Mintz

The Wards: A Grimdark Teenage Superhero Story

Date/Time: November 11th, 2022. 6:17 PM.

Location(s): Redline PRT Headquarters

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Gosh, could she have been any more embarrassing? It was only after Rachel helped her up that she finally realized what she had done; as if she couldn't be more thankful for her costume, she was ever-grateful for how the mask hid the redness that lit up her face for a time. Luckily for Bev, it seemed like everyone was more interested in moving past that little incident, as they began to make their way back out to the Command Room.

As Fashionista ushered the group back, they found themselves seated once more, and finally they got some explanation on what was going down; an attack on the Museum of Parahuman History, though the perps were still unclear, and it didn't feel like Mr. Director intended on telling them about it...If he even knew. However, Beverly didn't do a great job hiding her excitement at the prospect of the museum. She remembered going there a few times as a kid! Even once for a field trip, although she didn't really like having to be corralled everything...Still, maybe this was a way she could help! Beneath her mask, the Tinker scrunches up her face, willing back as much as she could remember of the building and its layout.

Before she could actually speak of what she recalled, however, Fukuda spoke his last statement quite pointedly towards Workshop herself and Jane. Right! She'd been in such an awkward mood in the moment that she'd grazed over what Ms. Rachel had talked about, some kinda proving ground of sorts. Sounds like some sort of place to work on stuff, and given her complete lack of gear...Yeah, she'd definitely have to go down there sooner than later, though her thoughts, and eyes, turned back to the metal-clad Tinker nearby. Try as she might, Bev couldn't think of what she could really do to improve or augment her neat suit in this kinda time frame...Granted, Bev's made crazier in shorter time, and she didn't really know what made the other girl tick, so...She dropped that line of thought as quickly as she could, hoping not to make her mind run laps like it always did.

Before she knew it, the rest of the group got chatty, getting into the nitty-gritty of their abilities as best they could. Even though Bev really wanted to interject with her lame, yet practical advice about the building, a combination of natural politeness and a certain measure of eagerness to understand their tricks kept her silent, quietly absorbing the information as best she could, pretty much gluing her eyes to whoever was happening to speak at the time. Gosh, they were somehow even crazier than she thought! The guy, Caiden, could make crazy energy swords he could shoot, pin people with graviturgical fields (she was definitely interested in that part), and even telekinetically control them under a short range! It sounded crazy effective, and super flexible. Then one of the other girls (it...Was Ally, right? Probably...) started speaking up about making portals! Holy crap! Even if it wasn't 1:1, having something comparable to one of the greatest Capes in the world was nothing to sneeze at, and yet again Bev was thankful the welder's mask could hide her slack-jawed expression taking that all in.

Carm-Wait, wait, that's wrong! Hero time! V also spoke up, though it was all stuff that Workshop had mostly guessed after seeing it in action; temporary duration, based on the complexity and specificity of the desired items, and given they marked her as a Striker, probably a very short range on where exactly she can conjure up these objects. Still, that left a lot open to imagination, so she couldn't help but nod along as portal girl reaffirmed the potential of her ability. Well, speaking of, there was finally a lull in chatting, beyond Will walking back and chatting to - wait, how long had those people been here?! Talk about awkward, not even noticing them until now. Sure, things have been hectic, but she didn't think it was so bad she'd miss three whole new people! Especially the new girl; how could she miss her? She had this sorta elegant air about her, and was awful pretty to boot. Though the prosthetic leg brought a slew of invasive questions into Beverly's mind, which she had to desperately try and push down. Still, now actually noticing the newcomers, she pulled her mask up with a smile, waving to them cheerfully, before turning back to the group; she probably would need to head down to that Proving Grounds place soon, so she'd have to be quick about it....

"Oh! Uh, well, 'fore I go where Ms. Rachel was asking for me to head to, I guess I oughta contribute a bit, right?" She gave a bit of a nervous laugh, awkwardly brushing the back of her bushy hair to relieve some idle tension. "When it comes to what I do, well...I-it ain't super self-explanatory, so, um...You'll hafta wait and see!" With a more comfortable-sounding joking giggle and wink, she pressed onward. "Still, that don't mean I have nothin' worth sayin'! I've been to the Museum a few times, so I can tell y'all a bit of what to expect!" She beamed, proud she could at least do this much...Even if a map from the place's lobby could've done the same as she would.

"So, uh, it's got two real big floors! There's stairs, a'course, but there's also an elevator near the backs of the Tinker and Guardians exhibits, respectively. Hrm, what else....Well, there's a restroom on each floor, an' I know the first one's near the lobby-place with the big ol' Guardians statue! Er, I know I got more..."

Rubbing her temple as if trying to massage the thoughts out of her head, Beverly seems to hit something as she fires back into conversation. "Oh yeah! There're tons of exhibits, and explainin' them might be helpful! May even give us an idea what someone may be after, I guess...There's the Tinker one, but I'm pretty darn sure all the tech there is all deactivated or junk. Guess other Tinkers might be able to do somethin' with the stuff there?" She shrugs, clearly unsure of her statement, but at least spitballing a possibility.

"Uh...There's one for the PRT, but..." Leaning in almost conspiratorially, she whispers to the group "Personally, that one's kinda borin'..." She pulls back, with a bit of a grin, but it isn't long before she launches into it anew. "The Guardians exhibit has some cool memorabilia stuff, but I don't think any of it'd be worth much...But I guess that place would also just be a good one to smash up if they wanna send a message, y'know? Er, beyond those two....I mean, there's the History of Parahumans interactive exhibit, but there wouldn't be much for anyone to do there, I think...Oh! There's the Herald exhibit! But, uh, beyond the cool animatronic models, there isn't really anythin' worth messin' around in there for..."

Seeming to think hard about this again, her face seems to darken at her last prospect. "There's, uh...The Seven's exhibit, but...I don't really wanna think about anyone who'd pop in there with ulterior motives." Beverly openly shudders at the possibility, not eager to elaborate. Honestly, she always found it kinda scary that they had their own exhibit. But in the end, she guesses that they're a pretty big deal in Parahuman History...Just not the good kind. "That's about all I got, I think. Hope it helps! But, uh, I should probably head away and do me some Tinkerin' if I don't wanna be dead weight. Y'all better let me in on all the cool plans and stratagems ya come up with when I get back!" With a grin, she hopped from her seat, happening to pass right by Ms. Rachel herself as she comes up the stairway.

"Oh! There you are, I was just about to come up and get you two; I think the Proving Ground is as ready as it can be, so if either of you need to do some work before it's time, now's your chance! Just try not to make too much of a mess in there, alright?" A faint giggle escaped the Vice-Director's lips as Workshop nodded eagerly. "Will do! I don't usually make too much of a mess, but I'll be sure to try extra-hard!" Just as Beverly is about to gallivant off downstairs, however, Fashionista catches her for a moment longer, a bit more serious. "Oh, and before we have you all head out, we'll need to double-check your work and ensure it won't be too dangerous. Just a general precaution, really, but I'm sure you'll do fine." The soft smile of Rachel gave the younger Tinker a small shot of confidence; much-needed for what was to come. "Thank ya! I'll be sure to not try anything too crazy!" And with that, Workshop was off to do her namesake, with what little time remained...

But for the time being, the Vice Director approached the newcomers, doing nothing to hide her clear pleasure at seeing more of the kids arrive. "I'm glad you all could make it! Even if the circumstances aren't great...Well, regardless, if you don't remember me, I'll say it again. I'm Rachel Elton, the Vice-Director of the Redline PRT. I also happened to be the one making all the fantastic designs you see before you!" She gave a smooth motion to the group at large, all clad in their Cape attire, all of it gorgeously made and, of course, made to last. "Speaking of that..." Her gaze turns to the two boys, Lito and Thel. "I suppose you two need to get suited up before you drop yourselves into the chatter here. Follow me, please. Oh, and before I forget..." For a moment, Fashionista's attention turned to the young lady amongst this trio of latecomers, stepping forth to meet Eleanore face-to-face. If only for a second, it feels like there's palpable tension in the air...Before Rachel breaks into a mocking pout, with an equally joking huff to match. "I know you're too good for little old me and my designs, buuut..." Shifting from her jesting demeanor to the same gentle smile from before, she pulls out Eleanore's personal card. "...You'll still be needing this for things other than my stellar Cape designs. Now you should get in there and introduce yourself while I handle these two."

With a wink, Rachel turns her attention back to the not-so-dynamic duo. "Alrighty, follow me! We'll get you two looking like heroes in no time!" With a twinkle of glee in her eyes, the Vice Director begins her jaunt back to the Changing Room with two newcomers in tow. Seems like sooner than later, things were going to be going down...

Onryo Hunters - A ghost-battling magical girl/boy RP

A Noble Spirit Bearing The Burden Of Strength...

Hunter

Name: Himura Taiki

Age: 18

Gender: Male

Regular Appearance:

Regular Appearance

Transformed Appearance:

Transformed Appearance

Abilities:

• Guardian Silk - Even while not being directly worn, Taiki's Koya-damashii is especially durable, able to effectively be used as a shield against all manner of attacks, and is especially poignant when guarding against painful curses; it is quite used to that treatment itself...
• Spiritual Aid - Though Taiki's Koya-damashii cannot manifest its full form while being used by him, it can still form its two heavyset, scaled arms, making for a extra set of very powerful hands, made all the more potent with its last, greatest ability for now, at least...
• The Weight Of Power - When Taiki fully wears his Koya-damashii, he finds his powers escalated sevenfold; stronger, faster, and even tougher than before! Even the defensive qualities of his Koya-damashii are enhanced, as are the arms it can manifest. However, this doesn't come without a cost...Just as in the past, the clothing that makes up his Tsukumogami was beaten endlessly to give it its coloration, he too must come to bear unspeakable pain and agony during this time, physically destroying his body and draining his life while he dons the heavy mantle of one with true strength....

Personality: Taiki really looks up to his sister, and tries his best to emulate her; her strength and brashness that others frown upon, he finds as great qualities of his dear sister. He even tries to act intimidating and tough, just like she is. However...For all his tough-guy posturing, Taiki is inherently compassionate and kind, practically to a fault. He's a natural helper, much as he spites that about himself. For as much as many would consider it his strongest trait, he thinks of it as a weakness, when all he wants is to be stronger for the person he loves...

Still, don't let kindness be mistaken with weakness. For all his softness, he's incredibly brave and always prepared to face something headfirst, no matter the consequences. It may be true he isn't as strong as his sister, and he may never be, but he'll be damned if he can't at least try!

History: Taiki and his sister Seika had what most would call a good childhood. Their family lived in one of the quieter spots of Agawa, and that fit the family just fine; they lived an honest, peaceful life, content and happy with one another, always smiling through rain or shine. There was always a bit of...Strangeness that seemed to surround the twins, but for some reason, whenever their mother was around, all those troubles never seemed to last long.

This happy story for the two of them ended abruptly, when they were around ten years of age. The both of them were patiently waiting for their parents to come pick them up from school...But that was not the case. It was only later that they discovered their parents had died in a freak car accident, much to their horror and fear.

Stranger still, it was then they discovered that apparently, they had extended family; something neither mom nor dad spoke of before. So since that tragic day, the pair were raised by their uncle, one Niko Himaru. At first, in spite of their horrible loss, things regained some semblance of normalcy for a time, though the twins couldn't help but notice how busy their uncle was, especially at night, doing things he never fully explained...

It was around their 14th birthday that things were explained to them...And that they were unceremoniously roped into the situation as well. As it turned out, uncle Niko had connections with the Yakuza, the infamous Japanese mafia. And even worse...It turned out that prior to his quiet life, their father had been a member as well. Bound by both necessity and force, Seika and Taiki were pushed into being fledgling members of the criminal organization.

This continued on for a few years, with them learning the ropes, occasionally smuggling goods or running shakedowns (though in Taiki's case, calling them 'shakedowns' is a stretch; he simply didn't have the heart for that sort of thing, and usually ended up giving money to the people he was supposed to be extorting), but always planning to leave this life behind, knowing it wasn't what their parents would've wanted. They found their chance at their 18th birthday, officially marking them as adults; they were quick to leave behind their uncle's home, and desperate for a place to lay low, they ended up begging the owner of a local antique store to let them stay for a short time, confident it would be the last place their people would look for them. They were correct, of course, but it led them down an even stranger path...

Over time in the store, inexplicably, the twins could tell that the shop owner had fallen dangerously ill from out of nowhere. Unfortunately, they both also had a good idea of who was at fault; themselves. Ever since they've had to live with their uncle, the minor misfortune that followed them in childhood seemed to grow and fester, to the point that even among the Yakuza they were dubbed The Misfortune Twins. The two wanted to help, but had no idea how, nor could they leave, for fear of their own safety...It was in this desperate duality that their Tsukumogami found them.

Taiki only knows his sister's story from her point of view, since apparently hers met her at night privately, too shy to introduce itself even among another potential Hunter. His, however, was a bit more...Direct. While helping around the store (since the owner was growing too weak to properly work), the young man practically found himself attacked by an article of clothing, as if it were trying to eat him. It made for....Interesting introductions. But after the initial excitement his Tsukumogami had from finally finding a proper Hunter, it introduced itself more formally, and explained the situation to Taiki. It definitely confused him, and he would've almost certainly had written it off if it weren't for his sister explaining a similar (if slightly less panic-inducing) meeting with one of these spirit objects. Thus, the two had become Hunters, and they were already being thrust into a situation, as only now were they truly aware of the situation...

The old man was being cursed to death.

Without much time to spare, the two performed their first proper (if you can call what happened in there proper...) exorcism, banishing the Onryo that had latched itself onto the old shopkeep. Overjoyed with his recovery, and inexplicably getting the sense that this troublesome duo he'd taken in had some part in it, he's agreed to watch over them and let them stay in the attic of the shop for as long as they need, much to the twins' relief.

...Now they just need to actually figure out the ins and outs of this 'Hunter' business.

Likes:

• His twin sister.
• Helping others (though he won't admit it).
• Proving his strength (whether it be metaphorical or physical).
• ....Sappy romance stuff. B-but you didn't hear it here, y'hear?!

Dislikes:

• The Yakuza (and bullies in general...Though he doesn't think this way of his uncle, in spite of everything).
• Being seen as weak/soft.
• Sour food.
• Violence (very ironic, for...Many reasons, not least of which being how he wants to be seen as strong, yet hates having to fight).

Fears:

• His Tsukumogami (though he tries not to show it).
• His sister being hurt...Or worse.
• Facing the past.

Other:

• Both Taiki and Seika's birthdays are on June 21st.
• Taiki's favorite food is beef bowl ramen.
• His favorite dessert is dango skewers.
• Taiki is the taller of the twins, standing at 5'10.
• For his everyday life, he usually carries Kishin around by either folding him up and putting him away in a bag, or when he's in a hurry, tying him around his waist (which the Tsukumogami despises endlessly).

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Tsukumogami

Name: Kishin

Item: Indigo Kimono

Appearance:

Tsukumogami Appearance

Personality: Kishin is stoic and serious, always speaking in a strict, yet surprisingly dramatic, nature. It also prides itself on its noble nature, though once it is fully donned, even with the incredible patience this spirit possesses, it cannot hold back the tide of violent, nigh animalistic tendencies that spill forth...

Other: While by their very nature Tsukumogami are old, Kishin is old by that standard, having seen many of its holders, both Hunter and no, come and go.

Onryo Hunters - A ghost-battling magical girl/boy RP

A Noble Spirit Bearing The Burden Of Strength...

Hunter

Name: Taiki Himaru

Age: 18

Gender: Male

Regular Appearance:

Regular Appearance

Transformed Appearance:

Transformed Appearance

Abilities:

• Guardian Silk - Even while not being directly worn, Taiki's Koya-damashii is especially durable, able to effectively be used as a shield against all manner of attacks, and is especially poignant when guarding against painful curses; it is quite used to that treatment itself...
• Spiritual Aid - Though Taiki's Koya-damashii cannot manifest its full form while being used by him, it can still form its two heavyset, scaled arms, making for a extra set of very powerful hands, made all the more potent with its last, greatest ability for now, at least...
• The Weight Of Power - When Taiki fully wears his Koya-damashii, he finds his powers escalated sevenfold; stronger, faster, and even tougher than before! Even the defensive qualities of his Koya-damashii are enhanced, as are the arms it can manifest. However, this doesn't come without a cost...Just as in the past, the clothing that makes up his Tsukumogami was beaten endlessly to give it its coloration, he too must come to bear unspeakable pain and agony during this time, physically destroying his body and draining his life while he dons the heavy mantle of one with true strength....

Personality: Taiki really looks up to his sister, and tries his best to emulate her; her strength and brashness that others frown upon, he finds as great qualities of his dear sister. He even tries to act intimidating and tough, just like she is. However...For all his tough-guy posturing, Taiki is inherently compassionate and kind, practically to a fault. He's a natural helper, much as he spites that about himself. For as much as many would consider it his strongest trait, he thinks of it as a weakness, when all he wants is to be stronger for the person he loves...

Still, don't let kindness be mistaken with weakness. For all his softness, he's incredibly brave and always prepared to face something headfirst, no matter the consequences. It may be true he isn't as strong as his sister, and he may never be, but he'll be damned if he can't at least try!

History: Taiki and his sister Seika had what most would call a good childhood. Their family lived in one of the quieter spots of Agawa, and that fit the family just fine; they lived an honest, peaceful life, content and happy with one another, always smiling through rain or shine. There was always a bit of...Strangeness that seemed to surround the twins, but for some reason, whenever their mother was around, all those troubles never seemed to last long.

This happy story for the two of them ended abruptly, when they were around ten years of age. The both of them were patiently waiting for their parents to come pick them up from school...But that was not the case. It was only later that they discovered their parents had died in a freak car accident, much to their horror and fear.

Stranger still, it was then they discovered that apparently, they had extended family; something neither mom nor dad spoke of before. So since that tragic day, the pair were raised by their uncle, one Niko Himaru. At first, in spite of their horrible loss, things regained some semblance of normalcy for a time, though the twins couldn't help but notice how busy their uncle was, especially at night, doing things he never fully explained...

It was around their 14th birthday that things were explained to them...And that they were unceremoniously roped into the situation as well. As it turned out, uncle Niko had connections with the Yakuza, the infamous Japanese mafia. And even worse...It turned out that prior to his quiet life, their father had been a member as well. Bound by both necessity and force, Seika and Taiki were pushed into being fledgling members of the criminal organization.

This continued on for a few years, with them learning the ropes, occasionally smuggling goods or running shakedowns (though in Taiki's case, calling them 'shakedowns' is a stretch; he simply didn't have the heart for that sort of thing, and usually ended up giving money to the people he was supposed to be extorting), but always planning to leave this life behind, knowing it wasn't what their parents would've wanted. They found their chance at their 18th birthday, officially marking them as adults; they were quick to leave behind their uncle's home, and desperate for a place to lay low, they ended up begging the owner of a local antique store to let them stay for a short time, confident it would be the last place their people would look for them. They were correct, of course, but it led them down an even stranger path...

Over time in the store, inexplicably, the twins could tell that the shop owner had fallen dangerously ill from out of nowhere. Unfortunately, they both also had a good idea of who was at fault; themselves. Ever since they've had to live with their uncle, the minor misfortune that followed them in childhood seemed to grow and fester, to the point that even among the Yakuza they were dubbed The Misfortune Twins. The two wanted to help, but had no idea how, nor could they leave, for fear of their own safety...It was in this desperate duality that their Tsukumogami found them.

Taiki only knows his sister's story from her point of view, since apparently hers met her at night privately, too shy to introduce itself even among another potential Hunter. His, however, was a bit more...Direct. While helping around the store (since the owner was growing too weak to properly work), the young man practically found himself attacked by an article of clothing, as if it were trying to eat him. It made for....Interesting introductions. But after the initial excitement his Tsukumogami had from finally finding a proper Hunter, it introduced itself more formally, and explained the situation to Taiki. It definitely confused him, and he would've almost certainly had written it off if it weren't for his sister explaining a similar (if slightly less panic-inducing) meeting with one of these spirit objects. Thus, the two had become Hunters, and they were already being thrust into a situation, as only now were they truly aware of the situation...

The old man was being cursed to death.

Without much time to spare, the two performed their first proper (if you can call what happened in there proper...) exorcism, banishing the Onryo that had latched itself onto the old shopkeep. Overjoyed with his recovery, and inexplicably getting the sense that this troublesome duo he'd taken in had some part in it, he's agreed to watch over them and let them stay in the attic of the shop for as long as they need, much to the twins' relief.

...Now they just need to actually figure out the ins and outs of this 'Hunter' business.

Likes:

• His twin sister.
• Helping others (though he won't admit it).
• Proving his strength (whether it be metaphorical or physical).
• ....Sappy romance stuff. B-but you didn't hear it here, y'hear?!

Dislikes:

• The Yakuza (and bullies in general...Though he doesn't think this way of his uncle, in spite of everything).
• Being seen as weak/soft.
• Sour food.
• Violence (very ironic, for...Many reasons, not least of which being how he wants to be seen as strong, yet hates having to fight).

Fears:

• His Tsukumogami (though he tries not to show it).
• His sister being hurt...Or worse.
• Facing the past.

Other:

• Both Taiki and Seika's birthdays are on June 21st.
• Taiki's favorite food is beef bowl ramen.
• His favorite dessert is dango skewers.
• Taiki is the taller of the twins, standing at 5'10.
• For his everyday life, he usually carries Kishin around by either folding him up and putting him away in a bag, or when he's in a hurry, tying him around his waist (which the Tsukumogami despises endlessly).

---

Tsukumogami

Name: Kishin

Item: Indigo Kimono

Appearance:

Tsukumogami Appearance

Personality: Kishin is stoic and serious, always speaking in a strict, yet surprisingly dramatic, nature. It also prides itself on its noble nature, though once it is fully donned, even with the incredible patience this spirit possesses, it cannot hold back the tide of violent, nigh animalistic tendencies that spill forth...

Other: While by their very nature Tsukumogami are old, Kishin is old by that standard, having seen many of its holders, both Hunter and no, come and go.

Woof! This took awhile, and it isn't what I originally had in mind, but here ya go! This is also a collaborative character with the one Kaya will eventually be posting, his twin sister Seika Himaru. Hopefully they'll both be acceptable :)

Onryo Hunters - A ghost-battling magical girl/boy RP

Ooh, this sounds like fun! And admittedly, I already went through the tsukumogami from your link and picked ones that interested me the most, so....Guess I'm in on this. xD Right now, I'm between a Bakefurugeta (a tsukumogami that inhabits wooden clogs, which is kinda lame, but also makes me like it in a sense. Probably a really simplistic ability, like making their legs really strong for kicks and jumps and the like), or a Furu-Utsubo (which inhabits the quiver of a slain archer, usually ones who died tragically; obvious bow-related powers are obvious lol).

...Though I also have the Boroboroton, a tsukumogami that possesses a futon. Because I'd be lying if that wouldn't be hilarious to work around, though coming up with a power is another thing entirely for that...

Oh! Also, anime, yes. I haven't seen much lately, so I guess the most recent would be Shadowverse Flame, a card game anime.

The Wards: A Grimdark Teenage Superhero Story

Date/Time: November 11th, 2022. 6:14 PM.

Location(s): Redline PRT Headquarters

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Huh. Newcomers? Now? Couldn't have chosen a worse time, frankly...But the more the merrier, especially now. One of them he was quite happy to see, Eleanore. Sure, just like the rest, she had...Complications, but her Power was quite impressive. No surprise really, given the circumstances of it, but still...The other two weren't anything to sneeze at either, but they couldn't float and tank high-yield explosives without a scratch on them.

Fukuda found his attention snatched away by one of the kids approaching him already, barely seconds after he had spoken. Great. And it was Wilbur. Great....He sat there, his expression unchanging and unflinching as he absorbed the information Gray Man presented, all the way up to his eventual plea; one he saw coming from him, of course. By the end of it, the only break he made was a sigh, one of the many he had made since the beginning of this mess.

"Listen here, Gray. You may not explode things with your mind or throw someone across a city street, but that just means you've got something much scarier." He caught the young man's eyes, locking them into a near glare-off, as he continued quietly, trying to preserve at least a bit of the boy's self-respect in the situation. "You get in someone's head. You make people play by different rules. That's a weapon that can be more dangerous than any gun, or knife, or whatever the hell else, if you use it right. And you can." The Director spoke with...Strange confidence in what he spoke of, confidence that no doubt Will would find unwarranted. "Not every problem's solved by smacking the shit out of them, or trapping them with weird gravity swords, or what have you. This team needs someone who can problem-solve not just with their head, but with their Power. That's you."

With that, Atsushi leaned back in his chair, a smug look growing on his face after such oddly inspiring talk. "...So the long and short is that you're going, and you'll have to suck it up. Your alternative isn't much better anyhow....Besides, put a bit of faith in the others here. If you can work with them and figure things out together, I think you all won't have nearly as many problems as I'm sure you're thinking of."

With that, his attention turned to the rest of these gremlins, specifically Scraprig, who bombarded him with a bunch of pointless questions again. Leaning back in, a spark of irritation could be caught in his eyes as he spoke up once more. "Like I said before, and as Gress just mentioned, you won't be going in without some experienced back-up. A few members of the Guardians are going to be there as well, so....Just try not to stress out so much pre-mission, alright? As for the rest...Lightning round."

Taking in a breath, the Director spat out a spattering of answers that would hopefully satiate the paranoid Tinker long enough to actually get her out the door...Or at least long enough for her to decide to head downstairs to the 'Proving Grounds' that his Vice-Director quickly renamed.

"The museum, yes, no, we don't know who - or what - will be there, and yes, PRT forces will be accompanying and providing damage control and assistance where possible."

Not waiting for a response, he whipped back around, returning to his main focus; paperwork. Eugh....Just a couple more pages to be prepped, and then he can get around to more useful things.

The Wards: A Grimdark Teenage Superhero Story

Date/Time: November 11th, 2022. 6:14 PM.

Location(s): Redline Guardians Mobile Fortress

---

---

They both made good points, of course, and both made a fair observation; there was no guarantee that the danger would be greater for either scenario, given the team was running blind either way. Still...For as much confidence Presidio could place in the rest of the team, Risen wasn't quite sold, either. Naturally, the two of them made obvious choices for going with The Wards, having what he would consider primarily defensive and utility-based abilities, which would serve well in safeguarding the untrained talent that would be those children. But, of course, that left the rest of the team mostly unprotected....

There was Jason himself, of course; he didn't worry about his own safety. Some may say he never does...Or maybe never did. Regardless, he was the least of his concerns. But the rest? Fenris was tough, sure, but she could be pierced by bullets, and the sizes where she'd be too big or tough for normal assaults to be a risk were out of the question due to how it can affect her psyche. Blaster's a competent young man, and not entirely unprotected with his self-designed suit, but it could still leave plenty to desire if he was put under serious duress. And TC? Well, that was hard to simply guess; you can never pin a single thing on him with a Power like his, but generally, physical confrontation would end poorly for him.

There was supposed to be that newcomer, Avalon...But Risen hadn't heard from her since he hauled her sorry ass back to talk with the Director. That had been a miserable experience. Back on track though, the facts were straight; his team, if pushed hard enough, could prove all too vulnerable without these two around. That was risky...He was fast, sure, and could stop just about anything coming his way, but there was no guarantee he could defend all of them while trying to actually put down the threat at hand.

...Well, still, he knew it was best for The Wards. Regardless of general defenses, their absolute lack of training and experience left them more vulnerable than anyone on this team bar none. They needed protection.

"I agree, you two are best suited for the job. From the little I know about a few of them, it won't be the easiest to work together with them, but I'll put my faith in the both of you." A small smile came from Risen; a rarity to be certain. It dropped shortly afterwards though, as he now turned his attention back to Blaster and the monitors. "See if you can contact Trump Card again. If he doesn't pick up...I'll look for him myself." The look in Risen's eyes spoke a thousand words...Likely none of which TC would want to hear. With a brief nod, Blaster started up the comms once more, for....What was it now, the tenth time today? Sheesh.

---

---

Downtown Redline, filled with the scum of the city, as well as the disenfranchised. Usually, the two aligned more than anyone would like to admit...But, of course, we aren't here to scour the shady snow-filled alleys or view into the sad windows of the poor few making a honest living. No, there's a different locale in mind....

From the outside, you'd be forgiven for thinking The Devil's Eye was just any ordinary dive bar - with, admittedly, a pretty fancy name. However, behind the curtained windows and worn-down door, it was a hive of villainy. Quite literally. The Devil's Eye had always been a spot of interest for criminal enterprises in the city, even before Parahumans were on the map. Really, the only thing that'd changed over the years is that instead of mobsters and thugs, you had mobsters and thugs with superpowers. It made for a nondescript location for the ne'er-do-wells of the city to meet and talk (thankfully with some quite threatening enforcers to ensure the peace of the small infrastructure), away from the prying eyes of citizens or the PRT. Which....Made it quite odd that a well-known hero would choose to spend his time here.

Enter Trump Card. He kept his heroic attire simplistic, but snazzy nonetheless, with a stylish white domino mask, an equally pristine yet loosely-kept white dress suit that ever-so-slightly exposed his chest, black dress pants that were cuffed off (presumably to avoid the potential embarrassment of tripping on them), silky smooth violet gloves, and last but not least, his polished-to-a-shine velvet dress shoes. Truly, he looked more like he was dressed for some gala than for hero work. Still, it certainly gave him a presence....Presence enough to avoid unnecessary scuffles even in an establishment such as this.

He straightened out one of his golden locks, as Richter was laughing it up with two others, undoubtedly Capes; specifically, Rough & Tumble, an infamous(ly embarrassing) pair of 'villains' who were, more often than not, laughingstocks. That of course didn't stop them from getting lucky breaks every now and then, causing their fair share of trouble in the city. Rough was a lanky guy, which mirrored humorously with his more rotund companion. In comparison, TC was a bit more average in terms of build...Though he certainly had them beat in the looks department.

"Ah, you two're a right riot! Ever considered getting on the telly?" Richter was being absolutely sarcastic, but it wasn't like that occurred to either of these two. "Pfft! Nah, pal. We got the skills to pay the bills; we just gotta make some real players realize that first, ya dig?" The scrawny 'brains' (hard quotation) of the operation spoke up with his rat-like voice, getting a nod (was it a nod? Hard to tell with him, frankly) from Tumble. For his part, Trump Card merely offered an assuring nod.

"I can feel ya. It isn't easy hitting it big, is it? Ah, well..." His casual, playful demeanor changed sharply to a more serious edge, though somehow not coming across outright threatening. "You two know how this plays, yea? After the last stun you lot played, Pops PRT isn't gonna let it set. And, well...You know how it is." A few other patrons spared a glance towards this conversation now; perhaps slight concern on this hero's sights being turned towards them? Or perhaps confused on what exactly these two bumbling buffoons did to receive such direct attention? It was hard to say, but eventually, they all turnt away.

"H-Hey, man...We're pals though, aren't we? Maybe just let us slide this once?" A wily, but equally scared grin now graced the face of Rough, plying for any kind of mercy. TC just sighed. "This'd be, like, the third time, ya blighters. But hey, don't take it too personal; just business! 'Sides, if you come in of your own accord, it'll be a lighter sentence. Ain't like you two murdered someone. Whazzit ya did again? Stole some dumb necklaces from a jewelry store? For God's sake boys, you can at least try and think bigger..."

Rough groaned. Not like anyone in the Eye would stand up for the two of them, and as tough as he though he was....He knew better than to really piss off Richter. That's what had founded this strange friendship anyhow. Tumble just had to open his big fucking mouth though..."...This about us scuffing you up the last time?" The flash of irritation was unmissable even behind the mask, and his voice showed it too. "Course it is, ya twit! Unlike you two, I have some reputation to uphold. Gettin' run over by a living wrecking ball isn't part of that image..." Rough just gave his partner a sharp jab with his elbow, though it barely elicited a response from the nigh-spherical man. "Well, if we gotta walk, we will, but uh....One more drink, for the road?"

His attitude shifted back, all smiles and sunshine once more. "Aw, why not? You blokes're my pals, one way or the other, jails bars or no. 'Sides, not like I got much better to do tonight. Oy, bartender! 'Nother round for my table!" It was of course, at this time, he could hear that incessant buzzing in his ears again; another goddamn call. Could they seriously not trust him for thirty minutes? This time, the one groaning was him. "Aight, don't wanna hear a word from either o' you while I'm on call, you hear?" A sharp glance is shared between himself and the two C-List villain, who nod vigorously in response. Reluctantly, he picks up the call...Which, unbeknownst to him, is reaching the entirety of the Guardians. He's just lucky The Devil's Eye is pretty quiet, all things considered.

"To what do I own the pleasure, O Glorious Leader?" Those present could visibly see Risen's eyes narrow, however subtle it was. "We're getting called in for a mission." A long silence followed, with the only confirmation that he was still on the line being the screen itself saying so, until he spoke up once again. ".....And?" "From the top of the chain. The Director."

"...Aw, fuck. Fine, I'll get back, alright?"

"It'll be within the hour. If you aren't back in twenty minutes, I'll pick you up myself."

....Well, the Glorious Leader sure knew how to put a damper on things. A 'tsk' escaped from TC, unable to conceal his irritation. "Yeah, yeah, I'll be there, ya cunt. No need for a bloody curfew." With that, in spite of definitely hearing Risen ready to reply to that remark, he hung up and turned his attention back to the two twits before him.

"Sorry lads, duty calls. Still don't mean you're off the hook though; if you aren't in a slammer by the time this sitch is up, y'know what I'll hafta do, yea?" The pair of them nod all-too-knowingly, to which Trump Card gives a grin, playfully patting them both on the shoulder. "Grand! Well then, I'll be off; you two oughta enjoy the night before that deadline." With that, without having to raise a finger, Trump Card had snared up two eventual villains for the PRT's cells. Simple enough; ought to get that bastard Fukuda off his back for a moment, at the very least.

With that, begrudgingly trotting his way out to the sleet-slick road, he called an Uber. Like hell he was walking in this weather.

The Wards: A Grimdark Teenage Superhero Story

Hello, I was just curious if there would be room for one more person? If so I had an idea for a Supergirl or Homelander like character but alot weaker, or perhaps someone who can embed metal into their body to make a grotesque suit of armour? Perhaps they could have some sort of magnetism as well?

@Eviledd1984

Mm...Truth be told, probably not. We've already got quite a few people; more than I'd already bargained for. I've just been forgetting to update the status here lol. Sorry to break that news though. If someone ends up leaving though, we could see about getting ya in here.

The Wards: A Grimdark Teenage Superhero Story

Here's what I got.

Avalon

Bio

Alias: Avalon

Name: Ava Watson

Age: 25

Loyalty: Hero/Guardian

Gender: Female

Height: 6’0 or 183cm

Weight: 188lbs or 85.3kgs

Appearance:

Civilian - Ava is a tall Caucasian woman standing at 6’ even and weighing 178lbs. She’s been gifted with what we’ll call ‘great genetics’ and has a clear background in sports, that or she’s just been running around as a cape for a while, maybe both, either way, she’s built. She has long black hair that she keeps just tidy enough for it to not cover her face, her eyes are a bright amber colour with slit pupils. When asked about her eyes she just lies and says that she got contact lenses on.

She likes all-black clothes, leaning more in favour of long pants and sleeves if given the choice, but if the weather is particularly hot she’ll resign her preference and wear shorts and short sleeves. Though regardless of the heat she’ll always keep something on that’ll cover up her right calf, nobody needs to see her jellyfish sting marks.

Civilian

Cape - Avalon’s costume is a dark grey armoured bodysuit that’s designed to have a moderate amount of elasticity given the nature of her powers. The armour is mat white and is almost always polished, the plates of armour are slotted onto the bodysuit in a way that allows them to separate when necessary allowing the elasticity of the bodysuit to hold everything together. She has a helmet that’s outfitted with a basic communicator and has an emergency protocol to automatically pop off her head if it detects Avalon is getting too large to fit into it anymore.

Costume

Biography:
“Wait so you want me to write all this shit down, on pen and paper so you’ve got it on record? Fucken’... Fine. It isn’t going to be any less vulgar. In fact, it’ll be worse!... Fucken prick… Okay so, where do I start? Umm… I guess from the beginning.”

It all started I was born and raised in Darwin, the place is hot as balls. You could cook an egg on a playground slide if you didn’t mind it tasting like ass. The heat didn’t stop me from joining the boxing and basketball teams in school though, I kicked ass by the way. Sports were great and all but While I did love sports, nothing could top biology and environmental science, knowing how and why animals did shit was fucking awesome. After school I got a job in a

“Fucken cross that shit out and boom that should do for that bit, nobody gives a shit about what I did as a civilian. They just want cape shit… I guess I gotta talk about that time. Fuck.”

Have you ever been stung by a box jellyfish? Well as someone who got stung by three of the bastards I’ll be the first to tell you. THAT SHIT FUCKING SUCKS! imagine if you will. Someone injected molten steel underneath your skin and just left the needle in you, you’re unable to remove the needle because if you do it’ll inject the same shit into your hand, add on the fact that you’re body has tensed up and you're unable to move because of fucking paralysis. Yeah, that wasn’t how me and the girls envisioned that night going. Look before you leap kids…

“Okay next up hmm… Probably my career in Darwin. Hmm, how do I word this without mentioning-ugh that?… Fuck it.”

This part is Darwin is a pretty small city all things considered, so I didn’t get up to much shit while I was there. The place is practically a fucken gas station compared to a city like Redline, so it was kinda just me and a stupid bitch select few others. playing whack-a-mole with superpowered villains. Badguy shows up, I put them in hospital they aren’t a problem anymore, it was pretty simple. Shit got boring though so I moved to Redline. Plus my comrades can cover Darwin without me.

“Now that shit’s out of the way, onto the crap they’re probably familiar with.”

Blah blah blah, aggravated assault with a parahuman power bad. Blah blah blah, methods too violent to be allowed. Fucken pussies so you guys kicked my ass and set me up with your Redline’s guardians group. I mean the company isn’t bad but like, I’d hard smash like every guardian here being honest. I would be better off on my own for sure. Give me a few weeks and the mutants would be fucked. But no Assushi Fuckhead had to rope me in. Also, I’m putting it here on record, I kicked loads of ass before you guys started messing with my shit.

“Yeah that works. And if the director doesn't like he can suck a fat one.”

Personality

General:
Australian - Ava is the thunder from down under and isn’t shy about it, in fact, she takes pride in her heritage and will be more than happy to talk to people about her home country. And since she’s only recently moved to America she’s still carrying a lot of her Australian ‘quirks’. Excessive vulgar language and weird slang are ingrained into her head. If you asked she’d give you a top ten of her favourite curse words. “Fuckin’ oath.”

Jokester - Ava loves to mess around and generally makes fun in 90% of situations. Fighting a villain? Oh, you bet she’s cracking jokes and talking some mad shit. Someone says ‘but’ or anything that could be vaguely considered as toilet humour she’s got a chance of chuckling under her breath. She is very rarely serious when she says anything, though when she’s serious, you’ll know. “What? Come on that was a good one.”

Permissive - Ava is loose both in how she enforces and follows rules, she sees most rules as loose guidelines and this outlook has gotten her into trouble on more than one occasion. This isn’t to say that she dislikes people who enforce the rules, but she just finds them to be a bit of a drag. “I only bend the rules a little.”

Fists rated E for Everyone - Ava is incredibly stubborn and always ready for a fight. If you give her enough of a reason she will throw hands. Obviously, it isn’t her first choice but if you’ve pissed her off enough and she can feasibly get you into a fighting ring with her, she’ll try to. “Some messages need to be beaten into someone.”

Prideful - While it isn’t always on display Ava has a high opinion of herself and when people attempt to refute her image she can react ‘poorly’. This is mainly just a problem when people challenge her or insinuate that she’s weak in some way. This can and has led to her getting punchy. “Sorry I don’t know if I heard you right? Mind repeating that?”

Derangement:
Bad doctor - Ever since Ava’s trigger she’s become desensitised to pain, not just her own but that of those around her. This inability to recognize the severity of the wounds she takes normally isn’t an issue, it’s more when she’s unable to realise how brutally she’s beating her opponents that issues arise. “It’s just a flesh wound.”

Parahumanism

Skill:
Boxing - Ava used to do boxing but left the sport once she triggered knowing full well her power would give her an unfair advantage. But that hasn’t stopped her from keeping on practising her form. Normally she doesn’t use her boxing skills in a parahuman fight, but if she feels the fight is a significant threat she might just bust out the boxing moves.

Animal knowledge - Ava has always been fond of animals and growing up in the same country as the legendary Steve Irwin leaves an impression on you. This isn’t to say she knows why a Rainbow Lorikeet is coloured the way it is or why Cassowary is so angry, but she knows things.

Pain tolerance - Ava’s been scraping as an overconfident regen brute for a while so she’s become rather familiar with pain. It’s not to say she doesn’t feel it more that she’s learnt to deal with it and isn’t usually hampered by it during combat.

Classification: Striker 7 (Striker)

Mechanics: Ava’s body functions as a living battery able to absorb, store and distribute electrical energy through touch, she’s able to sense how much energy is in her reserves at any given time. She cannot output and absorb electricity simultaneously, and if an outside source of electricity hits her she is forced to absorb it (taser, exposed wire or electricity blaster). Her body is fueled by the electrical energy making her immune to fatigue and removing her need to sleep, eat, drink or breathe as long as she has reserves remaining to draw from, if she does choose to eat her body also converts energy produced by eating the food and puts it into her electrical energy reserves, the gains are equivalent to the energy she’d get from the food normally. In the circumstance that Ava ever used up her reserves entirely, she would pass out, waking after a good while, though she can be roused early if she’s given some more energy to work with.

Ava’s energy reserves have a cap that can be maintained indefinitely as long as she doesn’t need to regenerate.

Ava’s physical strength and durability increase as her energy reserve fills up. Her enhanced strength and durability do not cost any reserves to maintain and when her reserves are full she’s able to lift and throw ten tonnes one hundred meters, bend metals and punch hard enough to make most opponents reconsider their life choices. Durability wise Ava would be tough enough to ignore small arms fire without suffering any damage and trade blows with brutes of equivalent strength without
being turned into silly putty. Additionally, she also gains a foot in height and almost 100 pounds when her reserves are at their peak
Ava is able to expend energy reserves to heal wounds, superficial wounds like grazes and shallow cuts won’t be healed automatically but large or lethal wounds will. The rate of the healing is adaptive based on the severity of the wound, so when a wound is at its worst it will be healed faster, it is fast enough to stabilise most wounds ranging from being impaled to being severed down the middle. Obviously, things like total body vaporisation and her head being turned into a fine red mist can’t be recovered from.

Ava is able to overcharge herself if she absorbs more energy than her reserves are built to hold. Overcharging herself allows her to enhance her strength, size and durability beyond what she is able to normally with a currently unknown upper limit. The trade-off for this extra boost is that the effects are only temporary, as any amount of energy that is above her regular reserves bleeds out over time, and whatever state she ends up in after she’s absorbed enough energy to overcharge will be shortlived 10 minutes at most without any recharging.

Equipment:

Suit and helmet - Ava’s costume itself is a special piece of equipment given its ability to accommodate her power to a certain degree. Needless to say, she didn’t make it herself, and much to her suitmaker's dismay tends to get it damaged on the regular. She also has rubber soles on her suit so that she can maintain her charge in certain situations.

Favourite power: Gotta be shapeshifting, like full-on free shapeshifting. Who doesn’t want to be a dinosaur?

@LemonZest1337

You're good, get in 'ere!

The Wards: A Grimdark Teenage Superhero Story

Date/Time: November 11th, 2022. 6:12 PM.

Location(s): Redline PRT Headquarters

---

---

Fashionista watched, beaming with pride in both The Wards and her own work, as they strode back out clad in their new Cape-garb. They all just looked so good in it! Even Carmen, who she could tell (somewhat unsurprisingly; the cost of sticking strictly to what the middle-schooler had laid out for her) wasn't fully appreciating hers. They could talk though; there was always room for improvement in anything, costumes included.

Hearing all the kids heaping praise onto her, Rachel gave a joking roll of her eyes. "Alright, alright; enough buttering me up for now. You all look great! And since someone decided to give them a test run..." She casts a side glance to Caiden, more teasing than anything else. "...I'll tell you upright, so you don't get ahead of yourselves. Yes, the costumes are pretty darn tough, courtesy of me, but you're far from invincible. They can all turn a knife away or absorb most of the shock from a blunt object. Maybe even stop some low-caliber bullets....But don't test that." At that last sentence, she gains a serious edge to her tone, looking across the group to ensure it's understood.

"I'm afraid that they won't stop some of the things you may come up against, so remember to be careful. I trust you all to be smart and stay out of excess danger. Are we clear?" You could practically feel the Mom energy in her closing words, sternly passing her gaze upon the children. She didn't want to suddenly seem mean or strict, but it was important that they understood at least this much.

Satisfied, she turned her attention to the last arrival; the ironclad Jane, of course, with a powersuit that, admittedly, Rachel was quite proud to have a hand in....However small it was. She couldn't stop the smile that crept over her even if she wanted to, watching their combined efforts bear the fruit of locomotion. Though...She didn't expect what happened next, that being Beverly's abrupt collapse.

Blinking away her stunned condition, the Vice Director gave Wilbur the hand he needed...Though even with his help, it was a struggle. Fashionista knew Bev's kit would complicate matters if it came to extraction with her extra baggage, but it wasn't just that. Heaving the girl up, she could feel the unbelievable tension in her muscles, almost as stiff as boards. No amount of simple stress would cause this. Had she not slept well the past night? Or...Was it something more?

Letting the concern slip to the side for the time being, Workshop was back on her feet, her dazed eyes flittering open as she found her footing once more. "Oh! Easy now, Bev. You had a bit of a spill....You feeling alright?" The teen managed to give a nod, slowly straightening herself up once more. With a sigh of relief, Rachel slowly relinquished her grasp of her, allowing her to stand on her own.

With everyone settled once more, Fashionista looked upon the group with a small smile. "Okay! There's one other major area I need to show to our prospective Tinkers, so in the meantime, I think someone owes you all an explanation..." Beckoning The Wards once more, she rounds her way out of the Changing Room to confront the Director once more.

---

---

Date/Time: November 11th, 2022. 6:12 PM.

Location(s): Redline PRT Headquarters

---

---

'Fuck. Me.'

Those two words went through the Director's head as he hung up with the Guardians. Without time to spare, he was already jumping to the next big hurdle...Paperwork. Virtual paperwork, that is. Written copies could be handled by some desk jockeys, but since he was the one privy to the oh-so-gracious foresight from the Think Tank, he could at least prep some of the necessities for what was to come. Damage assessments for both the museum and mayor's abode (as, no doubt, damage would be dealt somehow....), reparations for said damages, and more. The miserable monotony that is impermeably attached to his work. Still, the earlier it was handled, the more time he'd have to handle these brats and, if he was lucky, teach them something useful before they're shoved out into a burning hellscape.

He found his work interrupted by a voice; female, but not the one he'd anticipated. Whirling around in his seat and casually sliding the datapad away, he found himself face-to-face with...Memento. Huh. The barest notion of surprise, the slightest arch of a brow, was present seeing this. 'Just about the last one of them I'd expect to come to me with something.' He thought to himself, as curious as he was annoyed; which is to say, to both, not very much.

Yeah, her question left something to be desired. With a sigh, he looked Morie in the eyes, locking onto them. "Morgan. You're a smart kid, so I don't think you need me to answer that question." He left her question of 'danger' at that, but chose to elaborate some more on her request of a clone. "As for a copy...Simple enough. We'll have Rachel stop by with your costume and get you suited up before you head out. But for the time being, you should..."

He found himself cut off, as Fukuda stared past Morie to see the gaze of Rachel, with the entourage of Cape-clad (thank God not literally, for the most part; capes are a huge pain in the ass) children following behind. A small groan escaped from him, only audible to Morie. "...Yeah, yeah, I'll handle it." The Director said, casually waving off Rachel as she couldn't help but roll her eyes. The Vice Director gave a soft smile to Morie before turning her attention to the Tinkers in the room, Rachel and Beverly. "Since that's the case...When Fukuda's done giving the laydown, follow me; I'll show off the...Um...." Thinking on it for a bit, she abruptly decided on a new name for the room in question, divorcing it from the name of one of their members. "....The Proving Grounds. Yep."

For most, the exchange near the end would've felt awkward, but Rachel made even that feel natural and charming, waving off the gaggle of teens before heading her way through a new doorway, with a staircase that seemed to head further down....This, of course, only left Director Fukuda behind to explain to them exactly what they were getting into. Great.

"I'll be frank. With some heads-up I've received, we've become aware of an attack on both the Museum of Parahuman History further downtown, as well as another location I'll be leaving undisclosed. Most of The Guardians are preparing to handle the other incident, with a few who'll be tagging along for your endeavor as well. Truth be told, we don't know who - or what - will be the source of the attack. With any luck, something you all can manage...."

He looked between them all, gazes of fear, anticipation, anxiety, and even confidence; a peculiar mix of emotions. But he still wasn't done, of course. "....Now, I won't sugarcoat this. Most villains, even in Redline, are above killing heroes; they know the kind of retribution it'd call down on them. You kids are no exception....But don't let your guard down. They'll still beat you to a pulp if you get in the way. Some more than others. You'll need to watch each other's backs out there, and play things smart. You've got..." Fukuda casually checks his wristwatch, looking at the time. "...A bit more than half an hour. Make it count; explain the ins and outs of your tricks to each other, figure out what each of you are -and most importantly, aren't- capable of, and think up workarounds. And as for you two?" His gaze turned to Jane and Bev, the smallest smirk playing on his face.

"You two've got last-minute work to do."

With that, feeling satisfied in his explanation, the Director went right back to work; paperwork wouldn't handle itself. If they needed to ask him something, he'd answer, but hopefully by now they'd pick up what he was putting down. Sooner or later tonight...It'd all be on them. They have to bring their A-Game, whatever that may qualify as.

The Wards: A Grimdark Teenage Superhero Story

Felicity - Ariana Slone 👀

@Celaira

Also accepted, before I forget. Welcome aboard!