yoshua171

Collusion

*Casually keeps an eye on this*

Capes of Denver: A Worm RP

@ProPro I've got work today. Meant to post yesterday, but I got caught up in running my RP and the new Dark Souls 3 DLC. I'll look about getting a post up within the next few days (pretty much as soon as I either have a ton of muse, or a day off).

⊰Manifest Anima: Planes Divided⊱

Ⱥ ismael Ѵ ea-vartari. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ⱦ ʜ ᴇ ℚ ᴜ ᴇ ᴇ ɴ ' s s ᴘ ᴇ ᴀ ʀ

^{Ominar – Prae Headquarters 'The Spire' – Highest Office
Day two - Morning
Theme I}

---

Impeccable manners, as she had thought he had been trained almost from birth and he had been trained well. While a smile already graced her lips, a pleased, somewhat amused look was embedded deep in her sparkling blue eyes as she stared at her young knight.

“Oh, believe me I have a task for you, but first.... Good morning and welcome to Medius, or...Earth as some of the humans call it.” She stood from her chair, “You may rise, young knight,” she said, turning from him, her hands folding over one another behind her back as she returned to gazing out the sweeping window of her office and off into the city.

“Before you lies what is a human city,” she begun “...but I think, in time we may call it our home as well. Today you will help me, you will be my eyes and my wings, Nasargiel.” If he had not yet joined her, she now turned her head just enough so that she could see him from the corner of her eye, and then gestured that he join her. “I will not ask you if you are ready,” she said, once he had taken his place at her side, “I will not pressure you unless necessary, but I will ask much of you, young one.”

She gave him a sidelong glance, the smile gone from her features for a moment. The serious expression was calculated to allow him an understanding of her authority without ordering him, without pushing him. It was to show him the seriousness behind her words and actions going forwards, even if she often acted pleasantly and with grace.

Most of all, though he would not understand its significance, it was a look behind the mask and into the cold, icy heart of his Exeo. Into the mind of the Queen's Spear.

She turned her gaze from him, smiling, clearly pleased at what she had seen in him.

“Today,” she begun, “I have been informed that there is to be a riot or protest of sorts. I will be sending you and a small squad to assist the OCPD in handling the situation. However, you are only to interfere once things have, as the humans like to say, gone south. That is to say, things will have gotten messy, perhaps violent. Crimes will have been committed.”

She paused a moment, looking at him. “If you question the morality of this directive, let me remind you of two things. First, everything that I do—and thus everything you do—is for the sake of both our own prosperity and that of the human race in the centuries to come. Second, this is a move to show that left alone, humans only cause destruction to themselves and others. To reinforce that, with our guidance they may attain a truly stable society such that they will never miss being as they are now.”

She again watched his expression, but this time she did not look away, instead she waited to see if he had anything to say. After all, despite having learned as much as she could have from his parents, friends, and the files their government kept on its citizens, there was simply no substitute for personal interaction and analysis. Thus, she awaited his reply, hoping that he would not only fail to disappoint her, but that he would succeed in interesting her.

Of course, her expectations had been let down before....

---

Ｓ z a y e i s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ᴍ ᴀ s ᴛ ᴇ ʀ ᴏ ғ ᴛ ʜ ᴇ ɢ ᴀ ᴍ ᴇ

^{"Which will it be, your pride...or your life?"
Ominar – Streets –> Ominar – The Abyss
Day two – After Midnight
Theme I ♦ Theme II}

---

Things were going splendidly, the nightwalker thought as he strolled through the city. He made a point of looking less...distinctive as he did so, after all, he didn't want to look suspicious while he checked on his men.

Of course, he had almost finished. In fact, with Aeris out of his hair once more, he could pay a visit to two others. The thought brought him great joy actually, after all, he could see both now, and he had a hand in the suffering of both parties. This in mind, he slipped into an alleyway and stepped right into a shadow, vanishing.

---

Reappearing in almost the same moment he had vanished, the nightwalker found himself, quite amusingly, face to face with a monstrous angry Licentia. He smiled up at it, emitting his vis quite intentionally—sure to notify Darius of his presence in addition to the monster before him. “Well done,” he said to the Djinn, before he vanished again, his voice impossible to hear through the rubble that separated him from his adopted son. As he reappeared he did it just behind a casually retreating Krysta, his movements entirely silent, his vis suppressed, he was impossible for her to detect.

So it was that, with a grin, he spoke out, breaking the silence. “Well done.”

---

Elsewhere, a far less amused looking nightwalker waltzed out from a dark crevice in the wall and regarded Darius with a disappointed, but entirely unsurprised frown. As if to say, 'Oh look who ran into trouble again.' To the Kitsune, it would be an expression he found all too familiar.

Capes of Denver: A Worm RP

Chatterbox

---

Suddenly, the situation they'd had firmly under control with them possessing the advantage got quite suddenly turned around. While his compatriots dealt with their own issues his attention turned to the blur of movement that swiftly became a sound of something hitting the ground. His mind moved fast in the moment and reached a swift conclusion: He didn't want to know what anything the enemy threw at them was or could do, he just wanted it to not do it. So it was that almost as soon as the tear gas grenade landed he put a hand on Sofia's shoulder and yelled, "Ignore it!"

His other hand was aimed at the object in question. He really hoped that she did it fast, because while the likelihood of it being some kind of frag grenade was almost non-existent, he couldn't help but worry. More likely it was some kind of chemical agent or containment foam meant to immobilize. Either way it was bad fucking news and his state of near panic, adrenaline pumping, caused him to inject a small dose of his power when he had yelled at her. If it would have normally made her freeze up to be yelled at in a highly dangerous new situation, then now it would instead let her act more easily.

Later he would answer for it if necessary—but more likely no one would even know he had done it and if they did...he could honestly say that it was an unintentional use of his power.

Of course, maybe he'd used it because he knew he could handle the situation. Knew that, with his power, everyone would move accordingly...do what he wanted, what they needed to do for all of them to get through this in one piece, together, with their cargo in tow. He could probably get Broker to recognize the necessity of his power if they pulled this off because of his ability taking hold of the reins. Perhaps he could make it strong enough to effect Broker, no, not perhaps FOR SURE.

Then it hit him...he may have been confident, but he was no fool, and Broker was immune to all powers that attempted to effect him overtly--his train of thought didn't make any sense. What the hell was going on? It didn't matter! He could handle i-- NO, not true. His power had virtually no use in a combat situation. He was human, he told himself, trying to ground himself against the waves of confidence. His eyes narrowed, but his focus remained on Sofia and the canister. Maybe he could kick it away? No...he may have been in a good shape, but that might break the canister. It was strange to question himself in this way, it reminded him of old...disgusting habits he'd had when he was younger...before his power. Gritting his teeth, he began reciting as many of his own flaws and failings in his head as he possibly could, letting the old beast that had been his anxiety surface just a little bit. He'd conquered it...so now he'd use it to keep himself under control...hopefully.

---

Evelyn Chambers - Tulpa

---

As she began wiping away the tears, just a little embarrassed—though Messia—Alessa's own grief and excitement warmed her heart and helped somewhat. When their new leader kissed Ira's cheeks she couldn't help but chuckle, until of course Alessa did the same to her, causing her cheeks to flush—though it was hard to tell since they had already been a bit red from emotion. So she swallowed her awkwardness as best she could and simply smiled at the others—Alessa included.

She watched with a small kernal of amusement as their leader tried to organize her thoughts and emotions, resulting in her being something of a happy mess. Still, it was better than the crushing grief that had plagued Alessa before. Even though they hadn't known one another long, she decided that she much preferred a happy Alessa to an upset one. When Alessa left she smiled at the other wards, including even the broody Margrave, before waving and excusing herself.

She headed for her room, finally feeling somewhat free of emotional baggage, and promptly changed into something more comfortable after which she laid down and promptly let the world go, slipping into what would be a surprisingly restful sleep. However, before that, she managed to remember to call her parents and tell them she was sleeping at PRT HQ...just so they wouldn't worry. After that...well, the world drifted away with her consciousness and that was that.

---

BA-RING BA-RING BA-RING

She woke with a start, confused, unsure of where she was or what time it was, before her world settled back into place, she felt the comforting presence of her projection, and then managed to find her phone and turn off the garrish alarm. In about an hour it would be time for her first training session with the team, but for now she could lay back down an—no! She sat up straight and then leaned back against the wall and laughed a bit. She'd almost let herself go right back to sleep.

Almost.

After a minute or two of acclimating herself to being awake, she hopped out of bed, took a shower, brushed her teeth, washed her face, and finally stood in her room with a slight pout as she tried to decide what to wear. Should she put on her full costume for training...get used to moving in it, or should she wear something more casual.

After a few moments of contemplation she decided she'd just slip into her costume, that way if they got put on patrol or called to duty for some reason she'd be ready. Besides, she really needed to get used to the outfit, adjust to it, let it adjust to her. She'd worn it before, of course, but still.

Once she was dressed she headed for the Gymnasium and upon arrival greeted the other wards with a smile—since she had decided against donning her mask. She had brought it with her, but not put it on.

Looking around she noticed Protean and felt her heart leap in her chest, a feeling of elation swelling. They were actually about to receive training from a member of the Protectorate. Soooo cool she thought with glee, the joy shining through her eyes and lighting up her fave somewhat. In the area around her, if one was looking closely, a silvery glimmer could be seen, shifting almost like hot gas clashing with cold air. Its shape was entirely indistinct.

Then Protean began talking and she noticed the absence of their second in command. As Protean explained a frown came over her features, though it was slight. Dean's departure from the team had been silent...he hadn't even said goodbye. They'd effectively lost two wards in one—she cut the thought off, swallowing hard and reminding herself that they'd found a way to help Collin and even though the Director was almost sure not to allow him to rejoin the team—not to mention the fact that he'd be incapable of using his power to begin with—at least he'd be alive and well.

After reading the letter, which caused her slightly more distress, Evelyn was glad to have Protean order physical activity. She was in good shape and while five laps wouldn't be much for her, it would certainly be a welcome distraction. So she took to it swiftly, probably even the first of her teammates to do so. She wondered how the others would fare.

---

Outsider

---

Hider

---

As the attention of the various capes on the rooftop shifted to him, Jake found it interesting to watch their varied reactions. Most were wary, some didn't seem to respond at all, one was downright terrified, and one was...amicable? Huh, he hadn't expected that and it made him a bit happy honestly, happy that someone other than his sister could tell that he wasn't threatening to them.

When Furnace spoke up, Outsider moved his head slightly, as if to regard the cape while he spoke, though he couldn't help but glean a measure of amusement regarding the figure's pose. He even had a few passing—if somewhat disturbing—thoughts regarding any of them threatening him. Of course, it was bad to assume and was also a moot point since he was a hero. When Furnace was done, for he knew it could only be said cape—and the strange green-clad woman had spoke, he responded.

“Call me Outsider, and I'm no threat” as he spoke, his voice would sound strange, somewhat hollow and sonorous, almost as if it were coming from somewhere removed, its tone infused with the slightest amusement, though it was more neutral than anything else. It was additionally strange due to the fact that it had no true origin point. While they would be able to tell it was his voice after a moment, they would have trouble pinpointing where it had come from exactly as it was only directional meaning that one could really only tell that it was coming from his general direction.

Chuckling slightly, the sound initially a bit difficult to identify as such, he spoke again, “...ah and I'm not an Endbringer either, just a relatively new independent hero. A cape, just like the rest of you.... Though my power is a bit strange.” As he said it he focused on his human form and suddenly—faster than they could blink—the creature was gone, replaced instead by a human figure, in costume. His costume was relatively simple, its colors about as neutral as its tone had been consisting of a sleeveless shirt, and pants—with gray and black, white boots and a white mask that covered only the space around his eyes and the bridge of his nose. Beyond that there were only a pair of gloves, half white and half black in coloration.

“Sorry to startle,” he said, holding his hands up to show they were empty before dropping them to his sides where they slipped into pockets. His posture, while straight, had something about it that oozed a relaxed nature. His voice, now not at all hollow, was human, but just as neutral as before, though there was a note of an apology there. All in all, he hoped he'd seem as harmless as he felt.

Capes of Denver: A Worm RP

Chatterbox

---

Waiting...waiting...waiting...boom. It was practically theatrical and while it hadn't gone as smoothly as he thought--which in retrospect made perfect sense--things did eventually turn out. Though, hopefully Gamble was unharmed, that was the only thing he was worried about. He waited as the cars rolled, taking in deep breaths and getting a bit of adrenaline pumping, Chatterbox considered what his next course of action was to be.

He glanced out of cover, then ducked back in as soldiers finally crawled from the convoy's downed vehicles and open fired. Almost immediately Arsenal laid down covering fire and Headhunter took out at least two of their men. It was loud, he really hadn't expected it to be this loud, but he'd have to make due somehow. Then Sofia was next to him, yelling something. He paid her more mind and caught the important part of her words. She could protect him from fire, probably let him get close. He opened his mouth and yelled back, "Can I trust that your power will keep me safe while I get almost on top of them?!" Then he awaited her answer. Hopefully it was yes, because if so it meant he could devote time to specifically 'talking down' each soldier--and there weren't that many. This would allow him to first make them less accurate, then make them lower their weapons, then finally listen to his commands which would make it much easier for them to handle the capes--wherever they were--and take Gamble.

If she couldn't get him that close, well, it would just mean that he'd be yelling quite a bit. Man he wished his power worked through megaphones....

---

Evelyn Chambers - Tulpa

---

She didn't even acknowledge Dean's suggestion, though she internally admitted that it was pretty smart--though tinkertech could be finicky. Hopefully toyifying such things wouldn't ruin any of the parts. She almost spoke up regarding this, but instead decided she'd say something in bit.

While so far she'd been pretty disinterested, or at least detached, from the meeting, she couldn't help but perk up when Ira mentioned she'd made something. Her gaze being drawn to the table, she felt her projection shift into the table itself--hidden from her teammates--before she continued the action her subconscious had elicited, and had it poke an ethereal tendril into the device. Immediately her head spun and she caught herself on the table, withdrawing the tendril. She had gotten materials, but there was so much more than that weaved into Ira's creation that it made her head spin.

Perhaps she could convince the tinker to make something really really simple in function one day so she could adjust to 'reading' its data with her projection. Recovering swiftly she suddenly heard Messiah speak, her voice full of emotion. She looked at her teammate and her eyes widened slightly, tears forming as they did.

She stood up abruptly as they breakdown began, and almost walked across the room to comfort Messia--no, Alessa. There was a pit in her stomach and emotions rolling around within it. She was empty, but also too full. The anger had helped drain away the intensity of the emotions, which was why she could hold it together, but the feelings were still definitely there.

She sat back down...too unsure of herself, her place in the team, and what was appropriate to go and hug Alessa. She watched the demonstration, or well...was affected by it. When she felt her projection vanish completely, or rather felt its sudden absence. It was like a part of her was gone and it made her clutch at the table, her breathing accelerating a little bit. She hadn't realized how much of her attention the projection took or how her powers really affected her until they were gone.

Then they returned and all at once she felt more or less at ease again, a sense of relief washing over her. Of course, immediately after she remembered what had happened mere hours ago and she swallowed hard. "Ugh," she uttered before an idea struck her, eyes lighting up for the first time since she'd seen Sonar unconscious on the street. "Ira, you're a genius!" she began, sounding a bit breathless from excitement. "Guys...we, we can help him with this...or um, maybe something like it," she continued, looking around the room. However, before she started the next bit of her sentence she swallowed hard, building up the courage necessary to say the next bit. "Ira, we can make something that at least lets him live. Something that keeps him sane. I..." she stopped, suddenly choked up. There was such a strong sense of relief that had hit her that the pit of anger and brooding hatred at the unfairness of the world had actually disappeared for the most part. However, with its disappearance came the grief, and while the relief helped with that, the emotion coupled with a bit of joy at the prospect that they could help Sonar caused tears to roll down her cheeks even while she smiled.

They could do something for him. That was really all she needed.

---

Outsider

---

---

Pursuing the criminal wasn't strenuous, not even vaguely difficult, it was a breeze in fact. Or, it had been until the woman looked back at him and then blasted off to motherfucking infinity and beyond. He grumbled, though the sound came out hollow and resonant, more like an unearthly growl than a human noise of frustration. His pace slowed as she drew further away. He could chase her, but it wasn't worth it. Of course, if he saw her again things would be different. He had her bio-signature now. If he was in his second vessel and she was around, he'd know pretty damned quick.

Turning in the air, his movements graceful, but almost languid, he swam through the air, accelerating again as he headed back towards the congregation of heroes. He might as well introduce himself, make sure he didn't become part of some nasty fearmongering rumors...or at least that the press would have information other than those rumors.

His altitude having lowered as he returned, Outsider swam through the air over a building nearby the other capes before settling down on it, near enough that his hearing could pick out their words, but far enough so as not to startle them unnecessarily--though his massive monstrous form would probably do that anyways--much to his chagrin. So it was that he hovered in the air just above a building adjacent to theirs, ominous only due to his silence, waiting for them to engage him in some way...hopefully not in one involving violence.

I mean that was really all he could do, hope.

Echoes: Starlit Change

If this should get started in the future, just tag me and I'll come rushing back :)

Capes of Denver: A Worm RP

Jake Krain

---

---

He'd been minding his own business, and logging some overtime at work in the office when something caught his eye outside. Glancing out the window almost lazily, he found his eyes widening. Two capes, both which he recognized, were presumably fighting outside. Sonika and Furnace, specifically....

His mind whirred into motion and he couldn't help feel his other body almost respond. He wanted to switch...he wanted to do something. He could almost feel the rush of emotion and sensation that he got from using power. It was just out of reach. He tried to turn back to his work, but it didn't work. He was distracted now and there was no way he was getting any work done.

So much for overtime.

Doing his best to look casual he bid his fellow employees a good day and headed out of the building. No one asked why he was walking so fast and if they had he'd just have said that he had to pick up his sister or something. That happened sometimes, it wouldn't have been too strange.

Finding himself outside he glanced around, backpack over his shoulders, until he found an alley. He cut into it, made sure there was no one in there, and then he changed into his costume and hid his backpack in a pile of mostly paper and cloth refuse. Looked like no one had gotten to it yet. He made a note of where he was and then he entered the street. As he did he saw that the confrontation had altered significantly in that short time. Sonika was making her escape.

He narrowed his eyes, noticed a red light, and walked out into the middle of the street...and then swapped. The feeling was always a bit strange, but not for the reason one might think. It wasn't like entering an unfamiliar body, it was like being thrown in a direction that wasn't anything you'd ever experienced before. It wasn't left, right, up, down, forwards or backwards...but it was a direction nonetheless. That's how it felt at least, but the disorienting feeling only lasted for a split second.

---

Outsider

---

---

The feeling passed and as it did he felt himself inhabit his Second Vessel, which took the form of one massive, 24 foot long, 6 foot at the shoulder being that most would call monstrous in appearance. Four arms and a host of tail-like tendrils that trailed along his body from various locations, most around his actual tail. There were more than a few screams and even more honks not to mention some brakes being slammed on. He smiled, not that anyone would be able to see the expression, his face was incomprehensible to everyone except him and his sister—she'd learned the nuances while they'd practiced...it had taken six months and she wasn't a slow study.

Partially to get out of the way and partially to get a better look at the retreating villain, Jake...no Outsider, moved, his sinuous body looking as if it were swimming at an angle upwards into the air. Swiftly it had spiraled above the top of the building that his quarry had used to take off, but he didn't stop there, rising about twice the building's height into the air. While he couldn't see like his human body could, he could hear and distinguish/isolate sounds much better...and he always had his electromagnetic sense. If only he'd locked onto Sonika's bio-signature before she'd taken off this would have been much easier, but alas...it was not. Nonetheless, he managed to locate a human-shaped form in flight.

He smiled, briefly analyzed the bio-signatures of the nearby capes—Furnace, G4M3R, Artificer, and...the chick whose name he wished he knew—before focusing. While it all took place in the space of two or so seconds, he could feel the distinct sensation of biochemical and bio-electric energy building up in his body before it was suddenly transmuted into kinetic force. In an instant he accelerated from a 0 mph hover, to roughly the same speed as Sonika, releasing controlled/directed bursts of the energy behind him before he started relying on his kinetic field to control his trajectory and any further acceleration.

He wouldn't be gaining on her quickly—mostly by choice and for safety's sake—but he would be gaining on her. If he made his debut by catching, or at least taking on a known villain he figured people would more easily accept that the monstrous 'Outsider' as he'd named himself, was in fact a hero...not a villain or some alien monstrosity like the Endbringers.

He shuddered at the thought of being compared to one of those strange beasts. He didn't like thinking about them...because he'd seen one up close and the memory was...well, it wasn't pleasant.

That was in the past though, for now it was time for him to focus on his future. It was time to catch Sonika.

Capes of Denver: A Worm RP

I posted for the Jacks and the Wards :)

@Nattook @Eklispe @ProPro
If anyone in the rooftop scene with Sonika leaving needs a savior from fall damage, tag me here before you post. If you've got a way for Furnace, Celia, and anyone else prevalent there that you may be controlling, to not take major damage or die from the fall, then I can make Outsider's intro be his swooping in and saving whomever.

Otherwise, he's probably going to briefly pop in, make sure everyone's alright, and then tail Sonika, since he's the only one who can fly independently (yes the Ebony Fly can, well, fly, but its riders aren't doing so without assistance and are thus more limited than Outsider who only has to worry about running into shit xD

Capes of Denver: A Worm RP

Chatterbox

---

Raising an eyebrow at the new information, Chatter's smile vanished as he glanced in the direction of the convoy. It was approaching, they didn't have long.

His eyes being drawn to Arsenal as he spoke, he couldn't help but smirk slightly. He enjoyed the little reactions people gave him, and irritation really only fed the fire. It was in the cape's stance, in the slight change in tone, in the words he used. He responded, "They probably won't use bullets. They're more likely to rely on the capes and containment foam. Anything they do use will, of course, be quite non-lethal. I imagine our shapeshifter," he shot a smile at Love Craft, "...can handle." He paused a moment, listening further. Once Arsenal was done he nodded, got back into his car and repositioned it slightly on the side of the road. Once he was done he glanced at Sofia even as he again activated his bluetooth so that Headhunter could hear his question as well.

"Can you stop the convoy roughly in line with our car? We can use it for cover," he explained, hoping Headhunter would understand not to shoot the Convoy's engines out too far from the point he was indicating with his other hand...and his words.

His eyes remained locked on Sofia as he awaited her answer.

---

Evelyn Chambers - Tulpa

---

While typically she would have been much more vocal, Evelyn was quiet as she sat in her chair in the meeting room with her team. She was reflecting on the events of her day—her temper having calmed somewhat, though there was a heavy air about her. She was mourning and...brooding, in her way, as thoughts of how not enough was being done to apprehend the two villains responsible or to help Sonar.

So it was that she kept her mouth shut when their new team leader spoke, though she did dutifully pay attention, even glancing at Dean momentarily when he was mentioned, before she glanced at the others, and then back down to the floor when Messiah stopped talking.

She hated this...not being in the team, but having to face these ugly truths on her first damned day with the Wards. It really...really sucked.

Capes of Denver: A Worm RP

Jake Krain "Outsider"

Outsider

---

---

Name: Jake Krain.
Alias: The Outsider.
Age: 19.
Alignment: Hero.
Loyalty: Minutemen.
Appearance: Standing at 6'1 and weighing in at 171, Jake is a leanly muscled young man with a typically lazy posture and fairly relaxed, but oddly sinuous and predatory gait. He walks with an air of confidence and unintentional mystery, seemingly aloof, his gaze often appearing bored or disinterested. He's hard to read unless you know him well and he's the sort that most would call conventionally attractive. All in all he's a well built, but not muscly guy with a laidback look and a demeanor to match.

His costume consists of this outfit and a white mask that covers only his eyes and the bridge of his nose. Additionally he wears a pair of black and white gloves.

History:

Hider

Born alongside his twin sister, Ashlynn, to their single mother Jake grew up in a stable home with mother and sister both. Jake was what one might describe as an excitable and friendly kid. He did well in school—though not terribly far above average—though he was sometimes rather preoccupied or difficult to corral.

Around the age of 9 he expressed great curiosity regarding his father and that side of his family. His mother told him stories of the man and offered, when he was a bit older, to let him visit his relatives in Japan. He happily agreed, patiently studying the culture and the language over the next four years as something of an obsession while keeping correspondence with his grandparents overseas. Finally on his 13th birthday, his mother allowed him to travel to Kyushu, Japan where his grandparents lived.

As if he'd known them all his life, Jake took great delight in visiting them and quickly grew used to their company. One day, his grandfather decided to take Jake on a tour of the city. It was on that same day, while they were out on the town, that Leviathan attacked. With the city flooding, the two were pushed underwater as the water level rose and waves crashed into them, practically toppling a building on Jake's grandfather. With his grandpa pinned underwater, Jake was panicked, but tried to be brave like the heroes who fought nearby.

However, in an attempt to swim down to rescue his grandpa, Leviathan swam past him in the water and the beast's after-echo struck him hard, knocking the air from his lungs and slamming him back into an exposed pipe, which would have impaled him. However, perhaps out of luck, he triggered, causing his human body to swap out for the one he would one day term his “Second Vessel,” allowing him to survive being impaled by the metal pipe.

Scared, in pain, and confused, Jake instinctively thrashed and eventually pulled himself from the pipe, his body healing rapidly. He nearly balked and swam away, before the image of his grandfather, gasping for air, pulled him back.

So it was that he forced himself to swim towards the drowning man and extricate him from the collapsed building's wreckage. Once freed, he carried the man above water before—to his surprise—flying back to their home where he did his best to protect his grandmother as well. Eventually, the waves subsided, but the damage had been done.

It was hours before a rescue team came for them and it was not until he saw them in the distance that he moved out of sight and shifted back before joining his grandparents. Several days later the three were on a one-way trip to the states where they would stay.

Following the harrowing incident, Jake seemed quieter...withdrawn, but his sister—as she always had—helped him recover, though he would never be the same boy he'd been before Leviathan.

Time went on and the fear of his newfound powers grew less and less even as his curiosity rose—though both emotions were...less intense than he remembered them in the past. Like his powers, this would be just another thing he grew used to. No longer deterred by the watchful eyes of his grandparents—who had bid him not to use the frightening abilities—he began to experiment in secret. Of course, as with all things between twins, he couldn't keep it a secret from her for long.

So it was that throughout their adolescence and the drama of highschool the two practiced their abilities away from the city where prying eyes wouldn't see. This drew him and his sister closer than before, and so she would serve as one of few things that grounded his emotions and made him feel...well, somewhat more normal than he typically did among others.

With some rocky relationships in between, Jake and his sister eventually graduate high school with Ashlynn entering higher education, unlike him. He just didn't have the motivation or those sorts of aspirations it seemed—not anymore at least. Instead, he found himself a part time job, enjoying life as much as he could, and helping to support his family where he could.

More recently he's begun stretching his powers at night, taking out minor criminals, though never anything even vaguely high profile. He's been active for the last two months and has only had encounters with three other parahumans in that time. While he's remained essentially in the shadows, some rumors of a strange creature lurking in the night have begun to spread. While he knows otherwise...he hopes they're not about him.

Personality

Motivations: As per a promise he made to his grandfather, Jake, in all that he does, makes an honest attempt to leave things better than he found them. Beyond this he has a strong wish to protect those he cares about—especially since they are few in number.

Sexuality: Straight.
Likes:

• Girls with piercings.
• Working out.
• Parkour.
• Coffee.
• Curry.
• Tea.

Dislikes:

• People commenting on his other appearance.
• Being inactive for long periods of time.
• Cigarettes/smoke.
• Monotony.
• Boredom.
• Dogs.

Derangement: Essentially, following his trigger event, Jake has felt more and more detached from reality, particularly the events and people around him on an emotional level. It became harder for him to form lasting emotional bonds or to just, well, care about most things. Additionally, he's noticed more and more that he only feels 'all there,' emotionally when utilizing his powers—and during a brief period of time after use as if a small part of him was cordoned off into his second body when he triggered.

While Jake has grown used to this, the activation of his power tends to cause an almost 'emotional high,' sometimes resulting in emotions becoming more intense in general—the reality being he's just experiencing the average intensity of human emotion which he is typically denied. Currently, Jake's working theory for why this happens is essentially as follows:

“When I triggered, I think my power cordoned off a small part of my psyche, allotting it to my Second Vessel so that when I inhabited it it wouldn't feel unfamiliar and unnatural, but instead would fit me like a glove. However, this appears to have resulted in a loss of emotional intensity in my...human half. Kinda sucks.”

Parahumanism

Skills: Having been practicing parkour for awhile, Jake is pretty good at getting through almost any environment with great efficiency. This also makes him a very athletic and somewhat acrobatic individual. Beyond this he knows how to throw a mean punch or kick properly, but he's certainly no martial artist.

Classification: Breaker|Brute|Mover.
Details: Jake’s power affords him a subtly enhanced physical awareness and control, while sacrificing a measure of his emotional sensation. This emotional dampening is a side effect of his main power, which allows him to--at will--swap to a monstrous alternate form. This switch--whether from human to monster or the inverse--sends the unused body into another world, where it dwells in stasis. Inactive bodies are largely unaffected by time, but will heal as normal. In the case of his alternate form, known as his Second Vessel(SV), it will also ‘recharge’ its energy stores by absorbing the energy from light. When willed, Jake will swap to his Second Vessel, which causes a brief sense of nausea and disorientation that can be adjusted to, but not mitigated. What follows are the properties and capabilities of his Second Vessel.

Second Vessel

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Measuring in at 35 feet in length and 10 feet tall from ground to back, Jake’s Second Vessel is monstrous indeed. Sporting four arms and a host of prehensile tentacles, Jake has an even higher degree of dexterity and awareness in this form than when in his human body, allowing him to perform incredible physical feats. Among these feats are those of strength, as the sheer size and mass of his SV affords him rather considerable physical strength, allowing him to lift roughly 1.54 tons per limb, which with his 9 tentacles and 4 arms gives him a total lift strength of around 20 tons independent from his flight. Beyond this, the SV’s chitinous armor gives it something of an edge, allowing it to resist low caliber rounds, cutting implements and a measure of blunt force trauma. The natural armor is somewhat stronger than ceramic body armor, but with more impact absorption due to the nature of the material.

More central to his ability however, is the incredible metabolism of his Second Vessel, which generates not only copious amounts of biochemical energy, but also high voltages of bioelectricity. This energy goes on to fuel not only his regeneration, which allows him to easily recover from most surface damage or muscular tearing in seconds, but also his flight and kinetic barrier. In essence the energies are transmuted into potential energy, which then overflows from his body and flows along its surface. By intuitively controlling the speed and direction of this energy’s flow, Outsider can fly, turning on a dime or rapidly accelerating as needed. With this control, Outsider’s SV is capable of instantly accelerating from 0mph to 30mph after which his flight can propel him 15mph faster every second. Furthermore, as the potential energy on his body accumulates, it is compressed, forming a kinetic barrier roughly two inches away from his SV’s flesh.

The aforementioned barrier is primarily resistant to physical assaults, particularly impact force, as the more surface area struck in an individual impact, the easier the force is distributed and resisted by the barrier. Conversely, piercing and slashing attacks with sufficient force behind them are much more likely to break the shield. When broken, the shield shatters and disperses, reforming over the space of several seconds depending on how much damage was taken. The barrier is capable of resisting a significant amount of force, protecting him from most forms of physical damage.

Following from this barrier is the last kinetic manifestation of his power, which allows him to alter the flow of the potential energy around his body, focusing it in an area--or over his whole surface--and then release it in kinetic blasts of varying size and potency. These blasts act like shockwaves of invisible force, typically expanding from the point of impact as they disperse--though he can make them more focused and contained. The potency of a given blast depends on how long energy has been gathered prior to its release. The strongest blast that can be emitted without charge is capable of pushing a grown man off his balance and across a distance of eight or so feet and would be experienced as a force striking the whole surface of the body facing its point of origin.

Last among his SV’s capabilities are its senses, which include enhanced touch, drastically enhanced hearing, and the ability to detect magnetic fields and electrical impulses--natural and artificial. This electromagnetic sense allows Outsider to detect the aforementioned within a radius of roughly 264 feet. His hearing on the other hand is harder to quantify, but allows him to hear sounds more clearly and to filter sound to a limited degree. While physical structures exist to allow these sensory abilities, they are internal, and thus cannot be easily targeted.

Limitations: Possessing three particularly notable weaknesses, Outsider’s Second Vessel does have its downsides. First of these is its hearing, which--due to its sensitivity--is actually one of the few senses it has that can be used against it. Thus, particularly loud, high or low pitched, noises can be used as a painful deterrent against his form, causing pain and even a sense of nausea and discomfort. It should be noted that sound totally ignores his kinetic barrier, which reveals something about the shield’s nature as a primarily physical defense. Essentially, the kinetic barrier is only properly effective against physical assaults and is much less efficient and durable when attempting to defend Jake’s SV from energetic assault, including most lasers and electricity--though high ambient temperature or radiation will be warded off, unless significant temperature spikes or sufficient explosive force are utilized.

However, while the aforementioned details are certainly significant weaknesses, the biggest weak point of Outsider’s Second Vessel takes the form of a hyperdense crystalline ‘core’ located in the most armored portion of the form’s torso. This core is the only truly ‘vital’ part of his Second Vessel and if it is damaged, Jake will be shunted back into his body regardless of the current circumstances he is in. If the damage is minor, it will make the form unstable, perhaps causing unpredictable flickers back and forth between bodies. If moderate damage is sustained Jake will be shunted back into his human body at the time of the damage and a second or two following any attempt to switch forms. Any damage beyond this is considered major and will render his power unavailable until the damage is repaired. While such a scenario has clearly never occurred, the core can be completely destroyed and if this comes to pass the exact consequences are unknown.

• While the body is not particularly damaged even by high voltages of electrical current, it can be distracting, unpleasant, and disorienting to have it channel through it.
• The disorientation from switching bodies stacks, becomes more intense and deleterious the more times Jake swaps in a short period of time.

Equipment

Cellphone: What it sounds like.

Disposable Prepaid Phone: A cellphone he uses sometimes when 'in costume' just so he can throw it away and not be tracked or the like.