Becca and Reyna step through the doors in Millennium Park and enter Plidinous Vogue...

And what existed through the strange doors, materialized from nowhere, offering no hint to what terror lurked beyond?

No cell service.  That was pretty much the greatest of all the terrors.

Beyond the doors was... what appeared to be an office building floor.  It may've been modeled off of The Office, come to think of it.  Everything was cheerful and mundane.  There were an abundance of bean bags, that was a little unusual, but otherwise it was just an office building.  There were a series of doors leading out from the main area, but Bex bounced her way over and settled into one of the bigger bean bags.

There was a quiet "ding" and other stereotypical noises that came with being in an office, but the two of them were the only two apparently present.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:38, Sat 12 Nov 2022.

Reyna's eyes widened as she looked at the 'office', the petite raven haired young woman following the blonde into the office as she took off her winter coat as she gently placed it on a table. "No cell service?" She wasn't happy about that as she checked her phone and indeed it had no service, but at least it was very private. "And who is this friend?" She asked nervously as she looked around to see if there were any windows looking outward.  "He can return us to the park right?  Or somewhere close?  Is he coming?"  Her eyes were wide with shock at traveling through a door in the air into what looked like an office straight from the show The Office, except for all of the bean bags.  As she was walking around the room, she was randomly picking up small items, examining them and then putting them back down.

"Umm..well thank you for trusting me," Reyna nervously started as she moved over to Becca and smoothly lowering herself down onto a bean bag with all the grace her dance training gave her. "Um. my name is," she paused as she considered making up a name but figured that no one would recognize her name yet and the blonde had trusted her so she could return that trust, "Reyna and I have developed powers," she admitted nervously as she bite her lower lip as she looked at Daydreamer.  "Nothing as dramatic as teleporting though."

Bex smiled when Reyna followed her into Plidinous Vogue.  "Sooooo, we're actually in his belly right now," Bex explained, when Reyna asked if Pliddy was going to make an appearance.  "He's a big whale who swims around and he's got an office in his belly, so my friend Business Cat set up a business in his tummy so that he could work on his meowketing skills, and then when everybody needed somewhere special to go, I thought maybe this would be a cool spot for us to hang out in?"

She shrugged from her position on the bean bag.  "It's awesome to meet you, Reyna!  What's your power?  So I've met somebody who makes a lot of fire, she's super nice, I've met, uh, Karl, he's strong and he can fly.  Um.  I met..." Stephanie didn't want her telling anybody about her yet, right?  That seemed right.  "Oh!  Uh, I met a guy who was an owl but wasn't an owl 'cause he's an eidolon of the city, which I don't even know what that means but my friends thought maybe it meant he can become a reflection of the city area he's in?  He isn't a robot but he sounds like a robot."

"We are inside of him?" Reyna's eyes widen at the news as she looked around the room again, blinking her eyes in surprise as Becca talked about Business Cat using the room as a marketing room.  A giggle of escaped her lips through her shock as Becca said meowketting.  This wasn't making sense to Reyna, teleporting to a room was believable with powers, but for some reason the room being inside a giant whale was nonsensical and tossing the explanation of Business Cat into the mix just increased the poor singer's swirling thoughts.

Bex asking about her powers, brought her back to earth, "Umm... well my voice," she looked at Becca and shrugged as she settled deeper into the bean bag she was sitting in.  "You know that trick singers have of shattering glass?  I can shatter wood."  She flushed as she remembered shattering her desk when she stubbled her toe on it. "I can also...umm.. influence people's emotions." She shared with the blonde, noticing that the blonde hadn't shared her real name with her yet. "I am still figuring out how to control my powers and hoping someone can give me some advice."

"Whoa!!  That's so cool!!"  Bex, excitable thing that she was, hadn't realized she hadn't introduced herself.  A lot of people seemed to know who she was already on account of her having the situational awareness of a log.  Using her real name on Social Media?  Check.  Telling people about her social media when she was interaction with all these famous cool people like Karl Brenner or Reyna the Sing Queen?  Check.

Clearly, wisdom was not her strongest suit.

"I'm so sorry, I wish I could help.  Ummmm."  Bex scrunched her face and one of the doors opened.  From one of the rooms, a two foot tall cat wearing thick glasses, suspenders, a two-color collared shirt (with starched collar, of course), pleated pinstripe pants, and wingtips shimmied his way in to the group.  He had a cup of coffee with 'PURRFORMANCE REVIEWER' written on it.

"Say there, Sprout, I thought I heard the cat drag you in.  Reyna, it's a pleasure. Business Cat."  He extended a paw up towards her as he approached, ostensibly for a shake.

"Siren voice, eh?  Fits with the somewhat Grecian theme some of the others were leaning into.  We're putting together a brief franchise, the Paragons of Chicago.  Still some greowndwork to cover.  Pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Reyna couldn't help but smile in response to Becca's enthusiasm. "Well, maybe, once I get control of it," she nodded and smiled, "destroying furniture and accidentally making people agree with you isn't so fun," Reyna had to admit with a frown and then she smiled again, "Once I get control of it, it will be much more awesome!"

She nodded as Becca said she wished she could help, "Maybe the fire user might have some insights?" Reyna tried to rationalize, "Maybe controlling fire is like controlling my voice? Maybeee?"  She shrugged her shoulder when her mouth dropped and Reyna blinked as Business Cat walked in, in his excellently tailored suit and carrying a cup of coffee came in an introduced himself.  "Umm...hello .... umm  Mr Business Cat," her manners kicking in as she gently shook the Cat's paw, "It is very nice to meet you." She looked over at Becca to see if this was normal and the blonde was acting like it was. She looked back and forth between Becca and B. Cat, "Umm..a franchise? To do what?" She asked hesitantly.

"To make friends!" Becca answered, while Business Cat said, "to fight crime."  The handshake involved Business Cat's immaculately squishy toe-beans, which squished pleasantly against Reyna's palm.

They looked at each other and Business Cat shook his head sadly.  "Sprout's a big believer that friendship conquers all.  I'm a big believer that whatever source of power gave you the ability to alter minds and the integrity of wooden structures probably didn't stop at you. There're probably a handful of bad eggs out there, waiting to hatch."

"I'd love to introduce you to Whistler, by the way!  She's super cool and she was nice to me and my friends, and that's really awesome!"  Bex slowly extricated herself from the beanbag and did a big streeetch.  "I can add you to the group text if you want?  Would that be okay?  I know you have to go to work soon so I don't wanna space out and make you late."

As if summoned, although she had actually texted ahead and flown through the city at frankly unsafe speeds, Whistler strolled through the sliding Trader Joe doors into the office tummy of Plidinous Vogue.

The would-be heroine appeared to be embracing her resistance to cold, dressed as she was in a black nylon vest with a hood stitched into the collar, a sleeveless white V-neck tucked into jeans, themselves tucked into zipped combat boots. Two sleeves of tattoos on seriously athletic arms and a domino mask over her eyes that hid almost nothing rounded out the look.

"Yoo-hoo, Daydreamer, you here? Bee-Cee? Geo? It's Whistler! I texted I was coming but I think you said Pliddy messes with phone signals!" She called out, navigating to the bean bag area where she had previously been a guest.

Reyna giggled at the simultaneous responds of Becca and Business Cat, "Both can be true as well," she smiled and nodded at Becca, believing that making friends very important.  The more people make friends, the less people would become criminals, hopefully. She can't help but side with Business Cat as well, "But we should be prepared for when people disappoint us," she sighed in resignation that people are selfish at times.

"I would love to meet her," Reyna smiled and nodded, "Yes, add me to the group chat!  The more we share, the more we can figure out!  Like who set up the pillars."  She was getting ready to share her info for the group chat when suddenly a tall, buff woman stepped into the room as the petite raven haired woman rose gracefully to her feet.

"Oh, hello," she smiled and waved at the buff woman.

Bex gasped!  "I love when my friends just appear when I think about them!"

She ran over and gave Whistler a hug, while Business Cat sauntered forward and offered his paw out to the fire gal.  "Glad to see you weren't cat-ptured out there.  Purr-suing a life of vigilantism can be tough.  Good to see you again, Whistler."

"I was JUST talking about you.  Isn't that right, Reyna?  Whistler, this is Reyna.  She's not an owl either.  But she can do, like, voice stuff to wood and people!"

Whistler held up one hand in greeting to the dark-haired stranger, which set her up for an easy hug-ambush from the tiny dream-weaver. Wait, did this mean she was one of Becca's imaginary friends, or...?

"Hey, Day! Been doing your yoga wake-ups like I said I would, but it's good to see you again in person." Dani returned the hug, casually kicking aside the existential crisis that might have formed in a mind that could comprehend dread.

To Business Cat, she excitedly gave his widdle pawsy a shake and pointedly gave the beans a little squeeze. "Aw, that's nice of you to say, Bee-Cee, but it's been pretty mild this week. Maybe the holidays aren't so crime-ridden, or maybe I'm just bad at finding the crime. Anyway, nice to meet you, Reyna. I'm Whistler, apparently a partial topic of conversation.

"We'll find an owl person someday, I'm certain of it." She reassured the pint-sized blonde. "But vocal powers? Those sound cool, too!"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:30, Tue 15 Nov 2022.

Reyna smiled as Daydreamer ran over to hug Whistler as the tall woman returned the greetings of Day and Business Cat, or Bee-Cee. She giggled at all the cat puns that Bee-Cee used in his greeting toward the tall woman. She tilted her head at the assertation that she wasn't an owl person, "You are looking for an owl person?"  She asked curiously.


"So you are using your powers and looking for crime?" Reyna was surprised that the someone had just jumped into the idea of crime fighting. But looking over Whistler, if anyone was going to do it and kick ass at it, it was the woman in front of her. "Well, must be a good thing that it is hard to find crime, means that there isn't very much of it," Reyna tries to put a positive spin on the fact that Whistler wasn't find any crime.

"Yes, it can be very cool, although I need to learn to control it better," Reyna flushed slightly at Whistler's instant exclamation at how cool her powers were, "Since it is my voice, I have umm... accidentally destroyed some things and accidentally mesmerized people while singing." She shrugged embarrassedly at admitting the accidental uses of her power.

She turned toward Daydreamer, "Oh, I never asked, what is your power?"  Although it seemed that Daydreamer was good at finding unique people, like Bee-Cee, Plidinous the Whale and Whistler.

"I hope they're helpful!" Bex replied to Dani with a smile.  The beans of Business Cat were immaculately squishy.  The ideal amount of give and the softness of a kitten's paws.  Business Cat was not a man of hard labor or heavy living, clearly.

Turning back to Reyna, Bex nodded.  "It's a long story, but I thought I was gonna meet an owl man and then it wasn't an owl man so I'm just waiting, 'cause I'm sure now that I'll meet an owl man."  When the question of what Bex's powers were, there was another utterly sincere smile.

"I have the power of friendship," she confirmed, sealing her declaration with another nod.  From behind Reyna stepped a monstrously large man who appeared to be made out of felt, with an oven instead of a stomach.  It was, of course, impossible for him to have hidden behind Reyna, and yet there he was.

"Kerblerble," he rumblesteaked.  In this instance, it was the kerblerble of a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Reyna.  Whistler, you seem well!
This message was last edited by the player at 11:05, Wed 16 Nov 2022.

Dani had nothing to add to Becca's explanation about the elusive, entirely hypothetical owl superhero, just nodding her agreement to the teenager while she got the endorphin rush of petting a cat in a slightly atypical way.

"Yep, just flying or riding around and trying to do the superhero thing. Or should I say the Paragon thing?" She added with a pointed wink and finger-gun to Business Cat. "Or the Paragowl thing, eh? Ehhhhh?"

Fully aware of how bad that was, Dani pivoted off of the pun to Reyna's comment about destruction. "Oh, girl, I so get you. I torched some of my favorite clothes before I figured out how to control my powers, and set a lot of other things on fire while training. Some I just... Disintegrated. Because that's a thing. Hey, Chef!"

Another wave in greeting, this time to the towering felt man whose impossible language foisted itself into her brain. At his appearance, Dani delicately placed her hand on Rebecca's shoulder and explained in a gentle, almost conciliatory voice: "If I may add onto that: Daydreamer is a glorious golden bastion of friendship. However, uniquely, some of her friends, like Bee-Cee, the Chef, and Pliddy the Space Whale, they, um... How to put it? Some of them began life inside her imagination. Does that sound right, Day?"

The humanoid figure made of fine sand and dirt slowly stepped through the doors.  Standing just inside, Geo looked around slowly and just took in the impossibility of the situation he found himself in.  He had been prepared, to some extent anyway, but it didn't seem to help much.  The actual office part, except for how he got in, was the most normal of it all.

Finally turning to the small group of...people (?), Geo's sandy form nodded politely.  "Good morning.  I'm 'Geo' I guess; it's a recently taken name but it'll do I suppose," he said in a somewhat soft and shifting ton.  "Thank you for the invitation to...here. Whistler, nice to see you once more," he finished, nodding to the woman in question.

Reyna nodded along with a smile on her lips as Daydreamer explained about her dream of meeting of a owl man and Whistler nodded along, "It would be kewl to meet an owl man!  With your range of friends, I am sure you will eventually meet him," Reyna enthused.

Reyna suddenly felt a presence behind her as Whistler greeted someone as Chef and she heard, "Kerblerble," and as a presence pushes into her mind.  "AAAHHHHHHH!!!" She screamed in shock as she spun around to face behind her and seeing a man with an oven for a stomach and a person apparently made of sand.  Unfortunately her scream of surprise turned into a sonic wave that washed across the room destroying and tossing furniture into the far wall, glass shattering and spraying pieces across the room as the sonic wave hit people as she was whipping around.



This message was last edited by the player at 03:48, Fri 18 Nov 2022.

"Oh hi, Geo!" Rebecca started, and then the death scream emerged.  The good Chef Rumblesteak almost dodged out of the direct cone, but as a man made of felt with the general composition of a swole muppet, excepting of course the oven set in his belly, he was not exactly the most agile.  Still, he took the blast like a champ.  Business Cat took flight, his cup of coffee obliterated and his body yeeted through one of the doors, which magically closed after he got tossed through it.

The furniture was highly in disarray, little plastic pellets everywhere as the bean bags got blitzed.  The doors were resolute against the scream, but the office furniture within the little lounge area they were in?  Some of it was pulped, some of it was mangled.

And within the Chaos, a little confused, stood Bex.  Her arms were open towards Reyna.

"Hey, Ge--" Whistler was likewise buffeted by the sonic scream, one hand above her head to greet the sandman. Although she was very agile, it caught her entirely off-guard; Dani took the full force as it rolled her backwards a couple of feet onto her back.

She lay there in a daze, somewhat bruised, for a long few seconds. She found herself wondering how that hurt more than a bullet while she looked dizzily up at the ceiling.

"Ow."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:40, Fri 18 Nov 2022.

Geo had raised a hand slowly, to wave, when a wall of sound (and a lot of debris) slammed into him.  Given he had the agility and reflexes of, well, a pile of sand, Geo took it full on.  Thankfully, he was just as tough.  His sandy form rippled but he was otherwise unbothered.

"Is this how you say hello here?  Or did I somehow do something offensive within 5 seconds of being here," he asked with a gravelly chuckle.  He probably wouldn't be quite so jovial if he had been hurt.  "Is everyone alright?  What happened?"  The particles of his body swirled, dropping debris and glass bits to the ground.



OOC:

19:43, Today: Secret Roll: Ryan Cardier rolled 7 using 1d20+2.  ref.

19:44, Today: Secret Roll: Ryan Cardier rolled 25 using 1d20+10.  tough.

Reyna suddenly stopped, eyes wide as she took in the devastation in the wake of her surprised scream and then the sand man asked what happened, trying to make light of the situation.  "Oh My Gosh!  I apologize profusely!!"

She rushed forward to Whistler, "Are you alright?  Did I hurt you?"  The small raven haired singer then snapped over to Daydreamer, "Are you  alright?  I apologize! I will fix the damage !"  She rushed over to Geo, "I apologize.  I was surprised and screamed." She suddenly turned toward Chef, "Not that you are scary!  Did I hurt you?  You look very nice and fluffy!"  Her eyes still wide, she looked around for Business Cat, "Oh Noooo!! Where is Business Cat??  Is he okay?  I hope I didn't hurt him!!"  She rushed toward the door that she thought Business Cat was yeeted through and started knocking politely but insistently on the door, "Business Cat, I apologize!  I hope you are okay!  Can I come in and apologize directly to you? Business Cat??"

Reyna was feeling embarrassed, anxious, shamed at losing control of her power and possibly hurting people as she rushed around, trying to apologize to everyone and make sure they were alright.  Reyna's power was coming through her voice as anyone in front of her when she was talking, would feel those emotions rolling through them in waves as the raven haired young woman bounced around from person to person to check on them and apologize.  She feared that she would be rejected by these people who were in a similar position as her of having their lives changed by gaining special powers.


OOC: Emotion Control: Fear Rank 7: embarrassed, anxious, shame.  This is all accidental and uncontrolled and no one is really in the effect long before she is moving toward another person, only roll if you want to. :)    Rolls are: a Reflex Roll to half the effect and then a Will Save.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:29, Sun 20 Nov 2022.

The doors didn’t budge, as though some great force was keeping them shut. “Reyna! It’s okay! Deep breaths, okay? Deeeep breaths. It’s super okay. Nobody’s mad.” Becca continued to follow Reyna with her arms outstretched, ready for the hug whenever Reyna was ready to give it.

As a firm believer in the Power of Friendship, Bex remained a bastion of positive vibes in the face of the emotional turmoil roiling from the startled woman. “This is why Plidinous Vogue is perfect as a spot. We’re totally okay. But you gotta breathe, okay? You gotta be here with us in the present. When I get stressed, I think about yoga and meditation and energy. You know? So just breathe with me. Can you do that with me?“

Whistler almost answered Reyna, but then she was already panicking her way over to the next casualty of her accidental power display. "Just a bump," she answered, probably too low for Reyna to hear over her ongoing damage control.

The vigilante twisted her arms back and planted her hands, then kipped up to her feet and started to brush dream dust off of her clothes. Funny, there wasn't dust visible anywhere in the office, let alone sparkly dust, but every pat seemed to produce a puff of glitter. The price of being in a dream.

Psychologically numb to fear and its ancillary emotions, Whistler wasn't even aware emotions were being manipulated while she watched Becca steadfastly pursue Reyna with a hug loaded in the chamber.

"All good, Geo?"

Geo had started towards the stunned Whistler but she was back to her feet before he'd gotten far.  He waved off the sound woman's paniced apologies with one sandy arm, unaffected (and unaware) by the roiling emotions she projected.  "Quite alright.  Accidents happen, right?  If I hadn't been given something of a heads up, I would have the same reaction.  If I could blow things up I mean," he added with a grinding chuckle.

Nodding to Whistle, he finished his slow walk.  "I seem to be unbothered.  And pretty sure that had more 'oomph' than the rock I tested on my foot," he added with a rough smile as his arms extended, 5, 10, 15 feet to start picking up and moving the debris, collecting it to a small pile.


OOC:

Not bothering with a reflex to something he can't even tell is coming!  Will just assume I fail that one given he can't make a reflex save to save his life even if he sees it coming.

Will - no problem!
07:09, Today: Secret Roll: Ryan Cardier rolled 20 using 1d20+6.  will

Turning around to face Daydreamer as the petite blonde approached her, speaking calmly and reassuringly.  Reyna nodded her head as the blonde asked her to focus on her breathing and that everything was alright.

"Right, breathe, I can do that," Reyna nodded as she closed her eyes and accepted the hug that Daydreamer was offering as she rested her forehead on the blonde's shoulder.  She took slow deep breaths as her singing teachers had taught her. "Are you sure that everything is alright?" She asked hesitantly as she focused on breathing, "Is Business Cat okay?" She was calming down as she accepted Daydreamer's comfortingly hug and words or reassurance combined with her deep breathing.  She looked over Daydreamer's shoulder to see the others moving around and interacting calmly with each other.  Her eyes widened in slight surprise as she watched Geo moving around and stretching out his limbs to gather up debris.

Pulling Reyna in tight, Bex rubbed Reyna's back.  "He'll be okay," she confirmed quietly.  "My friends are always okay.  Just like you now, Reyna.  It's gonna be alright.  Sometimes my friends have to rest in the Neverwas and pull themselves back together, but they always do!  Because friendship conquers all!"  She didn't try to pull back, nor was hers a death-grip hug.  Becca was willing to let Reyna control the intensity and the duration of the embrace, after the initial squeeze to start things off.

"Besides, it takes a lot more than that to make Plidinous Vogue have a tummy ache!"

Whistler wandered over to one of the beanbags which hadn't been utterly disembeaned by the sonic blast, dragged it back to the sitting area, and sat down into it with a little wince.

"Promise I'll help clean up, just resting my tailbone for a moment." Dani explained while she began to gently stretch out her hips and knees from a seated position.

"Had more oomph than the buckshot, too," she added, returning Geo's nod.

"You're fine.  Take a few."  Geo continued to pile up the debris as he looked around the odd office room.  Clearly Becca was some kind of crazy idealistic kid.  It was just a question if her crazy leaked out into reality or not.  Anything certainly seemed possible at this point.  "Ok, so, I have to ask.  Are these like imaginary friends or...?  Or maybe WERE, before all the power things?  Is the furniture the same or did you buy it at IKEA or something," he asked, his shifting sands sounding voice was curious as he tried to get a handle on everything.

Reyna relaxed as she accepted Daydreamer's hug and reassured her that Business Cat was alright as was her other friends.  The singer flushed as Daydreamer included her in that list. "Thanks, I still want to apologize to Business Cat when he comes back." She affirmed to the blonde as she pulled away after a solid minute of hugging. "And I insist on helping replace the furniture I destroyed," she nodded her head determinately.  Looking over to where Geo was grabbing up the debris.

She glanced around at Daydreamer, Whistler and Geo, "And once the show I am in starts, I will get you all tickets to see the first showing as part of my apology for blasting you all!" She volunteered excitedly, forgetting that she has been trying to keep her identity secret, but their acceptance of her has lowered her guard.

"I have no idea where the furniture is from, actually..." she admitted when Geo asked.  She relinquished Reyna when the other woman pulled back, and put a thumb against her own chin.

Hmmm.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Finally, she shrugged.  "It's okay!  We'll get it all fixed up.  And yeah, these are all my friends, Geo!  Everybody's my friend, I'm super lucky!"  The promise of a show made Bex happy, but she turned her keen eyes upon Whistler and--

"Oh no!  Are you okay?!  Do you need help?!"  She rushed over and knelt beside the beanbag Dani was sitting on.  "Do you need a doctor?"

Danielle leaned into the bean bag and got comfy, closing her eyes while the others chatted and hugged it out. It was remarkable how charming and friendly everyone she'd met so far was, even the gangster. Maybe comic books got it right, and paragons - branding - were, by nature, a pleasant bunch.

Or maybe Daydreamer was influencing more than they thought.

Or summoned them from her imagination.

...

Nah.

Whistler stuck her thumb up in the air when Reyna mentioned a show. "Sounds sick!" She answered the siren, cracking an eye to observe Geo fixing the place up. Then Becca was on her, and Dani shook her head with a gentle wave-off.

"That's sweet of you, Day, but I think I'm okay! I knocked my head on the floor but I don't think I have a concussion, just need to walk it off. Or sit it off, I guess. Point is, I've taken a lot of licks in my life; I'll be fine!"

"Oh, what show?," he asked curiously, out of reflex before he realized that people might want to hide who they were.  Well, Whistler didn't seem to care and he was doubting Becca cared either.  Was he just the odd one out here?  "I'm sorry; probably shouldn't have just asked that.  Regardless, congratulations on the show."  He nodded in agreement with Whisper.  "No harm, no foul.  Accidents happen and no real damage done it seems.  Well, except the furniture," he added with a gravelly chuckle.

"Okay...," Geo trailed off as she avoided the second part of the question.  Or perhaps just forgot or got distracted.  Both seemed feasible enough.  But it lead him to think that she could create life with her power.  Sure it was really weird and odd but it sure seemed like life to him.  "Do you mind if I fiddle with the debris?  Or do you think it'll fix itself or something?"

Reyna rushed over to check on Whistler at same time as Daydreamer, relaxing as the tall woman gave a thumbs up.  Geo did bring up an interesting question about where the furniture came from.  "Maybe Plidinous swallowed the furniture some time in the past and it ended up in here!"  Reyna suggested with a thoughtful look on her face and then pouted, "But wait, he came from the Neverwas," she frowned as she remembered Whistler mentioning Daydreamer's friends came from her imagination.  She followed up her thought with a question for Daydreamer, "Where is the Neverwas?"

She turned toward Geo, "Oh, it is just a modern adaptation of Phantom of the Opera.  The producer hopes it will take off and she has the experience for people in the industry to listen to her, so could propel me to stardom." She gave the others a big smile of hopefulness.

"umm... Geo, you don't have to answer this, but are you always like that now," Reyna asked cautiously as she realized that what she thought was a man was staying in sand form.

"As long as you're sure," Becca replied with a quick pat on the wrist.  Standing up, Bex gave Geo a thumbs up!  "Fiddle away!  It'll all fix itself, because my friends'll fix it!  Don't worry about it at all!"  Beaming she listened to Reyna's question before leaning in and tapping her temple.

"The Neverwas is alllll up in here," she confided with a wink.  "My mom taught me about positive signaling and how to put the right vibes and energy out into the world, so that you could get the right energy back.  And so I did that but with my imagination, because my dad died before I was born and I never knew him so I was like, what was he like?  So I was trying to imagine him and my friends were there, and they helped me not to feel sad, and I haven't felt sad since.  So that's where we are!"

Because that explanation?  Made perfect sense.  Definitely.  Bex nodded solemnly, while Chef Rumblesteak took out a tray of kale chips from him tum and started offering them around.  There was a tiny sound of scratching behind one of the doors.

"Phantom is a pretty good show!" was Whistler's deeply substantive contribution to the discussion of Reyna's show. To Becca's explanation of the Neverwas and her worldview, all Danielle could manage was very theatrically sneaking two kale chips instead of one off of the Chef's tray.

"It's... Really cool that your friends have been there for you for so long,” she finally tossed in. "Is it strange for you now that other people can see and speak with them?"

Picking up a broken table leg, he rotated it in his hands for a bit as he looked back at Reyna.  "Guessing you're a singer?  Makes sense with your power I suppose.  I wonder if that's true of a lot of us?  Our power just enhances what we already were or liked or were good at?," he mused aloud.  "While mine had nothing to do with my life or preferences, it certainly seems true of you and Whistler.  Becca too maybe."

He concentrated on the material, seeing if he could change it...

"No, I can shift forms.  Like so," he said, the sand and loose particulates he was made up of pulled together and tightened up, solidify and darkening.  A few blinks later he was a hulking stone figure.  Now his voice really did sound like grinding rocks.  "I am much stronger like this.  Tougher.  Heavier too.  But a bit slower," his bulky shoulders shrugged before things started to break apart as he turned back to sand/dirt/particulate matter.

"But if you mean can I look normal, like a regular person?  Yes.  A good chunk of my powers don't work unless I am changed so it's kind of safer.  But...mainly, and I mean no offense by this, it because...well, I don't know who to trust or IF I can trust people with what I look like.  I have family and friends who know nothing of this stuff.  They're regular people.  And I wasn't careful enough.  Before I ever made those pillars, just like some others on the text, someone sent pictures of me using my abilities.  Pictures that should have been impossible to take without powers.  No note, no blackmail but it sure as hell had the feel of a threat behind it.  So, now, I'm being extra careful.  I don't know how else to keep people safe except hide any connection.  Sorry.  I just don't know what else to do," he said with an apologetic half shrug.


OOC:
I have transformation (only non-organic) but I have no idea if it works on summoned stuff...

Yep, he's worried and untrusting of people he just met 10 mins ago. ;)  More than welcome to convince him otherwise!

Reyna nodded thoughtfully as Daydreamer explained Neverwas and how she called her friends, "That makes complete sense and I still don't know where we are," the petite raven haired singer said with a smile at Daydreamer. She hugged Daydreamer, "I am sorry for your loss, losing a parent must be so hard.  I am glad your friends are here and now we are here as well."

Smiling she accepts a Kale chip from Chef, "Thank you Chef," she replied politely as she bite into the chip, appreciating its flavor.

"It is a good show," Reyna smiled at Whistler, "I am really enjoying being in it!  We are still rehearsing, but we are scheduled to start in February."

As Geo mentioned his hesitation to reveal himself, Reyna was reminded of her initial hesitation to reveal herself. "I understand completely, Geo." Then she realized she had properly greeted Geo and stuck out her hand, "Hello Geo.  I am Reyna.  It is a pleasure to meet you." When Geo revealed that he was responsible for the pillars, Reyna's eyes go wide, "Oh, you created all the pillars?  I put contact information in the pillar at Lakeshore Park.  And then a guy approached me and started asking all kinds of questions about powers and I got creeped out a little bit.  So I didn't share any personal information with him, but he also put a note into the pillar because I convinced him that he should just make the leap.  And I didn't reveal anything until Daydreamer brought me here which is very private and I got to meet others with powers as well.  I apologize for screaming again, I got surprised and it just came out. So I understand and support your caution about revealing anything personal about yourself."  Reyna displayed her breath control as she got that all out without taking a breath between any of the sentences.

Was it strange for other people to see her friends now?  "I don't really know," Rebecca answered with a shrug.  "I guess?  They used to just be my friends, but now they can be everybody's friends, and that's... like... exclusively good.  So I'm really happy about that!  So I think it's not strange that people can play with my friends now.  I think it's just a good thing."  She punctuated the thought with a nod and a smile.  Ryan picked up pieces of furniture and converted it freely.  Whatever strangeness was going on, apparently the furniture was Real for a given value of Real.

"That's okay!" she added, nodding to Geo.  "Sometimes people don't wanna share.  That's okay.  It's important to push your own boundaries but you have to do it in a healthy way, because if you don't set any boundaries for yourself then you might end up in a really bad situation!  Like one time I was trying to bend way too far and I pulled my back and I couldn't walk properly and my mom thought I'd broken my spine but I was okay but it was scary."

Exactly the same situation.  1:1.

Rebecca got up and moved towards Geo.  "But if it's any help... you're safe here.  Plidinous isn't gonna let anybody hurt you or something.  Okay?  All of my friends are here to keep people safe.  It's why I invited Reyna in here in the first place.  So you take your time.  Okay?"  She offered him a hug.

Reyna's comment about losing her dad earned a little bit of a shrug.  "He died before I was born, so I never really knew him.  I don't know what it's like to not be in that situation so it's hard to, like, rationalize what the differences are or how I was impacted.  You know?  Like... if you know option 1 and option 2 then you can sorta compare and contrast, but if you only have option 1, it's like... well, how do I even figure out what's up?  You know?"

Whistler munched on her kale chips and listened politely to the others' conversation. It was heavy subject matter, the issues of identity and loss. Becca may have been one of the best-adjusted people she'd ever met, but Dani wondered if she would still think that of the denizens of the Neverwas were still limited to the teenager's imagination.

"That's really wise, Day," she commended the young reality warper on... All points, really. "Usually people spend a lot of time talking to someone with a degree to reach that sort of introspection. And even then...

"Great chips, Chef!" She added to the felt colossus and his oventum.

Geo offered a sandy smile and a nod to Becca.  "As I said and I mean no offense.  But like my dad used to tell me, 'trust is easy to loose but hard to earn'.  Everyone seems like good folks but I just met you guys like 15 minutes ago, mostly," he added with a concession towards Whistler.  "I'll help however I can.  Just not sure I'm ready to show that part of me yet," he added with a rippled shrug of his shoulders.

The piece of scrap metal changed color to a dull copper in his hand and smoothed out to look like a length of pipe.  "A way I use to make a little money that's near untraceable.  Scrapyards buy copper by the pound and no one looks twice," he remarked absently before dropping the copper pipe onto the scrap pile.

"It's nice to meet you Reyna," he said, returning the handshake.  His hand shifted and smoothed out, becoming less rough and grating to the touch.  "I did indeed, though it took me a while before I made the decision too."  He tilted his head slightly at her.  "You did?  And I didn't reply?  I could have sworn I responded to everyone with a legitimate contact.  What contact information did you give," he asked curiously.  "I suppose I could have missed it," he admitted.  "There are a lot of bogus letters or news agencies and the like and who knows how many that didn't leave me a way to contact them," Geo remarked, just shaking his head.

"Don't worry about it.  And as I said, it's not because of me that I'm being cautious.  I don't particularly worry about myself.  Hell, if it wasn't for needing to be with other people and such, I wouldn't need anything I guess.  My powers make it so I don't really need anything," he said, voice sarcastic and tinged with a bit of feeling.

A short woman in a long blue down jacket, jeans, boots, and a knit hat walks through the doors and into the space.  She makes it a few steps in before pausing, taking in the scene.  There is a sense that she's not finding what she's looking for.  "Umm... hi, I'm Jess," she says with a small wave.

---

Yet again, despite a lack of expectations, Jessica still finds herself surprised at what awaits her behind the door.  An office with bean bags is surreal enough, but the area of destroyed furniture is rather incongruous.  The three young women seem normal enough, though the humanoid mass of sand is different.  And she doesn't really recognize any of them.  Not that she would really recognize anyone other than Karl Brennan.  It's hard not to notice someone looking and acting the part of a real-life Superman.

In any case, she should probably introduce herself.

Okay, that was pretty lame.  Hopefully no one will draw attention to it.

Reyna nodded thoughtfully at what Daydreamer shared, "That is true." She was glad the blonde was very accepting of her lost. She had meet someone in a similar circumstance who had let bitterness eat them with dwelling on the 'what ifs'. She smiled and hugged Daydreamer again, "I am glad to be meeting you, Daydreamer."

After shaking hands with Geo, finding shaking his hand to be a strange, but pleasant sensation as the sand his body was made of moved against her skin, like letting sand slide off your skin . "Huh, I left an email address?"  She tilted her head curiously, getting a an uneasy foreboding.  She listed off her anonymous email to Geo to see if he recognized it.

She nodded in agreement with Whistler about the Kale Chips, "They are great, Chef!  Thank you for sharing them with us."

She turned as she heard another voice from the door, "Oh, hello Jess. It is a pleasure to meet you." Reyna immediately stepped towards the woman and extending her hand in greeting, "I am Reyna and I just got here today as well."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:34, Fri 02 Dec 2022.

Rebecca remained with open arms towards Geo, because that hug was a-comin'.  Oh lawd, it was a-comin'.

The kind words from Whistler earned her a big Rebecca smile, which was like all of the other smiles except this one?  Well, it was big.  "I just talk with the Burblemeister, mostly.  He's really smart.  But he doesn't let me do things sometimes, 'cause he says they're dangerous.  Captain--"

Looking around conspiratorially, Bex leaned in.  "Captain Shoecannon thinks the Burblemeister gets right persnicked, and I don't actually know what that means, but I think it's a bad word."  The look to punctuate the thought was... a lot of eyebrow work and eye widening.  A little bit of a grimace thrown in to really underscore it.  From behind, Chef Rumblesteak produced a "kerberble", which in this case meant it is my pleasure to provide them.  Rebecca believes in healthy snacking, and I aim to please!

Geo's hug was taken by Reyna, but the great thing about hugs was, they were infinite.  She wiggled a little in Reyna's arms before waving to Jess!  "Hi Jess!"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:10, Wed 30 Nov 2022.

Danielle let everyone continue their conversations and introductions, but returned Becca's Big Damn Smile with one of her own when she addressed her. "Burblemeister? Love his name."

When Bex went in for the whisper, Whistler replied with her own stage whisper: "It sounds like persnickety, which means fussy. I think you're in the clear."

She gave the Chef a big smile, too, and ate her second chip when Jess made her subdued entrance. "Hiya, Jess!" Dani waved. "I'm Whistler! Welcome to the clubhouse. Great to meet another new paragon."

Raising one shifting arm in greeting to the newcomer, "Geo," he said by way of quick introductions.  Refocusing his attention on Reyna's point, he pondered a moment.  "Wait, I remember that address.  You're right, I never did reply.  All that was there was a single email address; nothing else.  I decided not to risk contact with people not willing to leave a not or anything at all.  I apologize; there were dozens like that though," Geo explained.  He had hated not reply but there had been a ton and no other information to go on.

He had studiously avoided/shifted to put off the imminent teenage hug.  Geo figured she'd just let it go (pun unintended) or she'd end up falling through him and get covered in sand.  Joys of not being solid.  For that matter, he was trying to ignore Becca's friends too; but that was mostly to give his brain time to adjust to whatever Becca's friends were.

Glancing back to Jess, he nodded after Whistler's comment.  "Apparently 'paragon' is what we're calling people with powers," he added absently.

Jess accepts Reyna's hand shake.  "Oh.  Good to meet you."  There might be a bit of relief there at not being the only newbie here.

Jess puzzles over the paragon label and explanation a bit.  She removes her hat in the process, revealing shoulder-length blonde hair.  "Paragons?  Sure, why not?  It's not like we were going to call ourselves mutants.  But... I don't know.  That sounds like you're expecting us to be superheroes."

Taking off her coat reveals a University of Iowa T-shirt.  "Anyway, what is this place?"

Reyna takes more kale chips from Chef Rumblesteak, "It is important to maintain a healthy diet to perform your best all the time," she agreed with the Chef after only a tiny start when she understood what he meant even though all he said was 'kerberble".

She smiled kindly at Geo, "Ah, that is okay.  I did not give you much to work with.  I bet you got a lot of random stuff in those pillars, but it was a good idea to start getting us all to meet.  Without them, it would have been a lot harder to find each other."  She smiled at the sand man.

"Business Cat was talking about us working together in case some of the people who manifest paragon powers decide to use them selflessly." She replied to Jess.  "I would be willing to help with that, but I am hoping for help with controlling my powers." She blushed at little bit as she tried to avoid looking at all the damaged furniture slammed against one wall.  She smiled at Daydreamer, "Daydreamer mentioned a group chat."

At Jess's question of what this place was, Reyna opened her mouth and then closed it and looked toward Daydreamer to explain where they are again.  She got it explained to her once, and she was still not really sure where they were.

Bex remained ready for the hug with Geo.

Whistler's reinforcement that persnicketed wasn't a bad word made Becca sigh with relief.  "That's good, at least!"

Jess asked the question of what the place was, and Bex smiled over at her.  "We're in an office building that's inside the tummy of my friend Plidinous Vogue, and he's a whale who swims around in the Neverwas, and also some of my other friends hang out here so when everybody was like 'we should have a place to hang out' I was like 'oh!  I know where we could go!'  So it's really safe here but there's no cell reception."

The commentary about superheroes and Reyna's comment about potential villains made Bex nodded quite solemnly.  From behind Jessica--nowhere in particular, just from behind her, depending on where the onlooker was relative to Jessica--came a duck, flapping its wings far too slowly to be airborne.  But there it was, airborne, wearing a bowtie.  And it appeared to just be... walking?  In mid air, despite the flapping of the wings?  In English, it looked to Jessica and went "quack."

"I think we can be friends with everybody, but Business Cat thinks sometimes people don't wanna be friends."  She gave Geo a side eye.  "So if you all are able to have super neat powers, then the chances are there's gonna be people who got 'em who don't wanna be our friends yet.  You know?"

Whistler snapped a finger-gun at Geo, Reyna, and Daydreamer in turn as they explained the "paragon" nomenclature -- and then went full sales pitch to the room. "If we don't get on the branding game then it's only a matter of time until some jerk calls us something nasty and it sticks. Ditto the superhero thing; a few of us being awesome in the public eye helps protect everyone from being rounded up and put in a government or corporate facility full of needles and..." She wiggled her fingers and affected a spoOoOOKy voice, "Proooofit maaaargins!"

Dani chuckled softly at her own antics, and stood up off of the beanbag with her hands akimbo. "Plus it's... Fun. And cool. And necessary, kind of? I met one guy already who was using his powers in a gang war. And what the hell are regular people going to do if someone like me, Geo, or Atlas wants them to start paying for protection? Call the cops to come... Die in a rockslide? Get the Bean dropped on them by a guy who can bench-press an airplane? Or, if anyone is like me, burn alive? If nobody plays superhero then, best-case scenario, Chicago gets occupied by the National Guard to speed up the 'put us all in a lonely box' timeline."

She cast a sidelong glance at Reyna. "Related: Cool as the banshee scream was -- and it was very, very cool -- learning to control it sounds like a really great idea."

Geo nodded to Reyna.  "That was kind of the point.  It was a half baked idea but it sort of worked," he chuckled, giving a gravelly smile.

Ryan was no genius or scientist.  But he'd seen Star Trek; that was a start, right?  "We're in a pocket dimension?  Or alternate tummy reality?  Invisible space whale with an office in it's stomach.  All work just as well.  Doesn't particularly matter I guess.   Either way, Daydreamer here seems limited only by her imagination.  Which is substantial," he added with a friendly smile and a nod to the teenager.  Who was still waiting for the hug apparently.  He extended one hand, forming a fist as he concentrated to try and make it sort of solid like he did with the handshake earlier.

"I'm not as sold on the being superhero thing as Whistler here though I'm honestly shocked we haven't had 'paragons' abusing powers and breaking laws in a big way yet.  She's definitely right about the rest.  And I do want to help; do the right thing."  Shrugging his shifting shoulders, he looked at the others in turn.  "There is a text chain; Whistler, Becca and a some others set it up.  If you give the number of a burner or whatever, we can add you," Geo confirmed.

"I agree, we do need to practice, each in our own way.  If we're going to do this hero thing, it can't be sloppy.  People could get hurt."  His body rippled slightly as he shrugged.  "I don't know anything about fighting.  Whistler here almost certainly does.  For people like me, she should probably put a class together or something.  Take point on teaching us," he suggested slowly.  "For those who need practice with powers with safe targets, I'm probably a good choice.  I wasn't really bothered by Reyna's accidental sound wave so I'm a safe target.  I could, with a little practice I bet, probably make some kind of punching bags, for everyone to practice on too.  To make a rough human analog so we know not to go too far," he said, ideas just rolling off.  "If this space is always available and Daydreamer is fine with it, we can practice here.  If not, I can arrange something; long as you don't mind being underground."

"Sorry; I'm just spitballing here.  It's just things I've been thinking of for a while now.  I want to get started on all this.  The longer we wait, the less likely we'll be ready when the other shoe drops."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:24, Mon 05 Dec 2022.

Jessica nodded, with varying degrees of understanding, as things were explained to her.  At least, until- "Duck!?" she shouts in surprise.  "Okay.  Buildings inside space whales.  Bull chefs.  Ducks.  Why not?"

Shaking her head, she flees for the safety of the next subject.  Looking at Whistler, she says, "I think you've been watching too many SyFy original movies.  Getting kidnapped by the government or a corporation and experimented on?  That kind of thing doesn't really happen.  Though, we have been trying to get some more people with paranormal abilities to come into the hospital.  I work at Stroger hospital, which I'm pretty sure is the leader in, uh, paragon healthcare and research.  Even if it's mostly just been me for the last three weeks.  We're trying to figure out what is going on, and if there are any side effects or long term issues from whatever is going on with our abilities.  Would any of you be interested in coming in?"

She should also probably address the whole superhero issue.  Turning to Geo, "Okay, I guess we haven't heard about any... supervillains, yet.  I hope that means that most people are good at heart.  I don't really want to see a real supervillain, killing people with their abilities.  I guess it would be better if there was a superhero available to stop them.  Though I'm not sure I like the idea of solving things by punching people."

Jess shakes her head again.  "Seems I'm thinking out loud, too.  I'm not sold on being a superhero, I think I can do more good as a doctor.  But... maybe some practice could be good, if something came up.  If I had to deal with violent patients...  I don't know anything about fighting, either.  I could help with general fitness and body control, and I might make a decent punching bag.  I'm pretty tough- oh!  Yeah.  I should show you my abilities."  She gets taller - no, her torso is stretching and elongating at the waist.  It then goes horizontal, her body stretching in a wide loop around the people present, her top half coming to a rest above her lower half.  "I'm stretchy and rubbery.  I'm not entirely sure what all I can do now"

Biting her lip nervously, Reyna nodded in agreement with Whistler, "Oh yes, I do need to learn to control my powers.  It is so very easy for them to accidentally come out." She shyly gestured at the wreckage of furniture to Jess, who missed that loss of control. "I don't need someone to aim at, what I probably need is some type of training in control stress reactions or just getting better at recognizing when my power starts flowing through my voice."  She visibly stopped talking and swallowed back the next words.  She knew that if she went on too long of a rant, that her voice would take on a hypnotic quality, but she wasn't sure what that point was.

As talk of becoming heroes started to be discussed more, she nodded at Becca, "Most people would prefer to become friends, but sometimes because of unfair treatment they become desperate and angry. They feel like the only way to survive is too turn to crime.  There are many studies out that show that most crime is committed because of economic reasons and turning to crime is the only way some people can see as a way to feed their loved ones.  So we should practice de-escalation techniques just as much as fighting techniques. This is one of things good police use a lot, how to de-escalate situations so that no one gets hurt." Reyna took a quick breath as she continued, "Also we should make sure that everyone knows that if they surrender they will be treated with respect.  If people know that it is safe to surrender to us, they will be more likely to surrender instead of fight to the end."

Reyna's voice was starting to take on a hypnotic quality to it when she suddenly stopped talking and looked at her watch, "oh!  I need to be going.  I have to get to rehearsal!"  She pulled out her phone as she turned to Becca, "Lets get me setup on the group chat.  And we can plan on a meeting time with everyone later when we will all have plenty of time to discuss the idea of becoming heroes or paragons more fully."  Reyna nodded her head excitedly to meet up with the others again, but also feeling like she was going to have to rush to get to rehearsals in time.

Bex listened to everybody and finally just started nodding about halfway through Geo's commentary, and she kept it up through Jessica's and Reyna's.  "I think we can find somewhere here that can be used for practicing, yup!  And we can practice deescalation stuff too, that's totally fair."  Bex pulled her phone out to give the deetz to anybody who desired them.

"Also, as a doctor you may be able to help one person at a time, you know?  But as you start to apply yourself and increase your reach, you can impact more and more people.  It's like with Tiktok!  Anyways, how long has Stroger Hospital been researching superheroes?"

While everyone continued discussing, Whistler finally turned her attention back to Roger and held her finger out for the duckling to come get his little headpet if he wished. Imaginary or not, that critter was too damn cute. She watched with obvious delight when Jessica extended herself around the room, too.

When there was an opening for her to weigh in, Dani held up the index finger of her free hand. "Point of clarification: I meant people who want to do the superhero-slash-paragon thing should get involved; pressuring anyone who doesn't would be pretty messed up. The idea is that some of us, the willing, can build public support and potentially help the city deal with any paragons who don't have the north-iest moral compass. And, Doc, while the US and corporate interests both have long, sordid, matter-of-public-record histories of inhumanity and unethical human experimentation that I could argue that point on -- not from an educated standpoint, I just go on late-night wikipedia dives a lot -- I'll instead offer this: As far as we know, there have never before been individual people who can lift planes, imagine life into existence, create a mountain, or disintegrate steel with nothing but our bodies and willpower; it is probably unwise to assume that the response will be... Chill.

"Anyway, that beside, I'll swing by Stroger sometime this week for you to take blood or whatever else, Let's also go ahead and get a plan going in the group chat for a self-defense and self-control day! Those are good for everybody to work on, and we can meet anyone new."

Danielle took her burner out to check the time when Reyna mentioned rehearsal, and her brows went up. "I have to boogie, too, actually! It was great to meet you Reyna and Doctor Jess! Great to see you both again, Geo and Daydreamer!"

Dani pocketed her stuff and headed for the Trader Joe doors, ducking under Jessica's gummy tummy but took a casual pace in case anyone needed to stop her for anything.

Jess starts walking around the group as her tummy starts to retract.  The two halves are going to meet about half-way around.  She looks pretty stable as she does so, but that's only from years of gymnastics.  "Well, it's only been two, three weeks now?  I went rubbery a week or so before Karl Brennan had his big debut, right at the hospital.  So we're not that specialized, but that still more than most places could claim.  Oh, and we've been calling them paranormal abilities.

"Hmm.  All things considered, we can probably get everyone seen as walk-ins.  We didn't expect to find so many, so quick, so we don't have a system set up yet.  You said there's a text chain?  I can get something set up and pass along the details that way."

Back in a normal human shape, she takes a moment to adjust her t-shirt; it didn't settle quite right as she retracted.  She looks to Geo and Daydreamer, the only two left.  "I just got here, and I've already got a reason to head out.  I was hoping to get to know some other people like myself better, but I guess that will have to wait.

"I know there are ways to do anonymous network things with my phone, but I've never been into computers enough to figure it out.  I guess I'll need to buy a prepaid phone...  Are you 'posts of 12'?  We could meet up later once I've got a new phone?"

Geo shrugged his shoulders.  "Practicing on stuff is best, sure.  But sooner or later, if you do get involved in this superhero thing, even peripherally, you're likely to use your powers on a person.  Better to know how much you need to pull your punch before you need to use it.  Benchmarks, limits are important," his gravelly voice responded.  It was why he had pushed and wanted to train with someone who knew what they were doing.  He didn't really want to fight anyone anyway but he'd rather be able and make certain he wouldn't accidentally kill anyone.

"Friends is great and all.  But what do we do if there is a fight because they aren't nice and they surrender or we're forced to stop them or whatever?  I know you said you were studying powers and stuff but...where do you put someone with the power to smash open a wall?," he asked, half to himself.  "I'm not expecting an answer right now," Geo added quickly, placating gesture with his hands.  "It's just I tend to think about 'what next' or 2 or 3 steps down the line.  It was kind of important in my job; kind of bleeds over into everything else I guess.  Anyway, just something to consider," sandy shoulders just shrugged.

He nodded to the new woman and back to Whisper.  "Solid point.  It's one reason I look like this," a vague gesture to his shifting particulate form, "and not like the normal looking me.  Trust is a hard thing and I'm just not there yet.  There's been some vague threat like photos and such and I worry about people I care about.  But I swear, as soon as I'm ready to be seen and trust, I'll give you the hug," he added the last with a rough half-smile towards Becca.

"Oh Whisper!  Something I figure you should know if you didn't already.  One of the messages I got said the MMA fight tonight will also have some powered matches.  Or at least hinted at it really strongly.  No idea how that'll work or go but figured you, maybe Karl, should know."  He gave a nod and wave to the departing pair, after making sure the various phone numbers were shared.

"You can count me out on the testing.  Sorry; that's just not going to happen.  No offense but I just met you and I certainly don't trust anonymity of a hospital or government.  Not to mention; don't really have any blood or anything like this anyway.  And yeah, that was me.  It was a half baked idea to find others and get people like us talking," he said with a little shrug.  "Mostly worked.  Glad you made it though," Geo offered with a nod and smile.  "Sure; glad to.  If you don't want the burner tracked, take out the battery and card and all that.  It's what I do.  Keep my lives separate.  Tonight's a bit busy, being New Years and all.  Otherwise, let me know."


OOC:
Sorry for the delay.  RL been busy.

Becca stared at Ryan.  "The hug will be ready," Becca promised ominously.

Listening to everybody, she nodded!  "I don't think I'm gonna go to the hospital either, my mom doesn't trust hospitals.  But I appreciate the invitation!  You're always welcome here!  And whenever you're ready for the group thread, here's my number, just text me and I'll get you added in!"  Bex started out towards the portal.  "It was really nice to meet you both!  I hope to see you both again soon!"

Pausing by the doors, she flashed them both a big smile.  "Happy New Year!"

As the five emerge from the glass doors in Millennium Park, they find a large crowd gathered around, complete with representatives from local media and a strong police presence keeping the crowd away from the doors.

Reyna nodded at Jessica, "I will see about dropping by," she responded to the request for testing. They needed to find out what was going on and running tests was the first step.  Better they do it, then someone else who might have different motives.

She waved to everyone as she pulled on her winter coat and just before she stepped out, she flipped up the hood of her coat.  As she stepped forward, the doors slide open and she stepped out, stopping dead in her tracks at the huge crowd and all the flashing cameras as questions started to be thrown out at her.  She immediately spun around and charged back through the doors, "Umm... Becca!  Can you move the door??   There are hundreds of media people outside!"  She called out in a bit of a panic!  She was hoping to keep her identity secret.  If she tried to walk through the group, she would definitely be outed!

Whistler clocked Reyna's hesitation, but her stride didn't falter for an instant.

"Happy New Year!" she tossed back to Bex and the group in general. "You know how to get in touch if you need me! This might also give you all a chance to duck out. No promises, but it's the best I got that doesn't put anyone in danger."

Then, unflappable as ever, Danielle walked out of the sliding doors and waved to the curious crowd. Just a quick wave, though, then the whine of pressure and heat built around her and Whistler launched off the ground on a pillar of roaring fire from her palms and soles.

The crowd gasps as Whistler blasts off, and the majority of their heads and cameras turn to follow her as she flies away.

That's what he'd been afraid of was his first thought when Reyna quickly popped back in after barely more than a peek.  And it was only going to get worse too he figured.  And with some of them worried about being identified and some of them not, it was going to get challenging to meet.

Glancing at Becca to see if she could, Geo offered an option as well.  "I can, sort of, hide people and get folks away if needs be.  Would only take a few minutes to bring you anywhere in the city and drop you somewhere secluded.  In some bushes, in an alley behind a dumpster; heck even in a basement."  He paused.  "Uh, though if you're claustrophobic, that might be a thing.  And it'll be pitch black unless you use a flashlight or you phone," he added as a warning.  "I'd need maybe 60 seconds before you stepped out but otherwise, it's no problem.  Up to you," he offered with a sandy shrug.

Bex blinked a few times.  "I might be able to ask Plidinous to move the entrance, but then what if people get confused?"  She made a face.  "It sounds like Geo's got a way out though!  I'll just go with Smeddly.  It was great to meet you all again!"

A gnome appeared from behind Becca, unhinged his jaw, and created a Becca-sized portal.  Bex walked through, and then the portal inverted and 'swallowed' up Smeddly afterwards.

Reyna eyes widened in surprise as Becca stepped into the the gnome's mouth and then disappear inside as the gnome seemed to swallow itself. She turned toward Geo and Jessica, "That was slightly disturbing."

Shaking herself of the image of how Becca left, she turned to face Geo, "I will take you up on the offer of help avoiding the crowds." She smiled at the sandman, "I just need to be dropped off at the edge of the park and that should get me free of the crowds.  How does it work?"  She took up Geo's offer of help getting out of the park unnoticed. "I am going to have to come with a disguise before the next time I come here." She thought out loud with a tone of excitement at the prospect of making a costume as she waited for Geo to explain how he was going to get her out of here in a manner to preserve her identity.

Geo nodded in agreement with the woman about Becca.  She seemed crazy powerful and hard to pin down; not to mention far from logical which was hard for him personally.

"I woud suggest farther away from the park edge, in a place where there are specically no cameras," he countered but would leave it up to her, and the doctor as ll assuming she needed transportation.  "I'm thinking we need to move the door to somewhere less inconspicuous but maybe it's just me," he said with a rippling shrug.

As he spoke his sand form swelled and condensed, turnnig him from into a more solid rock form.  His voice deepened and definitely sounded more like gravel and rock now.  "Well, I would go out first.  Make a dome or something to hide the door and us from view.  Plenty of material to work wit out there.  Shouldn't take a minute.  Then you step out.  I lowed the ground, make a kind of hole for us, reseal the ground and put the dome back.  Then I just kind of move through the ground.  Will be like being dragged for you I guess?  I fully admit, I've never tried this with other people before but it should work.  You'll be in a tunnel the opens in front and collapses behind.  So it'l be dark unless you turn on a light or something.  But it'll be fast," he offered with a stiff shrug of one rocky shoulder.  "I've been getting around the city like this for a couple weeks now.  Can get to anywhere in the city within a minute or two at most really.  I usually go deep to avoid infrastructure, popping up where I need.  I tend to go a lot slower when just below the surface.  Easier to 'see' hat way," Geo went on, doing his best to explain.

Reyna smiled at Geo, "Oh, I bow to your experience.  I was just trying to make things easier for you," the petite brunette shrugged her shoulders as she bounced a little bit on her toes. "Hopefully, Becca is able to move the door to someplace else."

She looked at Jessica to see if she was ready to go as well and then turning toward Geo, "I am ready to go when you are." She held up her phone to show that she was ready to be in the dark. "I am heading toward the theatre district on N. State Street if that helps you at all."

"Sounds good.  If you need transport around the city, let me know.  It's quick and easy for me so no problem.  You've got my number now.  I'll try to check it regularly.  Anyway, give me a 60 seconds and then come on out," Geo's grinding rock voice said as he stepped outside.

Once there, he did as he'd said and walled off the door.  Once the two women stepped out, he made sure they were ready before finishing his exit steps.  Sinking the trio into the earth, Geo sped off to take them wherever they needed to go...


OOC:
Short post as requested to move us along.

Ryan transports Reyna and Jessica safely away from the doors. The three then part ways...

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