Heroes: The Road of Good Intentions

Cynical Cat · Post by **Cynical Cat** » Sun May 20, 2007 4:08 pm

"My business," he replied.

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Sun May 20, 2007 4:16 pm

A snort, the eyes half-hooding in contempt. "And again, we see Trust in action." She was getting nowhere, there was a wall against her now where he felt betrayed by her actions.

"Enough of this... I came to apologise, because I fucked up and failed you." The pillar started shrinking, the shadows returning to their normal places, until she was simply eyes inside the shadow he threw on the floor. "But nothing's ever good enough for you, is it."

The eyes shut, vanishing from sight.

Cynical Cat · Post by **Cynical Cat** » Sun May 20, 2007 4:20 pm

Blackheart shrugged. She had expected to weasel out of betraying his team in combat with a few words? Especially when taken to task for it the usual stream of whiny bullshit had spewed forth. She didn't understand what she had done and she certainly wasn't very sorry. And to top it of she complained that he didn't trust her right after she had betrayed him. Fuck her sideways.

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Sun May 20, 2007 4:48 pm

Lei emerged from shadow blindly running to a shelter, no more. It was with shock she realized it was Garth's apartment.

Everything was back. Almost exactly as it had been.

And that was the last straw of the evening.

Shadows exploded into motion as her pent-up anger unleased. The couch rose on a black pillar and was flung against the wall hard enough to break plaster and crack studs. End tables were snapped to kindling as inky arms flailed about, the coffee table caught up like prey in a anaconda's grasp and constricted until it splintered.

The chaos did not end there. In the small kitchette, doors were pulled from the cabinets, the fridge doors crushed inwards before being snapped from the hinges, the newly replaced food thrown and scattered in a goopy mess equally over countertop and floor. Water shot high into the air as the faucet was knocked aside, before stuttering to a halt as the pipes beneath were crushed as well.

Lei moved serenely through the apartment, as if the destruction was being carried out by another person entirely. No effort shown on her face, even as the drawers were pulled out from the clothes drawers, before it was picked up and heaved out the bedroom window to hit the fire escape and rain peices on the alley below. The bed, like the coffeetable before it, was caught up in constricting coils and maliciously crushed, the splintered peices following the clothes drawer outside.

The bathroom did not escape, either... porcelean shattered easily, spilling water onto the tiles before walls were ripped apart and pipes crushed. Toiletries were scattered and broken like a child's discarded playthings.

One room was left, and Lei moved back through the destruction of the living room to face the closed door to the trophyroom. A shadow raised to break the door open ... and hestitated.

Slowly, the shadows fell and faded back to their normal places. As the first noisy neighbor started pounding on the door, Lei joined the shadows again and vanished as well, once again leaving the broken husk of a life behind.

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » Sun May 20, 2007 7:23 pm

Idly, Hotfoot wondered if some drugs were the cause for Gravitas claiming to be more than just a meta, but something seemed to together about him for that. "You know, I'd think that if there were infinite universes and people who could travel between them, someone would set up some sort of way to help everyone between the universes. I mean, I guess that's sort of what you're doing, but I'd think there'd be more than you." He mused for a moment and let out a deep breath. "Of course, I guess you'd have some jackasses who'd want to do something for themselves, too. I guess there's some sort of battle waging there, too, huh?"

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » Sun May 20, 2007 7:31 pm

"There are those who try outright conquering other timelines; it's a complex matter. There's very few of us who can do this, thankfully, and even fewer like me. Most rely on technology that's frighteningly inefficient. The downside is that means no one does it for humanitarian reasons." Gravitas shook his head.

"Anyway, my bosses have rules in place for this sort of thing. I've broken them, and also stole something to try and make the job easier. So once I'm killed here, or head back? Yea, I'm in deep trouble."

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » Sun May 20, 2007 7:41 pm

"Well if you keep getting beat on like tonight, that's going to be kind of quick. Though I have to wonder, if you can skip around in between universes and all that stuff, how is someone like me interesting? I mean, a guy that can do a hundred meter dash compared to someone that can travel through time and space like a walk in the park?"

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Sun May 20, 2007 7:44 pm

Shaodws thicken for a moment, and Argent rises out of them like Venus from the sea. She paused, blinking at Hotfoot in surprise. "Oh........ I didn't realize Gravitas had company...." she said quietly, her eyes wide.

It was something she should have known, given her empathic talent to sense the team's positions. It simply proved to herself how out of control she must be; she'd not even checked the room before manifesting. Her arms wrapped around herself, and she started to step back, to leave them alone to talk.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » Sun May 20, 2007 7:49 pm

"You can stay, Argent... No reason to rush off. Just forgive me if I don't get up." Waiting for your bones to knit is a very slow process, and the Nova lay there, sighing. "Yes, speedster, it will be quick at this rate. But what do I do? Is there even really a choice for me? I gotta do this. For.. Well, nevermind. I'm sounding whiny. If I need to air that laundry, I'll get a blog."

"You're interesting for the same reason most of the team is interesting. I've seen two origins of this kind of power before; psionic control via what's called 'noetic' reality, and direct control through quantum-level forces. You guys operate on.. Entirely different reasons. It's intriguing. Besides, you produce low-level temporal and spacial dialation. It's why your voice goes wonky. I would love to push the limit, but... That's for another day."

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » Sun May 20, 2007 8:02 pm

Hotfoot turned and looked at Argent as she appeared, smiling slightly, "Hey there, sorry about stumbling off earlier. I was kind of wiped..." There were a multitude of reasons for that, Blast sucking up his energy, the massive amount of running back and forth, the gravitic teleportation, the fighting, and the brushes with death. His smile falters slightly, but only for an instant.

"A blog? Hm..." Hotfoot mused for a moment, then shook his head. "Nah, I don't think it would be a good idea. If it got back to my mom, I think I'd be in the kind of trouble you'd be in, times ten. She doesn't even know about me yet. I'm hoping I can put that off for a little while..."

His head spun a little as Gravitas rattled off a bunch of information that made very little sense. His brow furrowed until the bit towards the end. "Time and space? You mean like the twins and rocket thing from high school?"

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Sun May 20, 2007 8:07 pm

Argent nodded slowly. "I'm sorry... I got all of us into this mess...." she near-whispered, still hugging herself, her eyes lowered. "Please forgive me..."

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » Sun May 20, 2007 8:10 pm

"...Sort of, Hotfoot. I'll try and give a physics lesson another time, I promise. But I need a white board and the ability to use my hands."

"Relax, Argent." Gravitas closed his eyes. "Relax. You're, what, twenty four? Most of that as a petty thief, no offense. Like I told Hotfoot here, I myself stole something pretty big before coming to this world. But you're not a soldier. Not someone used to this. Blackheart, Ghost, Saibot... Even me, we've been around this. We know what it's like. You guys... You're kids! You shouldn't even have decided on a lifetime career yet, but we're pushing you to be adults in so many ways. Such a waste.."

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » Sun May 20, 2007 8:20 pm

So....Argent was one of the criminals? A knot formed in his stomach as pieces locked into place behind the veil of racing thoughts. She seemed nice enough, and had been honest to him so far. "Whoa, what are you talking about? This whole thing was fucked up." He stood up, his muscles still wobbly, causing him to sway as he walked over to her. He put an arm around her and guided her to a seat. "C'mon, have a seat, you had a close call tonight." A twinge of guilt, it was because of him that she nearly died, at least from his point of view.

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Sun May 20, 2007 8:36 pm

Empathy was one of the weaker telepathic powers in some opinions, since most empaths were limited to reception only. Argent was a rare case of having reception and projection in strong measures. But strong or weak, one thing could not be denied: Empathy was strongest when backed by physical contact.

**Sadness/Fear/Betrayal/Regret**

It roiled underneath her control, leaking out into Hotfoot as he helped Lei sit down. Gently, firmly, she pushed him away. "No... you don't ... I won't keep control if you touch me..." she murmurred, shaking her head.

**Sadness/Fear/Regret** still echoed over into him from her touch, as well as a feeling that couldn't be summed up as neatly. A simple desire for comfort and solace.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » Sun May 20, 2007 8:38 pm

"....You should probably not touch her unless you're ready to feel what she feels." Gravitas spoke, a little too late. "I can get a... Sense of it, through the links I form with the ground. But it's not true touch, so... Weaker. But I have no doubt, Argent, that this follows the old maxim. Pain shared is lessened."

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » Sun May 20, 2007 8:53 pm

Hotfoot felt the emotions flow into him, echoing his own. The sadness of seeing people suffer. Normals, metas, freaks, all had suffered tonight. The fear he was in over his head, that he had killed a man, that he couldn't help. Regret that couldn't do what needed to be done, something that had nearly cost two people their lives. Betrayal sang out alone, but slowly gathered steam. Saibot was supposed to be on his side, but he turned and nearly slaughtered everyone...

The thought faded into his stream of conciousness as Argent pushed him away. He stumbled a little, his shoes squeaking on the floor as he walked back to his seat. "I'm sorry...I just, I think you're being a little hard on yourself. I mean, you nearly died tonight because I froze...if anything, I'm the one that failed. It's like nothing I did mattered. You...you got everyone out, you got Gravitas here the help he needed...I don't even know my own powers well enough to do something simple like that."

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Sun May 20, 2007 9:02 pm

Lei stared at Hotfoot, her eyes wide as she not only felt her feelings echoed in his own believed shortcomings, but hearing him apologise to HER.

She'd gone to Blackheart and tried to apologise for failing him.. and now Hotfoot thought he failed her.

It started as a giggle, or maybe it was a sniffle. It was hard to tell, for her shoulders started shaking as she squeezed herself tighter and the world went blurry from the tears that finally broke free.

Hotfoot thought he'd failed her

The irony was painful, and even she couldn't say if the gasps were sobs or laughter.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » Sun May 20, 2007 9:05 pm

"I'll... Let you two have your catharsis. I'm kinda stuck to give the fatherly hugs." Gravitas smiled absently, watching the two.

"But if you feel control and discipline are your problems.. We can fix that. We can train."

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » Sun May 20, 2007 9:28 pm

Hotfoot looked at Argent, then at Gravitas. He saw Argent start to cry, and his stomach knotted up again. He wanted to go and comfort her, but they were right, her powers made that dangerous. If it were just dangerous for him, well, he owed it to her, but she said she'd lose control...

"Yeah...training. I guess I do need that." His voice was disconnected, his brain was working on even more pieces. He walked back over to Argent, trying to think of a way to comfort her. Only one thing came to mind, and it was probably one of the stupidest things he'd done in a while, and given the course of the night, that was significant.

He hugged her gently, trying to think of the positive. They were both alive, she had done some good tonight, she was alive, she was going to be okay. Hope, comfort, what little he could offer. The backlash might hurt, but hopefully it would be worse for him than her.

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Sun May 20, 2007 9:59 pm

It was no longer laughter but purely tears as Hotfoot hugged her. No one, not even Garth, had ever hugged her just to comfort her. Even Ember hadn't been that touchie-feelie, believing rightly that Lei didn't want to shove her feelings onto her best friend like that.

Simple comfort, and a feeling of hope that things would get better. It broke Lei's control and the wash of negative emotions flowed out like infection from a wound. She tried to shield Hotfoot, even dropped her arms to push him away again. Anger and hate and fear and heartbreak and betrayal and emptiness and pain and a desire to flee far away; it was all there, all rushing out with her tears.

But somehow Lei was now hugging him, crying on the shirt he'd been given, the negative emotions plowing over and through and out of him nearly as fast as he himself could run. Then there was just the sadness, and the need for comfort as she cried herself clean.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » Sun May 20, 2007 10:01 pm

"....And everyone, even gods, need a shoulder to cry on." Gravitas said softly as he watched the moment. Otherwise, he was silent. There was nothing that needed said.

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » Sun May 20, 2007 10:14 pm

The emotions flowed through him like a flash flood through a canyon, washing over him and enveloping him. He felt each bit of her emotions, and deep in the part of his brain that moved faster than it should, he understood. For now, he just let the rush flow through him, causing him to hold her closer. He said nothing, he just continued to provide what support he could. Tears welled in his own eyes from her emotions mixing with his own. They flowed as the last of the negative emotions flowed through, leaving him with her sadness and what hope he had.

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Sun May 20, 2007 10:31 pm

As a cleansed wound is now able to heal, so catharsis cleans the soul and mind. It took several minutes, but eventually Lei's tears ran dry, and her sobs became little hiccups.

Her arms refused to let go, however, and her head remained buried against Hotfoot's chest, taking in the comfort he willed her way gratefully. Empathy worked both ways, however, and it was clear Lei had worn herself out mentally and spiritually. Given a few minutes more, she may very well fall asleep in Hotfoot's embrace.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » Sun May 20, 2007 10:33 pm

"Hotfoot, I think she could use being taken somewhere nice and safe to lay down and rest." Gravitas suggested softly. "She'll need it. I'm hearing we've got some kind of meeting tomorrow, and I need to work out how I'm gonna be there and presentable. I'll need my eufiber."

Cynical Cat · Post by **Cynical Cat** » Sun May 20, 2007 11:37 pm

Blackheart collapsed on his bed and fell asleep. His mind drifted through the usual nightmares of his childhood and helplessness. He struggled free of the mental morass and fell into darkness. Around him was nothing but the void and for once, there was no fear. Something whispered to him. "This is home. It is not a terrible thing to be alone."

He woke up early and rubbed his face. There was something about what he dreamed last night, something odd. Something he couldn't quite recall. He headed for the shower. It wasn't important.

LibriumArcana.Games

Heroes: The Road of Good Intentions

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