Come as you are, as you were

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

WHO: Aegis Force and everyone!
WHERE: Aegis HQ aka Helix Station, Maurtia Falls
WHEN: July 7
WHAT: Open House! All heroic imPorts are invited to the Aegis HQ to take part in a town hall on threats like the OTO, joint training exercises on the holodeck, and general mingling. But not everyone is a fan of Aegis, and protestors calling themselves 'Shieldbreakers' will be gathering around the HQ throughout the event!
WARNINGS: Simulated violence and talk of past disasters. Ask any questions here!

A) Briefing/Town Hall

Aegis' meeting room is too small to accommodate all the heroes who have been invited today, so instead the base's basement emergency shelter has been transformed into a presentation auditorium. After visiting imPorts are processed through security in the lobby, they are ushered downstairs into the cavernous space where hundreds of civilians could shelter in case of a city-wide emergency. The area is currently equipped with chairs, refreshments and snacks, and a holo-projector displaying bulleted need-to-know information on Aegis Force's top priorities right now, bluish words hovering in the air.

OTO
-active since 2016
-founded by defecting ex-DARPA scientists, hostile to imPorts and USA government
-global network of front corporations, massive financial resources, advanced technology
-past incidents: cloning imPorts, blacking out the Porter cities, nuclear space terrorism, robot attacks, currently pursuing cryptid creatures
-research linked to Dimensional Destabilization, believed to be in contact with Atropos
-divided into different cells with different approaches and aims


ATROPOS
- death goddess
-sister of 'Lachesis', an entity tied to the Porter that brings imPorts here
-hates imPorts, destroyed last universe inhabited by imPorts in 2013
-in contact with OTO
-unstoppable


DIMENSIONAL DESTABILIZATION + CRYPTIDS
-believed to have begun in late 2018 with appearance of the town of Jeopardy in this dimension. Jeopardy appears to be from another universe, but no one else seems to realize this.
-other incidents: appearance of items and locations from imPort home universes, manifestations of 'cryptid' animals, other paranormal phenomena such as ghosts
-in all cases people native to this dimension believe the new elements have always been there, only imPorts can observe the change
-intel indicates the process is being driven by OTO experiments focusing on imPort home universes
-apocalyptic threat, risks completely merging this universe with others

There's a fourth category for 'OTHER BUSINESS' that just has a question mark below it. That's where your character comes in- to raise issues that they are concerned about or are themselves working on. Commander Jacob Taylor will be saying a few words to get things started, but aside from that the floor is open. Ask your questions, share your information. This is a chance for more of the imPort community to get on the same page about what they're facing.


B) Training Exercises

Aegis HQ's holographic Danger Room is a silvery hollow sphere plated with reinforced padding and lined with state-of-the-art virtual reality projectors. Projected text hovering in the air announces SANDBOX MODE, with interactive menus below to let you create your own custom simulation, with its own location, enemies, objectives and conditions. Do you want to rescue hostages from gunmen in Nonah? Defend Aegis HQ from waves of OTO robots in Maurtia Falls? Challenge yourself with a power-nullified timed obstacle course past gun turrets in Heropa? The sky is pretty much the limit in here, with one main exception- the holodeck can only create things that have been seen and documented here in this universe. So you won't be able to create simulated re-creations of locations or people from your own world!

Of particular notice is the HOSTILE IMPORT/IMPORT CLONE enemy, which can make a copy of another character for you to battle against- just in case that person ever gets brainwashed into turning evil or replaced by their evil twin! Aegis' system will only use your character's appearance and powers with your permission though, so the choice is yours whether you want to share that information and give other people the chance to practice taking you on.

Regardless of what simulated sandbox you want to play in today, the Danger Room's safety protocols are turned on. Simulated dangers may pack a punch, but there's no risk of injury in here. So cut loose, have fun, and train hard- you never know when you might need to use what you practice here to save lives in a real situation!


C) Demonstration

While imPorts gather inside Aegis HQ, their detractors are gathering outside. ImPorts have always had vocal opponents in Maurtia Falls, and Aegis in particular has been faced with a native movement calling themselves the ‘Shieldbreakers’ organizing online against what they feel is a powerful paramilitary organization that wastes tax money at best and threatens freedom at worst.

Now hundreds of such citizens, from Maurtia Falls and beyond, are assembled in a ring around Aegis HQ, chanting, waving signs and flags, and even hoisting caricatured effigies of some prominent imPorts (maybe including your character). Anyone engaging with the crowd and listening to them will encounter a bubbling brew of apocalyptic anxiety, concerns over superpowered accountability, and conspiracy theories that maybe don’t sound so far-fetched in a world where a magical teleportation machine kidnaps superhumans from other dimensions. Signs reading ‘IMPORTS = NOT OUR SORT’ and ‘I DON’T WANT THE WORLD TO END’ give a good flavour of the atmosphere, as well as heated discussions about whether this mythical ‘Atropos’ figure really exists or is just a phantom dreamed up by imPorts to frighten natives into relying on their protection.

These demonstrators will not turn violent, aware of the risks of provoking imPorts. In fact, Aegis agents will be obligated to protect them from any retaliation while they exercise their rights, even as they call for Aegis’ funding to be cut. Characters going in and out of HQ will still have to deal with being shouted at by angry crowds though, and maybe the odd egg-throwing from isolated hotheads in the group!


D) Mingling/Wildcard

In between briefing, training, and being yelled at, you may want to take some time to explore the team's fortified headquarters in Maurtia Falls and get to know your fellow heroes. It's a big complex, and today it’s open to explore as long as you don’t go fiddling with dangerous weapons in the armory or poking into sensitive files in the Command Room. Security is on the lookout for any mischief!

Grab something to eat in the kitchenette, get some target practice on the shooting range, check out what's available in the gear room, or just pop up on the walls to appreciate the view of the city. The real action is in the team rec room though: in addition to free snacks and refreshments, there’s a two-on-two PING-PONG TOURNAMENT open for sign-ups. The only rule is that your partner has to be someone you don’t know well: the idea here is to promote collaboration and new connections, as well as finding out who has the best serve.

Most importantly though, you should take a moment to say hi to Matches, Jacob's pet Dalmatian and Aegis Force mascot, who is always happy to sniff some new people.

Comments

SIMULATED IMPORT SIGN-UPS

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Is your character willing to have their powers and appearance copied as a holographic ‘hostile imPort’ enemy in Aegis’ training simulation? If so, fill out the form below!

CHARACTER NAME/ALIAS: Self-explanatory RELEVANT POWERS/SKILLS/EQUIPMENT: What would they bring to a fight? You can link to a longer description on their journal if needed. APPEARANCE (optional): For if you want to give more of an idea of their appearance than just an icon!

EXAMPLE: JACOB TAYLOR

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

CHARACTER NAME/ALIAS: Jacob Taylor/The Protector
RELEVANT POWERS/SKILLS/EQUIPMENT: Military training, near-peak physical condition, advanced protective armour, defensive energy barrier, biotic ‘pull’ projectile levitates enemies toward him, attacks with guns/grenades/freeze ray
APPEARANCE (optional): Here! Plus some more information

[fauxmarth]

CHARACTER NAME/ALIAS: Lucina
RELEVANT POWERS/SKILLS/EQUIPMENT: Full plate armor & sword; super-strength; flight
APPEARANCE (optional): Basically

[sonofgold]

CHARACTER NAME/ALIAS: Alphonse Elric
RELEVANT POWERS/SKILLS/EQUIPMENT: Alchemy (the ability to deconstruct and reconstruct matter into new forms; it can't create something from nothing and obeys the laws of physics and chemistry) and healing. Al is also a skilled martial artist.

[patchricide]

CHARACTER NAME/ALIAS: Princess Allura
RELEVANT POWERS/SKILLS/EQUIPMENT: A highly melee-focused combatant sporting superhuman strength and agility paired with advanced martial combat training. Comes equipped with the highly mobile Paladin armor and your choice of either a bo staff or a blade-tipped whip.
APPEARANCE (optional): from the wiki

[h2no]

CHARACTER NAME/ALIAS: archie / BROCEIDON
RELEVANT POWERS/SKILLS/EQUIPMENT: safe guard (healing and shields), water adaptability and pokemon
APPEARANCE (optional): typical villain garb!

[ralltiir]

CHARACTER NAME/ALIAS: (Commander) Jeroen Akobi
RELEVANT POWERS/SKILLS/EQUIPMENT: None of his powers give him any sort of benefit one-on-one. He's made stronger when he's around someone loyal to him, and he boosts the powers of those near him (though he can't quite control that one so your character may find their powers increased in strength). He also has the power of GUN!
APPEARANCE (optional): This but with a mustache+goatee.

[pidgewidgeon]

CHARACTER NAME/ALIAS: Pidge/ The Green Paladin
RELEVANT POWERS/SKILLS/EQUIPMENT:
-Military training
-Advanced armor
-Bayard with an electric edge that can be used as a melee weapon or used as a grappling hook (either option has the ability to conduct electricity and shock whoever its used against)
-The Green Lion: Green can become invisible, shoot a laser beam from her mouth, and can use any weapons Pidge is able to make, typically its a canon that shoots vines to incapacitate,
-Can create any sort of electronic item from live plants, the only restriction is that weapons made through this power only work for her and for Green

[lesterzeppelin]

CHARACTER NAME/ALIAS: Lester Papadopoulos
RELEVANT POWERS/SKILLS/EQUIPMENT:
- mostly long-range combat (with two weapons: a bow & arrow or a combat ukulele)
- audiokinesis (total manipulation of soundwaves, including his own version of a canary cry. can also include making your character's ears bleed, silencing the field so nothing can be heard, or emotional manipulation through music)
- fire immunity (cannot be harmed by any fire-based attacks)
- really, really bad haikus
APPEARANCE (optional): Here

[namesaquestion]

CHARACTER NAME/ALIAS: Nikolai
RELEVANT POWERS/SKILLS/EQUIPMENT: Pokemon, Themesong, Darts. Linky here!
APPEARANCE (optional): His more or less trademark look re clothes.

COMMANDER JACOB TAYLOR | OTA

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

A - Town Hall

After other people have had a chance to talk for a bit, Jacob stands up to take the lead again. Standing squarely under the 'OTO' header, he makes it clear what his preferred topic is.

"Some of you already know me," he says, his firm voice carrying clearly across the space. "Most of you know what I do for a living. I've been fighting OTO longer than I ever expected or wanted to, so I can answer most questions you might have. The main thing I want to talk about right now is the different cells in their organization."

He presses a button, and a new set of information from Aegis' casefiles appears in the air, connected by a line to the main OTO display. Jacob gestures to two headers in particular: 'OTIS' and 'OTTO'.

"These are the codenames we've been using," he says. "Far as we can tell, 'Otis' is more focused on science. They're ruthless, but willing to talk sometimes. 'Otto' is on a different set of priorities. They think imPorts are a plague, and they only want to treat us with robot armies and incoming missiles. Unfortunately, we don't have a convenient way to tell them apart. A lot of what's on here is just guesswork."

It's mildly embarrassing, admitting how little they really know after all Aegis has done. But that's half the reason for this event: to share knowledge, and increase everyone's information on the people who want to hurt them.


D - Training

Naturally, Jacob is involved in the training simulation that involves defending Aegis HQ from waves of OTO robots like killer mechanical lizards and giant spiders bristling with laser turrets. Less naturally, he has somehow altered the rules of the simulation so that he's on the attacking side. Maybe he thinks it's good practice to see the target through the opposing side's eyes, or maybe this is just his way of playing a little prank on the defenders. Either way, you'll be playing against him for this simulation- unless you, too, want to switch sides and help the OTO's machines tear down Aegis once and for all!


C - Wildcard

Anything you like!

D

[fauxmarth]

Simulated smoke parts like curtains on a stage, and the silhouette Lucina makes takes form, all plated steel and flowing hair and very much more an element out of a fantasy novel than a gritty techno-urban warscape. Hard-edged fantasy is in style, though, so perhaps no sin is committed.

Falchion is just inches from dragging along the upturned concrete as she approaches, scanning opponents ahead of her until she fixes on Jacob, eyes narrowing and processing. He's not taking any of the machines to task, despite being in the thick of them. Is he not taking this training as seriously? She'll soon find out as she draws closer.

D - I hope this is OK

[namesaquestion]

Like Nikolai was going to pass up a chance to come to an Open House just to test out the Danger Room. Not after Archie had told him about it while ago. That you know, he'll likely end up fighting against another imPort in this simulation isn't one his mind. At all.

His shadow is the red eyes and a wide grin of a pokemon looking to really let loose in a room designed to take what it can do.

"Shadow Ba-" He's pointing at the knot of robots before he spots Jacob, and the command's choked back enough the pulse of dark energy goes wild. "What do you think you're doing? Get out of the way so I can attack them!"

Yea, this is going to go in Jacob's favour. Niko's frozen up a bit because what even.

wildcard (let me know if this works??)

[prayercycles]

Though Fortunato can't see much at all today, he knows Helix well enough from his few visits to find his way toward the rec room, where he assumes people are gathering. He's not especially hungry or social, though- it feels like more of an obligation, and a way to stay away from the protests outside until they disperse.

That, and the town hall- consisting of information he's already gathered from reading the network or having it read to him- put him in a state of thought. Discussion of Atropos, Lachesis and others has always bothered him, not necessarily because he's religious, but partially so. His God having been involved in his life was always a certainty, and Fortunato has assumed there are reasons for his being in this world. It has been strangely dissonant to wonder if the reasoning was the work of another deity altogether.

So he's mentally a bit absent, sitting in a corner in a chair, patting Matches when she comes to sniff at his shoes for Magnus' dogs. But he thinks he knows who's approaching when he half-sees them. "Jacob?"

A.

[fursleuth]

[There's a Pokemon standing on someone's shoulders. Don't worry. There was consent, but it's awkward for all involved. Look, he can't freakin' see, so he has to do this somehow.]

Judging by the picket line outside, getting sympathetic locals with the right skillset in on infiltration's a no go, right? I'm not talking civilians, but, you know, people who've got their ears to the ground and know what's what about what.

A

[numberthree]

Allison still isn't exactly sure what she's doing here, except that she knows that for as long as she's here, she should know as much as she can about the situation that she's stuck in. To do anything less, is suicide or sheer not caring for herself, the other people brought here, or the people who live there. Not to mention, she's already ended up in more than one fight that had the hints in its reports of being related to this. Plus, there's been the recurrent knowledge of it all over the place on the network.

So. Allison's here. Somewhere in the back. Standing with her arms crossed leisurely, and listening to the debrief with the expression of someone long and well-used to what that deserves and demands of a listener.

A » slides in late with starbucks???

[deadlycurves]

Diego had heard about this open house of sorts at Aegis Headquarters from Luther, he planned on attending as well. They'd even discussed coming home and comparing notes later. He might have ignored it, if it didn't seem like the sort of thing people needed to be informed on. Threats in this world, what was known and being done about them and who knows what else. He hates being here, but he may as well be as informed as possible about everything that he may have to deal with in this other-world-prison he's stuck in. So, for anyone who really knows him, it wouldn't be too much of a surprise to find him here. However, he isn't here to mingle, so he ignores the refreshments and most of the people in favor of the bullet points hanging in the air for all to see. For the couple of months he's been here, he really hasn't put his ear to the ground on much, so a lot of this is new information to him. He reads over each list a couple of times to really let it all sink in. When Jacob takes the lead of conversation, he listens with rapt attention that, from the outside, is probably akin to a solider at a commanding officer-- except for all the world, no one in any universe can fill that role in Diego's eyes except Luther. But still. It's important, and he listens, and he mulls over everything for a bit before he finally approaches the commander. He waits until most of the crowd has done their asking and instead of making a show in the middle of the masses, he approaches Jacob one-to-one. He's better with that sort of setting, small groups instead of huge crowds. More time to think, less chance he'll trip on his own words. Nothing about this is a social call to him, and it's obvious in the way he moves, in the way he holds himself, the way he speaks. "Diego Hargreeves. We spoke once." A conversation that had gotten under his skin in ways he wouldn't ever admit. "Most of this is pretty new to me, so I've got... questions, and a lot of them, but I think I need to start with: What the hell do you mean by Dimensional Destabilization'?" ("That doesn't make sense." "It would if you were smarter.") Five could have eighteen theories already bubbling to the surface based solely on those two words, but Diego is not remotely scientifically minded and never has been.

[fauxmarth]

B
Nothing speaks more truly to Lucina than a proper spar. This, above all other things in this event, is what she truly craved, and she's more than eager to get lost in the chaos of simulated battle. Falchion cleaves through metal enemies as if they were made of water, the force of her movements generating their own gusts of air.

One can get too lost in such rhythms, especially when one knows there's no dire consequence to messing up. In this way, Lucina's approach is very flawed: she doesn't even turn to mind the incoming volley of bullets as she throws a machine into another one.


C
This past week has been a true test of her patience in so many ways. There's part of Lucina that wants to scream and rage at these people, to argue their irrationality away, to yell them down in defense of Aegis and all it's worked toward, but...she knows it can't be that way. Shouting matches aren't the way.

It's why, when she felt an egg smack the side of her head, yolk soaking into her hair and down her neck, she rode that wave of emotion only for the length of a held breath. White hot anger rose, crested with a flaring of her nostrils and straightening of her shoulders, and then fell with her exhale.

She couldn't deafen the accusations of her coldness or cowardice as she continued her trek inside, her skin tingling and mind buzzing with a dozen-plus half-baked counters. Hustling away from the doors, she stops only when they click closed behind her, staring down at her clenching fists.


D
Despite her frustrations throughout the day (or maybe in spite of them), Lucina is determined to be accommodating to Aegis' guests. She'll be polite, but maybe not utterly warm right away, still distracted by the noise outside and what it's for. Even so, she'll be around to help clean up or guide a stranger around the facility.

C

[prayercycles]

Fortunato can't say he holds particular enmity toward the Shieldbreakers, in their end. Their reaction to the events around them isn't especially odd or surprising, once considered. He finds he has more of a reaction of cognitive dissonance to their presence; he's so used to the supernatural or unknown being kept from most of the world that the fact that they simply exist is something he can never get used to.

But he's also not fond of them, especially when they're attacking Aegis in this way, a group he knows people he cares about invest themselves deeply in. He feels he knows better than to go outside- but though his vision is dulled to the point of being painterly, he can tell when Lucina comes inside, her silhouette familiar.

"Lucina?" He says, approaching. Something is wrong with her gait, he thinks.

Sara Ryder | OTA

[andromedas]

01. Demonstration.

Staking out a place at the Aegis Open House is a no-brainer. This is a prime source for information and resources; strategically, it is the best way to get a leg up on the most recent dangers. However, Sara steps onto the scene unprepared to march through the angry crowd of demonstrators seething in a large mass just outside the building. Hands in her jacket pockets, military-style cap pulled low, she maneuvers through the crowds as quickly as possible.

Weaving through the rest of the incoming guests, her reflexes kick in before she can stop herself. A projectile is about to hit the person beside her and she reaches out, cap in hand, to intercept it.

Upside: it's just an egg. Downside: it shatters in her hat on impact, gooey and golden and drizzling onto the pavement.

"Oh, ugh, come on guys. This is just a waste of resources!"

02. Training.

Danger room, huh? Sara's hand hovers over the options, a holographic list of settings presented in the air in front of her. She can't decide which option to pick at first. Realizing, for a moment, that this will be the first time she's entered any combat after coming here. (After Meridian, really.)

SAM offers encouragement, and she only turns her head when someone approaches. "Hey, you want in on this with me?"

03. Mingling/Wildcard

There's a lot of time to spend exploring these vast halls of the Aegis HQ. Sara's impressed. It reminds her of that sense of wonder she had when first joining up with the Andromeda Initiative. Just like Jien Garson, whoever outfitted this place really spared no expense. After some time in the kitchenette, she wanders around, chattering with those who greet her and giving SAM time to memorize the layout. She's saving her opinions on this place until the two of them have a chance to really digest all of this.

[khajidont]

Once upon a time, Jaime knew practically everyone who came in and out of this world. These days, that doesn't hold nearly as true - but he at least tends to know who happens to be in Aegis, even if they wouldn't know him from Jack. Which is why Sara catches his eyes, a wholly unfamiliar figure in a room filled with faces he's seen time and time again. He's eyecatching himself; he's covered from head to toe in patterned black and blue armour, seems to be without a nose (though with a human set of teeth), his eyes covered perfectly in red-yellow lenses. An unusual sight for some - but probably not as much for one accustomed to alien lifeforms.

(Not that Jaime is an alien. It's complicated.)

As he sees her looking around, clearly exploring it as she goes, he says, "Hey. First time here?"

Alphonse Elric | OTA

[sonofgold]

B

Training exercises are always the perfect excuse for Alphonse to show off a little. He first warms up with an obstacle course, then chooses a scenario where robots, slightly larger than human size and armed with swords and laser pistols, are invading Maurtia Falls. He utilizes his alchemy to break apart the robots and put their disparate parts back together to make weapons for himself and anyone who wishes to join him.


D

It's a heck of a thing to realize he's been here for a whole year, Al thinks, as he allows himself a rare treat of soda and junk food as he mingles. He's turned 18 since arriving here, but that seems like less of a significant marker than his year anniversary in this world.

As he usually does at parties, he uses his alchemy to create small ice sculptures and other gifts for people, as a way to demonstrate his abilities in a more relatable way. He also lavishes attention on Matches the dog; it's clear the young man loves animals a lot.

B. Training

[by_candlelight]

Ruby has once again found herself getting frustrated with the idea of robots, and further frustrated by the fact that none of the animals in this contraption are real and thus she has no real way to defend herself. It's not that she dislikes being a decoy or acting as bait, but she'd like very much to be able to practice with her offense-based skills.

So when she sees some guy just making and handing out weapons she makes a bee-line towards him. When she's almost there she calls out.

"Hey! Can you create projectiles with that?"

blue beetle iii | ota

[khajidont]

i. mingling.

[ Jaime's a well-known hero in this world by now - one of the best known ones, in fact, after so spending so much time as an active hero without a moment's rest. In person, though, he looks a little less impressive, even in the armour. He's pretty short, for one, and the way he carries himself when he's off-duty doesn't at all mimic the professionalism he's learned to keep on when being watched. In fact, when he spots an Aegis member, he simply greets them with a smile, red-orange eyes blinking cheerfully at them. ] Hey. Thanks for having us. If we're gonna be tackling the big leagues, we're all going to need to work together.

[ Jaime had never wanted to join Aegis. It just isn't his style. But working together? That much, he can do.

Otherwise, you can find Jaime people-watching, eyeing the crowd that showed up, or otherwise ambling around the HQ, curious about Aegis' set-up, eyeing the refreshments and, perhaps most strangely, talking to himself. ] I know, right? We're never that different from each other. No. No, I don't think Jacob'd appreciate that. Just hang out for now, okay?

ii. danger room.

[ Jaime lingers just outside of the Danger Room, cycling idly through the scenarios. He's experienced enough that he doesn't feel particularly inclined to participate himself, though he pauses when the computer asks for his information as a possible combatant. ]

Huh. [ He tilts his head. ] I dunno if that's such a good idea...

iii. the demonstration.

[ By the time protesters arrive, Jaime simply stands by the window, cooly watching them, arms crossed. He may not agree with them, but he's sympathetic to them - he's always been more sympathetic to them than a lot of imPorts. Maybe it's because he's been here for so long. He does know, however, that most others don't feel the same way, especially now that his greatest ally in that mindset - Kanaya, gone again to happier days, he hopes - has vanished. ]

Yeahhhh. This seems about right. It's not like I agree, but I can't say I blame them. They're just scared.

iv. wildcard.

[ Anything goes! ]

ii

[lesterzeppelin]

[ Lester hasn't seen the Blue Beetle in what feels like forever, but curiosity gets the better of him as he glances up at the scenarios pre-programmed. ]

Yeah? How come? [ He could acknowledge the computer asking for the Blue Beetle's information, or he could feign ignorance. The latter seems better - ] Too experienced to give the room a go?

(not really a) Commander Jeroen Akobi | OTA (cw: violence against our beloved Archie)

[ralltiir]

i. Around

Akobi can be found shooting at targets with guns of various sizes and calibers at the shooting range, heating up some vegetables in the kitchen, or engaging in (attempted) polite discourse with the protesters outside. The latter activity winds up with him having literal egg on his face. For all his calm, measured words, there's just no convincing some people. After that, he retreats inside to find a towel to clean the egg out of his mustache.

ii. Danger Room

Following the recent attack on fellow Aegis member Darin by a rapscallion with portable monsters, Akobi decides he needs to practice fighting against this new threat. Of course, the exact Pokémon that were used to mutilate Agent Altway aren't in the Danger Room's library. So, Akobi makes do with the next best thing: A holographic simulation of Archie and his Pokémon.

The simulation starts innocent enough. Dodging hyper beams and wrestling with a wolflike creature, trying to avoid its sharp teeth and claws. Eventually, though, Akobi breaks past the Pokémon to their trainer, and then it becomes an old fashioned, blood sweat and tears fist fight between Akobi and Archie. The simulated trainer puts up a good fight, but Akobi eventually overpowers him and pins him to the ground, raining punch after punch into his stupid, x-marked face. Not until he's beaten the hologram Archie unconscious does the simulation end, leaving Akobi on his knees in the middle of the floor, panting from exertion, sweat dripping down his brow, feeling shameful and dirty and not at all vindicated.

iii. Wildcard

Want something else? HMU @ objectpermanence!

lmao

[h2no]

This is likely a display that Archie should be smart enough to be concerned by, but he's not. He doesn't see fit to tease, though, nor does really have any interest in starting a fight. He figures... hell, why not actually be productive, this time? No matter how Akobi and Archie feel about each other, they are on the same team, and even if Akobi wants to punch him senseless, Archie has no desire to see him fall in the line of duty.

"Yikes," is all he comments, at first over the comm. "You wanna go again? I'll tell ya how to deal with the Pokémon better, if you want."

It's a basic offer, he figures. Even if he's planning to "accidentally" direct Akobi into taking a few hits. All in good training.

Ruby Nakamura | OTA

[by_candlelight]

B) Training

If there is one thing that can be said about Ruby, it's that she's fast. While there isn't capable of taking on large foes in a way anyone would consider ethical, she is at least capable of luring them to people who can and away from people who can't. She's also good at acting as a decoy, and just drawing attention away from people in general.

If there is a second thing that can be said about Ruby, it's that she doesn't know when to give up. The girl takes active part in multiple group simulations, not even taking a break when she clearly needs a rest. Instead, during a simulation where people are going around and fighting cloned imports she is running support, continuing to act as a decoy, and in one particular case - slamming a hard light clone in the back of the head multiple times in order to get it off of another imPort. When the clone is down and out she pushes it off of the other person and looks to them curiously. "Are you alright?" For someone who just beat a false clone's head in she seems perfectly unbothered.

When they finally stop letting her in to the danger room she heads to the shooting range, proving herself a pretty good shot. While she rarely hits the exact spot she's aiming for, there isn't a single shot that doesn't hit the main body of the target in some way shape or form.

C) Demonstration

After just about exhausting herself, Ruby goes between refreshments and the windows often. Eventually she stays by the window for a while however, frowning as she looks out.

"Don't they know we don't want the world to end, either?" She mutters this to herself, though it's audible enough it wouldn't be hard to overhear.

D) Mingling

Going up to random people and starting conversations is something Ruby has gotten used to, at least on some level. However, her topic of conversation might not be the most universal one. This teenager just keeps going up to people and - almost invariably - asking them one question. "Do you like dogs?"

At least at the ping pong tournament she stops asking questions and instead seems to be enthralled as the players go back and forth. After a few matches she turns and looks to whoever is beside her, a bright look on her face. "Isn't this great? So many people here have really good reflexes!"

C

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

"I don't think they do," Jacob says from behind her as he comes up to join her at the window, leaning against the wall beside it as he looks out over the crowd. "Wherever they're getting their information from, they're not listening to what we've been saying."

He's silent for a moment, then looks to her and smiles. "Thanks for coming today, Ruby," he says. "It's good to see you." Outside of the Network or Rogue's support group, that is.

Allison Hargreeves ☂ The Umbrella Academy

[numberthree]

☂ A }

Allison still isn't exactly sure what she's doing here, except that she knows that for as long as she's here, she should know as much as she can about the situation that she's stuck in. To do anything less, is suicide or sheer not caring for herself, the other people brought here, or the people who live there. Not to mention, she's already ended up in more than one fight that had the hints in its reports of being related to this. Plus, there's been the recurrent knowledge of it all over the place on the network.

So. Allison's here. Somewhere in the back. Standing with her arms crossed leisurely, and listening to the debrief with the expression of someone long and well-used to what that deserves and demands of a listener.

There's a lot she does want to know more about, and it leaves her thinking about a lot of things.


☂ D }

It's not the first time Allison's been to this building, but it is the first time she's here without a reason that distracted her from being able to get a good look at the place. She was right when she thought the first time that a lot of money had gone into this place. The making, the upkeep, and what it was able to do.

She wanders around, quietly (as though there is any other way she can now), getting herself a snack in the kitchenette, checking out the view from the roof, taking a long time as she walks through the gear room taking in everything that was on display, with a thought toward what all might not be, too, and even stopping, because she can't not, when she spots the adorable dalmatian, that she's surprised and not surprised at all, somehow, to find out is both Jacob's and Aegis'.

ping pong!! | for archie

[obediences]

[ Luther really, really hadn't wanted to do ping pong at first -- haunted by visions of the ball ricocheting around and taking out a few lights and maybe someone's eye -- but he's hardly the only imPort with superstrength, and thus he's been roped into it.

So someone shoves him into place alongside his newly-assigned partner: he has to look down and down to meet Archie's eye, but the other man is stocky, sturdy, muscled. Looks like he can hold his own in a fight. Which is, of course, the first place Luther's mind goes. ]

Oh, uh. Hey. I'm Luther. You're on Aegis, right?

BIG LAD....

[h2no]

[he looks back up, giving luther a friendly smile. he doesn't seem bothered by the guy's size or stature-- one of his admins pushes seven ft and is just as cut, after all!]

Yuh-huh! I'm Archie! [he's holding a paddle, though cocks his head.] You wanna use a tennis racket?

[it's not a joke. it's serious. these paddles are tiny and luther is so large.]

I also have no idea what the rules for this are, so all in!