Alex broke her bored expression long enough to wink.

"Unfortunately I cannot understand sign language, but I am a pro at reading lips," she said with a slight eyebrow raise. She stalked around teh woman slowly, casually, almost like one might in a dance. "And you are quite correct. I lost my hearing some years ago, thanks to some thugs hoping for an easy ransom. And I am most definitely bored near to tears."

She stopped back in front of Teagan. "I am Alex Newt, at your service," she said with an almost mocking bow, annoyance flickering on her face for a moment. "But I do hope I don't need to keep the pleasantries up. It's all so drab."

Before the woman could speak, Alex gently placed two fingers on the woman's lips. "Do me a favor and quit with the strenuous motions. Wouldn't do if you reopened that injury on your shoulder, no matter how minor it may or may not be."

Her gaze drew to a window on the other side of the room, provoking a smirk from her. Spectrum... she thought, sure her eyes were lighting up in interest.

"So, Teagan, I have a question for you," Alex said slowly, returning her gaze to the woman. "How does it feel to be saving lives like you have been? Do you wish you had powers to aid you in your duties? Do you feel like the Epics cause more harm than good for people, and people like you who have to deal with the aftermath? Please, do spill the beans. Personal beliefs are some of the most interesting things out there."

@ihinka

"You'll get there. Don't look forward to it." Fixer said while fixing the cuff of his suit, to ease the memories. He remembered his first major incident. Two people died that day. He was a beginner back then. He lost his grip on his powers at that very moment and the building collapsed on top of them. His comrades simply patted him on the back, sympathizing with his pain of letting someone die. There were no other heroes back then to help with that particular building - it was a pretty big incident after all.

"But if that ever comes up, remember, you've got allies. Try not to do anything rash." He then looked up and then turned his head towards Dragon Heart's general direction. "Unless you're that guy. He can practically handle anything." He said with a shrug before looking back at Vice. Obviously, Vice was not nearly as powerful as Dragon Heart. He would put him up to the level of Stark Crusader who had super strength though Dragon Heart was more well-known.

He took a two brownies from the passing waiters before offering one to Vice. It was chocolate brownies. Once Vice accepted, Fixer would look away, raise his mask ever so slightly and popped the entire brownie inside his mouth before bringing his mask down again and looking at Vice as he shot another question. He raised one finger as he chewed his brownie. Wow, this was hard. He gulped and then brought the finger down. "Sorry. I wasn't exactly at the Fitch building. As you have heard, there was already a ton of heroes there so my team got deployed on another part of the city, following the destruction the battle caused. That building just held the most victims but they got that handled." He then hummed in thought, realizing that he hadn't answered the question properly. "Aside from a bomb threat we helped out on and a robbery... nothing much."

@RoflsMazoy

Teagan relaxed as the young woman acknowledged her with a quick wink and almost immediately started circling her as if assessing her pray. Teagan allowed the scrutiny. She frowned slightly, though, at the woman's almost nonchalant accounting of her kidnapping and the resulting deafness. She didn't like how young people got so jaded so quickly nowadays. Maybe it was the world they lived in. For herself she always tried to keep even a fraction of whimsy. She found out it helped her counterbalance the heavy burdens. Rather than rely on sarcasm and snark. But different people responded to the world in a multitude of ways. And everyone was free to find what worked for them.

When ray of sunshine, or rather Alex, stopped in front of her and quickly dispensed with Teagan's mock protocol introductions, the smokejumper couldn't help but grin, flashing her dimples. She was about to say something when two fingers sealed her lips. Teagan froze cough off guard. Her eyes locked on the fingers, than flickered to Alex's eyes. Oh, she could see the devilish glint in them. And, damn, if she wasn't tempted to do something outrages, but however beautiful the young woman was, she still looked twice Teagan's junior and she just didn't do that. But, hey, nothing wrong in making new friends. And she kinda liked Alex. She appeared quite the proper young lady on the outside. But Teagan sensed something underneath. Something interesting. This'll be fun. She thought.

When her lips were free to form words again, she smiled and assure. "Nothing to reopen. Just a scrape. But I appreciate your concern." Alex's eyes jumped for a second towards where Teagan'd left Stark Crusader. Her own eyes followed and she chuckled when she saw the female looking Epic who'd spoken with Dragon Heart waving at the disheveled young man from outside the second-floor window.

She returned her gaze to Alex when the young woman fired a salvo of questions at her. She grinned. Oh, that one's a little devil, no doubt! "Well..." Teagan started to answer. "Since I was born before the Starburst, I think I have a different perspective. True, I was only a wee girl before the Epics and the Freaks and the mutated animals, but still..."

Teagan ran a finger over the scar bisecting her lower lip as was her habit when she was thinking something over. "I knew the world before and after in a way." She paused again, considering which question to approach first. "I've spent the better portion of my adult life jumpin' in forest fires and let me tell ye. No villainous Epics were necessary to destroy what nature had created for us. Just someone's carelessness." Teagan felt herself slipping into her Smokey Bear spiel and made a conscious effort to stop. "Epics, Freaks, Normals... We're all just people. We're fickle creatures. So if two Epics decide to duke it out in the middle of Epic City, or if a careless person started a forest fire, there's not much of a deference, is there? We are what we are, and it's up to us to change if we so desire or continue down the same path if we like where it leads to."

Teagan grabbed a glass of water from a passing waiter. Sipped and continued. "My job doesn't change much. There'll always be people in need of help. And I like helping people. So if I can, I'll try to help." Teagan favored Alex with a soft smirk, her dimples barely visible. "Do I wish for powers, ye ask? I mean what kid hasn't whish for that at some point in their life. I s'ppose I was no different. I remember wishin' I was able to pop buck naked in me parent's bedroom at night." Teagan laughed at her own childish antics. "But than again I didn't really need special power for that. I just had to strip down and burst in their bedroom while they slept." Teagan allowed her eyes to stray from her conversation companion to encompass the crowd of people. "I'm afraid ye'll find no polarizin' opinions in me, Alex. We are all here on this Earth. Epics, Freaks, Normals, animals, plants together. We live as best we can and then we return to whence we came from. I could share my philosophical and spiritual views with ye, but I fear I'll bore ye even more and I'd rather not." Teagan winked at her.
@Old Amsterdam

Alex nodded thoughtfully. "The choices we make define who we are, while the choices we make are the doors of our life. Behind every door is more, different, doors. But can you see what's on the other side until you've shut it? Of course not. And eventually there's the final door, with the great unknown on the other side. So why fear the other side of the doors, or regret not having, or taking, a different door behind you?" she said quietly. "To put it simply, I feel you see it as it is. Abilities don't change us. We change, and sometimes I feel the abilities reflect that."

Alex grew distant for a moment, oblivious to her surroundings. She reopened her eyes and sighed. "What are we, in the end, if not what we make of ourselves?"

With a quick twirl, Alex returned to her impish self. "But! Enough depressing crap. Allow me to take a page from Aladdin," she said holding out her hand. There was a hint of playfulness in her voice now. "May I show you a whole new world, my dear Teagan?"

@ihinka

Teagan listened carefully. Alex might have been young, but she possessed a depth Teagan quite admired. Not that it was rare for young people today to be insightful and with wisdom well beyond their age. It's just that more often than not they allowed themselves to coast downstream, rather than paddle and steer their boat. But the path of least resistance was a path in its own right she supposed.

A slow, soft smile stretched Teagan's lips. She was glad she didn't leave when she was about to. She observed Alex growing distant for a moment. A sigh. And then in a flurry of motion she was facing Teagan smiling that devilish smile of hers, extending her hand in invitation.

Teagan's smile broadened, showing off her dimples. "Well..." She locked eyes with Alex's, taking the offered hand. "Generally I'm the one leading..." Her smile became crooked. "But I'm also flexible." She winked. "Lead on, m'lady!"
@Old Amsterdam

James continued to stare out over the city, the skyline melting into a beautiful purple hue behind the buildings, briefly taking James back to his youth, staring out at the brilliant blend of colors that would paint the sky come sunset with his mother holding him at her side, it had been something of a personal tradition of theirs, but the sunsets here weren't as magnificent or vibrant. There was always a depressing undertone to them, and it was something that James just couldn't shake, the city didn't rest like it was supposed to, there was no peace, always movement, always something. He just felt like he was spread thin.

His train of thought was interrupted by a strange tingling sensation, his whole body feeling hollow, like a cool wind had swept through him and emptied him out, and then suddenly it was like he was whole again, gazing back out at the same... except it wasn't the same, the skyline was more obstructed and the street ran off at a different angle to his eye then just before. What the fuck. Was the soft whisper in the forefront of his mind, he clasped the window ledge with a hand to steady himself as he stood, hunched over, staring at his feet, obfuscated beyond his own means.

"Um, hey." Were the words spoken to break him from the spell, said in a somewhat musical accent that he'd always had a liking of. He took the offered glass of water with silence, thanking her with a brief smile. He sat there dumbfounded for a moment, looking for some words to say to strike up a conversation, she was an older woman, but there was a certain careless beauty to her that still made him nervous, his brain practically sighed with relief when she started up after the brief pause.

"I know ye don't know me. I'm not a fan or a reporter. I just wanted to thank ye... Y'know... Ye held portions of the Fitch buildin' so the rescue crews could get the people out." She informed him, James could feel the heat rising in his cheeks, he never knew what to do with peoples thanks or praise and the fact that she had seen him there meant she had seen him in his costume, which made it all the harder to look her in the eyes. It's not that he was ashamed of his body, it's just that he always felt at a bit of a disadvantage when socializing with others, like an open vulnerability that everyone else kept hidden. Perhaps the world would be better if everyone went about naked? He mused, his eyes briefly scanning the crowd, coming to rest on a group of octogenarian patrons. Perhaps not. was the brief reply to himself as his eyes flicker to frown at his hands. "Uhh.. yeah, thanks." He managed to mutter, finding a sudden interest in the glass of water cradled between them.

"For what is worth... A lot of people are alive today, because of ye." She finished, untying some garment from around her neck before offering it to him. "To hide the wine stain." She clarified and walked away before he could thank her once more, despite the fact he didn't quite know what to do with the item of clothing she had just given him. Taking a quick sip of water, he placed the glass on a nearby table, throwing the cravat around his neck to wear like a sort of scarf, with the two loose ends hanging down his front. You twat. Was the criticism of his new look upon catching his reflection in the glass of the window.

"Fuck me.." He sighed under his breath, the night shaping up to be one of his worse ones, returning to his spot by the window, that he still wasn't quite sure was his original perch. Hopefully I can get a moment more to myself before I get absolutely trashed on cheap wine and champagne. He thought mulling over the street below, only to be ripped once more from his thoughts by a floating figure knocking upon the glass outside.

"Um, hi." Followed by a little wave. "Aren't you Stark Crusader?" Was the muffled introduction from the armor clad figure outside. James arched a single eyebrow at the unexpected intrusion to his scheduled brooding, calmly stepping back to look more fully at his new acquaintance. Ah yes it's... umm...ahhh, Iron man? Ah bugger it! Names often escaped James, even more so his fellow epics. Giving a quick look over either shoulder to see if anyone else had noticed this party goer gone astray, James returned the greeting with a little wave of his own, his face scrunched up in confusion.

@Regitnui

Alex pulled Teagan across the room to the window, rapping on the glass hard enough to rattle the window.

"Spec! We need to talk!" she called through the glass, backing up with a determined look in her eyes. She set a chair in front of the window, followed by a second chair upside down. "Watch this," she said with a grin.

Alex was always surprised at how easily she could lock onto Spectrum. Given the armor, she always thought that the woman would have a higher density and weight difference than she did.

A few moments passed by, and then Spectrum was standing in front of the chair Alex had placed right side up, and the other chair was falling onto the roof of the entrance to the underground garage.

"Welcome back to the party, Spec. This is Teagan. I'll explain that later. Now you, dear woman, have something you need to take care of."

She turned to James. "Oh, and sorry for intruding. But I'm stealing this one for some personal conflicts."

@ihinka@Regitnui@Athoriel

Spectrum dropped into the chair, but bounced straight back up again with a series of crazy gestures, culminating in a hand against the front of the armour and a series of quick strokes spelling "F-I-T-C-H". "So that's why you had to to go and disappear like a dork," Alex replied. Spectrum's head shook vigorously, and a thumb got pointed over the left shoulder with a hand fanned at the neck shortly after.

"Yes, you totally are," Alex replied, pressing the point on Spectrum's faceplate where the nose would be. "But you're a cute dork. Maybe, I don't know, try talking to him? Outside of the job, y'know?" Spectrum's armour went white, and the head shook again, a hand tapping the forehead and passing down over the helmet.

"How many times do I have to tell you?" Alex responded. "You are not boring and plain. You. Are. Beautiful. And. Awesome." Spectrum got whirled around by the shoulders, Alex pointing the armoured Epic right at Dragon Heart. "Now go talk to him, or I'll make you go talk to him."

Spectrum spun, breaking out of her grip. Jabbing the thumb over the left shoulder again, a tap of the head and a spin on the finger followed by a covering of the eyes. After a moment, an hourglass gesture was combined with the pointing. Alex sighed. "Have you seen him? Listened to him? I thought you were nuts over him. He obviously is into girls. He just isn't a man-slut."

Spectrum raised an eyebrow, one of the few expressions clear through the mask. "A what?" The first words on this side of the conversation, but the face was enough for Alex.

"He doesn't sleep with every girl who wants to spread them for him, Spec," She explained. "He's classy, I guess. I don't know, you're the one crazy for him and you need to go talk to him. I mean, hell, I'll give you forceful alone time if you want."

Spectrum described a large circle using a sweep of one hand, then dropped the other right through the centre. "No," Alex responded. "But I can open a door for you two to have a private conversation. Just say it's important." Spectrum looked over at Dragon Heart, mingling in the crowd. The thought was tempting, to let him see her, rather than the armour. But the thought of taking off the armour now - when it hated clothes like it did - sent a fresh wave of embarrassment and white light through the armour. When had Spectrum decided to keep it under control today? When had that decision been forgotten?

Taking a deep breath in, Spectrum gathered all the courage available and willed the armour to blank again, walking over to Dragon Heart.

Teagan was following the exchange with quiet amusement. After Alex had dragged her to the window where the ever so confused Stark Crusader was staring the waiving armored Epic outside, she'd somehow transported the chair outside to replace it with the Epic.

Oh, you little devil! Realization dawned on Teagan, remembering how Stark Crusader and the Asian guy had switched places. Exactly like the chair and the armored Epic had just now. And Alex'd been there too. Aye. Teagan chuckled quietly. You really were bored out of your mind, weren't you, you little imp.

The ex smokejumper tried to follow the conversation as best she could, since Alex hadn't asked her to give them privacy nor had she pulled her friend to the side. But all she could really follow were Alex's responses to her friend's gesticulations. The two apparently understood each other quite well. Still Teagan managed to gather the gist of it. Apparently Alex was encouraging Spec, as she'd called her, to talk to Dragon Heart. Although Alex never said his name, she did whirl her friend in his general direction though. And it made sense especially after the conversation Teagan'd whiteness earlier between them. She remembered how smitten the young woman had looked in the presence of the male celebrity epic.

After a couple more gesticulations from Alex's friend and a few more prods from Alex the young woman in armor obviously resolved herself to something. She straightened, inhaled deeply and strode towards Dragon Heart.

Teagan allowed her quiet chuckle to rise in volume and transform into a mirthful laughter that ignited her meadow green eyes. She cocked her scarred eyebrow at Alex and mockingly accused. "I thought you didn't know sign language?" She pushed off the wall she was leaning onto and approached Alex staring her down, since she had a few inches on her. "More to the point... Who else were you going to switch about like poor Stark Crusader and that Asian guy, had I not dared to try and rescue you from your boredom? You little Puck!" Teagan was grinning widely now. Mischief dancing in her deep green eyes.
@Old Amsterdam

"I don't know sign language!" Alex giggled. "But when you've been friends with Spec for years, and can't hear, you figure out how to read her body language and develop a way to communicate with the deaf girl while in her suit."

Alex spun the chair around, sitting down in it in Spectrum's access. "I wasn't going to do anyone else like that, honest!" Alex said bringing up her hands in mock surrender. "What can I say? I like to make things interesting. And that's just the beginning of what I'm capable of. My main focus, believe it or not, is helping people. I'm like a transporter in a several different way," Alex continued happily.

@ihinka

Alto took the brownie and nodded. Nothing too crazy had happened to him either, although that did just make him worry a bit for the future. Murphy probably turned in his grave when the High Prescient appeared, but you could still say Murphy's law applied on smaller scale events. Actually, now that he thought about it, this rescuers event was probably a prime target for something to go wrong. If someone mounted an attack successfully, they'd hit a lot of rescue workers and Epics which actually do good around here. Well, such a thing would've probably been seen by the High Prescient already and prevented. But there was still a chance that an attack would come, but it just probably wouldn't be big enough to make some serious trouble.

And even in that case, they had some powerful Epics here like Dragon Heart. And also to a certain extent, the majority of them could be considered emergency workers. They probably had a lot of adaptable people who would be well prepared in the event that something did happen. He was probably just thinking too much in the end, but it never hurt to be prepared.

"Pretty sure we have a lot of time left until the event's over," He said, shoving the brownie in his mouth. "I'm probably going to go eat some more, see you around."

He walked off while taking a sip of his champagne.

@Polaris North

Comet had returned to sipping drink and staring into the crowd, he was almost getting ready to leave, as he had managed to piss off one of the big guys a few moments after getting there. No matter how worth it it was, it was going to be harder to make friends with that big guy in the other corner, not that he stood much of a chance of making friends in the first place.

He sighed and took another sip. If only he had been born a nice guy, that would have been grand, not that he needed friends, who did? Screw them, screw them all-

Oh hey look, it's Spectrum, damn he's cool, if only I could see the man underneath, I bet he's handsome, so handsome. Comet's eyes darted over the suited-up superhero, he had only seen him once before, but immediately he had been struck by the dazzling beauty of his power. The thrill that he got just from watching was enough to put any run to shame.

He had to talk to him, but what would he say? Compliment his costume? Nah, dudes didn't care about their clothes, but there was literally nothing else to talk about.

He nervously poked his fingers together as he thought, staring intently at the armored hero. Then his eyes narrowed.

Wait a minute... where's he going? He wondered silently as Spectrum continued through the room towards... something lost in the crowd. He placed down his drink and slunk through the mass of bodies in an attempt to see, wiping a bit of sweat from his forehead and calming himself with a few deep breaths. He had to be beet red, he had barely any memory of the last time he and Spectrum had met, and he had almost entirely forgotten about him before today. It seemed childish, like some kid following around an adult due to some puppy-love, but this felt like more than that, he was still dealing with the fact that he wasn't...

It was Dragon Heart.

It was Dragon Heart and Comet was fuming.

He shook in... it wasn't so much rage as dawning comprehension. Spectrum was into Dragon Heart, not that Comet exactly blamed him, but it was less about the looks in his eyes, sure Dragon Heart had those, but he was too arrogant, he was fake-nice, quick to anger at everything, and he was oh so boring.

Comet had to do something, but what? He couldn't approach Dragon Heart, not after what he had done earlier, and he still wasn't ready to speak to Spectrum. He had to come up with something... but there was nothing. He had to talk to Spectrum, he stood no chance against Dragon Heart unless he did. He had to get ready.

He appeared next to a very clearly startled Chief Thomas, and spoke very quickly.

"I'vegottogogetsomethingI'llbebackokaybye!" he then shot off before Thomas could even see who it was.

"What the he-"

"I'm back, thanks for waiting on me, now, I've got a boy to charm."

He shot towards the armored man, rose in mouth. He slid in front of him, giving a coy smile, which quickly faded into a nervous look as he realized just how close he was to Spectrum. He pulled the rose out of his mouth and stood a moment, knees knocked, before offering it with a shaky hand.

"H-here."

As soon as this is done I'm going to go to the top of this building and jump off five times.

@Regitnui

Finch

While the Epic cats were away, the birds would play.

That was what Finch wanted to think anyways. Crime waited for no man, and even if he was not on the clock with the Epics who ran the place Finch was not going to put a stop to his endeavors. After all, not every crime could be stopped, and it made him look a bit more threatening when he was actually successful. Otherwise the impact would be lost because there would be no reason to care about him. At least in his own mind.

That was why he was at his current location, positioned near the First City Bank, one of the largest banks in the city (hence the name). Knocking over some branch location wouldn't do for his criminal reputation at all, which was why he was going directly for the head. He might not get everything, but he was going to grab as much as he could and then make his escape.All in a hard days work for the Finch.

"Alright boys, just like we rehearsed. Let's go get them," he said to the guys he had brought in for this operation, most of whom were geared up with the best that he could manage from the resources that he still had. They were confident at least, and probably loyal. It'd be enough to knock over a bank if no Epics showed up to stop him.

So they went to work. Some guys would go around back to move in that way while Finch himself walked in through the front door, brazen as could be. "Hello there folks," he said with a bow as he tossed a glass blade at a guard with a snap of the wrist. "This is what we'd call a heist. So if you'd all kindly hand over any electronic devices, weapons, and the like, no one else will have to get hurt." His men moved quickly to do what he had said, as the heist began in earnest.

Meanwhile he went to go find the bank manager. From there it would be a quick trip to the bank vault. Now it was just a race against time, a race he intended to win.

"Mmmhm... Honest... Sure!" Teagan's eyes were still full of mirth. With Alex sitting in the chair she felt like she was looming even more over her and her instinct was to slouch a bit, but she remembered her shoulder and Alex's scolding earlier so she stayed still. "Well... what you did just now, however adorable it was to watch, was also very sweet."

She favored Alex with a soft smile. "I will never doubt your power, Alex, just like I never doubt the ferocity of a forest fire." She looked over her shoulder to where she supposed the armored epic had gone, and did wince as her scrape stretched in the process. She turned and locked eyes with Alex again. "More importantly. I'll never doubt your willingness to help a friend."

Sure, Alex was on the trickster side and Teagan suspected she often tried to convince people she wasn't all that good. But she was. What she'd just witnessed had confirmed it for her. Fuck my shoulder. She bent a little, ignoring the zing of the stretching skin. A portion of a tattoo on the left side of her neck peaked from the high collar of her tailcoat, previously obscured by her cravat. "I'd be honored to count among your friends one day."

"Well, I think I'm just gonna head home." She said to no one in particular. As much as she loved people, she really didn't know anybody, and to be honest, they kind of freaked her out. That, and drinking alone wasn't really on her to-do list. She stood up and stretched out her muscles. Much better. Sitting in a chair for an hour really puts a damper on your cognitive functions. Heh, then again that was basically her life for twenty some years. She pulled put her phone. Nothing new, just a game alert for Pixel Dungeon. Hmmm... well, she could always stay a little longer and goof around on her phone. Battery life was at 90%. She supposed hanging out just a little longer couldn't hurt. She sat back down and took another sip of Champagne. Ew. Why did she do that? That was nasty. Right, game time.

Let's play... Yu-gi-oh Duel Links. That sounded fun. She liked the game, but didn't have much time to play it. That, and you needed Wi-Fi to play. Speaking of which... she needed a network to play on. Oh boy, looks like there's some unprotected Wi-Fi nearby. She'd be taking that. Ok, game time for real. Oh boy. Updates. Her favorite... luckily, the update wasn't to big, and was downloaded in no time.

Minutes passed as she ripped through the NPCs with her Water/Earth deck. Well, as much as she liked winning, some PVP seemed to be in order. Searching... and... found one! Mikey231. Really? That's your screen name? Whatever. The battle was... unremarkable to say the least. The guy clearly didn't know what he was getting into. She'd have to gain a few ranks before she'd fight any real opponents. Time to start the grind.

Previously...

David was alone at last. On the roof, of all places, but it was quieter, warm, and comfortable. He'd found a little nook in the darkness, right at the edge of the building. For a little while he sat and watched the rising moon. Not a bad place to be, all things considered. Sure, he would rather be home, but he could also have been in...Siberia, or what was left of it.

The night lulled at him, whispering sweet promises of sleep and comfort. All lies, of course: he couldn't sleep like normal people could. That would be too easy, too relaxing. He didn't know why his abilities had randomly popped into existence since leaving home, but he doubted he would be welcome home to find out. So he dealt with the night time adventures as best he could. At least he wasn't dying from sleep deprivation. Yet.

He closed his eyes. Just for a bit, he told himself, and then he'd wake himself up. One perk of being a ghost-lord of the night: he never overslept. For a few minutes his mind was blank, slowly fading into obscurity.

Then the Phantom rose from the dust, its swirling darkness forming shoulders, arms, a head. Hey, if he was going to be stuck with this kind of ability, he might as well be somewhat threatening for it. The Phantom grew in size, incorporeal cloak dancing in imagined winds as he loomed high above the roof. Ah, to be free.

David would have smiled, but the Phantom's emotions were somewhat dulled by the power of sleep. Instead, he touched the rooftop, sinking through it. Down, down he traveled: slowly, to avoid losing track of is surroundings. Once he had sunk so fast into the Earth he had ended up in the sewers before he'd been able to slow himself down. Only fate itself knew how much deeper than that he could go. Probably straight through to the other side, if he felt like it.

After a few, slow moments of descending, Phantom entered the ballroom as a frightfully large monster, silent as the moon. He slid through the ceiling head first, rotating gently in the air so that the bottom of his form touched the floor first. He didn't say anything: that would have given him away. Instead, he slowly shrunk down to the size of a normal man, going from "Death, Horseman of the Apocalypse" to "Ghost Cosplayer" in the span of five seconds.

He floated forward then, passing through several unsuspecting Epics. He'd noticed that passing through some people left them with a strange, mild sense of dread: a tremor which passed as soon as he left. It was hilarious. He saw Dragon Heart and that Epic who had been on the roof. Just a little bit more mischief, he told himself, fading from view entirely.

Invisible David crept silently through the crowd until he slid right through the two epics: first the armored Epic, then Dragon Heart in turn. Then he looked for a few more targets: a young looking guy with a weird arm. That'd work. He soared across the room to poke the guy in the ear with a telekinetic finger. Wet willy--no, Ghost Willy.

He removed himself to the top corner of the room, still invisible, to see what, if anything, would become of his handiwork. Invisible ghostman. That was him.

Spectrum stopped dead as the speedster appeared, rose in hand. "Um... Thanks..." Taking the rose, Spectrum wondered what to do next. Am I supposed to give him a kiss? I don't want to, I want to give one to Dragon Heart and... Other things. The armour tinged blue, then white, then with head in hands was forced to settle down. "Do you want a kiss?" Spectrum asked the speedster, "I think that's what girls are supposed to do when boys give them roses, but I want to do something else first."

Holding the rose out and handing it back, Spectrum said. "Find me later with this and we'll talk about a kiss or something else, OK?" Squaring shoulders, a firm stride carried Spectrum over to Dragon, a lot of effort going into not letting any colour flow into the armour. He turned, and the effort redoubled. He really was handsome. More handsome in person than in any poster or photo. "Um... Dragon, sir...?"

@bluetommy2

"Mmmhm... Honest... Sure!" Teagan's eyes were still full of mirth. With Alex sitting in the chair she felt like she was looming even more over her and her instinct was to slouch a bit, but she remembered her shoulder and Alex's scolding earlier so she stayed still. "Well... what you did just now, however adorable it was to watch, was also very sweet."

She favored Alex with a soft smile. "I will never doubt your power, Alex, just like I never doubt the ferocity of a forest fire." She looked over her shoulder to where she supposed the armored epic had gone, and did wince as her scrape stretched in the process. She turned and locked eyes with Alex again. "More importantly. I'll never doubt your willingness to help a friend."

Sure, Alex was on the trickster side and Teagan suspected she often tried to convince people she wasn't all that good. But she was. What she'd just witnessed had confirmed it for her. Fuck my shoulder. She bent a little, ignoring the zing of the stretching skin. A portion of a tattoo on the left side of her neck peaked from the high collar of her tailcoat, previously obscured by her cravat. "I'd be honored to count among your friends one day."

"Mhmmm, yes. My power isn't all that powerful. I'm a support. Traveler. I move things, either by force or by cooperation," Alex said slowly. She glanced around, ensuring no one was looking out the window, and opened a doorway a few inches from the window. On the other side you could see mountains in the distance, large ones. "Those are the Himalayan Mountains. I tend to work side by side with the Rescue squad, often without their knowledge. I was at the Fitch building, actually."

She closed the doorway, gazing out the window without really seeing anything.

"But a friend? You may want to reconsider that decision and hope. I am an Epic, and an heir to the richest family in Epic City, who also happens to be the fifteenth richest in the world, and as you yourself said I'm an Imp," she continued quietly. "But I do not control your choices, nor does anyone else but yourself. If you're truly set on friendship, find me after tonight. It'll be a test, and a game."

Alex nodded to herself, opening a doorway and walking through out. It closed immediately after, and Alex found herself on the other side of the large room, looking at Spectrum. Where did she get the rose from?

Comet found himself smiling as Spectrum addressed him, colors flaring. Hopefully that meant good things.

"Do you want a kiss?"

Comet's eyes shot open and his face turned completely red, he attempted to respond, only getting out a grunt. He began to breathe heavily.

Cachu sanctaidd, this is it this is it-

"I think that's what girls are supposed to do when boys give them roses..."

Comet felt like the words themselves had taken physical form and punched him in the stomach. He stared open mouthed as she finished and walked away. He suddenly felt a sharp tinge of... something, he felt like he was standing wrong, like he needed to leave immediately.

He watched her as she walked away, unable to think of anything to do or say. He wiped his goggles and undid his bun, pulling his hair loose and shaking his head. He rubbed his temples and tried to figure out what the hell was even happening. Brushing his hands through his hair, he looked around the room with a look of confusion.

Finally, he clapped his hands and drifted over to one side of the room, pulling his hair back up and tying it with a sigh.

Well this day totally isn't just ruined now.

He fell against a wall and crossed his arms. He looked about to see if anyone had seen that. It seemed as if he had been un-noticed, thankfully, if anyone had seen that he would have never gone to a social gathering ever again. Just as he felt like he was calming down, a realization came over Comet.

Oh god I forgot to tell her not to kiss me.

He looked over at Spectrum, who was already approaching Dragon Heart. They were too close for him to intervene now, all he could do was wait for them to next meet and tell her the truth...

Or... he could make the best of this. It's not like the thought was arousing to him, but it would be hilarious to screw with her. That would definitely salvage the situation, at least in his eyes.

The color returned to his face and a mischievous grin was quick to follow it.

Despite these things, he couldn't help but feel an odd pit in his stomach. He felt... dread, not about the kiss, that was going to be incredibly humorous, but about something... indescribable. Like he had seen a ghost. Whatever it was he didn't like it. He decided to step outside for a moment, get some air, maybe that would help.

Within the next second he was out, seated on the ground in a slouch that would put a super-villain to shame. Yeah, this felt better, much better. What the hell was that anyway? He wondered, something in that room was causing that, and he had no clue what.

Teagan stood still in front of the window in reflective silence after Alex's exit. Of course, she couldn't help but be impressed by the young woman's powers. But she remained unmoved from her resolve. What Alex could do, and for that matter, what any of the Epics could do, didn't make them who they are. Who they were determined what they did with their lives and consequently their powers.

Teagan didn't know why Alex wanted to dissuade her from pursuing a friendship. And, of course, if the young Epic didn't want to be friends, Teagan would respect that. But Alex hadn't said that. She'd tried to make Teagan reconsider by offering reasons and arguments against it, which to Teagan's mind were irrelevant. But they obviously held relevance to Alex and Teagan at least wanted to find out what kind, before giving up on this potential friendship.

She smiled to herself. And if you think you are the only imp around here, Alex, oh, you're sorely mistaken. Teagan scanned the crowd. She was still of a mind to find the Chief and speak to him. She'd been helping with rescue efforts around the city on a volunteer basis, but she felt like she wanted to make things more official. After a moment or two of crowd searching, Teagan spotted the man and slowly began making her way towards him.

"Chief Thomas?" Teagan called once she neared.

"Teagan." He acknowledged her and extended his hand for a handshake. "How're you doing? How's the shoulder."

"It's gettin' better, Chief." Teagan answered. "Thanks."

"You did good work at the Fitch building." He commanded straightforwardly.

"Thanks, Chief. But it was a team effort. I'm just glad we managed to get the people out."

The older man nodded. "How's the party treating you?" He asked.

Teagan smiled. "It's been... Interesting is a good word."

The Chief chuckled. "I know you're a recent transplant to Epic City. And since you've been fighting wild fires for most of you're career you're probably not used to rubbing elbows with the Epics. But if you're gonna be living here and working closely with the rescue crews, you're gonna have to get used to it."

"Actually, Chief, that's kinda what I've been wantin' to speak to you about."

"Oh?" The man simply said.

"I want to make my participation in the rescue operations a permanent one." Teagan stated simply.

The Chief nodded. "Yes, you've been only volunteering so far." He pierced Teagan with assessing eyes. "I don't see a problem with that. You're a capable professional. You've proven your worth during rescue operations with you're volunteer work. We'll be glad to have you on board full time." He extended his hand for a second time and Teagan shook it.

"Thanks, Chief."

"I'll have someone contact you to tell you when and where to report."

"I'll let you enjoy the party, Chief." Teagan said and drifted off. She found a good vantage point and resumed her people watching routine.