12211/Atlantis Approved

Atlantis Approved
Date of Scene:	21 September 2020
Location:	Atlantis Poseidonis Embassy, Oyster Bay
Synopsis:	A good time is had at the embassy until Garth reveals Atlantis' environmental agenda's first phase and promptly gets shot by suicide assassins.
Cast of Characters:	Tempest, Raven, Catwoman, Supergirl, Emma Frost, Spike

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Tempest has posed:
The Embassy has been done up for the event. The vast great room has numerous tables set up, though there is still room cleared away for people to mix and mingle. The room has soft green and gold highlights, a subtle reminder of just whose hospitality the guests are enjoying, and just whom the ambassador, Prince Garth of Shayeris speaks for. The lighting is sufficient if slightly muted and gentle with an extraordinarily subtle blue and green undertone to it due to the light show floating overhead.

Hovering over the stage are holograms of the breathtaking sites of Poseidonis, Shayeris, Tritonia, and other locals. Majestic glowing cities of muted light within calm, dark, cold waters that darken to a black that makes the night sky seem bright in comparison. It is the projectors and their sublime views that subtly hue the room with the cool blues and greens of the Atlantean homewaters.

Surface worlder catering staff are situated amongst the groups, carrying delicacies and champagne in crystal flutes upon gleaming silver trays.There are Atlanteans amongst the crowd, though, situated in clever tanks surrounded by counters and stools. Comely tritonian men but mostly women. They are clad in the traditional atlantean manner, which is to say not much. Silver threads are strung with pearls, glass beads, and the occasional gem in barely-there skirts that obscure the juncture of scaled tail and human abdomen. The women wear matching tops, though a couple unironically wear vibrantly colored shells and little else. Atlantis is not a modest culture. Their english is exquisite and their knowledge of surface world beverages significantly less so. Still, they are not there to make actual beverages, and more to be ambassadors of their kind in a more common manner.

A string quartet plays in one end of the chamber, when they take a break atlantean music full of drums and various horns of silver and shell can be heard. Ethereal sounds of harps and some more unique and unseen Atlantean instruments compete with the primal drum beats.

Surface world elegance with Atlantean accents seems to be the theme. The host is clad in a perfectly tailored tuxedo that drapes over his swimmer's form. Garth is black and white, save for his bowtie which is ever-so-subtly hued a midnight purple that emphasizes his violet eyes. The cufflinks catch up the subtle purple as well. That bowtie seemingly has a slight twist to it, so it is ever-so-slightly askew in a manner that might make some fingers itch to correct it as it is so close to perfection.The hostess of the evening, Miss Emma Frost of the titular Frost International is clad in her signature white accented with silver and platinum that is almost incandescent in comparison to the darker clothing of the Atlantean prince.

She is at her regal and aristocratic best in this venue. A full-length, body-skimming gown of white satin overlaid with crystal-and-pearl accents set in lace encases her form. It has no straps to interrupt the lines of her shoulders, but for all that appears modest enough? until she moves on three-inch heels and the thigh-height slit exposes one leg from nearly hip to ankle. Soft pink toenails peep out from strappy white heeled sandals, and her blonde hair is caught up in a sleek chignon with decorative pearl and crystal pins. Around her neck is a positively gorgeous platinum necklace, simply and elegantly set with a round mother-of-pearl pendant, and a pair of simple, classy diamond-drop earrings in platinum sparkle amid loose curls that soften the upswept hair rather than it being confined in severe fashion as might be considered 'usual' for her.

The two hosts are near the entrance, greeting folks who enter. To call them 'strictly business' is simply not accurate, but to call them more than friendly might be a little bit of a stretch.

Raven has posed:
Rachel's here today out of team solidarity much more than because she has any real business being at a high-end diplomatic affair. And she's already regretting it. She's worn a black dress for the evening with a high slit at the leg, and looks distinctly uncomfortable in it. Her makeup is dark purple, offsetting her pale skin and emphasizing that gothic look, as well as the red crystal in place on her forehead. She's looking around, trying to find the most out-of-the-way place in the room that she can actually be in.

Catwoman has posed:
Selina Kyle enters in, a bit fashionably late perhaps but here nonetheless. She has never been here before and frankly, she's never really invested in hair ties for sea creatures, but as a philanthropist nonetheless, it was good to make connections.

Dressed in a sleek black sequinned minidress and matching black pumps adorned with a simple yet stunning sapphire pendant, it's hard not to notice her as she strides in gracefully, smiling and nodding to the hosts as she enters. She pauses to survey the scene, accepting an alcoholic drink before wandering towards one of the tanks, peering at the beautiful sea creatures thoughtfully.

Supergirl has posed:
It probably wasn't the best of moves but Supergirl was present, dressed for the occasion instead of in her costume. She wasn't her secret identity though. No brown wig and glasses. No, this was the woman known as Supergirl with her blonde hair and girl-next-door pretty appearance. She had agreed to come to support the Titans present, as an ally and perhaps soon to be member of the team. But, she had run into a problem.

Her mother came to the rescue. Seemed they had planned for her senior prom, which she had not been able to attend. Thus, she had a dress that would fit, with a little modification.

She was in a lovely strapless silver gown, with a long flowing skirt. Her hair was pulled up in the back, a few strands loose around her face for effect. Simple diamond earrings, clip on since she couldn't really go get her ears pierced at the local mall. Classic and pretty.

SAs yet another server offered her champagne, she had to decline. After all, she wasn't 21 yet. And even if those rules didn't apply on Atlantean soil, Superman would kill her if she was caught. So, she would wait. Instead, she found some sweet fizzy fruity drink. She had no idea what it was but had been assured there was no alcohol in it.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma's cool blue gaze takes in the people arriving, and she greets each with "Welcome. Please, have a drink and enjoy yourselves. Thank you so much for coming." She's as much in her element here as she is in a boardroom or even a classroom, calm and poised as she makes a point of meeting people's gazes. The faint smile that plays about her lips hints at amusement as she also greets several of her own acquaintances who run shipping lines or freight or otherwise do business with Frost Industries. She plays the social game quite well, but as each one leaves, she murmurs something to Garth. His wife is going to take a strip off him -- that's his mistress on his arm tonight." Or "He's a nice guy, but his daughter and son are going to run the business into the ground within five years of his retirement. They're morons."

Tempest has posed:
"Hey miss. Are you the one they call Raven?" The voice has a depth to it, and a slight accent. It belongs to a black tailed merman in one of the bar kiosks. His hair is dark, his skin pale and purple streaks of colored scales shimmer on his tail. He has, unfortunately, brown eyes. "I'm Ruric." His tail slashes the water. He does not wear much, just a purple vest, a pair of silvered bracers, and a silver necklace with a single pearl dangling from it. "Price Garth said that we were to look out for you and when you went off to hide, one of us was supposed to entertain you. Fix you a drink?" He pauses. "Well, tell me how to fix you a drink? We are woefully undertrained for this task. Cocktails are so not an Atlantis thing." He lowers his voice. "I swear I don't bite." His shrug is gentle.

An older couple walks past Selina Kyle, the woman hiding her laughter in her hand as she walks past. The man is laughing softly, but amused. "Who puts grenadine in a gin and tonic?" He complains good naturedly. He pauses. "Though, honestly? It's not bad." The woman giggles harder, managing to choke out something about the olive that is in the glass.

Selina is nearly splashed as a redhead and a brunette, both 'clad' in little rummage around in their liquor cabinets. 'Sorry!" The brunette says. "I should have studied more."

"Or at all." The redhead giggles and goes back to rummaging. "Ah ha! Shaker!" She gives it a shake sending the water to rippling about her in little waves and bubbles. "Now we need the lemon peel, and we're in business!"

Garth quietly remarks to Emma. "You were right. The bartenders were a huge mistake." He reaches into his pocket and plucks out a silver and mother-of-pearl pocketwatch no doubt scavenged from a shipwreck. He clicks it open and closed. "Almost time for the little speech." He pauses. "The elders back home did not want to soften the language a little like you suggested." He lifts the flute in his other hand and downs the half of the bubbling fluid within with a single gulp. He puts the flute on a nearby fountain which his stately, slightly matronly assistant Janine quickly picks up. Garth attempts to catch Supergirl's gaze, flicking his purple eyes between her and Emma. He then turns and looks about as if searching for others in the crowd. He catches a couple of scowls. The Japanese and Chinese ambassadors. The nice English ambassador is drunk and hanging onto one of the Tritonian bartenders a little too friendly. He can see Ruric chatting up someone he thinks is Raven. He's not sure. That is a gorgeous gown. Emma's little commentary makes him smile. It is a tight smile, his shoulders are set and he shows a little anxiety. He chuckles at that last bit. "Some people say that about me and Atlantis should something happen to my king. They say that about me and the Titans, too." His nervous laughter is a little forced as Garth wonders if there is a place he can be violently ill in an elegant manner.

Raven has posed:
Raven looks over as the merman addresses her, looking surprised. Dammit, Garth. If she wanted to socialize, she would socialize. Not that she's very good at it. "Just some water. Or fruit juice if you have it." Now that she knows there are machinations against her, she isn't going to be off her guard. "Thank you." she says, in her dry tone.

Catwoman has posed:
Selina Kyle arches a brow at the pair who nearly splash her and continues through the crowds. She notices the dark clad Raven and smiles at her. "Love the dress hun." she quips with a little smile. Moving towards the buffet table, she peers thoughtfully at the pickings although she's not overly hungry right now. Occasionally she scratches at her left forearm, covered in a black leather glovette that covers the scar there. The glovettes are stylish but clearly functional too. Scars are so ugly.

Supergirl is noted with a thoughtful smile and nod although she focuses primarily upon Ms. Frost and Garth, slowly making her way towards them. She had of course donated to their charity for tonight, putting in a little extra because she empathized with the plight of sea creatures which seemed to echo those of wild cats.

As she approaches them, she greets both hosts with a generous smile and bow of her head. "Good evening, you both look absolutely stunning tonight." she quips.

Supergirl has posed:
Seeing Garth looking her way, Supergirl lifts her pink fizzy liquid filled glass his way. The glance is noticed and she glances toward Emma, knowing the face from magazine covers. Powerful woman in charge of a huge business with boatloads of money. That's pretty much the entire depth of her knowledge.

She started that way then paused as Selina got there first. So she idle stood off to the side, sipping and watching the goings on. A few people nearby started chatting with her about the loveliness of the embassy.

Emma Frost has posed:
<<Take slow, deep breaths, Prince. You have stood -- well, floated perhaps -- in a royal court and held your own. This little pool of barracudas is nothing.>> Who knew he'd get stage fright?? Emma's smile never wavers as she lightly bolsters Garth's flagging courage with a dry tone. <<It's going just fine.>> As well as these things ever go, anyway. <<Although if the British ambassador uses the words 'Tally Ho,' you should have him escorted out. He doesn't hold his alcohol nearly as well as he thinks and I'd hate to see him be ill.>> She does have an eye on Supergirl, unobtrusively, since the young woman seems a bit ill at ease. But for now she seems fine.

"As do you," Emma replies to Selina easily with a smile. "We appreciate you coming. I'm Emma. This is Garth, although probably know him." Well, *of* him, at least, if not personally KNOW. "Are you enjoying it so far? I admit, I was a little concerned that everyone would be so fascinated with the ladies that we'd spend the evening all staring at one another."

Tempest has posed:
Ruric dips a fluted glass into his tank and settles it in front of Raven, blinking at her twice. "Water?" He says, then merrily laughs. "We have this pineapple orange juice stuff? That lady liked it." Ruric pours Raven a generous glass and situates it on a napkin. A napkin that is soaked by his wet hands already. Garth really did not think through the bartender stations. "Isn't a pine tree the tree you ritualistically decorate once a year to appease Clause, god of deer?" That isn't a joke. The merman seems puzzled. "It has apples too? The Surface is bizarre." The young man subtly flexes as he leans against the bar. Not bad, if you like fish.

He rests his elbow on the counter, ignoring the other patrons, a couple of whom give up and meander over to the mermaid table. At least they can enjoy the floorshow there.

Janice quietly whispers to Garth as Selina Kyle approaches. "Selina Kyle. Gotham. A philanthropist mostly into cats." A good assistant is so hard to find. Given Garth's hearing, the woman doesn't have to be too loud as she says that. "Miss Kyle." Garth turns to give her a smile. "It is so nice of a gotham socialite to come up here to celebrate with us. Thank you." He smiles over at Supergirl. "And the other amazing woman here is Metropolis' Supergirl. She is here purely out of friendship and camaraderie?." He pauses. "And to make sure I don't flee from the announcement e are going to make." His smile betrays his nerves. He pulls in a breath. "Speaking of which. Excuse me while I break one of my rules. You see, it is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool rather than open your mouth and demonstrate it." He brushes past Emma, murmuring, "The necklace absolutely suits you." His smile is still nervous, and pun intended as he heads towards the stage the princeling looks a little green about the gills.

Raven has posed:
"Pineapple orange juice sounds great." Raven accepts the glass, and takes a drink of it. "And...sort of. Human religion is complicated. You might want to start with easier topics." Selina's comment about the dress gets a surprised look, and she looks over after her. "Ummm...thanks?" And then Selina's off to talk to the hosts. Which is pretty much a good example of how most of her social interactions go.

Catwoman has posed:
Selina Kyle nods to Emma. "A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Frost. And you, your highness." a slight curtesy is given to Garth. "Such a splendid kingdom you have here, it is a shame such wonderful creatures of the sea are in danger. I suppose it reminds me of the threats facing my feline friends. Which is why I am here, happy to give you support."

She does keep an eye out for her date, who seems to be a bit...Late..

To Garth she gives a nod and steps back. "Of course. See you later, perhaps." Supergirl is given a smile and nod. "A pleasure meeting you, Supergirl. It is a relief to know the world is safe wuth such honourable heroes like yourself around to protect it."

To Raven she chuckles softly abd nods. "But of course. No need to be shy. Black looks good on you. I've always liked the color myself."

Supergirl has posed:
"Nothing amazing. I'm just me," Supergirl says with a little blush to her cheeks at the compliment from Garth. She really was not good at taking a compliment. Which is why when Selina added to it, the blush got a little worse.

"Nice meeting you. I just do what I can. But thank you."

She quickly downs more of her fizzy drink, hoping the warmth in her cheeks will fade quickly.

Emma Frost has posed:
Mmmm. The announcement that is going to change the worldwide shipping industry in ways that are likely to make a few of these mingling folks upset. She shoots Garth a reassuring smile as he departs for the stage. <<Thank you,>> she tells him.

Then she turns her attention to the two women. "Supergirl, Selina. It's a pleasure to meet you both, truly." She's genuinely glad to see that some of the Titans have shown up to support their teammate and friend -- it speaks well of their bonds.

Emma was genuinely trying not to stare at the exotic Raven. Of course, there are a *number* of exotic, lovely women here tonight. But Raven's the one standing nearest her. And she's got a jewel in her forehead. It caught her attention, and it's only now that she places the young woman as another of the Titans.

Tempest has posed:
Garth smiles over his shoulder at Selina and makes his way onto the stage. This is a crowd that came expecting an announcement and within a few moments, there is silence as Garth steps under the hologram overhead. "I will begin the evening by thanking you all for attending the first public event we have held at this embassy in far too long. I want to assure you all that the friendship and hospitality of the people of Atlantis will be extended far more often. For too long, we have been silent beneath the waves, withdrawn from contact with our distant kin who live upon the surface of this beautiful blue and green world we all share." Garth smiles warmly. "I am Garth, Ambassador to the surface and its nations. I serve my king who sends his greetings and respect." He gestures off to the side where Emma Frost stands in her white and platinum. "This evening would not have happened without the diligence and dedication of Emma Frost, of Frost Industries. Her lawyers were very strenuous in their negotiations." Garth pauses a beat. "And our attorneys are sharks." He gives another beat before continuing. There is polite, soft laughter in the crowd at the little joke.
"We do share this world, and in the words of one of your poets and lyricists, Warren Zevon;

All life folds back
Into the sea
We contemplate eternity
Beneath the vast indifference of heaven"

Those who know Garth know he is fascinated with 'Surface World music' though he cannot carry a tune in a bucket. Still, he recites the lyrics with a quiet reverence as if he feels he found something in the words."

Garth pulls in a breath, and gives a soft, quiet bark of a nervous laugh and lifts his left hand in a half shrug. "I am unqualified to speak on behalf of the heavens. I speak for the people of the oceans. All life did rise from the sea, and most of the world is ocean." It is a subtle inflection, there is no threat, but the quiet insistence of his tone makes it clear that he, and therefore Atlantis, is serious. "When you arrive at your offices on Monday the full outline will be available to you. Atlantis is exercising its rights as recognized by international law, over its territorial waters." He lifts up his right hand to forestall any dread that declaration might engender. "We understand that international trade depends on those waters and we are not cruel. We will allow that trade to continue unmolested and unimpeded so long as various environmental concerns we have are addressed over the next ten years. If your ships cannot meet these reasonable emissions standards, they are welcome to continue to ply the oceans, but they are not welcome in our waters." Given Atlantean holdings in both of the oceans, this is a serious matter. It is a long way around them.

"Our children will breath clean water, just as you demand that your children breathe clean air. We call this initiative Atlantis Approved. Specifics are available tonight via my office, but as I said earlier, everyone here will have the full details waiting for them on Monday." Garth's smile is warm as are his words, but the words he speaks are a simple pronouncement. "We look forward to working with you all on this, the first prong of Atlantis Accepted. Together we can, and we will improve the health of our world and ensure continued peace, prosperity, and health of all our peoples." Garth's tone contains no threats, but it is clear that Atlantis has entered the political arena with an agenda and is willing to be disruptive if it must. "I am here to help." His tone bears that simple promise. "We can do this, and our beautiful, shining world will be better for our efforts." Again there is a pause. "This is an environmental regulation, and nothing more." The crowd is, in a word, uncertain. Scowls from some very wealthy people, concern on the face of some diplomats and outright joy on the faces of others. The mood in the room changed as people suddenly realize just what an ambassador and an embassy means; Atlantis is playing politics and a few things just changed.

Ruric is silent throughout t

Tempest has posed:
ambassador and an embassy means; Atlantis is playing politics and a few things just changed.

Ruric is silent throughout the speech and looks over at Raven, eyes wide. "Why did the room just get cold?" He asks it just a hair too loud and the voice carries. With the guileless tone of the clever, but uneducated he asks, "And what did that mean?"

Spike has posed:
     Late isn't a fashion statement for some. Rather Spike arrives after everyone is good and settled. Of course, he chooses to let the sun set before he shows up. Apparently not in the mood for a blanket over his smoking self. His trademark black coat billows around his legs a little as he moves through the room, eyes scanning the area for someone in specific.

Raven has posed:
Raven listens to the speech, and she frowns a bit, as she hears the declaration of the "Atlantis Approved" initiative. That's going to cause a stir, a lot of it. Dammit, Garth. You could have given a heads-up before this. "Garth just basically took a stance that's more than a little likely to push things towards open conflict."

She winces a little, and puts a hand to her head. The sudden distraction seems to have...given her a headache? She grits her teeth and mutters under her breath "Shut /UP/."

Catwoman has posed:
Selina Kyle bites her lip as she listens to the speech, which ends on a tense note, but honestly she would expect the same if it meant protecting her precious cats..,Maybe..? She smiles and softly claps a few times, if only to show him that at least some people support this bold decision.

She then spies a shock of bleach blonde and black familiar duster in the crowds. She smiles a bit, stepping back and starts towards him. "Spike, you're late." there a familiar twinkle in her eyes, slight amusement at his usual choice of outfit, even at a black tie function such as this.

Supergirl has posed:
Supergirl listens to the speech, giving the polite applause at the announcement even as she tries to get a grip on what that really meant for people. She started to consider the ramifications then realized why people were not quite as approving as they might be normally.

A lot of businesses were going to be dealing with this come the next business day. And there was going to be a lot of negativity as it would mean money out of their pockets. But really, it only made sense.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma's blue eyes are very watchful as Garth starts speaking. It's a surprise to many of the people here tonight, but not all of them. And the stir that it causes is not unexpected, so far as she's concerned. It's a swell, a wave of stunned people's thoughts that she simply lets flow over and around her, their stream uninterrupted because she finds it unnecesary to block background noise. She murmurs in reply to Raven, "We knew the potential existed." But Emma has made a really good deal for her own shipping fleets and well... business is business, gentlemen.

The rise of mental cacophony *is*, however, quite unexpected. Or at least... the more non-human aspects of it, which was a vector she didn't even know to anticipate! Even as Raven insists on someone shutting up, Spike approaches close enough that Emma picks up on *him* as well. A hand rises to her head and she slams her mental shields tight shut, and even then she can feel the pounding of screaming demons. "For the love of God," she hisses out, squeezing her eyes closed and pinching the bridge, as if there's pressure behind her eyes. "A little warning *would* have been nice," she agrees tightly.

Tempest has posed:
There are murmurs in the room as shock fades and calculations are being made. Some hasty assumptions are made. Still others start over towards the offices to get a leg up on what is going on. They'll discover it is not that dire. Still. There are ramifications and realizations being made.

"Sorry!" Ruric cringes from being told to shut up. "I was just asking." He cute. He's clever, but he has no idea what is going on in Raven's head.

At that moment, the doors at the back of the hall are opened by five armed figures, clad in golden and emerald armor. Their heavy rifles are pure white and ribbons of peace decorate them, tied over the barrels in intricate knots the likes of which once secured swords in long gone days. The braided knots are of brilliant gold and green, again the colors of the House of Atlan. These are the King's soldiers.

The figures march with great pomp and circumstance forwards, then with a clatter of metallic boots, precisely stop. Their captain places her hand over her armoured breast and salutes the room with a clenched fist and a deep bow. Her soldiers call out in unison. "Atlantis salutes you!"

The rifle drill is intricate, with each rifle being tossed between the four guardsmen and women. The figures whirl, dip, and strike the rifle butts against the ground and again click, clack and whirl in a dazzling pattern that would make a US Marine smile. To the clever eyed, each guardsman gets their weapon returned to them. To the keener eyed, the adroit and intricate drill disguises that the peace knots are being removed from the trigger guards.

Garth appears shocked by this display, and at once infuriated and curious as he steps out further onto the stage. "This is not a military manner, dear Captain. This is a night of unity and peace." He means that as he says it. "These honors are unearned."

The captain, a beautiful Atlantean woman has her voice amplified and made metallic by the rebreather that she and her guards must wear to survive the surface speaks. "Garth of Shayeris. Prince. Ambassador. Beloved servant of the king. Purple eyed magus." The final three words have a slightly unwholesome inflection that is tinged with deep regret. "Hero of the realms. Your immense heart brings all of Atlantis joy." The drill ends, and the rifles rise. They settle on Garth. "We regret you must die." No joy to her tone. She is murdering a hero because of a prophecy. Blazing bolts of electric blue light rip from the weapon barrels as the captain continues to announce aloud. "This is an internal matter! He is not evil, but he will lead to the world's end with his purple eyes! We mean you surface folk no harm! Atlantis honors its treaties!" There is no joy in her voice, only desperation and regret..

It's not the first assassination attempt made on Garth. It is the most brazen though. The shots are all aimed at Garth; this is a public statement.

Spike has posed:
     So dressing up isn't his thing. Spike locates the object of his search and he approaches Selina with a smile spreading over his face,"I'm never late or early...." he pauses and shrugs,"...yeah I can't look myself in the eye and finish that statement. I'd have to kick my own ass."

     Looking around the room he gauges people around,"It is quite the get together you got here." he finally adds,"Add some bourbon and maybe someone dancing somewhere here and there. Could be entertaining."

Raven has posed:
Shit. Raven's eyes fly open, and she looks over as the woman gets to her announcement. The pale woman in the dark dress flings her hand out towards Garth, as a dome of shadow springs up around the Atlantean. She glares over at the newly arrived Atlanteans. "You do NOT want to do this right now." Her voice is...almost a growl. A snarl.

Catwoman has posed:
Well this is nice, a royal send-off? Except...It suddenly turns into something more violent. Selina gasps, drawing closer to Spike, clutching his arm as she watches the royal guard about to assassinate the Prince. "But Why?! What's the significance of the purple eyes? This is madness!" she manages to utter. Perhaps she should have kept her mouth shut, or maybe she can stall them a little.

Supergirl has posed:
And everything goes to hades in a handbasket.

Faster than a speeding bullet is the phrase. It's true. Not necessarily faster than an energy blast though since it would require her to move too fast in such a closed space, potentially harming others not to mention what a sonic boom would do in here. Thankfully, Raven has the Prince covered. Literally.

Supergirl is there a moment later, hair falling free of it's perfect styling around her shoulders. With the way the gown is designed, she is like an angel ascending in the flowing material as she comes to a hover right in front of the shadow bubble around Garth, to block any further attempts.

"Stand down. Now. Raven is right that you chose a really bad time for this." Her eyes blaze red as she fires off heat beams, meant to try to destroy the weapons in the hands of the attackers. Unfortunately, she has to do them one at a time which might give some a chance to fire again.

Emma Frost has posed:
As if demons suddenly blaring in her head weren't enough, now there's a military *something* -- what the-- Even as she starts to reach out for the captain in the lead, Emma's head is positively *pounding* now with the mental surge of panicked people. The pressure in her face gives and a small gush of blood blossoms down her face. She literally rams, with none of the signature finesse that Emma would usually show, telepathically into the Atlantean captain's mind and drops the woman. Only to then have her own eyes roll back in her head. Even passing out, she looks elegant and graceful on her way to the floor. (She'll be pissed about the blood in her gown tomorrow.)

Tempest has posed:
Raven is a powerful caster, but the rifles pack a wallop. The dome shields Garth, a couple of the blasts being absorbed by Raven's eldritch shadows, but the rifles are Atlantean and the blasts evaporate the field as they strike. Three blasts evaporate Raven's protective bubble of shadow. The unlight being dispelled by the blazing electric death. Garth gets lifted off his feet and tossed backwards by the blast that strikes him and crashes into a fountain. His tuxedo transformed into a smoking jacket, and not the sort that Hugh Heffner made famous. The fountain, at least, extinguishes the flames in a hiss of acrid smoke. There are screams. There is panic. People are running. The embassy staff try to stop the crush of people. Who can blame them for running?

The assassins seem almost relieved, somehow. There is this aura of sadness to them. They raise their weapons to level them at Supergirl, but her heat vision demolishes the weapons. They are insulated, certainly, but not against her might. The extreme heat shatters them into sputtering, hot splinters. The captain rips her facemask off to hurl it defiantly at Supergirl's feet. She sounds so sad as she says with grim resolve. "We tried. This is on you." She works her jaw. Even as she works her jaw the face masks and rebreathers of the guardsmen gush with thick blue strands of some horrific deep sea toxins, venoms, and alchemical poisons. For them, death is nearly instant and not painful. For the captain though, her mouth fills with the choking, thick blue foaming poison and she shudders, falling to her knees. Where the foam strikes the floor there is a sizzle, acrid smoke, and an acidic burn that bubbles and scalds the floor. It had to be a bad death given the gruesome nature. Only Emma knows that she granted the rwoman mercy as she is unconscious as the alchemical poisons eat her once pretty face. These were hideous Atlantean magics used here.

Spike has posed:
     Turning back towards the chaos, Spike puts himself between Selina and the gunplay. He shakes his head and looks back at her,"And you thought I'd be an embarassment. At least I didn't start trying to shoot the host." He looks back over the goings on,"Granted....maybe later, but not yet."

Catwoman has posed:
Selina Kyle cringes, staying behind the protection that Spike offers, knowing he can take a blast or ten and not even flinch. But with all the chaos going on around them, and then the guards dissipating in poison and gas, this place is quickly becoming...Hostile. "Heh, well I certainly wasn't expecting that. let's get out of here..!"

She should probably do something noble like check on Emma or Garth...But she's no hero and she'd rather look out for number one first. She tugs on Spike's hand, ready to get away from this chaos.

Raven has posed:
Raven looks over, relaxing as the assassins...well, all suicide. She seems to relax, despite the horrible sight. "You know, you'd figure if they could rig their suits to kill them, they'd rig them to blow up or something. I mean, zealots, take you with them, and all that."

Spike has posed:
     "Talked me in to it love." Spike replies and lets Selina tug him away, eyeing the situation until they are clear of the place and then he walks with her,"The night is young, where to?"

Supergirl has posed:
"No..." A soft whisper of sound from Supergirl. There is nothing she can do though. No way to stop it. Nothing even her extreme powers can do to keep those toxins from killing the attack squad.

"By Rao, why? What are they going on about?" She looks back and sees Garth, moving to see if he is okay and try to help him out of the fountain. "Are you okay?"

Tempest has posed:
"No." He'll be fine. Garth has been scorched, but he is a scion of Atlan and made of sterner stuff. "Stay away from the corpses. That is evil magic." Garth doesn't seem to be in a hurry to get up though. His eyes are half-lidded against the pain, his jaw clenched. Embassy staff are already hustling emma off and away. they move to help Supergirl. Janice comes running over in her heels. The older woman's hair in disarray. 'Can you help with the crowds? We'll take Garth?!?"