be freaks of nature…”

Kzzzt.

“The world was shocked today as a hockey game turned into a riot on the ice. The fairly violent sportsmen were not the cause however. It was started when some of the audience attacked a group of teenagers and others came to their aid. Although details are vague apparently Humanity first community leaders instigated the attack…”

Kzzzt.

“The humanity first store front has been closed down a second time this month this time for a new reason. Instead of the store clerk attacking teenagers this one was attacking everyone claiming he had to ‘stop the green most lady’…”

Kzzzt.

“The tag line ‘Mutant threat or menace’ is now being replaced by ‘Humanity first should come last” as the organization has started fight after fight over the past month. Just this morning another report came in of them attacking…”

Kzzzt.

“The famously peaceful organization Humanity First is in danger of losing its reputation after multiple members and groups have been arrested for starting riots over the last two months. Normally any violent protests would be explicitly denounced by the grassroots organization, or otherwise be unassociated with them even if the protests had members going to it. Now the organization has attacked multiple people and caused enough riots that their PR team can’t keep up with what is going on…”

Kzzzt.

This time instead of cutting to a new clip the tv was just turned off. The police officers were looking at me as if there was some significance to the recently aborted clip show.

“Miss Jenkins correct me if I am wrong but you were at all of these events were you not?”

“Most of them officer. I know I was at some of the protests but I wasn’t at the church. I nearly got trampled to death at the hockey game. As for the store, I work there,” I told him honestly.

They squirmed in their chairs as they tried to find a way to accuse me. I just sat there and smiled, they had nothing on me. There was nothing to have on me. My father was a lawyer for H1 of course I had been to those places, I was helping with the protests. I followed the law to the letter, I had nothing to be afraid of.

Admittedly the coincidences were starting to pile up but that could just mean some mutant cursed me to get back at my dad. No big deal.

“We’d like to test you for meta-gene.”

Before I could even say a word both my father and the lawyer he hired for the interview started with the same argument, “the meta-gene means nothing, it only gives the potential for being a mutant.”

I just sat it out as they argued. I tried not to focus on how hot it was in the interrogation room. It might not be so bad if I was sitting next to two people who seemed to be radiating heat, or I wasn’t in my Sunday best including a scarf. It got to the point where I decided enough was enough and I took off the scarf. Sure the ensemble wasn’t as complete or modest as before, and mama would kill me for taking it off in front of strangers but it was hot in here.

After taking off the scarf on of the police officers was surreptitiously keeping his eyes away from me. It wasn’t like there was much to look at, both because the outfit was modest and because there wasn’t much to cover up, but it still creeped me out. Unfortunately dad noticed this as well and started at him for looking at his daughter like that, calling him all sorts of names.

Then the words got harsher. The police got angry. Eventually someone through the first punch and I was caught in the middle of it all yet again.
My dreams take me to far off lands and times of distant past and future. They tell what has been done, what will happen and who I am. They show me things beyond the machinations of any man. Tell me, what are dreams to you?

Domoviye
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5 years 5 months ago - 5 years 5 months ago #167
Domoviye replied the topic: Miss Powerful
Miss Powerful made sure her mask was in place to protect her secret identity, it was only a black ski mask from when she and her family had gone up to New York state to go skiing with some family friends, but it was the best she could do. In the Miami heat, even though it was five in the morning, it felt too hot.

Putting on an old black t-shirt, and her mothers gardening gloves to keep her hands clean she crept out of the house, a big smile on her face. Going over to her Dad’s car, she rubbed her hands together, did some simple stretches and knelt down like her older brother had taught her. Gripping the edge of the car, she lifted it up, feeling around for a hard part, she let go with one hand and shifted her grip. It was like she was lifting an awkward cardboard box for all the trouble it gave her.

With a bit of manoeuvring she managed to get herself under the car and lifted it up above her head. “I can do it!” she squealed. Now to see what she could really do.

Walking out onto the deserted street of the Miami suburbs, she began to jog with the car above her head.

**

“Hello,” the woman said sleepily into the phone, looking blearily at the bedside clock.

“Um, I’m sorry to bother you Eve, but... I think I saw your car running down the street.”

“What? Is this some kind of prank, Wendy?”

“I hope so. But I just saw your car being carried by someone... running down the street. Should I call the police? I don’t want a mutant fight here.”

“I’ll deal with it Wendy, thanks,” she said completely awake and spitting mad.

**

Miss Powerful’s phone rang. Stopping, she kept hold of the car with one hand and pulled out her phone looking at it nervously. “Hey, Mom. Guess what I can do!”

“GET BACK HERE RIGHT NOW! YOU’RE GROUNDED FOR THE NEXT YEAR! IF YOU’VE DAMAGED THE CAR IT’S COMING OUT OF YOUR ALLOWANCE UNTIL YOU’RE TWENTY!” her mother screamed at her.

Spinning on her heels, the budding superhero dashed back home, as her mother kept up a steady stream of threats.
Last Edit: 5 years 5 months ago by Domoviye.

Domoviye
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5 years 5 months ago #168
Domoviye replied the topic: Miss Powerful
Miss Powerful walked through the halls of her junior high, bobbing up and down in time with her music. It was almost her thirteenth birthday and she was feeling great. She was going to be getting her MID soon, and then she could join up with the Miami Crusaders. She still had the lightning bolt pen the greatest superhero in the world Lightning Strike had given her last year when the hero and her team had visited the school. She could be the brawn to her lightning.

Maybe she could even learn how to fly. Or get a cool jetpack that would let her zip around the sky like a hummingbird. THAT WOULD BE SO COOL!!!!!

“Hey give that back!”

She stopped and looked behind her, Toby was running after two bullies had stolen his bag and were throwing the books, pens and papers on the ground as they jogged away.

Looking around, Miss Powerful saw that there weren’t any teachers around, but there were too many students watching everything for her to use her powers openly. Even though she was a really cool mutant, she had to keep her secret identity. She didn’t want her future supervillain nemesis finding out about her family because she exposed herself at school.

The two bullies were too busy laughing at Toby to pay attention to where they were going. Bobbing even more to the music, she waited until they were just in front of her and did a little dance step putting herself right in there way. As they tripped over her, she let herself fall with a squawk, elbowing them lightly and jabbing her fingers into their side. Not hard, at least not hard for her.

They started crying in pain.

“HEY! Get off of me you losers,” she shouted, pretending she was too weak to out from under them.

Some classmates helped her get out from under the two bullies who were holding their sides sniffling in pain. Everyone started jeering at them, while Toby got his bag back, and Miss Powerful, smiling secretly to herself limped away promising to go to the nurses office.

“Miss Powerful 1. Bullies 0,” she whispered to herself as soon as she was out of sight. With a big smile she began dancing towards class again.

Domoviye
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5 years 5 months ago #169
Domoviye replied the topic: Miss Powerful
Miss Powerful looked at the treadmill which was a twisted wreck. A croquet ball rolled to a stop by her foot. The MCO stared at her, gaping like a fish. “Y-y-you broke it!”

“Sorry, you surprised me,” she said, dry washing her hands and biting her lip. “Please don’t tell my Mom, I’m already grounded for the year.”

mhalpern
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5 years 5 months ago #170
mhalpern replied the topic: From Ben to Egg
This is a rough, snapshot of a story based on my “mutant that turns into a proper dragon egg” concept in the bad ideas thread. very much incomplete, haven’t decided if he’s an Avatar or an exemplar, The parents MAY be based off of my parents a little, but this isn’t an author avatar I don’t think, as Ben isn’t a Gadgeteer or anything in this iteration. All names have been changed from those that they may be loosely based off of.

Ben, 5’4” fairly athletic, average teenage boy.
mid July,

Ben gets out of bed, slowly, cursing the sun for denying him sleep, steps on the hardwood floor and slips, “Woah what the?” he notices something off, what appears to a medium gray eggshell with vein marks on each heel attached by what appear to be membrane material and strong cartilage, panicked he cries “Mom!””Dad!”

“What is it? You know I hate when you shout through closed doors” That was Mom, unlike my Dad, my sisters and I, she can’t hear a conversation in normal talking voice from across the house, while in a closed room.
“not the time now Mom, I need help, I think I’m a mutant” trying to get up, grabbing a blanket to tie around my waste seeing how thats all my newfound lack of balance will allow, stumbling a few times catching my self on my desk and cabinets, I make my way to my bedroom door. open it and sit down on the basket outside my room.
“you couldn’t even get dressed?”
“Mom, I could barely walk” kicking a foot out, pointing at my heel.
“Well Ben, I never thought I’d have to teach you how to walk in heels”
“MOOM!”
“I’m serious, it looks like thats how you are going to have to walk, and you need new shoes, as it looks like all you’ll be able to wear are flip flops.”
that earned a groan, Ben hated flipflops.
“Its better then stepping on a rusty nail or something”
Dad came up, with a familiar red metal cylinder, the household fire extinguisher. and a slight smirk.
“DAD!”
“We don’t know what your powers are, so until we do, I want you to keep this around at all times”
“...I’ll think about it”
“Well don’t burn the house down!”
Wow, who knew that old joke would become so literal? that got me laughing, then there was a brief flash of heat and light, fortunately I wasn’t facing anything too close, we learned 2 things, 1 I breath fire, 2 our smoke detector is definitely out of juice, I was practically right under it.
Grabbing the fire extinguisher with by eyes wide in shock and a blush of embarrassment I ask “can you get the crutches too?”

Late July

By this time, the shell pieces have formed near every major joint, and there were patrusions jetting out from his lower back slightly with the beginnings of a larger shell piece, looking in the mirror, Ben noticed something his hips were definitely wider, the family was noticing some less masculine traits, a more dainty appearance in his arms and legs, the fact that his facial hair stopped growing was alarming, seeing how before a full beard was a week without shaving was the first alarm, this made his body look almost undeniably female.

Clothing wise, Ben was down to “kilts” and strapless tops, namely those that exposed his now slender mid drift, be it by luck or cruel design, the shell pieces around his feet now functioned almost entirely as high heels, so the flipfops were no longer needed.

Despite protests in order to be presentable, all of Ben’s body hair was shaved off the previous week when it was decided that there was no way Ben could pass as male, especially with his Wardrobe difficulties.

“Ben, I know this is hard for you, but we have an appointment to get to.”
Powers testing, with a nearby hero group, even before I mutated we didn’t trust the MCO, no matter how much they sugar coat it, they are a fear driven organization, and the fact that almost the entirety of their numbers are baseline, has always made my family doubt their supposed professionalism, and a critical look at “Tales of the MCO” doesn’t help matters.

---
[skip powers testing most undecided, the important parts are the codename “Dragon Egg” and the Whateley admission forms,]

Going through the admissions forms, Ben got to a certain question

‘As a result of your mutation is your body becoming ____?’

more masculine
more feminine
neither
other

Its common enough that they have a CHECKBOX for it?



end chapter 1
Any Bad Ideas I have and microscene OC character stories are freely adoptable.

Jarjaross
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5 years 5 months ago #171
Jarjaross replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Gunny watched in horror as the spectre of death approached him.

It had all been fine a minute ago, they had been setting up for a sim. Nothing to extreme, for senior finals anyway.

The she walked in. The sim techs were surprised but friendly everyone loved her. Then she touched one of them and they died. They just had a heart attack out of nowhere.

People were freaked out for a second, but they thought it was a coincidence until she did it again.

Most of the techs ran away at this point but some tried to slow her advance by charging her. They died just as the others did. Nothing could stop her.

“What do you want?”

“Oh I’m not here for what I want, I’m here for what you wanted. Because you wanted this, right? You wanted me to stop being bubbly and cheery and start taking things seriously. So I have, I decided to take out the biggest threat to my friends that I have available. That’s what you’ve always asked for isn’t it? For me to take things seriously? For me to not mess up your sims or ask for insane things like unicorns.”

Jade pulled out a knife and pointed it at him. He could easily have gotten it from her, even defended himself with it, but it wouldn’t do him much good. Her regeneration and pain tolerance were ridiculous.

“Of course I could go back to being the silly 10 year old everyone expects me to be,” she snapped her fingers and everyone who had died suddenly came back to life. Not immediately got up, but they started breathing and got up shakily.

Giggling like a mad woman she skipped towards the door, nary a care in the world. When she reached the door she said, “Oh and you can keep the knife.”

He didn’t even realize he had lost track of it. He looked around and saw it stuck to the wall, inside a carving of Hello Kitty. When had she gotten a chance to do that?
My dreams take me to far off lands and times of distant past and future. They tell what has been done, what will happen and who I am. They show me things beyond the machinations of any man. Tell me, what are dreams to you?

Jarjaross
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5 years 5 months ago #172
Jarjaross replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Sam was worried when she went looking for Jade. All things considered she was the least stable of anyone in Wondercute.

Surprisingly she found her in her room. Working frantically on something. Yelling at the other members of team Kimba as they buzzed in and out of the room.

As soon as she was noticed Shroud rushed her, “you couldn’t have done this sooner? Or saved it for next year? Broken them more easily? Anything!”

“What…?”

“Jade had all of these plans for how to deal with the first loss. She knew this was coming! She was prepared for dealing an unexpected or even forced loss but this? All of that is out the window. You destroyed the team and now we have less than 2 weeks to fix it!”

“Um…”

“If you’re not here to help then leave. You’re going to get in the way,” Shroud said as Jade rushed out the door with a stack of papers.

Apparently things were well in hand here.
My dreams take me to far off lands and times of distant past and future. They tell what has been done, what will happen and who I am. They show me things beyond the machinations of any man. Tell me, what are dreams to you?

mhalpern
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5 years 5 months ago #173
mhalpern replied the topic: From Ben to Egg
Ch 2,

Early August, a week and a half after powers testing.

Ben was now 5’2”, his shell pieces have gained a slight blue hue, which Ben was thankful for, because its easier to find clothes that match blue than it is to find some that match steal gray... not that he’d ever admit that.
Ben looked down and sighed well we knew these two mounds were coming, at least I don’t have to pee sitting down yet his eyes shifted to a package he dreaded opening, his mom had the foresight to order it online, and it sure saves on the hassle of trying to find a clothing store friendly to obvious mutants.

There’s something about a formfitting devisor bra that automatically displays the size of the last wearer, that bugs me, if that wasn’t enough, the results were automatically sent to mom’s phone and mine, with mine allowing me to “visually increase the size” with an app, whomever made it is a pervert, the app has an enforced tutorial for when you first wear it, and goes through certain “special features” that I hope weren’t advertised when these things were ordered

Of course, the tutorial HAD a skip button for THOSE special features, but Ben didn’t realize that until he got to the “locator function” basically you can call for a clean one with your phone, and you can call your phone with whatever one you’re wearing...

Ok that’s useful, embarrassing, but useful... Still say the devisor who made these is a pervert

“Ben! You know you got to finish filling out those forms soon” that was Dad
“Yeah almost done”

The reality was, the forms were filled out days ago, there was just one thing left blank, his name, Ben was no fool he didn’t look like a “Ben” anymore, not even remotely, and it was almost to the point were there would be no signs of him ever having been male.

“Dad?”
“Yeah kiddo?”
“Truthfully I filled out everything but the name days ago...”
“Ahh having trouble thinking of a new name still?”
“Yeah but its not that, its that I’m afraid to think of one, I chose a gender neutral codename because I know a masculine one wouldn’t fit, but look at me, I can’t even wear unisex clothing anymore, I have boobs, and its only a matter of time before....” I cry, hugging Dad, careful not to hug too hard.
“shhh its okay, a name is just a name, a label so that people can identify you, but it doesn’t define you. You will always be you, no matter what name you go by.”
That calmed me down... “Stupid girl hormones, they wont even let me hyper analyze things like I used to or stay calm while doing it.” that earned a chuckle, I reflexively looked away to laugh as well, thankfully I practiced holding in my laugh most of my life.
I started thinking, I wanted one that sounded somewhat similar so I could get used to it more easily, but I am not moving to a gender neutral name, just wouldn’t feel right, “Beatrice, Betty for short”
“huh?”
“my new name, it didn’t feel right picking a gender neutral name, that would be like going from one boy’s name to another, so its Betty”
“Ben, Betty, that’s going to take some getting used to, you sure about that name? its distinctly feminine...”
“Yeah I’m sure, I mean its just a name right? And that one sounds... nice, I’m going to have to get used to it too though.”

With that, the forms were sent in, the acceptance letter came a week later, in that time, Dad had already been looking up and booking rooms at mutant friendly hotels, it took a lot of digging, but and it would be a 2 night trip, it would be 1 night, but they’re afraid I might accidentally breath fire in my sleep, it hasn’t happened yet, but better safe than sorry, that and we don’t want to attract attention at the rest areas. Of course after hearing that I finally picked a new name, Mom took that as the go ahead to give a crash course on everything from makeup to what I have to look forward to every month after “Little Ben” makes his exit. not to mention her delight in introducing me to my new portable storage (non)options, otherwise known as the purse, I mean I get that I can’t exactly wear a backpack with that shell thing in the way, but why not, say a utility belt?

“Beatrice?” it still feels funny being called that,
“Yes Mom”
“I know this is a lot for you, but the fact in the matter is all this is going to be important, no one is going to look at you as Ben the boy anymore, but as Betty the girl, and that’s going to mean you are expected to follow a lot of new social rules....”

late August

Betty was still 5’2” but that wasn’t saying much considering how she has to stand, she put on her devisor bra, even as she noticed the beginnings of an all too familiar body feature, on her phone was a notification, “C-cup” she stood shocked, only a few weeks ago she was an A... and not long before that, she didn’t have them at all!.

“Betty! Its time to go”

I got in the van, my seat was leaning back to make room for my back shell thing, the reason taking a plane was not an option, that and because even getting there 4hrs early, airport security, in conjunction with the MCO would cause me to miss my flight, I mean its kinda hard to hide my back, let alone my other features that scream “mutant” I’d be held up just by people saying i did something because they want to ruin my day.

The first day was uneventful, we passed by an outlet mall that Mom would have loved to take me to, I guess that is one thing I can thank my unique appearance for, even as a guy that particular outlet center was a required stop anytime we were in the area.

We got to the hotel early, and checked in, the hotel clerk looked at me and said
“Why aren’t you a pretty GSD case.”
“Uhm, thanks?” that got me nervous and uneasy, I didn’t know how to feel about the word ‘pretty’
“Ah a changeling I take it?”
“Uhm changeling?”
“someone who finds themselves going to a different set of bathrooms after their mutation”
“yeah”
“you have a lot to adjust to, but you’ll get through it”

With that we asked where a friendly place to get dinner was, it wasn’t the best, but they offered lots of variety and large portions, I was strangely hungry, our waiter asked if I was an energizer, to which dad thankfully said “No. Betty here is still changing quite a bit.”

We made it back to the hotel, and I slept like a rock, when I woke up, not only was there shell covering my breasts as a sort of “uniboob” but as I found out in the shower, my testes had receded, I got out of the shower and even in my bath robe, my parents could tell something was wrong,
“what is it?”
“what’s wrong honey?”
even the state I was in, I could respond with a touch of humor,
“You know how people tell others to grow a pair, well I just did the opposite, and I think the rest is going tomorrow “

This of course was not the best course of action, as through the rest of Pennsylvania and half of New York, it was either “the talk” or female hygiene review or pop quiz on social regulations.

We got to the hotel, and we found I was right the next morning, strangely I didn’t feel as bad about it as I thought I was going to, of course since manifesting, I have found that practically EVERY morning brings about new surprises, and low and behold, my feet were covered in scales light blue, sparkling scales. We hit the road and made it to Dunwich a few hours later, which is when I learned that I wasn’t expected to arrive until tomorrow, and it didn’t take a genius to figure out that the town outside of the mutant school would be largely friendly towards mutants, or let alone what that meant as it relates to the reason for our early arrival...

“Beatrice” I’ve had that name less than a month and it gets me to stand at attention..
“Yes mom”
“As I was saying, your wardrobe is horridly small for a young lady like yourself, and while your options are still rather limited, we’ve scheduled an appointment with a local seamstress that works closely with the school,”
I was doomed.

end chapter 2
Any Bad Ideas I have and microscene OC character stories are freely adoptable.

Domoviye
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5 years 4 months ago - 5 years 4 months ago #174
Domoviye replied the topic: Miss Powerful
“Happy birthday, Grandpa!” Miss Powerful said, giving the old man a big, rib cracking hug.

<Oh! You’ve gotten strong, little flower. I think you’re almost as strong as your brothers,> he complained in Spanish, pushing her back a little to protect his ribs which felt like they’d been put through a trash compactor.

<Why don’t you use English?> she asked in the same language.

<I’m an old man, I should be allowed to use my native language.>

She rolled her eyes. “You moved here when you were two years old, Grandpa.”

He gave a big laugh, rubbing her long curly hair. “I just wanted to make sure you could still speak it. Your mother says you always have your nose in Shakespeare and math books with your cousin, little flower. Go find your grandmother, she wants to show you her roses.”

Standing on her tiptoes she gave him a kiss on the cheek and ran off to where her grandmother was sitting watching the festivities with a large smile.

“Grandma!” she shouted, being a bit more careful with her hug. “Grandpa said you wanted to show me your roses.”

“I do, the new rainbow rare roses are just starting to blossom. You’ll love how they look,” the old woman said. “But first can you get my cane, some of the little ones were playing with it and it somehow got under the picnic table.”

“Sure Grandma,” she said.

Running over to the picnic table she saw it was right in the middle of it. Rather than getting on her hands and knees, she grabbed the steel bar holding it together, lifted it up above her head, knelt down to grab the cane and stood back up, ready to put the table back down. Then she realized that everything had suddenly gone quiet. Looking around she saw her Dad slapping his forehead, and her Mom rubbing her temples as if fighting off a headache, everyone else was watching her in shock.

Very carefully putting the table back down, she shuffled her feet for a moment before saying, “OH LOOK! Chocolate cake!” Grabbing a slice, she walked over to her grandmother, gave her the cane and began eating as if nothing had happened.

“Lead the way, Grandma! I can’t wait to see those roses.”
Last Edit: 5 years 4 months ago by Domoviye.

Domoviye
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5 years 4 months ago - 5 years 4 months ago #175
Domoviye replied the topic: Rose
“But Mom,” Rose pleaded, “I’m a mutant. I need to get some special training if I’m going to get this stupid power under control.”

“You’re not a mutant,” her mother replied. “You’re eyes haven’t changed colour, you still look exactly the same. Everyone knows that at the very least mutants eyes change when they manifest. You’ve simply gotten your grandfathers talent with machines. You should be happy and not worry yourself about this mutant nonsense.”

“I looked at my broken lamp yesterday and spent an hour working on it. It works again and uses half the energy. I didn’t even know how to check the energy level until I was digging through Dad’s toolbox.”

“Rose, you’re not a mutant! Now drop it or you’re grounded.”

She started to say something, not sure what it would be, but stopped and took a deep breath. Stomping out of the room, she headed for her computer. If her parents wouldn’t face facts, she would. Typing in ‘Missouri super heroes’ she began looking for ones who might be able to help her.
Last Edit: 5 years 4 months ago by Domoviye.

Arcanist Lupus
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5 years 4 months ago #176
Arcanist Lupus replied the topic: Jay-Arm’s Demon
“Hey Jay-Arm! Can your demon talk?” Lindsey asked the mage-devisor.

Nephandus looked rather embarrassed. “Well, sort of...”

“What do you mean, ‘sort of’?” Jadis asked as she looked up from her book.

“Um... you see-”

“Onomatopoeia!” “Onomatopoeia!” the little demon suddenly squealed.



I apologize for the story, but enough stories referred to the demon as Nephandus’ pokemon that this just popped into my head and I couldn’t get rid of it. So now I’m inflicting it on all of you.
“Shared pain is lessened; shared joy, increased — thus do we refute entropy.” - Spider Robinson

Kettlekorn
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5 years 4 months ago - 5 years 4 months ago #177
Kettlekorn replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Nimbus frowns at the sound of Son Gokayla’s voice calling for him. He marks his place in the book he’s been reading, then poofs into the shape of a small yellowish cloud that quickly flies off toward Master Ito’s island. He pauses only briefly for Gokayla to hop on, and then they’re off, blazing a yellow trail through the sky toward the egg-like headquarters of Capsule Corp. Gokayla leaps to the ground outside, and Nimbus flies back to his home to resume his reading of 88 Laws the IRS Doesn’t Want You to Know About.

Meanwhile, Bunny has come out to greet her old friend Gokayla with a friendly hug. Prince Valensuera sulks out after her and gives his old rival Gokayla a curt nod. “Where have you been?” demands Bunny.

“Oh, you know,” says Gokayla, his hand scratching the back of his spiky black hair. “Just saving the financial world.” His cheerful expression grows serious. “Actually, that’s why I’m here. There’s this new fiend out there, and he’s pretty strong. I’m going to need some help on this one.” He looks meaningfully at Valensuera.

Valensuera scowls. “Do it yourself, Kindkarot.”

Bunny turns on her husband. “Now you be nice! Weren’t you just complaining this morning that you never get to hang out with Gokayla anymore?”

Valensuera looks down and to the side. “Was not,” he mumbles.

“Oh yes you were! Now you go over there and help him save the world again!”

Valensuera rolls his eyes and stalks over toward Gokayla, who smiles.

“Good, good!” says Gokayla. “Buuuut, I don’t think you’re going to be strong enough for this either.”

“WHAT!” shouts Valensuera angrily, completely offended.

“But it’s okay! I’ve learned this special financial trick from the Metamorans that will let us merge our assets! We’ll become more powerful than we’ve ever imagined!”

Valensuera spits. “I’m not merging my assets with you. Go ask Razorbaccolo. I’m sure he’d love to.”

“But Valensueraaaaa,” Gokayla whines, “he’s not wealthy enough! It has to be somebody roughly as powerful as me. You’re the only one who’s managed to keep up.”

“Fine!” Valensuera shouts. “I’ll do it! Anything to stop your mewling! Now how do we do this... merger thing?”

“Great. Okay, it’s easy. We just have to do this dance...” Gokayla mimes out the motions, ending by pointing both fingers out and swinging his arms over his head to the side. “And when we get to here, our fingers touch and we’ll fuse!”

Valensuera looks completely appalled. After a few moments, he turns on his heel and starts marching back into the pastel-colored building. “Forget it, Kindkarot. The market can crash.”

Bunny steps in front of him angrily. “Valensuera, you jerk! What about our retirement fund? And what about little Thumper? Did you think about that? You have to help Gokayla save the financial world!”

Veins bulge and teeth nearly shatter, but Valensuera turns slowly around and stalks back to Gokayla’s side. Biting off the words, he says “Let’s just do it already.”

“Yes!” says Gokayla in relief. “I knew you’d come through!”

They act out a practice run, and then go through the dance for real, syncing their acumen and chanting, “Fuuuuusioooonnnnnn.... ka-ching!”

There is a flash of light, and suddenly where Gokayla and Valensuera had stood there is a new androgynous-faced entity wearing a small black vest with enormous orange trim that is barely decent over its bare and heavily ripped yet slightly feminine chest. Bunny stares appreciatively while this new being flexes its muscles and examines its new body. It looks up and speaks to her in a strangely resonating voice. “Check my holdings. They’ll be listed under Gokaylensuera now.”

Bunny pulls a PDA out of a belt pouch and consults it for a moment, then gasps and lets it slide through her fingers to clatter onto the walkway. “I’ve never seen so many zeros,” she says in a quiet, awestruck voice.

Gokaylensuera smirks. “Sounds about right. Hang tight while I go break some deals over Majin Foob’s head.” A jingling aura of gold flares around Gokaylensuera, then he flies away so quickly that he almost appears to have vanished. Bunny goes back inside to make backups of the security footage; between the blackmail potential and her prurient interest, she feels like she’s just won the jackpot. After all, you know what they say about compound interest.

---

Elsewhere, high up on Kayda’s Lookout, Mr. Jobejobe tends to the Spiderpalms planted in the plaza. Their legs twitch in pleasure as the warm breeze rustles through their bristly hairs. A slight widening of Mr. Jobejobe’s eyes marks the moment he senses the incoming wealth that has been blazing across the sky and has now sloped upwards until nearly vertical, rising in an exponential growth toward the stratospheric Lookout. He heaves a sigh, then sets down the watering can full of the blood-like nutrient slurry the Spiderpalms require. No doubt it is Son Gokayla he senses approaching, having discovered and used yet another promising investment to multiply his funds with.

Mr. Jobejobe doesn’t bother to notify Kayda, who will have sensed Gokayla’s approach even earlier than he did. Instead, he makes his way into the kitchens and emerges a moment later pushing a cart bearing a heap of his finest cuisine. As he backs away to a safe distance, he frowns. Something is different about Gokayla’s financial profile.

His confusion is resolved when Gokaylensuera lands in the plaza and zeroes in on the cart. “Hey, is this Rothe Haggis?”

Mr. Jobejobe nods with a fake smile while the fused being begins inhaling the meal he’d spent hours cooking before sealing it in a stasis chamber for the next time there were visitors. Gokayla had always been a little uncivilized, if well-meaning, and the addition of Velansuera has only made him more rude. Mr. Jobejobe considers ejecting him from the Lookout, but hesitates when he hears Kayda’s soft footsteps approaching.

Meanwhile, Gokaylensuera has finished consuming a feast that should have been enough to fill a dozen hungry traders. “That was great!” he says enthusiastically. “Was that lichen I tasted in the Rothe Haggis? Nice touch, and the Spicy Cave Cricket Stew was great. Just the right amount of mushroom. You have to share the recipe with Charge-Charge and Bunny so they can make it for us. And that souffle! I don’t think I’ve ever- we’ve ever? Um. It was amazing! I want more! How long-”

The thumping of Kayda’s heavy staff against the floor interrupts Gokaylensuera’s rambling. “You intend to buy out Majin Foob?”

“Of course,” he replies with a confident smirk. “With my assets, he doesn’t have a chance! Just tell me where he’s hiding and I’ll end this in time for seconds.”

Kayda gazes at him with a grim expression. “Why isn’t Razorbaccolo with you? You shouldn’t do this alone.”

Gokaylensuera scoffs. “I’ve got this.”

Kayda shakes her head. “Poor risk management. The odds are-”

“Razorbaccolo would just slow me down, and time is money. There’s no problem.”

Kayda sighs. “At least visit Karson and Hartforobe on your way back down. They’ve got a fresh batch of Securities Beans.”

---

Back at Master Ito’s island, Charge-Charge is cooking dinner while Glowhan does his homework. Nominally, anyway. In actuality, Glowhan is daydreaming about becoming a powerful Super Salesman like his father. He’s not blind, after all. Ever since Diz he’s been noticing hints of his hidden potential. He’d given N’Zappa a nasty surprise, and even Freyza had noticed Glowhan’s high credit score. But would his mom listen? No! Earlier he was trading stock tips with Tienyo and Jadtzu when she’d caught him and made him return to his studies. He missed the days of training with Razorbaccolo before Valensuera showed up. Just the two of them, out in the wilderness practicing economic warfare. Those were the days. Except for the part about his dad being bankrupt and all, but hey, it had only been a temporary thing until they could collect the seven Banker Balls and wish for a bailout. “I miss you, Razorbaccolo...” Glowhan mutters.

“Speak of the dinosaur...” says a synthesized voice from behind Glowhan.

“Razorbaccolo!” Glowhan jumps up and gives his grinning mentor a big hug.

Charge-Charge turns around and glares at the former enemy now awkwardly returning her son’s hug. Buyouts could make life so confusing! She shakes her head and sighs. “What brings you here, Razorbaccolo? Are you looking for Gokayla? He just flew off...”

“I know. I’m here for everyone else. I’ve sensed a new threat, and it’s going to take all of our acumen to handle.”

“Well, it’s going to have to wait. Glowhan has homework to finish, and then we’ve got dinner to eat.”

“Charge-Charge, this is more important than-”

“Nothing is more important than a good education!” she says with a sharp gesture. “Especially if he wants to be a Super Salesman!”

While they argue, Glowhan slips through the window to find Tienyo, Jadtzu, Chourillin, Yamchaka, and Master Ito waiting outside. “Hurry now,” Master Ito says. “You all get away while she’s distracted. I’ll go rescue Razorbaccolo from Charge-Charge. A good well-placed squeeze should do it! Now go!”

---

Majin Foob dances around the former home of a pair of tax evaders. They were not good people, but they became good candies. Majin Foob likes candies. Hard candy, unlike fiat money like the Zeni, is real and has real, innate, lasting value. It’s a physical thing that can be traded, held, buried, eaten. Zeni is just letters on a page or bits in a computer. Paper and computers are not tasty enough for Majin Foob, no sir! Majin Foob will convert the financial world from Zeni onto a proper hard candy system and save the day! Whee!

Half a dozen shadows approach, and Majin Foob frowns. “What is this?” shrills his voice. “Foob no like shadows!” Majin Foob tries to turn the shadows into candy, but they only make shadow candies, and Majin Foob can’t eat those. The great gelatinous creature looks up and sees the many traders hovering around him, financial profiles glowing brightly. “Oh, Foob sees. You come to take candy from Foob! Foob no likes this! Foob turns you into candy and makes the world taste good!”

Gokaylensuera prepares to deliver Majin Foob a final warning, but then his blood runs cold. Dancing in the air before him are the candy forms of Chef Peter, Chef Marcel, and Chef André, from the Capsule Corp. kitchens.

---

Ayla wakes up with a start, his bed soaked with sweat. “It... it was only a dream,” he mutters in relief.

“What did you say, baby?” asks a familiar voice to his left.

Ayla turns and finds himself face to face with Emil Hammond, who is naked but for a pimp hat and a huge gold dollar-sign necklace.

---

Ayla wakes up with a start, his bed soaked with sweat. He says nothing, stares at the bottom of the upper bunk for a full thirty seconds barely daring to breath, and then turns.

There’s nothing there. But something isn’t right. He turns to the other side. Hippolyta is glaring at him from behind a pair of Groucho glasses.

Ayla sighs. “This is going to be one of those nights, isn’t it.”

“Of course,” replies the top bunk as it develops a mouth and starts slowly eating hamburger helper while Hippy forces Ayla to watch.
I am the kernel that pops in the night. I am the pain that keeps your dentist employed.
Last Edit: 5 years 4 months ago by Kettlekorn.

Domoviye
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5 years 4 months ago - 5 years 4 months ago #178
Domoviye replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Mimeo casually walked up behind the anime girl who had the most delightful powers. She had been easy to spot with her spiky blue grey hair, it was unfortunate she wasn’t with her friends, but her powers alone would be enough to complete his robbery.

As soon as he was in reach he punched her in the kidney, he could already feel the regeneration that would kick in as soon as he hit her.

The girl collapsed the instant his fist touched her. Clothes and fake skin hit the sidewalk and for a crucial few seconds he stood there in shock. At that exact same time, a tiny birdlike figure shot out of the wig, grabbed a hold of him, ripped a hole in his shirt, right around his shoulder, shoved its hands inside to touch his skin and grinned like a child at Christmas.

“HI MIMEO!” the fairy like girl with purple hair and wings squealed excitedly.

He was grabbing the girl trying to pry her off even as he took off running from the obvious ambush. She didn’t come off, somehow she was stuck to his skin, and from the way she was smiling his tight grip wasn’t causing her the slightest bit of trouble. He couldn’t get more than a tingling of the power she obviously had, since she wasn’t fighting him, so she had to be using a PFG of some kind.

“My name’s Tink. After all of this is done can I get your autograph? You’re a villain which isn’t cool, but you don’t kill people so you’re not too bad.”

“What are you doing?” he demanded.

“Well you see,” the girl said still hanging on, smiling as if she was on an amusement ride, “we learned that you were going after Team Kimba. And the school doesn’t like people messing with us students. So you became our school project.”

“What?” he asked, giggling a little in disbelief.

“Well the devisors made a really good glue that’s on my gloves and your skin so you can’t pull me off. The gadgeteers gave me a PFG and a metal frame so you can’t rip me apart pulling me off, or pull my joints from their sockets. Eldritch and Tennyo are flying overhead with a .50 calibre sniper rifle ready to take your head off if you look like you’ll really hurt me, I have a radio that lets them listen into everything we’re saying. Eldritch really wants to shoot you for hurting students, but she was overruled.”

Mimeo began scanning the sky, another fit of giggling overcame him at the insanity of the situation.

“Oh you can’t see them silly. Pejuta gave them some really cool charms that make them invisible, you can’t even hear them. Pretty neat huh?!”

“Yeah, sure,” he said, putting on speed, biting back another laugh.

“We had Shroud pretend to be Tennyo, knowing you’d probably want to go after her first, and with her powers I could hide in her hair waiting to get close enough to get a hold of you. Generator created a really neat delivery system for our trap, and Mobius made a special bag to hold everything.”

Another laugh overcame him, this was getting more and more ridiculous. “Delivery system?” He pulled on her again, but the glue wasn’t letting go, and it had to have spread out, it felt like he was trying to rip all the skin off his arm, shoulder and half his chest.

“Yeah. There was talk about putting it into a bomb but they thought you would run away too quickly to get a big enough dose. So they needed someone who was, and I quote, ‘fast, brave, tough, and absolutely crazy,’ to pull it off. Someone else added stupid, but that definitely isn’t me.”

Mimeo had to stop running as a great belly laugh caused him to bend over grasping his knees. Gasping for air, he found he couldn’t stop laughing.

“So I volunteered. And since I started talking, you’ve been getting a steady dose of something that Jobe whipped up for self defence. She had to strengthen it for you, but it’s working great isn’t it?” she asked, yelling to be heard over his laughing.

He managed to wheeze out “J-Jobe?” as spots rose in his eyes.

“Yeah a bio-devisor. She’s creepy, and she’s going to be the Empress of Karadonia eventually. I heard she used to be a boy, but she had an accident and turned herself into a drow. I wanted to ask her to join my modeling club, but I was overruled by practically everyone.”

Fallling to his knees, laughing so hard it hurt, Mimeo just wanted the girl to shut up.

“So yeah, don’t worry you’ll just black out soon. After that happens the virus in your sinuses will start to die from lack of oxygen. By the time you wake up we’ll have you wrapped up nice and tight and ready to be sent off to prison. And I’ll be getting extra credit, and I can say that TINK THE FAIRY QUEEN, defeated Mimeo. Do you think that will look good on my resume when I try out for the Crusaders?”

She looked over at Mimeo, who was unconscious on the ground, still giggling lightly. “Aw, I don’t think I’ll get my autograph now,” she whined. Speaking to the radio, she said, “OK, guys he’s down. Come on out and arrest him. And can I get some solvent? My nose is SO itchy!”
Last Edit: 5 years 4 months ago by Domoviye.

Domoviye
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5 years 4 months ago #179
Domoviye replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Teri checked her mail box on the way back from class. She’d let it slip a bit considering all the congratulations she’d gotten for going hand to hand with Mimeo, even though she hadn’t really done that much and had never been in any real danger. Still she basked in the attention, since she had been the one to pull it off.

There wasn’t much, a letter and some pictures from Mouser, some junkmail saying she might already be a winner, and right at the back was a large brown envelope. Curious she rushed back to her room and tore it open.

A large picture of a superhero group fighting against Mimeo slid out, in the corner of it was written, ‘To Tink. Here’s the autograph you wanted. When you apply for the Crusaders get them to call me as a reference. Mimeo.’

Teri’s wild scream of joy could be heard in Dunwich.

Domoviye
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5 years 4 months ago - 5 years 4 months ago #180
Domoviye replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
2018

Teri took a sip from a straw that disappered into her belt, as her fallen teammate tried to crawl away from the recently escaped Mimeo.

“Mimeo, it’s been a while,” she said calmly.

“I’m getting on in years, breaking out of prison isn’t as easy as it used to be,” the villain replied. “So I figured I’d get some regeneration to take the edge off my advanced years. I see my reference helped you.”

She took another sip from the straw before nodding, grinning broadly. “Yes it did thanks. Do you really want to fight, or can I just arrest you now?”

“You don’t have any tricks this time, fairy girl. I’ve got what I wanted so I’m feeling generous, you can run away and save yourself a beating,” he replied the grey fading rapidly from his hair.

Giggling Teri took a final big sip from the straw. “Actually I do have a little trick that just finished working.”

“Oh?”

Her grin became inhumanly large, her eyes began to glow. “I just drank about a litre of devisor caffiene that would make an elephant stay awake for a week. And it’s starting to kick in. Last chance.”

Mimeo watched with interest as the fairy started vibrating. “This will be fun,” was all he said as he threw himself at her.

There was a small sonic boom as the two collided in midair.
Last Edit: 5 years 4 months ago by Domoviye.

Domoviye
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5 years 4 months ago - 5 years 4 months ago #181
Domoviye replied the topic: Marni
Marni leaned forward in the beanbag chair, her nimble fingers making a cornrow in her friends blonde hair. “Tell me if it tugs anymore than this, Rachael,” she said.

“I thought cornrows were suppose to be really tight?”

“Naw. If you make it too tight, you just end up pulling the hair out by the roots. Trust me, I learned all about it from my aunt who does this for a living,” she said. “Anyone else want it?” she asked the four other girls who were sitting around the basement rec room, eating popcorn, drinking pop and watching a movie.

“We’re good Mar. Take it easy and relax,” one of them said. “You don’t have to be like your parents and always doing something.”

“I just like doing stuff with my hands,” she protested. “This stuff is so easy I could do it in my sleep. I think I have a few times when my brothers woke me up before dawn wanting to look cool.”

Laughing they got back to the important things, watching the movie and gossiping.

**

The hot California sun was just peeking in the basement windows when Marni woke up needing to go pee. Stepping nimbly over the sleeping bags she headed for the bathroom to do her business. As she sat there, she remembered how she had helped her fathers construction crew renovate it four months ago. She’d just done fetch and carry jobs and helped keep track of inventory, but as her father told her, it would be good experience for later in life. She’d just been happy to get the paycheck.

Finishing up, she quietly opened the door, hoping to get at least another hour of sleep. Rachael was doing a pee dance just outside, before Marni could say good morning her friend stopped dead and stared.

“What?” she asked confused.

“Y-y-your eyes,” Rachael squeaked.

She spun, staring at herself in the mirror. Her iris’s were brilliant orange. “Oh crap,” she whispered.

Marni didn’t notice the sound of feet running up the stairs.
Last Edit: 5 years 4 months ago by Domoviye.

Domoviye
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5 years 4 months ago - 5 years 4 months ago #182
Domoviye replied the topic: Rose
Turning on the band saw, Rose watched the blade spin while her mind showed her how the gears and motor inside the machine worked. Six months ago she wouldn’t have cared, even now she didn’t get much of a thrill out of machines, but it was the only way to make her brain calm down and she was learning to like it.

Right now she was just making some pieces for a template of her newest project, which if her brain was telling her correctly would be a bracer that could fit under her shirt and expand into something like a shield. She’d actually found the design on the internet, and her brain had decided to improve it, making it smaller, faster and stronger. Why her brain thought she needed it, she didn’t know but it was easier to just go with it. If she ignored it, she’d just start dreaming about the stupid thing until something else caught her attention.

With the basic shape ready, she went back to her table and halted with a groan. Her blueprints were covered in red paint, beside it was written ‘Mutant’. Looking around the shop, she saw that everyone was looking away from her, and the shop teacher was conveniently in his office. Sighing, she went to get some paper towels, she didn’t need the blueprints anyways, they were just there to seem normal.

**

The next day, Rose made sure to talk with some of her friends close to a Todd’s locker, he was the biggest jerk in shop class and most likely the one who had destroyed her blueprints. She watched him out of the corner of her eye as he opened his locker. Once it was fully opened there was a large bang that had every student yelling and ducking, Rose included, it had been louder than she thought.

Turning to face everyone, the boy looked absolutely stunned, everything from his chest down was covered in pink, glittery paint.

Rose was the first to laugh, but she was quickly joined by others, glad to see the jerk get his comeuppance.
Last Edit: 5 years 4 months ago by Domoviye.

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 4 months ago - 5 years 4 months ago #183
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
23 May 2016
Kochi, Kerala, India

Chandi was checking the positioning of her webcam when the notice came in that the connections for the meeting - heavily encrypted and carefully secured by both technological and magical means - were ready, and a quick check of the windows showed that both Nikki and Hikaru were already speaking privately. She smiled to herself; she knew that Amatarasu would be there, of course - she was the one who requested the meeting, after all - but being free to talk to the newest of the Divine Voices was comforting. When she had first emerged and been selected as a Paladin, Chandi had felt intimidated by the senior Voices, though she knew that most of them were only a few years older than she was. It was comforting to have a peer close to her own age in the group.

She ought to talk to Judicator in private after this was over, she thought. Athena was the closest in temperament to her own Patroness - aside from Thoth, but Nasir was a brat whose habits were entirely at odds with his stature - even if her martial demeanor stood in contrast to Saraswati’s placid tone. Savadha had been hesitant to approach the older Voice privately at first, as she was only a Paladin, whereas Elizabeth was an Incarnation, but that reserve had melted since.

And wise it was of you to get past that, Saraswati’s voice in Chandi’s head gently added.

As more Voices came on the screen, Chandi was surprised to see that Bui Hao had joined them. How did she - she alway though of Guan Yin’s Avatar as female, though it wasn’t quite accurate - get away from the Iron Dragon’s guards long enough to set this up? What affect was this going to have on this debate? Chandi shook her head in confusion. She could see that Miyet, Pejuta, and Carmilla were just as confused, and Fey was fuming, while Majestic seemed even more unbearably smug than usual. Did Hera have something to do with it?

Then the eldest of the Voices - in mortal years, at any rate, though of the Divines, the Queen of the West predated even the Sumerian goddess - spoke up, and everyone hushed as Elizabeth Carson’s voice rang through their speakers. Few outside of this group knew that since 2009, her codename was more than a mere affectation; even most of the male Voices were unaware of her role as Ishtar’s Paladin, and the Goddesses gathered in this discussion felt that was for the best. There was a reason why the likes of Imperious and Thunderbolt weren’t included in these talks.
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 4 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 4 months ago - 5 years 4 months ago #184
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
“Damn it, Toni, no! I won’t have time to ask Hao about his great-great-whatever-grandfather!”, she continued to fume as she cut off the phone call, furious that her former roommate was being so rude.

Nikki had no idea how Chaka had found out that Luminous was related to some legendary martial artist named Huang Feihong (or something like that), but pestering her fellow Voice about someone he/she seemed to know almost nothing about was the last thing she had time for when there was a major international incident going on, especially since she wasn’t sure just what June had done to arrange for Hao to speak to them at all.
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 4 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

Malady
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5 years 4 months ago - 4 years 1 month ago #185
Malady replied the topic: The Gamer of Gaia
June 12th, 2006

Alex was falling.

Well, he was dreaming that he was falling. He was falling back first. He willed himself to turn over. He could see what looked like a stained glass window approaching.

He landed.

The path of the Servant of the Tao is a difficult one. You will face many trials, but you will not face them with an empty palm

Select what will fill your palm from the proffered items

Alex wondered where the voice was coming from. He saw three pedestals. He approached the first pedestal. On it was a Chinese style jian

The Blade
The way of the Fighter
The power to fight all who oppose
The power to slaughter all who stand against

Will you take the Blade?

Alex put down the sword and approached the second pedestal. On it were what looked like a set of rosary beads

The Rosary
The way of the Mystic
The power to heal all who require
The power to destroy all who deserve

Will you take the Rosary?

Alex again put the item back on the pedestal, then went to the final pedestal. On it was what looked like a set of bells

The Bells
The way of the Protector
The power to warn of danger
The power to announce bloodshed

Will you take the Bells?

Alex put down the bells and thought on what he should take. He decided on the jian. The small spiel about the blade played through his head again, but this time he did not put down the blade.

Very well. For the path taken, there must always be a path forsworn.

Select which of the remaining items you will close your fist to.

Alex approached the rosary

The Rosary
The Way of the Mystic
Forswearing this path will make the learning of the secret arts harder, but make you hardier to the secret art being used against you.

Will you forswear the Rosary?

Alex put down the beads and picked up the Bells

The Bells
The Way of the Protector
Forswearing this path will make blows hit harder, but will aid in blows not landing on you as often.

Will you forswear the Bells?

Alex put down the bells and thought on the choice. He approached the Bells. Again, the new spiel played. Alex did not put down the bells.

Very Well

The stained glass floor shattered. Alex fell again. The new window that Alex fell towards looked like an cherub and an imp intertwined

As a Servant of the Tao, you walk not the path of Light or Dark, but of Twilight. you will face adversity from both sides.

Defeat your foes

With those words, imps and cherubs appeared. Alex somehow knew how to use the sword in his hand. Before he knew it, all had fallen but him.

Very well

The glass shattered beneath Alex again. Alex fell towards another glass floor, this one had what looked like a white girl with glasses, twin ponytails and a winged black panther.

The Servant of the Tao walks alone in their service. Be not mistaken, though you walk this path alone, your path intertwines with those connected to you. Walking this path will bring your destined beloved to the walker.

The glass shattered. Alex fell for the last time, the black void turning a cool blue and the final glass floor had what looked like a Chinese girl and a green sword on it.

Walking this path will change the walker in order to walk the path more easily. Much will be taken, but much will be given in return. The Path has chosen the Walker, but does the Walker choose the Path?

June 13th, 2006

When Alex woke up, he was faced with a wall of light blue text boxes, like out of a video game :
You recover 100% of your HP and MP and are cured of all negative status conditions from having slept well!

Quest: “Dive to the Heart” Completed!

+100 EXP​

+Destiny’s Wave

Level UP!


Alex could also feel a pressure from something that lay on top of his covers. After swipping away the text boxes, he saw that it was a cloth-covered box.

“What is this?!”

A new light blue text box appeared around the box.

Carrying Container for Destiny’s Wave.

Contents:
1x Destiny’s Wave

Description:

A wooden box made to hold Destiny’s Wave. It is warded to keep anyone from detecting Destiny’s Wave.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Original Ending [ Click to expand ]


Author’s Notes [ Click to expand ]


Note to self [ Click to expand ]
Archives: Rubberjohn’s Fanfic + CrystalHall + Mittfh’s Wordcount Spreadsheet

My Patreon. But, support the Crystal Hall 1st?
Last Edit: 4 years 1 month ago by Malady.

Domoviye
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5 years 4 months ago #186
Domoviye replied the topic: Miss Powerful
“All right Miss Powerful,” her Dad said using her codename so she’d get used to hearing it, “when the MCO asks you for your name, what do you tell them?”

“I’m Miss Powerful, future protector of all that’s good in the world.”

“And if they ask for my name or your mothers?”

“My parents are dead, because evil aliens blew up my home planet. I’m actually Princess Powerful, and as the last survivor of my species, it’s my job to bring peace, love and happiness to my adopted homeworld. So if you want know my parents name, it will require massive reconstructive surgery on your tongue, teeth and throat to get the right pitch.”

Her father banged his head on the table a few times. “No. Keep it simple.”

“Fine. I’m Miss Powerful and my parents are Mr. and Mrs. Powerful, you can find us in the Yellow Pages.”

“Good.”

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 4 months ago - 5 years 4 months ago #187
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
“But Liz, we need time to study her! This could be the evidence we need to prove the melder hypothesis!”

With a sour look, Carson replied, “Don’t worry, Filbert, you’ll have plenty of time for that later. Right now, she needs more time to adjust to this, and you poking at her isn’t going help her. Just because a student’s power is rare” - so rare that they had never proven that the sole individual to possess it before, her long-lost friend Harry Holbrook, was in a different category from other Avatars - “doesn’t mean we can ride roughshod over her psychological well-being.”

Dr. Quintain started to protest, but the headmistress stood firm. “I know, we need to study the power to be certain that it isn’t a danger to anyone. But that can wait. Right now, Miss Sholes is in Dr. Bellows’ hands until we can be certain she’s stable enough to do anything with.”

As Dr. Quintain dejectedly left, she shook her head at his single-minded focus. How did he expect a child who had only just started responding after months in a nearly catatonic state, one so prejudiced against mutants that she had to be kept on a continuous suicide watch, to be able or willing to help him with his research?
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 4 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

Domoviye
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5 years 4 months ago - 5 years 4 months ago #188
Domoviye replied the topic: Rose
“Do your parents know your here?” the grey clad hero asked.

“No,” Rose answered, looking nervously at the crowded restaurant that was apparently ignoring the presence of Kansas City’s only full time superhero, Mind Over Matter. “They’re on a little vacation, so I had the house to myself this weekend.”

She saw the disapproving look in the hero’s eyes.

“It’s not like I wanted to lie to them, or take a two hour ride on the Greyhound to get here. I don’t have a job yet, so I’m broke now. Its just that they don’t believe that I’m a mutant,” she insisted. “Even after fixing Dad’s car so that the radiator won’t leak, while improving the motor, and getting rid of the squeak in the shocks, not to mention everything else I’ve done for the last two months they keep saying I’m just talented. I hate grease! If it wasn’t for my stupid brain giving me all these plans and ideas I wouldn’t be doing any of this.”

He motioned for her to calm down, before taking a bite of his salad. “From your emails, it sounds like your a gadgeteer. Have you noticed anything else, getting stronger, eating more, strange sensations?”

“No. I almost wish I did, than I might be able to convince my parents that I need some help. A couple of kids at my school are calling me a mutant already because I decided to take shop class and I’m doing all sorts of things without anyone teaching me how to use the tools.”

“Are you being bullied?”

She shook her head. “No more than most kids who aren’t quite normal.”

Mind Over Matter took a hand size object out of his belt, it looked something like a flashlight. He placed it and a small pocket tool kit in front of her. “Here’s a test to see if your a mutant. This is broken, I’d like you to look it over and fix it. If you could tell me what it is, it would also help.”

“Will it explode?”

“No it’s completely harmless.”

Her mind got to work, and wanting to finally prove she was a mutant Rose helped it along as much as she could.

Fifteen minutes later, she pressed a button making a small red dot appeared on the table. “It’s a laser pointer, but it has something added to it. I don’t know what it is, something to do with noise I think, my brain started to hurt when I tried to think about it more.”

“It’s a sonic devise, that uses the laser pointer to act as a targeting system.” She gasped at the thought of fooling around with a devise, she’d heard in the news that they were dangerous. The hero gave a small laugh. “Don’t worry I took the power pack out of the devise, I wouldn’t want you accidentally making someone soil their pants. So you are a gadgeteer at least. Do you think it would help if I went to meet your parents and talked to them? I wouldn’t tell them that you came here, just that we talked by email and the phone.”

“You’d do that for me? Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Rose stopped thanking him as a possible problem appeared. “You’d come to my house dressed like that?” pointing at his costume.

“Don’t worry, no one will notice me. It’s why we’re being ignored now, I’m making people think we’re none of their business. Who says TV can’t teach you anything.”
Last Edit: 5 years 4 months ago by Domoviye.

Domoviye
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5 years 4 months ago #189
Domoviye replied the topic: Marni
“I hate you! This is all your fault.”

Marni sat on the couch clutching her knees, fighting back the tears as her ten year old brother cried with blood and snot running down his face.

“Matthew, don’t say that to your sister. This isn’t her fault,” their mother said, using a warm washcloth to clean up some of the blood from the cuts. “Who did this?”

“Some guys,” he muttered.

“Which guys? Were they your classmates, teenagers?”

Matthew didn’t answer, choosing to glare at his mutant sister.

Marni managed to walk calmly from the room, heading for her one safe place since everything had happened. As she opened her door, her arm muscles twitched and the door slammed open with a screech from the hinges and a crack of wood. Her father came running, still holding the phone that had Matthew’s principal on the other end.

“What happened?!” he asked, staring at the door hanging from her hand.

“I-I-I just... I just opened the door,” she said. The door slipped to the floor with a thud, as she was left suddenly feeling weak and very hungry.

She felt him catch her as she fainted.

Cryptic
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5 years 4 months ago #190
Cryptic replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
“Minion! I have a brilliant idea!” Greasy looked up from his homework to eye Peeper warily. Few times when that phrase had been said last year did it end well. “I know just what we can give the ladies! And all we need is one of the 3d printers, your fake skin, and a scan of my junk. Oh and some of those small water proof cameras we tried putting in the showers last year!”

Greasy sighed and hung his head.
I am a caffeine heathen; I prefer the waters of the mountain over the juice of the bean. Keep the Dews coming and no one will be hurt.

Valentine
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5 years 4 months ago #191
Valentine replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
“Greasy are you pondering what I am pondering?”

“I think so Peeper, but where are we going to get hot pants for all the girls?”

“That’s not what I was... Greasy you’re brilliant!”
Don’t Drick and Drive.

Domoviye
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5 years 4 months ago #192
Domoviye replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Alice stood on the mat for the first day of sparring in Basic Martial Arts. Her opponent leered at her, eyeing her breasts in a way that made her skin craw.

“Hajime!” the sensei shouted.

He grappled her right away, using his superior weight and muscle mass to shove her backwards and out of the circle, making sure to grope her breast before letting go.

Seething she made her way back into position. “You touch me like that again, I’ll make sure you regret it,” she warned.

“Yeah right,” he sneered.

“Hajime!”

Again he came right at her, but this time she was able to duck out of the way. He still managed to grab her gi, yanking her back towards him. She felt his hand squeeze her breast as his other hand moved towards her butt.

Concentrating she made her body shift. Porcupine quills rose from her chest spearing his hand before he knew what was happening. He jumped back screaming, holding his hand which was peppered with the sharp barbed quills.

“I warned you,” she said.

The sensei came running over, the tiny little man did not look happy. Oh well, she thought, better to get some detention than have to worry about little perverts. Looking at the holes in her gi and sports bra, she made little claws pop out of her skin catching the fabric and closing it up.

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 4 months ago - 5 years 4 months ago #193
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
I just realized that I never reposted this. It was originally a stand-alone fanfic, “The Fortunate One”. I was planning on expanding on Serendipity’s story later but I never got back to it (story of my life...). It fits well enough as a micro-scene as it is.

My name is Elizabeth Sharon Black, or at least that’s the name I use now. When I was little, my parents called me Tom, but I never liked that name; every since I was a little girl I knew I am a girl, and lucky for me, my parents actually figured I meant it because they’ve let me be a girl since I was around six or so, all the time. They even got my name legally changed, which is something you normally can’t do until you’re, like, eighteen or something.

Mom says I’m a Two-Spirit, which always sounded wrong to me, ‘cause I feel like I am all girl no matter what my body is like, and anyway I am pretty sure our people didn’t really have the idea of Two-Spirit the way some of the other tribes did. I really don’t know, though, because even though I am full-blooded Navajo, I don’t really know much about our people’s history.

Anyway, I never really fit the stereotype of the Native American except in my looks. My name sounds like it could be anyone, and I’ve never been on a reservation even once, and my parents make a good living so I guess we’re what you’d call middle class; and while Daddy is a jeweler, which sorta fits the stereotype, Mom is a dentist and has her own practice here in Austin. I’ve never had any real trouble for being Native American, except from a couple of jerks in school. I’ve gotten a lot more grief from people about being trans, though most folks don’t know I am not quite a girl in my body so even that hasn’t been a big deal most of the time.

Like I said, I’ve been really lucky. Or at least I have been up ‘til now. Still kinda am, if you ask me. The thing about being a mutant has been more trouble for me this past couple months than all the rest of it combined.

I actually was sort of hoping I would be a mutant, though I knew a lot of people didn’t like them. I guess I was hoping to be lucky and turn into a real girl, like they say some mutants do. I know it’s really rare but I figured I’ve been doing well so far maybe my luck will hold. And it did! I’ve been getting more girly almost by the day, and the doctors think I’ll be all girl in about a year. They did say that I’d have to have an operation on my hips at some point to make sure they grow right, but other than that, yay! But I guess I’m getting ahead of myself.

I knew I might be a mutant for about a year now, when we started talking to some doctors about my transitioning to a female body. It turns out that I have the Mutant Meta-Gene Complex, which is weird because no one else in my family has it, and we checked to make sure my parents really were my parents and everything. So I guess I actually am a mutant in the technical sense, but what’s weird about that is that the Mutant Meta-Gene Complex is, well, complex, so it’s not like it should be able to just appear like that, and I have it in both sets of chromosomes, which they tell me should be impossible. But apparently the MMGC is weird like that; it just sort of started popping up in folks out of the blue, and always shows up as a whole thing, not bits and pieces, so it’s like this big mystery how that can be happening.

But I didn’t really figure I’d be a mutant in the super-powerful sense until the day my eyes turned blue. And I don’t mean like ordinary blue eyes; they are this glowing electric blue, so blue that it is really surprising to most people. I got lucky again, though; my parents had flown me to see a specialist in a place called Berlin in New Hampshire about this new scan thing that they wanted to test, because it was supposed to be able to pick up gender differences in the structure of the brain. And it’s funny, because my eyes changed like the same day I was supposed to get scanned, but the really funny thing was, the scanner turns out to be a devise, and the devisor who came up with it had to be there to make it work. And guess what? She was only a couple of years older than me! And she was a trans-girl too!

Uh oh, that was supposed to be a secret. Sorry.

Her name was Elaine and she was some kind of kid genius, even before manifesting as a mutant, so she was able to come up with this devise that could tell if someone was male or female in their head and I was one of the first it was getting tested on. From what she said, she’d used some devise to make herself a girl, except it was actually someone else’s machine and she wasn’t able to copy it so far, but she kept talking about how bio-transformation was going to be the next big thing in technology and how she was hoping that the brain scanner would pass something called the ‘Devisor test’, which I guess means that even though it’s weird science it’s not so weird that someone else can’t make something that’s sort of like it. She’s trying to get funding for mass production if it passed that test, and even says she has some friends who are really rich who might be able to help her but she hasn’t been able to convince them yet.

Anyway, she and this creepy Dr Gellmar were all set to run the scan on me when I came in with my eyes all blue like that. They kind of argued about whether or not they should go ahead with the test, and if my mutation would screw it up some how. Eventually they decided to go ahead and do it anyway. They found out I was a girl in my head, which I could have told you, but it’s really nice that I could now say that it really was true ‘cause I had the brain scan to prove it.

But what’s best of all is that Elaine says that there’s a whole school for mutants just around there, and she’s a student there herself, and she thinks I can get in to it in September!

So it’s been about two months, and not much has happened except that I’m becoming more and more like a girl like I wanted to, and I’m even a pretty at that, but I’m really excited ‘cause the school has accepted me into the Junior High program for this year. I still haven’t really figured out what my powers are yet, but I know I’m a lot stronger and and run faster than I used to, but that’s it so far. I even feel a bit smarter, which is weird. They say they’ll figure it out in ‘powers testing’ which doesn’t sound like fun but I’m still eager about it since then I’ll know what I can do.

I can’t wait to find out.
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 4 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

Domoviye
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5 years 4 months ago #194
Domoviye replied the topic: Miss Powerful
Miss Powerful walked along the beach enjoying the smell of the sea. Her cousin would be there soon, the high school being further away than the junior high school, so for the next ten minutes or so it was just her and the beautiful weather.

Up ahead she saw a girl who looked like she was maybe ten years old crying, while an older woman stood beside her dialing on a phone. A broken pet carrier sat at the base of a palm tree. Looking up, Miss Powerful saw a cute cat sitting at the top of the palm tree.

“This looks like a job for Miss Powerful.”

Walking over, she smiled brightly. “Hi, is that your cat in the tree?” she asked the little girl.

“Y-yeah. Kit’s carrier fell and broke open, and now he doesn’t want to come down!” the girl sobbed, as her mother turned back to the road looking for help while talking to someone on her phone.

“I can get her for you.”

Without pausing, she grabbed the tree, digging her fingers into the wood just enough to get a good purchase, and began climbing, thankful that she was wearing shorts instead of a skirt. Some people were shouting at her to get down, but she was up the tree so quickly they couldn’t do anything. The cat looked at her, wide eyed in fear.

“Come here, Kit,” she said softly, holding her hand out. “Come on, Kit. I’m Miss Powerful, I’m a superhero here to rescue you.

The frond the cat was sitting on began to sink down. In a panic, the cat launched itself at her, landing right on her face. Miss Powerful suddenly getting a face full of claws, fur and scared cat, shouted and jerked back, right out of the tree.

Hitting the ground twenty feet below, she realized she wasn’t hurt, but even being super tough didn’t stop the wind from being knocked out of her.

Reaching up, she pulled the cat off of her face and placed it in the waiting arms of the girl.

“I saved your cat,” Miss Powerful said.

Getting up she noticed people were taking out cameras, some were already recording her, they were all looking at her with wide eyes.

“Oh boy.” She bolted away, shouting over her shoulder, “Gottago! Getabettercarrierforyourcat!”

Cryptic
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5 years 4 months ago #195
Cryptic replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Dr. DNA eyed the applicant for Paramount’s defense forces. While he’d been glad at first that his benefactor had come up with the idea to offer those interested in service custom bodies but a few of the requests had confused the hell out of him. Like the one in front of him. “I’m sorry, did you just say you wanted to be a Ripper like the ones Johnny who created? I have never heard of a species called the Ripper. And why have I never heard of this man if he is so far ahead of me in my own field of study?”

“They’re from a movie, doc. Those Roos where so cool bouncing around in that armor...” the applicant gushed with a grin.

“Thank you, we’ll get back to you about phase two of selection.” Martin Aschner sighed and reached for his head ache medicine. It felt like it was going to be a long day. He turned to the Lynx Catamount man working on a tablet next to him. Jonathan had been trained as an army shrink was there to evaluate the applicants on a psychological level while Martin was evaluating their requested new forms. “Jonathan, please show him out and tell the next applicant we’re ready for them.”

~*~

“Oh good show whot whot! I say, it is jolly good of you to offer to make my life long dream come true whot.”

“And that dream is...”

“to create the first all hare Ranger Patrol! Hares are superior fighting beasts, whot! You won’t need to make any more of those mangy catamounts,” Jonathan let out a soft growl the Brit ignored. “I say, are you making any badgers?”

~*~

“You want to be a platypus-girl why?” Martin asked cocking an eyebrow at the young woman across from him.

“Um... well... They’re cute?”

~*~

“Can my fur be naturally neon green?”

Martin blanched. “Er, no, not naturally. It will be fully dye-able though.”

“Ok, I guess that is better then nothing.”

~*~

“Explain to me again what you want. I am not familiar with a Chakat...”

~*~

“I’m sorry, but I am not currently working on reptilian hybrids at the moment, let alone ones that replace the legs with a serpent tail. Why don’t you talk to my former class mate Conner Curtis. It isn’t an organic form, but he is working on a cybernetic tail like that. If I do tackle the reptile genome in the near future I will get back to you.”

~*~

“Can I have a gold mane and a horn?”

Jonathan leaned over and said in hushed tones to Martin “She wants to be a unicorn, doctor.”

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” DNA whispered back.

~*~

“No, I am not doing amphibian related research.”

“But we wanna be...”

“Frog...”

“And Toad!”

“Next applicant please, Jonathan.”

~*~

“All right, I can do an avian hybrid, but you will loose the use of your hands as you will have wings...”

“That’s fine, I figured that might be the case.”

“Also miss, you ‘ll have feathers all over your body, a beak, and have a body of a prepubescent so you’re light enough to actually fly.”

“I’ll look like a little kid? Never mind then.”

~*~

“no, I can not make you an invulnerable lion man. My process does not grant super powers, and I do not recommend undergoing it then using another devisor’s machine to add powers. Very messy results. Best way to do it is a PFG after the transformation.”

~*~
“Yes I can give you a gorilla like form, but I cannot give you telepathic abilities.”

“Can I be huge and purple then? Or maybe a chimp with wings?”

“... Next.”

~*~

“I do not work on insects genetics.”

~*~

“I wanna have pink fur!”

“You may dye your fur any color you want after the conversion...”

“But I want naturally pink fur! I’m gonna sue if I can’t get what I want!”

~*~

“I suppose I could create a Minotaur like form...”

“Can I have four breasts so I have something like an udder?”

“...”

“Doctor?”

~*~

“I can do horse hybrids yes, here let me show you...”

“Ewww, I don’t want that! I wanted to be a centaur! I’m out of here!”

~*~

“I’m good with that horse man look, but can you make my coat pure white and make my hooves look silver? Oh and give me blue eyes?”

Jonathan frowned and accessed the internet, as the white horse with blue eyes and silver hooves reminded him of something he’d read in grade school...

~*~

“An echidna? That is an unusual request.”

“well I wanna be able to make my own monsters...”

~*~

“At this time I am only making one species hybrids, so I can not give you a manticore or a chimera.”

~*~

“A prong horn? I had not considered doing anything in the antelope or deer families. Let me look into it and get back to you.”

~*~

“No, I’m sorry I am not doing duck or mice people.”

“Why not?”

“I do not want to deal with the legacy of Walt Disney.”

~*~

“I can do wolverine, but I will not give you metal bones or claws.”

~*~

“Ok, Shire in gray, white or lighter gray mane. Anything else?”

“Yeah can I get cybernetic arms and legs?”

“... Not unless you suffer sever injury that require their replacement.”

~*~

“You want to be a prairie dog? Why do I get the feeling I’m missing a reference?”

~*~

“No skunks!”

~*~

“I could probably do a Tasmanian wolf form... let me look into acquiring some samples of their genome. If it proves viable I will get back to you for phase two.”

~*~

“I do not want to deal with whoever currently owns the Loony Toons brand, so no I can not do a Tasmanian Devil form for you. And it wouldn’t include any spinning powers any way. Jonathan, would you please go into the waiting room and put in those Wild Kratts DVDs into the entertainment system? Maybe it will help those out there understand what I have accomplished if it is put into terms children can understand and in a medium designed to entertain children.”

Check your local listings for Wild Kratts on PBS. It is an interesting and educational show designed to get kids interested in animals and nature. I’m over 30 but I still try and catch episodes when I remember it’s on. For some reason I see Dr. DNA as a fan.
I am a caffeine heathen; I prefer the waters of the mountain over the juice of the bean. Keep the Dews coming and no one will be hurt.

Arcanist Lupus
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5 years 4 months ago #196
Arcanist Lupus replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
John walked into his devisor friend’s workshop, and looked down as a small creature ran up to him. From its front legs to its rear it looked like a normal cat, but beyond that...

“Hi, Sam! Do you think that you’ll be able to get Tatianna’s animal replicator working properly?”

The devisor shook their head. “I don’t thing so, John. I managed to turn it on, but I simply can’t make heads or tails of it.”
“Shared pain is lessened; shared joy, increased — thus do we refute entropy.” - Spider Robinson

Domoviye
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5 years 4 months ago - 5 years 4 months ago #197
Domoviye replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
“I’m sorry that Rose wasted your time, sir. She is not a mutant despite her fantasies, and we do not need any help in raising her.”

“But Dad!” Rose started to plead.

Mind Over Matter waved at her to quiet down. “Mr. Edwards, I realize that this can’t be easy for you considering all the anti-mutant propaganda, but there is a very high probability that your daughter is a gadgeteer. While that is one of the easier mutant abilities to deal with, there are still problems such as Diedrick’s Syndrome and internal GSD to worry about. Getting her tested by the MCO along with a full physical and psychiatric assessment by a mutant specialist is in her best interest. I can give you the contact information for a doctor in Chicago, if she can publish any interesting results she’ll only charge for her time.”

“My daughter is NOT a mutant,” her mother didn’t quite shout.

“Rose is already being called a mutant at school. If something happens and the MCO is called in, having her unregistered could cause some serious problems for her. And if she tries to travel by plane without an MID, she will be arrested.”

“Rose, go to your room right now,” her father ordered.

She looked around the room, Mind Over Matter was watching her parents, who were glaring at her. With as much dignity as she could muster, she left the room.

An hour later she heard the hero leave.

Her phone buzzed. She didn’t know the number, but opened the message anyways. ‘Rose, this is Mind Over Matter. Keep this number. If there’s an emergency call me immediately.’
Last Edit: 5 years 4 months ago by Domoviye.

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 4 months ago - 5 years 4 months ago #198
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
23 May 2027
Parsonage, Tsiolkovsky division, Luna
Before the meeting in Braunstadt, I made a stopover to meeting an old friend, Dr. Elaine Cody, for lunch to discuss the funding of an improved FTL drive she was working on. While she and those working with had made great strides in recent years, this latest breakthrough was important for it’s reduction of the energy needed, making it suitable for cross interstellar distances and not just interplanetary ones. If the newly organized Solar Protectorate could begin building its own starships, rather than relying on second-hand merchant vessels purchased at hideous expense from the Cordirans or the Mekh, it would go a long way to securing Humanity’s future.

As I walked up to greet her, I noticed a look of disgust cross her face. She was looking out the window, but I hadn’t seen that part of the avenue so I had no idea what it was that had her so upset.

“What’s the matter, Doc?” I gently prodded.

“Ayla!” she gasped, startled out of her thoughts. For a moment, I thought her fur was starting to appear, but I wasn’t sure. “Ah, Ah was just, well, look.” She pointed to a building across the street.

It was large, even by Lunar standards, almost half way to the inner dome. It was well appointed, if rather garish. The sign read, Dianetics Celebrity Center.

I shook my head at the sight of it. “Well, if nothing else, you can’t say they don’t have audacity. Especially if they chose to put it here of all places. Given the history between Hubbard and Jack Parsons, that has to have been deliberate.”
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 4 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 4 months ago - 5 years 4 months ago #199
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Of all the tricks the Red Monks taught me, the one I never really got the hang of was how not to get bored when doing the same thing day after day. While I am not much for being hands-on lately - that part of what I told that fake reporter kid was true - I still get the itch to do something from time to time. Sure, I had some fun tweaking Betsy’s nose a few months ago, while delivering a message to that chump Jennings, but it just whet my appetite for a bit of action.

So when I found that one of my burn identities - jeez, how can anyone fall for something as cheesy as ‘Dr. Carter Hall of the Anthropology Museum of Nieu Feithera’, maybe I should just use ‘Professor Henry Jones, Jr.’ next time and see if anyone notices - was getting email. When I checked into it, I found that it was an invitation to the 19th World Symposium on Applied Advanced Technologies - better known as the quadrennial Science Heroes Convention.

I chuckled a bit at that. I had snuck into earlier WSAATs under a varieties of disguises, and had a hell of a lot of fun at them - not only could I give the high forehead crowd a bunch of reasons to chase their own tails, but the convention itself was a blast. You’d never guess from the lab coats and smug grimaces, but some of those guys really can party hard. Which is why I always kept a miniature video camera on my lapel while there...

Ah, what the hell, it sounds like a good way to blow off some steam and make them look like fools a bit more. I looked over the guest of honor list a bit to see what I can think up. OK, let’s see, Dr Amazing - well, of course Messing would be there - Dr. Frank Hardy, Jr. (a criminologist, huh, that apple didn’t fall far from the tree), Dr. Banzai, Professor Doch, Dr. Germahn (kind of stretching the word ‘hero’ again, I see), Professor Quartermane (wait, that kook is still around? He’s got to be older than I am! Maybe my idea that he was in bed with the White Brothers wasn’t so far off after all), Doctor Bruce David Signe (oh, yeah, that’s Jenny Wilde’s kid from when she was married to Terrence Triskel, musta taken his stepfather’s name; according to reports from my agents at Whateley, he inherited both his Mom’s gadgeteering and his Dad’s alchemy as well as being an Ex-6, but he’s a dricker and rager, that’s got potential for my plans), Dr. Osterman (yeah, nasty accident a while back, could be something for me to work with), hey, Dick and Rose Wilde, did the black sheeps of the family decided to trade their trenchcoats and wands for labcoats and test tubes? Oh, I guess not, they’re heading a roundtable with cousin Bruce on “The Intersection of Magic and Technology”, whatever that means (I’m sure that Susan Wilde is thrilled with the twins about that).

Hehehe, this is going to be fun...
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 4 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

Domoviye
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5 years 4 months ago #200
Domoviye replied the topic: Marni
“I’m sorry sir, you are not allowed to watch the testing,” the MCO agent said.

Marni watched as her Dad took on a role he really didn’t like playing the scary black man. Two decades of working construction, even after he formed his own construction company, made him intimidating to almost anyone. And in his best suit, he looked like someone who could give a person a very bad day physically or otherwise.

“I know what my daughters rights are,” he growled, pushing his way into the MCO agents personal space. “If you do not let me go inside with my daughter, so I can watch every second of the testing, I will call my senator and he will talk to you about overstepping your jurisdiction. And before you think I’m bluffing, I have him on speed dial because my crew is renovating his summer home right now.”

There was a tense couple of seconds before the agent backed away. “Very well, sir. If you could both come this way.”

**

Marni came out of the MCO change room, nursing a black eye that came from collapsing after using her powers for over five minutes straight and hitting a table on the way down. Her Dad met her in the hallway, flanked by two MCO agents.

“I didn’t think my daughter would be stronger and faster than me, I’m not sure how to feel about that,” he teased.

“For a couple of minutes, then I want to eat a horse and take a breather,” she griped.

“At least you shouldn’t break anymore doors now that you know how to start and stop it. What’s your superhero name?”

She’d been thinking about that same question for the last two days, ever since her parents had set her up for the testing. Even now she wasn’t sure about it. “Power Up.”

“Your mom will like it. Nothing embarrassing there and it makes sense. When do you sign up for superhero classes?”

“You want me to become a superhero?” she asked, a little surprised.

“If you want. It would be a nice feather in your cap. But as long as you don’t become a supervillain I’ve got your back.”

Throwing her arm around him, she leaned in close as they headed for the car. She hadn’t been to school for a week, and her brothers were getting bullied about her being a mutant, but she suddenly thought that everything would turn out OK. Smiling, she prepared herself to see the world.

Domoviye
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5 years 4 months ago - 5 years 4 months ago #201
Domoviye replied the topic: Samantha
Samantha Hubbard looked around the small shop. It wasn’t much but it was hers, at least it was hers once she paid off the loans to the bank, her parents, and her friends. Going to the door she flipped the ‘closed’ sign around.
“Simply Exquisite Jewellers is now open,” she told herself happily.
It was still too early to expect customers, so she went to her work table where some of her jewellers equipment rested. Pulling out her sketchbook, she looked at the design a client had sent her earlier that week. It looked like a simple silver ring, but the faint lines that wrapped around the band like a snake would be tricky. That suited her, it was that kind of detailed work was exactly the challenge she loved.
Pulling a silver band from the safe, she began going over every step in her head.

Unknown to her, an email arrived asking if she could do a very detailed job with a special cats eye gem.
Last Edit: 5 years 4 months ago by Domoviye.

Cryptic
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5 years 4 months ago #202
Cryptic replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
A man wearing a ski mask with a pot leaf design across the face swept through the sliding doors of the Berlin grocery store waving a gym bag. His right hand had somehow been replaced by a bong, and his cape was in the shape of the same leaf on his mask. “I am Dr High! Fill this bag with all the munchies an uh... cash.” as he waved his ‘hand’ around the store began to fill with the distinctive smell of pot smoke.

The cashier exchanged looks with Mrs Carson, who shrugged. “Don’t look at me, he’s not a Whateley grad.”
I am a caffeine heathen; I prefer the waters of the mountain over the juice of the bean. Keep the Dews coming and no one will be hurt.

Cryptic
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5 years 4 months ago #203
Cryptic replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
the world dissolved to white as the super villain’s timer ran out and the world went black.

“hello Bounty Hunter, your team failed to achieve your objective and the human race died.” the automated voice stated as John lifted his helmet’s face plate. He looked down as he heard metal creaking and he saw that he had crushed the arm rest in his anger. Phasing free of the connections to his suit he flew through the wall and hovered over the blonde still in that chair.

“what the hell was that Kira!? You could have won the sim for us! All you had to do was fly that damn device out of the atmosphere!! But NOOOOOO you just started yapping away!! It’s a damn sim! You didn’t have to save good bye to anyone and everyone until time ran out! You have never been out of the atmo so how did you know you wouldn’t come back or your powers won’t work?” the leader of the 2016 Grunts railed at their newest recruit, his shape shifting slipping, a long blue skeletal tail forcing the snaps loose, as something started chewing the fabric over his torso.

“But the testers I went to...”

“Where hacks!! The Whateley testers say you’re an energizer with pk traits, not a PDP!! And even if you where there have been telekinetics in space before who could fly around just fine! And you have super lung capacity! I know you can hold your breath for hours! That and your invulnerability would have allowed you to survive long enough for someone to mount a rescue op!”
I am a caffeine heathen; I prefer the waters of the mountain over the juice of the bean. Keep the Dews coming and no one will be hurt.

Cryptic
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5 years 4 months ago #204
Cryptic replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
New York- November 2006

Imp looked up from her paper as Pinball wandered into the Black Mask. The energizer wasn’t in costume, and was instead looking spiffy in a pant suit. “Hey yah Pin, what’s with the suit?”

“Oh the secret identity was called for jury duty, and well...”

“No, no I get it. I do the same. Say, do you have any family in Cincinnati?”

“None that I can think of, why?”

“There’s some bouncing brat up there giving SPECTRUM and their new kid side kick a headache. Calls herself Madcap, and... it reads almost like she’s a cross between the two of us, just without either of our style.” Imp replied showing Pin the article.
I am a caffeine heathen; I prefer the waters of the mountain over the juice of the bean. Keep the Dews coming and no one will be hurt.

Domoviye
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5 years 4 months ago - 5 years 4 months ago #205
Domoviye replied the topic: Marni
Her new coloured contacts made her eyes itchy, but Marni tried to ignore it. Everyone knew she was a mutant, there was no reason to emphasize it by showing her orange iris’s. Putting her books and the pile of homework her parents had gotten from her teachers into her bag, she added a box of energy bars on top of it. She was eating a lot more than usual and if she used her powers, not that she wanted to, she’d need them to refresh herself.

Heading out the door she started the short walk to school. Rachael met her halfway there.

“Hey,” Marni said.

“Hey, yourself,” Rachael said.

They walked in silence for a minute, getting odd looks from some of the other students and a few adults.

“I’m sorry that I let everyone know you’re a mutant. I just wanted to tell my parents, and accidentally woke everyone else up.”

“I know,” she said. “How’s everything at school?”

“They’ve got a bet going that you’re going to look like a monster at the end of the month.”

Marni looked up at the sky, begging for strength. “Well I’m not. I’m going to keep looking just like me, at least according to the MCO.”

“You went to the MCO? That’s the other bet, the MCO is going to arrest you before the end of the term.”

“I got my powers tested, and an MID. They weren’t too bad, a lot like dealing with Principal Snyder. A big stick up their ass, but as long as you shut up and nod at the right parts, not too bad.”

“That’s good. That’s really good.”

“Heads up scum!” a boy shouted from across the street.

Instinctively activating her powers, everything seemed to move in slow motion. She could hear and see so many things, from the buzzing of insects to the beating of Rachael’s heart, she could even see the sweat on the boys face who had yelled at her, it was almost confusing. She watched the basketball, judging the speed, spin, and knew that it was going to hit her head, almost casually she raised her hands, caught it and in one smooth motion sent it rocketing down the street at least a block away to land in a garbage can, knocking it over.

Time returned to normal, her stomach growled. Taking her bag off, desperate to get an energy bar, she noticed that everyone was staring open mouthed in shock.

“Crap,” she said, realizing that there was no way she was going to be treated normally now.
Last Edit: 5 years 4 months ago by Domoviye.

Malady
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5 years 4 months ago #206
Malady replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Uganda’s Sign: If you turn in a report with a dozen misspellings, “I was too close to Uganda. “ will not be accepted as an excuse. There is no “bleed” effect. Unless you are writing near Uganda herself, your writing will not be affected. The next person to blame her because they are too lazy to proofread will be assigned to be her scribe for a week.
Archives: Rubberjohn’s Fanfic + CrystalHall + Mittfh’s Wordcount Spreadsheet

My Patreon. But, support the Crystal Hall 1st?

mhalpern
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5 years 4 months ago #207
mhalpern replied the topic: The Twins of Tech- possible sneak peak
Edna

The Headmistress was tapping her foot when we walked in.

“What are we going to do with you two? You do realize the interesting conundrum you present, While Mitchel can still take some remote studies, that doesn’t qualify as a full load you know.”

“We know” both of us said simultaneously, the lab boys still haven’t adapted that sim neural interface yet, but I smiled as we hadn’t lost our touch.

“And I understand you want to take your PE courses as one student in a sense?”

“You do know you two are going to get strange looks when they realise that you Edna are WEARING your brother Mitchel right?”

“Yes, however I get the feeling this isn’t all you called us down for is it, Miss Carson?” I heard from the speaker on my collar.

“No it isn’t, You are in a delicate situation Mitchel, it is unclear how stable your new form is, if you will survive long or destabilize, for lack of a better term, which is why you both are going to see Dr Bellows regularly, starting today, the Mile High Defenders have informed me that you have yet to come to terms with what happened to your parents, and now with this uncertain situation it is imperative that you do.”

I tried to speak, but was interrupted “don’t try and deny it, you need this, both of you.”

The Mile High Defenders are based out of Denver, but they have satellite groups all over Colorado, we ran to the one who’s HQ (hidden in plain sight at their visitor’s center) is right across from the Hotel Denver in Aspen. our home was in a nearby town, but it was still quite the hike...

“I know I have brought up painful memories, but it is necessary, I also have to inform you Edna that your outburst in Ballroom Dancing has placed you on the watch list, and security is going to put your and your brother’s weapons in safe keeping, I don’t think there’s much of a risk anymore but we still have to.”

I was in shock until Mitchel responded for me, “Thank you we understand, personally I would be surprised if the watch wasn’t put in place, and as painful as it may be, it’s time we came to terms with that day, I no longer have Diedrick’s so we don’t have an excuse to avoid the topic, even if I did, I’m already limp”
Any Bad Ideas I have and microscene OC character stories are freely adoptable.

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 4 months ago - 5 years 4 months ago #208
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
While I had a plan to write a full story with this, I figure it is safer to put it here in case I never get any further with it.

23 Sept 2007
Crystal Hall

I was humming along with my iPod, which had cued up an old Moody Blues song about a former self of mine. Alas, poor Timmy, he was a great host: so placid, so intelligent, so inspiring, such a tremendous pain in the arse for the Powers That Be. Oh, I would have preferred a female host, as always, but just as with my current form, he was worth the sacrifice. I mused on how much he loved Switzerland, which was where I had been most of this past summer. Life was indeed good.

As I walked through the food lines, I noticed that Cytherea’s latest conquest - some brainless piece of beefcake whose name I never caught, useful only for sex and bussing food trays - had finally got hip to her shit, and stormed out leaving her with no one to clean up after her. Typical, really. She left the Euro-Promotional League’s table to go sit with the rest of the New Olympians, with an air of someone who was a best mildly amused with what had just happened.

With a smile, I recalled how I had sandbagged her into my own bed, convincing her that I was just a nervous underclassman who was thrilled that she was giving me the time of day in exchange for some help on a Chemistry exam. I chuckled at the thought that she hadn’t realized that I was the one who had played her, nor that by the end of that year I had done the same thing - bedroom antics and all - with every other New Olympian except Knick-Knack, Judicator, and Feral. The only one who had caught on to what I was doing was Athena, and I had Elizabeth over a barrel so she kept mum about it.

I sat down next to the Jobester and watched for a bit. As I ate, I decided that the time had come to put my next gambit into motion, a play I had been planning out for the last two years, ever since I noticed some of my old... colleagues... were already at Whateley when I arrived, back when I was a lowly sub-fish.

After a bit of banter with Jads and Lindsey, I excused myself and made my way back to the fruit stands, picking the items I would need for this particular game. I ran my free hand through my hair - I wanted it to be good and messy for this one - then teleported two of the Golden Delicious apples I had picked up in front of Imperious and Majestic. In quick succession, two more appeared before Cytherea and Knick-Knack, a fifth in front of Tracer, and for a finale I dumped a container of apple sauce right onto Counterpoint’s head followed by flipping him off with a hand hovering in front of his face.

The look on their faces was quite satisfying.

As a bevy of irate deities jumped to their feet and started glaring towards the Seeds table, I teleported into the empty chair across from Chris. It took them a moment to realize I was there, and they were pretty pissed. Things was going like clockwork, so I gave them a bit of a wave before I spoke.

“So, did you miss me?”
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 4 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

Domoviye
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5 years 4 months ago - 5 years 4 months ago #209
Domoviye replied the topic: Miss Powerful
(Miss Powerful’s stories have been out of order, because it’s not as important as with the other stories, but from here on out they’ll be in order. You should be able to figure out where they go without much trouble.)

February, 2006

“Lightning Strike, I’m your biggest fan! Can you sign my book!” Miss Powerful shouted, holding up a limited edition History of the Miami Crusaders.

The superhero gave her a brilliant smile, her neon yellow hair gave off a brilliant glow that seemed to light up the school gymnasium. “Definitely. What’s your name?”

“Could you call me by my superhero name? It’s Miss Powerful,” she whispered.

That got a radiant smile. “So Miss Powerful, do you want to become a hero one day?”

She nodded madly. “I’m only eleven years old so I haven’t manifested yet, but I can’t wait to become a mutant and then I can join the Crusaders! I’m exercising a lot to, and my brothers are teaching me how to fight. I really want to join up because you guys are all so cool!”

Lightning Strike laughed, and patted her shoulder. “Keep up that attitude and you’ll go far. But remember you have to be an adult to join the Crusaders, and you need to do well in school. What are your grades like?”

“I’m at the top in most of my classes. My cousin is a freshman in high school and she lets me do some of her homework with her. Is it true that you got a math degree. I’m not very good at math. I’m really good at English though. I’ve already read Taming of The Shrew, with my cousin’s help. I liked some of the word play, but the guys in it were jerks! I’d have punched them if they tried doing that to me.”

“Instead of punching them, you should get help. Fighting is only good as a last resort, even I don’t like fighting,” the hero said. “I did get a PhD in physics. You’d be amazed at how it helps me in my superhero career, letting me plan where my lightning bolts will hit, how to fly, and where and how hard to throw a villain so he can’t hurt anyone when he lands. But English is great to. We always need someone who can speak nicely for the crowd, and knows how to write things down so people understand how we’re helping them. Everything can be useful, it just depends on how you use it.”

The hero pulled out a pen that looked a little like a lightning bolt and glowed as she wrote in the book. Handing the book back, she gave her the pen as well. “Keep it, Miss Powerful. It’s not often I meet one of my future partners,” she said, giving her a hug.

She staggered away dumbly, a huge smile on her face. Looking at the book she read, ‘To my friend, Miss Powerful! You’ll be one of the great superheroes one day. Your future partner, Lightning Strike!’

“Best day ever!” she murmured to herself.
Last Edit: 5 years 4 months ago by Domoviye.

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 4 months ago #210
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
After lunch, I had an office session for Dr. Marley, but as soon as it was finished I raced off for the Fixer’s Patio to see if I could find Jadis. Fortunately, she was already there. I wasn’t surprised that she still seemed shaken by what had happened in the Crystall Hall today; I knew I was.

Looking up at me, she gave me a wry smile.”I was hoping you’d want to talk, Trev. Before you ask, no, I had no idea about any of that. Cheese has always played it close to the vest, kind of obvious why, now, but trust me, I was almost as surprised as you must have been.”

“Almost?”

She gava dramatic sigh, and went on, “Victor loves dropping hints about things, almost as if he has Nigma’s Syndrome or something. Once I saw the apples, a lot of his comments started falling into place.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah. But the scary part? Eris has worshippers, probably more than even Athena at this point, and while most Discordians aren’t very serious about it, even as a joke their veneration of her might be enough to count. If I am not mistaken, Cheese may well be more powerful than Imperious right now.”

I goggled at the implications of that, but then remembered something the two of us discussed before. “That... might not be entirely a bad thing, though. It depends on the extent to which the relationship affects the god in question.”

“The impact can be fairly significant, actually,” came Sara’s voice from off to the side. “Do the two of you mind if I join you? While I missed that bit of theatre at lunch today, when I heard about it I was certain that you two would want to discuss it, and I could use some intelligent conversation myself.”
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!

Domoviye
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5 years 4 months ago #211
Domoviye replied the topic: Rose
Rose rode to school on her new electric bike. She’d seen her neighbour riding one the other week, and her brain liked it so much she’d gone on the internet to see how it worked. She’d made a few tweaks to make it smaller and prettier, and had it running two days later.

“Cool bike, Rose,” her friend said.

“Thanks.”

“Did... did you build it yourself?”

“Yeah. I got the design of the net.”

Her friend looked at the bike nervously. “It’s kind of weird how you’re suddenly building all kinds of things.”

“My Dad is always getting me to help around the house, because my hands can get into places his can’t. I’m just doing things that interest me now,” she lied. “Do you want me to make your bike like this? It only costs about fifty bucks for the parts. Thirty if don’t mind it being ugly.”

The nervousness went away. “REALLY? How fast does it go?”

They started talking about everything she could do to improve the bike as they walked to class.

Domoviye
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5 years 4 months ago #212
Domoviye replied the topic: Marni
“Who knows the answer to question one?” Mrs. Sanchez, the history teacher asked.

Marni raised her hand. She always loved history, and while she’d been getting weird looks all day, she was happy to slip into the joys of the class.

“Anyone?” Mrs. Sanchez asked again.

She raised her hand higher.

“Yes, Troy, what do you think?” she asked pointing at a boy on the other side of the classroom.

Lowering her hand, Marni figured the teacher just wanted to let others answer, she did that sometimes.

“What about question 2?”

Raising her hand again, Mrs. Sanchez chose another student, again, and again, and again.

“Question 6?”

Marni didn’t bother raising her hand, the teacher hadn’t even looked at her once.

When the bell rang, she got her things and went to speak to the teacher. Mrs. Sanchez saw Marni coming, and practically grabbed another student, asking a question about his homework. Watching in stunned disbelief, Marni saw them separate almost as soon as they were in the hallway, and her favourite teacher rushed off casting nervous looks over her shoulder.

Domoviye
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5 years 4 months ago #213
Domoviye replied the topic: Rose
“Hey Dad, I made the car run on kitchen oil, new or used, and it now gets 30mpg in town, and 38mpg on the highway,” Rose told her dad. Her eyes were ringed with black circles, not only from grease, but because she’d been working on it for the entire three day weekend, with practically no sleep. Her hands were thick with grease and oil, despite having cleaned them off outside.

“Thanks princess. But why didn’t you ask me first?” he asked.

“My mutation wasn’t letting me sleep, so I decided to just get it done. And you and Mom were gone all weekend, so I figured it was the best time.”

“Oh, OK.”

“So, since no other normal fifteen year old girl that I’ve heard about could do this in a weekend, with no training except for half a term in shop class, do you think maybe, possibly, I’m not normal?”

“No.”

“If I promise to rewire the house and lower our electricity bill by 40%, could you take me to the MCO to get tested to prove that I’m normal. Because a lot of kids at school are calling me a mutant.”

“No.”

“JESUS CHRIST!” she shouted, storming out of the room to go have a long shower and sleep for the rest of the day.

Domoviye
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5 years 4 months ago #214
Domoviye replied the topic: Miss Powerful
Crack!

Miss Powerful looked at her phone which hung from her finger like a strange ring. “Uh, what happened?” she asked herself.

Holding her hand up, she bent her apparently unhurt finger, turning more of the plastic into powder. Giving it a tug, the phone split in two as if it were paper. Looking around her room to see if anyone was watching, she crushed the phone between her palms, there was a crunch, and powder mixed with some thin pieces of plastic fell to the floor.

“Cool!” she whispered to herself.

Grabbing her wooden bed frame, accidentally leaving fingerprints in the wood, she lifted it up. She had to spread her legs to keep her balance, but it felt like she was lifting a pillow.

“I’m a mutant!” she shouted, jumping up and down, denting the wall with the bed that she’d forgotten she was holding.

Putting the bed back down, she carefully made her way to the kitchen, thankful that her parents were outside.

Alone in the kitchen, she picked up the phone and very carefully dialed a number she had memorized a year ago.

“Hello, Miami Crusaders, how can I help you?” a man asked.

“HI! I’m a mutant. I talked to Lightning Strike last year, and I can lift my bed with one hand, and she told me that I could be a hero if I turned into a mutant. So now that I’m a mutant, and I put my finger right through my phone and it didn’t hurt! So how can I sign up to become a Crusader because I’ll do such a good job!” She stopped to gasp for breath.

“All right, thanks for calling, miss. I need to ask you some questions. First do you have an MID?” the person asked.

“No. I just did it. My eyes haven’t even changed colour, at least they were still the same colour when I was brushing my teeth. I thought most mutants had their eyes change colour. I was hoping to get really cool eyes, like electric blue, or fiery red. Maybe even pink. Pink is my favourite colour. Do you think my hair will change colour now. Because that would be cool!”

“Calm down, miss. Have you told your parents?”

“No. My parents don’t know yet. It just happened, I was about to call my cousin, and my finger went right through my phone like it was tinfoil!”

“Do you think your parents will hurt you if you tell them you’re a mutant?”

“No way! My parents are really great. One time I got some pink paint and started to paint the -”

“That’s enough. Now listen carefully, tell your parents what happened and tell them you need to get your powers tested. The MCO in Miami is a good place to go. Just make sure your parents call ahead for an appointment, and be sure to visit our website. It has a section about the MCO, what they’re allowed to ask and do, as well as other important information. You and you’re parents should read it very carefully tonight and make sure you understand everything,” he stressed.

“And then I can join the Miami Crusaders?”

“You can contact us and we’ll see about having you and your parents come by for a visit where a member can tell you about your options.”

She jumped up and down with delight, leaving a dent in the ceiling with her head, not that she noticed. “Can it PLEASE be Lightning Strike?!”

“We’ll try, but no promises.”

“OK! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!” she squealed, hanging up.

Running outside she shouted, “Mom you won’t believe what happened!”

Domoviye
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5 years 3 months ago #215
Domoviye replied the topic: Marni
“Mr. Kendall, you can’t just back out of the project. We’ve torn apart your living room, getting someone new in will set you back by at least a week, and there is no legal reason to break the contract,” Marni’s dad said into the phone.

There was a lot of half understood mumbling from the other end.

“Money isn’t a problem you paid me half upfront. I can wait for the rest, I know you’re good for it.”

More mumbling.

Her dad’s voice became tense up, trembling with barely controlled rage. “My daughter is of no concern to you. If you want to break the contract, I’ll see you court.”

From her room down the hallway Marni listened with her powers. Lying on her bed, her muscles vibrate with unused energy, she could feel the faint breeze from under the door, the cotton sheet tickled her bare legs. Her eyes were closed, trying to focus only on listening. It was as if she was in the same room as they were. She could even hear the squeak of her mothers chair as she shifted to type something onto her laptop.

“The Kendall contract is dead?” she asked needlessly.

He grunted.

“We’ve lost two contracts now, and at least five potentials. We’re going to have to tighten our belts, but we can keep everything going for at least a year, that should be long enough to let every thing settle down.”

“Damn fools. Just as bad as the damn KKK,” her dad growled. “Don’t you have a book club to go to?”

“I dropped out. They decided to read some anti-mutant propaganda book.”

Relaxing her muscles, Marni’s senses dulled back to normal. Opening her eyes, she saw her brother glaring at her from the door, an ugly bruise on his chin.

“What do you want?” she asked.

He didn’t answer, just walked away.

Closing the door she put a pillow over her face and cried at what she was putting her family through.

Kettlekorn
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5 years 3 months ago #216
Kettlekorn replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
A.N.: This is a deleted scene from a non-Whateley medieval fantasy story I’m working on. This snippet kicks in a few minutes after the protagonist has discovered she has a magic sense, and she’s now trying it out while hovering, after noticing that trying to hover seemed to enhance the sense.


Yes, that definitely increased my range, and I could feel those “threads” shooting out of me again. They were my magic. I was throwing it out of myself, and then somehow it curved around, changed, and reached down to pull me and anything around me up. And now I realized that the sense of “upness” that I’d discovered before was just another part of this, because now I could sense even more lines, these ones coming up out of the ground and reaching past me until I couldn’t sense them anymore. I could see how my own lines came down parallel to those ones. If I tried to move sideways, they leaned, angling so that they pulled me sideways. And I could feel how that tilt related to my surroundings! This was going to make steering so much easier. I grinned, and then I giggled as I felt the spindly lines of my face curve with my lips. I could feel my whole body. It was really weird. It was like... like if you were wearing really scratchy clothes that you weren’t used to, so that you noticed every movement. I hadn’t noticed at first because it had been so weak, but the more this new sense came into focus...

I could feel my own heart. Not very well. I was just a bunch of these lines, like everything else was. Inside me the lines were very tangled, but the tangles were connected to each other in ways I vaguely recognized as organs from the diagrams Deacon Woodson had shown us, even if I didn’t remember what they all were. But there was one big knot of these lines in my chest that I could feel throbbing in time with my heart. Because it was my heart, obviously.

Feeling your own organs is very distracting, once you realize you can do it. I started to feel queasy, and I could feel as my body reacted to the queasiness, which did not help matters. I opened my eyes and landed before I could make myself sick. I needed to let my magic rest more anyway.

It took a minute for my eyes to adjust; I’d had them closed for a pretty good while. The breeze and the comforting sight of mottled sunlight dancing through the forest’s canopy helped me relax. It was a beautiful day. How could it be so beautiful after such a terrible night?

As unhappy thoughts started clawing their way into my mind, I decided that being able to feel my own guts wasn’t so bad after all. It was distracting, but I wanted to be distracted. And now that I thought about it, I could still feel them. With my eyes open. I cursed under my breath. I knew, in a sort of cold, detached way, that I would eventually get over being exiled from Vinebrook. It would always hurt, but I would be able to face it and move on. The distracting and slightly disgusting ability to feel semi-digested food worming its way through my insides was welcome right now, but it wouldn’t be needed forever. Unfortunately, it seemed that I was only getting better and better at sensing it. What was next? Feeling all the bugs?

“Shit.” I could feel all the bugs. Tiny little bundles of lines crawling about on the ground, buzzing through the air, crawling over my skin and in my hair. “Shit shit shit shit shit!” I stood up and started brushing the seven ants off my legs and then shaking the two flies out of my hair. But bugs were everywhere. I’d always known bugs were everywhere. That’s just part of life. But I hadn’t had to feel them all.

I paused. I couldn’t feel them. Well, I hadn’t felt them, when I was flailing about having a tantrum. Now that I’d paused, I could feel them again. I started walking and the sensations blurred until they were almost gone. I couldn’t make out little details like bugs. I could barely make out trees. I closed my eyes and everything came back into focus, more or less. I opened them and the distraction of sight combined with the shifting caused by movement washed the bulk of it away.

I knew it wouldn’t last. I just kept getting better at this. Eventually I’d be able to feel everything while walking with my eyes wide open. I sighed. May as well start getting used to it. Maybe after a while I’d just stop noticing, like my other senses did with my own scent or the feel of my clothes. People don’t notice the mundane. The sooner this insanity became mundane, the sooner I could stop noticing it.
I am the kernel that pops in the night. I am the pain that keeps your dentist employed.

Cryptic
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5 years 3 months ago #217
Cryptic replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Noelle glanced over at where Jordan was lurking, a huge grin on her twin’s face was she waited for Noelle to pay off the combat final bet they’d made; sister with the worst grade had to alter herself as the winner saw fit and go out in public that way. Noelle had been hoping that Jordan would collect while the school year was still on going, maybe making her go to the Mountaineer’s Prom (well they had, but Jordan made clear that it wasn’t her reward), but her twin had saved it until summer break and their family hit the Florida beaches. Jordan had first altered Noelle to look like a teenage Scarlett Johansson
and then added her own touches such as purple hair and a wardrobe change.

Gulping Noelle wandered into the small beach side clothing stand, trying to project a confidence she just wasn’t feeling as she browsed wearing a tiny swim suit top and nothing else. After five minutes she began to relax as it seemed most of the other shoppers hadn’t noticed her lack of bottoms...

“Excuse me miss, but I have to ask you to...”

Noelle turned and gave the shop owner a nervous smile. “Yes?”

The man’s mouth moved soundlessly as he looked her up and down, raising a blush on Noelle’s cheeks before he let out a whimper. “Mutant!” he blurted pointing to her featureless crotch.

“Nope, sorry, cyborg. I needed a full body conversion, but between the cost to travel to Japan to have it done and everything else... I couldn’t afford the anatomically correct body. I do normally wear bottoms, but some how I lost them in the water, so here I am trying to replace them...”
I am a caffeine heathen; I prefer the waters of the mountain over the juice of the bean. Keep the Dews coming and no one will be hurt.

Cryptic
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5 years 3 months ago #218
Cryptic replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Morgan Wasser stood on the side walk outside Shuster Hall, a late arrival to the 2007-2008 Whateley school year. She’d been to see the headmistress already and now all she was doing was waiting for her tour guide and to be show her cottage.

A girl wearing a buck skin dress hurried up with a grin on her face. “Hi, are you Morgan? I’m Kay...”

Morgan’s spirit shuddered and she ‘voged’ out, revealing the shape of the beast that lived within her. Kay came to a screeching halt, a wicked looking knife appearing in her hand as a large bison also appeared from thin air.

“Mishibijiw.” the girl spat dropping into a combat crouch as the bison scuffed the ground, his head down.

Morgan’s spirit, who she called Missy, bristled, shifting her past the oddly colored cat girl stage that was their usual shared form, and allowing the copper spines along their back and tail stood on end as their claws flexed. She could feel the curved horns jutting from the side of their head. “Ptesanwi.” she felt Missy snarly though their shared lips. “We seek to do you no harm, but if you banish us from the one we have chosen or try to steal our spines...”

The girl, Ptesawi, and the bison blinked and exchanged looks for a few moments. The large hairy beast raised his wide nose and sniffed the air. “They do not carry the dark one’s taint as the one you encountered last year did.” The bison said in English, though he still gave us the stink eye. “Though why a water panther would bond to one not of the Nations...”

“I chose to bond with this one for my own reasons.” Missy replied as the pair shifted back to their human form. Morgan shook their head and took control of their mouth. “Missy saved me when a European spirit that had been preying on children tried to take me. Her bonding with me was unexpected, but we find we suit each other despite my lack of native blood.”
I am a caffeine heathen; I prefer the waters of the mountain over the juice of the bean. Keep the Dews coming and no one will be hurt.

Domoviye
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5 years 3 months ago - 5 years 3 months ago #219
Domoviye replied the topic: Miss Powerful
“So you’ve got superpowers now, cuz.”

“Yep! It happened yesterday.” Miss Powerful told her slightly older cousin. “Isn’t it awesome! I can lift Mom’s car!”

Her cousin looked a little bummed out, and began playing with her colourful patchwork skirt. “I didn’t think my little cousin would able to beat up supervillains. What am I going to do?”

“Ah don’t be like that. You’re still super cool. Now that I’m Miss Powerful, I’m going to need a sidekick. You want the job? Just think Miss Powerful and -” she stopped suddenly. “We’re going to need a cool name for you.”

“If you call me Alfred, Robin, or Olsen, I’ll find a way to kill you. Just so there’s no misunderstandings or anything,” her cousin said.

“How about... Rainbow Girl!”

“Yeah... NO!”

“Fun Time Girl!”

“Don’t make me hurt you. And if you ever call me that, I WILL hurt you.”

“Girl Wonder!”

“No.”

“Princess Heroic! You used to use that name all the time.”

“When we were children. How about I be the brains behind the operation?”

“Oh, then I can call you Q or Professor! Terrific!”
Last Edit: 5 years 3 months ago by Domoviye.

E M Pisek
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5 years 3 months ago #220
E M Pisek replied the topic: Miss Powerful
Domoviye wrote: “So you’ve got superpowers now, cuz.”


“When we were children. How about I be the brains behind the operation?”

“Oh, then I can call you Q or Professor! Terrific!”


How about Professor Sunshine?
What is - was. What was - is.

Domoviye
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5 years 3 months ago #221
Domoviye replied the topic: Samantha
“Hey Michelle, what’s going on?” Samantha asked, propping the phone between her head and shoulder so she could keep reading the email, a bowl of cheap instant noodles was open and long since cold on the side of the desk.

“Missing you Sam. You haven’t been down in over three months. The only way I knew you were still alive was the last bank transfer you sent me. Thanks for that, it helped pay for my new car.”

“I’m sorry, I miss you to but I’m so busy with everything and business is going really well. I made up matching necklaces and bracelets for a bride and all five of her brides maids, and I had to do a white gold tiara for the bride.”

“Jesus! You must be rolling in it.”

“I wish,” Samantha groaned. “That paid off my parents, you and the other girls, and a teeny, tiny, insignificant part of the bank. The only meat I’ve eaten for months has been hot dogs. Chicken hot dogs. I’m tempted to set up a few mouse traps for meat that isn’t processed garbage.”

“Yuck! I’ll send you a couple of steaks for your birthday. Any hope that you’ll get real food soon?”

“Yeah, I’ve been talking with this really weird guy on the net.”

“What have I told you about talking to strange men on the net? Don’t you remember Francois?”

“Ugh, don’t remind me,” she groaned. “Anyways, he’s got this really hideous gem he wants to put on a choker. But it has to be done in a certain way, and he keeps changing the design. If he emailed me more than three times a month, and didn’t promise to pay three quarters upfront as soon as we decide on a design, I’d have dropped him long ago.”

“How much money are we talking about?”

“I could buy a new car with the advance.”

Domoviye
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5 years 3 months ago #222
Domoviye replied the topic: Rose
Mind Over Matter sipped his coffee, he wasn’t in Kansas City or on patrol, so he wearing jeans and a t-shirt, his winter coat by his side, while his powers made everyone ignore the table. Rose sat across from him, her fingers moved rapidly fixing a few little gadgets that needed a tune up.

“How are your parents?” he asked.

“It’s ridiculous. I keep trying to do bigger and bigger things, and nothing. I took a design off the net for an automated lawn mower and created robot that would plow the driveway and sidewalk whenever there’s more than 1 inch of snow. And what happens, they say good work. Nothing else! I threatened to create a gadget that would cut power to every appliance in the house whenever I left, unless they took me for powers testing. Do you know what they said?” she asked.

“Not a chance.”

“Exactly. Do you know where I can find someone to give me a third eye or something?”

He leaned in using his power to put out a calming aura, nothing that would do much more than a bit of incense and relaxing music. “You’re doing a good job of keeping a handle on things. You’re dealing with the bullies and your friends, not getting into trouble, and haven’t caused any accidents. Who cares if your parents are in denial. As long as you keep doing what you’re doing, when you’re a bit older and have your own car you can come to Kansas city and get your MID with no hassles.”

She slumped down. “I just keep thinking something is going to happen and they’re going to arrest me and throw away the key. I was thinking the only thing I’d ever have to worry about would be speeding tickets when I got old enough to buy a car, and maybe getting a little drunk and having my parents find out. Now I’ve got to watch out for all kinds of stuff, and my parents are just making it worse.”

“It’s not that bad, Rose. Once you leave for college you’ll be able to fly under the radar, get a job as an engineer or something, make millions of dollars and you can do whatever you want.”

“I know. I just wish I could get some more support. It’s tough sometimes feeling so different and having my parents refuse to see it,” she muttered.

Cryptic
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5 years 3 months ago - 5 years 3 months ago #223
Cryptic replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
“So Kayda, what are you planning on doing for Halloween?” Punch asked as she hung up her own costume in the closet.

Kayda let out a sigh. “Yeah I do, but it wasn’t my idea. Clover was reading Tatanka Tall Tales the other week. He was working in private sessions with the Three...” she shook her head. “You’ll have to wait and see, they want it to be a surprise. I’m just worried that this will blow up in my face.”

~
October 31st

Kayda gingerly stepped into the auditorium, ducking under the door’s header, Tatanka right beside her. She felt weird wearing the blue jeans and red flannel shirt, not to mention the fact that the Three Little Witches had worked out a spell that replicated the effects of size warping. She would have settled for a glamour that made her look taller, but no that wasn’t good enough. At least she was armed, though it was not the tomahawk she preferred but a heavy headed chopping ax.

“so who are you supposed to be?” Jimmy T, or so the name badge said as Angela Lansbury certainly didn’t look like Jimmy T, asked looking up at Kayda.

“Babe the big blue bison and his human Paula Bunyan.” A larger then he’d ever grown Tanaka rumbled, his fur colored Smurf blue, a smirk on his muzzle.
I am a caffeine heathen; I prefer the waters of the mountain over the juice of the bean. Keep the Dews coming and no one will be hurt.
Last Edit: 5 years 3 months ago by Cryptic.

Domoviye
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5 years 3 months ago #224
Domoviye replied the topic: Samantha
“OK, this really is hideous,” Samantha said looking at the ugly brown, cracked and distorted cats eye. The flaws in the centre of the cats eye made her think it was winking at her.

She seriously considered sending the thing back to the client. In the year it had taken to seal the deal, going through twenty different designs in the process, she was out of debt, even if she was still only up to regularly eating hot dogs, actual pork instead of chicken ones. So she didn’t need the money desperately. But how the client talked about the project had intrigued her. The fact that her fridge was full of real food and she could afford to buy a car that wasn’t threatening to fall apart if she sneezed too hard on it was another reason to do the job quickly and move on.

Sighing, she put the cats eye in the special safe that had been installed the day before as per instructions. “Way too much work for a single ugly stone. And a choker? Dear god, what woman would want that thing around her neck.”

Domoviye
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5 years 3 months ago #225
Domoviye replied the topic: Marni
Rachael gave her a silent apology before rushing away. Marni didn’t blame her, it wasn’t safe to be around her anymore. No one was stupid enough to attack her, but that didn’t stop them from harassing her friends, or pulling pranks. Her locker, which was already covered in anti-mutant graffiti that the school was refusing to paint over after having to do it ten times already, was now ripped open. Even better red paint was splashed inside, covering her books, her windbreaker and her gym clothes.

She knew from previous experience that the school would never find the person who did it.

Walking towards the office to report the vandalism, everyone got out of her way. She had never felt so alone.

Cryptic
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5 years 3 months ago #226
Cryptic replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Simon DeVille, a name as good as any other that he used, dropped onto a much abused stool at his favorite pub, that was close to the home office, thankful to be back in London if only for a brief while. While he reveled in the complexity of juggling the various identities he wore, doing Covington missions where the pits. The rumors of what that identity could do was hard to live up to even for him, and he had his criminal past to fall back on. He had no idea how the Honorable Lords who went into the game managed to pull it off. Ok so technically he was an Honorable Lord now, but Simon didn’t think of himself in that way as he con man who’s long game left him comfortably in the upper crust of society before the War. In his mind he was still just an orphan who was good at manipulating people, who thrilled at taking bigger and better risks with a goal in mind.

A pint landed with a thump in front of him. “Simon, good to see you are still among the living. First is on the house.”

Simon looked up and flashed the man a tired grin. “Mac! I’d heard you managed to get out on a medical.”

“Mostly. They got me teaching what I can to a mix of Irregulars and Gents. You know the noble type won’t last more then a week in the field if they didn’t get the easy assignments. No offense meant to you.” Mac hastily added.

“None taken. You where saying?”

“Anyway as payment the office authorized one of those Mad types they got working to counter the Nazi’s weird shit fit me with a new leg. Works a treat even if it is a bit to heavy, clumsy, and maintenance intensive for use in the field. Still I can walk again, so I ain’t complaining.” the former spy replied slapping his right leg which reverberated with a metallic clang. Simon leaned over the bar to goggle at the appendage.

“Motion powered, bronze clock-working and steel plating...” Mac said tapping it again. “hurt like hell when he attached it to my stump.”

“I’ll bet.” Simon replied sipping the pint then grimacing at the taste. “this horse piss?”

“Sorry. Supplies been a bit low, else I wouldn’t be serving it. Most of the good stuff I had stashed got liberated for the high muckety types in the army. Said that the likes of us didn’t deserve to drink it.”

Simon stood slowly a grimace on his face. “Really? Men who come back from the field with a need to steady their nerves after sneaking in and out of occupied territory don’t deserve a good drink? I think not. Now tell me, who might know where they are storing the barrels and bottles? And how many of the crew are in town?”
I am a caffeine heathen; I prefer the waters of the mountain over the juice of the bean. Keep the Dews coming and no one will be hurt.

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 3 months ago #227
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
12 September 2007

OK, so no one here was entirely sure how Cyberkitty got to be the new club president, but no one in the room - or conferencing through a monitor - could argue that she was the best coder and cracker in the room, bar none. Well, that, and she was a lot cuter than Tinkertrain or Wunderkind. Still, if it bothered any of the upperclassmen, they didn’t say anything.

“OK, let’s start the first session of the year for the ‘133t,” Paige said assertively, “Let’s start by talking about the club name.”

Wirewalker sighed, loudly and deliberately. “Not this crap again...”

“I mean it! Come on, “133t”? That may have been cool in Ms. Hartford’s day, but now it just makes us sound like dorks.”

“We are dorks,” interjected Maze from his monitor.

“Yeah, but no one’s gonna take us seriously with such a stupid name,” said Ringo, though it wasn’t as if Paige needed defending. The name is dorky.

“So what do you have in mind?” I added.

“I think we should go back to the original name. Get in touch with the club’s roots, right?”

“Double-You-Tee-Eff? You think ‘133t is dorky, but you want to use ‘International Brotherhood of Magicians’?”

Yeah, Tink said it exactly like that. What an idiot. No wonder she and Flashbang always get caught at shit.

“I thought it was ‘Insidious Black Magic’,” said Wirewalker, looking up at the picture of the club’s founder and first faculty advisor, Alan Kotok .

Legend says - and with these old-time hackers it’s all legends - that Dr. Alexander lured Mr. Kotok (now Dr. Kotok, no wait, he died last year, right?), the school’s first computer science teacher/system administrator, away from DEC in 1967 with a promise to buy and support no less than four (whoopie) of the brand-new PDP-10 mainframes, hot-shit machines that Kotok had a hand in designing so I guess it was kind of stroking his ego. As one of the founding fathers of hackerdom, he must have thought that helping the students back then form a club like the TMRC back at MIT was the best way to keep the spirit alive. Apparently, Kotok thought that the “Insidious Black Magicians” gag was funny (I.B.M., get it? lame...), but not everyone agreed so it kind of went by a few different names over the years.

On the gripping hand, though, he did manage to get Whateley one of the first ARPAnet nodes just before his sabbatical here ended, and the first that wasn’t a major university or consultancy, so the school was ahead of things almost from the start. Go us.

I came back out of my reverie to find that the motion had passed. Oh, crap...
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 3 months ago - 5 years 3 months ago #228
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
3 March 1983
Montréal–Dorval Airport

As the setbelt sign turned off and the other passengers started getting their carry-on luggage, Raul reached into his pocket to get his sunglasses. The unfairness of it all came back to Raul as he put his sunglasses back on, turning away from the aisle so others couldn’t see the unnatural indigo of his eyes.

He knew he was a mutant, all the kids in his school knew about it, but didn’t seem to have any actual powers. And now, just days after he learned about it, he was on his way to grandpere Raul’s funeral. Once again, he wondered if it was the news that his grandson was a mutant that had caused his heart attack. He knew it wasn’t true, but the fact that his grandfather had died just around the same time that he noticed his eyes had changed, over a two hundred kilometers apart, shook him to the core, though it did occur to him that if he’d been properly at home in Manitoba when it happened, the distance would have been even greater.

His father hadn’t been able to get out of his parlimentary duties, something to do with Dr. Diabolik’s recent raid on Winnapeg - at least it didn’t spill into the suburbs, he thought, he’d be crushed if anything happened to his home - and his mother was already in Mercier because of Grandpa Raul’s illness, so he was flying alone for the first time. He could hear the mix of English and the somewhat less familiar French bubbling around him, but he wasn’t interested in listening in. However, it reminded him that he’d better start getting used to speaking in French again; grandmere never much approved of speaking English (or Portuguese, for that matter, as she always took grandfather to task when his childhood habits arose), and he suspected she didn’t approve of his father, either. The fact that he had risen to be an MP - a minor back-seat MP, but still - only seemed to make her more suspicious of him. He felt a bit self-conscious of his poor speaking skills, especially given the way his Parisian-born French teacher would berate him for his Quebecois accent and ‘colonial habits of speech’, but he guiltily hoped that grandma was too distraught to notice this time.

As he walked down the gangway, he could see his mother and grandmother at the end of the hallway. He walked briskly towards them, giving Ma a hug and a kiss before doing the same to his grandmother.

But then, as he embraced her, his head began to swim, and a cold chill overcame him. He backed in horror, and in English said, “Grandmother, your, in your chest, there’s...” he shook violently, and pointed towards the small ball of... something he could somehow feel over her heart.

“Speak properly, child,” she retorted in French, “What are you talking about?”

Mastering himself, he answered in the same language, “There’s... when I touched you, I could feel, there’s some, some kind of, you need to see a doctor immediately! I could feel it, it’s a lump, right there...”

His mother and grandmother stared at him in confusion just before he passed out.
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 3 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 3 months ago - 5 years 3 months ago #229
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Candler Mansion, Atlanta, Georgia
17 April 1983

Bo Candler tugged nervously at the bow tie his mother had made him wear for church that morning, peeking around the corner before surreptitiously opening the door to his late grandfather’s study to sneak in. He hated the way he was expected to dress, almost as much as he hated the awful name Beauregard Mason Candler, but he couldn’t admit that to his Ma, no matter what. He had been feeling strange for weeks, both physically and emotionally, but he never told anyone about it because he was ashamed of how he was thinking and feeling.

After all, family honor was at stake.

He idly wondered if he was a fairy. That would be bad; he knew that no one had spoken to his uncle Raymond for years after he’d left for San Francisco, no one went to his funeral last January, no one even spoke his name. Bo knew that he had died of something terrible, but no one wanted to say what; he could only guess that it was that new Gay disease, AIDS, which was always on the news lately, but no one wanted to talk about it.

Or maybe he was a mutant, like Asa and Sophie. That would be almost as bad, but at least they hadn’t been kicked out of the family like Ray was. His older siblings did have to go to some school in the North, way off in New Hampshire, but at least they weren’t treated like strangers. Asa was even working for Coca-Cola as a chemist, the first member of the family to work for the company that the family fortune was built on in three generations, and spoke excitedly about designing new soft drinks for them.

Closing the door behind him, he started scanning the old library shelves for the book he wanted. Finally, he found the book he wanted, an old leather-bound printing of Hamlet from the turn of the century.

His mother was in love with Shakespeare, and in love with her new videocassette player, too. Last night, she had cajoled him and Sophie (home for a break) into watching an older film version of the play, the one with Sr Laurence Olivier in it. Sophie didn’t sit still through it, like usual, preferring to speed off somewhere, but much to his surprise, Bo found it fascinating. The part that really stuck out was the character of Hamlet’s girlfriend, Ofeeya or something like that (he had missed the credits at the beginning so he wasn’t sure how it was spelled). Opening the book, he quickly read through it, not realizing how fast he was going, until he got to the third scene, where Laertes (another strange name) was preparing to leave. There he saw it: Ophelia.

His heart quickened, remembering how strange the name seemed, even stranger than Beauregard, but it was such a pretty name, too. If he were a girl, he’d want a name that pretty.

He pushed the thought aside. There were some things you didn’t dare admit to wishing for, not even to yourself.

Remembering how sad the story was in the film, he started crying for the poor, waifish girl torn apart by her love of her brother and her betrothed, driven to madness and suicide. He wiped away his tears and returned to reading, eager to see how the story really went.
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 3 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 3 months ago - 5 years 3 months ago #230
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Berne, Switzerland
11 November 1953

“Please don’t take this personally, Simon. Or perhaps I should call you Sean Causewell?”

What was left of my hair bristled at hearing my original name for the first time in decades. “I don’t know, should I call you Shlomo?”

Sidney seemed just as put out by his own given name, shifting the pistol in his hand. “I’d rather you didn’t. I expect you know why I am here, then.”

“I’m guessing it’s the connection we’ve cultivated with the Gehlenapparat. Can’t say I blame you for it, I wasn’t too comfortable getting in bed with a bunch of ex-Nazis but I could hardly afford to pass up an opportunity, wot?”

“Actually, it has to do more with the likes of The Network. Surely you can see the trouble that’s causing people.” Despite the chatty amiability of the conversation, I couldn’t help but worry about the long-dead man, now somehow returned to youthfulness, who was here in my own office to assassinate me. I resigned myself to the fact that he was just that much better than I was, especially now in my old age. Reilly had been my own mentor once, after all, and seeing how he was somehow younger than he was even in 1915, I knew I didn’t stand a chance.

Oddly, the thought that it was Armistice Day came to mind. I guess some wars never do end.

“Sorry old chap, much as I would like to talk over old times, I really do need to get on with this. You’ve built a rather impressive system here, and while certain... interests I am party to applaud your work, MI-6 has asked my group to send a message to the people who support you. As much as they would have preferred to smash your school to the ground, I am afraid that this the most we can do right now. Goodbye, Simon.” With that, he leveled the gun at my head and fired.
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 3 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

Domoviye
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5 years 3 months ago - 5 years 3 months ago #231
Domoviye replied the topic: Rose
“Hi Rose, how are you doing?” Mind Over Matter called from down the the street..

“Pretty good, but uh, why are you here? And who’s the lady in the silver dress?” Rose asked as she jogged over to the costumed hero. She was so used to Mind’s powers keeping them unnoticed she didn’t worry that they were talking in the middle of the busy street.

“This is Witch Mabel, she’s helping me out with a possible mutant criminal. Mabel, this is Rose, the girl I told you about.”

“Hello, Rose. You’ve made a very good impression on Mind,” the woman said, smiling pleasantly her chubby cheeks were bright red in the cold.

Rose knew she’d seen the hero before, there weren’t many chubby, older women who looked almost ready to be a grandmother acting as a hero. Then it clicked. “Hey I know you, you and your team got your asses kicked- Uh... I mean... it’s nice to meet you.”

Mind hit his forehead with his palm, while Mabel turned even redder as she said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you to. My team and I aren’t very martially oriented, but we do try our best.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard you guys have a great anti-bullying program. Uh, I’ve got to get going now, lunch break is almost over for school and I don’t want to be late for math class. Good luck with everything, it was really nice meeting you Witch Mabel,” Rose said hurriedly.

As she headed back to school, she shook her head in embarrassment. “Good going Rose, insult the second hero you’ve ever met.” Still she had to admit it really wasn’t her fault, Witch Mabel and her team were most often seen on Youtube under the title ‘curb stomped’, ‘humiliated’ and ‘how not to be a hero’.
Last Edit: 5 years 3 months ago by Domoviye.

Domoviye
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5 years 3 months ago #232
Domoviye replied the topic: Miss Powerful
“Ready?” Miss Powerful asked her cousin.

“Are you sure no will come in here?”

“Yes I’m sure. I asked the gym teacher really nicely to let me use it after school. Although I may have accidentally signed myself up for the end of year talent show. You’re suppose to be teaching me how to dance,” she said.

“You and I only know ballroom dancing, do you have a partner?” her cousin asked.

“Yeah, not really. That could be a problem,” Miss Powerful admitted. “Anyways, I figured this was a great place to practice some things and I wanted you here to see just how cool this is.”

“And to watch the door right?”

“Would you be so kind?” she asked, giving her best puppy dog impression.

“What are best friends for?”

She hugged her fourteen year old cousin, careful to control her strength so that she didn’t break any ribs or leave bruises. “Thank you! Now I think I might be able to fly, watch me.”

Going to the middle of the gym, she did some stretches, then with a look of concentration ran five steps and jumped. Her cousin watched in amazement as she went ten feet into the air and landed almost thirty feet away.

“ISN’T THAT COOL!!!!”

“Wow!”

“OK I’m going to try to reach the other end of the gym now.” Closing her eyes, she tried to visualize herself flying. She thought it would be a lot like swimming, only drier. Filling her lungs with air, she ran as fast as she could and threw herself into the sky. Looking down she saw the ground far below, at which point her every instinct screamed that she was going to fall and break every bone in her body. Her stomach began to churn.

On the ground her cousin screamed and ran, barely escaping the foul smelling mess that hit the ground, followed a second later by Miss Powerful.

“OW!” Miss Powerful said, holding her head which she had cleverly used to help soften her landing.

“Are you alive?” Her cousin called from the door of the gym office.

“Yes. Ow.”

“OK. I’ll get a mop, while you hit the showers.”

“Ow. Can you help me up?” Miss Powerful asked, holding up a dripping hand.

“Um....” the older girl said looking carefully at the foul smelling muck covering the budding superhero. “No. You’re super tough now, you’ll survive.”

“Traitor! You’re no longer my sidekick!”

Schol-R-LEA
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5 years 3 months ago - 5 years 3 months ago #233
Schol-R-LEA replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
OK, this is an older non-WA story - not exactly fanfic, but whatever - that I had started about 11 years ago and just rediscovered. I thought some of you might enjoy the fragment I managed to write.

Sue for Peace
by Schol-R-LEA;2
2005:07:07

I was coming back from a Mysterious Informant gig - I did it up right, the whole Deep Throat schtick in the underground garage, keeping my face hidden in shadow and everything - and once I was sure I wasn’t being tailed, I did a Scene Change into some more comfortable clothes and decided to take a walk around Lake Merritt before going home. Near the corner of 20th, however, I happened to notice a young girl with long, radiant black hair and a glowingly smooth pale complexion. She wore red and gold robes and an expression of innocent bewilderment. Now, this wasn’t that unusual in Oakland, especially the Oakland in my home Ficton; but the sheer perfection of her appearance set off warning bells in my head. If she’s not a Mary Sue, I thought, then I’ll eat my fedora. Somewhere along the line, I had wandered into another Author’s story.

OK, that’s not to big a deal, really. As an Authorial Avatar myself - a Marty Stu, to you real-world folks - I had no place complaining about other chara’s business, and while I don’t come and go quite as easily as some of my Author’s charas, I figured there had to be some way back to my own Fandom. Still, there seemed something out of place about the kid.

Suddenly it clicked: the robes were from Hogwarts, the school in the Harry Potter Ficton. Whoever this kid was, she was a long way from home, and I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of story would have a teenage witch from Great Britain wandering a major city in Northern California. A bad one, was the obvious answer that leapt to mind. However, rather than risk interfering in a Plot (I’m willing to give the writer the benefit of the doubt, here), I decided to do what I do best - skulk around on the edges of things and watch events unfold.
Out, damnéd Spot! Bad Doggy!
Last Edit: 5 years 3 months ago by Schol-R-LEA.

Domoviye
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5 years 3 months ago #234
Domoviye replied the topic: Rose
“Rose, we’re going to California for your aunts wedding at the end of November,” her mom said excitedly. “We’ll have to take you out of school for a week, but your grades are so good now it won’t matter.”

“We’re driving right?” Rose asked.

“Drive all the way there!” her mother exclaimed. “Are you kidding. We’ll take a plane.”

“But Mom, I can’t take a plane. Everyone knows that I’m a mutant, if the MCO finds out I could be arrested.”

The smile dropped from her mom’s face. “It’s been over a year now, why are you still going on about that foolish fantasy? You are perfectly ordinary.”

“YEAH RIGHT!” she shouted. “That’s why we haven’t had to replace a single thing in this house since I manifested! Why I can fix some of Mind’s gadgets without even knowing what they are until I’m opening them up!”

“We TOLD you not to talk to that man!”

“He’s the only person I can talk to! He at least listens to me!”

“GO TO YOUR ROOM RIGHT NOW!”

“I’m NOT getting on that plane until the MCO says if I’m a mutant or not! I won’t go to jail because you’re too stupid to see what’s right in front of you!” she screamed.

“YOU ARE NOT A MUTANT! YOU WILL COME TO THE WEDDING! AND THERE IS NO CHANCE YOU’LL GO TO THE MCO!”

“GO TO HELL!” she screamed, running out of the house.

E M Pisek
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5 years 3 months ago #235
E M Pisek replied the topic: Rose
And poof her mother was gone.
What is - was. What was - is.

Domoviye
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5 years 3 months ago #236
Domoviye replied the topic: Samantha
She ran through the dark forest. Sniffing the air, her ears twitched, the prey and the enemy was close. So close. Opening her mouth, she tasted the scent, a mix of blood, death and meat. Her stomach rumbled. That was good a hungry hunter was the best.

Climbing into a tree, using the low branches to help, avoiding any claw marks that the prey would notice she moved like a shadow. Symbols written in white covered her torso, glowing dimly in the moonlight, making her unnatural body appear even more unearthly.

A man wearing the iron studded leather armour of his people appeared, holding an iron sword at the ready. Trophies that smelled of blood hung from his waist. More men followed him, spears, axes, and knives, each covered in blood, runes and talisman ready to kill. They were looking for her village, to steal, rape and slaughter, like they had done to the neighbouring villages.

They were looking along the ground, watching for traps and ambushes, they didn’t look upwards.

With a roar she pounced on them, claws extended for the kill.

Samantha woke up snarling, tasting blood in her mouth, her heart racing.

Taking a drink from the glass of water on the nightstand, she wiped the sweat from her brow. Something cool touched her skin. Looking at her hand, she saw the ugly cats eye pressed so tightly into her palm it looked like it was part of her skin.

“Again,” she moaned in disbelief. She was going to have to handcuff herself to the bed if this kept up. Grumbling, wondering if she could just send the cursed thing back, she made her way down to her store several floors below, typed in multiple codes and used several keys to open the inside door, and placed the thing in its safe.

“Now stay there!” she ordered the stone, while the light made it seem to wink mockingly at her.

Domoviye
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5 years 3 months ago #237
Domoviye replied the topic: Marni
The bell signalling the end of lunch went off. Marni watched as everyone who was eating under the trees went inside. At the furthest end of the school grounds she just sat there, not moving.

She didn’t know why she went to class anymore. Everyone ignored her, she took notes, did her homework and read the textbook, with no one talking to her, looking at her, or even bullying her. She thought that she might be able to run around naked and no one would say anything.

Her mom had dropped out of or was dropped from everyone of her groups. Dad had gotten into a couple of fights when he went to the bar with his few remaining friends. Their business was losing money, Mom was usually up half the night trying to make the numbers work to keep things going, while her Dad tried to find jobs outside of the county where they didn’t know she was a mutant. Her brother was in fights almost every day.

She looked out over the town she called home. Had called home, it didn’t want her anymore.

No one was outside now. Even the teacher who made sure everyone headed inside had taken one look at her and walked away.

Marni made up her mind. Emptying her bag of everything except the energy bars and her phone she headed for the nearest bank machine. She’d take her money and leave.

It would be better for everyone.

Kettlekorn
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5 years 3 months ago - 5 years 3 months ago #238
Kettlekorn replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Open Whateley-style!
Whateley-style!

Ninja teams show up while we’re in our pajamas
Cocky bastards, kick their asses, Pumpkin we will jam ‘em
And as they flee across our campus, right then we will pluck ‘em
Like a banjo up from Georgia!

With prehensile hair
Check my pulse and my blood pressure, with prehensile hair
Copy notes on your clipboard now with prehensile hair
Hook me up to anesthetics with prehensile hair
Lush prehensile hair

I’m oooon a table innnnside a room in Doyle, hey!
A room in Doyle, hey!
I’m oooon a table innnnside a room in Doyle, hey!
A room in Doyle, hey!

With a magic sword they start to operate -ate -ate -ate -a-a-a-a-a-a-a
Open Whateley-style!

Whateley-style!
Op- op- op- op- Open Whateley-style!
Whateley-style!
Op- op- op- op- Open Whateley-style!

Ehhhh, get my surgery!
Op- op- op- op- Open Whateley-style!
Ehhhh, appendectomy!
Op- op- op- op- Eh- Eh- Eh- Eh- Eh- Eh-

A blind kid struts his stuff upon the mats of Ito’s dojo
If he wasn’t wearing robot suit, those threads he’s got would blind ya
Got hit by girl with cartoon hair, one-fifty miles per hour
Could have died, but, now he’ll date her!

Yellow dinosaur
From the outback of Australia, yellow dinosaur
Plays guitar loud in the basement, yellow dinosaur
Robo-voice like Stephen Hawking, yellow dinosaur
Yellow dinosaur

I’m aaaat a table innnnside the Crystal Hall, hey!
The Crystal Hall, hey!
I’m aaaat a table innnnside the Crystal Hall, hey!
The Crystal Hall, hey!

Aim my raygun at this jar of PBJ J J J JJJJJJJJJJJJ
Open Whateley-style!

Whateley-style!
Op- op- op- op- Open Whateley-style!
Whateley-style!
Op- op- op- op- Open Whateley-style!

Ehhhh, want my marmalade!
Op- op- op- op- Open Whateley-style!
Ehhhh, it’s chokecherry made!
Op- op- op- op- Eh- Eh- Eh- Eh- Eh- Eh-

Tatanka comes, there’s tea for everyone
Baby baby, ‘round the fire we all nom nom
Bison crumbs, steak sauce on our thumbs
Baby baby, ‘round the fire we all nom nom

You know what I’m saying?

Open Whateley-style!
Eh- Eh- Eh- Eh- Eh- Eh-

Ehhhh, try this barbecue!
Op- op- op- op- Open Whateley-style!
Ehhhh, open wide and chew!
Op- op- op- op- Eh- Eh- Eh- Eh- Eh- Eh-
Open Whateley-style!
I am the kernel that pops in the night. I am the pain that keeps your dentist employed.
Last Edit: 5 years 3 months ago by Kettlekorn.

Domoviye
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5 years 3 months ago #239
Domoviye replied the topic: Marni
“How long until we reach L.A.?” Marni asked the trucker.

“A few more hours,” he responded. “So you really have your brother waiting there for you?”

“Yeah. He told me to visit him if our mom got too much to handle.”

“It’s nice to have family. Do you need a pit stop?” he asked, pulling into a deserted little rest area.

“Nah, I’m good. But don’t worry about me, take all the time you need,” she said, shifting her dark sunglasses to scratch her nose.

They both undid their seatbelts, and while the trucker climbed into the little bed that was behind the seats to grab something she slouched down in her seat trying to think of what she would do once she hit LA. She’d run away without really thinking things through and she’d managed to hitch a ride an hour ago. There hadn’t been much thought involved except to help her family in the only way she could.

She screamed as large hands grabbed her under the arms and dragged her out of the seat into the back of the cab.

“Stay quiet girl,” the trucker said, in what might have been a soothing voice. “We’re going to have a bit of fun, and then I’ll drive you anywhere you want. If you want, you can stay with me as long as you like. I’ll make sure you’re safe and cared for.

“LET ME GO!” she shouted.

“The first time is always a bit rough. Just l-”

She flexed her muscles and slapped him across the face. She could have punched him, her dad had taught her how, but that would have killed him. The slap was enough to knock him off of her. He hit the side of the cab, his cheek an ugly red, rapidly turning green and blue from a bruise, he stared at her in shock and pain, spitting out teeth and blood.

Powering down, she was just as shocked. She’d hurt him with her powers. The MCO was going to come after her now. They’d call her a supervillain and the Knights of Purity would hunt her down. They’d kill her. She had to get away.

“GIVE ME YOUR MONEY!” she shouted, her mind working in overdrive.

“Wha’?” he slurred.

“YOU’RE MONEY! ALL OF IT! AND YOUR PHONE!”

He threw his wallet and phone at her, trying not to get too close. She took the cash out, broke the phone, grabbed her things and jumped out. She hopped back in a second later, grabbed the keys from the ignition and threw them as far as she could. Flexing her muscles, she began running. She just had to run for a few minutes and then she could try to get another ride. It would take him a while to get a hold of the police. She just needed to get a ride before they came looking for her.

Biting back tears she left a trail of dust behind her.

Domoviye
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5 years 3 months ago #240
Domoviye replied the topic: Rose
“But Mind I don’t want to go to jail,” Rose said into the phone.

“Rose, you don’t look different from a baseline. While people in your hometown know you’re a mutant, no one else does. Just bring a good book and no tools, you’ll be fine,” the hero replied.

She knew Mind Over Matter was right, but she was terrified that something would go wrong and she’d end up in jail for life. Or disappear like she’d heard had happened to other mutant kids. “But what if something goes wrong?” she asked.

There was a long pause. “You’re really scared about this?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“I’ll phone the MCO here in Kansas City to set up a powers testing appointment. It will probably be on a weekday, do you think you can get out of school without your parents knowing?”

“Yeah,” she said. “I thought it might be useful, so I learned how to forge their signatures.”

There was another, longer, pause. “All right than, I’ll make the arrangements.”

Domoviye
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5 years 3 months ago #241
Domoviye replied the topic: Samantha
“What was that Wendy?” Samantha asked her part time sales clerk.

“It’s closing time. I’m going to lock up and take off,” the college student said.

“What? But it’s only four o’clock... isn’t it?”

“It’s six thirty. You said something about doing work in the back and asked if I wanted anything for supper, you haven’t left your office since then.”

“Oh god! I’m so sorry, I meant to pick you up something but this project got the better of me,” she said.

“No problem, I got a bite to eat before coming to work. Those little blue quartz rings are doing well, I sold five of them to a group of high school girls, I think they’re becoming a local trend.”

She was stalking something through a field of grass. The prey was straight ahead, too busy with its kill to notice her. She silently purred in pleasure.

The blood of the antelope filled her nostrils. Leaping out of the grass she saw the man with his back towards her. He spun inhumanly fast on his heels knocking her out of the air with his spear. Dropping it, he pounced on top of her before she could regain her feet. They rolled along the ground, roaring and cursing.

Finally she was on top of him, straddling his waist. Bending down she kissed him. A purr of pleasure was shared between them. His fingers traced the brands that had been burned onto her body.

“SAM!” Wendy shouted, snapping her fingers. “You spaced out for a moment. Are you OK?”

“Yeah, yeah, I am. Sorry. Too much work. Have a nice night. Do you come in tomorrow?”

“Yeah it’s payday tomorrow, remember?”

“Right, right, right, I remember. I remember. Have a nice night. I have to get back to work.”

With a worried backwards glance Wendy went to finish closing up. Samantha went back to her office/workroom which was covered in half drawn designs, uneaten bags of fast food, and pictures of other times and places.

Sitting down she took her tools and with glazed eyes went to work.

Valentine
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5 years 3 months ago #242
Valentine replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread: Kobayashi Maru Version 2
Bardue bellowed in his usual subtle style, “TEAM KIMBA! You have ten minutes ONLY to cross roughly six miles of unknown terrain and attack a hilltop fortress with unknown defenses! There is a baseline opponent in the castle you MUST stop before the ten minutes are up! You may use any level of force necessary to stop said opponent before he launches nuclear missiles from U.S. silos thousands of miles away! DO YOU UNDERSTAND!?!”

A voice blared from the loudspeakers in the cubicles, “Team Kimba, you’re all ready to go. Please close sim helmets and begin. You’ll have exactly ten minutes from the second you appear in the sim.”

Lancer looked around, the terrain was a bit different from last time, but that was to be expected. He looked at Tennyo and Generator and said, “Just like we planned. Go!”

Tennyo took off straight up rotating so she could get a view of everything around her. It wouldn’t surprise her that their target was behind them.

Generator reached into her purse and pulled out a bolt wrapped in several pieces of nanowire. They were her longest pieces, well suited to her purposes. She tossed the bolt to Lancer, and looked up at Tennyo.

Lancer caught the bolt and looked up at Tennyo, when he could make out which way she was pointing he whispered, “Hold on,” and threw the bolt at the mountain he couldn’t see.

Jann, Jasmine, Julie, and Jamie held on to the bolt as Lancer threw it. Screams of delight would have been heard if they had speaker disks.As soon as they saw the mountain, Jann began steering at it, she didn’t have much time, fortunately Lancer’s aim wasn’t that far off.

The bolt impacted the mountain unnoticed and the J-Team let it go and began looking for the terrorist. It didn’t take them long to find the control room. They surveyed the room from up near the ceiling, Jann pointing out targets for fellow selfs. A few moments later technicians at computer workstations, and the leader found themselves subjected to nearly invisibles garrotes.

“Hello Generator,” the overly-cheerful computer voice said. “Welcome back. It is Thursday, February, 1st, 2007. It is now 10:31 am. Your team is the victor.”

Gunny Bardue looked at Sam and said, “What the HELL just happened there?”

Sam paused as she ran what she had watched again. As she was about to tell Gunny her theory, an angry Caitlin stomped in.

“Damn that Generator,” Catlin groused. “She sent in some nanowire and garroted me and some of my minions.”
Don’t Drick and Drive.

Kettlekorn
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5 years 2 months ago - 5 years 2 months ago #243
Kettlekorn replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Have you ever wished you had a nicer house? One with a cheery fireplace, cushy furniture, and plenty of space to accommodate all your friends and family? Well, stop wishing and apply today for Princess Jobe’s Home Serum, and we will make the home of your dreams your new reality.
I am the kernel that pops in the night. I am the pain that keeps your dentist employed.
Last Edit: 5 years 2 months ago by Kettlekorn.

cprime
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5 years 2 months ago #244
cprime replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
July 2022
Dreamspace of the Ptesanwi

Kayda shook her head. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. Let me find the others so we can break the news.” The teenage girl seated on the log next to her nodded in agreement. She was clad in a traditional buckskin dress, a feather dangling from her braided hair. As the shaman stood up, her wife emerged from a nearby teepee, carrying a rock and several gourd cups. The two embraced before Kayda strode into the moonlit night.

Over the next few minutes, several figures emerged from the darkness. June Franks was the first to arrive. As she stepped into the light of the campfire, the seated girl stood up to embraced the figure. June was the first to speak. “Brenda! I didn’t know you could dreamwalk. Kayda said you had news for us.”

The girl nodded. “I didn’t know until tonight either. How long does it usually take for sis to find everyone?”

“Depends on whether people are dreaming. Kayda knows our dreamspaces well. She’s been visiting them since before you were born.”

The conversation was interrupted when a familiar pair of arms wrapped around June’s waist from behind. “Hey there love. I came as quick as I could.”

Brenda was the first to respond. “Hey dad! Quite the place Kayda has here.”

Pete dropped a kiss on his wife’s cheek before releasing her. “It really is. In a way, it’s almost a second home.“

Deborah spoke from her place by the fire. “I wonder what Danny and Whinape are up to tonight? If I’m lucky, I’ll have time to heat the water before they get here.”

June quirked an eyebrow at the statement. “How are your essence gathering exercises going? Kayda has mentioned the amount of concentration they require.”

Deborah shrugged. “I don’t feel like I’m making any progress, but supposedly I am. I doubt I’ll ever light my well, but the tea just tastes better when I make it the same way she does.”

Brenda narrowed her eyes as she stared across the fire. “Essence gathering is all mental, right? Your belief in the power of our traditional medicine is solid, particularly for one not of the nations.”

“It’s hard to doubt the power when it has saved your life on more than one occasion.”

“It stands to reason that if you believe in the power of this type of magic, your belief will make it easier for you to practice it.”

The idle conversation ended shortly after Deborah moved the stone from the edge of the fire into a large gourd. A familiar voice called out, “Honey, I’m home!” In a slightly strained tone. A moment later, Danny slinked through the ring of teepees, followed by his sister and Wihanape in her bipedal form.

As they settled next to the fire, Kayda gave her lifemate a hug and an approving nod. She stared into the flickering flames for a long moment before sighing. “I can’t think of a delicate way to put this, so I might as well be direct. We have a new family member, and it wouldn’t be fair to Brenda to make her do the introductions. Come on out here.”

A few moments later, a small four-legged creature slipped out from a teepee. It crawled to logs surrounding the fire before shifting. The dark-furred form with white stripes on its muzzle flowed upright, taking a short, stocky and definitely masculine form.

As the other family members blinked in surprise, Kayda spoke. “Everyone, this is Brenda’s new spirit, Hoka. Hoka, meet June and Pete, our mother and father, and our two-spirit brother Danny.”

June and Pete looked at each other before turning to stare at their eldest daughter’s doppelganger. Wakan Tanka sighed and calmly gazed back at the pair. “We’ve been through this before. Would you prefer that her spirit be one of the People’s, or risk the chance of one of our enemies getting her first? I tried to find as compatible a spirit as I could. It’s not my fault that Brenda is a tomboy.”

June sighed. “I know. I’m just feeling like I’m some kind of a cosmic cat toy with all of my children’s manifestations.”

Wihanape snorted at the comment. “Don’t look at me. You have the blood of the shamen in you, and you’re the one who wished about the gender of your children. It’s not my fault you can’t manage your essence.”

As the spirits and parents talked, Danny and Kayda moved to hug their sister. Brenda was the first to speak. “What happens now?”

Kayda responded to the question. “That depends. Do you want to become a male or do you want to try to stay female? I was forced to transition thanks to my BIT, while Danny and Wihanape reached an accommodation.”

Danny interrupted. “In your heart, you know what you want. But what your heart desires and what your mind desires may not be the same thing. Further, you may not be able to get what you desire. When you manifest Hoka, you will manifest as a male, just as I manifest as a female when I manifest Wihanape. The question is the gender you assume when you aren’t manifesting.”

Brenda looked between her siblings. “But I like being a girl.”

Danny chuckled before turning serious. “Don’t knock being male until you’ve tried it. That said, you probably need to take care if you manifest around that time of the month. The first time it happened to me I was stuck for a week and I had to endure two exams in Doyle. That was the last time I joked about certain female issues.”

Kayda added, “If you stay female, Danny’s experience can give us some idea of what will probably happen. When you are not manifesting your spirit, you will probably be a rather butch female. Naturally, when you shift to your hybrid or full form, you’ll be male. If you happen to be manifested when your period would have hit, you’ll be stuck for the duration. While you won’t have to deal with the cramping and such, you will have to deal with the fur and using the men’s room.”

Danny followed up on the remarks. “Something else to be aware of with an animal spirit is that you’ll have that time of the year, not just that time of the month. Not fun, on either side of the fence.”
Brenda furrowed her eyebrows. “How do we know if I’ll change or not?”

Her sister fielded the question. “Powers testing to start. If you have a BIT, you’ll probably be looking at the battle of the sexes from the other side of the fence. If not, the next major factor is how well your hollow matches your spirit. If your hollow is large enough, you can remain unchanged except when you manifest. Otherwise, you will either have to adapt or consider a more drastic option.”

At this comment, her brother chimed in with, “Trust me, you don’t want to fight the integration if your hollow is to small. The headaches were so bad I almost wished I was dead at times.”

Brenda frowned. “Why can’t I manifest as a female badger?”

Danny hugged his sister and responded. “While some spirits have fluid genders, ours do not. The only other option is for you to separate from Hoka, an experience that will be painful for both of you. It will also be dangerous, as you don’t know what sort of spirit will move into your hollow.”

After a moment of silence, Deborah interrupted. “Perhaps a cup of tea would help calm everyone’s nerves?”
Is your muse looking for inspiration? Send them to Parkerville! Welcome to Parkerville is the latest edition in my series of writing prompts.

Kettlekorn
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5 years 2 months ago - 5 years 2 months ago #245
Kettlekorn replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
“Kayda! What happened to you?”

“Well, you know how I said I was going through some changes and growth?”

“I thought you meant you were growing as a person!”

“Well, that too. But see, the thing is, I’ve got two spirits.”

“Um, duh? I’m well aware that you’re winkte.”

“No, I mean two spirits. Ptesanwi, obviously... and also Tatanka.”

“...Oh. Right. Well, I guess that explains it.”

“Mmm hmm.”

“Well, that’s kind of- hey, is that a bird in your hair?”

“Yeah, that’s Pteyahpaya. Isn’t he cute?”

“Is he like a pet?”

“More like a mooch, really. He’s been tagging along with me ever since my fur came in, and he, um, he...”

“Hey, speak up, you’re kinda mumbling there.”

“He keeps the bugs off, okay?”

“How’s that work? Does he have a magic ultrasonic birdsong that repels them?”

“No, um, it’s more like... he eats them?”

“Oh, that makes more- wait. So he doesn’t actually repel them? So that means you’ve got bugs on you?”

“No! Only when I go outside, and Pteyah eats them before they build up too much.”

“Don’t they sell bug repellent at Whateley?”

“Yeah, but it’s really bad for the environment.”

“So you use a bird.”

“So I use a bird. Look, it’s traditional, okay?”

“No, Kayda. It is not okay. You have a bird on your head, and I’m pretty sure I just saw him eat something.”

“Can we drop this?”

“Oh, hey, you know what I just realized?”

“...Do I even want to know?”

“Well, you’ve got white fur and a bird friend... just like Snoopy!”

“Snoopy is a dog.”

“Beagle, bison, tomayto, tomahto.”

“Yeah, I’m done with this conversation. Goodbye.”

“Bye-bye Woodstock!~”
I am the kernel that pops in the night. I am the pain that keeps your dentist employed.
Last Edit: 5 years 2 months ago by Kettlekorn.

Domoviye
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5 years 2 months ago #246
Domoviye replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Rose walked towards the MCO office in Kansas City. Her parents thought she was at school, and her school thought she was out for a doctors appointment. Only Mind Over Matter and the MCO knew she was coming.

She wished she could have taken her car, she’d been fixing an old Beetle for over a month and it was almost perfect now, but it was still two weeks before she could take her driving test. So it was up to the bus and her feet to get where she was going. Looking at the message she’d gotten just over half an hour ago at the bus station again, she tried not to sigh in disappointment. ‘Sorry Rose, business came up. The MCO is expecting you. I’ll be their soon. Remember what I told you, no names, no details of your life. They’re OK guys, but NOT your friends.’

Oh yeah, he knew how to make her feel calm.

The modest office building that didn’t have any outward sign of who owned it, lay just ahead of her. Pausing to tie her shoe beside a grimy old mail box, she gritted her teeth, she needed the MID, she could do this, she forced herself to keep going. She couldn’t risk getting on the plane like a regular person.

She heard a noise behind her. It was the last thing she noticed before a sharp pain ran through her body knocking her out cold.

cprime
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5 years 2 months ago - 5 years 2 months ago #247
cprime replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
July 2022
Dreamspace of the Ptesanwi
As Danny and Kayda tried to help their sister come to terms with her manifestation, their parents and spirits continued to talk. June snorted herself at Wihanape’s comment. “What do you mean, manage my essence. I’m not a mage. I don’t know the first thing about magic.”

Wakan Tanka calmly responded. “How do you know you aren’t a mage? Just because you haven’t been taught doesn’t mean you aren’t one. If I’m not mistaken, you have the metagene complex, and both your mother and daughter are shamen. Have you ever tried to practice our arts?”

The expression on the elder Mrs. Frank’s face shifted from mild annoyance to introspective throught. “You have a point. I guess I was just never interested in it. A belief in modern medicine and all that jazz. Perhaps... Perhaps I should go through power testing with Brenda.”

Deborah spoke up from her place by the fire. “I’ll call you in the morning to set up a time.”

Pete shook his head slowly. “You really are serious, aren’t you. I keep expecting a punchline to drop, but there doesn’t seem to be one in the offering.”

Wakan Tanka nodded in agreement. “Quite serious. It would be folly to try to imply that there was another avatar in your family when there wasn’t, as such jokes have the potential to backfire quite easily. Such is the peril of being a supernatural entity.”

After a moment of thought, Hoka chimed in, reminding the others that he was present. “Remember, finding an avatar to fill a hollow isn’t a matter of calling up Avatars-R-Us and ordering a spirit out of a catalog. For an avatar to match their host, they need to similar personalities and temperaments, in addition to being the right size and shape for their host. If we were trying to play a trick on you, Hehaka, Mato or Mica would have been here rather than myself. Had things worked out differently, Hnaska might have been selected, but they already have a host.”

Deborah looked down at the now steaming water and began the process of filling the individual gourds. After they were full, she took a moment to clear her thoughts and proceeded with the familiar ritual for making tea. As she finished, a brief flicker of light danced through the cups. She blinked, and then sighed a moment later. “I suppose I should sit in with the two of you when you see Vanity Girl. I see piles of paperwork in my future.”
Is your muse looking for inspiration? Send them to Parkerville! Welcome to Parkerville is the latest edition in my series of writing prompts.
Last Edit: 5 years 2 months ago by cprime. Reason: Fix formatting

Domoviye
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5 years 2 months ago #248
Domoviye replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
Marni looked at her phone. It was shut off so her parents couldn’t call her. She sat huddled in a doorway in LA, having gotten a ride with some college kids who were too stoned to ask questions and too mellow to mess with her.

She thought about going to a drop in centre or something. She’d feel safer, but she couldn’t do that, they’d call her parents and the MCO.

Turning on her phone, she saw that there were over fifty messages from her parents, and even more missed calls. She didn’t read them, just sent a quick message. ‘I’m OK. Sorry.’

Turning it off, she began crying and tried to sleep.

cprime
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5 years 2 months ago #249
cprime replied the topic: The Micro-Scenes thread
(Sorry folks - this one is a bit darker than the other recent scenes. I’ve put it in spoiler tags, just in case.)

Warning: Spoiler! [ Click to expand ]
Is your muse looking for inspiration? Send them to Parkerville! Welcome to Parkerville is the latest edition in my series of writing prompts.

Domoviye
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5 years 2 months ago #250
Domoviye replied the topic: Samantha
The crystal was beautiful.

She stared at the choker sitting in the open safe. It was made of black silk. A special type of silver that the client had specially ordered, which felt like nothing she had ever worked with before, surrounded the crystal. The same silver created paper thin silver strands that ran over the silk like spiderwebs, until the fabric was almost hidden. When she’d made the design she had thought it would be virtually impossible to create, but the silver flowed like water under her tools, taking shape almost before she touched it.

She knew the silvery symbols well, she had seen them in her dreams every night. They were part of the creature that ran like the wind, killing, hunting, making love, throwing everything it had into every second of existence.

It was a masterpiece.

Despite the explicit orders not to take any photographs, she had rented a top quality camera the day before and taken some pictures of it. She might never show them to a person, but she had to have them, to remember the beauty that she had created.

Her hands reached out to take it. To put it on. The cats eye looked at her longingly.

Samantha slammed the safe shut and practically threw herself out of the room to get away from it. Running a hand through her greasy hair, she went to her computer to see if the client had responded to her email.

Nothing.

Her eyes went back to the workroom. Just putting it on once would be OK, she told herself.

She was walking towards the choker again.

She turned and ran from the shop, only stopping long enough to lock the doors and set the security system. Five minutes later she was in her apartment taking a shower for the first time in a month. Stripping off her clothes she was amazed to see her ribs sticking out through her skin.