Steele_Magnolia

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"Here, shove this one in your ear, and this one against your throat. It will allow you to hear and communicate with us. It has been developped for people who are much more active than I am, more along the lines of what you do, so shouldn't have any problems staying in. Don't break it, it is my last one and my hero's stipend doesn't cover the cost of replacing them. Do you have any idea what is going on here, and why the Hellions are interested in-"

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This must be the one who cast the darkness! Constance accepted the earpiece, inserting it and handing the throat mike back to Cocotte, shaking her head no.

Before he could respond or accept it, noise sounded in the hall and he enveloped them in a shroud of darkness... Trouble was coming.

She readied herself, concentrating on her senses of hearing, balance, and the movement of air currents. Blindfighting was the hardest of the disciplines to master.

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Mathew was starting to get the impression this girl had a hot temper despite her apparent cold abilities. He really did not want to be on the receiving end of it.

"No, no I don't. I was just asking. I didn't mean to up set you." He quickly apologized. He leaned back from the table, hands slightly raised as if defending himself. Some students had turned around to look at the two of them.

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"Well, a lot of people do. You'd think in this city, people wouldn't be so bigoted." She lightened up, "Relax, I'm not going to blast you or something. Sheesh."

"Oh, and to answer your other question, yes, I can touch people. I thought you'd get the joke, earlier." She gestured at her pink hair, "Most people notice the touch of frost. It's a real pain to wash." She grinned, enjoying the joke.

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"Do you mean you're a mutant?" He asked carefully. Some people did not like the term mutant. He then looked to the slowly freezing drink. "Does that mean you can never touch anyone?" He realized to late what he was asking sounded like.

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Dani's blood froze at Matt's words, well, not literally. "No," she said coldly, how else, "I'm not a mutant. Do you have a problem with mutants?"

The water was now frozen, and she tipped the glass over. The ice fell out with a solid *thunk* onto the table.

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“Sooooo… you’re a Psychology student. I thought you looked more like an Art or Media student.” He smiled, unsure of his own joke. “What do you plan to do when you finish University?”

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Dani had chosen the roast beef, potatoes, vegetables, and coffee. She hoped with enough gravy, the beef wouldn't be too much like shoe leather.

She hoped in vain.

"Well," she said after a fast gulp of coffee, "I was planning to go to law school. Don't know if that's going to happen. Money, you know." Her tone was ironic, "I had a scholarship. Basketball. But then this happened."

She picked up a half-empty glass of soda left on the table by another student. Tendrils of frost formed along the outside of the glass as the water froze, "Can't play basketball, bye-bye scholarship."

"So, I registered. Have to register, right? So much for the women's NBA," she sighed.

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“Hi Constance my name is Unix and I am glad you are not a villain.”

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Constance blinked in surprise. A villain? Did she look like a villain?

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Unix then peeked her head around the corner. The rest of the hallway looked clear and there were some open cages along the wall. Unix decided now was a good time to get Canis lupus familiaris back in its cage. Unix slid a gauntlet finger under Sam’s collar and led him to the first open cage.

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Constance shook her head "no". The poor dog, Sam, didn't belong in a cage. Maybe she could take him home with her? Except, she didn't quite have a home yet, just a card for one of the city's hero apartments.

Constance knelt and opened her arms, gesturing for the dog to come to her, trying to get across to Unix that she didn't want to lock the poor thing up.

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Unix saw these motions and figured either she was going to kill her if she asked her name again or she was mute. Unix strained her mind to come up with pictures of from a book she read a long time ago. Slowly the images entered her head. Unix raised he right hand and held her index, middle, ring and pinky curled over while her thumb remained bent on the outside. Then shifted her hand into a fist. Unix then wedged her thumb in between her middle and ring finger. Unix continued to spell out “can you read this?” in American Sign Language. Unix’s gauntlet made it difficult to twist her fingers in the right way but she hoped the small woman would get the idea.

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Constance watched the other woman's hands... she knew sign language, at least a little! Great!

She nodded yes, and slowly signed, spelling her name, "My name is Constance. I am mute, but can hear."

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"I was just on the way to the cafeteria when..... well..... you know.... sorry. Anyway, coffee sounds good. I hope they have something better then the same old stale sandwiches this time."

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"Sure," said Dani, "That sounds good. Ditto on the sandwich thing, I'm on the cafeteria meal plan... any coffee is better than no coffee, but it's a stretch some days."

She waved goodbye to Professor Clemmons, "Bye, Prof!"

(OOC: Sol-Ar will be afk until Monday)

She clapped Matt on the back, "So... about that coffee..."

Constance watched as Unix approached the dog, speaking of it. Really, she didn't think the dog was that bad, in fact it was kind of sweet. Maybe the reason it had been barking was it sensed that the Hellions were up to no good. Something about it was appealing, its eyes were bright, full of puppiness... she longed to pet it. Would it let her?

Once Unix had cleared the way, Constance approached the dog, fingers closed to her palm, outstretched to allow the dog a sniff. Then, gingerly, she scratched its ears.

Too bad she couldn't speak... dogs liked that.

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Unix turned to the small hero and said “If you don’t mind me asking what is your name?”

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Constance looked up from her kneeling position. Disentangling her fingers from the pup's fur, she drew a line across her throat, then crossed her hands over her lips and shaking her head.

Hopefully the woman would get the idea. They might not have the time for her to write a note.

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Somehow, the way she said “coursework” did not sound like college approved work.

“Remember, next week, Wednesday, at 11:30AM. Xavier Hall, and please come dressed, that means at least a shirt and tie, or long skirt,” her gaze crossed from the boy to the young woman in turn. “And bring an open mind.” She straightened and adjusted her jacket again, seeming to be uncomfortable in it.

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Hmm. 'Coursework' for credit. Dani was up with that! Anything to get more credits, especially if it didn't involve paying more tuition or fees. She had a scholarship, once...

She looked towards the remaining Professor Clemmons and Matt, "Anyone feel like some coffee?"

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They soon had more to worry about then a dog as Unix formed a small dark disc and tossed it into the middle of the group of three hellions. It reached the middle of the three men and expanded into a large dark cylinder monetarily engulfed the hellions then quickly faded away. All three hellions were now walking around as if they were drunk and blind. Unix then raised her arm and launched a bright beam striking the center hellion in the head he few immediately. The other two hellions stumbled around as…..

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...as Constance waded into the fray, providing support to Unix. One axe kick and a hammer fist later, the two remaining Hellions hit the ground.

Constance looked back at Unix and gave a thumbs-up.

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Shall I reserve seats for you, any of you?"

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Dani was surprised to see the smaller girl, Nar...something? Come again? She had the frosty thing going even more obviously than she did...

"Ah, yes, Professor! I'd like to go. My major is Criminal Justice with Psych."

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Matt looked from the pink haired girl to the professor. "Uh... This is my fought. I was not looking where I was going and I walked into....er......" He didn't know her name, ".....this girl. I didn't mean to create a disturbance."

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"Dani, my name's Dani," her voice lowered just for Matt, "Though Hulk Hogan there probably doesn't know that, he's got so many students."

She could feel Miss Bink's glare of disapproval between the shoulder blades, and raised her voice to normal volume, "I was just leaving, anyway."

"Oh," she pulled her hand back, "I gotta be careful. Don't want to give you frostbite or nuthin'.

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"Oh sorry. Here, let me help you up." He put the books down again and held out his hand to help her up. There was an awkwardness in the way he dealt with the situation. He stood again and held out his hand to her.

“I’m really sorry. My names Mathew. Every one just calls me Matt…….. What’s that you’re listening to?” He asked nervously. As soon as the words left his lips he became aware how much like a bad pick up line it sounded. Having just knocked someone down seemed like an odd time to introduce your self but Matt was trying to be friendly in the hope the girl would not get any more angry at him. He was not good in confrontations.

"Shhhhhh. This is a library remeber." Came the sharp voice of Miss Binks from around the corner.

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Dani had been about to refuse Matt's hand when the librarian spoke up. With a "cut off my nose to spite my face" look back in the direction of Miss Binks, she took Matt's hand and pulled herself up. (OOC: Her hand is cool, like someone who just washed their hands in cold water)

Then...
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David cleared his throat slightly to get their attention, then smiled brightly down at them, his voice soft but carrying easily to them:
"Accidents do happen around here, I'm sure the young man didn't mean to bump into you. And please, try to avoid loud noises or colorful language in the library in the future? It is a place of learning after all...ok?"

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She shook her head and muttered, "Great, just great... now my Psych Prof think's I'm a disturbance to the peace as well. Bloody wonderful."

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Matt’s mind was wondering, thinking about what he would get for lunch from the cafeteria. Hopefully they would have something better then the usual stale sandwiches and half cooked food. The chef in the cafeteria was friendly enough but his cooking still left something to be desired. Matt was not looking out and did not see the person in front of him. He walked straight into them and clumsily fumbled to keep a hold of his books but they fell to the ground, open at random pages.

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"Ow!" Dani yelped as she fell on her backside, knocking the headphones from her ears to dangle around her neck. She looked up, just in time to get popped on the forehead by a falling book. Tinny music issuing from the now forgotten headphones:

green in your love on bright days
you grew sun blind you thought me unkind
to remind you how winter kills
lost in daydreams you drove too fast and got nowhere
you rode on half fare when you got too scared
how winter kills

tear at me searching for weaker seams
pain in your eyes make me cruel
make me spiteful tears are delightful welcome your nightfall
how winter kills
i'll tear at you searching for weaker seams
how winter kills

"Whatcha do that for?" she demanded, looking up at the guy standing over her. [censored]

(OOC: Danielle Jones, 19, 5'9" 125 lbs, spikey pink hair rimed with frost, sea green eyes, very pale skin, dressed in worn jeans, university sweatshirt, and sneakers)

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Unix looked around the room hoping to find one of the hellions still conscious but quickly realized that none were. “We should try to find out what they (hellions) were up to and we should try and do it quickly I don’t think we have much time before they come looking for what ever made all this noise.” Unix announced.

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Constance nodded assent, willing to follow the Hero's lead. She had no idea what was going on and was probably the most inexperienced registered hero in the city. The laminate on her ID was practically still warm.

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As she came out of the somersault, her feet extended and heading quite rapidly towards an unexpecting Hellion, he reached out his hand and with a mental twist, dropped a pool of darkess at their feet. It seemed to leach at their very soul and slow them down. It sprang into existance at the same moment as the unfortunate hellion had a rather unexpected meeting with a pair of smallish feet.

One down. Now to do something about those Lieutenants. That girl down their is probably pretty good, but is probably not up to dodging bullets yet

With another mental twist, Cocotte opened up a direct conduit to the darkness and attached it to the guy holding the sawed-off shotgun. After a few seconds, he and all of the 'bangers around him seemed somewhat distracted. Their movements more jerky and unco-ordinated, it was clear that they were now less of a threat, although still dangerous.

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Constance couldn't pinpoint the origin, but inky pools and clouds of darkness began clinging at the feet of some of her foes, and enshrouding the one she'd been most concerned about - the one with the shotgun.

Her Master had said that in time, she could learn to dodge bullets, but she doubted that she was quite there yet. Nor was she eager to test it.

With unspoken thanks, just a minute nod in the direction from whence the blackness had come, she continued, laying into her assorted opponents with stunning kicks and blows, using spins and leaps to minimize their blows against her.

Fighting, real fighting, was very little like the dojo. It was exhausting and enervating, a dichotomy that somehow made sense.

Her unknown benefactor's help had made a difference. After several minutes, she stood shakily, spent, tendrils of hair dripping sweat, chest heaving, bruised but not broken. The same could not be said for her opponents.

(OOC: Thanks Cocotte!)

As Constance observed the large group of Hellions within the Hallway, faint vibrations fluttered through the ventilation system, She could barely hear it, feel it, and knew someone was using the vents.

Who was in the vents? More foes? Escaping employees? Santa Clause? OK, not really Santa Clause, but still....

From elsewhere in the building came the sounds of combat, breaking glass, and a scream. Time was up.

She released her fingertip hold and dropped, somersaulting on the way down to gain additional centrifugal force. Her first kick, executed enroute to the floor, took the gangmember by surpise and he fell with a heavy thud.

So much for the element of surprise. One down, eleven to go. She knew she was good... but she knew she wasn't that good. Perfect Weapon could have handled this without breaking a sweat. After all, he was the Master, while she merely the student.

She let out a hiss of air, her kai silent, and prepared to lay the smackdown... and get hurt.

(OOC: Constance is mute, but not deaf.)

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I've been wondering something similar. He'd indicated for game purposes that it might be in the Steel Canyon area and that there was even a picture of the Whitmoore available in the main thread. I've skimmed through all of the posts and was unable to find it though. It was hundreds of posts in a very long 'view all', so I certainly could have easily missed it.

If anyone finds the picture or has it saved somewhere, mind reposting it perchance? I'd love to see it.

Happy holidays to everyone, and once again to Slipshod, thank you so much for creating such a wonderful roleplay setting.

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I waded through and found it, though the link no longer works:
http://img1.yoxio.com/img/58098.jpg

I plan to use the /loc and find it next time I play CoH, and get some screenshots. I've wondered what it looked like as well.

Maybe we of the Whitmoore need a website?

(OOC: With Stu's permission)

(OOC: Interview with Maxwell Croninger, Chief of Security for Crey’s Paragon Protectors Program, a background character for my Whitmoore Apartments character Simon-Says/Simone St.Croix)

Harris: First of all I would like to thank you for taking the time to appear on the program.

Croninger: You’re quite welcome, Mr. Harris. Crey Industries and I thank you for the opportunity to be here.

Harris: Could you tell the viewers at home a little bit about how and why you work with heroes?

Croninger:Regardless of the views of many gen-centric organizations, We as humans must all realize that metahumans are here to stay. If we do not welcome them, embrace their diversity while requiring them to adhere to the conventions of society and law, their only recourse is villainy. However, despite their amazing abilities, not all heroes are suited to law enforcement and military lines of work, or freelance heroing. While many disparage the Paragon Protectors as mercenaries or “Heroes for Hire”, what right do we have to demand they use their abilities without some form of compensation? Heroes also have the right to live their lives and support their families. It’s far too easy to forget that.

Harris: What would you say is the greatest reward for being a hero?

Croninger: Working with the fine men and women of the Paragon Protectors, I see their courage and pride on a daily basis. At the end of the day, these brave people know that their efforts have made a real difference, in greater peace and safety for Paragon’s citizens.

Harris: Have you ever found there is any drawback to being a hero?

Croninger: As I said before, they’re often misunderstood. And often, their gifts come as a tremendous burden, even a curse. Ostrasism, bigotry, even hatred. As humanity, have we come so far but learned so little? It was only a few decades ago that an entire people were nearly extinguished in the gas chambers of Auschwitz and other places. And yet we still hate and fear those who are different.

Harris: What is going through your mind when you are in a dangerous situation that could lead to civilian casualties? That must be a scary situation.

Croninger: It is a scary situation. I’m no hero, but working with the Paragon Protectors and my years in the U.S. Army and Central Intelligence Agency, I dealt with such situations on several occasions. Above all, I try to avoid civillian casualties and suffering. It is the same with the Paragon Protectors, protecting the innocent comes first. Always.

Harris: How do you feel about people that use their powers for crime like the outcast or the super villains we starting to see around the city?

Croninger: I think that they must be very disturbed, or even evil, people. While many lost and misguided find their way into such situations, we can never discount them as merely “troubled”. Evil exists. And we must fight it, yet somehow save those who can be saved.

Harris: What do you think is going through these criminals minds when they commit these acts?

Croninger: Simply, “What’s in it for me?” The ultimate greed and hubris. Heroism is the act of self sacrafice. Villainy is the oppposite.

Harris: How do you feel about the various anti hero and anti mutant groups that believe heroes course more problems then they solve? Given the amount of work heroes do for the city this must be quite upsetting.

Croninger: I recognize them for what they are: A shallow façade, a reincarnation of Adolf Hitler’s brand of hatred masquerading behind a veil of otherwise valid concerns. Just as we police the police, we must also keep an eye on heroes. This is the price of society; after all, metas are people too. But these groups… bigots.

Harris: And finally, have you ever worked along side the Statesman? What is he like?

Croninger: I’ve never worked alongside him, though we have met. I’m sure he doesn’t remember me personally, I was just a child among other children that day. But I will never forget what it was like when he flew in with the Allied Forces and freed us. He is a true hero, and a man worthy of our respect.

Harris: I would like to thank you for coming on the show and on behalf of the citizens of Paragon city thank you for keeping the streets safe

Croninger: Thank you, Mr. Harris. And thank you to all of the heroes who labor on our behalf.

Hooray!

Constance was new to Paragon, having just moved here from Monterey, California. Master McKee, AKA Perfect Weapon, had suggested Paragon City as a destination when she had decided to take her skills 'on the road' to test herself.

At 20, she stood only slightly over 5' tall, with wavy masses of light brown curls around her face. She kept it short to prevent an attacker from grabbing hold of it, but the shorter length and curls gave her a more youthful appearance than she would have liked. Well, that just meant that she would be underestimated. something a villain would soon regret.

She'd registered with Paragon City's Hero Registrar as Quiet Thunder, the name she'd earned in her martial arts training. Walk softly and carry a big stick, indeed. The registrar had been skeptical; she didn't shoot lightening bolts, toss about freight trains, or emit waves of healing energy. Her one true gift, as far as Paragon was concerned, were her relexes. Despite having no meta traits, she had an innate sense of balance and response far better than most and seven years of training under Perfect Weapon's tutelage had honed it.

She'd come to Canine Rescue to look into getting a dog, a companion to share the apartment Paragon was issuing her at the Whitmoore. She hadn't been planning on adopting today, just getting information and meeting the custodians. She hadn't even moved into her apartment yet, her few belongings were in the pack slung over one shoulder and her mode of transport was a bicycle.

Not your typical girl.

Now, she lay very still, suspended on the rails of the lowered ceiling of the hallway. Below her, trouble was brewing in the form of super-powered street gang members. She watched, and listened, to discern their plans and weaknesses before taking action.

It looked like Quiet Thunder was about to get her intro to Paragon's criminal element.

(OOC: Natural Martial Arts/Super Reflexes Scrapper level 6)

Thank you CockARoach - I've been waiting for a story since I read your post on the TV Interview forum.

*roach hug*

Alas, Holland mi amore... droste chocolate, gouda cheese, and pomme frittes... How I miss thee, sweet companion of my childhood.

Sol-Ar, Tick-Tok, and I met on Test on Sunday. I set up a "Whitmoore Residents" SG for us.

Join us in the insanity!

You've got another PM!