RedBalloon

The New Recruits (private)

Z saw the light before Brad even exclaimed. It felt like my heart was pounding at her chest to get out while everything around her seemed to slow down. Without thinking, she dove behind one of the columns that supported the gas station's overhang. The air around her went from being hot to intensely burning. If she had a voice then she would be screaming. To make matters worse, the explosion produced a ringing in her ears so loud that she couldn't hear anything. Z felt helpless and lost, being both mute and now not being able to hear. She wrapped her arms around her head, shielding the back of her neck and face as the blast wrapped around the column she was hiding behind.

The New Recruits (private)

Z glanced back at her friends, shaking her head at the sight of Lukas being on his phone. She snapped her fingers to get his attention then signed, "Do not walk with your phone, you will run into something." She moved her hands to say something else but was suddenly distracted by something else. Clapping her hands excitedly, she pointed towards the nearest gas station where the trucks were parked. Even fancy trucks need fuel to run. "Maybe it's for some science convention?" She suggested with a shrug. Sure enough, as she had stated earlier, a small crowd of the towns people had been drawn to the trucks out of boredom and curiosity.

The New Recruits (private)

Z gave a roll of her eyes as the two left, flicking them the bird with the finger that had a pentagram tattooed onto the lower part. She meant well by it but she just happened to come off as rudely friendly. She turned her attention back to the others, grinning at them. She gave a silent scoff at Brand, waving her hands in the air. "I was ready before you two even decided," she signed, sticking her tongue out at them. "Let's go Speedy and Gingy." She had certain signs of nicknames for most of her friends. Without waiting for them, she grabbed her cloth bag, that had 'Witch B*tch' painted on it along with multiple buttons, and headed for the door.

The New Recruits (private)

A dark-skinned, young woman with hair matching the color of Brand's vest flung her arms across the length of the table, her head thumping onto the wood surface. Z, a nickname that everyone called her by but no one knew why or what her real name was, was about the most interesting thing one could find in the slow, small town. She was the local, and only, self-proclaimed witch around. She was the person the kids came to to attempt revenge on their parents with purchases of a vodo doll or curse. Whether she was the real deal or not was a matter of debate.
Z lifted her head to stare at Brand with steel gray eyes. "Sounds more fun than watching you drink three pots of coffee like everyday," she signed, having to move her arms to be able to 'talk'. She was mute, for reasons she had never told anyone, but she managed to find a few people that were interested in learning ASL.
Unlike Brand, she was dressed more for the heat. She wore a white, sleeveless crop top that had a print of a black, crescent moon, a black mini skirt, and sandals that laced around her ankle. The only thing about her outfit was the fact that it showed the black marking on her lower, side ribs that looked like a backwards z encased in a circle with a line crossing through it. Yet another thing that she never explained to people if asked.
Z stood up, snatched her sunhat from the table and stood up. "Let's go before a crowd starts," she insisted, standing with her hands on her hips. "Or before you fall asleep."

He's Such A Heart Throb, Ain't He? (Private)

Juliettee took Melanie without protest, cradling the little girl tenderly. The angel seated herself on the couch while she watched her boyfriend ascend the stairs.
Alex didn't try to stop him when he declared that he was going to see his mother. He did, however, give an unsure look. Blowing out a long breath, the dragon ran his hand through his hair as he walked away from the stairs.
"Be careful," was all Crystal said in response to Ryan going up to see Ariana.

Ariana did not say anything, hardly even responded, to Ryan opening the door. She sitting on the ground, hugging her knees to her chest, with her head resting against the bed. Electricity was wildly jumping across her skin that reached out and touched anything close to her. Despite her highly active ability, her eyes appeared more dull than usual that blankly stared at the wall.

Welcome to Gotham (Private)

Ace tilted his head back and forth. "From the surface level, there didn't seem to be anything to give to cause to be captured or killed, but," he started, crossing his arms and legs. "Medical records show that each of the victims have an artificial pancreas device to help with, you know, diabetes and such." He turned his head towards Senna. "That's the only sort of connection I've found so far."
Z silently passed by the group and stopped in front of a doorway. She signed something to Ace but spelled out what she wanted to say, in another language, instead of words. Ace gave her a confused look, even if he did understand what she was saying, before she walked away.

He's Such A Heart Throb, Ain't He? (Private)

Crystal stepped away from Ryan he started to squirm to be freed.
Melanie frowned and shifted a little when he picked her up, but her soft features calmed when she felt comfortable again. Her little hand that gripped the teddy bear reached over to grip his shirt.
Alex slowly looked over to him, gesturing upstairs. "She's in her room," he responded. "I would not advise going up there for awhile, though, she's a bit... unstable, at the moment."
Juliettee stepped behind Ryan and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. Her face was saddened but also empathic, knowing the trouble of losing a parent.

Welcome to Gotham (Private)

Ace looked over to the TV, seeing the news report he was already familiar with. He seemed to glance over to Z for a split-second before looking back at Senna. "Of course I'll help you," he sighed, setting his laptop off to the side. He reached for his prosthetics and locked them into place over the scarred skin of what was left of his leg. "I've already been looking into it."
Z watched the three for a moment before she walked back into the kitchen and put whatever she was making on pause for a while.

He's Such A Heart Throb, Ain't He? (Private)

Only Alex, Crystal and Melania were in the living room; Ariana was no where to be seen. Crystal pacing back and forth at the foot of the stairs while Alex stared up the stairwell. Melania was peacefully sleeping on the couch, snuggly wrapped up in a blanket with her teddy bear and her thumb in her mouth, completely oblivious to the tragedy at hand. Crystal looked up as a portal dropped Ryan and Juliettee into the room. Without a second thought, the scarred, muscular woman moved over to her nephew and hugged him tightly, a very rare occasion.

He's Such A Heart Throb, Ain't He? (Private)

Alex didn't need to answer for Ryan to understand before the conversation ended.
Juliettee watched him hang up the phone. She blinked at him, a glimmer of surprise on her features from how well Ryan was taking the news. "Oh, uh, of course, love," she replied. She peered over the edge of the cart to see how far they were from the ground. Deciding it was ok for her to leave mid-ride. She unwrapped herself from around Ryan then unbuckled from the cart. She stood up and leapt out, her large white wings snapping out. She hovered in the air, unseen from the civilians' eyes. She cut a portal in the air, thanking that the Ferris Wheel was paused for the time being, then beckoned for Ryan to go through.