[center] [h3] Collab between [@ProPro], [@Old Amsterdam], and [@solokolos] [/h3][/center]
[hider=Basically a Going Away Party]
The entirety of Ira’s body was a live wire. It wasn’t conscious, she just couldn’t stop shaking. It wasn’t just the master protocol, though that certainly wasn’t helping. In the pits of her own self doubt, she found inspiration. Ira stumbled into her workshop, and began work. Frantically, she opened the fridge, grabbing seemingly arbitrary chemicals. Throughout the process, her mind didn’t wander. Every step played over and over in her head, the formula solidifying in form as it neared completion. It was rushed, it was sloppy, but it would get the job down. 

Lillian excused herself reluctantly from the couch with a soft promise of returning later to Alessa, and began the walk towards Sonar. This was an overdue visit, and her steps carried her quickly. She couldn't help but linger on the last few hours, from the event to the movie and nice cuddling, as she walked. What would he be like, she wondered idly?
The 250ml beaker was almost filled to the brim, the contents thick, with a chalk-like precipitate floating throughout. She eye’d it for a second, before transferring it to an opaque reusable water bottle. The mix shouldn’t matter, as long it was consumed in its entirety. It would settle based on density regardless. Ira threw open her workshop door with her shoulder against it, doing a poor job of being inconspicuous.

Closing the door behind her, Ira kept her eyes on the floor as she traveled to Collin’s room. Overthinking it, she raised her eyes to seem more natural, but her thoughts wandered. Her eyes returned to the floor, the effort proving useless. [i]”I want to leave this department.”[/i] The words had interrupted what Alina, the nice Parahuman Expert had been trying to explain. Ira felt guilty, she hadn’t meant to throw it out there like that, she needed to think it over more, but. . . She had just said it and now here they were. The message was conveyed to the director, and the process had started. That offered her the slightest bit of relief, despite her uncertainty. As Ira took the last corner, she raised her eyes to a door, behind which was Sonar. Behind which was Collin.
Lillian rounded a corner and raised her eyes in surprise. Ira? What was…. Visiting Sonar, too? Her steps slowed with an ounce of doubt, nervousness, as she contemplated how to announce her arrival.

After her first step, a small bit of movement at the other side of the hallway drew Ira’s eyes. Lillian? [color=#3068FF][b]"Oh, um, Lillian! Going to visit C-Collin too, I see. Have you met hi-he’s wonderful!”[/b][/color] Ira sputtered out, looking between the younger Ward and the door. Ira started moving again, quickly moving to the door, and putting her hand on the handle, but not opening it yet. She actually froze there, watching Lillian carefully. Without meaning to, she blocked the door.

[Color=pink]”Y-yeah. I just thought - I figured it would be good to connect. I feel like I've been ignoring people since….”[/color] her voice trailed off as she ran a hand through her hair. [Color=pink]”I didn't think anyone else would be here.”[/color]
A small voice screamed in Ira’s head [i]”That makes two of us!”[/i] Ira tried to smile, but instead she gritted her teeth like she had a tack in her shoe. She didn’t move, she just continued to stare.

Lillian coughed lightly, running a hand along the nape of her neck. [Color=pink]”Awkward…”[/color] she muttered. [Color=pink]”Then, uh, shall we go in?”[/color]

Looking confused, Ira glanced at the door, and then back at Lillian. After a beat, she said [color=#3068FF][b]"Oh!”[/b][/color], and turned the handle. The door swung open, and the tinker held it open for her teammate before looking at the water bottle in her left hand. Grasping it tighter, she moved into the room, wondering how she was going to present the solution she had created.
The door opened to a modest room, but a well furnished one. There was little space for moving about, but it had a decent bed, a large television mounted on the wall, and numerous video game systems. A small bookshelf in the corner contained a collection of fantasy and young adult novels, as well as some comics. Plastered all along the walls, save the doorway that led directly to a private bathroom, were posters of various heroes from around the country. The Triumvirate of course, along with other big names like Armsmaster from Brockton Bay, Chevalier from Philadelphia, and Bastion from Boston. However none were more prevalent than Hero, the original tinker, and co-founder of the Protectorate. 

Sitting on his bed, game controller in hand, was the boy of the hour. Collin glanced over to the girls, then paused his game. [color=lightblue]”I was wondering when you were going to come in. I could hear your whole conversation, you know.”[/color] After a moment decided to add, [color=lightblue]”You weren’t being all that quiet, your voices carried under the door. My power is still, uh, turned off thanks to the gizmo you made for me, Ira. Thanks again for that.”[/color]

He then slid off of the bed and approached them, holding his hand out to Lillian. [color=lightblue]”I saw you on the news, and Protean has been telling me about you when he visits. It’s nice to finally meet you, Tiger Lily.”[/color]

Lillian raised a hand, embarrassed, while she looked around the room. Had they really been that loud? She didn't think they had been...

 [Color=pink]”Uh, thanks. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Sonar. I've been meaning to visit, but things have been busy I guess.”[/color] She glanced at Ira nervously, her gaze lingering on her bottle.

Collin thanking Ira elicited a small response in the way of the young tinker averting her eyes momentarily. [color=#3068FF][b]"Sorry-I haven’t visited you in a bit.”[/b][/color] Ira said, as she considering taking the initiative and moving to hug him. Decided against it, she closed the door behind her, and moved to take a seat. She kept her eyes on her hands, fidgeting with the water bottle a bit.  [i]Conflicted.[/i]

The young boy sheepishly rubbed the back of his head in response, cheeks turning the slightest twinge of pink. [color=lightblue]”Don’t worry about when you have or haven’t visited me, it’s cool. You’ve all been really busy, I know how it goes. I mean, I [i]was[/i] your leader, after all, I’d know better than most. And please, don’t call me Sonar. That name…”[/color] He suddenly looked a bit forlorn, glancing toward the nearest of his posters of Hero. [color=lightblue]”Doesn’t mean anything anymore. Just Collin now, right? Hahaha.”[/color]

Lillian’s ears turned a mild pink as she muttered an apology. [Color=pink]”Everything been…. Alright?”[/color] she asked awkwardly, wincing slightly. 

Coming to the conclusion with Collin’s last words, Ira decided to lay her cards on the table. She waited for him to answer Lillian's question before speaking up. [color=#3068FF][b]"I made a more permanent solution to your power problem. I won’t be able to recreate your helmet, but. . .”[/b][/color] Ira met Collin’s eyes and raised the water bottle. [color=#3068FF][b]”This will sever the connection between your Corona Pollentia and your-um I mean, it will remove your power in its entirety. Permanently.”[/b][/color] She couldn’t meet his eyes anymore.

[color=lightblue]”Fine, I guess. It’s just hard to live a normal life when I can’t go too far from Ira so she can keep the power nullifier working, you know?”[/color] And that was when Ira cut in, saying something… Well, something truly remarkable, really. The words she spoke felt unreal, a permanent solution to the plague of his untameable power. She herself appeared to be rather unconfident, or maybe she felt ashamed of whatever she had designed? He couldn’t quite tell. Carefully he reached out, taking the water bottle as though it were some delicate thing made of sugar barely holding together.

[color=lightblue]”Wow… Really? Just… Wow.”[/color] The words didn’t seem to match with his body language. Was he truly not excited at the prospect of being freed from this curse? Or was the shock preventing him from fully registering this news?
[Color=pink]”That's intense, Ira. Wow. You'll be able to leave, Collin!”[/color] Lillian gushed, keeping her eyes on him. 

Despite how hesitant she seemed about the formula, she let go of the water bottle instantly. Raising her eyes again, she met Collin’s with an unsteady, forced gaze. [color=#3068FF][b]”The people who manage the Wards, they're good people. They truly think they want the best for us, but-I-I want it to be your decision. If they knew, I think they would try to [i]present you with all the options,[/i] but it'll twist it. You've had so much time to think about your power, I don't want them twisting your own personal decision. I want it to be yours.”[/b][/color] Ira motioned towards the bottle, [color=#3068FF][b]”If you do decide to drink it, it’s going to taste really bad. Just a warning.[/b][/color]

Ira glanced nervously towards the door, as if she expected it to be broken down any second. She half did. What she had just said was true, but she forgot to mention that she would be leaving soon. Now the moment had passed and she didn’t know if she ever would.
Collin just stared, blankly, at the gray tube in his hand. He gave it a little swirl, listening to the contents inside. After a moment, he looked up. Clearly he was torn. [color=lightblue]”To be normal, to walk around and be able to just hear what I need to… It sounds glorious. But at the same time, I… Would it still be me? I don’t know. Leaving these four walls would be terrific, but… I don’t know if I want to mutilate my brain to do that.”[/color]

There was so much Ira wanted to say, but she couldn’t try and convince him. [color=#3068FF][b]”It’s your choice, Collin.”[/b][/color] Ira said, not meeting his eyes. [color=#3068FF][b]”You can take your time and think it over.”[/b][/color] Honestly, she didn’t know if that was true, but she doubted Decoy watched all the cameras at all times. They probably had times.

Lillian bit her lip lightly, her confusion growing. She didn't really understand why he'd be considering staying in such confined of a situation, threat of a lifelong coma hanging over his head. It seemed like a straightforward decision to her. Though she trusted Ira to know her little drink was safe. His concern about being him, still, though…. She supposed she could understand that fear. At least a little. How much of her own personality was derived from the bullies back at school before her powers? She'd always wanted to be someone else, but now she couldn't imagine being anything but herself. Alessa liked her enough as she was, right?

With that train of thought it didn't seem quite so cut and dry of a choice, she mused. Freedom at the risk of losing something integral to who you were. Now that she thought about it, actually, she didn't know how long he'd had his powers. Years, at least, since Hero had built that helmet before he'd been brutally murdered by that monster Siberian. Almost like her gymnastics, in an abstract way. She couldn't imagine giving that up just to be normal.

[color=lightblue]”Hey Tiger,”[/color] Collin said, addressing Lillian. [color=lightblue]”You doing ok? Heh. Even though I’m the one handed a big complicated decision, you look like the one doing mental gymnastics.”[/color]

Lillian started slightly, flashing an apologetic smile. [Color=pink]”I was just thinking about a normal life. How awesome it would've been. I can't say I regret the powers, I wouldn't have met the other Wards without them, but that doesn't make it easy. I kinda envy you right now, just a little. But it's still a complicated choice to make.”[/color] 

Collin’s face contorted in a number of ways as he clearly attempted to process a great deal. After a moment he seemed to come to a realization, and turned back to Ira. [color=lightblue]”Something is off about you and this gift. You never mentioned that you were working on anything like it before, like it’s a last minute sort of thing. What’s going on?”[/color]

Ira appreciated Lillian staying honest, and at least a bit impartial. At Collin’s question, she considered a bit before answering, trying to stave off the panic rising in her chest. [color=#3068FF][b]”As far as creating it-um-you know how my power is. There was the situation with Shatterpoint, and the way his power seems to have warped his mind. Actually, I don’t know that it’s his power, maybe he’s always been like that, but I found the inspiration and my power guided me to a solution. Something that removes the power, helps someone be themselves again. Obviously you’ll always be different from the experiences you had with your power, but at least you won’t be controlled by it. It takes the glasses off.”[/b][/color] 

It was true, not the whole truth, but still. Ira couldn’t meet Collin’s eyes. If she told him that she was leaving, would it change his decision? That would be unfair, he should make the decision that is best for him, not the best for others. 

[color=lightblue]”I guess that makes sense, yeah.”[/color] Collin swirled the bottle around some more, placing it up closer to his ear. The action was a bit awkward, but then again he wasn’t used to having to move his ear closer to something in order to hear it, was he? [color=lightblue]”Your power was always a bit funny that way, I guess.”[/color]

He took another moment to just enjoy the silence, to enjoy nothing interfering with his ability to listen to the contents of the bottle. Once he was done, he let his arms fall back to his sides. [color=lightblue]”I guess I’ve got all the time in the world to think about it. After all, you keep the nullifier working, so I can at least have something like a normal life in this room, and that’s not going anywhere.”[/color]

[color=#3068FF][b]”The solution might not last that long, a week at most, besides I. . .”[/b][/color] The rest of what Ira said was inaudible, not even voiced, just her lips moving.

Lillian was more confused than ever at this point. [Color=pink]”A week? Ira, what are you talking about?”[/color] she asked slowly.
Collin cut in to answer the question for Ira, seeing how uncomfortable she was at the moment. [color=lightblue]”She means that this-”[/color] He jiggled the water bottle to catch Lillian’s attention, [color=lightblue]”May only last about a week before it doesn’t work anymore.”[/color]

He let his arm fall to his side once again, then turned his attention back to Ira. [color=lightblue]”But you’re trying to hide something. When I said that I had all the time in the world to think about it, you gave a time limit instead of offering to make a new one later. And you didn’t even acknowledge that you’ll continue servicing the nullifier. So…”[/color] Collin put a hand on Ira’s shoulder, a soft and friendly touch, as he did his best to make eye contact with the older girl. [color=lightblue]”Ira, we’ve worked together in life and death situations. We’ve known each other long enough to be really good friends. Whatever it is, you can tell me. I won’t be mad.”[/color]

Silently, Ira appreciated Collin answering the question for her, turning over in her head ways to say what she had to say. She was actually surprised that she hadn’t started crying yet. Ira took a breath to calm her nerves, though she continued wringing her hands. At Collin’s touch she flinched slightly, but didn’t protest or move away from it. [color=#3068FF][b]”I-I’m transferring. I’m transferring d-departments”[/b][/color] She paused for a moment, before adding [color=#3068FF][b]”S-soon.”[/b][/color] Still she didn’t meet their eyes, keeping her eyes on her lap.

Lillian stood in shock, struck dumb at the revelation. [Color=pink]”Leaving?”[/color] she muttered with a shake of her head like a wet dog. [Color=pink]”I don't understand.”[/color]

Collin suddenly released Ira’s shoulder, his arm flapping uselessly down like a wet noodle. His eyes grew very distant. Once a few seconds had passed, he spoke. [color=lightblue]”I’m very sorry to hear that.I hope I had nothing to… Do with… It.”[/color] Stumbling back, he flumped onto his bed butt first, then fell on his back, eyes staring straight up at the ceiling lights.
[Color=pink]”Was it… The warehouse?”[/color] Lillian asked in a small voice, watching Collin and the posters and the walls so she didn't have to look at Ira.

Collin’s shift in mood was expected, but Ira still felt useless for not being emotionally competent enough to have the slightest idea how to help him. At Lillian’s question she visibly started, looking up at her momentarily. [color=#3068FF][b]”I-I really can’t talk about it, but that was not a great experience.”[/b][/color] She said, again trying to stay vague. It was definitely not a great idea to increase Lillian’s trauma with that experience further with the fact that they were sentient creatures she rampaged over. The thought made her shaking more evident.

Collin sat up with unexpected speed. [color=lightblue]”I heard about the warehouse from Protean, but since I’m officially resigned he couldn’t tell me anything that wasn’t public. What… Happened?”[/color]

Lillian glanced at Ira for a second, before staring at her feet. [Color=pink]”They said not to talk about it. I...I don't want to, either. My therapist said I shouldn't dwell on it.”[/color] Her words were subdued as she absently touched the side of her face that the bruising had been on.

The response Lillian gave elicited a nod from Ira. [color=#3068FF][b]”Don’t let our troubles become yours. You have enough to worry about, after all.”[/b][/color] She said, trying to meet their eyes, but backing down immediately. [color=#3068FF][b]”I-I should go. I need t-I have some stuff to take c-care of.”[/b][/color] Ira couldn’t stand it anymore. She needed to retreat, to reflect, anything. Even if it meant retreating into herself, she wanted to be alone for now. She stood up, and moved to the door slowly, her mind spinning. 

Turning back slightly, she looked at Lillian. [color=#3068FF][b]”There’s something else. I-I-I don’t think I’m supposed to talk about it, b-but I think you need to know. Someone is leaking PRT data to the outside, someone higher than us.[/b][/color] She said, thinking it over again. [color=#3068FF][b]”I trust you Lillian, to do the right thing with that information.[/b][/color] Before anyone could stop her, she opened the door, running away again. The door hung open, her footsteps fading down the hallway.

Lillian looked between Collin and the door, her mouth open in confusion. [Color=pink]”What just happened?”[/color]

Collin just blinked a few moments, his eyes darting to the left, then to the right, indicating that he was deep in thought. After a few seconds he finally seemed to register that Lillian had spoken to him. [color=lightblue]”Sorry, what? Agh, I’m sorry, I was just… I didn’t hear you because of the…”[/color] His voice trailed off.

[Color=pink]”Never mind. I'm just in shock that Ira’s leaving. I don't know what to say.”[/color] She sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. [Color=pink]”Wait, because of the what?”[/color] she asked in confusion. She hadn't heard anything.
[color=lightblue]”Same thing. I was just thinking about… The same thing…”[/color] Again his voice trailed off. [color=lightblue]”Wow. She’s leaving, and thinks there’s a mole? Crazy.”[/color] Collin shook his head. [color=lightblue]”As long as you’re here, want to get to know each other with Mario Kart?”[/color]

[Color=pink]”Yeah…. It's crazy…”[/color] she trailed off in thought before being stuck by a sudden thought. [Color=pink]”I'd love to, but what about the mixture she gave you?”[/color]

Collin shrugged. [color=lightblue]”I’ve got about a week to think about it, right? It might come as a surprise, or maybe it won’t since it’s coming from the kid who’s used to a billion thoughts in his head at once, but I think better when I’m distracted.”[/color] He went ahead and started setting up the Nintendo game console as he spoke, getting ready to play whether or not Lillian agreed to join.

[Color=pink]”Yeah, I can only imagine what it's like compared to my own hearing. But what if the mixture doesn't… I don't know, stay together? I don't understand Tinker stuff…”[/color] She let out a sigh. [Color=pink]”I'm thinking about this too much. It's your life. I'll just kick your butt at Mario Kart instead.”[/color]
[/hider]

[center][h2][color=00ff8b]James[/color][/h2][/center]
6745 W Colfax. The address seemed very familar, but the specifics escaped  James. Shrugging, he moved to the fridge. He passed the time as best as he could, grabbing a beer and watching a local news channel. Giving it about twenty minutes, he decided it was time to go. James crouched down. Preparing himself mentally, he focused on a gas station he had used a couple of times before. The image of the Diamond Shamrock's roof appeared clearly in his head, and he pushed against his power.  The mental barrier was easy to overcome, and he was thrust into a world of nothing. Easy as two steps to the left, his shoes scraped against the roof of the gas station. Moving to the edge, he glanced around before teleporting to the ground, and beginning the short walk. 

The Casa Bonita's tower was prevalent, and after a bit of considering James came to the conclusion that [i]that[/i] was the reason the address stood out in his head. Curious. It was about a block's walk away, so he didn't even work up a sweat. Still, walking that far was unusual for him, his power had deprived him of that exercise in all honesty. Moving through the front entrance, payed the fee without thinking (despite some of the ill-gotten gains he lost during the plea deal he was still loaded), and got some Mexican food. It was quite the change of pace honestly, in a good way though. Once he was in the dining area, he glanced around. Despite the decor which bordered on gaudy in his opinion, no flashy superhero was visible. Sitting down alone at a two person table, he began eating. Furnace or no, the food was good.