I shouldn't have that as my whole answer, and I'll expand on what you said a bit so no one is in the dark as far as my plan. Right now I want people to get used to roleplaying their characters and gain a deeper understanding of the ways their powers can be used in combat situations. This means their character will learn new ways to use their power as the roleplay continues (this also happens in the story, and it's a great way to parallel two different kinds of character development). People who haven't read the book need to learn this fairly quickly, and I was hoping to guide people towards that through keeping the beginning pretty much a "Do whatever you want, almost no consequence" type environment.
I added a new rule to account for any future inactivity that occurs! If you want your character to be exclusively yours, please alert me. If you don't tell me your stance on the rule I will assume you're agreeing with it~
@Altasaire Yeah of course you can still apply. Though I may change those rankings once you write up the full extents of your power, that sounds pretty interesting. Just make a character sheet, or start one, and PM any questions you need to~
Ryan walked to the fridge, the adrenaline slowly wearing off. He started walking slower and breathing heavier. He had definitely exerted himself well past his normal limit, and he started to get a bit dizzy. He actually stumbled a bit and had to grab the fridge to keep his balance.
Serephina heard the bottles and containers made of glass in the refrigerator clash together and raise her head sharply at the noise. She saw the boy stumble and raced over to him to stop him from falling, accidentally using her power. She grabbed onto his shoulders to hold him up and said, "I'm sorry I used my power but I wanted to help."
He smiled slightly at her apology, and stood up a bit straighter, "I'm fine, just. . . Exhausted. See that shredded dummy? I started today," he said, gesturing to the dummy. "And no I don't normally steal, it's just. . . Complicated. Really complicated." He shook his head as if to dismiss the thought. He moved, wincing a bit when he crouched down to open the fridge. It was pretty much packed with food and drinks filling every shelf.
She looked over at the dummy with widened eyes. He must have been battle training or something like that for that thing to have so many slash marks on it. "Wow. For just starting today that's some pretty good work. Wouldn't wanna piss you off would I?" she asked with a smirk and a chuckle. She then wondered what he meant by "complicated."
"I just started my training today actually. But you have a powerful weapon yourself, huh? Super speed?" Ryan said, with a curious look. He didn't wait for an answer before handing her a water, and asking, "Something you want to eat? Fruit? Pizza? Ice cream?" His smile growing wider.
Serephina loved fruit. Specifically pomegranates. But that was a really weird fruit to ask for because not very many people had them. "Thanks for the water. Yeah I have super speed, better sight and hearing than most people and...." She was scared to give away her other power. She trailed off and acted like she had forgotten what she wanted to say. "Do you have a banana or something? I love fruit of almost any kind." Her hologram was her strongest power and she wasn't sure she wanted to give that away to this boy she just met.
She trailed off, and of course Ryan noticed. He noted to himself that this would be give and take, not as easy as he wanted. "I have a trump power, personally. So. . . Do you know what that means? Or are you out of the loop when it comes to that kind of information?" He asked, remembering halfway through that she was homeless. He reached into the fridge and grabbed an apple, the first thing he got his hands on. He gave it to her gingerly and closed the fridge door, listening for a response.
"Um to be honest, I had no idea that there even were other people like me. I just thought I was a weird special case. There's classifications? Wow. This is more in depth than I thought." She bit into the apple and relished the sweet juice that came from it. As she walked over to the couch, she cracked open the seal on the bottle of water and Odette's head came up. She knew that sound. She always drank out of water bottle caps. Serephina would pour some water into the cap of the bottle and she would lap it up until it was gone and ask for more. Suddenly getting curious while Odette drank, she curiously asked the boy, "What class would I be?"
"I don't know," He admitted gingerly, not wanting to lose her interest. He continued, drawing attention away from the fact he didn't know the details himself. "A trump power means I can manipulate others powers. Specifically I disable them." He explained, making his voice soothing. He didn't want it to be a threat. "I could give you a rough classification if I knew the details of your power," He said, trying to make it sound like he wasn't trying to make an evaluation of a possible threat. It was though.
Serephina could tell that he felt threatened and she didn't know whether or not to embrace that or defuse it. She didn't wanna seem like a bull head but she didn't wanna seem like an easy target either. She still wasn't sure if she wanted to show him or even TELL him about her hologram. That was her most vital power and she didn't know if she wanted to give it away. She nodded and tried to look like she was pondering what he said. Then she spoke up. "Well I basically have defensive powers. Super speed, temporary invisibility, heightened hearing and sight, stuff like that."
"Stranger, mover then, huh. As in you move fast and are hard to notice," Ryan summarized with interest, smiling now. He seemed very satisfied with her answers and didn't even consider she would deceive him. He walked over to the dummy, thinking quietly to himself. "So what are you planning to do after. . . This?" He asked, his interest now piqued again.
She wondered what a "mover" or a "stranger" even was. Wow this was more complicated than she had thought. In response to his question she had no answer whatsoever. She just sighed, looked at him and shook her head. "I don't know. I've just been wandering for years now. I ran away from home and have just been committing small crimes to get by ever since. Stealing food, water and supplies that I needed along the way. My cat follows me everywhere I go and that's about it. I have no plans yet. If I wanted to go to college or something I would have to change my name and make sure no one found me and recognized I was the girl that ran away." She glanced at Odette who had fallen asleep after her long drink of water.
Ryan laughed a bit, smiling at her response, despite the serious nature. "I meant tomorrow. Do you have a plan, or. . ." He trailed off, feeling bad for laughing at her plight.
Serephina now felt foolish. She had just given away her entire life to this guy in what she thought was a genuine response. But to be fair he hadn't specified as to exactly what he meant. . . "Oh; That's what you meant. I'm not sure. I was thinking about just moving on and finding somewhere else to crashfor a while. I don't know anyone around here so I'm kind of lost." She took another bite out of her apple attempting to shrug off her mistake.
"Sorry," He interjected, thinking for a second. Ryan sighed, and walked over to the fridge, turning everything over in his head. She was used to crime, she had strong powers, she was, arguably the perfect candidate for what the Boss was having him do. He got a banana out of the fridge, and walked over to her, handing it to her and not moving away.
Serephina smiled up at him and took the banana gratefully. She would save that for later. He was standing very close to her and she didn't know why. She then noticed that his clothes were very tight. He was wearing all black and his hair fell in his eyes. She tried not to notice how attractive he was. Starting to feel awkward, she looked away at her cat who was still sleeping. She stood up and was VERY close to his face. She then smiled and activated her super speed and winked across the room to lean against the opposite wall. She smiled at him when he saw her again.
Close. Too close. Ryan resisted the urge of stopping the inherent threat that was apparent. Was it a threat though? Ryan paused after asking himself this, preventing himself from disabling one of the "threat's" weapon. Then she disappeared and he panicked. Almost without his consent his power activated again, and he quickly scanned the room. He saw her smile when he recessed his power wholly and made the connection. She wasn't threatening him. He sighed a breath of relief, relaxing visibly. "I just realized I don't know your name," He said, trying to move his body to a more relaxed position. He sat down next to the cat gingerly, looking at her for an answer.
Serephina walked normally back to the other side of the room and took a seat on the opposite side of her car facing him. "Serephina. Serephina Mayhem." She hoped that she hadn't freaked him out. She liked to show off every once in a while.
"Do you, uh, know what Seraph means?" Ryan asked, trying not to smile. He didn't immediately reply with his name, mostly cause he forgot to.
She looked at him curiously and tilted her head to one side in a cat like manner. "No? What?" If this guy's name reflected anything about his personality, it sure as hell would be interesting.
"Angel, roughly. Your name means Angel's mayhem," He said, fighting off the smile even harder now. It was. . . Strangely fitting. "Please tell me that's your cape name and not. . . Ya know, what your parents put on the birth certificate," Ryan said cautiously.
Serephina laughed and tried to decider if that was an insult or just a innocent question. She decided to tell the truth like she had done this whole time. "No that's my actual name. I've always loved my name. Why? Does that sound dumb to you?" She wasn't trying to be defensive, she just wanted to know if her whole life she had seemed like an idiot thanks to the name her mother gave her.
"No, no," Ryan said, raising his hands defensively, "Just. . ." He scrambled for words and found none. He shrugged dully, seeming suddenly uncomfortable.
Attempting to make this adorably awkward boy feel better, she decided to finally ask for his name. "Well what's yours then? I doubt I'll be able to tell you what it means but I would like to know." Odette woke up and blinked at Serephina slowly. This was a sign of love from cats.
Ryan widened his eyes as he realized she'd expect him to tell her. "Um. . . Have you seen any news reports, wanted ads, or PRT criminal reports for a villain named Blackout?" He asked cautiously.
She wasn't sure whether that was his real name or something else he had come up with for himself. She responded carefully, "No. I haven't had TV since I left my grandparents house. Why?" She knew this guy was who he just asked about. He couldn't be just a normal person. He was one of her.
"I'm. . . Just that. I'm the super villain Blackout. I kinda lied earlier, I'm not just a trump. I'm also a stranger. They nicknamed me Blackout because I stop the use of powers and I stop communication. Completely. No hand signals, no winks, nothing. I'm a walking communications Blackout. Unfortunately I also reveal my exact location whenever my power is active." Ryan explained slowly, knowing it was a lot to take in. He stood up and walked over to the fridge while he talked, kneeling out of sight. He took a gun out from below the fridge and slipped it into his waistband, while opening the door. If he heard her get up he'd disable her power, shoot her in both knees, knock her out and drag her far away from here. Ryan realized he could be seen as a threat to her again, and he was honestly scared.
Then his phone rang. The loud ringing sharply cut his tension, and he quickly stood up and took it out of his pocket, his fears forgotten.
The Boss was calling.
Ryan flinched visibly as he answered the call, knowing this timing was not a mistake. "Uh, yeah, Boss?"
"We have a situation, bring the girl, give her the box in the room behind you. The one in the corner. Before you ask, yes we have a precog. Now get your costume on, and be ready to mobilize in twenty minutes,"
Ryan nodded dumbly, ending the call with a prompt, "Yes sir," He looked up at Seraphina, and sighed. "We have a job. Yes I said we. My boss just called. Come with me you'll make an easy million if not more." He offered carefully, knowing if she declined the Boss wouldn't. . . Take kindly.
Serephina wasn't sure she wanted to be forced into something so suddenly like this. Job? What did that mean? She grabbed her backpack and yelled after Blackout, "Where are we going? I'm not gonna go with you unless you tell me!" She called to Odette to follow her.
"Making this house I'm living in possible. Making a living. That's where we're going. We're going to be picked up by an unmarked van in about twenty minutes. We'll be given the details on scene and run defense for a crime. Then we'll leave after getting paid. One million dollars each. Then we'll return here, and you will get your own base operations if you so choose, along with any supplies or services you need," Ryan walked and talked. He retrieved his knife and gun holster. "If you wanna participate go get your temporary supplies from the next room over. I'm gonna change into costume. No time for modesty, we need to hurry." He said, obviously tired of explaining. He slipped off his shirt quickly, and grabbed a Kevlar vest. He had multiple scars scattered across his back and his left breast had a huge circular scar. He put on the vest, glancing over at her to see if she was listening yet.
Serephina scooped up Odette and gathered her things. She had no idea what Blackout was taking about or whether or not she should get into s strange van just because she was told to... But a million dollars? How could a poor, homeless 19 year old pass that up?
"The box in the other room. Change into the costume so they don't know who you are," Ryan said as he slipped the Kevlar chest piece on, then a black shirt over that. Then he took off his pants and slipped on some sweats. He secured some Kevlar plates over his kneecaps, and his shin. Then he worked on putting his wig on, carefully aligning it to conceal his blonde hair. As the finishing touch he slipped on the Kevlar riot control helmet. All in all he was basically bulletproof, and very well disguised.
He slipped a belt on over the sweats, putting magazines into each slot, then slipping his knife and gun into their respective holsters.
Serephina smiled slyly and asked "Why would I need a mask? Nobody knows who I am. I haven't been seen for years!" She laughed loudly because of the ease she felt at committing crime. Whatever was about to happen, it would be easy.
Blackout shrugged and smiled at her laugh. She was perfect for this job. "Lets go then," he said and began walking over to, and opening, the trapdoor. He lead Serephina outside, his gait a little rushed. He reached the first floor stairs, and walked confidently down them. Despite their rugged appearance they were sturdy.
Blackout crinkled his nose a bit as they walked outside, the smell not the least bit enticing. It reminded him of meth, and bad whores; But not on a personal level.
Blackout glanced back at Serephina, his look concerned for a moment, but then switched to something else. A look of supreme confidence. He knew how this would end now. Same as it always did.
To top it off he was also a bit less lonely.
Blackout shook his head again, and turned to watch a van approach. It slowed to a stop after it passed them and its back doors opened. Inside was a thin man typing on a laptop, sitting in a chair that was against the far wall of the van. There was one more seats on the left side of him and two on the right. The seat on the left was occupied by a thicker build man, wearing military grade equipment.
Blackout grabbed Serephina's arm and dragged her into the van, sitting on the seat nearer the thinner man.
"Seth?" Blackout asked, and the thin man looked up, confused that his name was beind said.
"Oh. Blackout. And. . . Friend?" Seth said carefully, and Blackout automatically nodded.
"Anyways, the rundown. So a bank robbery is going to happen in about 5 minutes. 4 minutes actually. Anyways, you guys are going to run support, Ryan your usual stuff. And. . . The girl is going to run distraction. All the major heroes are out of town." Seth said, checking his computer every so often to confirm the details. Blackout nodded, slipping his knife out to play with it. As Seth was explaining things the van started to move.
"So more then our normal pay?" Blackout said smiling widely.
"Double." Seth said simply.
"Let's go then," Blackout nodded again, completely battle ready now.
Ryan inadvertently shows Serephina around his base, but offers her a place to stay for the night after realizing she's homeless. They make the standard pleasantries, as Ryan tries veiled attempts at getting information about her power out of her. Serephina bites at the bait, but doesn't reveal her strongest power. Ryan admits later that he also didn't give her all the information about his own power, and also reveals his super villain identity, while keeping his real name hidden. After exposing this, Ryan gets a call from the boss, informing him about a job, and telling him to bring Serephina with him. Ryan and Serephina get into costume and head towards the bank that Drho is currently robbing, getting informed about the mission along the way.
