- Location
- Winter Hell
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] I was thinking of starting my own team
The Young Avengers Initiative
- Thread starter Wightraven
- Start date
005 - Those Who Watch L
- Location
- The Trash Pile
Winner: I want to be an Avenger.
Number of voters: 6
"I want to be an Avenger," you answer. " Whether it's New York, California... wherever. There are too many people that need my help, and that trust in the Avengers to provide it. So many people have come to me since I started going to school here and asked me for help... even other gifted! I... I got into medicine because I wanted to help people, and after my theoretical student loans got paid off I would make decent money. If I can use my knowledge, and the gifts I was given to do that as an Avenger... even better. It gives me purpose, and makes me proud of myself."
Other Gwen smiles softly at you, chin resting on the heel of her hand. "You got passion, Vilina. I respect that. You wanna do good. You wanna help. Not everybody sees it that way."
You shake your head. "Not everyone has to. Just enough of us."
Friday, February 9th arrives. Patrol is hectic, but it's a lot more about the busy city than actual crime. Love is in the air for Valentine's Day, and most people seem to be celebrating on the weekend. Which means a lot of couples going from restaurant to movie to carriage ride around the park and whatever other romantic gestures their significant others come up with, but thankfully not a lot of crime. A heart-themed super-villain seems like just the ticket to crash this happy time of year, and you're grateful nobody is quite stupid enough to pull something like that... ... yet. Saturday dawns, and it's the night of the Valentine's party as constructed by the school events committee. You resolved to go when you heard about the party a month ago, but also decided at the time to go stag; not to make any kind of statement other than that romance isn't your priority right now, but fun parties are always a good time. Besides, you didn't get to enjoy the Hallowe'en party as much as you wanted, so you're hoping for an uninterrupted night of frivolity. You decided on a black suit and tie with a white dress shirt for the occasion. It doesn't fit you the best but it looks smart and you feel good in it.
You arrive in the cafeteria, once again converted to a more spacious version of itself. The lighting is kept low, and a fixture in the middle of the room is casting slowly-spinning, twinkly lights shaped like hearts and stars in shades of pink and white across the dance-able portion of the floor. There have to be at least three hundred heart-shaped balloons in here, including those covering an archway where you can get a photograph taken to commemorate the occasion. Of course, there's punch. And food; a few chocolate fountains with all kinds of nonsense to dip into them, including strawberries, bananas, coconut balls, and bacon cubelets. For a moment you're struck by the fact that this is all a little... childish? That doesn't seem like the right word. But you're college kids. The stereotype says you should be having messy keggars in dorm rooms and having unprotected sex with slightly-menacing upperclassmen with unclear motives. But... at the same time, high school wasn't that long ago. There are no upperclassmen to have questionable intentions at you, and... not having to worry about some sort of social standard of adulthood when you're trying to figure out your future and your super-powers is refreshing.
You see a lot of faces you know at the party; of course Kitty and Robbie are here, as are Monica and Roxy? ... are they an item? Should you have known about this? Elvin is honestly the only person you know who attends this school and isn't at the party. You're pretty sure you even saw Quentin for a moment. Maybe he was just passing through. either way, it must be squads full of people you haven't met that are on patrol tonight.
What Are Your Goals For This Party? (CHOOSE THREE)
[ ] Hang out with ______.
- Please fill in the blank.
[ ] Meet new people.
[ ] Relax; have fun.
Number of voters: 6
"I want to be an Avenger," you answer. " Whether it's New York, California... wherever. There are too many people that need my help, and that trust in the Avengers to provide it. So many people have come to me since I started going to school here and asked me for help... even other gifted! I... I got into medicine because I wanted to help people, and after my theoretical student loans got paid off I would make decent money. If I can use my knowledge, and the gifts I was given to do that as an Avenger... even better. It gives me purpose, and makes me proud of myself."
Other Gwen smiles softly at you, chin resting on the heel of her hand. "You got passion, Vilina. I respect that. You wanna do good. You wanna help. Not everybody sees it that way."
You shake your head. "Not everyone has to. Just enough of us."
---=====---
A week passes, and another one follows. At Ms. Morse's recommendation, you manage to set up a Discord for your fellow heroes to communicate by while on patrol... and then when that goes horribly awry, you set up two Discords; one for patrol and one for just chatting. The chatting one kind of goes off constantly, so you have it on mute. School keeps you busy, as usual, but you make an effort to keep up with your friends during downtime. Kitty and Robbie seem to be ramping up the romance in anticipation of February, Elvin still loves his game, but is being slightly less obsessive about spending time with it, Quentin seems to be calming down and settling back into a more normal mode of operation, and Roxy has seemed much more like she did when you first met her than the standoffish person you feel responsible for helping create last winter, or the non-existent one of the year so far. Monica keeps you in the loop on what they've found out about the green flying man, but Oscorp is politely blocking them from investigating. Despite the damage he did to their building and property, they aren't even pressing charges. She mentions that Emulator wants to go a less above-board route, but you know Spectrum and she's not about that shady life. Are you about that shady life? Hm...
Friday, February 9th arrives. Patrol is hectic, but it's a lot more about the busy city than actual crime. Love is in the air for Valentine's Day, and most people seem to be celebrating on the weekend. Which means a lot of couples going from restaurant to movie to carriage ride around the park and whatever other romantic gestures their significant others come up with, but thankfully not a lot of crime. A heart-themed super-villain seems like just the ticket to crash this happy time of year, and you're grateful nobody is quite stupid enough to pull something like that... ... yet. Saturday dawns, and it's the night of the Valentine's party as constructed by the school events committee. You resolved to go when you heard about the party a month ago, but also decided at the time to go stag; not to make any kind of statement other than that romance isn't your priority right now, but fun parties are always a good time. Besides, you didn't get to enjoy the Hallowe'en party as much as you wanted, so you're hoping for an uninterrupted night of frivolity. You decided on a black suit and tie with a white dress shirt for the occasion. It doesn't fit you the best but it looks smart and you feel good in it.
You arrive in the cafeteria, once again converted to a more spacious version of itself. The lighting is kept low, and a fixture in the middle of the room is casting slowly-spinning, twinkly lights shaped like hearts and stars in shades of pink and white across the dance-able portion of the floor. There have to be at least three hundred heart-shaped balloons in here, including those covering an archway where you can get a photograph taken to commemorate the occasion. Of course, there's punch. And food; a few chocolate fountains with all kinds of nonsense to dip into them, including strawberries, bananas, coconut balls, and bacon cubelets. For a moment you're struck by the fact that this is all a little... childish? That doesn't seem like the right word. But you're college kids. The stereotype says you should be having messy keggars in dorm rooms and having unprotected sex with slightly-menacing upperclassmen with unclear motives. But... at the same time, high school wasn't that long ago. There are no upperclassmen to have questionable intentions at you, and... not having to worry about some sort of social standard of adulthood when you're trying to figure out your future and your super-powers is refreshing.
You see a lot of faces you know at the party; of course Kitty and Robbie are here, as are Monica and Roxy? ... are they an item? Should you have known about this? Elvin is honestly the only person you know who attends this school and isn't at the party. You're pretty sure you even saw Quentin for a moment. Maybe he was just passing through. either way, it must be squads full of people you haven't met that are on patrol tonight.
What Are Your Goals For This Party? (CHOOSE THREE)
[ ] Hang out with ______.
- Please fill in the blank.
[ ] Meet new people.
[ ] Relax; have fun.
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Omake - Alternate Origins
- Location
- The Trash Pile
Kind of a short update, sorry. It felt longer as I was typing it. So! Here's the original writeups I did for the other two character origins you could've chosen back at creation. Thought you might find them interesting~!
[URCHIN]
While you certainly had a home to go to at night and a mom to take care of you, you spent most of your childhood on the streets, in the more run-down, dangerous areas of the inner-city. Your wits and personality got you both into and out of an untold amount of trouble… some that maybe Captain America would offer a disapproving look for. It was more complicated than "the right thing" and "the wrong thing" back then, though. Life wasn't bad but it sure as hell wasn't easy, either, and once you developed your powers everything just got that much more stressful. Suddenly you were more useful to everyone who thought they could get an edge… but you were also more of a target. If somebody took you down, that'd make them look that much better than taking out some random thug, and there was the ever-present buzz of Mutant Panic mounting as information about the X-Gene spread…
You remember the night when you thought it had all gone wrong… only to turn out so very right. You and your closest allies had gotten into the thick of something way above your comfort zone, and a legitimate gang happened to be closing in on the same territory for their own reasons. Tensions were high, none of them believed you weren't spies for a rival group, and just when things were about to pop off you took a big risk and let fly with your powers, sending the gang packing before a fight could really even start. This was what drew the attention of one of the Young Avengers Initiative's talent scouts, and inside a week they'd had a talk with you, your mom, and your teachers. They thought you showed promise to be a hero by defending your friends when the chips were down, that you showed the restraint necessary by not seriously injuring any of the gang members, and that it was probably safest for you to spend your college years in the relative safety of the Academy.
Looking around at the other Young Avengers, you can't help but smile and wonder how many of them had a similar upbringing. How many of them would balk at the idea that one among them used to get kicks doing what you did…
[VIGILANTE]
Even before you developed powers, you were determined to be a hero in your own way. From as early as you could process the difference between right and wrong, you were firmly in the side of keeping peace and defending the innocent. You stood up to all the bullies when they attempted to terrorize your fellow students. You busted up the burgeoning lunch money hustling ring that was taking over first recess. You even fessed up to the teachers when you broke the rules without thinking of the consequences.
As you got older, you started looking for trouble to diffuse and bad guys to put down. You kept your body in shape to fight or run whenever it was required, but instead of joining one of the sports teams, you took to the streets clad in a domino mask and a smile. When there weren't teenage thugs trying to act hard on some poor unfortunate soul, there were grandmas to walk across the street and sad kids to cheer up. Cats stuck in trees and kids to help with their homework. To some, you were a volunteer. To others, a hero. To anyone you opposed, a menace. But to those who caused you the most trouble, you were a vigilante.
Then you developed your powers, and suddenly your purpose became that much more crystal-clear. Any money you managed to scrape together went toward improving your defenses while out on the street, paying off people for tips, and a snack fund for some of the kids who liked to crowd around you after elementary school let out. Eventually, the Young Avengers Initiative came knocking, and after rigorous physical and psychological testing, you earned the honor of joining their ranks.
[URCHIN]
While you certainly had a home to go to at night and a mom to take care of you, you spent most of your childhood on the streets, in the more run-down, dangerous areas of the inner-city. Your wits and personality got you both into and out of an untold amount of trouble… some that maybe Captain America would offer a disapproving look for. It was more complicated than "the right thing" and "the wrong thing" back then, though. Life wasn't bad but it sure as hell wasn't easy, either, and once you developed your powers everything just got that much more stressful. Suddenly you were more useful to everyone who thought they could get an edge… but you were also more of a target. If somebody took you down, that'd make them look that much better than taking out some random thug, and there was the ever-present buzz of Mutant Panic mounting as information about the X-Gene spread…
You remember the night when you thought it had all gone wrong… only to turn out so very right. You and your closest allies had gotten into the thick of something way above your comfort zone, and a legitimate gang happened to be closing in on the same territory for their own reasons. Tensions were high, none of them believed you weren't spies for a rival group, and just when things were about to pop off you took a big risk and let fly with your powers, sending the gang packing before a fight could really even start. This was what drew the attention of one of the Young Avengers Initiative's talent scouts, and inside a week they'd had a talk with you, your mom, and your teachers. They thought you showed promise to be a hero by defending your friends when the chips were down, that you showed the restraint necessary by not seriously injuring any of the gang members, and that it was probably safest for you to spend your college years in the relative safety of the Academy.
Looking around at the other Young Avengers, you can't help but smile and wonder how many of them had a similar upbringing. How many of them would balk at the idea that one among them used to get kicks doing what you did…
[VIGILANTE]
Even before you developed powers, you were determined to be a hero in your own way. From as early as you could process the difference between right and wrong, you were firmly in the side of keeping peace and defending the innocent. You stood up to all the bullies when they attempted to terrorize your fellow students. You busted up the burgeoning lunch money hustling ring that was taking over first recess. You even fessed up to the teachers when you broke the rules without thinking of the consequences.
As you got older, you started looking for trouble to diffuse and bad guys to put down. You kept your body in shape to fight or run whenever it was required, but instead of joining one of the sports teams, you took to the streets clad in a domino mask and a smile. When there weren't teenage thugs trying to act hard on some poor unfortunate soul, there were grandmas to walk across the street and sad kids to cheer up. Cats stuck in trees and kids to help with their homework. To some, you were a volunteer. To others, a hero. To anyone you opposed, a menace. But to those who caused you the most trouble, you were a vigilante.
Then you developed your powers, and suddenly your purpose became that much more crystal-clear. Any money you managed to scrape together went toward improving your defenses while out on the street, paying off people for tips, and a snack fund for some of the kids who liked to crowd around you after elementary school let out. Eventually, the Young Avengers Initiative came knocking, and after rigorous physical and psychological testing, you earned the honor of joining their ranks.
- Location
- California
How would this have worked with Luck powers? They aren't exactly flashy.
- Location
- The Trash Pile
Great question! Good thing I don't have to think about it. *laughs*
Silvereagle21
Soaring through the Sky
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
[X] Meet new people.
[X] Relax; have fun.
[X] Relax; have fun.
- Location
- Everywhere, Anywhere, Nowhere.
[X] Hang out with Gwen.
[X] Hang out with Monica and Roxy
[X] Hang out with Felix
[X] Hang out with Monica and Roxy
[X] Hang out with Felix
King Arthur
The Once and Future King
[X] Hang out with Felix
[X] Hang out with Gwen
[X] Dance Battle 2018
At some point I wanna make a move on Gwen but now doesn't seem like the right time. Just figured I'd mention it.
Hoping the Dance Battle thing get's picked up.
[X] Hang out with Gwen
[X] Dance Battle 2018
At some point I wanna make a move on Gwen but now doesn't seem like the right time. Just figured I'd mention it.
Hoping the Dance Battle thing get's picked up.
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[X] Hang out with Felix
[X] Hang out with Gwen
[X] Hang out with Quentin
Because third- wheeling Monica and Roxy's date is super awkward.
[X] Hang out with Gwen
[X] Hang out with Quentin
Because third- wheeling Monica and Roxy's date is super awkward.
- Location
- Winter Hell
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] Hang out with Felix.
[X] Hang out with Gwen.
[X] Relax; have fun.
[X] Hang out with Gwen.
[X] Relax; have fun.
[X] Hang out with Felix.
[X] Hang out with Gwen.
[X] Relax; have fun.
[X] Hang out with Gwen.
[X] Relax; have fun.
- Location
- California
[X] Hang out with Felix.
[X] Hang out with Gwen.
[X] Relax; have fun.
[X] Hang out with Gwen.
[X] Relax; have fun.
005 - Those Who Watch M
- Location
- The Trash Pile
Winner: Hang out with Gwen
Number of voters: 11
Winner: Hang out with Felix
Number of voters: 10
Tied Winner: Hang out with Quentin
Number of voters: 4
Tied Winner: Relax; have fun.
Number of voters: 4
What's a party without some of your best friends at it? You see Gwen first, dressed in a rather simple white dress with a black half-jacket, and stride up to her, winning smile on-point. She's chatting with a tall guy with floppy brown hair and an equally-winning smile of his own, decked out in a blue suit.
"Hey, Gwen! I didn't think you were coming?"
She shrugs, "I wasn't gonna, but Vance didn't wanna go alone. He said," she turns to him with a coy smile on her lips, "that he didn't wanna be that kind of 'lame loser' who goes to a Valentine's party by himself."
"I can see where this is going," he says with a laugh. Gwen soldiers on, turning back to you with that same coy smirk.
"Tell me, Vilina, where's your date?"
"Oh! Well. See. I decided to go stag, 'cuz... I guess I'm a lame loser?" There's laughter in your voice and on your face, but he still blushes sheepishly.
"That's the trick when you're being self-depreciating, I guess; make sure you're only making fun of yourself and not anybody else in earshot," he laughs, and extends a hand, "Vance Astrovik. Justice. I'm glad to finally meet you; I've heard a lot about you."
"Vilina Laghari. Fortune," you shake his hand and nod. "I wish I could say the same about you. You've been pretty mysterious among Gwen's squad."
"Oh, it's Gwen's squad now, is it?"
"Well, there are two of us. It only seems fair."
"Don't let America hear you call it that," he laughs.
"Where is America?" you ask.
"Dunno," answers Gwen, looking around, "haven't seen her all night. I expected her to be here, trying to find some fresh meat to tenderize."
"Oh, come on," Vance reasons, "she's not that bad. Her heart's in the right place, even if her head isn't."
Gwen sighs. "Maybe it is. That doesn't mean I don't get tired of her being so closed-off and rude about everything... I don't need to know her life story, I just wanna be able to work with her, y'know?" She lowers her voice a bit, grumbling, "plus you've never had to clean up the emotional mess after she dumped someone in our dorm.
"That was one time."
"Once was enough."
You clear your throat, reminding them as pleasantly as possible that you're still here, and change the subject. "So, Vance, why is it we haven't met yet? I'm in your dorm fairly frequently."
"Ah, that. Well, part of my deal being in the Philip J. Coulson Memorial Academy requires me to... donate my time to them on a regular basis. I don't get much of an opportunity to socialize, but... they let me out for a night, so here I am!"
"So, are you just here for the party? Or were you hoping to find a valentine of your own tonight?"
"Why, are you volunteering?" Gwen elbows him sharply in the side. "Ow! Hey, I was just kidding!" He laughs it off. He's a laughy guy, but not in an obnoxious way. Everything he says is kind of like a carefree, extended chuckle. "I don't know what I want... to get out a little bit, mostly. Whatever happens, happens. I'm not even sure I have time for a girlfriend right now, but... y'know. Who am I to deny true love?"
"I feel the same way," you respond, "between school and patrol I just... don't have the time to dedicate to someone special. I barely have time to work out with Gwen."
"You haven't had to cancel yet, though," she smiles, "even when you got shot that one time."
"You got shot!? Holy shit, dish!"
You explain what led up to you getting shot, and spend the rest of the conversation with Vance and Gwen exchanging patrol stories both dangerous and hilarious. Eventually he commits to mingling and Gwen uses the chance to excuse herself to the restroom. You take a look around to see if you can spy Quentin again, but he doesn't seem to be anywhere among the crowd at this point. There are a lot more people dancing to the music, currently Maps by The Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs. You think it's near the end... or is this the beginning? Karen O is singing 'maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaps,' on an impressively extended note for the amount of vocal fry she's employing, either way. Couples, friends, people who just wanna get into the spirit... you consider finding a partner for yourself when one taps you on the shoulder. It's Felix, bowing and holding a hand out to you. He's wearing the opposite version of your own suit; crisp and white with a white silk tie and a black dress shirt, and a beautiful green rose on his lapel.
"My lady," he purrs, "may I have this dance?"
You do your level best not to laugh at him, and somehow manage to succeed. "I would love to dance with you," you answer, "but maybe don't call girls 'my lady'. It's taken on a baaaad connotation in the last few years."
"As you wish."
You accept his hand and he guides you onto the dance floor. You expect him to start leading, but instead he defaults to you with a nod, and you get your hands and feet in an appropriate position and begin to step with him. You're not much of a dancer, but you learned some basics after middle school when your father was a chaperone at one of your dances and was mortified to see you doing the awkward 'hug and slowly rotate in a circle' thing. What you learned from him in the days that followed is still the core of your dance game today, though you're really not used to leading. Felix is as light on his feet as you'd expect, breezing gracefully through your every simple step. Charlie Puth's Attention hits the speakers and you both begin to pick up your rhythm to follow the bouncy bass line. Both of you slowly fall into a smile at the same time; this is fun! And it's been a long time since you've danced for fun and not just... as a means to an end. With a partner, anyway. Most of your solo dancing has been for fun, of course, or in victory. But the enjoyment of moving in harmony with someone else is flowing through you at the moment, and neither of you can seem to help yourselves but get lost to the music. Eventually the song comes to an end, and you hold him by the hands at arm's length.
"That was lovely, thank you."
"My pleasure," he intones. "Punch?"
"Yes!"
The two of you walk to the food table and you suddenly realize how abominably hungry you are. In addition to punch you grab some salty, savory, and sweet snacks on a little, red, heart-shaped plate. Felix seems content with just the punch for now.
"You're a natural leader, you know that?"
"Am I?" you smile teasingly at him.
"I'm serious. When I dance with girls, most of them don't know what to do if I give them the lead. You reacted immediately and took us through some wonderful steps."
You shrug in an 'aw, shucks' fashion, and wave his compliments off. "My dad taught me to dance both ways. 'Most American teens don't know how to dance, so you'll probably have to lead for them' he said. And... in my experience he was right, but I didn't exactly hang out with any smooth operators."
"Well, I know how to dance," Felix muses, looking over a small selection of finger sandwiches predictably cut into the shape of a heart, "does that mean I'm a smooth operator?"
"Almost certainly," you agree so quickly it nearly sounds like you're chastising him. "Too smooth. But... I also get the feeling you just like to dance. The way you like music, y'know?"
He nods. "It allows me to express the emotions I feel when the melody hits me. The drums are my heart and they move my feet. Every step is like a small celebration... and it's an amazing feeling to share it with someone."
"Focus on those feelings, Felix. The little things are like tiny anchors to keep us safe when the world is a flood." You smile at him. He smiles back. You raise your glass in a small toast. "Enjoy the rest of the party."
He raises his back, "and so I shall."
You both drink and part ways, you piling a few more eats on your plate and locating one of the tables where you can relax and enjoy your food. All the tables are sort of dark in the corners of the dim cafeteria, with little faux-candle centerpieces to provide just enough light to see what you're doing. You're two bites into your second tiny sandwich when a familiar pink-haired mutant slides in across from you. Quentin is dressed in his usual garb, including a T-shirt with "ASK ME ABOUT MY MUTANT AGENDA" printed across it in large Impact font.
"Penny for your thoughts?" he asks.
You take a moment to swallow the bite you were working on and hum, satisfied. "This is a good night so far. No crises... no unwelcome unexpectedness. Just... a nice little mixer." You turn to catch his eyes. "You're not about to ruin all that for me, are you?"
"Heavens, no. A life without Morlocks is a pleasantly boring one. It's given me a chance to catch up on my correspondence," he jokes.
"Oh?" you can't help but chuckle, "if you have so many letters to write and send, what're you doing wasting time here?"
"Eh, well. I was watching Netflix in the common room when Kitty and Robbie got back. I... uh... excused myself, though I'm not sure they were fully aware I was there in the first place," his eyebrows hit the ceiling in astonishment.
"Oh, wow..." you scrunch your nose in thought. "I could've sworn I saw you earlier?"
"Yeah, Elvin bribed me to get him a plate of free food. He said I could try out that game of his tomorrow while he's sleeping."
"I didn't take you for much of a... uh... VR... murder... guy."
"I'm not, but... I'm worried about him," Quentin confesses, "there's nothing wrong with enjoying a video game, of course, but sometimes he takes it way far."
"I thought he was cooling off on it?"
"No. ... well, maybe. Mostly he's just playing in his bedroom more. For the happy couple's sake I hope he stays playing in there for a bit longer... or gets some sleep."
"Hm." That's disappointing. Hiding behavior from your friends is a sure sign of addiction... but then again, maybe he just went to his room for some privacy. It's not like you've asked him direct questions about his habits. Still... "Let me know if you find out anything strange."
"Will do," Quentin gives you a finger gun, then stands back up. "Anyway, I just wanted to say 'hey'. I'm gonna grab a few sandwiches and head outside to vape. I could probably do it in here, but... I doubt any of our lovebirds want to tango in a smoky room that smells like warm root beer. Ciao!"
He waves, you wave back, and then he's off, slinking around the other students on his way to the snacks. You pull your phone out of your pocket and glance at the time. Looks like the party is only about half over. Once you've finished your snacks you have time to hang out with a few more people before the last song... well, before the last danceable song. Then they'll play Closing Time in accordance with the Sacred Traditions writ by the Ancient Ones in Days of Yore. You might be able to track down Gwen again, or Vance. Felix shouldn't be hard to find. Or...
What To Do Next? (CHOOSE TWO)
[ ] Track down ______.
- Please fill in the blank.
[ ] Meet new people.
Save The Last Dance For...
[ ] Write-In
[ ] Next time.
- Don't dance with anyone.
Number of voters: 11
Winner: Hang out with Felix
Number of voters: 10
Tied Winner: Hang out with Quentin
Number of voters: 4
Tied Winner: Relax; have fun.
Number of voters: 4
What's a party without some of your best friends at it? You see Gwen first, dressed in a rather simple white dress with a black half-jacket, and stride up to her, winning smile on-point. She's chatting with a tall guy with floppy brown hair and an equally-winning smile of his own, decked out in a blue suit.
"Hey, Gwen! I didn't think you were coming?"
She shrugs, "I wasn't gonna, but Vance didn't wanna go alone. He said," she turns to him with a coy smile on her lips, "that he didn't wanna be that kind of 'lame loser' who goes to a Valentine's party by himself."
"I can see where this is going," he says with a laugh. Gwen soldiers on, turning back to you with that same coy smirk.
"Tell me, Vilina, where's your date?"
"Oh! Well. See. I decided to go stag, 'cuz... I guess I'm a lame loser?" There's laughter in your voice and on your face, but he still blushes sheepishly.
"That's the trick when you're being self-depreciating, I guess; make sure you're only making fun of yourself and not anybody else in earshot," he laughs, and extends a hand, "Vance Astrovik. Justice. I'm glad to finally meet you; I've heard a lot about you."
"Vilina Laghari. Fortune," you shake his hand and nod. "I wish I could say the same about you. You've been pretty mysterious among Gwen's squad."
"Oh, it's Gwen's squad now, is it?"
"Well, there are two of us. It only seems fair."
"Don't let America hear you call it that," he laughs.
"Where is America?" you ask.
"Dunno," answers Gwen, looking around, "haven't seen her all night. I expected her to be here, trying to find some fresh meat to tenderize."
"Oh, come on," Vance reasons, "she's not that bad. Her heart's in the right place, even if her head isn't."
Gwen sighs. "Maybe it is. That doesn't mean I don't get tired of her being so closed-off and rude about everything... I don't need to know her life story, I just wanna be able to work with her, y'know?" She lowers her voice a bit, grumbling, "plus you've never had to clean up the emotional mess after she dumped someone in our dorm.
"That was one time."
"Once was enough."
You clear your throat, reminding them as pleasantly as possible that you're still here, and change the subject. "So, Vance, why is it we haven't met yet? I'm in your dorm fairly frequently."
"Ah, that. Well, part of my deal being in the Philip J. Coulson Memorial Academy requires me to... donate my time to them on a regular basis. I don't get much of an opportunity to socialize, but... they let me out for a night, so here I am!"
"So, are you just here for the party? Or were you hoping to find a valentine of your own tonight?"
"Why, are you volunteering?" Gwen elbows him sharply in the side. "Ow! Hey, I was just kidding!" He laughs it off. He's a laughy guy, but not in an obnoxious way. Everything he says is kind of like a carefree, extended chuckle. "I don't know what I want... to get out a little bit, mostly. Whatever happens, happens. I'm not even sure I have time for a girlfriend right now, but... y'know. Who am I to deny true love?"
"I feel the same way," you respond, "between school and patrol I just... don't have the time to dedicate to someone special. I barely have time to work out with Gwen."
"You haven't had to cancel yet, though," she smiles, "even when you got shot that one time."
"You got shot!? Holy shit, dish!"
You explain what led up to you getting shot, and spend the rest of the conversation with Vance and Gwen exchanging patrol stories both dangerous and hilarious. Eventually he commits to mingling and Gwen uses the chance to excuse herself to the restroom. You take a look around to see if you can spy Quentin again, but he doesn't seem to be anywhere among the crowd at this point. There are a lot more people dancing to the music, currently Maps by The Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs. You think it's near the end... or is this the beginning? Karen O is singing 'maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaps,' on an impressively extended note for the amount of vocal fry she's employing, either way. Couples, friends, people who just wanna get into the spirit... you consider finding a partner for yourself when one taps you on the shoulder. It's Felix, bowing and holding a hand out to you. He's wearing the opposite version of your own suit; crisp and white with a white silk tie and a black dress shirt, and a beautiful green rose on his lapel.
"My lady," he purrs, "may I have this dance?"
You do your level best not to laugh at him, and somehow manage to succeed. "I would love to dance with you," you answer, "but maybe don't call girls 'my lady'. It's taken on a baaaad connotation in the last few years."
"As you wish."
You accept his hand and he guides you onto the dance floor. You expect him to start leading, but instead he defaults to you with a nod, and you get your hands and feet in an appropriate position and begin to step with him. You're not much of a dancer, but you learned some basics after middle school when your father was a chaperone at one of your dances and was mortified to see you doing the awkward 'hug and slowly rotate in a circle' thing. What you learned from him in the days that followed is still the core of your dance game today, though you're really not used to leading. Felix is as light on his feet as you'd expect, breezing gracefully through your every simple step. Charlie Puth's Attention hits the speakers and you both begin to pick up your rhythm to follow the bouncy bass line. Both of you slowly fall into a smile at the same time; this is fun! And it's been a long time since you've danced for fun and not just... as a means to an end. With a partner, anyway. Most of your solo dancing has been for fun, of course, or in victory. But the enjoyment of moving in harmony with someone else is flowing through you at the moment, and neither of you can seem to help yourselves but get lost to the music. Eventually the song comes to an end, and you hold him by the hands at arm's length.
"That was lovely, thank you."
"My pleasure," he intones. "Punch?"
"Yes!"
The two of you walk to the food table and you suddenly realize how abominably hungry you are. In addition to punch you grab some salty, savory, and sweet snacks on a little, red, heart-shaped plate. Felix seems content with just the punch for now.
"You're a natural leader, you know that?"
"Am I?" you smile teasingly at him.
"I'm serious. When I dance with girls, most of them don't know what to do if I give them the lead. You reacted immediately and took us through some wonderful steps."
You shrug in an 'aw, shucks' fashion, and wave his compliments off. "My dad taught me to dance both ways. 'Most American teens don't know how to dance, so you'll probably have to lead for them' he said. And... in my experience he was right, but I didn't exactly hang out with any smooth operators."
"Well, I know how to dance," Felix muses, looking over a small selection of finger sandwiches predictably cut into the shape of a heart, "does that mean I'm a smooth operator?"
"Almost certainly," you agree so quickly it nearly sounds like you're chastising him. "Too smooth. But... I also get the feeling you just like to dance. The way you like music, y'know?"
He nods. "It allows me to express the emotions I feel when the melody hits me. The drums are my heart and they move my feet. Every step is like a small celebration... and it's an amazing feeling to share it with someone."
"Focus on those feelings, Felix. The little things are like tiny anchors to keep us safe when the world is a flood." You smile at him. He smiles back. You raise your glass in a small toast. "Enjoy the rest of the party."
He raises his back, "and so I shall."
You both drink and part ways, you piling a few more eats on your plate and locating one of the tables where you can relax and enjoy your food. All the tables are sort of dark in the corners of the dim cafeteria, with little faux-candle centerpieces to provide just enough light to see what you're doing. You're two bites into your second tiny sandwich when a familiar pink-haired mutant slides in across from you. Quentin is dressed in his usual garb, including a T-shirt with "ASK ME ABOUT MY MUTANT AGENDA" printed across it in large Impact font.
"Penny for your thoughts?" he asks.
You take a moment to swallow the bite you were working on and hum, satisfied. "This is a good night so far. No crises... no unwelcome unexpectedness. Just... a nice little mixer." You turn to catch his eyes. "You're not about to ruin all that for me, are you?"
"Heavens, no. A life without Morlocks is a pleasantly boring one. It's given me a chance to catch up on my correspondence," he jokes.
"Oh?" you can't help but chuckle, "if you have so many letters to write and send, what're you doing wasting time here?"
"Eh, well. I was watching Netflix in the common room when Kitty and Robbie got back. I... uh... excused myself, though I'm not sure they were fully aware I was there in the first place," his eyebrows hit the ceiling in astonishment.
"Oh, wow..." you scrunch your nose in thought. "I could've sworn I saw you earlier?"
"Yeah, Elvin bribed me to get him a plate of free food. He said I could try out that game of his tomorrow while he's sleeping."
"I didn't take you for much of a... uh... VR... murder... guy."
"I'm not, but... I'm worried about him," Quentin confesses, "there's nothing wrong with enjoying a video game, of course, but sometimes he takes it way far."
"I thought he was cooling off on it?"
"No. ... well, maybe. Mostly he's just playing in his bedroom more. For the happy couple's sake I hope he stays playing in there for a bit longer... or gets some sleep."
"Hm." That's disappointing. Hiding behavior from your friends is a sure sign of addiction... but then again, maybe he just went to his room for some privacy. It's not like you've asked him direct questions about his habits. Still... "Let me know if you find out anything strange."
"Will do," Quentin gives you a finger gun, then stands back up. "Anyway, I just wanted to say 'hey'. I'm gonna grab a few sandwiches and head outside to vape. I could probably do it in here, but... I doubt any of our lovebirds want to tango in a smoky room that smells like warm root beer. Ciao!"
He waves, you wave back, and then he's off, slinking around the other students on his way to the snacks. You pull your phone out of your pocket and glance at the time. Looks like the party is only about half over. Once you've finished your snacks you have time to hang out with a few more people before the last song... well, before the last danceable song. Then they'll play Closing Time in accordance with the Sacred Traditions writ by the Ancient Ones in Days of Yore. You might be able to track down Gwen again, or Vance. Felix shouldn't be hard to find. Or...
What To Do Next? (CHOOSE TWO)
[ ] Track down ______.
- Please fill in the blank.
[ ] Meet new people.
Save The Last Dance For...
[ ] Write-In
[ ] Next time.
- Don't dance with anyone.
[X] Track down Other Gwen
[X] Track down Monica and Roxy
[X] Leave the last dance up to luck. Close your eyes, spin in a circle a few times, pick a direction, and dance with the first person you know.
[X] Track down Monica and Roxy
Kind of wanted to choose Gwen just because of this, but I thought this would be more fun.
[X] Leave the last dance up to luck. Close your eyes, spin in a circle a few times, pick a direction, and dance with the first person you know.
- Location
- The Trash Pile
Important distinction; are you leaving the dance up to chance or are you using your powers?