Gowi

NCQ — Season I: Favors for Favors

Thinking about a girl that has ALS, or something like that, and so 90% of her body is paralyzed, and demanding an NC to have any sort of mobility at all. She'd have a very high syncronicity with her Mech, which would work well with her paralyzed body, since even with extensive damage, her fubar body wouldn't register even the phantom pain usually prevalant in highly sync'd pilots.

@KabenSaal

I think this goes kind of counter to the medical nanomachine technology, bionic implants, and other natures I've grounded in the 27th Century. Not to say paralyzation is impossible, but it seems like an idea that is neat but I'm not quite sure if it fits in within the framework I've developed. I especially am even more way of it beyond that due to the fact it sort of bypasses the phantom (see: neurological) pain that comes with high synchronizations and other factors.

I don't think it'd work.

NCQ — Season I: Favors for Favors

Cass talked to me the other night about the game moving too fast for him to keep up, I'm not sure how I'd accommodate a replacement (hell you aren't the only one wanting the slot), but assuming I went in that direction I'd want to see a CS first just in case. No promises though.

NCQ — Season I: Favors for Favors

It shows in the character

@Lonewolf685

Curious to hear your reasons for that.

NCQ — Season I: Favors for Favors

Mustang was actually one of my thoughts for his faceclaim, haha.

NCQ — Season I: Favors for Favors

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GRAHAM

BARRACKS, NEW ANCHORAGE
_AFTERNOON

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Michael Graham sighed as he pushed his back against the wall of the corridor he was standing in as the pilot quarters were only a few footsteps in front of him. As far as days went Graham felt today was pretty shit for what he was expecting— he knew it was going to be challenging coordinating, training, and conditioning both of the newer pilots and the original ones but to the extent of what he had experienced was ridiculous. Insubordination, unprofessionalism, inane flirtation, unruly antics; there was no end to the problems. Though, despite his frustrations he was sticking to his schedule and plans. He looked back to the two soldiers that were accompanying him to the next particular item that was on his list of things he needed to take care of. It was barely after 1300 hours and he could feel a tension growing in his gut.

The next item on the list was something he had told Tahlia Styles when he was getting the pilots sorted— two children had a doctor’s appointment and he intended to make them understand the clarity of what it entailed because he knew full well that they were probably quite rattled after the incident in the Mess Hall. An incident that frustrated him to no end— had Percy had the gall to attempt to strike him he would’ve had some measure of respect for the man, but what he did was cower in the shadow of his threats even as he used Percy’s deceased wife as an incentive. If anyone ever spoke ill of the woman he cared about he would’ve nearly ended them without a second thought. There was no question about that. How could a man be so weak and spineless? He had the gall to tell him “no” to the matter of his daughter— but that was only for a second.

Damned independents.

The dark-haired man walked forward to Moore’s quarters— he would go to Jackspar’s next. He pressed his palm against the datatool on his wrist and the doors slid open and his expression turned from stone to pleasant surprise as he noticed both of the children he needed to talk to. He held his spare hand to the guards as if telling them to stay back.

“Ana Moore. Vera Voloshyna. I need to talk to both of you.”

Ana nearly shrieked. She had definitely locked the door, but there the commander was, standing in what she percieved as an ominous posture; the shock on her face showed just how horror-stricken she was. She just looked up at Graham with fearful tears in her eyes. She had a thought to throw the lamp on the bedside table as hard as she could at his face and just run, but she noticed the two guards behind him. That idea wouldn't work. She'd get shot. She just sat there, clinging to Vera like her life depended on it, trying to think of anything she should do to get him out of the room.

Graham sighed— they were tense and Ana was obviously frightened. He didn’t blame her in the slightest considering what had happened in the Mess Hall; he had goaded her father, used her mother’s name inappropriately, and created a tone that probably made her uncomfortable. He remembered the feeling when the guns came from Denver-Vegas to take him when he was the same age. He was sympathetic towards the feeling but he was not here to tell her what she was going to do, but he needed to give her as well as Vera some clarity of the particular situation all three of them found themselves in. As he entered the room more fully he took a seat on the bench adjacent to the door, his expression the opposite of what he had showed in the Mess Hall only an hour prior.

“There’s no need to be afraid. This is a conversation.”

Ana stayed there, still clinging to the older girl, trying not to show just how scared she was by looking at threatening as an eight year old can look.

"You're not allowed in here." She managed to say, her voice wavering slightly. She honestly surprised herself with how forceful her voice was; she expected to sound like a little baby.

Vera gently pulled herself away from Ana, enough to at least move her arms around, but kept a hand on her shoulder. To his credit, Graham didn't seem or sound as sharp as he had before, but that didn't change the fact that he was, despite all offical facts, unwelcomed in the room. With a quick smile to Ana, Vera met Graham's eyes as best she could. It wasn't too hard, he was big, and strong, but Ms. Jackspar had eyes like frostbite. Just looking into them hurt. She could manage here like she managed then. "Let's hear it, sir."

Even if she wasn't too fond of him, Lizzy had taught her again and again that superiors were just that, and deserved respect. Officially, anyway.

“I’ve scheduled a neurological exam for both of you— and I know it is a concept either of you might be nervous about considering the altercation earlier. But this exam does not include any surgeries or health risks that you might think. It is harmless. Believe me that I have been in your shoes and when I learned about it when I was nine years old I was equally as frightened as I was excited.”

Ana looked like she was actually thinking about putting that earlier, stupid plan into action. She didn't have the patience in that moment to even think about what Graham was saying - her dad said not to let anyone in, and she already felt a little bad about letting Vera in, but then Graham just.. letting himself in? She was on edge. She glanced at the lamp for a moment before speaking again, "I'm trying to be nice, and my dad is gonna be really mad if you're not gone when he gets back. Please leave the room."

“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that. This is more important than your father's... feelings.”

"Well, I'm sorry, but Dad matters more to me than you do." Ana shrugged slightly, but was also staring daggers into Graham; she didn't even realize she was, but she did know she was getting angry and overwhelmed.

“That is understandable. I can relate to that. But this isn't about your father, me commanding him, or anything like that. This is about you.” The military commander turned his glance slightly. “Vera? You like you have something to say.”

Vera frowned, at this rate they'd both be dragged out of the room, then Percy might hear, Lizzy might hear, and she knew nothing good could possibly come from that. Graham was right, this wasn't about Percy, this wasn't about anyone else, but it could very easily turn otherwise. Giving Ana's shoulder a soft squeeze, she tried to convey as much confidence in her eyes as she had to give, then nodded to Graham. "This is just the test? We might fail it anyway?"

Her tone suggested she already knew the answer, but she wasn't asking for herself. Graham’s reply was a light nod as he leaned back in the bench with his arms behind his neck— his eyes moving to the ceiling for a moment. “Less than 50% of the world’s total population has the ability to synchronize with neural plug technology. That’s, of course still a lot of individuals but really it is a hopeful gamble that we play; so it’s a chance, not a guarantee.”

"And if we pass." more said than asked.

Ana was still not enthused by Graham's prescense. She already broke the rule of "don't open the door" once with Vera, and she didn't want to get in trouble for it with Graham. She took a smaller pillow and actually threw it at the commander, aiming for his face - she knew it wouldn't hurt, but she was hoping maybe he'd get her damn memo at that point. There was still that perfectly good - and actually rather heavy - lamp aching to be launched at his stupid face.

Graham weaved his head to the right, dodging the pillow with a smirk before he returned his glance from the ceiling to Vera. “If you pass, you decide if you want to sign a contract as a pilot of New Anchorage. Assuming either of you want to go through the painful surgical procedures and accept the responsibility of that role. If you agree to those terms then I would see about acquiring NC parts for you. Ultimately following the evaluation, it is your choice and your choice alone. Not mine, not Percy's, not Eli's. Yours.”

Graham stood up from his seat and made for the door.

“I think that is all I wanted to tell you girls, so I am going to go to my office. But I want both of you to report to Dr. Lofgren for an exam whenever you can. I’ll let you discuss it on your own. I’m sure you have much to talk about. If you need me, you know my office is always open for questions or concerns. Thank you for your time.”

NCQ — Season I: Favors for Favors

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WITH PERCY & AGATHA

STEIN

HANGARS, NEW ANCHORAGE
_AFTERNOON

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For the first time since she arrived at New Anchorage, Stein felt herself a little impressed.

Though Agatha’s insistence that she could do it until she could do so with one hand behind her back was an amusing one for Stein personally and while the former Volkov Corporation pilot was more than happy to continue a few more runs on climbing the old NC she had not exactly intended to do such an activity until nightfall. There were a variety of things to show the older NC pilot that extended to functions around the base and while she was sure Agatha could familiarize herself with the maps sent to her datatool, there was also the whole precedent of the fact that she had asked Stein if she could show her the “ropes” and Stein didn’t exactly say no to the request. However, that was until a phrase flew out of Agatha’s mouth that caused Stein’s train of thought to drop and the blonde-haired girl’s confident smirk to become even more apparent. While Stein hadn’t been one to “telegraph” her emotions in most of her adult life, the feel of actual competition combined with the thrill of competition brought out the bite of her codename on the battlefield in tandem.

"Unless you are giving up for the day after just one climb?"

“Heh.”

As the two female pilots dismounted the NC and made their way back to its feet, Stein could feel some adrenaline come over her.

“I would assume you are the one who would tire sooner due to your accelerated age. I thought you wanted me to show you the “ropes” but if you desire to be beaten by my time consistently I suppose I can offer you that pleasure.”

"Oh we got a month to go over the ropes, and plenty of time tomorrow, but right now wouldn't it be good to set the bar for everyone else? I'm actually offended Graham thought this even qualified as a test!"

Stein remained silent as she looked at Agatha, as if not understanding what the phrase meant; though she did quite understand it, she just didn't believe it. While she understood fully about meeting standards, Stein never quite understood inspiring others in the context of standards when in her experience standards were the same for her comrades so she shouldn’t need to raise them up when it was expected of them to meet standards on their own merits. Set the bar? Why?

Agatha blinked in mild surprise. "Mean's setting a standard to strive to surpass, like a higher rung on a ladder that you strive to climb. If we just settled on our first time and called it good enough, we wouldn't get any better than we are now."

“I know what the phrase infers. It isn’t my job to inspire people, it is my job to meet expectations.”

"It isn't in your job to help me out or even climb this NC right now, but you did. Frankly, it's in everyone's interest to bolster each other's standards. Why trust the artillery at the rear not to frag you if you didn't have faith in their skill? Or that the Sniper is going to be watching your back? It's very rare to wind up on sortie alone, so if we don't push our comrades to a higher standard then we do everyone here a disservice."

Stein wasn’t sure if she agreed with the sentiment Agatha was stating, but she was right— she did do it without need to at the very moment. But it was more about her making sure she had not fallen so far off the wagon to be unable to perform. Despite there not being a test at this moment with Graham watching her expecting achievement or failure there was someone else looking over her shoulder, someone far more important than Graham or Agatha— Stein’s personal standards and expectations.

“Trust is not a word I prescribe to. Everybody should be working at maximum efficiency; they should aspire to live up to the expectations ordered and not have to be handholded. The weak suffer in the shadow and need abstract fantasies of “hope”, the strong know what is required and do it. That’s a fact.”

"Does everyone just know how to be strong? I don't remember turning ten and thinking I can climb a NC and shoot the wings off a fly from 500ft away. The weak, as it were, may still have the potential to be strong, but it needs something or someone to bring it out. At some point you had to have trained or been through something that motivated you. A mentor, a conflict, something."

“Your exaggeration is a logical fallacy.” Stein took a light breath as she shook her head, “When I was ten I was required to do a lot of things— climbing a NC was one of them. But you are correct in that I had to be trained, but those who are pilots should know of the requirements of our station. NC's are not toys and piloting them is not a game. I do not understand independents who think otherwise.”

Agatha sighed, not looking offended at the jab at her past. "Respect and standards have to be instilled. I understand your concern, and there have been many times i wished the world was such, but it is impractical to expect every pilot to have the same standards expected of them without a military background. As I'm sure you noticed in the cafeteria and your own life, some pilots start as children. Do you really think Moore would expect Ana, if she is compatible, to perform as well as you or I? If it was just up to him, she would be a soon-to-be-dead pilot. At Graham's standards she'd be decent. What would she be like held to your standards?"

“That ignores the fact that she is untrained. She would have to be trained and conditioned before being expected to any standards. I do not presume she will be decent, bad, or good.” Stein's eyes moved to her left as she crossed her arms, catching a glance at Percy as his own voice became apparent as he entered the conversation, which even to Stein was not too surprising consider the two pilots were talking about his daughter. An unnerving feeling grew over Stein as he did so.

"My child isn't going to be a pilot," Percy said, "It's not happening. I'd kill Graham before I let that hap—"

“—No, you wouldn’t. You’re a coward. If you were going to stand up to Graham like he wanted you to, it would have been in the Mess Hall.” Stein interjected, brows narrowed.

"I wasn't about to do it in front of my kid." Percy wasn't exactly lying when he said that, but he was definitely afraid he'd get his ass handed to him, too. He wasn't exactly as big as Graham was.

"Huh, I wasn't the only one who got that impression? Moore, if you wanted your daughter out of this life, you would have gotten out first. But no, you'd rather cower here than carve out a new life. Say if you did try and assault Graham? You wind up dead, the commander maybe as well, and Ana is left behind with nothing but a desperate New Anchorage and your empty NC."

Agatha spat, her disdain for Percy clear. "Whether you admit it or not, all you've left that girl is a life built around NCs, even if she can't pilot she is still going to be drawn to 'em because it will be the only legacy you leave her."

"She's not going to be drawn to it!" Percy raised his voice - this has got to be the most he's ever risen it in one day. "She knows it's dangerous! I've told her over and over again that it's not going to happen for as long as I live! She's not doing it!"

Agatha's face grew taught as it flashed with anger. "You told her you wouldnt let Graham test her. Your word is already shit to us, and it will be to her soon enough."

"SHE'S NOT DOING IT." Percy didn't mean to get so angry, but god damn it these two were driving him over the edge. He had his fists clenched like he wanted to just let out all the stress in his mind on their damned faces, but he stayed standing there, shaking. He had more he wanted to say, but his brain was a hazy mess full of insults, objections, panic.

"Moore, I thought you were a poor father before, but I can say you are a wretched human as well."

The redhead pilot didn't say anything in response. Any urge to get violent immediately disappeared. He just stood there, not sure how he could even reply to that. He's always feared he was a bad father. He thought he was bad the first time he had screamed at Ana when she was a baby to just shut up because he couldn't get her to stop crying. He thought he was awful when he had given her just a little bit of alcohol to help her sleep. But she was alive, so he thought he did alright. She's happy. He could feel his throat tense the way it did when he was about to start sobbing, but he kept his calm. Mostly.

The aged lioness stood expecting a punch, a kick, or even just more toothless threats. His lack of response left her snorting in barely restrained fury. "This, Moore, is why you are a damned coward. If this was your best, then it was pathetic. I would deck you for ruining that child of yours if not for the evident fact that she has clearly taken after her mother!"

"And I'm glad she did."

Stein shook her head, “If you two are done bickering, I would like to get something fundamentally useful done instead of wasting my time with this conversation. But I will end my interest here with one thing, Moore, you need to straighten up before something worse than a harmless neurological exam happens. The likelihood that your daughter can pilot a NC is less than fifty percent. Cheers.”

As Stein began walking away she could see that Agatha did the same as she broke away from Percy, her eyes turning towards the NC as she let her own anger bleed away. Percy Moore wasn't worth the effort if he couldn't defend himself. With a final, monstrous exhale she turned back to Stein. "I think I can appreciate your view more, Stein. Can you show me around now? I need to bleed myself dry doing something worthwhile."

“Of course. I'm due for another run, anyway.”

The New Frontier: A Marvel/DC One Universe RP

How's that work exactly? Say I want a storyline where Jean runs into Victor Creed...do I just use him, ask permission first, ask the Logan player if there is one?

@Ruby

I'll see if I can get EE to actually post. :F

The New Frontier: A Marvel/DC One Universe RP

Once we outpace All-Star Marvel let us outpace Create-a-Hero!

The New Frontier: A Marvel/DC One Universe RP

Yeah, I’m definitely at my best interacting rather than soaring alone in the universe, not sure about Facepunch though.

The New Frontier: A Marvel/DC One Universe RP

<Snipped quote by Morden Man>

It has been over a year in All-Star Marvel and I'm still waiting for the X-Men to take off (this is by no means a plug...trust me ).

Is it that the X-Men have to be a team and everything they do needs to be a collaboration (which in turn can become bogged down and cause people to lose interest)?

@Dedonus

I collabed with Drew in ASM1 as the X-Men and it was a chore (and Xavier's player vanished) for a lot of reasons -- it isn't just collabing. I think ASM's problem is similar to one Maximum had in that Drew plays like 4+ characters and a lot depends on someone who one player who has to wait around for.