Log:Tagging Your It

2020/04/11 	 Lizzy Pamela Travis Tessa Kid Tengu Linda Wild Thing Riptide Mercury

1

It's Saturday! Which means certain teen-friendly places get swarmed. Like the Mall. Neko Cafe. Fast food joints. The west side is where most of the Bayside Academy students go since it's close to home, but a maglev will get anyone here. I't s a sunny spring day with a few lazy clouds. Being the day before Easter, there's candy sales everywhere.

Pamela is heading toward the mall. Her continued growth spurt is requiring the purchase of more clothes, though her current loose outfit is ok, if not exactly good-looking. She looks rather distracted, looking about at cars, the stores, the sky, nearby people, distant people, and goodness knows what else.

Linda is also on her way to the Mall. There's one thing that's rarely mentioned to prospective heroines. Especially ones that often help out without changing into a costume. It's absolute hell on clothes. After a lecture from her mother on the subject of money, trees, and the former not growing on the latter, Linda has been told to go the Mall and buy some hard wearing cheap clothes.

It's not often that Karin finds herself longing to try out the things that typical teens in the United States do on a regular basis. She needs a clever disguise sometimes for it and her clever disguise is wearing an outfit not befitting one of Bayside's ilk. Still acceptable by her own standards. Hair hidden, makeup applied to make recognizing her a little harder. Smoothie in hand, she walks with some wonder at the sights. She looks out of place of course. Still a little nervous, she tries to mask it and that just makes it more apparent.

Saturdays have become the hardest thing to get used to now that Tybrion Vax of Etbthrol VIII has expatriated himself (along with his friends) to this strange and backwards Earth. Now he's here- disguised as a youth playing a superhero so he might better blend in among the human youth.

"I do not understand why we have to come /here/. There are plenty of better places to get a feel for this world." He says to his compatriots on either side of him.

He glances over at Travis and then Tessa hoping one of them would be reasonable. "I mean- its not like a pack of unruly teenagers are going to help us figure out if this is the world we should remain on. Blending in is one thing but..." He stops speaking as something across the street catches his eye.

Ryosei enters from MagLev System.

Lizzy had messaged Ryosei to meet her at Spinning Disk Pizza, but she's not sure he'll make it. It's been like that for them lately. They make plans, and then something else comes up, sometimes for him, sometimes for her. It's nobody's fault, she just hopes things calm down.

Travis is strolling along the sidewalk headed in the general direction of the mall. He has a milk tea boba drink in hand, sipping through those wide straws. He's dressed in casual clothes, but still has his Bayside letterman jacket on in the cooler spring air; Primarily brick red, with gold accents. A pair of ray-bans conceal his eyes completely. He's traveling with a group of teens, smiling warmly. "This is what the cheerleaders suggested," he answers Tybrion with an easy shrug. He says over his mind link with Tybrion and Tessa <> There's a pause. He expects a blind joke from Tessa.

Except for once, Ryosei could almost make it. Crazy arse parents aren't going to hold him on the weekend! Nor is traffic. He arrives in his mustang, parking outside he sends a message that he made it before moving to head inside. The young man's easily recognizable by the high school crowd at least, being a star swimmer and track and field guy. Not to mention rich or something.

Tessa currently has a mouthful of peanut butter and chocolate care of a few candy 'eggs' from a bag she's carrying. They're hunting for snacks and she had a lead! So that means no comment. Audibly, that is. <> She's strolling on his left.

Pamela seems to focus for a few seconds while she crosses the road to reach the mall, walking with a striking grace, then is distracted, looking at everything and nothing again.

Linda raises her arm and waves in Lizzy's direction, walking more briskly amid the foot traffic to close the gap, "Hi, Lizzy. How are you?"

Lizzy is buying some Barbury creme eggs from a vendor dressed as a rabbit. "Hey, Linda. I'm doing good. I'm on my way to meet Ryo at Spining Disk, and for once, we're both gonna make it. Wanna join us?"

KT's attention isn't so focused that he could miss that mental barb. His copied face turns up into a wry smirk and he snickers.

<> He replies over their mental link as he tears his eyes away from the life size plastic video game character that caught his eye. He returns to scanning the crowds, people watching.

Travis smirks at Tessa's comments and sips his drink. << Aaaand there it is. Thank you, Tess. Maybe you should hold your breath while I work on that. >> His mental tone is playful.

Spotting someone before they spot her, Karin's expression turns from wondrous to exasperated. It's not someone her age. Someone older, supposedly in charge of keeping an eye on her. Distracted, her path crosses that of Tybrion, and Tessa, and coincidentally Travis, which comes with, barring avoidance or intervention, a collision.

Travis is distracted because he's also communing with Evan back at home base while walking with his friends. His mind is literally elsewhere. << Oh wow, did you guys know World War 3 never happened here? Aw, damn. But there -are- fascists. AGAIN--whoa! >> That's when Travis collides with the suddenly appearing Karin. "Sorry!"

Ryosei, meanwhile, is outside the mall at the moment as he checks a few messages, rapid firing a few back before he turns to head into where the Spinning Disk Pizza is. He looks around to see if any other teenagers are around that he recognizes as he makes his way. His phone is put back in his pocket. He's wearing some nice jeans and a t-shirt with some anime character on it.

Linda's face breaks into a delighted smile, "I'd love to join Ryosei and you. Spinning Disk? That's great."

"Let's go then." Lizzy replys. She pays for her purchase and they head toward the pizza place.

Tessa swallows her mouthful as Travis runs into new people. "Hi. You should watch where you're going," she suggests to Karin with a smirk, thumbing at Travis, "since he's not."

Linda quickens her pace to catch up with Lizzy. Then halts, "Lizzy, over there. By the crosswalk. Isn't that Pamela. Pamela ... can't remember her last name. She looks different but I'm sure that's her. You know. From school."

KT's mimicked eyes go wide at that revelation causing him to snap his head towards Travis and the sudden commotion Karin brings. He sucks his teeth at the incident but has enough presence of mind not to move to help.

Instead he snickers and says, "Wow- some guys get all the luck and then there's Travis."

<> He sighs as if that was a good, wholesome family memory.

Pamela suddenly looks right at Linda, despite the distance.

Lizzy says, "Wow! She's even taller than you are!" She waves to Pamela, jumping up and down so she can be seen through the crowd, "Pam! Over here!"

Karin ends up sitting down after a momentary reorientation, not expecting to need bracing and looking upward to gaze upon large-size teen boy bearing the vestments of school to which she is accustomed to going. "I believe the fault is mine," she offers as she picks herself up, rubbing her hand where it met concrete and made a bit of scraping along the skin. "I suppose introductions would be convenient as we have already made contact." She smiles, charmingly. "My name is Karin." It sounds like Karina but with a cutoff.

<> It's the pesticides from their home dimension that add a chemical taste that's missing. Travis smiles apologetically, offering a hand to help Karin up, but she's already on her feet. "I should've, ah, looked where I was going," he says with a smile. The offered hand is now offered for a handshake. "Travis. Nice to meet you. Sorry about ...ack, your hand. Are you okay?" he asks, looking down at her hand after he mentions the scrape.

Lizzy looks up at Pamela, saying, "We're on our way to Spinning Disk Pizza. Ryo's meeting me there. Wanna join us?"

Travis also shoots Tessa a 'look' at him not watching where he's going. "Hah, yeah, I get distracted easily," he comments, looking back to Karin.

Linda chuckles and nods slightly toward where the teen collision occurred to direct Lizzy's and Pamela's attention. "I always thought the reputation of Baysiders being snooty was overblown but look at the guy in the Letter jacket. I mean he seems okay. Didn't make a fuss about being bumped into. But Poster Boy or what?"

Pamela says, "Sure! Thanks!"

Ryosei, meanwhile, is kinda just waiting near the mall entrance. He looks around as he seems to be trying to figure where Lizzy is. She did say to meet at Spinning Disk, but he's looking unsure before sending a message to her.

Lizzy looks, "I suppose, but the only Bayside student I know doesn't look anything like that."

Pamela looks toward Travis. "Mmm. Scenic." She adds quickly, "In a cliche sort of way."

Lizzy says, "In fact, she looks more like..." she looks closer, "That's her!" She waves and calls out, "Hey, Karin!"

Permission denied.

Linda nods, looking that way herself. "Yes. Talking of good looks, been working out, Pamela? You look good."

"I work with metal sculpting tools regularly," Karin says, grinning in spite of herself. "Suffering for art takes on an entirely new meaning in that medium if one is not extra cautious." Her head and the head of one other turn in the direction of Lizzy, and then the other's attention moves to the subject of Lizzy's shout. Karin makes eye contact with Lizzy, but fails to notice the approaching adult-aged woman who wears a stern expression and speaks into a sleeve.

Pamela grins. "You don't think I got this body without putting in the hard work, do you?" She hopes Linda doesn't, because that's exactly what happened.

KT turns and regards Karin a bit dismissively, if only because she's interrupted their conversation. Still, he was raised not to waste a good opportunity so he plays along for now though he doesn't say anything aloud for a long moment.

He seems surprised at the ease in which the teenagers interact- even in such a casual circumstance. If one of the servants would have bumped into he or his brother like that his father would have had them ejected from the throneship or strung up the castle wall if they were Earthside.

He supposes on a world without a third World War there wasn't an uprising of villians to take over and turn the world to hell.

He doesn't quite believe it until the smell of coffee catches his nose. His pupils dilate with the recognition of the scent. He sniffs again and his eyes widen before lookign baout shiftily. He can't break character and someone from thsi world wouldn't think coffee so miraculous- or half as intoxicating as it is for his alien metabolism.

"An artist huh? Metal sculpting?" He says curiously, thinking the tools for such an extravegance might be of use with them on an unknown Earth. "Tell me more of this metalwork." He says to Karin with sudden interest.

Lizzy smiles at Karin before turning back to Linda and Pam.

Linda sniffs, "Mmm... That coffee smells good. I can't get used to the taste of the coffee from the drinks machine in the school canteen. I'm sure they use the waste water from the chem lab for it."

Pamela says, "I was thinking the same thing!"

Lizzy laughs, "I'm glad I don't drink it, then."

Pamela says, "I feel ill just walking past that machine..."

Pamela thinks. o O (Whoops. Was that too much? Is the smell strong enough for other people to notice?)

Lizzy says, "It really tastes that bad?"

Linda nods, "Never again for me either. It always was bad but since my powers manifested my senses are far more acute. It almost makes me feel sick when I smell it now."

Tessa gives Karin a casual wave of a vaguely egg-shaped candy filled with peanut butter. "Want one?" She fishes out another for herself in the meantime.

Pamela says, "Oh! You have super-senses?"

Travis smiles at Karin with interest. "Crash. That sounds pretty fun. Is any of your art at the school?" he asks.

Ryosei hums as he waits outside SDP, then thinks for a moment before looking around and texting Lizzy what she wants as he moves to get at least something. Soda, pizza, or the like.

Linda nods to Pamela, "Yes. Well super compared to what I had before..." She glances over at Karin and co. "Lizzy, why don't you invite your friend to join us." She grins, "Maybe poster boy will come too."

[To Linda] Pamela says, "How do you cope with busy environments like this? I f- would think that it would be too much to take?"

[To Pamela] Linda says, "Mostly I can kind of tune it out. It would drive me insane if I couldn't. Imagine hearing hundreds or thousands of conversations all at once. Except for small. Oh God. I went with Starguard to fight aliens bugs in a tunnel under the sea. The stench was awful!""

Karin bobs her head to the other boy, and Tessa, "Tell you more in what detail?" she asks, smiling. She bids a grateful "thank you," at Tessa's offer, and she replies for Travis, "I believe the principal has one of my smaller sculpts in his office."

The stern woman stops short of getting close enough to talk, pretending to turn her mirror shades attention elsewhere as she speaks more into the sleeve.

Pamela says, "Eeuw!"

Pamela tilts her head at the funny new sound and sniffs the air.

Linda tilts her head to the side. "Do you hear that?" she asks Pamela, as Lizzy has popped away for a moment or two. "I think someone is spraying graffiti on thew wall in the ally.

"Well- specifically what sort of tools you use in your sculpting." TK replies to Karin easily. "I mean- I bet you use some pretty ... 'arid' tools. Perhaps some kind of forge too?" He inquires, thinking of making himself some weapons just in case the next Earth they visit isn't so tame.

Pamela nods. "Spraypaint I think."

Tessa tosses Karin one of the Eseer's candy eggs, then looks to her left. "I think someone's fixing their 'do or hanging some tags."

Linda nods, "It's hardly saving the world time but maybe I ought to go ask whoever it is to stop. It costs the city taxpayers to clean it up."

Pamela nods. "It's this way...." She's pretty sure from the smell as well as the sound.

Linda follows Pamela.

There are a few tags that most but Karin have noticed. Someone's spraypainted a large stylistic lion on the wall of Neko Cafe, and there's a billboard on the rooftop advertising the latest RomCom. It's been defaced with a graffiti drawn race car with gun turrets and armor plating.

Travis glances towards Tessa. "Out here? Wow, that's bold." << Okay, if people are brave enough to do that, this can't be as authoritarian as three dimensions back. >>

Pamela moves quickly (but not superhumanly), hoping to catch the tagger in the act.

Getting a bit worried, Ryosei starts to head back out hoping to find Lizzy on his way back out towards the exit, while asking for a held order in the Spinning Disk. He starts to look around as he goes, trying to find people that he knows so he can ask if they've seen her.

Tessa wanders thattaways, looking up to spot the billboard. "That movie would've been totes better if THAT was in it." Sure, giggles and gushing are cute, but racecars with gun turrets? Way more arid.

Karin uses visual medium to answer the question about tools, by way of electronic device with touch screen. "It really depends on the sculpt," she informs. "For some it is simply a matter of bending the pieces to shape. For others, casting a mold. For others, shaving away until the desired shape is found. I use a variety of them."

Down the alley next to the local credit Union, Linda and Pamela spy a short kid with tinted goggles and a ventilator mask tagging a large dragon on the stucco exterior. He's wearing a black hoodie, shredded khaki cargo pants, and rollerblades. There's a messenger bag slung over his shoulder. This blonde-haired boy has a bandaid on his cheek, and based on his size, might be a middle schooler.

Pamela runs to try to catch up with the boy - stealthily.

The dragon is pretty skillfully done, but the style looks more like a tribal tattoo. It's similar to the style used on the lion tag and race car.

Linda holds back so she doesn't draw attention to Pamela. Sneakiness is not one of Linda's strengths.

"Oh- that is all very interesting. /Very/ interesting iin fact. I've always wanted to see a studio like that. You must be very luc--" KT says before cocking his head and looks towards where Tessa is indicating.

Travis' thoughts ring in line with his own on the matter. <> He says, conceding his previous point and stance on the matter.

Naturally, Kid Tengu moves towards the area indicated- not bothering to hide in a throwaway form. He would like to find these taggers- if only to find out more about their lives. All the better to have more details to build a persona around.

He laughs at Tessa's comment. "You are not wrong about that. I would very much have liked to see that movie." KT murmurs.

Pamela tries to grab the kid by the spraycan arm. "Hey, - what are you doing?"

The boy's arm is snatched as he finishes his tag...almost. The dragon, similar to a chinese dragon, is missing its rear left leg. "H-hey!"

Pamela waves Linda over. She's the hero, after all. "Got him!"

Linda nods and walks over until more or less out of sight in the alley. Then she lifts off the ground a few inches. Not speeding up but using a power causes her to have a golden hued aura around her. 'Hey, I'm a hero' aura.

Tessa eyes the nearly-complete street art. "Maybe you should let him finish," she suggests to Pamela. "That ain't half bad. Be a waste to make him paint over unfinished work."

Pamela figures it's best to let the hero do the civic responsibility talk. She's still pretty amazed she managed to sneak up on the kid, herself.

Linda glances behind to see who's talking. Then gives the boy as stern a look as she can. "You're defacing someone's property. By rights I should make you scrub it all off."

The boy squirms a bit. "Ya think so!?" he kicks at the stucco wall. "Wake up!" he calls out loudly, so all the other people on the street can hear.

All the tags begin to glow. The dragon, the lion, and the race car. And then all hell breaks loose.

The dragon starts to move and peels off the wall, becoming three dimensional. Not quite flesh and blood, it glows and looks more like a crazy cell-shaded animation brought to life. The Lion near Karin, Tessa, Travis, and the others suddenly roars and leaps off the wall, the rest of the details filled in. The Race car's engine revs up and it suddenly drives out of the billboard and flies through the air, landing on the street below. Breaks squeal as it spins 180 degrees and stops. It's gray with armor plates and turrets.

KT nods in agreement. "Yes- this seems fair. This work is not awful. I have seen much worse. Here. Much worse here." He says as if needing to clarify the point.

He falls silent as he turns to indicate the work in question and sees the dragon peel itself off. His eyes widen. That was most unexpected. He takes a step back to figure out how typical of a situation this is- after all a girl is flying.

Pamela shouldn't act. Not in civvies. But her body reacts faster than her mind. She leaps back a step defensively and punches the crippled dragon before it's even finished peeling itself off the wall!

The punch hardly seems to bother the dragon. It's as tough as it's drawn to look like.

The stern woman sees situation breaking out, and rushes toward where she last saw Karin. Karin had a different reaction, using Travis as a moment of cover when she spotted her handler and then rushed, crouching, then rolling underneath a parked SUV. She's quite accustomed to having to do this sort of thing. She does not emerge from there, and neither does Mercury. Mercury instead forms from a sewer access point.

Ryosei, seeing the trouble, moves off to the side. Both to avoid the trouble and head for the nearest out of the way area where no one can see him. The teen reaches to grab a bracelet from his wrist that quickly changes itself into a sword. He raises it up high as he calls, "By the power of the Dragon!" Swinging the sword around over his head, a glowing circle appears that seems to splash down over him as he stabs it with the sword, "I am Tenrai!" Not long after Riptide charges out as he heads for the scuffle.

Linda watches Pamela's reaction in amazement, "You really have been working out, Pamela." she says.

<> KT inquires as Pamela leaps forward and strikes.

He uses the distraction to say to Travis over their link, <> He says opening his hands as if to display the quality of his duping.

Once he's cloaked his flesh waivers and buckles before expanding outward into a new shape, one with muscles, wings, a tight black suit & a muscular prehensile tail.

He blinks and as he opens his eyes they reveal slit pupils. He lets a grin slide across his face revealing a mouthful of knife-like teeth. He looks far more menacing than heroic.

<< People could be in danger. I'll cover up our change if you need it if you avoid cameras or tech. Don't give away what we are just yet. We don't know enough about this world or how they'd view us. Evan was very specific about keeping things secret. >> Travis uses his mental powers as they duck behind the SUV to then block Tessa and KT from the view of others so they can get changed without revealing who they are.

Tessa blinks, and swallows her candy, as the tags come to life... or the semblance of it. "I would've been fine with just the racecar." << I get the feeling that thing won't care if it runs people over, but I bet the people will.>> She steps back around the corner of the SUV and then her whole self flashes in a "blink."

Travis says ducked while shielding his teammates from the view of others. << These things...I can't sense any minds in them. They're...I dunno. Constructs?>>

Kid Tengu finishes his change into his mosterous form behind the van and Travis' cloaking field.

He flaps his wings and snickers. "That's good. It means I don't have to be /nice/." He says as he flies towards teh construct.//Full move to get into better position above construct. 20m flight

Kid Tengu finishes his change into his mosterous form behind the van and Travis' cloaking field.

He flaps his wings and snickers. "That's good. It means I don't have to be /nice/." He says as he flies towards teh construct.

The Giant Lion prowls off the wall, onto the sidewalk, and then leaps up onto the roof of the van. It lets out a monstrous roar.

Civilians scream and are frozen in fear when they want to scatter.

Linda suggests to Pamela, "Try to keep hold of the boy and get him and you to safety. I'll try to contain this dragon thing." Reaching for the dragon Linda attempt to grab it by the neck and turn its head away from anyone. Just in case its a fire breather. If she manages to grab hold she'll squeeze.

Pamela nods. Now her brain has caught up with her body she was planning to go for the boy anyway.

The dragon shakes violently, breaking free of Linda's hold before she can secure it.

Blink blinks at the lion roaring. "Lions and dragons and broncos, oh my! You're done with this, right, Travis?" Before he can answer, the SUV vanishes in a *BLAMPF* and reappears above the lion. If the universe is going to have a gravitational constant, why not use it?!

CRUNCH. The giant lion gets an SUB dropped on it.

The SUV rolls off the lion and it shakes off the attack, snarling. It can't figure out who was responsible. Yet.

The rest of the dragon peels off of the wall and takes to the air, its body moving in loops and spirals as its long form goes. It's missing a rear leg as it did in the illustration. It loops around looks back down at the alleyway, opening its maw to let out a blast of flame. Even the fire looks illustrated, but Pamela and Linda can feel the heat.

The Battle Car's engine revs a few times as it finds itself facing the Tenrai, Riptide. Tires squeal and it starts speeding down the street as its turrets open fire at him with multiple shots.

Pamela feels the pain of the heat wash over her, but to her relief can also feel, with her extraordinary touch, that no real harm was done to her body. Her clothes are another matter.

Burner shouts and tries to put himself out as his own creation's flames wash over him. "Stupid---OWWWW!!---dragon! Not me!" he screams as he skates out towards the main street and out in front of the credit union.

Toykiller says to someone, "That's our cue!"

"What, Burner cursing at his dragon?" someone invisible asks next to Toykiller.

"No, dummy, the screaming! Let's go!" Toykiller slips down his goggles and skates off a nearby rooftop. He jumps down onto some powerlines and rides them on his roller blades to the Credit Union, then leaps down on a box truck. He skates down the front of it, landing on the top of the cabin, the hood, and then the pavement, eventually skidding to a halt in front of the ATM of the credit union. He sprays the front of it.

PSSSSSSSSTTT! The can sprays all over the front of the ATM. The screen, keys, and the whole front side of it begins to disintegrate away, revealing the cash inside. Then the cash scrunches up into wads and float out, and then down before just disappearing adjacent to Toykiller.

Toykiller looks to be a middle schooler as well, with black hair and a red streak in it. He's wearing a black t-shirt with a skull and crossbones on it, and dark red jeans with tears at the knees, plus a backpack. He's also got goggles and a ventilator mask on.

Mercury moves quickly to the ToyKiller's location. "You seem too young to need to resort to that much theft."

Riptide brings his hands up as he stops due to the roar of the giant lion, looking intimidated a bit as he sees that. "Woah..." Then he gets shot by a race car with apparent gatling guns. The first one doesn't do much, but the second and third move by back a few steps. Raising his left hand, he points it at the car palm-fist, "Nice car, but I'm going to have to stop you!" A swirl of water appears with a bit of what looks like some sort of magic circle before it shoots out at the car itself in a high powered stream. Riptide yells to the civilians, "Clear the mall! Move it! We need room so we can stop these things!" His head then turns to look towards Toykiller, "Hey! Stop using that magic spray can!"

The car swerves as it's stopped, then gets sent skidding backwards as a spray of water makes it spin out. It comes to a stop in the middle of the street after getting powerwashed.

Wild Thing (once Pamela) snarls, as the pain and the loss of some of the few clothes that still fit her get through to her, and she lets the beast out. She no long stands erect but in a feral crouch. Her long hair falls forward, half obscuring her face, and the barely decent tattered remains of her clothes add to the bestial image. She chases round the corner after the kid, pouncing on him, grabbing for both arms this time.

Wild Thing says into the kid's ear, in a low growl. "You made those things. Now unmake them. Or I'll feed you to your own dragon!"

Burner squeaks as he's caught by Wild Thing and threatened by the very scary, yet oddly attractive young woman. It's a very confusing time in his life! He gulps and nods very quickly. "O-o-okay, whatever you say!" Maybe then she'll like him! Maybe?

Travis looks up and spies the flying Kid Tengu. That must have been who attacked the king of the urban jungle! It roars and leaps at him, trying to swipe him with massive claws as he goes by.

The Lion looks up and spies the flying Kid Tengu. That must have been who attacked the king of the urban jungle! It roars and leaps at him, trying to swipe him with massive claws as he goes by.

The lion sails past and beneath Kid Tengu as he flies up in time to avoid the lion's pounce arc.

Blink watches the tiger land and waves a hand at it. "Here, kitty kitty!" Rather than wait for it to come to her, though, she BLINKs to it, followed by swift kick in the tail.

The lion roars in complaint. More of a bellow than a roar, really.

The dragon swoops down towards Linda, its maw opening. Not to breath fire, but to bite down on her.

The dragon chomps down on Linda, crushing her in its jaws as it flies out into the street, carrying her with it. Boy is her mom going to complain about how that talk of money, trees, and clothing did not stick.

Kid Tengu rolls out of the way of the lion and tries to turn the tables on it.

He kicks off the building and lunges- attempting to suckerpunch the leonine construct.

The lion construct is hit, its head snapping. But it's so bulky that it doesn't budge.

Travis has snuck out of sight behind another car and drops his mind cloaking, then stands up and starts waving to civilians, helping them along. "Come on, hurry up and get out of here. Hey, you! Stop filming and run!" he says to some 20-something person wanting to film the whole thing.

Kid Tengu twists in the air as he pulls his wings close to his body and cocks back his massive hand into a fist.

As he nears he rolls around the lion and pops back up striking the beast in the top of the snout.

He seems pleased to have been able to return the attempted blow more successfully than the construct.

Linda twists her torso and clasping her hands together swings them up ready to land a hammering blow to the dragon between its eyes.

The Battle car backs up, turns, backs up, turns, facing down Riptide again after that blast. A car with a vengeful streak? It speeds down the street towards Riptide, aiming to mow him down.

The armored death race car smashes into Riptide and drives on, smashing him into the Mall's exterior wall.

"G-go to sleep!" Burner says to the lion first. The lion turns its head to Kid Tengu and snarls, starting to fade away, as does the sound it makes.

Toykiller looks over at Burner. "They caught Burner! Time to zone!" he says to...himself? Cash keeps floating and disappearing, but at that warning, suddenly the last wad drops, the bills floating towards the ground. A few do suddenly fly back up before vanishing again. Toykiller begins skating like the devil himself is after him, going as fast as he can.

Mercury makes her way to the battlecar to provide it with something different to interact with, and herself with better understanding about its physical properties.

Riptide pulls himself out of the wall he was just slammed into hard enough there's probably a Riptide shaped crater there, and shakes his head. "Okay... hope no one's in there." The air seems to shimmer around him before he leaps forward, bringing a fist back, "Because I'm about to smash this thing!" He comes down at the car as he tries to drive a super-strong fist into the hood.

There's a scream of metal and a stream of smoke as the hood is smashed in. Lots of clanging and knocking is heard in the engine. The car isn't looking nearly as good, even with its armor plating.

Wild Thing says, "Stay here. I'll be back!" and chases after the rogue heat signature! Maybe it's the predator in her. but she doesn't like to let it get away.

Wild Thing says, "GOtcha!"

A young female voice protests, "Ahh! How did you see me!?"

Blink awws. No more kitty. There's still the wicked... Ok, formerly wicked racecar with the guns. She BLAMPFS towards it and watches is, ready for... something.

The Dragon circles overhead, flying without the benefit of wings. It tries chewing more on Linda.

Linda brings her linked hands down on the dragon's skull between its eyes.

The dragon's eyes cross as it's struck between the eyes, it's jaw going slack and letting go of Linda as it begins to fall towards the street.

Linda feels the dragon's mouth go slack and let her go as the dragon shudders.

Kid Tengu wasn't done with the lion yet but things are tough in his universe. You don't look an opportunity in the mouth. Or horses. Mostly because there aren't many to look at there.

He turns and looks for the dragon only to see it fade away as well.

He frowns, bounding out into the street to find something else to smash.

<> He inquires over their mental connection, looking for an angle only Travis can provide.

Travis responds with a good natured tease. <>

Kid Tengu wasn't done with the lion yet but things are tough in his universe. You don't look an opportunity in the mouth. Or horses. Mostly because there aren't many to look at there.

He turns and looks for the dragon only to see it falls.

He snickers.

<> He replies dryly as he gallops after Toykiller.

"Come on! I'm not done playing!" He shouts after Toykiller as he takes to the air.

Travis stays behind, trying to help the older folks get away from the violence. << Sure. I know you enjoy the sound of my thoughts. >> He looks around. "Uhhh, Karin, are you around? Did you get away?" he calls out.

Linda reorientates herself and dives to grab the stunned dragon, stopping it from crashing to the ground and potentially hurting someone, and also giving a less than loving squeeze.

Blink laughs, even while watching the palindrome with the the turrets. <>

The dragon makes a wheezing sound as it's caught and squeezed.

The Battlecar rattles, its roof turret turning towards Riptide, who is right in front of it, and opens fire.

<< It's called multitasking>> Travis teases as he steps closer to the street-side of the sidewalk to guard a few straggling civilians.

Blink focuses as the racecar opens fire, altering things from the projectiles' point of view: for them, its still a straight line... it just happens to be a straight line from barrels into the pavement.

Bullets are dumb. Lead for brains. They exit the turrents and immediately arc ninety degrees to spatter the pavement in front of the vehicle.

Tag whines as Wild Thing holds her. "Are you going to tell my parents?" Invisible paint wipes off a bit on Wild Thing off of Tag.

Toykiller makes haste, leaving his friends behind!

Burner is still trying to do what Wild Thing made him do. "Hit the road!" he says to the car. The car fades away into nothingness.

Riptide turns, looking to Burner. Who doesn't seem to be running. Then he turns again to look towards Toykiller. Crouching, the teenager bursts forward with a super powered leap towards the magic using kid.

Wild Thing, keeping hold of her mostly invisible captive, dashes back to where she left Burner, before he decides to run off. "Is there some reason I shouldn't?" she asks Tag in a growl as she runs.

"Umumum...cuz they'd kill me?" squeaks Tag. "Th-they made me do it!"

"Did not!" Burner squabbles. "You begged us to let you join!"

Wild Thing just emits a warning growl and the squabbling kids. Actually trying to *reason* with them might make Burner feel less threatened, so better to stay in character.

Blink watches the car fade, now, too, because the kid's shutting them down. Scared shickless, probably. That leaves the one skating off WAY over there. Which isn't really that far, not when everything's co-located, from a certain point of view. She vanishes in a BLAMPF reappear nearer Toykiller.

The dragon shakes its head, its wits returning.

Blink arrives and then promptly BLAMFs again, closing further. "Where are you going in such a hurry?" She calls after she reappears closer, then tries to twist space around him, into a sort of torus. That way, he's free to run all he wants, because he won't actually be going anywhere.

Wild Thing crouches down by Burner's side, still holding Tag, watching, waiting for Burner to dismiss the dragon.

Toykiller blinks. He keeps trying to skate away, but seems to be in a loop. Or not moving at all. Like a warp hamsterwheel!

Kid Tengu flies towards Toykiller, intent on not allowing any of these kids to get away.

Linda tries to give the dragon another good hug. Superhug actually.

The dragon is crushed in Linda's less than friendly hug. It goes rigid, then goes limp, it's long body drooping like a horse shoe in Linda's arms. Then it fades away like the others.

Wild Thing waits by the kids for the other to arrive. Not sure what to do with them.

Linda hovers in the air for a moment after thew dragon fades. "Mum is going to kill me." she moans, catching sight of herself reflected in a window.

Wild Thing wipes a bit more of the invisible paint off Tag, just to make sure others can see.

Sirens signal someone called for help, and will take in the little delinquents. Kid Tengu swoops down, picks up ToyKiller, and drops him off with the other kids.

Toykiller scrambles inside his weird space-time loops bubble.

The paint gets swiped off and reveals Tag. She's the run of the group, and has a messenger bag stuffed with cash. She has brown hair, a bandana mask over her face, and racing goggles, as well as rollerblades. She's wearing a white hoodie and plated skirt, plus knee pads. These kids are maybe 12 or 13 years old.

Wild Thing calls to Linda, "Two of the kids are here. And their loot."

Riptide looks up at Linda, then to the others that helped. Then back to Linda, "Friends of yours?" He asks.

Linda descends to the ground and walks over. "So young. This is going to mess up their lives unless something hapopens to stop that." She looks at the kids, "Okay, what's your story? For a start, how come you're dumb enough to try a robbery in neta hero central?"

With Toykiller dropped off, Kid Tengu flies off to leave the scene. He'll secretly get changed somewhere out of sight to rejoin his crew later. Travis is left looking around for Karin and starts moving away from the chaos for now.

Wild Thing says, "And where'd you get hold of this - invisible paint? - and whatever else you used?"

Linda glances over at Riptide, "Potential friends. First time I've seen them though." She raises her voice and calls over, "Thanks for the help."

Toykiller gives up trying to run since he's going no where. Tag answers in a naive voice, "We didn't think heroes worked on holiday weekends."

Wild Thing laughs. That she didn't expect.

Riptide speaks up, "It's not exactly invisible. I would say more enchanted." He looks right at Toykiller, "Right?" He says as he walks over. "Possibly something that was found, maybe an old book, a box, family secret." He sighs, then looks at Tag. "Eh... heroes don't exactly work. Actually, I'm not much older than you. How old are you kids?"

Tag looks up at the tall impressive Wild Thing. "It's just normal paint until I use it."

Toykiller shrugs at Riptide. "I dunno. We can just does stuff," he answers in a Harrisburg patois.

Frowning, Riptide looks a bit more careful at the trio. Very carefully. "You sure? You, at least, are giving off signs of magic." He points at Toykiller, "So was that spray can you had."

Burner hesitates, then answers, "12."

Tag adds, "and I'm 11!"

"My spray?" Toykiller looks confused. "I just sto--bought...bought it from a hardware store."

Wild Thing looks at Riptide and Linda. She figures that, as experienced heroes, they'll have more clue what all this means,

The trio look like scolded kids. A little nervous.

Riptide looks at Toykiller evenly. "Hm." He rubs his chin, "Here's the thing. I'm 16." He looks at the three, leaning over to their level. "Seriously, I am. What we want to do is help you three. So, I need to ask a few questions first. Is that alright?"

"Help?" Burner asks uncertainly. He does keep looking at Wild Thing from time to time. A bit scared, and maybe having a bit of a crush. "Really?"

Lizzy staggers out from around a corner. She's a mess, with a large footprint on her chest. "What happened?"

Wild Thing shrugs. "We don't want bad junk to happen to you. So long as you stop doing bad junk."

Wild Thing says, "Why'd you do it, anyway?"

Riptide smiles at Burner, "Really. I'm not joking either. But, yes. Like the..." He pauses and looks at Wild Thing, "... what's your name anyways? I go by Riptide."

Wild Thing says, "... I don't really have one. This is the first time I've... been a ro, I guess."

Some of the civilians are returning to see what's going on now that the danger's past. Travis is helping a lost kid find their mom after getting separated during the fleeing. "Don't worry, we'll find your mom. Promise. What's her name?"

"M...mommy," the five year old answers helpfully with a sniffle as she takes Travis' hand. "Okay...and what's your name?"

"Celia," she responds.

Travis smiles and holds out his other hand and picks Celia up, putting her over her shoulders so she can get a view and a ride. "Okay, Celia, we'll find your mom soon."

Tag answers Wild Thing, "We wanted to help Billy--"

"Ginny!" Burner urges in complaint.

"I mean, Burner's mom. She's been sick a long time," Tag finishes.

Riptide looks at the three, then looks around. He looks at Tag, then to Burner and Toykiller. "Burner, what is wrong with your mom? I know it might be hard to admit something is wrong, but if I am going to help... I need to know. I know what it is like to be worried about family. My own are in Japan."

Wild Thing nods. "You mustn't steal. That will just make things worse. But if there's any way we can help..." SHe leaves it there though. Can the others do anything? She can't see how she can.

Burner falls quiet for a bit and twists his skate on the ground. "Her cancer came back," he says in a small voice.

Burner looks up at Wild Thing. "But it was for a good reason though!" As if that somehow made it okay.

Wild Thing says, "Yes, the reason was good. But that doesn't make *it* good."

Riptide looks considerate, then drops down to a knee. "Burner... Billy, right? Is it just you and your mom?"

Wild Thing thinks. o O (Who am I kidding. I'd probably have done the same...)

Billy Burner nods quietly and sullenly to Riptide after finding out the bad news. "I saw it on a cartoon though. Like Robin Hood. We're sorry..."

"Celia!" A woman runs up to Travis through the crowd. He smiles and takes the girl off his shoulders and sets her down to be reunited with her mom. o O (Now if I can only find where the others went off to.)

Lizzy looks around, "Linda? Pam? Where are you?"

Riptide nods, "Your full name is Billy Burner?" He asks, looking considerate. "Those of us with powers have a difficult time. But, I will get help for your mom and all three of you. Tell me something. All of that started as graffiti? What could you do to, say, entertain other kids? Or put on a show?"

Blink isn't qualified nor sanctioned to perform any law enforcement or legal duties. All she can offer is general advice, with a smile and wagging finger, "Remember, kids... If you're going to take things that don't belong to you... don't get caught!" Not exactly PSA-worthy, but she tried. She then promptly vanishes with a BLAMPF!

To reappear with Travis, or under the cover formerly occupied by Travis, and as Tessa.

Billy isn't sure what Riptide's on about, and Blink's PSA warning is probably a bit late, since they're caught. "Well, it started with sketchbooks. I can draw things and make them come to life. Never tried anything this big before."

"We're all special in some way," Tag adds.

"Not me. Stuff just breaks apart or melts around me," says Toykiller.

Travis cloaks Tessa from the minds of others as she returns, then lifts it again once she's mixed in with the crowd and him. He turns to her and smiles. <>

Riptide hums, then looks at Toykiller, "So you made the spray can do whatever it did?" He considers, then looks at the three, "You three all live in Harrisburg, I take it?" He seems to consider, "Listen, you three are going to have to take some punishment. There's now way out of it, unfortunately. People could have been seriously hurt. If I was not so strong and tough, the car alone could have killed me." He looks around to see if the police are arriving yet. Then he looks to the three, "But I do promise I will get you help for your parents. And once you three get done, I want to see if we can find a way to use your powers without it being criminal to do so. Got it?"

The kids nod sullenly as police cruisers pull up and CBPD offers steps out to find out what's going on.

Tessa shrugs to Travis, out of habit. <>

Lizzy wanders over to Riptide, "Excuse me, have you seen my friends? Linda and Pamela? We were on our way to..."

Riptide looks to Lizzy, looking a bit concerned as he notices the footprint. "Li-" Then he looks to the kids before back to Lizzy, "Linda? She just left, I think. Her outfit was trashed by the dinosaur. Are you okay?" He motions at the footprint on her clothes.

As civilians point out the three kids to the police officers, they call in the Metacrimes unit.

Riptide also waves the officers over, getting their attention.

Lizzy says, "We got separated when everyone started running, and I slipped and hit my head, I guess."

The cops come over, hands on their holsters. "We got a report and some witnesses saying these little kids caused a disturbance."

Travis smiles faintly at Tessa. << You should've blinked inside and took the wheel. Would've been a sweet ride I bet.>>

Riptide nods, then glances at the kids before back at Lizzy. Hoping she gets the message. "Okay. I do not know this Pamela, but Linda sounds like Golden Girl. Um... do you need an ambulance or anything?" He looks to the cops. "Stand down, please. They won't be going anywhere. I talked to them, but I want to make a statement for the report. My hero name is Riptide."

The cops look at Riptide with skeptical expressions. "Alright, you can give us a statement. But we have witnesses saying they saw you restraining these three," the officer nods to the kids, "so we will be taking them into custody while this mess gets sorted out."

Riptide nods, "Do you have a recorder or the like? I know it is odd, but one of their parents has cancer. While it is not a good reason, it is still extraordinary circumstances and I want to make sure they get what help we can give them. Plus, as young as they are they probably could be taught to use their powers for hero or community work somehow."

"We've all got bodycams," the Cop answers Riptide.

Riptide nods, "Anything formal I need to say or the like to help in this case?" He asks the cop.

"Just state what happened here," another cop answers.

Tessa stops cold to turn and stare at Travis. <<Holy shick. Totes doing that next time.>>

After giving a statement and double checking on the apparently trampled Lizzy, Riptide heads off by his unique teleportation. Minutes later, Ryosei arrives, looking around before hurrying to Lizzy, "Lizzy! Hey, you okay?"

Travis smiles, not turning to return Tessa's stare. <<Do you know how to drive a car?>>

<<Of course>> Tessa assures him. <<Doesn't everybody?>>

<< I don't know how it works in this world. I wonder if those kids are facing execution. Maybe we should break them out before they reach prison? >> Travis looks to Tessa finally and offers a shrugs. "Snacks? I think Ty went looking for coffee."