Courtaud

Love Will Keep Us Together: A Suicide Squad RPG

I'm interested in this, I'll try and research a fun DC villain to play

Young Justice

Location: Mt. Justice Base Lounge
Interactions: @shard - Hex, @canaryrose - Cybergirl

---

Talon looked down at Casper's outstretched hand. The ghost boy's clawed fingernails not unlike the gauntlets Talon himself wore during battle. He was taken aback however at the boy's cavalier attitude to his real identity. The others were all willing to share that part of themselves, it seemed so far Talon was the only one who wanted to keep a part of himself to himself. Hex was so willing to become fast friends with him, despite not really knowing him all that well. In fact, the others all seemed to demonstrate a familial relation to each other, or a willingness to break down those barriers and socialize.

Talon felt embarrassed, honestly. Here's this nice boy wanting to get him to open up. But Talon didn't have anything to offer him. Before he could respond, Cybergirl smiled at the two of them on the couch. It seemed at least so far she felt no ill will towards his behavior during the training exercise. Talon watched as she joined their little group in the lounge, wondering if he'd be able to tell she was made of cybernetic parts if he wasn't already informed. She carried herself with grace regardless, without the pointed way of speaking in some of Oracle's old science fiction movies.

She too gave her name. Alissa Fields. Talon looked away in order to save face, but what he felt was some mixture of shame and wanting immediately to get away from the others. He had no name to give them. He was only a Talon - one of many. But if he kept wearing these glasses, kept at hiding that part of himself...none of them would know that.

He could at least pretend to have an identity worth keeping secret.

"Talon." He told them, unable to meet Alissa's eyes, or shake Casper's hand, still outstretched.

Word association Game!

sardine

Young Justice

Location: Mt. Justice
Interactions: Hex, Rain, Cybergirl, Nymph

---

Talon finished drying his dishes, taking time to place them delicately back into the cabinet. The porcelain clacked as he stacked his plate atop the others. His back was to the lounge, where the others were. Hex had invited him to sit with him on the couch. Talon considered this the better option over standing around with Rain, Cybergirl and the sleeping Nymph. Talon crossed in front of the group of them, being sure to meet Rain's eyes through his own dark glasses. He looked less irritated than he had earlier in the day, and having two women on his arm might be doing something for his mood. Talon stared him down through it, careful not to brush the sleeping plant in his arms. It was an image not unlike something he'd see in a fairy tale. Prince Rain to the rescue.

Talon sat on the couch next to Hex and Coal, his elbow on the arm of the couch and his hand under his chin. He was disinterested in the show, but Hex had made a good point. Increasing camaraderie would increase success in the field. And Hex was one of the few people that Talon had had a meaningful interaction with already. Mirage was likely engaged in a fight. He wished he hadn't been so quickly dismissed by Black Canary - seeing an Atlantean in action would have been thrilling. Not to mention the alien girl who had joined them at the last minute. Talon knew virtually nothing about her.

Hex was asking Talon about his personal life. Another subject Talon wasn't comfortable expressing verbally. He shook his head when asked if he knew how to play any instrument. When Hex expressed his desire to play, Talon wondered if there was a piano somewhere on the base. He considered it likely that the League would have stocked the building with social things to do for the members looking to rehabilitate their socialization. Maybe he'd even learn an instrument. Start a band with the others. What a ridiculous idea. Talon turned red when Hex mentioned that he couldn't help opening up to him. He wasn't used to this at all. Hex had come across as a lonely type, someone who keeps to the shadows - but instead he'd already demonstrated himself as the most social out of all of them. Or at least someone willing to leave his comfort zone. Talon wasn't willing to open himself to others in a meaningful way just yet.

"Your bird. Does it have abilities like you?"

Young Justice

Location: Mt. Justice
Interactions: Hex, Rain, Cybergirl, Nymph

---

Talon had finished changing after his post-training session shower, substituting his usual hero garb for turtleneck and slacks. He replaced his domino mask with a pair of dark glasses, heeding Nightwing's suggestion at continuing to keep his real face secret. Realizing that it was unlikely he'd be able to walk the halls without running into one or some of the others, Talon considered whether or not he should leave his dorm. The thought of being on the receiving end of one of Viktor's smug empty looks was almost too much to bear. But Talon's hunger ultimately won out. He stepped out into the hallway and headed out towards the lounge/kitchen area. He wasn't certain on the complete layout of the building just yet, having only been there a night. He would have to pay more attention to the base's winding halls and many corners. He did know that the lounge and kitchen were on the third level.

As he crested the hall, Talon heard voices in the lounge. Hex was talking to the bird, and the two of them were watching TV. Talon crossed behind the two of them watching some sort of reality tv program. Dick had told Talon that if he wanted to learn more about reality, reality tv was not the way to go. Talon passed the two of them, the bird chirping away at his familial friend. Talon wondered how long Hex and the bird had been together. Or if they'd ever really been apart. Talon shuddered at the thought of not ever being able to have time to themselves. He realized he knew very little about Hex and his history. In fact, he knew very little about the history of his a lot of his teammates. Nightwing had brought him up to speed about the superhero identities of his new friends, and they were more than willing to share their real names with Talon. Red Tornado had each of them demonstrate their abilities early on in the tour. Talon would have a hard time explaining what it was that Hex could do. He thought of saying something to him about the mission training earlier, including the sparring session they each had taken part in. Talon felt better after his hot shower - he always did. But he wasn't sure what to say yet, and his grumbling stomach lead him to the cabinets across the way.

The kitchen was filled with modern appliances, and Talon frowned at the fridge with way too many buttons. Instead of opting to wrestle with it, Talon grabbed a slice of wheat bread that was in the breadbox, opened a drawer with silverware, and made himself a sandwich. Banana and Peanut Butter - a healthy source of protein. He leaned against the countertops, watching television over Hex's shoulder, having a hard time hearing the show over Coal's chittering.

Moments later, the main hall opened up again, and in came the rest of "Team Canary." Cybergirl and Rain had made their way back, and Rain was softly carrying in Nymph in his strong arms. He held her effortlessly. Talon averted his eyes, embarrassed at the sight of both of them. He wondered if Nymph should have been moved at all, laying the way that she was. It may have been some sort of photosynthesis. Talon was aware that some metahumans require natural resources to replenish their strength or heal their words - Superman himself famously getting charged by the sun. Cybergirl and Rain were speaking to each other, and Talon felt himself interrupting.

"The others, are they sparring? It would have been informative to have watched."

Again, he was finding himself speaking up more and more, but still only when it came to the mission, to the job. There was more he wanted to say, more he wondered how to express. Should he challenge Rain then and there? In his younger days, that's exactly what he would have done. But they were a team now. And honestly, Talon was just grateful that the others had helped him when he needed it. As exposed as that made him feel. He felt a sort of inferiority complex rise from within him, wondered at this place on the team and what the others would make of his mistake. Even the others who had barely spoken to him since he had arrived. He took the last bite he had left and turned to the sink to wash his dishes. It was important to stay clean.

Young Justice

Location: Training Grounds, Mt. Justice
Interactions: Hex, Black Canary, Red Tornado, Nymph

---

Talon heard the approach of the young ghost boy, the one who had quickly established himself as the one to check on the others. Talon felt irritated that he needed to be supported at all in this way, but was deep down bedgrudgingly grateful that Hex was willing to approach him at all, with a friendly enough disposition. Talon would be lying however if a part of him didn't feel he was being patronized. Having to have his hand held like his mistake was some sort of game-changing event in their entire training regime. Talon was pissed off, honestly - but unsure how to shake it off. He didn't think it would be kind to take his frustration out on Hex. He felt like lashing out, but the boy was just trying to be nice.

Still...

Hex was sitting next to him now, and despite the kind words that Hex was expressing to Talon, he listened through gritted teeth. Despite only just meeting, Hex was speaking so familiarly with Talon. It was a little overwhelming. Was Talon expected to speak about his past? Did he now owe that to Hex? No, he didn't owe anyone anything. Not now. All he wanted to do was make a place for himself on the team, and instead he gave everyone else a hero moment. The boy felt like he was shaking from an entire litany of emotions - anger, embarrassment, he felt exposed. He wanted to swing at Hex just for being near him. But that's not what Nightwing would have wanted him to do. Hex began speaking about the shackles of the past, talking about ownership. What did he expect to know about him? Did he know where Talon had come from? He doubted it - Nightwing wouldn't share any of his past with his new teammates, and the only one who may know about his history with the Court of Owls might have been Rain, as he worked so closely out of Gotham. He scrutinized Hex through the black of his domino mask before faltering. The boy was being too genuine to get irritated with. That just irritated Talon further. He was about to speak up when both Green Arrow and Black Canary finally made their approach.

Black Canary approached him with a serious look and Talon felt like he was about to be reprimanded. Instead, she grabbed his chin in her gloved hand and gave him an inspection of his current wounds. He felt the soreness as soon as she turned his head to the left and the right. Her fingers pinched around his neck and he felt the tenderness of growing bruises. No doubt from Nymph's wrapped vines. He hadn't even noticed that he had small lacerations from them as well. He was dismissed from the others, ordered to go back to the base in order to clean himself up and rest. Nurse his wounds like a small child.

He opened his mouth to protest but she quickly told him it wasn't the time. He pulled the med-kit she offered for him brusquely and stormed off, not looking at the others. If they had anything to say - fine. They should be grateful he gave them a moment to stand out. He was the one that was attacked by an ally, choked by that girl and her out of control powers. But is that what really happened? She had a sunny disposition otherwise, didn't come off as angry and volatile. Maybe it was a mistake? He spared a quick glance at her, but Cybergirl was still huddled with her, trying to help. Still, the whole thing put Talon in a foul mood. He'd have confronted Nymph directly right then and there, but he wasn't sure what he would say. He was angry, and likely would snap at her, like he felt doing with Hex. But his anger at Nymph felt more justified. He was seeing red - What could he do to dispel it? Typically he would spar or something physical - but he didn't want to face any of his teammates right now...

---

Talon was back at the base now - it seemed the others that were on "Team Canary" during the training session were all dismissed at the same time. Talon wondered if they resented that. He wondered if the rest of his new team was more upset with him or Nymph. It was obvious her powers can sometimes run uncontrollably - a risk that many metahumans undoubtedly had to deal with.

He had successfully avoided the others since they had gotten back. He had heard Cybergirl interacting with someone in the kitchen, and so deftly avoided having to see them, stepping silently through the halls of Mt. Justice. He was on his way to the showers, but avoiding the others had him taking a long way around, and so he ended up near the front entrance of base. For some reason he couldn't quite explain, Talon headed outside, his towel in hand. He felt the need to climb a tree - get high up. He always did his best thinking up high, always saw better from a distance. It was the owl-like nature of growing up the way he did. He wasn't suited for ground level...

In the main hall, Talon immediately was noticed by Red Tornado - the group's psuedo-babysitter. He wondered if the android had already been informed of the teams failure earlier this morning. Talon wanted to turn around to avoid conversation, but too late. The android's robotic voice called out to him.

"Talon. The others were looking for you. If you'd like some time for yourself, I'd suggest the fresh air. You may find solace there."

Talon nodded. He wasn't able to speak. He stepped outside into the fresh air.

For whatever reason, he opted to take a stroll. The base of Mt Justice was filled with beautiful foliage - a far cry from the urban cityscape he had grown up in in Gotham. Talon was finding the breath of fresh air and lack of light pollution calming in ways he wouldn't have expected. Not far from the base, he came to a small clearing in the grass. There were flowers that Talon couldn't name. He had never been in a garden before. He had never been in the woods before, not really. Everything about his new home was foreign to him. He felt so out of place, so out of his depth. His anger, his loneliness, it all swirled around him in a complex wave of who he was as a person. As he scanned the beautiful greenery before him, he realized that one of the flowery spectacles he was eyeing wasn't in fact a flower at all.

It was a girl.

In fact it was the girl.

Seemingly on the forest floor, soaking in the sun's rays, was Nymph. She was in her plant form, nearly camouflaged. That would explain while he hadn't noticed her. Talon was carrying around such frustration with her, and if he had spotted her even ten minutes ago inside the building, knew for sure he would have snapped at her, grabbed her and confronted her about what she did to him, how she had embarrassed him. But Talon was struck by her at this moment. She was laying on the earth as if she was a part of it. Talon had a hard time telling where the world ended and she began. He traced the length of her with his eyes, the leaves and vines that had once caused him pain now looked as innocent and harmless as a breeze. As light as the grass he walked on. Talon held his breath and watched as it seemed as though the earth itself breathed along with her.

In that moment, all of Talon's anger seemed to seep away from him, swept away in the same breeze that tossed loose leaves along the ground. Talon knew at that moment he was not angry at Nymph, not upset that she had lost control.

He was mad at himself for failing. He had let himself down. He wondered if he had let Nightwing down too. And oracle.

Talon turned...and ran.

---

Not long after, Talon stood in the hot shower, letting the steam rise among the slick tiles. His dark hair was now down over his eyes. He felt at peace whenever he was in the shower, where he got most of his thinking done. He also didn't want to have to socialize with the others until his bad mood passed. He touched his neck - the light bleeding had already stopped, more like scratches than anything. But he began to have a bruise spread across his neck. He scrubbed the dirt out from under his fingernails, getting the grime he had gripped so tightly as he hung ominously over the obstacle pit. He wasn't sure if the other half of the team had come back yet, or what the plan for the rest of the evening was. He wasn't currently enrolled in school like some of the others, so his days would be pretty much his own until missions or training exercises. He thought he had remembered Nightwing mention to him that there would be social outings during his time spent on the team, and wondered whether he'd ever be willing to take part. He didn't know where he stood with the team, with these Teen Titans, with Young Justice...

Young Justice

Location: Training Grounds
Interactions: Young Justice

---

Talon's vision had grown white while the tendrils and vine's that were once Nymph's hair continued to wrap themselves around his slender neck. His focus was blurred, but he remained conscious. He felt his grip on the face of cliffside slacken, no longer able to maintain the necessary strength to keep himself rooted to the spot. As he felt his feet hanging precariously over the gaping maw of the pit, Talon's mind became still - he was completely at the other's mercy. He felt more of Nymph's foliage slither around and across his face, through his dark hair and across his lips, cradling the back of his head as the young girl above him called out to the others.

The pressure on his throat was beginning to truly burn, each gasp trying to retch itself through his enclosed windpipe. He intentionally slowed his breathing to avoid damaging both his lungs and his throat, an exercise in still-ness he had learned at the Court of Owls. He was able to stabilize himself long enough to feel the vines wrapped around him begin to slacken, and drop at his feet. He felt great relief at being able to breath less obstructed, and looked up into the eyes of the Atlantean Girl - Mirage. In her hand's she held a hooked knife, a serrated blade like the edge of a saw-tooth shark, or a fishing lure. She had hacked away at what was once Nymph's hair, clearing his breathing passage. She too reached out for Talon's hand, and Talon felt his fingers wrap themselves around hers. He felt her strength imbue his own. She was strong, she was brave. Like some of the others. But was she enough? Hex and Nymph still held him tight, and though he was supported by them, his strength was failing and he wasn't able to assist. Dead weight.

Just as Talon felt that the others could hold him no longer, the boy Talon knew as Ja had miraculously arrived at his side, with a metallic ladder in tow. The dark skinned boy with the big hair utilized his impressive strength, displaying his heroic aptitude and making it look effortless - he grabbed Talon by his dangling lower half, and practically leapt up the metallic rungs with all the grace of a panther. Talon was pulled by the helping hands of the others at the same time, and the two young boys were thrown up the gap, landing with a loud thud among the others. Everyone on that end of the chasm were all collapsed in a pile of broken teen titans. Hex and Ja had immediately gotten up and stepped away from the others, and Kass seemingly was looking over the others, catching her breath and making sure everyone was present and accounted for. As they all began to separate and get up from the ground, Talon recognized that there was still one hand gripped around his forearm - Nymph's. She looked stricken, and Talon didn't think she was consciously still holding on to him. He looked at her through furrowed brows, and pulled his arm away from her as Cybergirl grabbed Nymph and pulled her aside.

Talon got to his knees, and leaning on all fours, coughed once or twice, a vicious sounding tear at his throat. He reached up and felt the skin at his neck - it felt sore already. He saw the others disbanding away from him, attending to each other or else silently stalking off. He felt his face grow hot again, frustration and anger threatening to bubble back up to the surface. He looked up to see the members of Team Arrow had all abandoned their obstacles in order to help rescue him. Now he was nursing fresh wounds across his neck. He gripped the earth beneath him, pulling dirt through his fingertips, feeling the bits of rock and stone in the grip of his fist. He looked up at the branch that had snapped beneath his weight. How many times had he swung without effort across the nightscapes of Gotham? But here, on his first day, something so stupid. And then to be saved by everyone. And that girl. The sensation of being gripped around the throat by the girl he had just beaten in front of the others. It wasn't possible that she-

Hex was off not too far from Talon, and Talon avoided his gaze. Standing up, he dusted the dirt from his knees. Pulled out the batrope/grapnel gun he had utlized to check it's utility. How useful that turned out to be. How useful he turned out to be. Saving his pride, no one had said anything directly to him at this point. He wouldn't have been able to bear it. The Magician Zatara and Brightheart had made their way across now too, immediately checking in on everyone's status. Rain was surveying his teammates with that cold gaze of his...

Young Justice

Location: Training Grounds
Interactions: Hex & Nymph

---

Talon felt the grip of the rockface begin to slip beneath his fingertips. The strength in his hands was enough for a real foothold, but this pit was far from a climber's dream. He slid an inch further, attempting to dig his fingernails deep into the earth. He gritted his teeth against the sight. He looked around, quickly - was there anything that he could utilize for leverage? What would Grayson do? Talon reeled - there was nothing. Almost nothing. From over the end of the ledge, a pale hand with long black clawed like nails reached out and down towards him. It must be Hex - the ghost boy. Talon guessed he had laid himself prone on the ledge and reached out without hesitation. His reach wasn't quite long enough though - there was still about a foot of difference in where Talon was on the inside of the ledge. But there was no time to second guess his moves - he only had a few seconds before the earth would give way beneath him. He dug the heel of his boot against the earth, used every ounce of strength to launch himself higher.

It was only a millisecond, but it felt longer.

Hex was a boy who was already demonstrating an eager-ness to be one of the team. To contribute. Talon had admired his volunteering right away to fight Black Canary, noticed he was quick to console Nymph after their sparring session, and now here he was, willing to literally outstretch for him. Not a bad teammate.

Talon grasped Casper's hand in his own, but immediately knew the Wraithborn would not be able to hold his weight. If it came to that, Talon would let go. There was no point in dragging the boy with him for his own mistake. Luckily, Talon didn't have to worry about that. Because only seconds behind Hex was Nymph. She was on Hex's other side, and she too reached down to grab Talon, holding onto his arm. The three of them hung there for a moment, not quite being able to pull themselves upward. Talon's self-toss prevented him from putting his feet on the ledge for support.

He looked down passed his feet, saw the long distance he would fall. Then back up to his teammates, who were risking their own safety for him. Why were they doing that? It was his own mistake. It was his fault. His arrogance. He couldn't see Hex's face but could feel him straining his arm to help keep hold of Talon. Talon could however see Nymph - and she looked so worried. This girl he had just fought with, she too was a creature of such empathy and warmth. Talon couldn't help but feel supported....

Wait, no - he was actually being physically supported. He shook off his daze and realized it was because of Nymph's abilities - her hair was taking on that shape it had briefly during their encounter. He could feel her wrapping around his arm, trying it's best to secure him. If she kept it up, he'd turn out safe after all. He was about to try and thank them both, but felt himself get cut off.

Her hair - the living foliage that it was - had begun to coil around his neck. She looked as surprised as he did. They seemed to constrict a little tighter, and Talon could hear her calling out - maybe to him, maybe to Hex and the others. But everything was starting to get fuzzy. Talon felt a tear drop splash against his face as his vision began to grow white...

My Hero Academia: Just Another Hero

I'm interested as well

Young Justice

Location: Training Grounds
Interactions: Rain & Team Canary

---

Talon watched with his eyebrow raised as Cybergirl swung and tossed Nymph clear over the gap of the chasm before them. Hex had already made his way across without a second thought, his abilities allowing him to simply materialize across the plane. This was Nymph's plan, utilize the strengths of the team in order to get the weaker members across. Although weaker probably wasn't the correct term, just the less able to fly or teleport, or clear the pit in a single bound.

During the first hurdle, Talon did not involve himself - Rain and Cybergirl's enhanced strength meant they could be relied on to clear the obstacle on their own, with only Nymph guiding them through it due to her ability to communicate. And now for this next obstacle, it was Nymph who helped clear something up - the depth of the pit itself. Talon wondered if she had eyesight beyond a normal human's, or perhaps a mastery of trigonometry that she was able to state the dimensions of the pit with such confidence. He wondered how it was she was able to come up with the information. He'd ask her later, when he'd be able to speak again.

Rain turned his attention to Talon and Talon met his gaze. Rain had that serious look he always had on, looking at Talon expectantly.

"What?" Talon gestured to him.

Rain looked back over at Nymph on the other side, safely clearing the passage. Then back to Talon.

Talon got it - Rain was thinking of tossing him too. Inconceivable.

Talon looked passed Rain's broad shoulders to the closest tree to the edge of the pit. The height of which would do fine for what Talon needed. He brushed passed Rain, returning the taller boy's serious look with one of his own.

Rain had carried some of the team through that first obstacle, yes - but Talon would be damned if he had to be literally carried the rest of the way. Only a few feet away was a thick tree, one with enough branches and thick enough bark to climb easily enough. Talon did just that. Demonstrating his dexterity and acrobatics, he made it look effortless - easily swinging himself up to a tall and thick branch high enough off the ground to see across the way. Sure enough he was right, there were plenty of other trees across the way. Determined not to be left behind by the others, Talon took out the one gadget he was permitted to bring with him - a modified Batrope from Nightwing.

Pulling it from a pouch at his waist, Talon took careful aim across the chasm. The strength of the cable would be enough to support his weight, easily. And in training with Nightwing and some of the others, Talon was beginning to get a real knack for swinging utilizing it's clawed edge - easily clearing the gaps and spaces between the buildings and skyscrapers of the city of Bludhaven. This should be a cake walk in compared to those dazzling heights. Without hesitation, Talon fired the mechanism, the length of cable-wire firing outward at the thickest tree across the way. And with that, Talon dove. If he retracted the device at the same time as his descent, he should arc enough to swing easily enough across, landing safely and clearing the gap.

The theory was sound, but Talon didn't account for the tree itself. After nearly making it across, he could hear the cracking of the thick branch he had grappled. Suddenly it snapped, sending the wood splintering, and the grapnel end retracting completely back into the device. Talon was in freefall, and he wasn't going to make it clear after-all. Keeping as cool a head as possible, Talon braced himself, as he slammed just a foot below the edge of the peak. He dug his hands deep into the earth, grabbing on as tightly as he could in order to get as much leverage as possible. An outsider would note that he looked like he was free solo on a cliffside. Dirt and debris showered beneath Talon as he felt himself momentarily stunned. He looked up to see both Hex and Nymph looking over the edge at him. Coming to, he realized he needed to find another place to grab, but he was losing his footing, and pickings were slim...