ShadowsofNight

{CLOSED} The Council of Heroes Against Malicious Persons [Mystery Men Inspired RP ]

Talia couldn't help but laugh again as she listened to him share his deep, dark thing. "Wait... a platypus?" she asked him, confused but smiling and amused. When she felt his attempt to put her under some pressure to have a response immediately, she went with the only thing that completely clouded her mind... though she wished she was just afraid of a platypus too... "Umm... I'm supposed to just be on a stage doing performances while here and no one knows I've changed the plans." She had blurted out the words fast so that she couldn't stop to take them back. But it felt a relief to actually tell someone. She smiled up at him again, thankful that he was encouraging and reciprocating her attempt to be a little more talkative. She was probably not very good at this when not on some kind of stage, she mused. But then she returned to his first question... "I would have shown what I could do but it wasn't my turn yet. I wanted to see what the guys could do. Are you scared tonight or just excited?" she asked him, voicing what she had wanted to ask each of them since earlier that day.

{CLOSED} The Council of Heroes Against Malicious Persons [Mystery Men Inspired RP ]

Talia had set up the taxi driver to come get her and arrive back at headquarters several minutes early. She did not know what the night would bring, but she had her large overcoat with her once more, with the ribbons in her bag, and was ready for whatever happened... as ready as she could be. She hoped her parents would forgive her for what she was about to do and especially, for the fact that she hadn't even told them about it.

Readying herself, she made her way confidently to the door of the headquarters once more only to find that she wasn't alone waiting at the door. The guy so ironically and fittingly named "The Finger" was also outside. She greeted him in a more friendly manner this time as she hoped that they could begin to establish a more relaxed rapport, since apparently the plan was for her to walk in with him in order to get into their first assignment. She still didn't know how she felt about that plan yet, but she had nothing better to offer and even if she had, she wouldn't dare have assumed that her suggestions would be of equal importance.

{CLOSED} The Council of Heroes Against Malicious Persons [Mystery Men Inspired RP ]

Talia returned back to her shy and more reserved self once the confidence from her performance had worn off again. She couldn't believe she'd been accepted and that it had been that easy. Smiling a little, she watched as The Finger made his hasty and rather awkward disappearance with the donuts and raised an eyebrow at his uncouth ways of speech. This was so different than where she came from, but then again, everything everywhere was different than where she had been raised. She'd already come to expect and appreciate that. Out here, she was... dare she say it... free. Dipping her head politely to The Jersey Devil and to Manny, she said her goodbyes and agreed to be back there later that evening. Then she left the room and went outside to call for another ride in order to return to her hotel room.

Once there, she sank to the floor in obvious relief and exhaustion from the many emotions that had vied for her attention during the events of the day. It was time to find herself something to eat, take some breaths and meditate for a little while as she readied herself (in mind, body and spirit) for the upcoming challenge and adventure and time where she could finally participate in something she had dreamed of for so many years of her life. Thoughts of the danger that she and her new teammates could be in, was still pretty far from her mind. She wasn't ignorant of there being serious threat, but she seemed unable to dwell on it for even a second before the illusions of grandeur overtook her mind as she began to feel what this type of freedom could mean. She could finally show what she, an Asian female that had been built to be nothing but poise and elegance and quiet, demure beauty, was able to do. She would remain here, readying and preparing herself for the inevitable events of the evening until it was time to return to the headquarters with her new team.

{CLOSED} The Council of Heroes Against Malicious Persons [Mystery Men Inspired RP ]

Just to clarify... We are to post what our character does for a few hours and then we'll all meet back at the CHAMPS headquarters?

{CLOSED} The Council of Heroes Against Malicious Persons [Mystery Men Inspired RP ]

Did I miss reading about any abilities/heroes skills Manny or his friend has? Or are they not part of the CHAMPS like that?

{CLOSED} The Council of Heroes Against Malicious Persons [Mystery Men Inspired RP ]

Yeah, definitely cannot even tell that you're a rookie GM. Loving this!

{CLOSED} The Council of Heroes Against Malicious Persons [Mystery Men Inspired RP ]

By the way, for everyone on here, if I make a mistake in assuming someone's action or getting too far ahead or forgetting something was just a thought that Talia couldn't hear, just feel free to let me know on here because I am actually brand-new to this kind of thing. But it is fun, so thanks Searat for letting me join. :)

{CLOSED} The Council of Heroes Against Malicious Persons [Mystery Men Inspired RP ]

Okay that's cool and definitely useful for something like this, Talia thought as she watched the man by the window display his claws and bounce abilities. She wondered what his gas mask thing did, but then decided that was probably really obvious and that she'd look stupid for asking about it. Also, she began to wish she had the ability to have some claws that could just pop out of her hands because that just sounded awesome.

However, when it came to The Finger showing his skill to them all, she couldn't help but start slightly and then laugh out loud. Her laugh was soft but audible and trained, just like the rest of her, to be ladylike and gentle and graceful. God, how Talia wished to just be able to talk and sound and act like the rest of humanity. They seemed so free to be themselves. "Sorry," she said to the others, feeling the need to apologize even for that. "It's just... I honestly did not expect that but should be interesting."

She took a breath then turned to Manny and also took one of the earpieces carefully for herself, saying a sweet "thank you" as she did so before turning back to the others. "Well, it so happens I can indeed be the perfect Cinderella," she said with a hint of a semi-forced smile. "But I'm a ribbon dancer and if anyone here does not know what that is, it is a display on stage of a lot of acrobatics and some skill. I cannot reveal very much here, as it is not a lot of space to work in without umm knocking things over," she finished with an actual, amused smile this time.

Then she took off the jacket and placed it onto the arm of a chair and removed the ribbons from her bag. Breathe. Ignore their stares. This was nothing more than another performance, she thought to herself. With that, she began twirling the ribbons about in expert, controlled movements that whipped and whistled above their heads and to sweep the floor as she herself twirled and leapt about, circling the group, making such use of the space that the size of the apartment seemed to be forgotten. It would be clear to the onlookers, that she had control of the entire room similar to how an actual performer could command the stage but also literal control as the ribbons whipped around and energies swirled. It seemed as though she was in control of the forces, bending them to her will, but in fact she worked in tandem with them: a cooperative, enchanted performance.

Afterwards, she stopped and stepped up closer to them all again and showed each the thickness and strength of the sheer fabric, a material that was not fragile at all, and also the razor-tipped metal edges that she had had sewn into the fabric itself to make the whip-like ribbons a weapon, capable of stripping skin and slicing through other materials as well. "I know it doesn't seem like much," she said, her confidence temporarily fueled by the performer she was, "but I have even been able to suspend my entire weight by these so they are not just weapons, but I can send them out and swing from them too. Also, if you take a look around, you'll notice that nothing and no one is damaged even though I whipped them around each of us. I hope that is a satisfactory performance for you all to still consider me."

{CLOSED} The Council of Heroes Against Malicious Persons [Mystery Men Inspired RP ]

Images of the debut job descriptions and of the consequences and results of the diamond dust issue played through Talia's mind as she continued to read while accurately observing the situation and the others' responses. Her ability to multitask very efficiently allowed her to still listen to and analyze the ideas the others have, but she did not have a very high self-esteem herself and had never even worked in a group setting that was not choreographed by someone that knew far more than she. Quietly, she stood there, leaned over to peer at the screen of the laptop where the information was presented. She had not remained off to herself, however, for it was time to look and act like a member of this team... even though it was quite odd and unique and confusingly grouped. That sounded like a recipe for some adventure and freedom and risk-taking, which sounded to Talia like a great time.

She had not glossed over the understanding that other previous heroes doing similar things, had died... but she wasn't about to let the next victims be her or any others with her, not if she could help it. As the man named Manny started describing the electronic ear-piece things that would allow them to connect and stay in touch even at vast distances, it was difficult to pay close attention to the details and to remember descriptions of technology that she had never before even heard discussed. She quickly deduced that Manny likely knew a lot about what he was talking about, and she looked around to see if her other fellow heroes were equally confused. She was thankful for the public transportation to and from places, because she was not really from around here. She had journeyed around the area for shows and such but never stayed long enough to get more than basic familiarity of the city.

With a start, she realized that no one here had yet discussed with each other what their strengths or abilities or powers even were... likely, only Manny knew and if he had okayed each of them, then there must be a good reason. But she wondered if any of them would share with her about what would stop them from being easily killed? Were they in it just for the adventure and fun? Did they care about helping people and righting wrongs and pursuing justice? Did they have some kind of thing of their past to avenge? She longed to be able to ask but silently and patiently waited her turn, green eyes gently resting on each of their faces as they spoke or reacted to what was being shared. It did not feel like her place, especially as the only female, to just start blurting out suggestions and fighting for the same breath of space to talk in and speak opinions and ideas. Besides, she didn't have much yet to add... unless they tried to end this meeting without even talking about what qualified each for this kind of danger...

{CLOSED} The Council of Heroes Against Malicious Persons [Mystery Men Inspired RP ]

Starting suddenly at the voice calling her way, Talia stepped said a quick and rushed “oh thank you” before walking swiftly yet gracefully into the room with the other guys. She looked them each up and down briefly, a bit nervously, before saying a soft “hello, my name is Talia and it’s nice to meet all of you.” She added a sweet smile.

Some of her nerves and shyness was already evaporating because traveling and performing for years had taught her how to break the social awkwardness with groups of people and how to fit in best as possible. It was a facade but.. she was well-versed in it all and the stage didn’t care. Her voice was soft and gentle and quite the direct opposite of the man that she’d briefly seen in the hallway. She had seen and known his kind before, but didn’t judge. Besides, if this was indeed headquarters, they would be some kind of oddly matched team by the end of this.

Her sharp eyes combed the room and took in the other odd man standing by the window… wearing a kind of gas mask? That was interesting and a bit confusing, Talia thought but again, no judgment, just intrigue as she looked around for some kind of chair to sit comfortably but straight, just like she’d been taught.