1027/Summertime ooze

Summertime ooze
Date of Scene:	19 June 2017
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Fathom attempts to recruit Vorpal and Yokai to the Young Avengers. (Sadly, this didn't take off.)
Cast of Characters:	Yokai (Sakara), 87, 251

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Yokai (Sakara) has posed:
Two days before the Summer Solstice -- and for some reason the summonses have been coming in thick and oozy tonight. The moon is laughing, literally: a waning crescent, it lurks at the horizon at midnight, like the grin of a mad thing. And this is Party Time, as the beginning of summer and the end of a highschool or college has finally hit and people NEED to celebrate with drunken revelry, sometimes alcohol-fueled.

Roark (Rory) Sakura was here because it's a party, and as an Oni, he's drawn to parties, though something kept him on edge ... and then the dancing tekeli-masters began slurming through the portals (the surface of every alcoholic beverage open to the skies in the entire park) and it had taken Rory and Vorpal a good half-hour to find the unnatural glyph that someone had written in sharpie on someone else's forehead as they were drunkenly and otherwise-stonedly collapsed on the ground.

Honestly, why do people think that "A Childe's Necronomickon" is actually just a silly joke? It works MUCH better than the ones for grups.

Scribbling over the rune broke the spell, though the victim of the facial vandalism had to be taken off to St. Mungo Jerrie's in Yokai-land to be properly exorcised. That left Vorpal and Rory to pop all the dancing tekeli so they'd go back home rather than infesting the real world.

Unfortunately, it attracted attention. There were news crews. Fortunately, Rory thought to turn into his Yokai form for the occasion so the few times he's been seen it's been clearly Some Kind Of Metahuman, because the news crews aren't Japanese and don't know what they're looking at.

Rory stabs another jelly-fish-bubble from where it's seated over the head of a strangely dancing college girl, and it goes >POP< and she's suddenly drenched and wondering where she is.

Vorpal (87) has posed:
"UNGH! Is everything related to the paranormal oozy and slimy? I don't want to get any of this on my fur-" Vorpal ha grabbed a fork from a nearby eatery to stab the bubbles, the final one on his line of sight belonging to a man who clearly was trying to do the limbo with an invisible limbo bar. Either that, or he was in the throes of some forbidden mystic dance, it's hard to tell. POP!

"I'm glad you were around for this, I honestly don't know how to handle some of these paranormal things. I'm Ab-normal, not Para-normal," the cheshire cat grins.

Aspen (251) has posed:
It's something Aspen had been on the look out for and so when the sighting was brought to her attention, she wasted no time in making her way over to the sight of the disruption. Of course, seeing what she had, her car was parked away from the action but close enough that it could be easily gotten to.

Pushing her way through the throng of people, she makes her way over to where Rory and Vorpal are. "There's very little difference from what I've gathered honestly," is said as she leans back against a near by tree. Is she helping? Nope. She's watching, observing, see how they move and work together. The way they handle the situation and the pressure of it all.

"I think you missed one," is pointed out as she points a few feet to the right. Did they really? Probably not. But she wants to see how they react to it.

Yokai (Sakara) has posed:
"Slimy, oozy, smelly, itchy, yeah," Rory says. "Kinda like people." He thinks //ningen// when he says that.

The random woman points out one they missed, and Rory looks, but all he sees is a plastic bag that's been soaked with the spray.

"False alarm, but thanks," he says. He closes his eyes, drawing his legs up so he can sit in a half-lotus in mid-air, his tail lashing behind him, and he rotates in place, horns glimmering with foxfire, as he searches with his magical senses for any further evidence of tekeli. After a good four rotations, nothing.

"We got 'em all. No new incursions. No more miasma."

He sits there in mid-air because it's amusing to do that. Also because whatever this woman is doesn't read like a human. He's not sure. Perhaps the closest signature is some of the //ayakashi// -- strange phenomenon of the sea -- but not actually a ghost, so not one of the haunting women. Besides she's here in New York and thus on land, which most of them can't pull off.

"So. I'm Rory. What can I do for you?"

Vorpal (87) has posed:
"And I'm Vorpal the Wondercat, his sidekick," Vorpal jokes, tossing the fork behind him. It would be cool to say that it bounced on the edge of the trash can several feet away, spun, and fell into the trash can. Instead, it bounces off the can, off a nearby chair, and up into one of the trees lining the area proper, where it upsets a squirrel by conking it over the head with the handle.

This squirrel now begins to plan Vorpal's doom.

"Are you part of the special agencies? Get called when the Ghostbuster's line is busy or something?"

Aspen (251) has posed:
Nope. Not even partially human. The closest thing to compare her to would be something along the lines of a minor Goddess. "Mmm. That depends on a few things. Mostly... You can listen. I'd suggest not here though. You boys hungry?"

Cerulean blue eyes slide over to Vorpal as the almost blue haired woman pushes from the tree and pulls the keys for her car from her shorts pocket. "Not really Wondercat. You guys can call me... Fathom, for now." Not a name sh typically uses but if she's going to do this, might as well do it right, right? Right.

"No getting slime in my car though." It took her ages to save up for that beautiful machine she drives. "I promise. You're perfectly safe. If I wanted to hurt anyone, I wouldn't offer to feed you."

Yokai (Sakara) has posed:
"Hungry? I'm always a little bit ... hungry," Rory says, with a faint growl that makes it sound ambiguous about what precisely he's hungry //for//. It could sound like Jersey Shore grade douchebaggery if it wasn't accompanied by an emotional sense of unfocused but predatory hunger, that even a brain-deaf mortal could feel. Apparently sincerity cancels out lame lines.

"Fathom. Don't worry, I wasn't interested in playing with the dancers, so none of the slime got on me."

Vorpal (87) has posed:
"There are two things I never say no to: A free dinner, and a free dinner. I'm all ears, and at least one stomach, and jumping between rooftops has a way of building an appetite." The cheshire cat waves to some of the news crews. Sorry, boys, no interviews tonight. "Send me any questions to my blog! Vorpalcat dot me. It's a thing!"

He's been picking up a few ideas for self-promotion from Gar.

He follows Fathom readily, knowing that he has a quick way out in case d-d-d-danger rears its ugly head.

Aspen (251) has posed:
A brow arches at Rory, a slow smirk curving her lips. "I'll keep that in mind." She motions for both of them to follow. As she walks back to where she parked, she starts talking. "You boys did really well tonight. It's rare to see teamwork like that. And you have a way of detecting what those were... You're vigilant..."

The moment her car comes into view, it's likely obvious why she didn't want slime near it. A 2016 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible Sport with a custom pain job and interior. "Where would you like to go?" The question is asked as the alarm beeps off and the doors unlock and the roof lowers. "I have a proposition for you gentlmen."

Yokai (Sakara) has posed:
"That's very pretty. I may be too tall to fit in it," Rory says, and ... well. He //does// have a form he can shapeshift into. He claps his hands together, and with an entirely unnecessary puff of smoke, he has become an entirely human-looking boy of perhaps 12 years of age but only about five and a half feet tall, wearing a pair of charcoal-grey pants, a clean white shirt, a black bow tie (hand tied) and a blue knit sleeveless sweater vest over the top. His hair is very short and he looks quite earnest.

"I can fit now," he says in a younger voice. "But I might have to sit on your lap, Vorpal-san."

Vorpal (87) has posed:
"Dear heavens, don't get any smaller- I didn't bring any nappies" The Cheshire cat grins and sits down. He immediately finds temptation staring at him in the face. Buttons. Glorious, glorious buttons everywhere. He wants to push each and every single one of them.

Considering how mysterious Fathom appears, that might be a bad idea. He could end up propelling himself into the sky.

"How about you take the back seat? Sitting on my lap might get us pulled over by a cop for safety reasons, which is the opposite of what Fathom wants "

He stares at the buttons. So pretty. So pushable. Focus.

"This proposition... I assume you're not trying to sign us up for the Columbia House catalog?"

Aspen (251) has posed:
Aspen watch Rory shift and a brow arches. It's not judgement but a bit of surprise and then a smirk of approval. "That must come in handy. How many sizes do you come in? Aaaaand, no lap sitting. There's a backseat. If Tony can fit Thor in a Lambo, I'm sure we can get you two in a Maserati."

Her blue eyes slide to Vorpal and she laughs, the sound like fresh water running over smooth rocks in a babbling brook, it's warm and clear and full of life. "Not hardly. Although, if you want a subscription, it might be able to be arranged.

She slides in and shuts the door. Once both are in and settled, the top comes back up and she turns on the engine. The car doesn't roar to life. It purrs. "Actually, what I want to talk to you boys about is something a little more... Team oriented." The AC comes on next and the car is put into gear.

"What would you guys like to eat?"

Yokai (Sakara) has posed:
Yep. Cat is impervious to flirtation. As bad as that Adrien guy. Rory grins to himself, and disappears with a weird sound, reappearing in the back seat, and buckles himself in. Still. Fathom seems like she's not clueless... and he's enjoying the sound of the car purring. This is one of those vehicles that will become a yokai itself if it ever goes more than ten years without being driven. An angry yokai at that.

"Oni can shapeshift," he says, "though I haven't learned as many forms as my father has."

What to eat? What to eat?

"We should try for steak and pommes frites ... wait it's after midnight. Nobody's open. I leave it up to you then, Fathom. I will eat anything that humans eat."

That is NOT a positive endorsement.

Aspen (251) has posed:
With both buckled in, Aspen pulls away from the curb. "Really? I'm afraid I don't really know what an One is, to be honest. Or pommes frites..." She frowns slightly as she tries to figure it out. And that little qualifier isn't lost on her either. "Do you normally prefer something else?" It's genuine curiosity as she makes her way through the streets, a quick glance being given back to Rory. "Although... If it's red meat you want... How would you feel about burgers and fries? Alternatively, I can grill steaks."

Her shoulders shrug as she weaves in and out through traffic. "I'm going to be very honest with you both. I was there tonight to watch. You both showed up during a search I was running with specific parameters set. You've both heard of the Avengers, I assume?"

Yokai (Sakara) has posed:
"I have heard of the Avengers," Rory admits. Even in the most rural part of Japan, the Avengers have been Noticeable.

"Oh. Uhm. Honestly, red meat would help after that combat, if it isn't too much trouble. It takes energy to banish the not-quite-eldritch."

Now he's curious. But he's also shapeshifted into his younger form, and habit suggests that he not seem too nosy or knowledgeable.

Vorpal (87) has posed:
"I may have heard of the Avengers," Vorpal says. A furred hand is taptaptapping its way down the dashboard. Not going to push any buttons. No sireee. Especially that one which gloes with a blue light. "I used to do reports on them for a website," he he says absent-midedly, not realizing he's crossing the streams a little. "So you've been running searches and we popped up? Interesting. I'm dying to know what keywords you used!"

Aspen (251) has posed:
Again, blue eyes flit back to Rory in the mirror. "Cooked or uncooked?" Nope. Not kidding. She's genuinely curious which would be better for him. "Alright. Then assuming you two have no objections, we'll go back to my apartment in Stark Tower and I'll cook there. I have a few steaks in the fridge."

Her eyes glance at Vorpal and then back to the road. "You really don't want to know... Suffice to say, you two pinged because of what you did tonight. What I'm looking to do is pull together a team, a group of people, who I believe to have true strength and courage. People who, with some experience and time, have the potential to be some of Earth's mightiest heroes."

Yokai (Sakara) has posed:
"Seared on the outside, if you don't mind," Rory says, "and some amount of pink is better, but I don't mind if you make it well done. My grandmother would beat me with a broom if I were to be picky about meat."

This is true but only if it's provided by a host. If it's from an innkeeper he's allowed to devour the man's children for serving well-done meat.

"The situation at the park was one I would be obligated to deal with in any case," the Oni admits. "It's a matter of family honor."

Vorpal (87) has posed:
"Stark Tower? THE Stark Tower? Wow..." Vorpal looks down at his unitard. "... and I'm not even dressed for it. Don't you need a monocle and a top hat to even be allowed to walk through the front door?"

Kidding aside, he doesn't object to meat- what carnivore would? This talk of a team, though, makes his curiosity sit up and pay attention. "And you think we've got that potential? Wow.. " he strokes his chin. "I guess we won't hear more until we get to the tower..."

Impatient cat is impatient cat. It takes a second to concentrate, and he opens a Rabbit Hole. It's not a Rabbit Hole TO the tower, but to one of the streets close to it. He opens it a ways off, and points to it. "Go through there. It's a shortcut." He grins.

Aspen (251) has posed:
"Will medium rare work?" This is asked of Rory as she smirks. "If it makes a difference, I don't mind you being picky." She gives a soft chuckle. "And if the situation had been different? IF it had been someone trying to assault someone? Rob a store? Would you have stepped in?"

And then there's the Rabbit Hole and Aspen's eyes widen. The brakes squeal as she brings the car to a halt, pissing off the man behind her. "You want me to take my car through that!?" The demon in the back? Doesn't freak out at all. The rabbit hole the cat wants her to take her baby through? That she has a problem with.

"If anything happens to my car, cat...." And then it's put back in gear and she aims right for the portal.

Yokai (Sakara) has posed:
Rory grins in a slightly disturbing fashion as they travel into a hole in the world and out the other end into traffic. When they're through the hole, he says, "Look up a report on April 4th of an attempted robbery in Mutant Town, at Older Than Dirt Antiques and Collectibles."

That should be sufficient to satisfy her question. Of course, he doesn't explain that in some cases, he'll take the side of the "monster" by default, because again, Family Honor and being an Oni, which are frequently afflicted by Monstresse Oblige.

Vorpal (87) has posed:
"It's perfectly safe!" Vorpal says, "There's only ever been one accident with it, and that was Chat Noir spraining his ankle. In his defense, he was too busy staring at my butt to watch where he was stepping."

It's a joke, of course, but they don't know that. "And don't forget that one time we stapped that gang. Remember that, Rory? Tazer gloves. Seriously? You've got to be kitten me!"

Aspen (251) has posed:
In and then out of the hole... With no damage done... Good.

"If you're going to make puns like that, you'll walk home," Aspen says to Vorpal without any venom or bite to her words and a smile on her lips. "No top hat or monocle needed, by the way, I assure you."

She turns a corner and is pulling into the parking garage of Stark Tower.

"You put innocent people before your own well being," is both as she parks the car. "I'd say that is definitely potential. You're young, to, and willing to sacrifice because you have the power to make a difference. So seems thus far anyhow."

The car is turned off and she opens her door. "This way." She points towards the nearby elevator.

Yokai (Sakara) has posed:
Rory follows along, looming larger with each step after Fathom, until he reaches his full human form at around 6'6" and deceptively lean in an older version of his school uniform, now a chinese-style jacket with a stand-up collar and a single line of buttons that aren't buttoned, showing a half-out, crisp white shirt and a loosely tied school tie in black, gold, and red stripes. No horns, no tail, fangs and claws nicely hidden, only his mismatched eyes with their odd pupils revealing his monster nature.

"I don't know about sacrifice. I haven't been asked to do that, except in the most simplistic ways. And at twenty-four years, I'm not //that// young. Though really, for my race, I really am. But most people don't notice that."

He waits for Vorpal to catch up and lays a hand on his shoulder in a friendly fashion, considering whether to scritch the base of those ever-so-enticing cat ears. He'll go onto the elevator last.

Vorpal (87) has posed:
"You're an old fart. I'm eighteen. Wide eyed and bushy tailed." Vorpal smirks and reaches behind to grab a hold of his tail as the elevator rises. "See? Verifiable."

He doesn't add much to Fathom's comment, but rather goes on another tangent that pops up in his brain. "So... who else are you thinking of recruiting for this team? It's got to be more than just the two us..."

Aspen (251) has posed:
"Hey!" Aspen looks over at Vorpal as he calls Rory an old fart. "Twenty-four is not old, thank you." Again, there's that smirk.

Her hands are shoved into the pockets of her jeans as they ride up in the elevator. "There are ways to sacrifice aside from laying down your life, Rory. Some would bulk at even the simplistic ways. Others still would use such abilities to cause harm." She looks back, expecting to see the kid only to met with... "Holy hell. Exactly how big can you get?" God, that sounds so wrong and it's not at all how she meant it.

The elevator dings and she steps out, answering Vorpal's question in the process. "There are a few prospects that I'm considering. Currently, obviously, this is still in the beginning stages. I am looking for those who could work well together, likely step up as Avengers themselves one day, and have no problems dealing with me as... God help me... The only term I can think of is 'House Mom'." Her nose wrinkles at it.

Yokai (Sakara) has posed:
"I'm not //old// yet," Rory says. "Dad's only 140. Grandma is over 500 years. We Oni live a long time. I'll eventually get as tall as him -- he's 250 centimeters tall, still growing, but slower than me. In my Oni form, I'm about 203-204 centimeters tall."

Yeah, centimeters. Japanese unit of measure. Rory doesn't mention any other measurements. Nope. Smirk.

"House Mom? How about "Mentor" instead?"

Vorpal (87) has posed:
"I believe the word you are looking for is 'Responsible Adult.'" Vorpal grins, trying to look innocent, but not putting much effort behind that. "I am liking this proposal, though... so what's the full spec of it? Do we get a headquarter? Pizza deliveries? Cable?"

No, he's talking about the network, not THAT Cable.

Aspen (251) has posed:
"Aha! Mentor. I like that word so much better!"

Aspen smirks as they make their way down the hallway. Stopping in front of the door, she pulls her keys free and slides one into the lock but doesn't actually turn it. Instead, she pulls it out a second later and pushes the door open and motion them inside. "Make yourselves comfortable."

The apartment is no less than one would expect to find at Stark Tower. Modern with high end finishings everywhere. Most of it computerized and all running on a network of some sort. Everything is set in to walls or counters as much as possible to show off the sleek lines of the rooms. It's a completely open concept. Decor is done in shades of blues and greens. The scent and sound of running water fills the air.

"That's two words, you know..." Smirk. "As longs you can dial a phone, I don't doubt you can get pizza delivered." And then she's laughing again. "And cable is more than likely, yes. Even, gasp, internet!"

"Would you want a specific headquarters?" Of course, she's already planned for either possibility but... opinions. They matter.

Yokai (Sakara) has posed:
"I have a few bolt-holes in the Yokai realm and a place in the mortal realm," Rory says. Sure, the place in the mortal realm is in the Underground and isn't accessible to normal humans without the use of heavy duty digging equipment -- because it's been cut off over time -- but he's fine with that. Every monster needs his sekret lair, right?

"We'll probably need a place to meet, train together, maybe living quarters like firemen have," Rory suggests. "Not sure if it should be secret or not. Or if it can be, given that we'd be coming and going and not everyone is as sneaky as me or Wondercat here."

He admires the apartment ... a bit heavy on the water feeling, but the feng shui is good. (Not that silly magical-zones stuff. The balance of energy flows and movements.)

Vorpal (87) has posed:
Vorpal looks at the apartment and, for the first time in the evening, is speechless. He finds a seat where he can put himself at ease, and then finally says "... I wouldn't mind hanging out in a place like this... what Rory said. Though I have to admit I'm tempted... I can still go to school and be part of the team." Westchester is only a Rabbit Hole away, of course. "Hmmm... I am currently working for someone,but I don't think they'd mind..." He spaces out for a second, and then says, "Oh, right, I'm doing PR stuff for Beast Boy. He just recently moved back to this coast about... I wanna say a week ago."

Aspen (251) has posed:
"I agree whole heartedly. Where, precisely, is still being determined but I do want to male sure the team has somewhere. And, of course, things such as school eould be disrupted as little as possible."

Her eyes are tossed on the counter and she steps into the living room. "And since I have a vague idea of what each of you are capable off..."

Her body starts to shift and blur, going from a very human looking woman to one made of pure water. And then it shifts again and water is suddenly pure energy. Finally back to human form. "No. I am not mutant or metahuman. I'm something else entirely."

Yokai (Sakara) has posed:
Rory's eyes go a bit wide as Aspen does a masterful bit of shapeshifting. Nothing he's able to quite do himself yet. Maybe Grandmother can fake it by now, old Oni often have the ability to do strange things that other yokai can do.

"You never heard of yokai, but you are one. Not a common one. They would call you kaisui no josei in the human storybooks. But I think the real word would be Ao-onna, if your people came onto land."

He looks very intrigued. The news about a "beast boy" has been completely wiped from his mind.

Vorpal (87) has posed:
"Really? Because I thought she'd be called a Nixie!" Vorpal says- ah, the troublesome issue of terminology. Every mythology had its own term for different spirits and creatures, and many seemed to overlap across cultures... and others may seem to share characteristics with them, but aren't actually anything of the sort at all.

Or, at least, that's what Vorpal has come to learn from perusing different mythologies. Wonderland is easier.

"Yokai, Nixie or something else entirely... that is one *cool* trick! When you become water... what happens if you fall into a body of water? Do you, like, become the whole thing?" He pauses, and eyes go wide with excitement. "Ohmygod can you become the OCEAN?"

Aspen (251) has posed:
Aspen's eyes go to Rory and she smiles. "I am... The only one of my kind, actually. A hybrid of two very very old and very deep ocean dwelling people. Occasionally some come on to land. I don't know what each culture calls them, honestly.They call themselves The Blues and The Blacks."

As she makes her way to the kitchen to start pulling out things that's needed to feed the young men, she casts a glance to Vorpal and chuckles. "I'm connected to the oceans, yes. The bow to my will as do the storms of them. And no, I don't need be near water to control it. I suppose it's possible to dissipate my body into the water but it wouldn't be comfortable. I've already had my body blown up once. It wasn't fun..."

Yokai (Sakara) has posed:
"So, Ao-onna is not correct, but might be for half of your family. My grandmother made me drill incessantly over the different kinds of yokai, especially the ones who were visitors."

Music was sometimes involved. So were beatings. But he's an Oni, he has to be able to endure and even enjoy beatings, so it was all good training.

"I haven't tried being blown up. I'm told that I could survive it if they didn't take the remains and soak them in holy water, and burn them on the winter-gate day. But it never sounded very pleasant."

Rory looks at the chairs. No. He sits in an imaginary chair instead, hovering a bit in mid-air in a sitting position.

Vorpal (87) has posed:
Vorpal... just stares at Rory as he describes the very specific ways in which he may not survive.

"Do you realize how weird you are?" asks the cheshire cat, with a grin.

Back on topic, the cat focuses on Aspen. "So... I have a question about this team. Do we have an official name? I take it Vorpal and the Vorpalicious isn't an option on the table?"

Aspen (251) has posed:
"Perhaps," Aspen notes with a nod towards Rory. The steaks are pulled out and the grill on her stove is turned on. "They ... We ... Are where many stories of things such as mermaids and such come from." She shrugs her shoulders. "In truth... I tend not to spend much time with them. I don't particularly care to be used as a living weapon."

And then she chuckles at Vorpal. "Says the cat who opens portals..." And then she grins. "The team has been dubbed the Young Avengers." She won't point fingers as to who came up with that name.

Yokai (Sakara) has posed:
"Indeed? I've always wondered... who is being avenged, and for what?"

Leave it to the Yokai to ask the awkward questions. Actually that's almost his job, depending on the situation. When it's not being "the force of destruction and bringer of pain." Roark has yet to graduate to "force of destruction" though. He's achieved "force of confusion" though. Beware the team-up when he and Vorpal are on the battlefield.

Vorpal (87) has posed:
"Alright, I'm ok with that name. The Avengers are cool. So... I guess this means we need to reveal our secret identities to you, right? Do we need to sign contracts, background checks, stuff like that?"

He fidgets on his seat, "And if we get living quarters, um... you might want to make sure the drains can withstand... a lot of fur." This comes from experience, after he nearly turned his bathroom shower into New Atlantis.

Aspen (251) has posed:
"Whoever needs it, Rory. And we fight to prevent that as much as possible," Aspen answers carefully. His steak is quick and easy. Twenty second rule. Of course, it means the fries will have to come afterwards. "Do you want to wait on the fries or..." She motions to the steak she slides on to a plate. "And what about you, Vorpal? How would you like yours?"

As for revealing? She shrugs. "I will leave that up to you for now. It may prove necessary later but for now..." And then she snickers. "I will make sure we have good drain filters then and that they're changed regularly."

Yokai (Sakara) has posed:
What good is a glass dagger? Well, in recent times, they're crafted by humans and a few yokai in a place in Japan where they know how to turn zirconium into super-hard glass that stays quite sharp. Rory carries a food-sized version of one of these, too small to be a wakazashi, but disguised as if it were one. Actually it's just a knife for cutting meat. The sheath also holds a pair of chopsticks. It's very clever and saved from being borderline kitschy by being very understated. The knife is used to slice the steak.

"I'm good waiting for the fries. Meals seem more like home when they come in stages."

Vorpal (87) has posed:
"Yeah, I'm totally fine waiting. So... the final question..." Vorpal says. "Actually... the penultimate question is- what do you want to ask *us*? You're giving us the pitch, I'm sure there must be something you want to know about us. Unless your surveillance already knows everything. I mean... I have a StarkPhone. It might be very possible you've got files of me ordering underwear from Amazon over it."

He then realizes what else he may have ordered, and his eyes go wide.

Aspen (251) has posed:
And there's that bright, bubbly, full of life laughter of Aspen's again. "We haven't bugged your phone, Vorpal." Her eyes dance and sparkle, head shaking as she gets the deep frier ready and pulls out a bag of fries from the fridge. Apparently, fries were dinner tonight one way or another.

"The questions -I- have for you are simple. Are you willing to come together? To rise when called? To do what must be done to protect those who can't protect themselves when needed? Even if it means the public and the media may not always like you?"

Yokai (Sakara) has posed:
"Already my //giri// to do that for the Yokai of this city. I find I'm extending it to the humans more frequently. Especially those who are being oppressed," Rory answers. "Will this mean that the police will stop trying to ask me personal questions?"

Probably not. Those questions have most frequently been about his license to perform in public, which he got but which is somewhat more limited in scope than he realizes.

"It depends to a small extent on the others, how well we will 'come together' ... but I am willing to try."

Rory's stomach makes a protesting noise. There is steak here and he is talking rather than eating.

Vorpal (87) has posed:
"Don't worry about the press. I used to be part of HeroWatch- I quit, but I mean, I know the kind of sleazy things they'd say about us. And I might be helpful in combating those."

Vorpal turns to Rory. "Giri? I thought that was a Greek sandwich? Wait, is that Shawarm-no, that's Arabic. Ok, my mind is officially focused on food."

He swivels to look at Aspen. "Of course. I am perfectly ready to come together. Right now." He tilts his head. "And... this has nothing to do with me accepting or not, I'm in one way or another- but is there any sort of compensation or stipend attached? I only ask because if I'm going to be part of the group, I'll need to rearrange my schedule and finances, my previous job and my current one sort of help towards living expenses."

Aspen (251) has posed:
Fries went in.... Fries are pulled out. A helping is put on each plate and then Vorpal's steak is added to his. Salt, pepper and other condiments are then sat as well. "Enjoy, gentlemen." She'll get to her own in a while. For now, clean up.

"There will be a stipend with this, yes. Also, keep in mind, should you choose to use the living quarters provided, expenses will be paid on that for you. At least, to a certain point. We aren't supplying your games or junk food." A wink is tossed to them. "Well... Maybe games... To a point..." What?

"What personal questions, Rory? Perhaps it's something we can get worked out." Because she can't begin to imagine why the cops are asking questions.

Vorpal (87) has posed:
The Cheshire cat gets up and heads over to the kitchen. "Nono, you sit down and get to your food."

The cat reaches out and touches the dishes, the utensils, and other divers items. A flash of chaos magic surges through him.

"Clean yourselves up."

When doing clean-up, you don't want locomotiary substitution, or remote intransitory convolution. One precise solution is the key: Substitutiary locomotion it must be.

The cat goes back to his seat, not even looking back to see the effect of the spell. It worked over at Marinette's, right? it should work here, too!

He hopes.

He sits down to devour his stake without speaking because Rory needs to ask a question.

Yokai (Sakara) has posed:
"Who I am, where I am from, why I am drawing on the streets, whether I have a license, where I live, what my street address is, it's all very tedious. I have trouble with your addresses here, as well," Rory answers. "Why do they ask me every day when they asked me the day before?"

He demonstrates a nearly American fascination for ketchup as he applies a liberal amount to dip his fries in, because the condiment is apparently some sort of perfect necessity for crispy potato things. He also draws a tiger in ketchup on his plate as the fries are cleared away by his steadily eating them.

Aspen (251) has posed:
Aspen blinks as her dishes start to clean themselves. "You know... You ever decide to quit whatever job you have now... You'd make a killing cleaning houses... Just saying..."

As so, as 'advised', she focuses on her own food. Once it's ready, she takes a seat. "I hope it too your liking, gentlemen."

And then she's blinking at Rory before she grins. "I think we can get that taken care of, yes. There are a few others I still have to speak to but once everything is set, I will reach out to each of you with an address. If you want to join... Meet me there. If not, that's fine. It's completely voluntary and without consequences should you choose this isn't what you want."