004 - Powers Under Control

[helpdesk_hero]

WHO: David Alleyne, OTA
WHERE: De Chima, Maurita Falls
WHEN: First two weeks of October
WHAT: Testing Power Suppression Device, Dates, Fighting Off a Clown
WARNINGS: Clowns, potential awkwardness in romance

Testing Power Suppression - De Chima OTA

It's a project he's been working on for a long time now, just about since he arrived in town and started to realize the limitations his powers placed upon him. But when he finally settles the small, smartwatch-like around his wrist he feels more confident than he has since his arrival. Sure, he still has his gloves on, and he's tucking the charger into his pocket because it's a custom-made port and the only means he has to recharge the battery for the power-hog device, but he's got it now. An hour of free touching. And with that in mind, David heads out into De Chima.

His stops are varied once he's got the thing set up. The first day has a lot of time spent hanging out at Marco and Peter's home, trying to pin down one or both of his friends, or anyone else who might be visiting so he can test out the efficacy of the new device. But warning before physical contact is of course appreciated. When not there or at work, David spends time wandering local mall, a fully charged device switched on and wearing a t-shirt in public for the first time since coming to town. He may seem clumsier than normal, bumping into people, mostly just intending to test how effective the device is with what would normally be multiple triggers of his power in a short period of time. And, when simpler tests are all completed, he also goes to take a local martial arts establishment up on a 'free week of classes' offer, knowing that there is nothing like sparring to test device durability and how effective it would be at suppressing his powers when facing potential heightened emotions.

[OOC: Anyone who would like to run into David in another manner to test his powers, feel free to suggest something or start your own wildcard, just indicate 'power testing.']

Clown Versus Nice Guy - De Chima OTA

One of the first real things David did upon arriving on this world had been stepping in to help deal with a fight between a children's party magician and a children's party clown at a magic shop. He hadn't expected anything to come of it. And nothing had, until now.

All he'd been doing was minding his own business, enjoying the slowly growning autumn chill in the park, sitting on a bench. There was this nice book he was enjoying, something he was considering offering to those interested in reading non-fiction for the book club. A historical discussion of the early days of the Cold War, something that interested him as a comparison point for historical divergence. The next thing he knew there was a honking sound and...

And someone was spraying him with water. David yelped and tossed his book aside in hopes of saving it from the stream of... seltzer water? Which was now spraying right into his face, a nearby party clown laughing and honking his nose as he kept spraying David. There was even said noises further on from a children's party watching a clown being mean.

What was he supposed to do? Dealing with the clown in front of the kids might ruin their party further. Each second spent in thought, though, was another second where he was getting doused more. At least it wasn't a liquid that would stain.

Dinner For Two - Oct 4th - Close to Damian Saint Lorrant

After testing had been completed, assurance that the device worked, David had done the one thing he'd been wanting to do for a while now. He asked someone out. Sort of. It had been awkward, messy, but ultimately there had been a yes, and a bit more flirting and David had spent most of Friday with his stomach full of butterflies. His last tutoring session had wrapped up quickly and he'd all but rushed home to shower, change into a nice outfit, and gather up his ingredients for dinner. With that it had been a rush to the porter with a bag over his shoulder, then making his way throught the streets of Maurita Falls, checking the directions until he found the right door.

Three minutes he stands there, trying to swallow down his nerves. This could go horridly. He knows it could. But it could go well too. And it can't do either if it doesn't happen. So, finding his courage, David knocks on the door. Hopefully Damian is home and it's not one of his housemates that will open it. Was awkward enough to explain a date to his own friends. To strangers? He might just be rendered mute.

Comments

De Chima

[made_up_names]

Peter's working in the basement laboratory when David arrives. Fortunately, the old Vor Residence had a great security system to start with, plus Peter's done enough work to at least get the cameras and the intercom back online. So when David arrives, he gets buzzed in, basically, with Peter giving him directions on where to go. Through the kitchen (state of the art, if still very dusty and with a pile of pizza boxes on the countertop), past the living room (full of very comfortable couches, with most of the pillows removed temporarily to air them out) and around to a door going downstairs into the basement. It's a big house, way too big for just two people; Peter's already working out who all he can invite to stay long term, assuming Marco's on board with it.

Anyway. The basement lab is a decent sized one, if rather disorganized at the moment. He's trying to sort through what all is even here? And ... well, whose it is. It seems that the Vors collected all kinds of different stuff, some labeled and some less than labeled. Peter's currently working through a box that has been labeled "HAMADA, TADASHI AND HIRO", trying to figure out a) what this stuff is and b) if anyone going by those names are even here anymore. (Spoilers: they definitely left years ago.)

"Hey man," he says with a wave once David comes down. "Glad you made it over here. Welcome to our possibly haunted house and/or mob basement?"

Re: De Chima

[helpdesk_hero]

Well this place is definitely really interesting, isn't it? David is left staring as he follows instructions and definitely making envious note of the kitchen until he's down near Peter. When he comes in he waves back.

Waves back, not wearing gloves.

"Peter. This place is huge!"

[made_up_names]

Whoa. Peter sits up a little straighter, noticing the gloves right away? But answering David's question first. "Yeah, uh, it's kind of crazy? I didn't even realize how big it was until after Marco already rented it."

He sort of gestures at the lab for emphasis. Full of junk and disorganized, but also full of all kinds of cool things.

[helpdesk_hero]

Still, organization is a wonderful thing. David could understand this as much as a zen meditation process as anything else.

"There's nothing wrong with big. I went to school in a place not unlike this. But larger, given it was used as a boarding school. Still, you might find the place a bit... quiet. And empty."

[made_up_names]

It is rather relaxing, all things considered. Peter certainly seems to be enjoying himself.

"Yeah, that part is definitely weird. And I keep stumbling across well --" He gestures at the labeled box. "Things from people who're long gone. Kind of like time capsules."

Definitely too quiet. There's no way just the two of them can fill this place up.

[besainted]

[ Damian has made sure that his housemates know that the upcoming door-knock is for him, and so is the kitchen tonight. He likes to think he's been a fairly considerate and unimposing housemate so far, aside from his initial arrival when the full moon had him trying to kill a few of them. So it feels like a trade-off that he insistently stakes out this claim, ensuring he and his guest won't be (too) bothered.

He's dressed a little more casually when he pulls open the door, in a pressed button-up shirt and slacks, forgoing the fitted suit if not the signature pale colors, but his smile is as cheerful as it's ever been. ]

Good evening, David! [ He steps side from the door to invite him in with a small, playful flourish. ] You're looking great tonight. Need a hand with anything?

[ Looks like he's got that bag down pretty good, but the offer is extended anyway. Inside the house it's neat, tidied, and recently cleaned — which Damian tries to keep as the natural state of things, despite the best efforts of several housemates. ]

[helpdesk_hero]

[Okay. Still just a little nervous, but the fact that the man is smiling and playful definitely helps. He offers a warm smile back and steps in, offering the bag over to Damian.]

If you'd be kind enough to show me to your kitchen? I did promise food, it would only be fair to actually get to it. Though I'd appreciate some company while I'm at it.

[besainted]

[ He takes the bag gladly, and pauses only to nudge the door shut after David. Then he's on his way toward the kitchen, trusting he'll be followed. ]

I hope you weren't picturing that I'd leave you in there cooking, and wander off to something else! [ He rounds a corner to the kitchen — modest, just as clean as the rest of the house temporarily is — and sets the bag atop a counter. ] No, I'm afraid you'll have a hard time getting rid of me.

[helpdesk_hero]

[Well, he doesn't want to be rid of Damian because that would be against the point of this whole situation, wouldn't it? Once the bag is on the counter, David pauses to consider the kitchen itself. Should be sufficient to his needs. Not as nice as the one Peter and Marco have, but still nice.]

Especially since you're not going to buy the original statement that I was only looking for someone to tell me if my cooking was good?

[besainted]

[ With his duties as bag-holder complete, Damian swings away toward the glasses, pulling down two. ]

It's a date, remember? [ He glances back over his shoulder with a grin. ] There's no getting away from it now. Want anything to drink?

De Chima - Clown Madness

[tricksterofasgard]

Loki hates working with clowns. Granted, it doesn't happen often that he ends up at a job that has also hired a job alongside him, but from the one previous time this has happened, the conclusion has been set firmly in place. And this one? Has been even worse than the one that has been forced to work with before. Always up for sabotaging him.

It takes effort not to throw a handful of knives at the guy.

So at first Loki is pleased to see the colorful menace waddle off towards a different victim, yet quickly has to notice that this victim not only does not belong to the birthday guests, no, he actually knows this person.

"I will turn him into a duck." Loki mutters through his teeth, then flicks his attention to the gathered group of disturbed children and scowls "And I believe I told you to ignore him. Now catch the lumpy beast!"

With an exaggerated motion of his hand and a purely cosmetic puff of green smoke, a thing that sort of looks like a giant balloon dinosaur pops into existence just above the heads of the children and begins a bouncy float in the opposite direction of where the clown is pestering David and effectively drags a squealing group of children along with it. It may be the most ridiculous illusion, but for this sort of situations still the most effective one. Much to the Asgardian's dismay.

The children distracted, Loki steps over to where his coworker is still spraying David and simply makes a quick grab for the other man's bottle of water. Which he may refuse to let go, yet the liquid inside and the entire bottle itself quickly freeze solid, partially freezing the man's hand along with it. All the while, Loki simply glares at the clown, wordlessly daring him to produce even one more honk should he value his life.

[helpdesk_hero]

If he wasn't so distracted by the seltzer water, David would have winced to see Loki approaching, intent in his gaze. Instead he yelps as the seltzer, for a brief moment, goes icy cold before it stops. And through the moisture on the lenses he catches sight of the clown yelping in pain, trying to drop the bottle.

"What the hell, you hack of a magician!" the clown snaps, whirling to punch at Loki.

David sputters and wipes his glasses clean before he stands. Still damp, and definitely surly.

"Don't maim him too much," he says to the Asgardian, but he doesn't really sound too concerned.

[tricksterofasgard]

"I'm not a brute, David." Loki replies, catching the clown's flying fist with the same hand that has just frozen the man's bottle. A thin layer of ice quickly forms over the newly captured hand as well and the Asgardian narrows his eyes at the human "As for you, it's Sorcerer. You don't wish to learn the true difference."

He releases the clown's hand, to equal parts hoping the man takes the chance to just leave or that he keeps acting like a stubborn moron. Maybe that would justify freezing his entire head.

And it may be a good thing that Loki hasn't spotted the dropped book yet.

[helpdesk_hero]

"You're going to give him frostbite, and if you do, I'm ethically compelled to treat him," David sighs. And he doesn't WANT to treat the asshole.

The clown, though, is wincing at the pain, cradling his hand to his chest, and were it not for the grease paint being water resistant, the paint would no doubt be smearing.

"Just walk away," David suggests to the guy. And surprisingly, the clown does. And not toward the party. Which leaves David, still dripping, to fetch up his book. And wince at it's state. "Dammit. That was new."

[tricksterofasgard]

The clown leaving may be in his own best interest. Though unfortunately that leaves Loki to deal with the entire birthday party by himself. On the other hand he will be able to collect the payment for both himself and the clown later.

Fine with him.

What's not so fine is the state of the book David picks up, causing Loki to visibly cringe and summon a dagger into his hand in an instant, turning in the direction the clown has wandered off to- Only to find him gone.

"I should have killed him." The Asgardian hisses venomously as the dagger vanishes into nothing "Is it salvageable?"

Priorities.

Power Testing - Mall

[callmevision]

Jonas has been wandering this new Earth, and is seeking answers, and just familiar things. And so it is the sight of a face he knows that brings him to smile. It is second-hand knowledge, but still.

It is at that mall that he approaches, unashamedly in his natural 'Vision' form. "David Alleyne, yes? Of the Xavier Institute?" He has no idea about later things, and names and oddities. But he is smiling as he nods. It would be nice to know someone else from home.

[helpdesk_hero]

People don't tend to recognize David. They didn't do so often back home, and they sure don't do so much here. In fact, Billy and Teddy recognizing him easily when he'd come to the Young Avengers for help had been beyond shocking.

That can't compare to the approach of a form that could only be interpreted as The Vision. Which leaves even HIM reeling in shock. More than that, confusion. Will this be one from his own world, will this be Billy and Tommy's father or their teammate? So many questions.

At least one gets mostly answered when he's greeted. Huh.

"Y-yeah, that's me," he agrees, half nervous. "I have to admit, you're not a face I expected to see today."

What he means to say is 'holy cow the Vision knows X-Men students.' He hadn't known the guy's databases included. Probably should have seen that coming.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Vision," he says, offering out his hand. And after Vision shakes it, if he does, David will reach for his watch and turn the suppression device off, but leave his gloves off. Already knows he can't absorb knowledge from non-organic brains. Which is a blessing, really. If he could, Vision would be a headache worse than a speedster, because there was likely nothing in Vision's memory-banks that wouldn't count as 'knowledge', given the difference in how it's stored and organized.

[callmevision]

"I promise, my visit is no bad thing." He thinks for a moment, then nods.

"My face is rarely one most are looking to see." His smile is rueful and resigned. But he does not let it bother him. Jonas shakes his hand and nods. As he does so, his face and body shimmer and he takes on his less formal form, his primary human-like form.

"Call me Jonas, please. It is the name I took, as my own person. To differentiate myself from my predecessor."

He had strong feelings about that. "Have you been on this world long?"

[helpdesk_hero]

Oh! David smiles then. Because Jonas is definitely better than Vision.

"Unexpected and unwelcomed are two different things. Tommy's told me all about you. Only good things, I promise. And I've been here a few months so far. I'm supposing you're more recently arrived, or you might have reached out to me on the network. No offense, I really could have used you about two weeks ago. I had some serious bugs in my code for my new project, and could have used some help. But hey, the Porters bring you in when they do."

[callmevision]

"Thank you. I appreciate it." He pauses, then nods. "Do you prefer David, Mister Alleyne, or Prodigy?" His memory banks did not include a preference.

"You know Tommy? That must be after my time." He knows he likely would not be repaired. Not in the present time, anyway. "Did you join the Avengers?'

Not many mutants had, really, but he is glad to hear it might have happened. The division was harmful to them all.

"Unfortunately, I just arrived, and much of my time has been spent reading the backlog of the network and collating it."

He considers the other man and nods. "If I can be of assistance, however, please let me know."

Clown vs Nice Guy

[rebelarrow]

[Though he was in the process of acquiring another profession, for the meantime Judd has been working as a Birthday Party Coordinator, and thus happened to be overseeing said party when the commotion starts. The seltzer suddenly curves like a horsehoe and begins to spray the clown in the face the same way it had struck David. Even if the clown releases whatever mechanism he uses to trigger the spray, it doesn't stop the water from flowing.

As if unaware of the cause of the commotion, he approaches the pair.]

Is there a problem here?

[helpdesk_hero]

[The stop of the water gets David to sputter and stand up, ready to face down his assailant. Not with violence, but definitely with restraint. But when he sees what's going on? He has to pause and laugh. Only laughs harder when he sees Judd further on, approaching. Well, that's the source then.]

Oh, nothing. Bozo the clown here was demonstrating a new trick.

[But he can't help but look hard at Judd and try to think as clearly as he can, hoping the guy will pick up on the thoughts.]

He's got a bit of a grudge. But I think the point is made.

[rebelarrow]

[The children that had been watching are laughing along too, buying completely that this is part of the act.]

It certainly seems to be a hit.

[Judd picks up the message clear as day, and resists the urge to nod. The spray doesn't stop at once, but rather trickles to a stop as Judd psychically releases the trigger.]

You certainly keep interesting company.

[helpdesk_hero]

It wasn't intentional company. I helped bounce him and a magician from a store they messed up. Grudges.

[He's handling the psychic conversation rather well. But he relaxes with the clown shaking his head and turning on Judd with a glare. Like he knows where it came from.]

The kids look like they could use some balloon animals.

[rebelarrow]

It must have been quite the scene for him to track you down after all this time. Do I have to protect you from a rabbit from a hat next?

[Unfortunately for the party clown, Judd has long since perfected the stony, emotionless stare, and feigning complete innocence.]

It isn't on their itinerary, but sometimes you should make adjustments for unexpected surprises.