Issue #01 - C-Day Celebrations

[Khakhan]

 

ISSUE #01 - C-DAY CELEBRATIONS

---

The celebrations ran loud and exuberant, like any good parade or festival should. Starting with a parade in the earlier hours of the morning, the amusements were scheduled to last until late in the evening. Branching out several blocks in every direction from Cascadia Park, a massive verdant expanse occupying much of the center of the city., the Centurion's Day celebrations were in full swing.

Activities of all kinds have been planned for the event, planned to last the entirety of the three-day weekend. Having started earlier this morning, things are in full swing as you find yourself roaming through the various attractions. Scattered throughout the area are several auditoriums and stages hosting music, filling the air with sounds of revelry and enjoyment. Delicious aromas waft from dozens and dozens of food stalls, trucks and vendors, sharing cuisines from around the world, as well as some local treats.

You had made your entrance to the festivities some time ago, perhaps meeting with friends or family to catch up and share in some merriment. Right now was currently a bit more of a idle moment, just wandering through the throngs of people. On one side of a nearby walkway, booths are lined up, with small children getting their faces painted in a variety of bright and bold patterns, tiger stripes and whiskers, Halogen's starburst icon in glittering gold. On the other side, a series of arts and crafts booths, making various fun knick-knacks themed to the celebrations; customize your own Ultramarine helmet, glow-in-the-dark Star Bands of Orion.

With the sun high in the sky, and no clouds to be seen, it looks to be shaping up to be a perfectly beautiful opening day to the celebrations.

---

GM BOX

Here we go my Stalwart Sentinels! Cape City Heroics begins! Introduce your characters and who you might have come with, all that good sorta stuff! Let's get into it!

[Streetrat]

     Edward - Harbinger

---

“Yes!!!” a young girl called out after successfully popping a balloon with a dart. It was a simple game, with prizes worth far less than the cost of a single game.  And it took more than a single game for the girl to win the sawdust stuffed animal.

Edward had decided how much he was willing to spend today, and they were well within that limit. Until then all that was spent today was on the experience. And there was quite a bit to experience. Julie had decided that the lines for the rides were too long and not as much fun as the amusement park anyway, but the games, food, and people watching were well worth the time and money.

Edward wore his usual suit, Rodger had done such a good job and he liked the extra protection. But in this instance, he was certainly not wearing his domino mask, but he was wearing a large novelty foam hat that he was told was supposed to be a cowboy hat.  And there was a vague resemblance of such.  But the neon orange color clashed with anything he could have worn.

Julie was wearing a shirt and skirt that were too tight for his liking. Edward never thought he would be frustrated by the looks that teenage boys gave his niece. And he was well aware that his age was just old enough to draw side eyes from those who thought he was a twenty-something young teenager. He hoped that they looked close enough to alike to be forgiven as relatives.

When he let his mind slip, the patterns and size of the holes in the plywood told Edward how each person planted their feet, how they bent their arms and with how much strength they threw the dart.

“Eddie, look!” his focus had been broken, but that was not a bad thing.  It was a pink elephant with gossamer wings and a single unicorn horn above the trunk. “It’s a Uniphant!” she said breaking into a great smile, one he mirrored poorly. But the giggle that he got from Julie showed that she appreciated his attempt.

“It is quite…”

“Isn’t It just!”

“It is,come on I think I saw a Churro vendor back a few turns.”

"Ooh, Churros!" she called out before part walking, part skipping and part circling Edward as they moved toward the fried dough stand.

 

[LeonineWolf]

Nick - Ruckus

---

Nick had been hyping up Centurion Day at the community center for several weeks now. It was an easy way to get the kids involved, especially those who came from rougher upbringings. He had especially hyped up all the free events, like the myriad stages offering all sort of music. He idly drummed his fingers along his side in time with the beat of the music from a nearby stage, his hearing making it feel like he was in the front row, as he wandered through the stalls. Every so often, he would catch sight of a familiar face from the community center or his college classes, waving back to them as when they saw him. It wasn't like he could be mistaken for anyone else they knew.

He was used to the stares that the huge bat wings garnered him now, and he took it in stride. He could see strangers giving him a side-eye and hear the whispers of people who thought he was out of earshot wondering what he was doing. But Nick took it in stride, giving a friendly smile to everyone. After all, with the festivities around them, it was hard for people to stay suspicious of him for very long, especially when he wasn't doing anything out of the sort.

Getting a whiff of some nearby food trucks, he decided to head in that direction. He'd already heard about some unique gems from Cass, who he had no doubt was doing her thing going around the celebration, getting interviews from people on the street, and recognized the name of a street vendor, who she claimed made 'the best and most authentic churros in Cape City', which was a great recommendation in his books. While he took up his spot in the line, he did a little people watching, drinking in the atmosphere of the celebrations.

[Ganurath]

Jordan / Relentless

---

"Whoop!" Jordan sidestepped to avoid getting plowed into by some running kids, giving them a friendly wave as they shouted distracted apologies. He'd done similar at their age, trying to get to a particular game or snack stand. He'd outgrown that, obviously, even if he'd found new and more teenage ways to have fun. He remembered the kids running around underfoot being a slightly annoying distraction last year, hanging out with Todd and Don. Now, though?

Now that he had powers?

Now, it was part of a big game, where he was one of the few who knew he was playing. A practical joke on almost everyone he knew and everyone he didn't. Getting out of the way of the rampaging children without using powers was just part of the fun now.

Not that the more commonly available forms of fun were any less so. Sure, some of the games were off limits because his powers gave him an unfair advantage, but no amount of super strength could make him enjoy the food any less. Super speed could, but only if he ate it faster, which he had no plans on doing.

Speaking of eating something enjoyable, Jordan could smell something with cinnamon nearby. With Todd and Don off with their respective dates, and the family having scattered after carpooling to the festivities, he was free to follow his nose to find out if it was something he already knew he'd like, or something new to try.

 

Edited September 9, 2023 by Ganurath (see edit history)

[Rayth]

Mikaela Garrett - Psion

DODGE: +8 | PARRY: +8 | TOU: +12 | FORT: +8 | WILL: +12

HERO POINTS: 1

ACTIVE EFFECTS: Personal Force Field

CONDITIONS: None

Mikaela sipped her iced coffee with her eyes closed, sitting on a park bench between two stages, enjoying the interplay of the music as it blended this far from the performers.

She was taking a bit of a break; she had gotten to Cascadia Park in the early afternoon, after spending the morning deciding what to wear and going a bit beyond her usual cosmetic routine. Was that much effort strictly necessary, when she was just going out with a friend? Likely not, but it was worthwhile to her to spend the time making herself look her best.

After arriving, she had spent most of her time around the stages and auditoriums; listening to live music was always something she enjoyed, even before her awakening. But now that her mind had expanded, and she was able to pick up the emotions from anyone around her? Something like a concert took on a whole new texture. The waves of emotion, all loosely coordinated by the musicians and the beat, the ebb and flow of sound; it was nearly intoxicating, and occasionally overwhelming.

Hence the break. She'd needed a bit of distance from the wash of emotion coming off the crowds, to better ground herself. There was a time, not too long ago, where that many people would've overwhelmed her, and she would've lost control. Surrounded by waves of such intense emotion, she would've been as a cork in the ocean, tossed to and fro before being submerged. Thankfully, she was better than that now.

Her instructor had taught her that every moment was a test, and she was intent to never fail.

Accordingly, she decided to take the opportunity to flex her mental muscles a little bit. She needed the practice maintaining multiple expressions of psionic effort at once. So, her eyes still closed, she pulled an invisible layer of telekinetic force around herself, as though a second skin. Then, she focused on hedging out the movement of energy through the barrier; this was to practice protecting herself from excessive temperature. The bright sun overhead and the frozen drink in her hand were hardly excessive temperatures, but they would prove adequate tests.

After a moment or two, she was rather pleased by her success. The heat of the sun cooled, while her fingers started to warm. The ice in her drink even melted slower.

All the while, her sixth sense was aware, observing the minds that walked past her laughing and enjoying the day. What was within those minds remained concealed to her; that was a line she would not so casually cross. But she could see them walking past even with her eyes closed, and could feel the ripples of emotion coming off them. Vermilion joy and happiness, sky-blue calm, violet excitement; it was a little dizzying, but Mikaela kept herself grounded. There was a certain mind she was checking for...

Ah, there she was. The familiar contours and vibrations of Nellie's mind, entering through the far entrance of the park. Her friend and nearly a big sister to her, though officially her au pair. It took only a modicum of effort to send a message from her mind to Nellie's while maintaining her thin barrier.

<Hey girl. Was just about to grab a snack, you want anything?>

The reply came back in short order, Nellie's own thoughts broadcast to Mikaela's mind.

<Ooh, yeah, grab me a churro, would you? This crowd is thick, I'll be there soon!>

Smiling, Mikaela replied, <Sure thing. I'll meet you at the stand.>

After a moment, Mikaela realized she didn't know where the nearest churro stand actually was. No matter; fastest way to look was unimpeded by crowds.

With a forceful thought and a slight astral disturbance, Mikaela's mind and perception spring from her body, leaving it comfortably reclined on the bench, head down. She flits here and there, invisibly searching the nearby areas of the park until she finds the churro stand, already rather crowded by eager festival-goers.

Snapping back to her body, Mikaela's eyes finally open. She rises to her feet, standing from the bench with a stretch. She walks toward the stand and joins the line. As she did, she let her grip on her barrier slip, and felt the warmth of the sun return in a flood. She spun the plastic cup in her hand to stir the contents and sipped the iced coffee, the chill spreading to her fingers. The line was longer than she'd like, but she didn't have anything else to do today but hang out with Nellie and get more practice in.

She intended to enjoy the opportunity, before school started back up after the weekend.

[Zen Gypsy]

Phoenix Fist, aka Tsu Yang Zhou

DODGE: 8 | PARRY: 8 | TOUGHNESS: 6 (12) | FORTITUDE: 8 | WILL: 12

PERCEPTION: +12 | INSIGHT: +12 | HERO POINTS: 1 | CURRENT: 1

ACTIVE EFFECTS: None.

CONDITIONS: None.

---

Zhou walked through the crowds with a sense of apprehension, an odd mix of curiosity, intrigue and confusion ... while unfamiliar with, both, American and modern culture, he viewed the boisterous, excited crowds with a sense of trepidation. However, upon closer inspection there was a sense of child-like wonder in many young faces, painted in representations of various animals, clowns, or their favorite super heroes. That child-like joy caused Zhou's chest to tighten, it was a luxury that had been denied both his sister and himself, they had been saved from the floods and entangled in a feud between Shaoqing and Sho-ming Xio. That bitter feud ended up driving a hateful, lethal, wedge between the Zhou and his sister Song. He could still feel the pain of Sho-ming Xio's serpent strike above his heart, his sister, Song, only the weapon with which Xio delivered the blow.

It was that connection with his sister that led him to Cape City, he had heard through the Hidden Master's network that had been spotted within the City, and he had petitioned for the right to pursue her, to perhaps, isolate her from her master, and try to speak reason to her, to aid her in returning to the path, away from Sho-ming's corrupting influence. It was upon arrival in Cape City that Zhou was taken under Mr. Han's wing, a learned agent of the Vale, whose family had served the Hidden Masters for generations, he was king, wise, and, in the manner of most grandfathers, both, blunt and direct. He had insisted that Zhou experience the city around him, socialize with his peers, enrolling at Cape City Community College, while working at the Hidden Dynasty when his school work was complete. It was, in fact, at the Dynasty, where Zhou met Edward Smith, a young man who, much like Zhou himself, was intense, focused, and extremely disciplined.

Suddenly a young girl ran across his path, snapping him out of his reverie, he lithely twisted to avoid knocking the young girl down, "Apologies child, I was lost in my own thoughts." He knelt beside the young girl, looking up at her father, he wore a form fitting marron long-sleeve shirt with white piping along the shoulders and crew neck, the sleeves concealed his tattoo, he wore a pair of navy sports pants and thin soled flex trainers. He stood up, bowed his head, "Again, my apologies, enjoy your day."  He chastised himself as he continued towards the meeting spot that Edward had indicated he would be waiting, so he began to maneuver between the crowds, the drifting music of acoustic guitars, folk singers beginning to waft through the afternoon air, the decadent smells of deep friend confectionary, he stopped, watching some of the performers, Harvest Moon Collective was playing, and he was struck by the intensity of the performance, a double bass, violin providing soulful accompaniment to the woman's low, haunting voice, as she sang:

Like raindrops on a withered seed, new life begins to grow,

Finding strength within, letting my spirit show.

In the depths of despair, I'll find my way,

Embracing the light to brighten every day.

Under the harvest moon's embrace,

I'll keep pushing on, finding solace in this space.

Through the darkest days, I'll rise above.

Sadness, hope, entwined with love.

He smiled, as he thought of Song, he began moving up the hill towards the food trucks, but stopped at the merch tent, waiting in line before he was able to pick up the vinyl single of their song. He handed the young man some cash provided to him by Mr. Han, who was thrilled that Zhou had decided to go to the festival. Nodding his thanks, Zhou headed back up to the hill, quickly picking out the churro truck, spotting an odd young man in line, at first he thought the man was wearing a black jacket, but noted it was a pair of leathery black batwings, he noted some space around the youth as the crowd seemed slightly apprehensive about being so close to someone who had, very distinctive, animalistic features. However, Zhou had grown up in the Vale, sparring against his peers, some of whom had been touched by gods, dragons, or immortal spirits, a pair of wings, while unusual, was by no means the most distinctive feature he had seen in his life. He walked by, giving the young man a smile, then he noticed Edward wearing a garish neon orange foam hat, and his niece, Julie, clutching a large plush elephant, with dragonfly wings and a single horn protruding from it's head. Now that was something he hadn't seen in the Vale, but he called to his friends, lined up behind the bat-winged young man, "Master Smith! Are these the churros you spoke so highly of? Please join me and tell me of your ... odd choice of headwear?"

---

Edited September 12, 2023 by Zen Gypsy (see edit history)

[Streetrat]

     Edward - Harbinger

---

The line was long, but that was to be expected, every line was long. While Julie began typing on her phone organizing a get-together with friends Edward scanned the line. There were all the usual faces, a fresh-faced teen eyes all agape ogling everything and every female about, two "punks" with frayed denim jackets covered with vintage patches and chains and rather impressive mohawks, Both of whom Edward knew volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club tutoring math.

There was a big biker in full leathers and a jacket that did not yet have a Club Patch on the back, mumbling his order silently to himself. Obviously, a runner for the full members of the 'Coastal Wizards' an up-and-raising gang that has been known for increasing violence and though once trusted has lost most goodwill in the service of making money.

Then there was the young family, parents and a young child and toddler, two high school football players trying to be too cool for Churros while waiting in line for Churros, that kid he heard of with the bat wings, a man with his face painted in the likeness of Blind Justice, a Teen that Edward recognized from a Dojo he attended a few years ago, some well-dressed teen with an iced coffee and a man who stood too still for Edwards comfort. His clothes did not sway with the passing of others, he did not sway in the slightest, he did not shift his feet or sway his hands or seem to breathe, and aside from moving forward with the line he simply did not move.

This bothered Edward more than anything else. The Biker was a low-level un-patched member who was for no better word the gang bitch. He was a runner who was trying to earn his way in. The calluses and scabs on his knuckles already speak to what he has done so far in the name of the Coastal Wizards to earn his place. The punks, though intimidating looking were both at ease and all smiles, their Doc Martins were new but seemingly already broken in and comfortable to wear in a long walking and standing event.

But the still man...Edward could not read he gave nothing away. It was an odd sensation after the world opening up to him at every turn. Everything in him screamed at him to follow this man, something was wrong, everything was wrong. But at the same time...he also had other plans. But Edward also knew that these hunches meant something. Even a few years into his abilities he was still learning more about some of the more esoteric abilities.

"Stacey says that they are here," Julie said interrupting his train of thought as he handed her one of the three cinnamon-sugar-coated fried dough in a long paper wrapper. Julie had arranged to meet up with a gaggle of girls from her school to head off to listen to some of the concerts. She would then stay the night over with Amber and Stacey. Amber's father was a pharmacist and her mother was a nurse. She was just one step away from being a latchkey kid, She was a good kid though and was laser-focused on getting good grades and the right extracurricular activities to ensure she would get into the school of her choice. Stacey was a child of more troubled circumstances who Edward suspected hung out with Amber and Julie because she liked how she made her feel and how they did not encourage her to do bad things. She was better because of their friendship, and Edward trusted Julie to keep to her standards and integrity.

"I will see you tomorrow then," He said, knowing well that it would not be until the evening after another day of celebration. Julie caught that there were three, and as Zhou called out to him she smiled, waved as she took the Churros and ran off into the crowd, off to the pre-designated meeting point.

"Ah, Zhou, you two keep out of trouble!" she called out as she left, and he heard enjoy your bromance in the tone of her voice as she left. Edward knew that she had money hidden about her, enough to last her the next two days even without her debit card.

Edward put Julie out of his mind, she knew well enough to tend to herself, and was only a moment or two from the appointed place so he turned to Zhou. "Yes Master Tsu Yang, these are in fact," Edward handed Zhou the 'extra' churros that he bought, "the infamous churros, the perfect combination of cinnamon, sugar, and hand-extruded fried dough." It bordered on being too sweet for Edward, but somehow because of the cinnamon it wasn't. "And as for the hat...Julie thought that it would 'soften my edges' and 'help me have fun'."

 

 

Edited September 12, 2023 by Streetrat (see edit history)

[Khakhan]

A tall Afro-Latina girl weaves through the crowd, an eyebrow piercing glinting in the sunlight as she looks around. She nods a greeting to the punk dressed people in line, brushing her long hair out of her face.

<Ayy, sister. I beat you to the churro stand, hurry up! You want anything else?>

She dodges out of the way of a churro-wielding young teen girl departing the company of two younger men about her age. A smile parts her face as she steps out of the way, her gaze traveling up and down the figure of the one man, taking in his garments. Her eyes light up and she turns away from the line slightly.

"Hi! I'm sorry, do you work with Mr. Han in Chinatown? I think you did a discussion on the historical impact of the I Ching last week?"

* * * * *

A bright, chirping sound filters over the speakers peppered up and down the streets, temporarily muting the music playing. There is a slight delay and then the chipper voice of an announcer bubbles through. "Ladies and gentleman! I'm very happy to announce a very special surprise! We are able to confirm the appearance of several Centurions in today's celebrations! Starting in just 45 minutes, fans will be able to see, live and in-person, Halogen and Orion, as well as a secret guest appearance! Make your way to the main Cascadia Park Amphitheatre to snag a great view!" 

[Ganurath]

Jordan / Relentless

DODGE: +8 | PARRY: +8 | TOU: +12 | FORT: +10 | WILL: +10

HERO POINTS: 1

ACTIVE EFFECTS: Never Slow Down

CONDITIONS: None

---

That sweet cinnamon smell turned out to be less useful for finding the source than Jordan had originally hoped. As it turns out, a superhuman sense of smell wasn't one of his powers. Still, a general area coupled with increased alertness was enough to draw his eye to a long line leading to- If he'd known churros were a cinnamon-based confection, he'd have tried one years ago. Still, the second-best time to do something new was now. Or it would be, if not for the announcement that just went out. While some people were stepping out of line to get good seats, there were still plenty of people-

Jordan took a deep breath and went into his high-speed state. One of the best things about his enhanced speed was that it didn't require him to move at high speed to get the benefits, which meant that he could take a few seconds to think for a few minutes. Here and now, he used that time to work out the mental math on whether or not he could beat the crowd to the good seats in the Ampitheatre if he took the time to buy a churro for himself. Forty-five minutes was a long time to sit on the best seats, but for a surprise appearance a lot of people would be moving like the folks who'd left the line. The math was iffy, but...

That deep breath had been through his nose, though. Jordan spent the next subjective two minutes basking in the scent of sweet, cinnamon goodness.

There was really no choice at all.

Also, it gave him time to realize that that guy with the bat wings was here. He'd heard that he was a fellow Mile High guy, and maybe the churro line would give him a chance to confirm it. By the time six actual seconds had passed, Jordan had committed himself to getting a churro.

[LeonineWolf]

Nick - Ruckus

---

Nick had been tapping his foot to the music of the nearby band, eagerly moving up in the line waiting that cinnamon dusted goodness before the speakers came to life, allowing the chipper voice of the announcer override the music. The news brought fresh whispers of conversation among the people in line and something new for Nick to listen to. There were definitely some commotion about wanting to get good seats and some people were already vacating the line to head over to the amphitheater, though for some people it seemed to be a tougher choice.

He overheard the bickering of two kids behind him, one who wanted to see the superheroes and one who clearly just wanted churros. A subtle glance behind him caught sight of an exasperated mother a few people back who was trying to keep the two from making a commotion with whispered pleas. The line was moving a little faster now, but Nick decided to step aside, waving the person behind him ahead. "Hey, go on ahead." Nick knew that he could probably find place nearby where he could roost and at least hear what was going on stage, so he didn't mind a few people getting their treats first. The first few he let ahead barely gave him any thanks, but when the mother and her kids passed, he saw the grateful smile on her face from the small gesture and the admiring stares from the kids, which only made Nick smile.

After a few more people, he spied a familiar looking shirt on a young guy, about his age. He was sure that those school T-shirts were bought in bulk and sold every year for a fundraiser, but it was nice to see another student. "Hey, hey. Mile High. Good memories there. Is Coach Grey still there? I know he was saying last year when I was there was going to be his last, but he's been threatening to retire for years."

[Rayth]

Mikaela Garrett - Psion

DODGE: +8 | PARRY: +8 | TOU: +12 | FORT: +8 | WILL: +12

HERO POINTS: 1

ACTIVE EFFECTS: Personal Force Field

CONDITIONS: None

As Nellie sends the telepathic message, Mikaela is already paying for the churros with a tap of her phone and scanning the crowd for her.

<I'm already here, girl, I've got your churro. Must be on the other side of the stand or something. Be there in a sec.>

With another mental scan, she pinpoints Nellie around the side of the cart talking to two other people. She also catches something strange; one of the minds she sees seems to almost vibrate, it's thinking so quickly. The effect only lasts for a couple of seconds, but it's bizarre. She's never seen anything quite like it.

Taking a look at the guy he's talking to, Mikaela realizes he's got a pair of bat wings growing from his back. She keeps the look of shock off her face rather easily, actually. Since arriving in Cape City, she's encountered people with mild to moderate metahuman ability a couple of times. It was part of the reason she wanted to come to the city, and why she might stay here even after graduating; it made her feel less alone, in a way.

She pulls up beside Nellie and gives the woman her churro with a small smile, before looking at the two men she's talking to. She missed what she said to them, but gets the impression that Nellie might know at least one of them. She keeps quiet, not wanting to barge into their conversation. At least, not verbally.

Making use of her telepathy's privacy and rapidity, though, she sends a mental missive.

<Do you know these guys Nel, or are you just making friends?>

[Streetrat]

     Edward - Harbinger

---

Edward watches a female approach Zhou and asks him about his master and the I Ching. Some guys have all the luck.

Then another young woman approached, but had not spoken yet, at least she had not spoken any words yet...it seemed that a conversation took place.

Edward looked at the newcomer with more interest, with no ability to read thoughts he instead reads her. Her clothes, hairstyle, perfume or scent, body language and her deference to Zhou and the other woman.

---

OOC

Edward opened himself to...wherever his powers come from and tries to read the young woman (Mikaela). This is purely observational.

 

 

Edited September 23, 2023 by Streetrat (see edit history)

[Ganurath]

Jordan / Relentless

DODGE: +8 | PARRY: +8 | TOU: +12 | FORT: +10 | WILL: +10

HERO POINTS: 1

ACTIVE EFFECTS: Never Slow Down

CONDITIONS: None

---

The choice to stick around was proving to pay off, with the way the line was moving, both in that it was doing so quickly and that it'd brought him closer to the guy with the wings. Of course, that had more to do with him letting people cut ahead of him in line, but thinking on it there wasn't a way to get within conversational distance on Jordan's part that wouldn't have been some sort of awkward. That said, the choice to where a school shirt as a conversation starter paid off, and Jordan was happy enough to nod in response to the question. "Pretty sure he's not going to retire until the student body starts calling Mile High by its 'correct' name."

Jordan made finger quotes at the "correct" part, smirking at the bat guy with the confidence of someone who was in on an inside joke. Specifically, there was no way that a joke older than some of the teaching staff was going to die out anytime soon. It was as much a part of the school culture as the rivalry with The Prep School. Some people even called the dragon mascot "the reptile," although Jordan thought that was a bit much. Dragons could fly, so a Mile High Dragon worked with the joke just fine.

As Jordan dropped his arms down from the gesture, he brought a hand forward to offer a handshake. "Name's Jordan. Local college scene treating Mile High alumni well?"

 

[Zen Gypsy]

Phoenix Fist, aka Tsu Yang Zhou

DODGE: 8 | PARRY: 8 | TOUGHNESS: 6 (12) | FORTITUDE: 8 | WILL: 12

PERCEPTION: +12 | INSIGHT: +12 | HERO POINTS: 1 | CURRENT: 1

ACTIVE EFFECTS: None.

CONDITIONS: None.

---

On 9/12/2023 at 1:17 PM, Streetrat said:

     Edward - Harbinger

---

"Ah, Zhou, you two keep out of trouble!" she called out as she left, and he heard enjoy your bromance in the tone of her voice as she left. Edward knew that she had money hidden about her, enough to last her the next two days even without her debit card.

Edward put Julie out of his mind, she knew well enough to tend to herself, and was only a moment or two from the appointed place so he turned to Zhou. "Yes Master Tsu Yang, these are in fact," Edward handed Zhou the 'extra' churros that he bought, "the infamous churros, the perfect combination of cinnamon, sugar, and hand-extruded fried dough." It bordered on being too sweet for Edward, but somehow because of the cinnamon it wasn't. "And as for the hat...Julie thought that it would 'soften my edges' and 'help me have fun'."

Zhou nodded, "It is not an affectation I would expect to see you wearing Edward, but sometimes one must challenge their own perceptions of self to achieve personal growth." Softly, he added, "And Zhou is fine, I am no master, I am hardly even properly schooled according to your education system." He knew there was some difficulty in ranks, social and otherwise, between himself and Edward. He respected the young man a great deal, he was intelligent, educated and observant, however, Zhou felt out of place in most social situations that Edward seemed to thrive in, so he often thought of his peer as his mentor, and oft called him Master on that account, but such formality seemed off-putting in Cape City so he made a mental note to refrain from it in his interactions with most of the city's citizenry, and especially, those whom he considered friends. "Now this?" He held up the fried dough, covered in a thing layer of glittering brown sugar and cinnamon, "This would likely have had my Master Shaoqing instruct me to complete several hours of bao shu gong." He felt his shoulders, arms and core ache, muscle memory, as he recalled the hours that he had spent at the great tree, his arms encircled around it's trunk, squeezing with his chest and shoulders while, simultaneously lifting with his thighs, it had been a year before he could even get the massive trees leaves to rustle. "It is glorious, it reminds me of Wenyen's jian dui, or sesame balls, it is light and chewy, but with the sweetness of the sugar and cinnamon."

On 9/17/2023 at 9:22 PM, Khakhan said:

A tall Afro-Latina girl weaves through the crowd, an eyebrow piercing glinting in the sunlight as she looks around. She nods a greeting to the punk dressed people in line, brushing her long hair out of her face.

<Ayy, sister. I beat you to the churro stand, hurry up! You want anything else?>

She dodges out of the way of a churro-wielding young teen girl departing the company of two younger men about her age. A smile parts her face as she steps out of the way, her gaze traveling up and down the figure of the one man, taking in his garments. Her eyes light up and she turns away from the line slightly.

"Hi! I'm sorry, do you work with Mr. Han in Chinatown? I think you did a discussion on the historical impact of the I Ching last week?"

* * * * *

A bright, chirping sound filters over the speakers peppered up and down the streets, temporarily muting the music playing. There is a slight delay and then the chipper voice of an announcer bubbles through. "Ladies and gentleman! I'm very happy to announce a very special surprise! We are able to confirm the appearance of several Centurions in today's celebrations! Starting in just 45 minutes, fans will be able to see, live and in-person, Halogen and Orion, as well as a secret guest appearance! Make your way to the main Cascadia Park Amphitheatre to snag a great view!" 

He turned, the sun catching the sugar crumbs that had fallen from his pastry, "My apologies, I do not recall seeing you from the podium, Mr. Han had asked me to give a recounting of the importance of the I Ching to modern life, perhaps hoping for an opinion that was," he shuffled his feet slightly, "less dry, than his tomes, and manner of recounting. I learned it while studying arithmetic, medicine, and mindfulness ...," he paused, giving a slight bow, "I am sorry, forgive my impropriety, I am Tsu Yang Zhou, a student of alternative medicine at Cape City Community College. And with whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?"

Zhou wasn't, actually, as enamored as the rest of Cape City's citizenry at the mention of the Centurions at the festival, he had called the fabled Shamballa Vale home, and had trained besides myths, legends, and creatures of spirit made flesh and blood. However, he knew it was a cultural moment, perhaps, a thing that Mr. Han had encouraged him to experience, and so he responded as he had been directed. "Edward and I will likely be attending Halogen and Orion's speech at the main stage," he mentioned to the as yet, unnamed woman, "would you care to join us?"

---

 

Edited September 24, 2023 by Zen Gypsy (see edit history)

[LeonineWolf]

Nick - Ruckus

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Nick's grin widen at the shared joke. "So, never retiring, got it." It was pretty much a given that all the teachers had to at least admonish the students on the less than formal nickname for the school, but saying it around Coach Grey was always guaranteed to get the man shouting and red in the face. "I swear, one of these days, he's going to have a heart attack over that and they'll have to bury him under the gym so his ghost can tell us to run laps." As the line steadily moved, he stepped backwards in perfect time, not having to look behind him to tell when people were getting closer to that sweet churro experience.

At the introduction and the offered hand, he hesitated, remembering a conversation that his dad had after finding out that he was going around stopping petty crime about 'being careful with your identity'. He briefly thought about giving the hero moniker he'd been working with, but he made a snap decision to trust the kid. After all, he seemed nice enough. He shook the offered hand firmly before saying, "Nick. And college is kicking my butt. Definitely different when the teacher doesn't care if you past their class or not." Fortunately (or unfortunately, given the perspective), his father was the kind of organized Type A personality that always made sure to at least remind Nick to stay on top of his homework.

Soon enough, the line trickled down and Nick was chowing down on a piping hot churro. It really was good, he'd have to thank his friend for the recommendation. He waited off to the side for Jordan to finish his order before he continued the conversation. "So, wanna go see who they manage to rustle up for a secret guest appearance?"