Cultural Titan

Fractured, Real World Superhumans

"You weren't in love, you were in lust." Haley waved at the red sedan parked not too far from her as she walked towards it. "I told you he was no good for you, and clearly I was right. I know it sounds harsh, but you needed to hear that, you know? Give me a second, my ride is here." She approached the car as the driver lowered the front passenger window.

"Haley?"

"That's me." She walked around to the trunk as the driver stepped out to help her with her bag. Just then, Haley had another incoming call from a number she didn't know. She usually didn't pick the phone for a strange number, but it could possibly be her brother, or maybe his wife. "Jessica I have another call, hold on." The driver took her bag and Haley made her way around to sit in the back seat. "Hello?"

"Oh good!" Alan exclaimed. "Quick to answer. I like that." Still propped up on the orange sports car he gave Madison a quick thumbs, but a bored expression. "I'm calling because a little birdy," Madison sneered at him, "told me you would be interested in a job and had... open availability."

Haley smiled. "That little birdy would be correct. And perfect timing, actually, I just made it back to town. So, care to fill me in with some of the details?" The driver got back to his seat and mapped the route to her destination. Haley nodded at him after they made eye contact through the rearview mirror, letting him know they were heading in the right direction.

"I need a driver for an upcoming event. If you perform well then we can discuss taking you on more permanently. If you are interested you should come by my shop on the outside of town. We can discuss the details there."

She quickly weighed her options. "Okay, that'll work. I have to get home and drop off my bags but then I will be on my way to you. Can you text me the address, please? I don't have a pen handy at the moment."

"Can do"

In the outskirts of the city was a stout two story shop. of an unassuming brick construction. At the door a tall and lanky man in a long black coat greeted Haley by the door. "I'm Tyler. My boss will see you upstairs in his office" he instructed before motioning Haley to follow him. The store itself seemed almost devoid of people and considering its location on the outskirts of the city, maybe that should be expected, but it was more like nobody was really wanted around here. Still the shop looked the part. Rows of books lined shelves with advertisements for all of the most current fad reading materials and old classics. A checkout counter sat next to the door where a short woman, Madison, was currently seated, though she was paying much more attention to whatever was on her monitor than Haley. Above it all was a long balcony where one could oversee everything if they wanted. It was there Tyler directed Haley and more particularly to a heavy wooden door which he opened to reveal his boss.

Alan had taken some time to change into a more presentable blue suite. Sitting behind a desk which was half covered in security monitors and half covered in folders he beckon Haley. "Come in. We have much to discuss."

Quietly following Tyler, Haley looked around the store, eventually greeting the clerk behind the register. She got a quick "hey" in response, and let the woman be as she continued to gaze at the shelves filled with hundreds of books. A few moments later, Haley was entering her new employer's office. She would be lying to herself if she denied admitting the man was quite the looker, especially with his suit on. Haley couldn't help but feel a tad underdressed in comparison. She had on a dark pair of jeans, black boots, and a red blouse. Well, at least her hair was down and she had on a bit of make up.

"Pleasure to officially meet you," she responded, walking to the center of the room. "I must say it's a nice little place you have here. But let's get down to business, shall we?"

"No pleasantries?" Alan asked. "Well, it is fine with me." Alan stood up behind his desk and walked in front of it. "You will know me as Carter. In a week I need a driver. Before then we will need to acquire the vehicle. You will accompany me in it's acquisition. If you do well we can talk about increasing your cut ahead of time. So it would be in your best interest to impress me."

"Well, I can guarantee you I will do my very best to impress you. And please, call me Haley." She leaned forward to rest both of her hands on the back of one of the chairs in his office. "Do you have a plan to acquire this vehicle, or do we work together for that?" Haley wanted to make sure she at least covered the basics.

"Great. We're going to nab ourselves an armored car."

Fractured, Real World Superhumans

A man in black plastic pants and a red t-shirt stepped out the back of a plain grey van. It was far from what many of his associates would consider his normal dress, but he'd been out of the game for a while, slowly laundering his hard, but illegally earned, money through his bookstore. Of course it was now about time he got all of his suits out of the attic.

When Alan got back after the incident he had a bit of a dispute with his microwave and had escalated this dispute to his fist when an arc of lightning shot off. It was invigorating. Alan hadn't felt alive like that moment in years and he knew from then on he was going to have to get back into the game and use this power for something huge. Something worthy of his talents. Since then he'd spent the last month trying to get a handle on just what he could do with his powers and getting the gang back together. Which is why he was now a few blocks away from some forgotten warehouse. The last man he got in touch with, a getaway driver by the handle of "Garfield" had called him out here to discuss something in private. It seemed fishy, but probably nothing he couldn't handle.

Alan walked up to the driver's window of a grey van and knocked on it to get the driver's attention. She was a short woman who went by the handle "Madison". She normally handled hacking and other computer based functions, but Alan was short on available manpower right now with everyone taking care of personal things before they were ready to come to him. Across from her was "Tyler", an expert gunman and occasional sniper. He was mostly around in case things went wrong; which was often enough to keep him on the payroll. That and he was good help around the bookstore. Madison rolled down the window and Alan directed her to drive around the warehouse until she was needed.

A few blocks of walking later Alan came upon the open door of the warehouse. Inside in the center was an expensive looking, orange sports car. All around the place though there were old moldy crates and rusting racks with various decrepit pieces of hardware strewn along them that Alan payed no mind to. Next to the car was Garfield in a fine black business suit. It was a trap. Alan's new powers were pretty cool like being able to detect the electrical signals running through people. People like the two guys Garfield had as backup behind some crates. Of course he had guessed from the moment this meeting was set up that it was going to go badly and under normal circumstances Alan would have scouted it first and then probably come in guns blazing from as many angles as possible. This time however, Alan just wanted to test out his new powers.

"You're a little over dressed for this don't you think?" Alan called across the large distance; stepping through the huge doorway. "I thought this was supposed to be a casual meeting between friends."

Garfield spat some chewing tobacco on the ground. "It is. What do you think about my new car?" Garfield said motioning to the orange vehicle with one hand while the other wiped his lips.

Alan stepped forward into the room and pointed a hand out to the stack of wooden crates Garfield's backup was hiding behind. Without warning a bolt of electricity shot from his fingers and burned a hole through the wood. The anguished screams of two unfortunate souls signified an end to that particular threat. "Now Garfield, I'm sure later that I'm going to have plenty of time to look at your car after I'm done mounting your head to it, but why exactly are you trying to kill me?"

Garfield had a look of shock on his face with eyes glued to Alan's hand. it took Alan walking up no more than a few meters away for the driver to suddenly collect himself and reach for something in the breast of his suit. Wrong answer Alan thought as a second bolt left him, this time at Garfield. It wasn't meant to kill. It was meant to stun. Alan intended to have some... fun with this traitor later. Preferably after he had tortured a motive out of him.

----

Some time later with Garfield tied up in the trunk of his own car and Alan lazily waiting on the hood the grey van drove in and with the vehicle still running Madison came out. Tyler stayed in the car with vigilant eyes scanning everything. "So, I take it that the meeting went..." Maddison paused to look around only counting the burning crates as damage "No I don't have to clarify that statement. Did you convince Garfield to be our getaway driver?"

"Not at all" Alan replied. "I'm going to need you to give me that backup one you were talking about.

"He's not" Madison stopped herself. "Sir we don't know what he'll be like on a job. He's untested. Are you sure you want that?"

"We're always going to need new blood Madison" Alan sighed. "Now give me his number or whatever." Maddison fished out a cheap looking phone that was probably just a burner and dialed a number before handing the device over to Alan. "What's their name?" Alan asked belatedly.

Fractured, Real World Superhumans

Alan "Carter" Smith

Image

Name: Alan "Carter" Smith

Age: 34

Gender: Male

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 180

Ethnicity: White

Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual

Religion: Catholic

Occupation: Bookshop Owner (Thief)

Ability: Electricity Manipulation

Background: Even though he was born of middle class parents Alan didn't have much time to enjoy a normal life before both of his parents died at the hands of a cop during a traffic stop. The news was heartbreaking, but more than that, embittering towards authority. He and his two younger siblings spent most of their childhoods in an orphanage without really knowing the details of happened to their parents and without much hope for the future. It was particularly bad for Alan who hated the way the orphanage was run and could only barely coexist with the staff. Regardless he stowed it away for the sake of his brother and sister.

When he was a teenager he fell in with some pick pockets and thugs leading to his first run in with the police. Alan outran them and eluded them all night until he met the man who would become his master, an aging man who went by Reagan, who just so happened to be a master thief. Really Reagan had scouted him.

He gave Alan a new callsign, Carter, taught him everything he knew and before Alan was in college he was already participating in some fairly big heists. The money was, as Alan told himself, for his brother and sister to help them get on in life, but when they found out what Alan had done to get it, they dissociated with him only keeping his secret out of respect for their familial connection. So he threw himself at his work. Alan became notable enough to run his own crew and make his own jobs. One day though he stumbled upon the most beautiful woman he had ever seen by the name of Elizabeth. She came of old money and her father was determined to involve her heavily with his business partners and eventually marry her off like some medieval lord. They met in secret for a few years before Her father found out about them and forbid their meeting ever again. Eli complied and turned Alan away again and again. Abandoned by everyone in his life Alan removed himself from the world for a while before coming back to the criminal scene with a vengeance. He went after big heist after big heist before once again leaving the scene, telling his associates only that there wasn't anything else left worthy of his talents.

Now however, things are different. The world is in a degree of chaos and Alan has some new abilities to test the limits of, so it looks like crime is back on the menu.

Juliana " Jules" Arbrau

Character Profile

Image

Name: Juliana " Jules" Arbrau

Age: 23

Gender: Female

Height: 5'4"

Weight: 120 lbs.

Ethnicity: Mixed

Sexual Orientation: Bisexual

Religion: Agnostic

Occupation: Mechanic

Ability: Lunar Constructs. Jules uses energy drawn from the moon to create physical objects or additions to her own body, though each take a spectral appearance outline with constellations. The power can be used without pause under full moons, but most of the time the energy used for this ability must be managed until it can be replenished.

Background: Juliana was never in one place growing up. Much to her dismay. Her father was being dragged around the country for different military positions. Her mother wasn't around. Whenever she asked her father would tell Juliana that she left, but it always felt like he meant she had died and just didn't want to admit it. Whatever the case she always found herself alone to tinker with things. In high school she found her only enjoyment in shop classes and and she works as a mechanic. But now after returning to the real world that seemed to have left her behind and with powers that distance her from normal people even more, Jules cannot help but feel unsatisfied with pretending to live a normal life.

Fractured, Real World Superhumans

Alan "Carter" Smith

Image

Name: Alan "Carter" Smith

Age: 34

Gender: Male

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 180

Ethnicity: White

Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual

Religion: Catholic

Occupation: Bookshop Owner (Thief)

Ability: Electricity Manipulation

Background: Even though he was born of middle class parents Alan didn't have much time to enjoy a normal life before both of his parents died at the hands of a cop during a traffic stop. The news was heartbreaking, but more than that, embittering towards authority. He and his two younger siblings spent most of their childhoods in an orphanage without really knowing the details of happened to their parents and without much hope for the future. It was particularly bad for Alan who hated the way the orphanage was run and could only barely coexist with the staff. Regardless he stowed it away for the sake of his brother and sister.

When he was a teenager he fell in with some pick pockets and thugs leading to his first run in with the police. Alan outran them and eluded them all night until he met the man who would become his master, an aging man who went by Reagan, who just so happened to be a master thief. Really Reagan had scouted him.

He gave Alan a new callsign, Carter, taught him everything he knew and before Alan was in college he was already participating in some fairly big heists. The money was, as Alan told himself, for his brother and sister to help them get on in life, but when they found out what Alan had done to get it, they dissociated with him only keeping his secret out of respect for their familial connection. So he threw himself at his work. Alan became notable enough to run his own crew and make his own jobs. One day though he stumbled upon the most beautiful woman he had ever seen by the name of Elizabeth. She came of old money and her father was determined to involve her heavily with his business partners and eventually marry her off like some medieval lord. They met in secret for a few years before Her father found out about them and forbid their meeting ever again. Eli complied and turned Alan away again and again. Abandoned by everyone in his life Alan removed himself from the world for a while before coming back to the criminal scene with a vengeance. He went after big heist after big heist before once again leaving the scene, telling his associates only that there wasn't anything else left worthy of his talents.

Now however, things are different. The world is in a degree of chaos and Alan has some new abilities to test the limits of, so it looks like crime is back on the menu.

Juliana " Jules" Arbrau

Character Profile

Image

Name: Juliana " Jules" Arbrau

Age: 23

Gender: Female

Height: 5'4"

Weight: 120 lbs.

Ethnicity: Mixed

Sexual Orientation: Bisexual

Religion: Agnostic

Occupation: Mechanic

Ability: Lunar Constructs. Jules uses energy drawn from the moon to create physical objects or additions to her own body, though each take a spectral appearance outline with constellations. The power can be used without pause under full moons, but most of the time the energy used for this ability must be managed until it can be replenished.

Background: Juliana was never in one place growing up. Much to her dismay. Her father was being dragged around the country for different military positions. Her mother wasn't around. Whenever she asked her father would tell Juliana that she left, but it always felt like he meant she had died and just didn't want to admit it. Whatever the case she always found herself alone to tinker with things. In high school she found her only enjoyment in shop classes and and she works as a mechanic. But now after returning to the real world that seemed to have left her behind and with powers that distance her from normal people even more, Jules cannot help but feel unsatisfied with pretending to live a normal life.

please feel free to tear them apart

Critical Shell - A Mecha Roleplay

Garret's eyes glazed over as the walking irritant in front of him responded. And responded. In all likelihood it was not terribly long of a response, but all the same it was too long and entirely bothersome, full of the self importance that Garret suspected would drive him mad by the end of his time in Canada. It really would have been better if he could have kept himself from opening his mouth, but he'd have to deal with it now if he was still going to repay the kindness that was shown to him.
"Rachel Crenshaw, by the way."
And then her hand was in his face. Glancing up at Rachel, the world coming back into focus Garret could see that at some point in all of this the bitch had stopped to check her bloody phone. She was either incredibly incompetent at reducing heated situations or deliberately trying to piss him off. Garret chose to act as if the latter was true. "Sorry." Garret said straightening up in his seat. "Got bored during your answer." Her hand was left to hang there.

Critical Shell - A Mecha Roleplay

Sitting cross armed and cross legged, removed from the world around him, Garret sat in a trance considering Helix frames and the futility of geopolitics. The information from the pilot was not much of a concern. He did not seem like anyone with that much authority and in all honesty Garret could probably get by through tacitly following the bulk of his team to be when they touched down or perhaps just following the instructions of someone else repeating them on the ground. Admittedly neither was really a guarantee.

What did threaten to break his trance was the know it all harassing the pilot. Even if Garret did not actually respect the man it was not really an excuse to go out of your way to get in his. Then the man in front of him started to flail around for his missing glasses. Though perhaps it was better to describe him as an overly dressed child. Garret did not move save for his eyes which darted around to try and find the kid's glasses if for no other reason than for a marginal decrease in the noise. He did not find them, but the woman from the front of the dropship had come back to do just that. "Shouldn't happen again from here on out. We're in the pipe, five by five" she said handing them back. Something about that phrase broke Garret.

"Do you get off to the sound of your own voice or do you just consider yourself to be that important?" he said without thinking. He regretted it immediately. So long peace and quiet.

Critical Shell - A Mecha Roleplay

well, I can stick around till then at least, but if anyone cannot, speak now or forever hold your peace

Critical Shell - A Mecha Roleplay

@Sosuke I think we are still accepting, though I am no authority here

Critical Shell - A Mecha Roleplay

I just tried to get away without specifying too hard what my stuff was. I'll try to flesh it out with whatever numbers make sense when you lot have had your fun

Critical Shell - A Mecha Roleplay

Pilot Sheet

Name: Garret Lent

Appearance:

My Hider

Stolen from bordon on deviantart

Personality: People tend to view Garret as serious, but really he just doesn't trust easily and doesn't relax around most people. Regardless of his particular affection to the current audience though he is fond of dark humor. He is much more dedicated to the his family and the United Empire. He aims to be very precise in his actions. Partially not to be wasteful and partially to avoid collateral damage

Backstory: Garret was born outside of the United Empire in a mining town where he was was forced to work from an early age, but through a mixture of passion and luck was able to work with the few mining Helix machines that the community had access to. Eventually a proxy fight between the Vertex and UE allies buried the rest of his community in the mine or otherwise saw them slaughtered. He barely made it out of the country. After a year on the streets begging and stealing Garret was taken in by a eccentric traveling scientist who went by Virol, who adopted Garret and took him properly into the UE. Out of a sense of duty to his new family and spite for the Vertex he joined the military as soon as he was able.

Misc Info:

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HELIX Frame Sheet

Codename: Gale

Appearance:

My Hider

7.5m tall

Stolen from Mecha-Zone on deviantart

Class: Light

Role: Scout, Skirmisher

Equipment: Rail Cannon, 16 Plasma Rockets, Plasma SMG, Targeting Computer, Advanced Sensor Package