Tackytaff

The Curse of Crestwood Hollow - A Hyperhuman Story [CLOSED]

E R I C A D O U G L A S
E R I C A D O U G L A S

B O R D E A U X E S T A T E
B O R D E A U X E S T A T E

^{_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________}

^{October 18th, 1985}

By midnight, Erica was slouched in a beach chair in the Bordeaux's open garage, laughing at a joke she couldn't quite remember and reaching for a drink only to realize it was empty. Passing her spliff to the next person she excused herself, staggering out of the circle of seats they'd created. The cooler was by the door to the house, which Erica leaned on for a moment, waiting for the pins and needles in her feet to stop and trying to measure how much time had passed since she'd first sat down. Deciding it wasn't really all that important, she kicked open to cooler only to reveal a couple of wine-coolers floating in ice-cold water.

"Seriously?" She said, quickly looking over the room to see Trevor, looking glassy-eyed and cradling the dredges of a fifth of whiskey.

"Puke in my car on the way home Trevor, and you're a dead man. You know that?" Whether too drunk, stoned, or apathetic, Trevor just rolled his eyes as Erica left for the main house.

There were reasons Erica had stayed in the garage with her own friends; and she was quickly surrounded by them. The kitchen the obvious haven for most of the booze in the house, and so was predictably crammed with teenagers shoulder to shoulder. Despite living in Crestwood Hollow her entire life, there were few Erica recognized. Fewer still she cared to see, even less so high. A few classmates made eye contact but looked away nearly as quickly. When a gap along the counter finally opened, Erica all but bolted for it, reaching for the first not-empty bottle she could find so she could get back to her friends when a tap on her arm made her turn.

"Erica? I didn't think you were coming!"

"Oh hey Vanessa" Erica recognized the voice, not having the chance to see Vanessa's face before being pulled in for a very unexpected hug. For a moment she wondered if maybe there had been something more in what she had been smoking and maybe she was really still sitting the garage on the chair.

"I wasn't expecting to see you, what's happening?" Pulling away, it was clear to see Vanessa was clearly a few drinks deep herself; and reached for Erica's wrist for balance. Mild paranoia was slowly edging into the pleasant coolness out of Erica's high. The last conversation she'd had with this girl had involved much less cheer and hugging and much more cursing and insults.

"Yeah, wasn't sure I'd make it, sorry I don't have a gift for you."

Vanessa brushed the worry away. "Bum me a cigarette and we'll call it even." Erica wasn't so much surprised that Vanessa smoked as she was at Vanessa asking her for one as though she hadn't refereed to Erica as 'an spazzing idiot with no sense of responsibility' barely a month before.

"Oh, yeah, aces." She freed her wrist from Vanessa's grasp and dug out the pack in her jean's pocket.

"Thanks" She said, pulling two out of the package only to tuck them behind her ear. "Look, I heard you're going to be doing photos for the school paper this year."

Erica shrugged and contemplated her options as she stared at the bottle in her hands; she wasn't a fan of the run-around they were doing. If Vanessa was going to kick her out of the house for their shared final grade from the year before, she'd just as soon leave herself.

"I think that it's just super rad, and you'll do fantabulous- seriously I have a camera and you should-"

Like the answer to Erica's frazzled, desperate prayers, a hand appeared on Vanessa's left elbow and began to tug enough to nearly make the girl lose her drink. "Find me later!" Was all she managed to say before leaving Erica once again alone with strangers in the kitchen. She stood in semi-stunned silence for a moment before swiping a bag of pretzels along with her rum and returning to the garage.

Teen Titans: New Beginnings

---

Cassie felt oddly in control of the situation, despite the chaos of security still running around and the thick smoke that made it nearly impossible to tell who exactly was on the ship. After all, there were five Titans on call. No sooner had her cockiness come into existance before smacking her in the face.

There was distinctive coughing from the stairs behind behind her post, prompting Cassie to investigate and find another member of the crew struggling up the stairs. She was kneeling over the man when a bullet shot between them, leaving both more than slightly dazed as a man in red sped past them on a grappling hook.

"Shit" Cassie muttered before jumping into action, she ran off the edge of the yacht to join the assailant in the sky. "Any idea on direction Wraith?"

Almost in response a massive jet of water surged upwards, knocking Cassie out of the sky. Underwater, Cassie waited for the worst of the waves to subside before breaking the surface again; ready to begin a very long and deserved grudge on Kassandra, until she saw the faint outline of an aircraft dripping water.

"Nice aim Mirage" Was all she said as she sped off in pursuit again. The water that had revealed the ship so briefly was already dripping away and it was impossible to determine any distinctive parts available to sabotage, but neither stopped Cassie from barreling headfirst into the aircraft, lodging her fist and forearm past the cloaked outer surface. She made a conscious effort not to look down. It was one thing to fly herself after practicing for years, clinging to the side of an aircraft piloted by whatever kind of criminal was much less appealing. "I'm just outside Wraith, going to see if I can find the engines. Stay safe."

Teen Titans: New Beginnings

Will post today.

The Curse of Crestwood Hollow - A Hyperhuman Story [CLOSED]

Erica

ERICA MARGRET DOUGLAS

---

✦ August 13 1969 (16) ✦ Female ✦ Straight ✦ Mixed Race ✦

Appearance:

There are parts of Erica's appearance that she long since gave up trying to control: Her hair, thick and curly is at best kept back in a scrunchy with a number of strays escaping. Typically she keeps it styled somewhat short to keep it manageable with minimal maintenance. Her body grew taller as she aged, but never grew out of the lankiness of youth; her shapeless frame often covered with boyish clothing has lead to quite a few awkward introductions. With all the normal insecurities of a teenage girl, she does put in some effort into making herself more feminine. She often wears makeup, even if it's little more than dark shadow and a touch of blush.

Her wardrobe is mainly jeans; often too large and kept in place by a belt and work-shirts in various states of disrepair. While she's tried her hand at mending clothes there aren't very many pieces of clothing she owns that don't have stains, tears, or missing buttons. The money she doesn't spend on clothing goes the footwear; typically Erica can be found sporting a pair of sturdy, well-made, black leather work-boots, and while perhaps well-worn remain in decent condition.

Personality:

Erica isn't an easily person for most people to get a long with at first. Really all she wants in honestly and directness, but her unfriendly deminor complete with sarcasm and insults make an initial hurtle to get past. She doesn't participate in highschool gossip, but doesn't shy away from confrontation; she'd just sooner get physical than start a false rumor. To her friends she is honest, loyal, and a good time to have around if only for her access to more controlled substances like alcohol and cigarettes through her brothers.

Her reputation in school is a bit of a misfit that sticks with the loners. As a junior she's been around long enough that most bullying used on her has worn thin and outside of occasionally getting called out for misbehavior on the PA she is largely invisible to most in the school; including the staff. She and her friends may occasionally wreak havoc; stuffing fetal pigs in a teachers desk, stealing all the school clocks the first day of exams, or even the rare brawl. But she isn't all that unique from hundreds of other Mather's Memorial graduates and is seemingly headed down the same path; a low paying job similar to the rest of her family, no college education and no chance at ever getting out of the state. This realization turned into Erica's greatest fear over the summer and she feels ready to trade in some of her complacency for ambition but worries it's too late.

HYPER HUMAN ABILITIES

Tribokinesis: Erica can manipulate the static and kinetic friction of her surroundings. This allows her to remain immovable on any surface, or incredibly fast on others. This ability is limited only to surface's or systems Erica is able to touch, and the affected area is limited but the change is instantaneous whether adding or reducing friction.

Eventually her power may lead to more benefits, such as using kinetic force to create enough energy to generate heat or even small fires. Initially her powers however are more useful for traversal; she can climb any surface with ease 'suctioning' herself to walls or ceilings as she pleases, and escape most any attempt to hold her in place. She is completely unable to alter more than one surface at a time, and must be in constant contact for the duration of the change, which will stop allowing forces to return to their natural state the instant her contact is broken.

BACKSTORY

Erica's family has been living in Crestwood Hollow for generations. She knows the town's layout as well as anything, and has explored nearly every inch of it since childhood. The Douglas' family tenure with the town however, doesn't translate into wealth or even respect. Aura lives with her father and three elder brothers; Martin, Lewis, and Noah on the northern edge of the city in a small single story house only 15 minutes drive from the lumber yard where both her father and eldest brother work. The remaining two brothers Lewis and Noah work closer to the center of town as mechanics as 'Rolling Right Auto Repair'. The youngest in her family and only one remaining in high school Erica's life is largely unregulated and, typically, she is left up to her own devices.

Erica's mother, well known for being clumsy and slightly air-headed, was placed into a coma resulting from a car accident two years after Erica's birth. The Douglas family held out hope for their matriarch before succumbing to medical bills and pulling the plug a short year and a half later. What was a traumatic experience for most of her family, is barely a memory to Erica, who remembers her mother more as a figure in old stories than a real person. Erica's life, while markedly absent of female influence, was not missing for it. Her hand-me-down boys clothes and devil-may-care attitude that came with being the youngest in a family of men pointedly left her labeled a 'tom-boy' before even middles school. From there onward she was largely invisible to those outside her friend group.

Save for a few minor altercations in freshman year wherein typical girl teasing and backstabbing lead to a physical retribution on Erica's part, there have been few dramatics in her highschool career. There may have been whispers and she was aware that many of the girls laughed at her clothes and hair; but so long as no one said it to her face, Erica never concerned herself. While her grades were well above whatever her brother's had achieved she never distinguished herself much as a student, and didn't participate in extra-curricular activities other that 'shop'; a mechanics program that taught basic repair skills and one of the few places Erica felt any sense of belonging.

After Vanessa's disappearance, Erica came to see her home for what it really was; a backwater town where people like those in her family fell into and remain trapped in. She intends to use this year to make a real effort, namely in school so that she can have a real chance at turning out better than her brothers. At the behest of a desperate English teacher, Erica agreed to join the school's disappointing newspaper club as a photographer for extra-credit.

Outside of school Erica is typically helping out at Rolling Right Auto Repair in the center of town for cash or hanging around the eastern piers, usually with a cigarette in hand.

OTHER SKILLS

• Cars (Mechanics and Driving): For her 15th birthday, Erica was gifted a wreck of a 60's Plymouth Savoy. Which with the help of her family she was able to restore to some-what working condition and now uses to get around the Hollow.
• Fighting: While hardly a martial artist, Erica has been in her fair share of fights on the North-side of Crestwood and from a few girls who couldn't keep their mouth shut around her. She isn't above getting dirty if she feels someone deserves it.

WEAKNESSES

• Poor: Erica's family has never had much in the way of money, and her late mother's medical bills still take a toll. Too tall for her mother's clothes, Erica typically wares those which once belonged to her brothers. It isn't just that the Douglas' have money troubles, but the whole town knows it, and most think less of them for it.
• Wayward Teen: After get suspended two weeks into freshman year, Erica has developed a less than favourable reputation among the adults of Crestwood. Most are wary of her around their private businesses, while some simply won't allow her.

RELATIONSHIP TO VANESSA

They were biology lab partners Sophomore year. Their relationship was strained at best. Vanessa had never liked Erica and made no attempt on being anything more than partners. The went to class together, split the report work in half, then complained about each-other to their respective friend groups. Dislike didn't dull the shock of Vanessa's death for Erica though. Instead it made her rethink her own life over the summer, and in an effort to come to terms with her new priorities, she opted to join the counseling offered to those affected by Vanessa's death.

---

The Curse of Crestwood Hollow - A Hyperhuman Story [CLOSED]

I’m already foreseeing some kind of Detroit: Become Human stuff happening lol.

@Blizz

I'm more looking forward to Wraith losing all control over the direction when we turn the roleplay into Footloose.

The Curse of Crestwood Hollow - A Hyperhuman Story [CLOSED]

Erica

ERICA MARGRET DOUGLAS

---

✦ August 13 1969 (16) ✦ Female ✦ Straight ✦ Mixed Race ✦

Appearance:

There are parts of Erica's appearance that she long since gave up trying to control: Her hair, thick and curly is at best kept back in a scrunchy with a number of strays escaping. Typically she keeps it styled somewhat short to keep it manageable with minimal maintenance. Her body grew taller as she aged, but never grew out of the lankiness of youth; her shapeless frame often covered with boyish clothing has lead to quite a few awkward introductions. With all the normal insecurities of a teenage girl, she does put in some effort into making herself more feminine. She often wears makeup, even if it's little more than dark shadow and a touch of blush.

Her wardrobe is mainly jeans; often too large and kept in place by a belt and work-shirts in various states of disrepair. While she's tried her hand at mending clothes there aren't very many pieces of clothing she owns that don't have stains, tears, or missing buttons. The money she doesn't spend on clothing goes the footwear; typically Erica can be found sporting a pair of sturdy, well-made, black leather work-boots, and while perhaps well-worn remain in decent condition.

Personality:

Erica isn't an easily person for most people to get a long with at first. Really all she wants in honestly and directness, but her unfriendly deminor complete with sarcasm and insults make an initial hurtle to get past. She doesn't participate in highschool gossip, but doesn't shy away from confrontation; she'd just sooner get physical than start a false rumor. To her friends she is honest, loyal, and a good time to have around if only for her access to more controlled substances like alcohol and cigarettes through her brothers.

Her reputation in school is a bit of a misfit that sticks with the loners. As a junior she's been around long enough that most bullying used on her has worn thin and outside of occasionally getting called out for misbehavior on the PA she is largely invisible to most in the school; including the staff. She and her friends may occasionally wreak havoc; stuffing fetal pigs in a teachers desk, stealing all the school clocks the first day of exams, or even the rare brawl. But she isn't all that unique from hundreds of other Mather's Memorial graduates and is seemingly headed down the same path; a low paying job similar to the rest of her family, no college education and no chance at ever getting out of the state. This realization turned into Erica's greatest fear over the summer and she feels ready to trade in some of her complacency for ambition but worries it's too late.

HYPER HUMAN ABILITIES

Tribokinesis: Erica can manipulate the static and kinetic friction of her surroundings. This allows her to remain immovable on any surface, or incredibly fast on others. This ability is limited only to surface's or systems Erica is able to touch, and the affected area is limited but the change is instantaneous whether adding or reducing friction.

Eventually her power may lead to more benefits, such as using kinetic force to create enough energy to generate heat or even small fires. Initially her powers however are more useful for traversal; she can climb any surface with ease 'suctioning' herself to walls or ceilings as she pleases, and escape most any attempt to hold her in place. She is completely unable to alter more than one surface at a time, and must be in constant contact for the duration of the change, which will stop allowing forces to return to their natural state the instant her contact is broken.

BACKSTORY

Erica's family has been living in Crestwood Hollow for generations. She knows the town's layout as well as anything, and has explored nearly every inch of it since childhood. The Douglas' family tenure with the town however, doesn't translate into wealth or even respect. Aura lives with her father and three elder brothers; Martin, Lewis, and Noah on the northern edge of the city in a small single story house only 15 minutes drive from the lumber yard where both her father and eldest brother work. The remaining two brothers Lewis and Noah work closer to the center of town as mechanics as 'Rolling Right Auto Repair'. The youngest in her family and only one remaining in high school Erica's life is largely unregulated and, typically, she is left up to her own devices.

Erica's mother, well known for being clumsy and slightly air-headed, was placed into a coma resulting from a car accident two years after Erica's birth. The Douglas family held out hope for their matriarch before succumbing to medical bills and pulling the plug a short year and a half later. What was a traumatic experience for most of her family, is barely a memory to Erica, who remembers her mother more as a figure in old stories than a real person. Erica's life, while markedly absent of female influence, was not missing for it. Her hand-me-down boys clothes and devil-may-care attitude that came with being the youngest in a family of men pointedly left her labeled a 'tom-boy' before even middles school. From there onward she was largely invisible to those outside her friend group.

Save for a few minor altercations in freshman year wherein typical girl teasing and backstabbing lead to a physical retribution on Erica's part, there have been few dramatics in her highschool career. There may have been whispers and she was aware that many of the girls laughed at her clothes and hair; but so long as no one said it to her face, Erica never concerned herself. While her grades were well above whatever her brother's had achieved she never distinguished herself much as a student, and didn't participate in extra-curricular activities other that 'shop'; a mechanics program that taught basic repair skills and one of the few places Erica felt any sense of belonging.

After Vanessa's disappearance, Erica came to see her home for what it really was; a backwater town where people like those in her family fell into and remain trapped in. She intends to use this year to make a real effort, namely in school so that she can have a real chance at turning out better than her brothers. At the behest of a desperate English teacher, Erica agreed to join the school's disappointing newspaper club as a photographer for extra-credit.

Outside of school Erica is typically helping out at Rolling Right Auto Repair in the center of town for cash or hanging around the eastern piers, usually with a cigarette in hand.

OTHER SKILLS

• Cars (Mechanics and Driving): For her 15th birthday, Erica was gifted a wreck of a 60's Plymouth Savoy. Which with the help of her family she was able to restore to some-what working condition and now uses to get around the Hollow.
• Fighting: While hardly a martial artist, Erica has been in her fair share of fights on the North-side of Crestwood and from a few girls who couldn't keep their mouth shut around her. She isn't above getting dirty if she feels someone deserves it.

WEAKNESSES

• Poor: Erica's family has never had much in the way of money, and her late mother's medical bills still take a toll. Too tall for her mother's clothes, Erica typically wares those which once belonged to her brothers. It isn't just that the Douglas' have money troubles, but the whole town knows it, and most think less of them for it.
• Wayward Teen: After get suspended two weeks into freshman year, Erica has developed a less than favourable reputation among the adults of Crestwood. Most are wary of her around their private businesses, while some simply won't allow her.

RELATIONSHIP TO VANESSA

They were biology lab partners Sophomore year. Their relationship was strained at best. Vanessa had never liked Erica and made no attempt on being anything more than partners. The went to class together, split the report work in half, then complained about each-other to their respective friend groups. Dislike didn't dull the shock of Vanessa's death for Erica though. Instead it made her rethink her own life over the summer, and in an effort to come to terms with her new priorities, she opted to join the counseling offered to those affected by Vanessa's death.

---

The Curse of Crestwood Hollow - A Hyperhuman Story

And it's not even spook season? I'm a maybe.

Teen Titans: New Beginnings

---

Cassie didn't even flinch when the alarms began to go off. She remained the picture of calmness, even as Robin began giving out instructions, finding a spoon and even continuing to eat her yogurt as the rest of the team jumped into action. Inwardly, it was all she could do to keep from breaking through the kitchen wall to get to the scene. Her small insecurities evaporated in the excitement of a real mission.

"Well I was half right," She shrugged with while her heart pounded. Tossing her half finished snack, she followed Starfire's path out the kitchen but turned to her own room where her equipment waited. Artimes's training had permeated enough so at least Wonder Girl's lasso and arm bands were always hanging off the back of the door, regardless what the rest of Cassie's room might look like. She was still fastening the lasso to her hip and sliding her heals into her sneakers when she peaked back into the kitchen just in time to which Kassandra good luck and find Robin; the teams flightless member.

"I can give you a lift if you need one." She offered before tucking back in the hallway to sprint towards the still open window Starefire had used.

Fly had long since stopped being such an easy thrill for Cassie. Years of training and pattern exercises had made it just another part of her routine, but there was still excitement to be found in the faces of the crowds that watched. Coming up on the smoking yacht surrounded by police and curious crowds, she truly felt like Wonder Girl, someone people could count on. She glimpsed Starfire below, on the dock speaking with the police before circling the crime scene. It was hard to see much of anything with all the smoke, though she was almost sure she could distinguish the more misty form of Wraith on the deck for a brief moment before he disappeared below. Cassie landed at the helm of the ship, clearing out the cockpit of confused crew whom she brought to Starfire, as they did their best to recount what had happened between lungfuls of smoke.

"I think Wraith is bellow decks, I'll keep on the exits, keep whoever it is from getting away." She confirmed with her team-mate before returning back to the yacht.

Teen Titans: New Beginnings

I apologize for the wait, things have been crazy but I'll have posted by the end of today.

Teen Titans: New Beginnings

---

It wasn't long until the voices from the kitchen drifted through Cassie's open door. What a great continuation of her day to have a meeting going on without her. Groaning, she lifted herself from her bed and slipped on a pair of fuzzy blue slipper rather than her running shoes. She did a quick look around her room before leaving, the remains of her frantic search strew throughout. The great thing about being an amazon was that cleaning your room never took long, especially when you were able to slam the over-stuffed closed door extra hard. With a final glance in the mirror to make sure she didn't still look like she'd just left the training room, she headed for the kitchen.

"You called?" She said, leaning against the doorway with a coy smile before entering completely. Everyone else on the team was there. A stab of her insecurity made her hesitate for a second- certain they had all conspire to meet and gossip about her. At least it meant Robin had in fact been asking after her and not Kassandra with K. Of all the things she thought she'd have to fight over as a Titan, her name hadn't been one of them. She shook off her baseless fears and breezed past them all to the fridge to grab a yogurt cup.

"So what is it? Bank robbery? Mayor's daughter kidnapped? People disappearing around a not-suspicious-at-all science lab?"