Our story continues at the skating ribbon in Millenium Park, where a crowd has gathered around Lucas and Stephanie, watching and recording them...

Karl, still bundled up walked up to the periphery of the crowd behind on of the people holding up their phone above the heads of others to record better.

“Hey, what’s going on? Skater fall or something?”

"No, there's two more superpowered people! They just ran all the way here from the Bean in, like, a few seconds!"

"What? No way. I don't buy into all that stuff. Probably just some doubles and a wind machine or something." He paused to crane his neck and look over towards the middle of the throng. "Don't seem to be doing much now."

Lucas pauses for a moment his eyes narrowing in thought. Speaking more slowly, "I was mostly talking about the weather and how that would impact your bees." Cocking his head to one side as he stares at Stephanie, "It is interesting that you can smell that. I am currently.....mmmmm.....so far as I can determine.....an anthropomorphic eidolon of....huh the L." Glancing around he nods his head, "Once the time limit is up, if Mr. Brennan hasn't showed up I suggest I escort you out at speed."

"Bees have can smell pollen from a long way away." She suggested but then she looked confused. "I don't think I know what any of those words mean. Eidolon of huh the L?"

Glancing at the crowd she frowned, the look more for show to seem normal than anything else. What was Karl doing in the back there? Visually he blended in, but she was pretty fond and familiar with the way he smelled. She'd know that super-boy anywhere!

"Yea. I was thinking if he doesn't show we could meet up somewhere else? I... was hoping I could blame the super-speed thing on you, to be honest. Kinda travel separate? I'd love to get to know you, but my mom will die if she thinks I've got powers." Then she grinned at him in a way that was apologetic and ingratiating at the same time. As if to say 'sorry, but can I throw you under the bus just a little?'. She felt guilty, but she figured his identity was pretty concealed while hers was... not. She looked hopeful and embarrassed.

It seemed like the pair were talking to each other and though the crowd was around and filming seemed to be keeping some distance, perhaps from an element of caution.

He started making his way through the throng, careful not to jostle anyone too hard, zig-zagging a bit to go around people and find something of a gap. On the inside of the circle he continued, walking over to Stephanie and her new friend, Karl's alleged meeting.

"Keeping a low profile I see." he said with a little grin at Stephanie as he stopped next to them. "'Metro' I presume? Should we go somewhere else?"

Lucas had opened his mouth to reply when his appointment finally showed. His mouth closed with a click and glancing between the two, he nodded his head, "That was just what we were discussing. We have attracted quite the crowd. And yes, I am Metro."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:20, Wed 01 Dec 2021.

"Oh, you know me!" Stephanie said with a playful roll of her eyes towards Karl and a bit of a wan smile. "Oh, the L! Metro. I get it." The Filipina said suddenly, bopping her own forehead as if things were clicking into place.

"How about we part ways and meet back up somewhere else. You guys figure it out and text me, okay? I need to act like I'm really surprised by all this powers stuff right about now." She explained, sounding embarrassed and once more apologetic. But he hadn't said no, so she was going to take that as a yes.

And then she very publicly threw hands up.

"How did you do that??" she cried, loud enough for onlookers to hear. "You made us run so fast!" and she started to back away, doing her very best to sell the fact that she was not the source of said super-speed. Which, to her credit, she wasn't. And she backed her way into the crowd.

"He has super-powers!" she declared, trying to sound more amazed and confused than scared or threatened.

Don't sweat it buddy, I've been called 'metro' before myself. What's wrong with wanting nice skin? "Yeah, I found out the hard way that public displays tend to draw attention. And cameras. Ok, how about we meet down at the Michigan Avenue entrance to the Art Institute, by the North Lion?"



"I'll distract the crowd a little then meet you both there in a few minutes. Shouldn't be a big crowd at a closed museum."

Stephanie broke away to blend in and re-establish her cover. After a few moments and presuming agreement Karl turned to face the crowd, took off his hat, started smiling and floated over. "Hey everybody! Great night isn't it? Watch yourself skating - unless you can fly you should be careful." He tried to draw attention over to himself and away from 'Metro', posing for selfies and whatnot for a couple minutes before excusing himself and flying up into the night and then south a few blocks to the Art Institute, landing in an isolated spot and walking to the lion, currently decked out with a rather large wreath for the holidays.