Xaltwind
Lugubrious
CitrusArms
Morgannis
Expendable
LupusIntus
Sky Blue
Lemons
Crimson Flame
Chronic
October 10th, 2029.
Peterson Estates
Passenger Island, Castleburg
On a mission with: Alchemist @Duoya, Blast @Hitman, Gematria @Scarifar, Bastion @Infinite Cosmos, Dahlia @baraquiel
Madison never got the chance to listen to Cloudburst's spiel, but she didn't have to. She didn't like the look in his eyes. It was desire but devoid of warmth, as if he was thinking 'I've found something new that I want'. It was an umpleasant gaze and she could already hear the corny attempt at flirting with no self-awareness prefacing any point he would take his sweet time getting to. It was a mercy that if was cut off before he got to utter anything.
The man who'd taken his place should have, on paper, been a more worrying sight. She'd dodged a conversation with a Junker and in its place was a conversation with the Junker. However, Madison was just pleased to be in the company of somebody with the awareness and well-practiced inoffensive social grace to keep her from feeling too uneasy. Toreador was a very famous hero. A bit too far before Madison's time for her to personally be a huge fan, but nevertheless a living legend.
If she said she wasn't intimidatedat all, she'd be lying. He was studying her. She knew what his power was and there were probably very few secrets she could keep even if she wanted to. No doubt he knew why she was here, but as a Hero himself, he wasn't going to stop her. For all their differences, H.E.R.O. and the Junkers were still Superheroes who punished evil. If the Junkers were the type to protect criminals for any reason, there would already have been a fight by now.
He was about to mention her father, but they got cut off by the tapping of a glass. Peterson was about to make a speech. They both turned to watch and listen to the party's host as he spoke. He was annoucing a ballroom dancing competition, but wouldn't be able to judge it in person. She watched him as he left, and saw that he approached Alchemist. She'd already been nervous enough trying to blend in with guests and now she had the attention of the primary target himself. 'Good luck', though Madison. As far as first ever missions go, that was a tough break but also a golden opportunity if she could stay calm and make the most of it.
Madison's attention snapped back to Toreador as he began speaking. She wondered what he was about to say about her father, but if it was important, it should come up again. His slight smile was not a reassuring one, but she was nontheless reassured to see it, and it helped her relax. She was not in immediate trouble as Toreador seemingly wanted something from her.
"It would be my honor and privilidge," She replied with a pleasant smile and slight curtsey of her own. "It's been ten years since I last danced at a ball. I'll follow your lead but it should all come back to me with a little practice. I won't be stepping on your feet."
Her lack of acknowledgement of his comment about it furthering her aim was in itself an affirmative confirmation. She was nervous and a little intimidated but her smile was real. She'd been preparing and training for surviving in this shady upper-class world long before she'd been training and preparing for Hero work. That time hadn't all been wasted, useless baggage setting her back and preventing her from being taken seriously. Those skills were exactly what were needed to be called upon today, and very few others at H.E.R.O had them.
October 10th, 2029.
Fixeon Municipal Recycling Plant
Brookside, Castleburg
On a mission with: Mire @Blizz, Crane @Zoey Boey, Blur Rabbit @DClassified, Ardent @manythings, Terraformer @shylarah, Freakshow @Crusader Lord
The gunshot cut everybody off and signalled that the terrazards were attacking. Their formation was unlike anything Flora had observed, which meant that either they were learning and adapting in unforseen ways, or somebody was teaching or controlling them. Both possibilities were concerning but neither changed the plan that much. As everybody else sprung into action, Lab Rat began sprinting to the approaching crowd of Leftovers. The moment the walls were erected, Lab Rat effortlessly scaled the wall, scurrying up in with peculiar movements much more suited to an actual rodent than to a human.
She used the momentum from vaulting the top of the wall to plant a deep kick into the side of a terrazard that had already managed to get to the top of the wall, and sent it flying into the crowd, knocking several over. Another terrazard managed to climb the wall and lunged at her. In a swift movement she was very familiar with from her ICOSA days, she grabbed the terrazard's head. Unlike the past where she'd now keep its jaw open to apply a sedative, this time she snapped its neck and threw its lifeless body straight down towards another terrazard attempting to climb the wall.
Her relentless defense of the wall meant that more terrazards tried to attack Mire instead of attempt to escape. Between Mire's baiting and her own efforts, the Leftover seemed like the easier option for freedom. This proved to be incorrect as a cloud of enzymes burst forth and killed the terrazards in a horrifically gruesome display. And the smell was not kind to Flora's enhanced sense of smell.
Flora used to be under the impression that Mire really didn't like her. Now she'd truly begin to see how lucky she was and how much mercy she had been shown.
Through their combined efforts, they were prevailing against the terrazards without much incident. Even back in the day, Flora was never in missions as part of a team. She was a shy hero with a creepy power who barely spoke a word of English. She was part of a trio once and that was the largest mission team she'd ever been a part of before now. This level of organisation and teamwork providing results far greater than the sum of their parts. Yeah, Flora definitely made the right choice coming back.
