Dusty

Miraculous America

Sliding out of bed like a slimy gelatinous mass Tonya stretched and groaned, her muscles aching from the previous day’s exertions. She sat hunched over on the disarrayed covers, easing the soreness from her back and thighs.
“No one told me being a hero would hurt so much.” She ran her fingers through her scraggly black hair and down her face, tracing the slight swelling forming under her jaw line. A souvenir from her bout with Mr. Johnson. Her father noticed the mark last night, and attempted to question its appearance. His initial concern was well masked, but Tonya suspected he fretted over whether she’d been one of the many kids brainwashed and injured yesterday at the Lounge. She’d denied ever going near the place of course insisting she’d received the mark on accident, and after a good deal of trying to press the subject he seemed to accept her explanation, and resigned to other topics of conversation. Though Tonya doubted he didn’t still suspect something amiss. It felt wrong bald-face lying to him like that, but Tonya also felt she had no choice. Ossar insisted she tell no one, giving root to all sorts of horror stories about Rouge-Bat hurting her, or her father should everyone and anyone know her true identity.

“He is a crier for the people is he not?” The kwami serpent would say every time Tonya broached the topic. “Though the sand might shift and change, and show any sign or symbol; once the wave crashes upon the shore the sand’s true face will always be revealed. Heed my warning young Miss Tabbet, only thou must know who bears the Serpentine Miraculous burden, and that is how it must stay.” Eventually even Tonya for all her wit and wile became lost in the web of analogies and anecdotes Ossar used and much like her father, dropped the matter altogether.

Stretching and yawning one last time Tonya set about preparing for the school day, brushing her teeth and hair, pulling on some clothes and throwing a few stray books into her bag. She spent a little extra time in her sock drawer, fishing around until she produced a video camera. That too went into the bag.

A single firm knock sounded on her bedroom door and her father stuck his head inside, nodding once he saw Tonya awake and more or less prepared. “You looked tired last night, I was worried you might sleep in. Come on, I’ve made breakfast. Hurry before you’re late.” After eating a rushed meal of oatmeal and apple slices with her father, Tonya made as if to leave, sneaking some pop tarts from the kitchen pantry as she headed for the door.

“See you later dad.” She called waving goodbye before descending the outdoor stairs of the apartment complex, stepping out onto the road towards school. She lived within a mile of the High School, close enough to walk without even breaking a sweat. Fellow classmates and friends occasionally joined her on the short walk too. One such classmate, a sweet boy about her age named Eddie came jogging up. She always found his mismatch eyes very strange, and he wore his hair in a ponytail. He was a little odd at times, but Tonya appreciated his presence. She’d been dying to tell someone her story, or, at least as much as she could tell other people without breaching Ossar’s warning.

“Hey, morning Eddie, yeah, yeah the homework wasn’t so bad. But you won’t believe what happened to me yesterday at the mall.” Tonya gloated not wasting second before diving straight into her tale. “You heard about what happened yesterday on the news, right? That creepy teacher attacking kids and stuff. Well I saw him, and something else. When these teens grabbed me, and started dragging me towards the guy, some masked kids in super hero costumes swooped in and rescued me. They had powers and everything. I got away after that, but they stayed and fought him. And I won too, if the reporters aren’t fibbing. Cool right?”

The Survivor's Club (High Casual)

What a good idea... I mean, a zombie apocalypse, or an alien, invasion, or even a robotic takeover are all great world enders, but, I mean all of them! YEAH! Its like the world is tired of us humans surviving everything it throws at us and is like, "Oh oK, ok, humanity, you think you're so tough?"

Anyway I'm very intrigued, sign me up on the road kill contract, or whatever it is they're using to seal the deal in the Survivor's Club nowadays.

Kingdom Death

I am intrigued, add me to the interested roster.

Project Phobia: Origins

Would it be possible to have a Phobophobic character whose powers involve absorbing and manipulating other people's phobi-abilities from short periods of time (think Rouge)? Or, adversely the some phobia but it quells other phobi-abilities by proximity (Think Leech)? Or would that be to overpowered?

Miraculous America

The tiny bell above the door heralded her entrance into the little convenience store on the corner of 2nd and Manze. Keeping Ossar hidden away in her pockets Tonya slunk to the back where the cold racks were, selecting bottle of whole milk from the array of cokes, Gatorades, and caffeinated drinks lining the shelves. Casting a nervous glance over her shoulder Tonya popped the bottle’s top, holding down close to her pocket.

“That shall do nicely Miss Tonya.” Ossar slithered from pocket and made as if to dive headfirst into the proffered bottle, but Tonya pulled it away closing the lip back up and doing her best to hide the fact that the seal was broken.

“Wait,” she hissed grabbing Ossar from where he was floating and shoving him back into her pocket. “I’ve got to pay for it first. Otherwise it’d be stealing.” Strolling up to the checkout counter Tonya placed the milk and a candy packet for herself next to the register. A bored, middle-aged women with a very wrinkly face stepped forward, painstakingly sliding the items across the scanner multiple times until an audible beep sounded.

“Did you see the news young lady?” The women asked, Tonya shook her head. Pointing over her shoulder at a fuzzy old television the woman drawled on, expressing a slow monotone that frustrated the tired and hurried Tonya to no end. “Some crazy man started attacking kids with a whip, twice. It made everyone go bonkers. Police are still trying to figure out what happened, but the local news is crediting Rouge-Bat’s return to stopping him.”

“What!”

“I know right, it’s been a long time since Rouge-Bat vanished, this city needs a brave hero like him again.”

“No, it’s bad!” Tonya argued sweeping her purchased items off the counter. “Those people, they must not be able to remember what happened, so of course when they came around and saw him running away they must’ve thought he’d saved them!”


“Wha- I don't understand?”

“Thanks ma’am, but I gotta go!” Spinning on her heel Tonya marched away, the aged cashier’s patronizing warning to remain careful ringing in her ears as she stepped out onto the street. Munching on her candy and allowing Ossar to have his fill of the milk Tonya inwardly fumed all the way home. Of course the ex-hero would take the credit for defeating Mr. Johnson. The city needed no further explanation than a slight rumor, and would continue to adore him despite his newfangled, albeit unknown wicked deeds. Tonya and her team needed some way to expose the devious scoundrel for who he truly was. And just as she reached home and opened the door to her room, Tonya thought she might’ve figured out just how to go about doing it.

Intergalactic Space Adventurers- [ISA]

For his part Jean remained impassive throughout Ursa and Emmett’s explanations, silently chewing his tobacco and mentally jotting down any useful information. There wasn’t much to go off, even for a sleuth such as himself. The proffered dossier that the two spoke of gave the cowboy little confidence, a contract to kill from Bob would do them little service in hunting down the criminal overlord, moreover it would serve well as evidence to convict Emmett above all else. The number on the other hand, a method of contacting Bob, or at least his associates could be a vital first step in closing the investigation. Something well worth their while.

“Sounds like a reasonable enough strategy to me. At least for now. We’ll ‘ave to be careful not to tip em off though. Once Bob gets wind of someone getting close to his operation he likes making short em, I imagine we ain’t much different.. We’ve gone n’ lost more’n one sheriff an’ deputy to that bastard. An’ I ain’t keen to join th’ ranks of th’ fallen. To make matters worse he’s already got y’all two in his sights.” Jean turned to Emmett, an odd, easy going grin on his face. “We’ll see what happens partner, chances are if Bod’s dead it won’t matter to me who pulled th’ trigger. Long as he’s good n’ iced.”

The cowboy was distracted from the assassin at that moment, when the young girl in the petal dress spoke up, her eyes dramatically changing color throughout the course of her declaration. Removing the well chewed cigarette from his mouth Jean cast an appraising glance towards Ursa, wondering how much more she’d been lying about in regards to Theonia, and her young passenger. Deciding against calling Ursa on it just then Jean nodded to the girl, recognizing the passion for justice and vengeance from his own childhood horror. His was his family, but to have one’s entire home system eradicated in a genocidal slaughter, that was another thing entirely.

“I won’t deny ya miss, in fact I recommend it.” He vowed, rubbing his hands together. “I reckon it’s nothing short of a miracle you got out alive, perhaps in part to miz Cooper’s aid. That invasion fleet looked mighty powerful, especially considerin’ it’s operated an’ funded by a criminal syndicate.” Jean thought for a moment, eyeing the Theonian girl curiously. “Say, I know it might hard to think about, but do you have any notions as to why they might’ve attack y’all? Any reason or suspicion you might’a heard from someone? It seems strange an’ counterproductive to me at least, to attack a one hoss system like Theonia, just to remove a population. There has to be some logical explanation behind it.”

Miraculous America

@Tenma Tendo @Polaris North @Rockin Strings

Sorry I was away for a few days, but I'm back!

I'll start working on a post and a new minor villain to further Rouge-Bat's plans. BTW I was thinking, we could switch out control of the minor villains and take turns playing them. What do y'all think?

Project Phobia: Origins

I'm intrigued, but could you explain what the phobi-abilities would be?

Avatar: the Legend of the Lost

Ba Sing Se, Outside Eight Paths Prison

@Rokoran @Bluetommy @Tominas

---

“Sure, I could do offense-” Clapping her hands to her ears Huo winced as someone nearby suddenly bellowed to an unbelievable scale. Vibrations rippled down the street rattling teacups off their display shelves and sending them to a shattering doom on the wooden floor below. Shaking off her surprise Huo cast about for a moment trying to locate the source, but no clear indicator was available. It seemed to her it’d erupted spontaneously, from every direction. “Who in the world was that, they ought to hire him to sound the alarm from now on. It’s better than that irritating bell.” Huo wiggled a finger in her ear, recollecting her thoughts. “So, you can do Wave? Wow, hey you wouldn’t mind showing me after this would you? I mean, I can do a little Mountain, but Wave…” Every fire bender worth their flame knew a little of the acclaimed combat styles. Huo was no exception, but basic understanding paled in comparison to physical martial prowess. Hopefully Zhen wasn’t counting on her form to carry them through a fight. Huo’s personal battle strategy consisted of little more than throwing fire about randomly until the enemy was burned. She’d used it to great success against a ruffian once before, but against a properly trained and armored opponent? Well that’d be a first for her.

Huo placed her open palm and fist came together at the knuckles and wrist, forming the traditional symbol of Fire. Her eyes followed Zhen’s every movement as she studied his form with an almost jealous zeal. Her own upbringing left her null and void of formal training, her only knowledge was that which she gleaned off watching others from a distance. Loosening and stretching her fingers Huo copied Zhen’s actions to the best of her ability, planting her feet and tensing her muscles. Jaw set she inwardly searched for every wrong done to her by An and his cohorts. From her fallen father to the lost Avatar, and her own struggles within Ba Sing Se and the wider Earth Kingdom. Every drop of anger she possessed was amassed onto the inferno until warmth permeated every aspect of her body and soul.

Then Laoshan rocketed past.

All semblance of coherent concentration vanished in an instant. Huo glared after the former monk in open mouthed shock, mere irritation replacing her crumbling anger. Was that one of the air benders? His passing billowed her hair answering her unspoken question and systematically doused her inner fire to a demoralizing degree. Huo’s gaze went from the filthy air bender, to Zhen, and at last to the oncoming earth bending General in rapid succession, the separate puzzle pieces haphazardly falling together. “Hey wait come back here, we need you!” Huo rounded taking one step after the tattered monk before changing her mind and coming back to form full three sixty. Stopping beside Zhen she jerked a thumb at the rapidly departing Laoshan. “He’s getting away Zhen! Come on you’ve got to be faster than me, catch him. I’ll hold off miss earthy over there.” Not waiting to see if Zhen even agreed to her tactic Huo darted forward towards the General, slamming her feet down and sweeping her fists together in a wide arc. Flames erupted from her hands in small orange clouds, expanding into a searing trails like a wave crashing upon the shore of some distant ocean. Releasing the burning energy from her control Huo sent the dual fire blasts spinning down the street, arcing rapidly in the general direction of the oncoming General.

Huo wasn’t that great of a shot.

One fizzled out of existence before it even hit anything, and the second slammed into a firewood cart, the concussive blast sending glowing embers and bits of bark scattering everywhere. Her face growing a brighter crimson then her garb, Huo sheepishly hoped no one had been watching too closely. Determined to redeem herself for the initial failed assault Huo skidded to a halt, rooting herself on the cobblestoned street and sweeping her arm about. Slamming one hand into her outstretched bicep Huo closed her second fist, using it to direct a third blazing plume straight towards her target.

Miraculous America

“That. Was. Awesome!” Serpentine yelled patting Belle heartily on the back. The snake themed hero was surrounded by a number of very confused individuals who’d just been released from Mr. Johnson’s control. They were the folk marauding outside, freed once Furitta purified the akuma. That sat around blinking in the sunlight and rubbing at their eyes while they conversed amongst themselves over what’d occurred. None of them remembered of course, but they recognized a large patch of their memory was simply, gone. Serpentine ignored them, instead reenacting Belle’s exploits with her hands and words. “You were great bunny, you were like whoosh, boom! And then he was like augh, ow! And you used him as a trampoline and flew through the window. It was totally wild! Who are you?”

At that moment a single grousing, final bleep sounded from Serpentine’s miraculous and her suit began fading away, Ossar’s time spent to the last second. First the gloves and boots went, then the skirt and hood, shrinking and sparking into nonexistence revealing her sweat drenched school clothes underneath. Releasing an undignified squeak of surprise Tonya put her hand up to her mouth turning away from Belle and the window so no one could see her face. She tried to run but a second later the suit fizzled out of existence and Ossar dropped exhausted into her hands. “No, no, I – I’m sorry but I need to go.” Tonya yelled to Belle, hoping the other girl would understand and not follow her, and explain to the others. Clutching Ossar’s limp form in her hands Tonya sprinted away making for the nearest gas station available.

~*~

The rogue laughed, his humorous guffaws cruel and maniacal. In his left hand Rouge-Bat’s whip stiffened into a quarterstaff and he pointed it menacingly at Furitta, deeming her the greatest challenge to overcome. “What destruction girl? The wreckage of a few cars, and a hangout, and a mall? What is it to me or you in the greater scheme of things? We are beyond such measly, worldly comforts and distractions. We- I am powerful, and mighty beyond measure. I am not the starry-eyed and egalitarian young fool I once was, I have matured and see everything as it truly is, and so should you. You of all of them should recognize this, you look old enough to understand the futility of it all, but young enough to have not become captured in the web of lies this world tries to sell. I could make this world meaningful, I can make this world safer than it has ever been, I COULD SAVE THE WORLD FROM ITSELF!” The green displays that formed the eyes of Rouge-Bat’s suit flashed red and he set his feet into the ground bracing for Furitta’s attack.

“All I have done are actions deemed acceptable for the greater good, clearly you have no perspective you sniveling brat. If you won’t take the easy rout offered, then I shall force them from you the hard way. You cannot weasel your way out of this one! The Miraculouses are as good as mine!” The wire retracted sparking and whirring as it slid through his fingers clanking off the protective armor. Snarling Rouge-Bat sank his heels into the floor feeling the title crack beneath the massive Newtonian forces applied. The seismic sound rippled through the ground and air giving Rouge-Bat an almost prefect view of the Lounge. His echolocation in full effect he took a huge intake of air, holding his breath and falling backward. His body transformed, almost peacefully like a petal disintegrating into dust as he took on his mist-form. Thanks to his heightened sense and echolocation he executed this maneuver just in time to avoid Talon’s taloned boot. The move didn’t disable the flying hero who barely seemed to notice, instead he performed a one eighty and beat a hasty retreat across the lounge. Rouge-Bat released the oxygen trapped in his lungs and his body reformed allowing him to take a few deep breaths. Recovering fast he took his staff in both hands bringing the weapon down in an arc trying to catch Furitta and Talon both in a single powerful swing. “You cannot escape me you blind sheep, I AM ROUGE-BAT!”