Synapse II

ColdGold|GM> It's dark enough now that whatever small bit of warmth the sun would have been providing has ceased to exist leaving Millie to ride her bike home in the foggy cold that had rolled off of the San Raul bay next to the city. It's about 7:46 on her HUD, but she's only about five minutes away from home at this point so she has time to spare.
1:07 PM She'd gotten done with the task she'd been assigned by the strange 3EV, or Deep Sea Daddy, or whatever they were going by lately. Her Quintana, and Kintsugi had split before the The Guard and the GRD had shown up to clean up the bound criminals. She'd seen Aeroman's birds as she'd ridden away.
1:07 PM She'd been able to take her time going back to Stronghold to drop her gear off and pick up her bike. There was no way she was going to leave her tech at home ever again, not after what her mom had pulled last time. She still hadn't gotten the first jacket she'd built in Illuminate's headquarters.
1:07 PM Neither Artisan, nor any of his helpers had been there when she'd visited. He still hadn't responded at all either. It was somewhat worrying. Without her jacket riding up the hill around the corner to her house is harder, but she notes not as hard as it would have been almost a few months ago.
1:07 PM ||
1:07 PM → Valence and Wellwick joined  •  Prim|AFK → Prim
1:12 PM S<Saff|Millie> Millie sighs, looking through all the reminders she set for herself for new tech. She's annoyed that she can't go back to the lab tonight... maybe she can find a way to skip school tomorrow.
1:12 PM She wonders what her parents have prepared for her as she pulls up into the driveway, bringing her bike into the garage. Whatever it is, it's something that her parents think requires fajitas to keep her from getting pissed at them. ||
1:14 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> ((Wits check please))
1:15 PM S<Saff|Millie> $roll 1d6
1:15 PM A<•[ATM]> Saff|Millie [4]  = 4
1:15 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> ...
1:28 PM As Millie finally makes it over the top of the hill she comes up on her driveway and sees an unfamiliar car parked there. It's a nondescript all black four door sedan. She's never seen it before. She almost writes it off as a random friend of her parents until her eyes wander to the licence plate. Her HUD automatically scans it for her. GRD issue undercover vehicle. The lights are on in the kitchen and she can see her mom's silhouette setting
1:28 PM out plates through the window. Visitors or...?
1:28 PM ||
1:30 PM S<Saff|Millie> Shit.
1:30 PM Millie sighs and leans her bike against the wall in the garage. Is her mother still trying to pressure her into becoming a GIT? She doesn't want that, and after today with Quintana and Kintsugi... she is feeling more confident about her ability revive Stronghold. She just has to find a way to convince Max....
1:30 PM She's still worried that he hasn't responded to her. She's starting to realize that she likely does have a crush on him... Hopefully that doesn't ruin things for her.
1:30 PM "Dad, I'm home?" Millie says as she opens the door, fully electing to ignore the fact that her mother is in there. ||
1:34 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> ...
1:43 PM There's laughter from her family, and an unfamiliar male laugh from her kitchen around the walkway as she enters. She takes her shoes off as she calls out.
1:43 PM "...your home is lovely. I appreciate how welcoming you've all been." The unfamiliar voice says. It sounds pretty deep, but deep like a young adults or a late teen's would sound, not like a fully grown adult man.
1:43 PM "No problem at all. Oh Millie we're right in the kitchen!" Her Dad calls out, and as she turns the corner she can see who they're talking to. There's a tall figure in a suit of steel pressed armor built and layered strap by strap, there's a bumpy green layer over the top of the metal. The mask has two large black eyes like a reptiles where his would be but his mouth and nose show. He has very thin stubble that doesn't connect between his
1:43 PM moustache and his beard. His hair is popping out from the top of his mask. It's black curly, and slicked backwards.
1:43 PM Millie's mom turns from the over, and the rest turn towards her as well.
1:43 PM "Mille have a seat, this is Gecko from The Guards in Training. The GRD has been gracious enough to have him come and explain the program a little better." She says gesturing to a seat.
1:43 PM Gecko raises his hand and stands, pulling out a seat for Millie and extending a hand and arm guarded and armored the same as the rest of him. He seems a little too serious and skinny to be cute, but when he smiles it all ties together and even with his eyes not showing his face lights up and it clicks. He is pretty cute.
1:43 PM "A full member of The Guard now actually, just turned eighteen. But I was a Guard in Training for some time." He gently correct Millie's mom with a smile.
1:43 PM "Gecko, nice to meet you, Millie. Or Synapse, I've been hearing a lot about you recently." He introduces himself, still holding his hand out.
1:43 PM ||
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1:46 PM S<Saff|Millie> Millie wants to frown, and yell at her parents for doing this to her, but there's a time and place, and that time and place is /not/ in front of guests. She holds out her hand and gives it a shake, but she  shrugs when she pulls away.
1:46 PM "I doubt that you've heard of me," Millie says. Today was only her first real time out. No one knows about her breaking into Stronghold and becoming Artisan's reluctant apprentice. "But it's flattering nonetheless."
1:46 PM She takes her jacket off and hangs it up on the coat rack, as otherwise her mother would lose her shit, and  turns towards the fridge. "I know my parents have probably already offered, but would you like a drink?" ||
1:48 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> ...
1:50 PM Gecko remains standing for a moment to continue addressing her.
1:50 PM "The group call I got from Aeroman and a few of the others on the way here tells a slightly different story. And they got me a water, but I'd love something sweet like juice or soda with the food if you all have it?" He asks, smiling again as he sits back down in his seat.
1:51 PM "We're not big soda drinkers here, but we do love apple juice." Her mom jokes in a very mom like way as she goes to lift the fajita materials into the center of the table. There's meat (both chicken and steak), tortillas, cheese, sour cream, veggies, and everything all still sizzling and ready to build. They must have wanted to impress the visiting Guard member. Her sister is thankfully nowhere to be seen in the room.
1:52 PM ((Scrutinize, Wits or Social tag which you use))
1:52 PM S<Saff|Millie> $roll 1d6 they're about the same so I'll use social
1:52 PM A<•[ATM]> Saff|Millie "they're about the same so I'll use social" [1]  = 1
1:52 PM S<Saff|Millie> ((Nailed it.))
1:53 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> Her Dad glances at her and there's a look on his face  but she can't tell if it's guilt, or curiosity, or anything at all for that matter. Maybe she's just imagining things.
1:53 PM ||
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1:56 PM S<Saff|Millie> Millie nods. "Yeah. No sodas in the house lately. I was sick for a while, so it was all just health food."
1:56 PM She shrugs and grabs herself a sparkling water from the fridge, and tosses a carton of apple juice to Gecko. "And that was nothing. Just doing my duty, and I wasn't even successful. I could have done better."
1:56 PM Millie sits down at the table and tries to peer at her phone under the table, sending a message to Max without peering at the screen. 'Mom swnt FRD on ne. truinh to concinve me to join.'
1:56 PM She sends the message, and looks back up at the dinner table. "So, what did you want to tell me about the GIT?" ||
1:56 PM Faustus → FaustAndAbout
2:15 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> ...
2:21 PM Gecko snatches the carton out of the air effortlessly, and pops the straw into it in a fluid motion as he turns to fajitas and takes in the smells.
2:21 PM "Thanks Synapse." Gecko says.
2:21 PM Her Mom and Dad share a glance that looks worried on her mom's part and confused on her Dad's about the comments on doing her duty and phone calls.
2:22 PM The messages on her phone are starting to stack up on her side with no responses back by Max. He's a bad texter sometimes but he always responds within a few hours...
2:22 PM Gecko turns to her as she looks up from under the table.
2:24 PM "Just doing you duty, huh? That's exactly the kind of attitude we promote at the Guards in Training. And for the record, you did really well. From what I heard we gathered some important intel from the people you bagged."
2:25 PM "So onto what it's like to be a GIT. I mentioned that we support a certain kind of attitude..." He starts before her mom interrupts.
2:26 PM "Sorry Gecko before you get started what kind of meat would you like?" She asks, already begining to make the plates.
2:26 PM "Steak please, everything on it." Gecko responds turning to her with a small smile.
2:26 PM ((Same roll as before please))
2:26 PM S<Saff|Millie> $roll 1d6 soc come on
2:26 PM A<•[ATM]> Saff|Millie "soc come on" [3]  = 3
2:33 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> Her parents glace at her again. Her mother to see what she wants on her wrap. Her dad has a similar look to earlier. She can read it better this time. It's a general level of discomfort.
2:33 PM ||
2:34 PM discomfort with the situation*
2:37 PM S<Saff|Millie> "Steak as well. No peppers," Millie says. She's annoyed. Very, very annoyed. However, she can't let them know that.
2:37 PM "Don't mistake me for being humble," she says as she looks Gecko over. Months ago this would have been so cool. Now... She feels like she's being peer pressured big time. "I didn't do it alone."
2:37 PM She grabs her plate and looks down at the fajitas, suddenly not hungry. "But I guess you're looking for team players as well. It's just. Look. I'm a tinker. I spend most of my day in the lab. The others would think I'm odd." ||
2:38 PM → mkaiww joined (mkaiww@net-fgs.5c6.252.176.IP)
2:39 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> Gecko nods his head.
2:41 PM "I heard about the others as well. I hope I'll be as lucky to hear from them soon as well, it was a good surprise to hear you'd reached out to us. You're from here so you can see that are GIT department isn't as extensive or large as some others are." He reaches out to grab a plate also, leaving it untouched and setting it before him.
2:42 PM He seems to be of the impression that she'd been part of reaching out, and she can see him tilt his head slightly confused at her hesitance.
2:42 PM "Well you just said yourself you didn't do things alone earlier. And eye witness accounts are calling you the leader of your 'team'" He says, sounding amused.
2:43 PM "Mauna Loa and Eros are weirdos themselves, there's no way you're more odd than them." He jokes.
2:43 PM ||
2:45 PM S<Saff|Millie> "I wouldn't say that I'm the leader," Millie says as she takes another sip of her drink. It's true. She was just the only one to have a direct link to their benefactor while in the field. "It's just that my tech lended itself to solving the situation."
2:45 PM She shrugs and looks over at her mother, trying so hard to keep her expression neutral. This was all her idea. Fuck, she can feel her heart rate rising. She's actually getting angry. Deep breaths, level it out.
2:45 PM "The other concern I have. If the new director is anything like my mother, he would not accept the way my power works," she says. However, she doesn't elaborate. Instead, she wants to bait him into asking. ||
2:57 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> ...
2:58 PM $roll 2h6+1 Gecko Scrutinize
2:58 PM A<•[ATM]> ColdGold|GM "Gecko Scrutinize" [2] (2) +1 = 3
3:00 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> "Millie..." Her Dad says, but doesn't go any further than that.
3:00 PM Gecko looks between Millie and her mom seeing her look. He sounds even more confused when he speaks again, his food still untouched.
3:00 PM "Well I wouldn't want to speak for the Director..." He glances at Millie's mother. "...or your mother, but is there a problem you think you might have? If I know anything I might be able to help?" He asks sounding sort of awkward about it.
3:00 PM Her mom's lips purse in the way that lets Millie know she's hit a nerve.
3:00 PM ||
3:05 PM S<Saff|Millie> "Well, I mentioned before that I had been sick. In October I was diagnosed with GBM, that is glioblastoma multiforme, of the spinal cord which had metastasized to my brain. I wasn't expected to make it to the new year,"  Millie took a bite of her fajita, chewing slowly. However her demeanor showed that she wasn't done speaking yet.
3:05 PM "The official story is that dad found a healer who was moved by my story and cured me. But obviously, that wasn't the case. My power allows me to have an innate knowledge of all the inner workings of my body. I know what my pulse rate is, my temperature, blood pressure, anything that could be wrong with me, I'd know."
3:05 PM Another bite. Another look at her mother. "I also have an accelerated healing ability. With this ability, and my technology, I can just fix parts of my nervous system through self surgery. My mother calls it self mutilating. I believe it's self improvement."
3:05 PM She turns and lifts up the bottom of her sweatshirt a bit to show the glowing, metallic spine protruding from her back. "I took my tumors out myself. My eyes aren't real either." ||
3:10 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> ...
3:18 PM ((Gotta go get food, brb is that cool?))
3:18 PM S<Saff|Millie> ((ye))
3:19 PM ⇐ Wellwick quit  ↔ ixi and christien_ nipped out  •  Turncoat → Turn|Kincaid, NickMobile → Nick|GM, FaustAndAbout → Faustus
3:48 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> ((Social please saff ima type slowly on my phone))
3:59 PM → CaptNameless joined (uid208854@ealing.irccloud.com)
4:02 PM S<Saff|Millie> $roll 1d6 Millie's soc is cursed
4:02 PM A<•[ATM]> Saff|Millie "Millie's soc is cursed" [3]  = 3
4:36 PM → Fulvus joined (Fulvus@net-d7q.ca9.44.67.IP)
4:42 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> "Millie that's innapropriate..." Her mom starts, already about to start an argument but Gecko holds a hand up.
4:42 PM "It's quite alright Mrs. Moon." He starts.
4:42 PM It's impossible to read Gecko's face as her shirt lifts up, but his head tilts again.
4:42 PM "I don't know if 'not real' is the right words for it considering they probably work better than real ones do." Gecko starts to joke, but he doesn't continue on that line of thought when he sees Millie's mom shoot him a glance.
4:42 PM "I wouldn't presume to speak for the Director but I'm sure there are compromises that can be made. We're here to help you be as safe as possible when using your power. You mentioned being a Tinker earlier, it goes without saying that you'd be funded and supplied given the GRD is in partnership with the United States Government. In that same vein you'd be paid a fair wage. Not on the same level as an adult Hyper-Human signed onto the program,
4:42 PM but the remainder you're owed is placed in a college fund or safe deposit box. Those are me just starting to get into the benefits."
4:43 PM "That all sounds great. Doesn't it?" Millie's Dad says, half asking Millie.
4:44 PM She can tell he's trying to calm the tension but doing a bad job.
4:44 PM His face says 'just play along please'
4:49 PM Gecko turns to her parents, taking turns looking between the two.
4:49 PM "I know that your daughter's power isn't pretty. But she did say it healed her. Millie seems like she plans to use her power, and in the case she does our labs would be a safe place for her to work."
4:49 PM Her parents both look like they have responses to that and her mom looks like she has her response ready already.
4:49 PM ||
4:50 PM ⇐ OptimusRhyme quit (uid229647@charlton.irccloud.com) Quit: Connection closed for inactivity
4:52 PM S<Saff|Millie> Millie shrugs. "Look, it all sounds great. I'm sure you believe in this wholeheartedly, but... Why would I need a college education when I can download any knowledge straight into my brain?"
4:52 PM She peers down at her phone, hoping for some sort of response from Max. Ugh. "The other thing is that, I already have access to a lab that meets all my needs, plus materials and funds to further my research. I'm sorry that you've been dragged here under false pretenses from my mother, but it's... I have very little interest in joining the GIT." ||
5:07 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> ((Note: Hyper Humans sucks as a name. Use Metahumans for now))
5:07 PM ...
5:07 PM ((Social please Saff))
5:07 PM S<Saff|Millie> $roll 1d6 this is bad
5:07 PM A<•[ATM]> Saff|Millie "this is bad" [3]  = 3
5:13 PM → Wellwick joined (uid211357@hathersage.irccloud.com)
5:15 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> Gecko pauses and even with the mask on he looks taken aback at the new information. He looks between all three of them and then his tact chances, his posture relaxes a little and he takes a bite of his food.
5:16 PM "Mmm, this is delicious." He says a few moments later after chewing, he smiles at Millie's parents.
5:16 PM "Compliments to the chef." He turns back to Millie.
5:18 PM Duckie walks over to his side and he leans over to scratch the dog's head a bit as he addresses her.
5:18 PM "Look I get it. You wanna do it on your own. The Government is lame. You have a friend or other people you wanna work with. I get it. Not many people want to join The Guard, it isn't for everyone. I know I can't force people to join. So I'm not going to try." He says, still smiling at her as he goes to take another bite.
5:18 PM Her parents share a glance.
5:21 PM Her mom gives her Dad a look that says he'll be in trouble if he doesn't say something. He sputters and dabs at his mouth with a napkin.
5:21 PM "Gecko we didn't mean to be dismissive of you. I'm sure she'd still like to hear the rest of what you have to say." Is what he settles on saying when he speaks up. Her mom glances at Millie hopefully.
5:21 PM ||
5:24 PM S<Saff|Millie> “I won’t be rude. I can listen, and I encourage him to talk. But it’s not about the government being lame or anything like that,” Millie sighs and starts flickering through the settings on her eyes, settling on the thermal setting. She wanted to see how flustered everyone was.
5:25 PM “I just think that I can do my best where I am. I have a sponsor, a lab. I’ve gotten everything based on what I’ve done, not what people have given me simply because I exist with powers.”
5:26 PM She takes another bite of fajita, watching her mother as she speaks. “I think you’re really cool. Please don’t get me wrong.” ||
5:30 PM → iridium248 joined  ⇐ Sidezero quit
5:35 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> Gecko's heat levels are at the exact average they should be. Her parents are both running hot though, with her mother's color intensifying slightly by the moment. With their facial expressions to accompany their color she can read them more easily. Her dad hates being in this position and her mom probably pressured him into agreeing the same way she would. She's getting /mad/.
5:35 PM "You seem cool too. And I totally get where you're coming from I really do." He pauses to take another bite before speaking again.
5:43 PM → Sidezero joined  ⇐ iridium248 quit  ↔ Stoic popped in
5:58 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> He finishes the food with that bite.
5:58 PM "And don't worry I was going to keep talking anyway." He smiles again, and then his face becomes more serious.
6:01 PM "You know a lot of capes do what you're doing. They want to prove themselves like Buckler. Show that they can do it on their own without anyone else's help. With all this power, with a second chance... these things are possible and it's tempting not to go that route. I'm not going to tell you you can't give it your fair shot. I won't tell you you aren't gonna be the next big hero. But I will tell you that things are gonna be different out
6:01 PM there than they were a year ago. People are scared, and willing to do a lot. And I'm sorry Mr. and Mrs. Moon but I have to keep it real for Millie." He looks back and forth between them again before settling back at Millie again.
6:02 PM "You're powerful. But you're still young, and very powerful. If you're gonna face those dangers make sure you have somebody who has your back... You say you do. Make sure that they're actually going to be there for you, with you out there facing those dangers as they come..." He nods, and then stands.
6:02 PM "I won't waste your time anymore folks. I'll excuse myself." He says nodding at everyone in turn.
6:02 PM ||
6:04 PM S<Saff|Millie> “Thank you for your concern, Gecko,” Millie says as she grips her drink in her hands. “I really have no animosity towards you. I’m just sorry my parents sent you out here when they knew there wasn’t a chance I’d say yes.”
6:05 PM Still. She is scared. She was part of it. She knows what happened to Shark and Squid. “If I ever change my mind, I’ll call. But right now, I need to do this.” ||
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6:26 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> ...
6:28 PM "It's no problem. I'm sure they're just worried about you." He says giving them a sad smile. He turns to show himself out.
6:28 PM Both of her parents frown and her Dad nods. Her mom looks down at the table.
6:28 PM "That's all I can really ask for. Good luck. I hope it goes well from you." He pauses.
6:28 PM "Top lock vertical, bottom horizontal right? No worries I remember I'll lock the door on my way out. Have a good night. I hope I hear from you again one day Synapse."
6:28 PM ||
6:31 PM -||
6:32 PM He turns down the hallway, and steps outside. True to his word there's the sound of the door locking before it closes behind him. Her parents both look at her.
6:32 PM Her Dad looks worried, and her mom's face is reddening even without the heat vision.
6:32 PM ||
6:33 PM S<Saff|Millie> Millie slowly gets up from the table, disposing of her food and plate, before walking to her room without a single word. If her mother wanted to play like that, she could play back.
6:33 PM Focus, keep calm. Don't let it bother you. Shut it down, shut it out. ||
6:34 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> Her mom stands up quickly, sending the chair moving back with a scrape.
6:34 PM She steps in her path, stopping her from exiting.
6:35 PM "You're going to just stand up and leave after you pull something like that?" She demands. Her father places his face in his hands, and sighs heavily.
6:35 PM ||
6:38 PM S<Saff|Millie> "I didn't pull anything. You were the one that went behind my back and embarrassed me, and inconvenienced Gecko. This is your fault." Millie said. She turned around to look at her mother, wanting to scream and shout and tear her to shreds. None of this was fair. None of it was what she wanted.
6:38 PM "So you have no one to blame but yourself. You heard him. I'm powerful. I helped. I don't need them!" ||
6:43 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> ...
6:44 PM "I just wanted you to meet him! And the first thing you do is embarrass us and start a fight in front of him, dismiss him!" Her mom yells back, her tone escalating in volume with Millie's. Her Dad stands up, waving his arms and walking over
6:49 PM "Hey guys calm down please. Listen Millie. You're right, you are powerful. But while he did say you don't need them, he said you need someone. Who's lab are you at? The kid who came the other day to pick you up? Gecko was talking about something you did earlier, but was that kid with you? What's he doing now? Huh?" He starts, starting to get worked up himself. It's surprising because he never gets worked up.
6:49 PM He has to visibly calm himself.
6:51 PM "Listen with the GIT they have adults supervising you. The person you're with is young and inexperience also. You're sixteen and you're still our child. If we're supposed to be trusting someone to be watching your back we have to at least meet them or something. It's dangerous out there!" He says. Millie's mom looks like she's about to start yelling again, but she seems surprised at her huband's suggestion.
6:51 PM ||
6:56 PM S<Saff|Millie> "He's not inexperienced, Dad!" Millie shouts. She turns around and glares at both of her parents, her hands curled into fists. "Do you even know who I've been hanging out with? Because he's a hell of a lot more experienced than both of you!"
6:56 PM Millie starts stomping towards her room again, now hell bent on being a bitch. "Artisan is my friend! He's been helping me! I wasn't /with/ him today. But I /trust/ the people I was working with. Quintana, Kintsugi... We worked well together!"
6:56 PM She stops in her tracks and turns around. "You know nothing about my cape life. You don't understand how I can help, and you don't understand how fast I heal. I'm going to be okay! I don't need you, nor the government telling me what I can and can't do with my own body!" ||
6:57 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> ((Social check please))
6:58 PM S<Saff|Millie> $roll 1d6 here's a 1
6:58 PM A<•[ATM]> Saff|Millie "here's a 1" [6]  = 6
6:58 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> ...
7:01 PM She doesn't need her heat vision to see her father's face get red. She's never seen him look like this before, he's literally never even yelled before tonight. He's almost like a beat, there are veins popping out on his neck and forehead, and his fists are balled. He starts to speak, and stops. Then starts and stops again. Millie's mother who was previously just as angry a moment ago had an expression of worry cross her face seeing her
7:01 PM husband's change. Her eyes widen, and her demeanor changers. She becomes complacent, and holds her hands out to him like she's trying to calm him down.
7:02 PM "Hey, hey. It's okay. Don't worry about it, honey. Let's get you a glass of water."  She glares at Millie.
7:02 PM "This discussion isn't over Millie... I don't know what's gotten into you." She says trying to lead her husband away.
7:02 PM $roll 1d6+1 Dad Willpower, DC 4
7:02 PM A<•[ATM]> ColdGold|GM "Dad Willpower, DC 4" [4] +1 = 5
7:03 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> Her Dad allows himself to be dragged away not even looking at her as he's taken.
7:03 PM ||
7:03 PM -||
7:03 PM For her mom to just give up like that it must have been bad.
7:03 PM ||
7:05 PM beet*
7:08 PM S<Saff|Millie> Millie takes a few deep breaths and turns around, looking at her parents as her heart races. Why is her dad so mad? He's supported her through all of this.
7:08 PM "I guess I know where you stand now," Millie says. She won't let herself cry. She can't let herself cry. There are still people watching. "I'm going to go." ||
7:09 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> $roll 1d6 Dad Willpower Debuffed
7:09 PM A<•[ATM]> ColdGold|GM "Dad Willpower Debuffed" [1]  = 1
7:09 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> Her father shrugs her mom's hand off and turns to her square shouldered.
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7:15 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> "No Millie. After everything I've done for you... I know where /you/ stand. I don't /want/ you to leave. But what am I going to do? Tackle you and stop you? Am I going to have to fight you and knock you out everytime you wanna go out there and kill yourself?" He yells, and his voice booms enough to fill the halls.
7:15 PM "Do what you want, but don't ever say I wanted this..." His voice suddenly goes quiet.
7:15 PM "I just wanted my baby girl to be okay." He says his voice barely a whisper, before he whips around and stops off into the kitchen.
7:16 PM Her mom glances to say something to Millie before deciding against it tochase after him.
7:16 PM ||
7:16 PM stomps*
7:18 PM S<Saff|Millie> She knows that this is when she should back off. When she should concede and just go blow off steam for the night. It's not like she hasn't spent the night at Max's before. However, she feels... something else in her. A fire that she knows that she should suppress with the next update.
7:18 PM "That's rich coming from you, Dad. Considering you were the one that tried so hard to get me this way. You pushed and you pushed and now I'm the one that has to live with the consequences, and you just act like you can still push me around!" Millie shouts.
7:18 PM "You don't even care! You didn't even ask me what I did, how I helped! You don't care about the tech that I make, or the work that I put into making myself better! I'm stronger. You should see... I just wish you would care!" ||
7:24 PM Thaliaway → Thalia
7:25 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> Her dad stops right as he's about to turn the corner and her mom runs into him.
7:25 PM "Like you ever give me the chance to Millie! How can I ask you anything when you won't compromise. You just make demands and we have to do what you want. The world isn't all about you! We have feelings. Your mother and sister have feelings. We want things too. I try to work with you and you just shoot me down."
7:26 PM Her dad's voice is deep and angry, and most of all hurt. Hurt that he's yelling at her and at everything.
7:27 PM "Honey please, it's okay." Her mom says soothingly to him.
7:27 PM "Millie. Stop." She says, almost pleadingly. "I'm sorry just please stop yelling everyone." Her mom apologized...
7:28 PM ((Wits please))
7:29 PM S<Saff|Millie> $roll 1d6 wits
7:29 PM A<•[ATM]> Saff|Millie "wits" [5]  = 5
7:30 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> Millie spies her sister watching from the top of the stairs with tears in her eyes trying to hide from sight but listening in.
7:30 PM ||
7:33 PM S<Saff|Millie> Millie looks at her sister, and immediately she feels like she got hit by a truck.
7:33 PM /Don't feel, don't feel./
7:33 PM "The only thing you've tried to work with me on is making me join the GIT. I don't... I don't want that. I want to work with my friends. I want to make Stronghold again. I want... I want to be someone this city can look up to. I promised." ||
7:33 PM → JustLurking joined (uid195947@hathersage.irccloud.com)
7:35 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> $roll 1d6+1 Mom Reflexes
7:35 PM A<•[ATM]> ColdGold|GM "Mom Reflexes" [3] +1 = 4
7:35 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> $roll 1d6 Dad Wits
7:35 PM A<•[ATM]> ColdGold|GM "Dad Wits" [5]  = 5
7:36 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> "Yeah. That's definitely the only thing I've ever worked with you on." He says in a bitingly sarcastic voice.
7:36 PM "You say that like I didn't buy you your..."
7:36 PM ((Evade please))
7:37 PM ((Or withstand))
7:37 PM $roll 1d6 Mom Finesse
7:37 PM A<•[ATM]> ColdGold|GM "Mom Finesse" [1]  = 1
7:41 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> ((haaa))
7:49 PM ⇐ Wellwick quit (uid211357@hathersage.irccloud.com) Quit: Connection closed for inactivity
7:50 PM S<Saff|Millie> $roll 1d6 with
7:50 PM A<•[ATM]> Saff|Millie "with" [2]  = 2
8:09 PM Azrael0037 → Az|Disney, Turn|Kincaid → Turncoat, Nick|GM → NickMobile
8:14 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> Millie leans back out of the way without even thinking as her mom attempts to slap her across it.
8:14 PM Unfortunately her missing it, there's nothing to interrupt the rest of her Dad's sentence.
8:15 PM ",,,powers for you!" He finishes angrily. Suddenly his face goes white, and his mom stops turning to face him with her mouth wide open.
8:15 PM "What?"
8:15 PM It's utterly quiet.
8:15 PM ||
8:19 PM S<Saff|Millie> Millie's face goes white, and she unclenches her hands. "Dad. You are in serious trouble. Dad..."
8:19 PM Heart rate is up. So is her blood pressure. She's panicking. Don't let it show. Don't let them see. "Dad. Dad, what if they're watching! They said not to tell!" ||
8:23 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> From the way his face looks he's reacting the same way as her.
8:24 PM "I didn't mean too, I was angry..." He starts, he's sputtering.
8:24 PM "What does that mean?" Her mom demands again, turning to confront her husband, not even focusing on Millie anymore.
8:28 PM A glance at the top of the stairs shows Millie that her sister isn't hiding there anymore.
8:28 PM ||
8:28 PM to*
8:29 PM S<Saff|Millie> Millie takes a deep breath. "I... I... Mom. You can't... Say anything,"
8:29 PM Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. They wouldn't hurt her dad, right? They can't hurt her. They can't... No... They wouldn't hurt them.
8:29 PM "Dad... Dad... We need... You need to... I don't know. I don't know what we do," Millie brushes her hair off of her face and begins to pace in circles. "I didn't... I didn't get my powers the normal way. I... This is why... This is why I need to do what I'm doing. I promised." ||
8:32 PM Thalia → Thalia|Raccoon, Pinkhair → Pink|Hana
8:43 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> ...
8:44 PM Millie's father begins to pace back and forth like he's thinking on what he should do. He knows just as well what the possible consequences are. They'd been warned.
8:44 PM "What do you mean not the normal way. You didn't shift? Babe?" She asks alternating between Millie and her husband, neither of whom are responding.
8:45 PM The mood gets to her though
8:45 PM "What is going on?!" She demands.
8:45 PM ||
8:49 PM S<Saff|Millie> "Dad was approached by an organization that said that they could cure me," Millie says, her demeanor now shifted. She looks stiff, cold. "but that would be as a side effect of getting powers. Obviously we jumped at the opportunity."
8:49 PM She sighs and runs her hand through her hair. She's still concentrating on trying to control her heart rate and blood pressure, keeping her cool when everyone else is panicking. "There would be consequences for letting my secret get out. So now I have to figure out what to do to keep this from blowing up in our faces."
8:49 PM Synapse just debuted today. She didn't want her powers taken away from her. She didn't want to die, she didn't want her dad to get in trouble. "I really... I... I think I need to spend the night away from home. I need to be in my lab." ||
9:05 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> ...
9:05 PM Millie's mom's face sinks.
9:06 PM "I think... that would be the safest move. If something does happen tonight, I don't want you to be here." Her dad says, sadly but solemnly.
9:06 PM Her mom frowns and looks like she's going to fight but sighs.
9:07 PM "Fine I'll call Amber's parents." She says walking over to the phone.
9:07 PM ||
9:07 PM → OptimusRhyme joined (uid229647@charlton.irccloud.com)
9:09 PM S<Saff|Millie> "Mom. I'm not going to Amber's. I'm... I'm going to my lab. I have things to work on. I won't sleep anyway, so I might as well..."
9:09 PM Maybe she shouldn't tell her about the charging station. Or the fact that she really wants to see Max. And then on top of it all... she doesn't want her parents to know that she's about to cry. "You can drive me if you want. But I'm going there. I... I need to find a way to make this okay. Dad... Dad didn't mean it."
9:09 PM Millie steps forward and takes a deep breath. "I pushed him. I was angry and I pushed him. I shouldn't have let my emotions control me. This is my fault. I need... I just need to work. This is a fault within my pr—A fault within myself." ||
9:10 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> ((Social please))
9:10 PM S<Saff|Millie> $roll 1d6 PLEASE DEAR GOD LET THIS BE GOOD
9:10 PM A<•[ATM]> Saff|Millie "PLEASE DEAR GOD LET THIS BE GOOD" [2]  = 2
9:20 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> "I'm not giving you any rides anywhere but Ambers...!" She starts, already beginning to yell again, but her dad puts his arms on her shoulders.
9:20 PM His voice is very weary sounding when he speaks.
9:20 PM "Please no arguing, just take her where she wants for now. We'll make plans to talk somewhere that..." He looks around.
9:20 PM "Isn't here..." He whispers.
9:21 PM He walks up to Millie and embraces her kissing her on the forehead. "I wish that in this time one of the last possible things you saw of me was me getting angry like that. When you were born... I promised I never would again, but I guess I lied." He sounds so ashamed and hangs his head.
9:22 PM "I love you Millie. Be safe, we'll call you soon." He says ushering her in the direction of her room a little. He goes to grab the keys and wordlessly holds them out to his wife as he waits for Millie to go pack her things.
9:22 PM ||
9:26 PM S<Saff|Millie> Millie nods. She's not sure what to say, because she knows she can't control what comes out of her mouth right now. Instead, she heads into her room and throws a few things into a bag. She puts her uniform in the bag to please her mother, but she has no intentions of going to school the next day.
9:26 PM Pajamas, extra clothes, toothbrush, deodorant, the little sleeve of birth control pills that her mother had made her start taking when she started high school "just in case." Millie looks over at her desk for a moment, looking at the place where all her old medicine bottles sat. Her life had changed so much since she turned sixteen. Everything was upside down.
9:26 PM She sighs, then comes out with her packed bag, sending a text to Max to let him know she'll be there. "I'm ready. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry." ||
9:32 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> ...
9:32 PM No response.
9:32 PM Her sister peeks out the door at her as she goes to walk down the stairs with her packed bags. Her eyes look scared and sad.
9:32 PM ||
9:34 PM S<Saff|Millie> "Sammy, I..." Millie frowns. "I'm sorry. I... This was my fault. I just want to be someone you can be proud of, okay?" She tries to smile, but she feels so sick in her stomach that she doesn't really stay to chat. She grabs her things and heads down the stairs.
9:34 PM "Mom? Dad?" ||
9:34 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> Her sister doesn't smile back but just nods.
9:35 PM "Okay. See you tomorrow Millie." She says sadly. There's still snot and tears streamed on her face. She wipes away at them.
9:38 PM Millie heads down the stairs and her Dad is waiting there for her.
9:38 PM "Your mother is waiting in the car for you." He grabs her by her shoulders again.
9:38 PM "Listen it's not your fault I got so angry okay. I should no better than to yell at this point. I love you Millie, you're my daughter. Don't ever forget that." He kisses her on her forehead
9:38 PM "Be safe."
9:38 PM ||
9:41 PM S<Saff|Millie> Millie nods. "I will. I'll just be in the lab until I need to sleep. I'm not going out again tonight."
9:41 PM She sighs and gives her dad a hug, still controlling her breathing to try to keep her emotions down. "I should go get in the car. I love you dad. You be safe too."
9:41 PM After the hug, she pulls out her phone and walks to her mother's car. She's checking her texts, while pulling up the internet forums on her HUD. Maybe someone has written about her outing today. ||
9:42 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> Millie's mom is just glaring through the front windshield when she steps into the car. She doesn't address her but starts the car.
9:43 PM On PHO she can see her and her two new friends are the hot topic for the day. The forum is buzzing with speculation, calling them a new team, wondering what their next move is, who the people with the Barrio Cristal's powers were. The guy in the king's robe. Despite the heaviness of the night she's pleased to see a gif of her leap clear a few stories up and land and keep running. She looks badass.
9:44 PM Her GPS says the drive is only five minutes away by the time she finishes reading up. The radio isn't on, and her mother still hasn't spoken to her.
9:44 PM ||
9:51 PM S<Saff|Millie> Millie doesn't really want to speak to her either. She doesn't feel in control at the moment, and she doesn't want to piss off her mom so much that she takes her to Amber's instead. Deep breaths, watch the phone, watch the night roll through the window as the views change from suburbs to city.
9:51 PM Her heart is pounding. Maybe this was a bad idea. What if Max sees her cry? Though... the more that she thinks about it... Maybe if she cried in front of him, he would comfort her.
9:51 PM She decides that she likes the idea of him doing that for her, or holding her like that. Millie can feel her face get hot, and she knows that she's blushing. But, he hasn't been answering her texts. Is he okay? Does he hate her? ||
9:55 PM ⇐ Druza quit (uid209687@charlton.irccloud.com) Quit: Connection closed for inactivity
10:00 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> ...
10:01 PM The two stew in silence for a small bit longer with only the engine and thoughts to keep them company. Her phone vibrates as she looks again and it's from Max!
10:01 PM 'I need u' is all it says.
10:01 PM ||
10:03 PM S<Saff|Millie> Millie's heart nearly stops, and she has to actively keep herself from squealing with her mom there. He needs her. And... Well, she needs him too. They can't get there fast enough.
10:03 PM She holds her phone close to her chest and starts typing as quickly as she can. 'I'll be there soon." she sends, followed by, 'I really need you too.' ||
10:04 PM ⇐ ThalAI quit (uid132942@hathersage.irccloud.com) Quit: Connection closed for inactivity
10:06 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> Right as soon as she finishes typing another message comes in
10:06 PM 'R help'
10:07 PM There are no immediate responses to the other messages she'd sent. Another four minutes to the drop off spot on the GPS and her mom wasn't dropping her off right next to the HQ.
10:07 PM ||
10:09 PM S<Saff|Millie> Her face is red now. She's embarrassed.
10:09 PM 'Yeah. Anything for you. I need to throw myself into something. It's been a bad night. What do you need?'
10:09 PM Hopefully that covers her tracks, but she feels even sicker in the stomach now.
10:09 PM "I never wanted to hurt you, you know." Millie says. "I was just so frustrated about everything." ||
10:10 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> ((Last couple sentences are to her mom?))
10:10 PM S<Saff|Millie> ((yeah))
10:10 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> No response from Max.
10:11 PM Her mom takes a few moments to respond.
10:11 PM "I..." She stops.
10:11 PM "I never want to see you hurt either Mills. That's why I've been doing everything I've been doing..." She says.
10:12 PM ||
10:15 PM S<Saff|Millie> "I won't get hurt though, Mom. I'm careful. I can heal. I... I don't want you to be worried," Millie sighs and looks down at her phone. "This hasn't been easy for me either. Everything is different. But I have to do this."
10:15 PM Millie opens and closes her texts several times, before typing again. 'I'm sorry if that text sounded weird. I didn't mean that in a... weird way. I just need a friend right now." ||
10:22 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> ...
10:35 PM ⇐ Camtist quit (uid157531@brockwell.irccloud.com) Quit: Connection closed for inactivity
10:36 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> Still no response from Max.
10:37 PM "Millie I know you can heal. Just... What if that's not enough one day? I don't want someone to hurt you or... k... kill you like that horrible monster did to those two poor kids." Her mom says sadly, sounding terrified at the thought of her getting hurt.
10:38 PM A minute left to the destination.
10:38 PM ||
10:41 PM S<Saff|Millie> Millie swallows. "It's part of the job. It could happen in the GIT too, mom. But if anyone will fight to live, it'll be me. I got to close once before. I'm not going there again."
10:41 PM She looks down at her phone and her heart races. 'That's not entirely true. I do need a friend, but I specifically want you. I shouldn't lie. I think I...' She types, but doesn't hit send. She's scared. She shouldn't be scared. But she could lose everything if he doesn't feel the same way.
10:41 PM Her finger hovers over the button. Should she hit send? Should she tell him how she feels? ||
10:43 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> ...
10:43 PM ⇐ Turncoat quit (uid185268@ealing.irccloud.com) Quit: Connection closed for inactivity
10:44 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> "I get that Millie, I know what you're saying. That's why I don't want you to be involved in any of this at all. I wish when it was just, taking you and Amber to your front row seats at your first concert. Or seeing you at your Violin recital." Her moms eyes are watering.
10:44 PM Her phone vibrates.
10:45 PM 'Can u do surgeru om ppl besiss urselg' From Max
10:45 PM ||
10:47 PM S<Saff|Millie> Millie feels like she's going to be sick. This time, she can't hold it in. While trying to delete what she previously wrote, she accidentally sends it.
10:47 PM "Fuck!" Millie snaps, even though her mom will scold her. She starts typing wildly, 'I can try. I know enough about anatomy. I can do it. What's wrong? are you okay?' Millie sends the message, and then hits the call button.
10:47 PM "Mom, go faster. Please." ||
10:48 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> Her mom looks up with a surprised expression and stops crying. Her initial reaction is to start getting angry again until she sees Millie's facial expression.
10:48 PM The car comes to a stop.
10:49 PM "Why what's going on, we're already here." She says. The phone rings several times before going straight to voicemail.
10:49 PM ||
10:50 PM S<Saff|Millie> "Fuck. Something's wrong. He's hurt, I think. I... I love you mom. I've got to go." She grabs her bag, and hops out of the car, running as fast as she can.
10:50 PM Millie is sure she'll throw up. She hangs up, and then calls again. Get inside. Get inside. Find him. Help him. ||
10:51 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> ((Ath please))
10:51 PM S<Saff|Millie> $roll 1d6-1 please do not fall on face thx
10:51 PM A<•[ATM]> Saff|Millie "please do not fall on face thx" [3] -1 = 2
10:52 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> Millie almost stumbles stepping up the curb, and she can hear her mom call
10:52 PM "...Millie!" At her back, but she keeps running, though the strain from all of the activity of the day has left her surprisingly more sore than expected she's realizing.
10:52 PM This time the call picks up
10:53 PM "...*/mumbled voices/*... */moan of pain/*...*shuffling*.../"
10:53 PM */shuffling/**
10:54 PM The forcefield clears out of her way as she finally makes it to the top of the hill having to struggle her way all the way up it. The front doors are open, and Artisan's car is out front with the doors on it still open as well.
10:54 PM ||
10:55 PM S<Saff|Millie> "Max? MAX ARE YOU OKAY? I'm here. Where are you???" She's shouting, and damnit her eyes are stinging. Is she crying? Here? She can't be. She has to help him.
10:55 PM Millie runs to the car, looking for signs of him. If he's like this, he can't be far. ||
10:57 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> ((wits please))
10:57 PM S<Saff|Millie> $roll 1d6 wits come ON MILLIE STOP BEING A DONUT
10:57 PM A<•[ATM]> Saff|Millie "wits come ON MILLIE STOP BEING A DONUT" [4]  = 4
11:00 PM ⇐ Valence quit (uid230412@tooting.irccloud.com) Quit: Connection closed for inactivity
11:00 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> Max isn't in the car but she can see the seats are slightly damp and sticky with a dark liquid, and it smells coppery...
11:00 PM A trail of it leads from the vehicle down the walk towards the open doors into the HQ.
11:00 PM ||
11:00 PM ⇐ iridium248 quit (iridium248@net-79p.vhr.127.203.IP) Quit: http://www.kiwiirc.com/ - A hand crafted IRC client
11:02 PM S<Saff|Millie> Millie runs, tossing her bag down so she can go faster, following the trail of blood. She's already pulling her hair back into a ponytail, thinking about how she can do this. How bad off can he be? She... she succeeds because she knows her body and she can heal. But... Can she do it on him? Maybe...
11:02 PM Millie starts pulling up videos of surgeries on her HUD, downloading the info into her brain. If she wears the jacket, she should have the muscle memory for it too. ||
11:06 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> ((Downloading medical pips at a rate of 1 pip per round))
11:06 PM ...
11:08 PM Info begins to stream into her brain. It's hard to explain the feeling, it's like the feeling after you read a textbook and learn something you didn't know but condensed down into a single moment. Except that moment doesn't stop, it just keeps happening. She can feel medical terminology and concepts streaming into her brain. Not enough to help with whatever she's paranoid might be wrong though.
11:08 PM The blood trail leads to the elevators. The question is, should she take it to the floor her jacket's on first? Is that where Max is?
11:08 PM ||
11:10 PM S<Saff|Millie> He's smart enough to go to the lab. Maybe there are even smears of blood on the button he pressed? She has to hope that she knows him enough. She jams the button for the lab, and begs it to move faster. Who could have done this to him? Where was he?
11:10 PM As soon as the door opens, she starts running. "Max? Are you here?" ||
11:10 PM C<•ColdGold|GM> ((Wits please))
11:10 PM S<Saff|Millie> $roll 1d6 my luck today sucks ass
11:10 PM A<•[ATM]> Saff|Millie "my luck today sucks ass" [2]  = 2
11:11 PM <•ColdGold|GM> She acts before looking pressing the button to the lab, and only looking after it's already pressed.
11:11 PM There's no bloodstains anywhere on the board, but there is a small puddle leaking over to the corner.
11:12 PM Whether he's there or not, she'll have to see when she gets there she supposes. The wait is gut wrenching but finally the doors open. She sees two people in the room one crouched over the other. Artisan is...
11:12 PM ||PAUSE||