[center][color=gray][h2]Monday[/h2][h3]Shipton Railyard, North Pomona[/h3][/color][sub][@SonnetNSunbeam][/sub][/center][hr]
[quote][color=mediumpurple]"We all in one piece? Eclipse- that fire was real close to ya- you good?"[/color][/quote]
Eclipse looks between Asteroid and Pyress--who is now on the ground--and kicks at her face. His armor stings, and he knows for a fact that he'll feel it all in the morning, but for now? [color=gray]"I'll be fine,"[/color] he's a super, after all; a civilian would've died in that blast, [color=gray]"and good work... taking her down."[/color]

If this was what was left of Red Ring, then fuck this shit, he's better off with SDN.

Before returning to base, he's tempted to take some of that acid back home for himself. Very tempted. Then he remembers he doesn't have anything to hold it, nor any way to properly hide it. [color=gray]"Fuck."[/color]

[hr][center][color=dodgerblue][h3]Claremont College Dorms, Claremont[/h3][/color][sub][@Sadu][/sub][/center][hr]
Madcap watches as Lunara takes down each and every one of the thugs. She moves elegantly, efficiently, and while she was probably getting way too violent considering the threat, Madcap was in awe! [color=dodgerblue]"Awesome... so... FREAKING [i]AWESOME[/i]!"[/color]

By the end of it, he's clapping and singing her praises.

Although you'd think someone as 'heroic' as Madcap would disapprove of her obvious villain tactic--beating the kids down, sending a message, and all that, but honestly? He's too busy trying to get her to do a cheesy victory pose with him.
[hr][center][color=gray][h2]RTB[/h2][/color][sub]Today was sure a day! Bonus collab with [@FourtyTwo][/sub][/center][hr]
Everyone is all grouped up and ready to go home, some looking more worn down than others. Eclipse is off in a corner, aggressively testing the knife shooting mechanic for gauntlets to no avail; Madcap is doing better than before, maybe not [i]as[/i] enthusiastic as earlier, but still better.

Pen-like clicks fill any conversational gaps, only stopping when Eclipse is given the clear to go home. He's already halfway into a shadow, not paying attention to anything else.

[quote][color=gold]"See you all tomorrow afternoon. Unless, anyone wants a lift?"[/color][/quote]
Madcap, quick to take her up on her offer, salutes Lightning Girl. [color=dodgerblue]“ME! I would be [i]SO[/i] down for that. Flying home is such a classic superhero move. [b]I NEED THIS.[/b]”[/color]

Lightning Girl chuckled, before giving a sigh, nodding. She kept her gloves on, intuitive at this point, because it was worth it.

[color=gold]“Alright then. Are you okay being carried? I’ve tried pulling along and it….doesn’t really work.”[/color] She motioned to him, as they headed outside, the noise of cars and streetlife lighting up the suburb’s urban core beyond the offices, as Lightning Girl turned to him, energised up, white hair brushing in the wind.

[color=gold]“Where we going?”[/color] She asked, realising she should probably turn her wrist over, a rudimentary smartwatch with a GPS there, with a point he could mark up.

[color=dodgerblue]“Anything is fine with me!”[/color] Madcap stretches his arms over his head. [color=dodgerblue]“I can handle just about anything. Because I. Am... [b]WAIT,[/b] YOU NEED MY ADDRESS.”[/color] He lists off his apartment’s location: 7th floor, just drop him off on the balcony or the roof and call it a night.

Lightning Girl tried to memorise that, and gave a polite, teeth gritted nod, a “Uh-huh?” that could be seen in her eyebrows wincing inside the mask. She shrugged, and with it, knocked him gently back into her arms, strong enough to deadlift, and pushed up with an elegant shove into her left hand and fireman lifting him into her right, the static spraying and becoming gentle, loose, pouring from feet. She wasn’t exactly fully energised, at the end of a long day, she preferred not to be. The cycle was to hit the day with tons, top up as and when, and right at end, have enough in the tank to get home.

That would help her become normal again, because the last time she spat out a block’s worth of electricity into her lightning rod, it sent her flying when it broke off its stand.

But, enough to carry her and Madcap, as she still couldn’t tell how manic the hero was behind the mask, but could only guess, gaining a little altitude, but not exactly soaring into the clouds.

[color=gold]“First time? You handling it okay?”[/color] Lightning Girl playfully asked, as she turned, eyeballing up the landmarks, her GPS giving her a reaffirming beep to indicate she was on the right direction….just now she needed to find it.

[color=dodgerblue]“Flying? [b]YES.[/b] Heroing? Nope!”[/color] He laughs. [color=dodgerblue]“I’ve been an unregistered hero since forever, this is the first time I got noticed by actual. [b]REAL. HEROES.[/b] So exciting!”[/color] He kind of dangles on her, attempting to get a better look at the city below. [color=dodgerblue]“So freaking cool! Flying heroes get to see this every day?”[/color]

Lightning Girl smiled, drifting along below a billion stars and millions of lights in the horizon towards DTLA. 

On Madcap’s question, she thought to herself. Of course they saw this daily.

[color=gold]“Yep, we do! You do need a licence though!”[/color] She yelled back, as the wind noise picked up, the heroine turning a little, amazingly, Madcap not the heaviest member of the team she’d carried. God, she was glad she’d stayed on routine despite all the crazy shit going on. 

[color=gold]“How does it feel? Being a hero, and I mean, you’re like us! I mean, today wasn’t great…..but you know, tomorrow is another day, you know!”[/color] Lightning Girl had to yell over the wind noise, as she swooped down, the static quietening as she managed to find a way to almost glide on current, the wind noise picking up a tiny bit more in replacement.

[color=dodgerblue]“Do you need a license for everything?!”[/color] Madcap shouts back. [color=dodgerblue]“And being a hero…. I think it’s freaking [b][i]BADASS![/i][/b] Heroes don’t ever let bad days get them down. Ever. And I’m a hero, so I can handle a bad job or two. I think…”[/color]

He pauses for a long while. [color=dodgerblue]“Do you ever like… not want to not be a hero? Like. Do you ever wanna keep the mask on forever and always save the day?”[/color] He tilts his head to the side. [color=dodgerblue]“Is that a weird question? I feel like that’s a weird question.”[/color]

Lightning Girl chuckled, that question coming from Madcap actually being surprising. Shit, he was down after that last job, well, he certainly had more marks on him from being beat the shit out of.

[color=gold]“Nah, Madcap. I’m human too. Flesh and bones. And I have a life at home. But… I guess that’s all of us heroes. That’s why we’re a team.”[/color] She smiled at him, diving down a bit more, keeping him tight as she could see in the horizon the block that he lived in. With a bit of a turn, her cape fluttered and she had to adjust hold on him, knowing that it would probably be best not to say any more than that, on that matter, for now. 

[color=dodgerblue]“Huh. Guess I’m the only one then.”[/color] He looks back down at the city and points at a dilapidated building. [color=dodgerblue]“OH! THAT’S MY PLACE! I’ve been wanting to do this ever since you started flying; float over the roof. Like, really high over. This will be so fucking [b]COOL[/b]!”[/color]

Sophie wondered about that comment. Madcap must have really, really had some demons to run away from. While she liked her alter-ego…..something else like that was odd. That was, until he yelled out, Lightning Girl obliging and picking up altitude.

[color=gold]“Madcap, I’m not sure that’s the best idea….”[/color] She commented, a moment of clarity, not really wanting to be responsible for him breaking himself this evening. He may have been pretty resilient, but after all that happened…

[color=dodgerblue]“Oh, [b]DON’T WORRY[/b].”[/color] He’s already halfway out of her grip and leaning back. [color=dodgerblue]“This is gonna be so awesome!”[/color]

… And he falls back-first and down onto the roof with a salute, and surprisingly walks it off just fine. He got a few flips and crazy spins in during the fall, too.

Lightning Girl laughed, releasing a bit of the power out of her feet and hands, gracefully turning the power down with practiced, almost masterful ease, looking at the mark he’d left, gritting her teeth, not wanting to be that person. She was a tough cookie, but holy shit, he looked totally fine. Despite having the co-ordination in the air of a washing machine that had a brick thrown into it. She seemed almost elegant, pointed, like a ballet dancer, but then again, she hadn’t always gotten it right either….

She stepped onto the concrete, smiling at him, dusting herself off as she looked at the horizon, then back to him. [color=gold]“Not bad. So you’re fairly invincible then? First time I’ve uhhh…..seen someone do that. For fun.”[/color] She commented with an obvious and astute eye, hoping he’d be okay from here, nodding back. [color=gold]“You gonna be okay getting in? Like, I hope your rooftop doesn’t have a one-way emergency door. Or I’m gonna be zapping it. And maybe annoying your landlord. Just saying.”[/color] Lightning Girl smirked, throwing a little humour in, realising her voice was significantly quieter than his. 

[color=dodgerblue]“Oh, I am [i]FULLY[/i] invincible. Don’t even worry.”[/color] Madcap dusts his jacket off, steps to the rooftop door, fumbles with the lock, and then kicks the door down. He leaves with a two-fingered salute as he descends the steps. [color=dodgerblue]“Peace!”[/color] 

Lightning Girl took that as a sign to leave, bursting into laughter, leaping into the sky and wondering just how the fuck she got herself into this. She was smiling properly for the first time in a while. Oh, Madcap. You mad bastard, she thought to herself, but hey, he was trying. Not that the tweaker of the team wasn’t, but he would get that weathering she felt from being a corporate hero, one day or another, but for now, she had home to go to.
[hr][center][color=dodgerblue][h3]Home, Sweet Home[/h3][/color][sub]Same as it ever was.[/sub][/center][hr]
Madcap's--or actually Carmen's home--is suffocatingly small. Furniture is shoved close together, and Carmen is struggling to squeeze through his living room to his kitchen (although, even classifying them as being separate rooms is debatable). Furniture is in shit condition, his armor and hero outfit look extremely out of place compared to the weathered news clippings strewn about his wall. Not an inch of free space.

Carmen's hands shake as he gets into his usual home clothes; no more heroing, no more sick powers, just a booming ache in his entire body that won't go away. It hurts. [i]A lot.[/i] Even coming inside his apartment made him fumble and cut himself on his keys.

His cup noodles burn his tongue more so than usual, his toothbrush bristles dig uncomfortably into his gums, and he's struggling to even stay awake or fall asleep as the pain from his last dispatch catches up to him.

He didn't do a good job. That was obvious. He doesn't really understand [i]how[/i] he messed up. Yeah, the old lady might've gotten hurt, but he did the job! That was fine. Sure, he had a mental break during the whole college fiasco, but he just realized he messed up! Heroes make mistakes all the time, and he's done a lot of good outside of today! He swears!

Still, he can't [i]stand[/i] being normal.
[hr][center][color=gray][h3]Insomnia[/h3][/color][sub]Don't sleep with the light on![/sub][/center][hr]
Eclipse manifests in his living room; the whole house is dark as night--curtains drawn, no lights on, typical. He's familiar with the layout by now, small, somewhat cramped, but he has enough space to spread his arms and not touch either wall. Whatever the hell he prepped before is eaten immediately, still doesn't feel like enough, and frankly, the string he feels on his skin is getting annoying.

Pyress was still as annoying as ever, and as much as he hates to say it, he hopes to god she's rotting in prison. No chance at Phoenix Program, either; she's not sane enough for that.

... Although some of his co-workers weren't very sane either.

So fucking itchy. And sweaty. He's lucky to still be a super--whatever meds 'Alan of Plymouth' gave him was good shit--the burns don't hurt nearly as much as they should.

Still doesn't stop the sweating.

Red Ring, or whatever remnants were around, were moving up to Claremont. That was interesting. Definitely not here to pick him up, though... and whoever was left was likely the same as Pyress--batshit fucking crazy with no decorum. Just take the train, take the acid, get moving. The fact that they got spotted at all was a major fluke.

The fact [i]he[/i] got spotted was a major fluke too.

Can't get comfortable at all on this couch, too busy tossing around; feels like a brick no matter what he does. Eventually, he settles on staring at the ceiling with his blankets cast to the floor. Too fucking sweaty for that, and even then, it doesn't help.

Just more problems stacked on top of each other--didn't they transfer him to Claremont specifically to get him away from reconnecting with any Red Ring remnants? What are the chances he has to go against one of his old colleagues? Drug buddy? Shroud is gone for sure, right? Would they let him back in? What would happen if they did?

He chokes on his own spit, ripping a shadowy tendril off his neck. Can't sleep like this; he's gonna die. Can't focus, can't close his eyes, he's gonna die. He despises sleeping with the lights on--makes him feel too weak in the morning, but he's going to die.

Lights come on. Doesn't make his sweating any better, doesn't help him sleep, if anything if it makes it worse, but his shadows aren't out to get him anymore.

What was ex-Red Ring doing back in Claremont?
[hr][center][img]https://i.postimg.cc/HxzDbDBL/jointbanner-MCn-E.png[/img][h2][color=gray]Tuesday Fun Time![/color][/h2][sub]Just barely late![/sub][/center][hr]
Both Eclipse and Madcap clocked in late--the former accidentally manifesting under a chair, and the latter... he had his own reasons. Regardless, both seemed shocked to see Phenomaman and a new hero, though neither had enough time to react when dispatches rolled around.
[hr][center][color=gray][h3]Jewel in the Crown[/h3][/color][sub][@Thayr][/sub][hider=dice maiden results]
10, 9, 9, 8, 8, 7, 6, 4, 2; 7 sux
[/hider][/center][hr]
[quote][color=skyblue]"Eclipse, Payback, I've got a jewel store robbery. Civies at risk. Pin sent, need you there, now."[/color] James clattered keys, knowing that one was top of his priority queue.[/quote]
[color=gray]"Understood."[/color] One final drink of fruit punch, and Eclipse gets his helmet on and rushes out.
 
Frankly, he didn't like being paired with Payback, if only for her powers messing with his armor. Tingly, and caused some issues that were annoying to fix. He can't get used to her talking, either, not at all. His arm still stings, a reminder from yesterday. If he's lucky, then this job will be easier than the last.

Arriving on scene shows him a motley crew of neon pink-dressed idiots. Even their guns were pink... still, it should be easy to take them down.

The glitter they toss outside at the door explodes in a burst of color, reflecting harshly against Eclipse's armor.

Right. 

Maybe not as easy as he thought.

[quote][color=skyblue]"Okay team, let's be careful. You'll need to stop them but let's not turn a robbery into a significant insurance claim. Civilians first, then all gang members, then the jewels. Ideally all of them. Definitely the former."[/color][/quote]
This was a terrible job to start the day with--he's too tired to deal with this, and he's running off pure sugar and whatever the fuck he cooked up for breakfast. He turns to Payback, [color=gray]"I'll handle the thugs, you handle the rest."[/color]

Was it a bad idea to let the former thief handle the jewels? Probably. Did he care? Oh, not one bit.

The goons toss out another heap of glitter, another explosion... [i]"WHAT THE?!"[/i] 

Another success, their explosions work against them, and he finds it easier than ever to use his powers. Their guns clatter to the floor, their bodies coiled in shadowy tendrils. Was it a villain move to slow walk towards them? Ah, who cares? He stops in front of their leader, gets an earful, and kicks her in the stomach. She'd have fallen to the ground if it weren't for his powers holding her up.

Was it unprofessional to beat her down when he could easily call it quits? 

Another kick to the gut; he's tempted to use his blades, but he doesn't exactly remember if lethal force was authorized. Whatever. Just keeps kicking, and kicking, and kicking with gleeful abandon. Then the leader passes out, he gets bored and decides to slash up a few henchmen to pass the time. No one cares about henchmen like that anyway; if they bleed out, they bleed out. The Queen Bitch'll find a new one in no time.

With most of the robbers either beaten or slashed bloody, Payback should have an easy time securing the jewels and keeping the civies safe.
[hr][center][color=dodgerblue][h3]Insane Coffee Order[/h3][/color][sub]With a dash of mania![/sub][hider=dice maiden results]
10, 9, 8, 7, 4; 4 sux
[/hider][/center][hr]
[quote][color=skyblue]"Okay, Madcap, it's a subscriber with a.....what the hell is that order. I'll tell you what, she keeps changing her mind, I think it's best I send you to her to get her order."[/color][/quote]
[color=dodgerblue]"I'm EN-ROUTE!"[/color] Madcap makes his way toward the fanciful neighbor on foot. After he crashed his motorcycle, SDN higher-ups banned him from any wheeled vehicles (too expensive to replace). Regardless, he's quite literally dancing in the rain; hopping, skipping, you name it, he's doing it! [color=dodgerblue]"Man, I can't believe we got Phenomaman with us! We really ARE an A-Team!"[/color]

He passes a few expensive homes, wondering how they weren't completely destroyed by villains or punks, and is promptly called over to an influencer's yard.

[quote]"What took you so long! So, I need a large macha, with extra froth, two pumps of Maple Syrup, one pump of Cherry, WITH OATMILK, AND BAILEY'S, AND, a raspberry flapjack, AND a pain au chocolat with sugar sprinkles and a raisin bake, but the pain au chocolate from Barzo's cos' ew, I'm not...." [/quote]
The bug eyes on his helmet say all that needs to be said. [color=dodgerblue]“I--”[/color]

[quote][color=skyblue]"Madcap....we'll sort this. I've made some notes for you, but let's go get this order."[/color][/quote]
[color=dodgerblue]"What? Huh? Notes? What notes?!"[/color] He panics aloud, and the influencer shoots him a glare. That's a total villain glare! He can't let that slide... but then he'll get yelled at. Or something like that.

"Well? Chop, chop! I've been waiting all day for this!"

Madcap grumbles, fixes his tie, and dashes off to the nearest coffee shop. 

By the time he gets there, he kicks the coffee shop door open, salutes a disgruntled cashier, and slams his hands on the counter. He stands up with unparalleled vigor. [color=dodgerblue]"Can I get a uhhh.... ummm.... what was it..."[/color] he hisses through his teeth and taps his head awkwardly. [color=dodgerblue]"Give me a matcha coffee... with 20 OR MORE SCOOPS OF SUGAR, AND A LOT OF SUGARY SYRUP!"[/color]

The cashier shrinks into themselves. "Would you, uh--"

[color=dodgerblue]"AND MAKE IT DOUBLE!!!"[/color] Madcap slams his fist down on the counter. [color=dodgerblue]"Oh, and give me one of those cookies! Er... and like... a raspberry flapjack, and a pain au chocolat?"[/color]

A few gruelingly long minutes pass, Madcap gets the subscriber's (and his own) order, barring some of the extra snacks and... oh. Shit. He's holding an armful of snacks and coffee in an unfamiliar neighborhood, and the worst part? He can't remember where the subscriber's house is anymore! He's frantically looking around for some kind of hint, darting between houses, leaping backyard fences, running across fancy lawns. He's pretty sure he's almost crashed into a few cars, skipping red lights, and he still can't remember where that influencer is!

What would Phenomaman do, what would Phenomaman do...

Madcap grabs one of the extremely sugary coffees, pours it all onto the floor and himself pretending to drink, and [b]BANG![/b] He's off. It's the exact same charade as before; messing up people's lawns, running through fences, but he makes it in no time!

The drink is so sugary that she probably can't even remember what she wanted initially. Sweet, sweet sugar rush. The influencer takes one sip of their drink, a few bites of their snacks, and looks back at him with furrowed brows. "These snacks are completely off! You're supposed to buy them from--"

He lobs a pain au chocolat at her head, only missing by a few inches. She shuts up, pulls out her phone, and Madcap looms over her shoulder to ensure a 5-star review!

[color=dodgerblue]"And... mission complete! I am en-route to base, dispatcher!"[/color]

The influencer tries to edit her review to be more accurate as Madcap walks away, but a chill runs down her spine. [sub]"Oh, god, he knows where I live..."[/sub]