[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/foRacjk.png[/img][/center] [center][@AtomicNut][/center] [hr] "To the point, then..." Now the girl's attitude was wearing on his nerves, but, well, she was certainly sure of herself and he would wait to see what face she put on when he made his intentions clear. "Thi-" He heard voices in the hallway and frowned. He lifted a hand and then clenched his fist. In a flash, chains sprouted from out of nowhere and barred the door and windows shut. "Better. Now, as I was saying... this city is in a panic, whether you see it or not. The people and those above them have grown complacent in their power. Rhea, the greatest city in the world, and in an afternoon the foundations were shaken. No one knows who they should have faith in anymore. Cracks are starting to show." A small smile spread on his face. "Vulnerabilities I plan to exploit. I am under no illusions that I can stage some sort of coup and take over the entire city, no, but getting to a position where I can pull the strings, well, that's certainly within the realm of possibilities and from there? Who knows." "My family has done it before and they'll do it again, and this city will be my inheritance should I play my role to fruition. Unfortunately, however, I can't do it alone. So that leads to you and people like you. So now you know what I want, what do you want? Money? Power? I can offer both in excess, but more importantly I can offer purpose. As I said, the cracks are showing and you live here, don't you want to make it better? Why not be in a better place yourself when those cracks are sealed? It'll happen one way or another, sooner or later. Might as well make the most of it. I certainly will be, and I'll remember those who played a part." "You don't have to answer now, in fact I'd prefer you didn't. Think about it, give it some time. If you're even the slightest bit interested in what I have to offer stick around, finish your application to this school. In a little while I'll be officially joining myself, and by then you should have everything you need to make your final decision." Even then, he didn't drop the chains that held the door shut. However, should Diana have tried the door she'd have found the chains strangely... pliable. They'd fall apart if she put any effort into trying to open the door -- and she'd find Ward smirking in amusement if she succeeded. [center][color=magenta][img]https://i.imgur.com/PMI1m6n.png[/img][/color][/center] [center][@Crowvette][@Gentlemanvaultboy][/center] [hr] Vera was fighting to breathe normally as she carried Andras to the bathroom. She was thankful she didn't have to take any stairs to get there. She wobbled her way out of her room and down the hall, cutting off Nas as she put on a final burst of speed and power walked past him into the room where she finally let Andras down, sitting her on the edge of the tub. Panting only slightly, as she refused to show weakness. "Here we are. Uh, you know how to run a shower right? Err, just don't drown or whatever. I suppose I should show Nas where the other bathrooms are. I'll be back in a minute or two to check on you..." She stepped back out to speak to the birdboy, but then she heard the front door open downstairs. Her eyes shot wide. She had no idea how to tell who it was. "You first!" She spun Nas around and pushed him down the stairs, using him as a meat shield to investigate the sudden intruders and... why was he sticky? Ignoring that, they rounded the corner and discovered who it was. Honestly Vera would have preferred a pair of cultists wielding murder knives. "Vera, honey? Whose car is that outside? And who's this? Another new boyfriend?" Her [i]mother[/i] asked, with Vera's father standing beside her. "What?! No! This isn't my boyfriend! This is, uh, Nas and it's his car outside!" Vera lied through her teeth, jumping out from behind him now that she wasn't afraid of being killed in her own home. "We were all hanging out and when everything happened I just told him to drive us here so we could avoid it all. Where were you two?" "Working. You didn't answer your phone so we came back to make sure everything was all right." Her father said... suggesting if she'd answered her phone they would have been fine not seeing her despite everything. "I see, well, it seems fine now so you're free to go, Mr. Nas," Vera's mother said, politely and not so subtly kicking Nas out. That was awkward since it wasn't really Nas's car and Vera had no reason to believe the bird could actually drive. "He can't drive!" Vera blurted out. "What?" "I-I mean he hurt his foot, in the tournament, so, uh, I mean I have other people here too. When they're all ready I'll drive them back home," Vera struggled to keep things straight as she was put on the spot. "Are you OK? You're acting strange," her mother suggested. That was rich, as if she knew how Vera normally acted. With that little seed of indignation planted, Vera was able to put on a much straighter face. "A lot happened last night, OK? It was stressful! I'm sorry if I'm not a perfect little angel right now, OK!?" Vera snapped. "Of course dear, I'm sorry. I leave you to deal with your little friends..." Her parents glanced between each other and then skirted past the two, with the father definitely giving Nas a few "curious" looks as he went by. "Sorry you had to deal with that..." Vera grumbled. "Ugh, I'm sorry [i]I[/i] had to deal with that."