One-Rogue Army |
Indie RP account for Replicant (Tony Gambi) |
“Bananas had to be used up fast when they reach the bread stage, so no harm done. I think.”Tony rubs his chin. “But what’s got you so stressed?”
“Maybe.” And the loaves aren’t even that large.
She hesitates before answering the question. “Well it is about my flame problem. It isn’t really that uncommon for someone to find me while I am at work and use an airhorn to trigger it. I am kind of used to it.”
She blushes in embarrassment. “I guess they must have followed me when I was walking home at some point. I didn’t have work yesterday. But when I left my apartment to take a walk they were there with the airhorn again. In front of my apartment.”
“The thought that they might be out there again planning to do that again for a laugh has been bothering me. I should be used to this sort of thing.” She blinks as her eyes water.
For a moment, Tony’s skin shimmers with silver before he regains control. Combat mode is not needed now, he reminds himself. “The rest of the workplace is okay with airhorns going off at random, just so they can hurt you… and now you’re being stalked?!”
“There’s got to be some way to get you out of here safely. This is way too dangerous for everyone – even though they don’t deserve to be saved from their own stupidity.”
“I take it you’re out of freezer space…” Tony shrugs. “I’ve got room to hold them.”“But what do you want to do long-term?”
“I’m not sure.” She twists one of the stings of her hoodie.
“I only meant to make one loaf. But I started feeling stressed-” She shrugs helplessly. “You can guess the rest. I don’t know what to do.”
“Bananas had to be used up fast when they reach the bread stage, so no harm done. I think.”
Tony rubs his chin. “But what’s got you so stressed?”
“Hypothetically, If I panicked and made 16 loaves of banana bread would you know anyone who could help me get rid of them?”
This is not the first time this has happened to her. She won’t meet anyone’s eyes.
“I take it you’re out of freezer space…” Tony shrugs. “I’ve got room to hold them.”
“But what do you want to do long-term?”
“I did.”“Hold your fire, now. Checking the target.” Once she’s stopped firing, Replicant steps closer to study the burn marks on the fence post. “Have to check on downloading some digital binoculars… if that will work?” he says to himself.
Then he turns back to Ariel with a smile. “You’re doing great already!”
Ariel has no idea what he is talking about with the binoculars. But based on his next comment she is assuming it is good.
“Thanks!” She hopes he isn’t just saying that. She waits for further instructions.
Tony walks back to Ariel’s side. “Oh, sorry… you heard me?”
He shrugs. “I’ve thought of checking if I could add more powers to the Humanifold, like enhancing my sight. But things come up that are more immediate.”
“If you want to keep firing..?”
“Yes! Just like that,” he cheers her on. “Lower levels of power are easier to control. Once you’ve got accuracy handled, then you can add power to the shots.”“It’s the way I was taught…” His voice trails off a bit, as he remembers the Rogues training him.
She smiles without looking at him. “Sounds like you had a good teacher.”
The first shot went okay. She goes at it again. Firing another two small shots off shortly after the other. They form a group with the first shot, only centimeters apart.
“I did.”
“Hold your fire, now. Checking the target.” Once she’s stopped firing, Replicant steps closer to study the burn marks on the fence post. “Have to check on downloading some digital binoculars… if that will work?” he says to himself.
Then he turns back to Ariel with a smile. “You’re doing great already!”
“You’re welcome.” Replicant leads the way to a long row of wooden fenceposts. The ground around them is blackened, as a firebreak.“There’s a bunch more in storage, so don’t worry if any of these break down,” he reassures her. “And there’s nothing really past these to damage, if you miss.”
“So you can warm up with straightforward shooting the posts, then start with firing at an angle for warning shots.”
“I think I get it.”
She lets the reassuring feeling of lightning build up in her hand before flinging it at one of the targets.
It wasn’t as strong as she could make it to start out with. But there is a small burn mark.
“Like that?”
“Yes! Just like that,” he cheers her on. “Lower levels of power are easier to control. Once you’ve got accuracy handled, then you can add power to the shots.”
“It’s the way I was taught…” His voice trails off a bit, as he remembers the Rogues training him.
“It’s easy enough to do target practice, but is there something you want to work on first?” Replicant asks.“You’ve got a better idea of your power than I do.” He manages a closed-mouth smile, despite not having full facial features.
“Target practice sounds good to me.” She rarely tried to hit anything at all. So it was something she needed to work on.
Ariel smiles back and nods. “Thanks again.” For helping her practice. For actually being nice after figuring out she has powers.
“You’re welcome.” Replicant leads the way to a long row of wooden fenceposts. The ground around them is blackened, as a firebreak.
“There’s a bunch more in storage, so don’t worry if any of these break down,” he reassures her. “And there’s nothing really past these to damage, if you miss.”
“So you can warm up with straightforward shooting the posts, then start with firing at an angle for warning shots.”
“That’s good,” Tony smiles in relief. “Just want to make sure you’re safe.”With that, he opens the door and gets out of the car. Then he stretches, skin silvering as his body expands outward into combat mode. Once he’s transformed, the storm-cloud pattern flows over his body while flames still burn in his eyes.
“Thanks.” She leaves the car and looks around the area more as he changes forms.
It is nice and deserted. Without much to be distracted by her powers tell her of the dryness of the soil and the moisture of the clouds overhead. Other things too that she cannot understand the meanings of yet.
“It’s easy enough to do target practice, but is there something you want to work on first?” Replicant asks.
“You’ve got a better idea of your power than I do.” He manages a closed-mouth smile, despite not having full facial features.
Tony unbuckles the seat belt and starts opening the door, then pauses. “Oh, that reminds me…” He glances at the sparks. “If you get too much water on you, is that going to hurt you? Like short-circuit your powers or something?”“Cause if it does, then I don’t dare take you flying. And I’ll have to be careful with how to extinguish any flames, if something goes wrong.”
“Water is fine. It won’t make my powers do anything.” She knows from personal experience with people trying to extinguish her.
She unbuckles herself and puts her hand on the handle, waiting to see if there is anything else he needs to say.
“That’s good,” Tony smiles in relief. “Just want to make sure you’re safe.”
With that, he opens the door and gets out of the car. Then he stretches, skin silvering as his body expands outward into combat mode. Once he’s transformed, the storm-cloud pattern flows over his body while flames still burn in his eyes.
Tony parks by the barn, pulling into the shade offered by the building. The paint is faded, but otherwise it looks like it’s in decent shape. “Just leave the cooler in here for now?”He blinks and Ariel can see fire swirling inside his eyes, as if contained within the two small orbs. The other template would have to wait until he fully transformed, but at least now he’s even more fire-resistant than usual.
“Sounds like a good idea to me.”
She is pretty impressed by the effect. The glow coming from her own eyes not being as entrancing. She looks away and lets a few sparks orbit around her fingers while she begins to get a grip on her own powers.
Tony unbuckles the seat belt and starts opening the door, then pauses. “Oh, that reminds me…” He glances at the sparks. “If you get too much water on you, is that going to hurt you? Like short-circuit your powers or something?”
“Cause if it does, then I don’t dare take you flying. And I’ll have to be careful with how to extinguish any flames, if something goes wrong.”