Paragon University ((Open RP))

[American Valor]

((OOC: I know a lot of people who play heroes and villains whose secret identity are either students or teachers at Paragon University. So I was thinking what better place to set an open RP again. The general idea is there is no set story and anyone can join in. Feel free to create courses, lectures and locations with in the university. Here is some basic info which I have gathered to help set the mood. ))

 

 

Welcome to Paragon University

 

My name is Anne Andersen, Dean of Resident Life. Welcome to Paragon University. I’m sure by now you’ve received your class schedule, but please allow me a moment to explain the campus a bit.

 

Campus Buildings

One of the main buildings you’ll likely visit often is the Student Union. You can pretty much always meet other students here. The other likely place to run into students is the Green. It’s located just outside the Union and has a large fountain in the center. The Houston Library contains any, and likely, all books you might need, though, make sure you turn them in on time. The librarian, Miss Binks is very strict when it comes to late books.

A few other buildings to mention are the Dormitories. The Sinclair and Williams Dormitories are co-ed dorms with women’s dorms down one hall and men’s down the other. The Armstrong Dormitories is every other floor and is overseen by the Athletic Department. The Xavier Hall, Hartigan Hall, the Chemistry, Earth Science, and Mathematics buildings have classroom/lecture hall settings, The Applied Technologies building contains most of the university's laboratory facilities, including computer science labs, assembly shops, and the unviersity's recently installed supercomputer (Room 1138), donated by Portal Corporation. We also boast a fairly large theater Reeve Theater. Clique is the head of the Drama department and also manages the Drama Café next door.

 

Extracurricular Activities

There are a few extracurricular activities available (Swimming, Football, Basketball, Cheerleading) ,So please look into them if you are interested The team name is The Statemen and their mascot is Statey. 

 

Faculty

Now, onto the Faculty. I will first point out some of the more prominent faculty members, and if, as you look over your class list, you have any questions, I will be more than happy to help you.

 

Department	Faculty Name
Archeology	Professor Howards
Archeology	Professor Sydney Fox
Biology	Dr. Sanstad
Biology	Professor Moreau
Business Chinese	Daniel Cao
Chemisry	Professor Richards
Criminal Psychology	Professor Clemens
Drama	Clique
Geology	Professor Styles
Geology	Professor Pratt
History	Dr. D. Stine
Mechanical Engineering	Professor Crump
Physics	Dr. “Mad Doc” Maddendoch
Psychology	Professor Blustein
Psychology	Dr Z, Stardust
Psychology/Antiquities	Professor White
Sociology/Anthropology	Professor McBrayne

Staff

There are also a few staff members that you might run into on occasion.

 

Position	Name
Superintendent of the Humanities Departments	Superintendent Wallace
Academic Dean	Dean Richards
Dean of Resident Life	Anne Andersen
Administrative Assistant of Resident Life Guidance Consultant of Resident Life	Kevin Banyon Fergus McRae
Head Librarian	Miss Binks
Head Custodian	Scruffy Jones
Manager of the PU Security Force	Ms Michaela
Technical Support Supervisor	John Bain
Head Football Coach	Stan Limebeck
Assistant Football Coach Offense	Tony Perry
Head Swim Coach	Coach JJ Johnson
Assistant Swim Coach	Brie Smith
Head Wrestling Coach	Perry Erickson

 

((OOC Information below))

Paragon University Campus

The campus itself is not located in any of the in-game zones. It’s somewhere between Steel Canyon and King’s Row. Also, now that there are satellite campus locations in game, these will possibly play a more prominent part of the storylines, however, most of the interaction will still probably take place on the main campus.

Meeting the Other Students

A good place to meet other students is in either the cafeteria/Student Union or out on the Green.

Characters

Introduce yourself slowly. Let people get a feel for who your character is, how you write, and how often you are committed to posting. Don't force an intro right off the bat. Coordinate with private messages (PMs) when you do start interacting. Almost everyone will respond positively to PMs for advice, and coordinate with you as you make an effort to fit in. This is a big one if you and another writer are writing a scene with a lot of dialog. Writing it up via PMs and then posting a large post, or 2-3 smaller sized posts, This helps when others don’t have much time to read and end up inundated with 50 new posts in one day. Learn some of the others' history, even if you can't draw on the information until it comes up again in your part of the story. Do read the thread backstory.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 23, 2023 by American Valor
format fixing new staff

[American Valor]

Location: Paragon City University Athletic Department....


Head Coach Stan Limebeck smiled looking over the roster once more. Maxwell Drake voted all American Quarterback from PCSH high school had accepted the offer. He looked over the documents again. He would be hearing from Coach Erickson soon. Perry had hoped to get Max on the wrestling team. The boy was a natural athlete. How did Perry put it, To watch Max play was like watching an artist paint. Max took to sports like a fish took to water he excelled. The buzz in the locker room had been mixed, generally they all thought having Champ on the team would be great, but there was a bit of grumbling, about his showboat style plus the fact he was considered a "freshman". Coach Limebeck began working on the student press release for the Wall, both the student union and the campus paper of the same name. This season the PCU Statemen's football team really would have the monsters on the midway he smiled.


Meanwhile across the campus….


A seasoned student walked onto the Greens, at 6’6 and weighing in at 245 lbs the new "freshman" looked around. He couldn’t believe his luck. He had even convinced his Uncle Gary to arranged for him to be in the dorm. He loved his Aunt Pia and Uncle Gary, but they were newlyweds and it was embarassing sometimes, he smiled.

After getting registered for his classes Max had begun exploring the campus. Only the diehard sports fanatics recognized and called out to him, Of course it hadn’t hurt that he was still wearing his PCSH Fighting Dragons Letterman Jacket. He smiled, waved and even escorted a couple of freshman girls to the campus library. “See you later, Lindy and Marie.” They giggled "Bye Champ" and waved at the handsome quarterback as he continued to the student union.

Max walked across the student union to 'the Wall'. This was the place where he was told if you needed anything on campus you could find it there. As he looked around his stomach growled, he would get back to reading the Wall, after he grab some lunch. After a few minutes Max was sitting down eating his loaded megaburger, with cheese fries when he saw the scrolling marquee and his name. THE PCU Statesmen wish to announce our newest Statemen's quarterback, Genius of the Gridiron MAXWELL “the Bullet” DRAKE. Please join us in welcoming our newest team member to Paragon City University the home of the Statemen…. Max failed to read the rest of the marquee as he burst out laughing. He hadn’t even been on campus for a day yet and he was already being called a miracle worker. After a moment he composed himself and finished his burger. Yes this was the right choice he wouldn’t of had this much fun at MIT.

Edited September 18, 2022 by American Valor
formatting fix

[American Valor]

Max sat back in the booth drinking his Brawler-ade and open his backpack. He pulled out a battered leatherbound book and began writing personal notes on his last interaction. He noticed several others in the cafeteria getting food together while talking. Max saw a group of women he recongized and adjusted his glasses looking down and switching out notebooks.

 

 

 

((tag))

[Living_Hellfire]

Thunder rolled over Steel Canyon as The Legendary Living Hellfire descended from the heavens and the pressure wave from the sound barrier collapsed. He slowly cruised above the campus, taking note of students, both powered and not as they made their way about their day to and fro. The old man remembered wistfully his days as a teacher at Paragon City High School, the excitement in the eyes of a student as they came to a realization, connecting dots in knowledge. The camaraderie that came with young people eager to learn, finding friendships and new beginnings. He pushed through the Hellfire towards the rear of the main building, tearing through his armour into more appropriate attire.

 

The Man in Black nodded to the custodian exiting the rear entrance. Large, black plastic bag in hand, the custodian simply nodded back at the man as they crossed path, the scent of the cigar smoke both sweet and acrid in the man's wake.

 

Sharp, hard-soled footsteps in the hallways in the secret, hidden places of the building. The parts that students and even staff rarely see, the places where the business of maintenance and care-taking are done. Where cleaning supplies, custodial equipment are kept. Where breaks are taken, time is spent lounging and the occasional birthday cake candles are blown out. These are the secret, hidden places of a school. The Man in Black knew them well from his time spent educating the youngsters of Paragon City.

 

He found himself in a hallway on the first floor. Carefully avoiding close contact with the various persons moving from place to place, he managed to glean directions to the Dean's office from a passerby, despite their obvious distaste for the fact that he was smoking what appeared to be an enormous cigar indoors. The Man in Black was unsurprised both at the distaste for his habit as well as the directions given. A school is a school is a school.

 

He found his way to the main office in short order and stopped. He was an old man. He's retired. Does he really want to do this again? Does he want to relive this? Again? He can't just stand at the end of a dock and fish for the rest of eternity, at least not where there was opportunity to make a difference. He steeled himself and passed through the door. A desk, behind which was a youngish looking, bespectacled man stops him short.

 

"Hello, how can I help you?" Asks the receptionist.

 

The Man in Black clears his throat, taking the cigar from between his teeth and tucking it into his breast pocket.

"Howdy. Me name's Fergus McRae an' I'd like tae speak tae the Dean about a teachin' position. Can ye aid me?"

 

"Ah" says the young man "Do you have a resumé?"

 

"Nay, nae on me, anyhow, but I hold degrees from Oxford in History an' English an' I was a teacher at Paragon City High School in Steel Canyon prior tae o'four. I'm sure ye can find me records."

The bespectacled young man types some more.

 

"Ah, yes, Mr. McRae?" He pauses "You're Scottish, right? The spelling of your name is odd. Usually with Scots there's an 'A' before the 'C' in a name like "McRae". When there's no 'A' that usually means Irish."

 

"Aye, that's so, well caught." The Man in Black grins. "Me da wasn'ae from here when the name was took, but I assure ye, I'm as Scottish as they come."

 

"Well, Mr. McRae, please have a seat and the Dean will see you shortly."

 

The Man in Black glanced at the highly flammable office furniture and balked slightly.

 

"I'll stand, if'n ye dinnae mind."

 

"As you like, Mr. McRae."

Edited September 17, 2022 by Living_Hellfire

[American Valor]

At 6'6" and even hinched over Max would be easily recongized by those that knew him and those who recongized his football jersey #7. Such was the case in point when several ladies approached him. All of them were stunners with the pack leader being super model pretty. They stood around the booth taking the cues from their defacto leader. "Hey Maxie." She gave him air kisses. Max sat back up in the booth and threw a well worn practiced smile at Sandra. "Supp Sandi. What yall up too?" Max stated flatly while looking her over earning a giggle from the others.

 

Sandra 'Sandi' Beech stood just under 5'9" in her perfectly sculped body. She was wearing a halter top and jeans whiched showed off her hourglass curves amazingly. Sandi exotic features were framed by her pixie cut blonde hair. "Its date nite, I'll be ready at 8. Dont be late." Sandi stated as she removed Max's ben franklins eyeglasses looking into his sapphire eyes while she put them in his pocket. 

 

Max just stared at her for a moment longer then shrugged "We'll see what the coach says at practice, I'll call you" Max said while grabbin up his backpack and jacket. Turning to leave Max smiled at the newest member of the cheer squad. "Lookin good Summer"  Summer blushed. Max knew she was on the shy side and smiles while exiting the Student Union.

 

Sandi glared daggers after Max while still smiling for those watching

 

[American Valor]

 

PCU Administrative Main Office

While Mr McRae was waiting, the young man named Jonny had quickly assembled Mr McRae's resume information and formatted it before senting the file to Dean Richards. A few moments later a young asian man who was dressed casually in a powder blue sweater, khakis and brown earthshoes opened the door exiting the Dean's office. He was about 4 inches shorter than Dean Richards who was escorting him out. Dean Richards was in a smart business slack suit. " Thank you for coming in to discuss the situation.  I don’t believe it will cause any conflict Mr Cao.” Dean Richards said while shaking his hand. “Thank you Mrs Richards I am glad to have cleared that up. Have a good day.” Daniel said.  Daniel Cao nodded to the man in black as he exited the office.

 

Dean Richards smiled at both her receptionist and Mr McRae.  “ Keep holding my calls  Jonny.” Then she stepped towards her door and motioned towards Mr McRae to follow her into the office. Dean Richards couldn’t hide her smile while speaking to Mr. McRae.  “ You’re in luck as we have a few positions that have been vacated recently.  Would you prefer to sit or stand?  Please lets talk.”  Dean Richards said in a friendly tone.

 

(Tag)

Edited September 22, 2022 by American Valor

[American Valor]

The Green

 

So once again he found himself wandering about in the Green waving at those who waved or nodden in his direction.

"Heads Up" "Watch out!" came the calls.

Max looked at the football sailing right at his head. He released the backpack and snatched the ball right out of the air. He spotted both Alpha-Betas guys and pointed.

"Go Long!"

Max shouted and with a double pump he bulletted the football across the Green at the two running Frat guys right on target. The one on the right stopped "Thanks Bullet!" he yelled as the other dove to make a spectacular catch comming up with the ball. "WooYEA! Touchdown bound." they shouted.

Max laughed and pointed, giving the high sign before picking up his backpack and continuing hanging out in the Green.

 

 

(Tag)

 

[American Valor]

PCU Student Union Cafeteria

 

The ladies stood there a moment longer when Sandi turned back to face them.

 

"Nina pick up our food, Maria go with”

 

Sandi said as she sat down at the table. Alice went with Maria and Nina. Melody, JT and Summer sat at the tables with Sandi.  Summer spoke up after a minute.

 

“Um Sandi, whats going on with Max? He did not seem like himself?” Summer said quietly as she bit her lip slightly.

 

Mel and JT became busy looking at a flyer left on the table. Sandi smiled with a slightly bemused look on her face which even looked charming.

 

“Oh you mean between me and Maxie?”

 

Sandi deliberately used her pet name she had called him. Summer nodded transfixed by Sandi’s eyes.

 

“Well we were quite the item in High School after the incident. We knew each other a long time and once he returned to school we got together. We had lost some friends and the group he had hung out with were gone. So I was there for him, we clung together it was great for a while until it wasn’t.”

 

Mel chimed in 

“It’s hard to compete with a dead girl."

 

 Mel shut her mouth with a glance from Sandi. JT looked up at the others bringing the food over. The others had come back with what looked like every type of salad that they could find. Nina gave Sandi her salad, a Chicken Caesar. The rest of them were passed around to the other cheerleaders. Everyone began eating.

 

“So you see Summer, We have a standing date nite set up so we can still try. I broke up with him, but you know how it can be between a girl and her Quaterback. Right hun?”

 

Sandi looked after to where Max had been while taking a bite of her salad. Summer smiled shyly and started eating her Cobb salad while thinking about everything she heard.

Edited September 27, 2022 by American Valor
spelling

[Living_Hellfire]

The Man in Black followed Dean Richards into her office, clocking the wooden furniture enrobed in cloth and leather.

 

"I'll stand, if'n ye dinnae mind, madam, but d'ye mind if'n I smoke?" He asked as he reached into his breast pocket. Despite the few minutes buried in his jacket, the cigar was somehow still lit as he placed it between his teeth.

 

"This is a non-smoking campus, Mr. McRae."

 

"Would it help if'n I tol' ye it wasnae a real cigar but an exhaust of a sort?"

 

Constance Richards, having been around the sun more than once understood that the world she lived in wasn't black and white. "What do you mean when you say it's an exhaust?"

 

The Man in Black pulled slowly on the cigar, sending a plume of blue smoke into the ceiling. "Jes' that. I'm afraid I've certain... gifts, ye may call'em. Y'see, I'm a conduit." He gestured to the sink through the open door to the Dean's private bathroom. "Nae unlike a faucet what cannae be shut off." He gestures with the cigar "This aids me in dissipatin' the heat so's nae tae do harm. It's nae toxic tae mortals, I assure ye, e'en though it appears an' smells like it may be."

 

The Dean leaned back in the big chair, considering The Man in Black. "So, I assume you'll feel to smoke that thing in our classrooms?"

 

"Aye. If'n ye'll have me."

 

"And why should we make an exception for you on this, a non-smoking campus? Are you expecting us to make explanations for your to every parent, every student, every single complaint or question?" She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the large mahogany desk. "You're not off to a good start, Mr. McRae."

 

After a brief, tense silence Dean Richards snaps open a set of reading glasses and opens a manila file and begins sifting through paper. "You have an impressive, if brief career as a teacher. Less than ten years at PCHS here in Steel Canyon. Well liked by students and colleagues." She looks down again, rifling some more through the pages. "An impressive recommendation from Principal Decker. Multiple student awards and an exemplary pass percentage." She looked up, lowering her glasses slightly, making direct eye-contact, getting the sense that whatever was behind those shades was staring right back. "What makes you think that you're ready to make the jump from teaching high school to educating at a university? Don't get me wrong, Mr. McRae, your education is stellar from what I can see and I don't doubt that you were a brilliant teacher at PCHS, but from what I can tell here, according to your own records you don't even have a Master's degree, let alone a PhD."

 

Another tense silence.

 

"I'm really trying to help you here." Constance sighed, dropping the veneer slightly and in so doing becoming slightly more human. "Look, Mr. McRae, I think I know very well who you are. It's here, in the file. It's one of the most open secrets in Paragon City. The teacher that disappeared after the Malta takeover of Steel Canyon High School in 2004. It's right here in black and white. Nobody ever seems to mention it or want to talk about it, but here we are."

 

"I dinnae like tae talk about that, madam."

 

Dean Richards tapped her index finger across her mouth thoughtfully as she leaned back again in the chair. The silence was slightly less tense.

 

She sighed, closing the folder. She removed the reading glasses, placed them back in their case and then positioned them precisely in the spot on the desk. "I'm afraid I can't offer you a position as an instructor, Mr. McRae you just simply aren't qualified."

 

The Man in Black nodded. "I unnerstand, thank ye fer yer time." He grinned amiably and turned to leave.

 

"There might be another option, however."

 

"Aye? An' what's that, then?"

 

"We live in a complicated world, Mr. McRae. Many, I might even say half of our students are powered. They're young, they need guidance from an old hand and I daresay that there are no hands at this sort of thing that are older than you. You've been here from the very beginning, when Paragon City was young and fresh, when it birthed its first heroes."

 

She stood and came around the desk to lean herself against the front, arms folded.

 

"It's Liv, right?"

 

The Man in Black nodded.

 

"Look, Liv, I'll speak plainly; These young people certainly need and desire an education, it's why they're here. The thing they lack, however, particularly amongst the powered students is guidance and that's something that most of our professors lack in terms of understanding." She gestured to herself "For example. I lack superpowers entirely so I have no idea how to guide these young people. Maybe... you might be able to help with that."

 

The Man in Black pulled on the cigar thoughtfully, the blue smoke obscuring him briefly.

 

"Y'mean, as a kindae guidance councilor?"

Constance waggled her head back and forth "Yeah... like that. Would you be willing to be available for that kind of thing?".

 

****

 

The door to the dean's office swung open and The Man in Black strode out towards the exit without a word. The dean approached the receptionist's desk and spoke softly, in that way that office workers do. There was a hushed conversation and Dean Richards placed an alabaster card on Johnny's desk.

 

"That's the guy?!" Johnny exclaimed, only to be immediately hushed and reminded of where he was and that professional conduct was still required.

 

"That's the guy?" He whispered to his boss. She made direct eye-contact and nodded, her eyes bearing a warning before returning to her office.

 

With a few keystrokes Johnny opened the staffing file in the central database, created a new row and column to accommodate the new entry for Guidance Consultant. With trembling fingers he began to type the name 'Fergus McRae A.K.A. The Legendary Living Hellfire'.

Edited September 27, 2022 by Living_Hellfire

[Tenaxa]

((Damn, its been so long since I did this...not sure I can really come back, but let's give it a try...))

 

Much Earlier:

The hulking man stood and looked at the other man in the rumpled suit.

 

“Well Mr. Bana, we’ve extended your parole for another year. You don’t have to go back to the Zig, but you do have to stay at Paragon University. Your probationary hero license if also extended. I’m not sure how you managed to be allowed to play on any sport-ball teams but apparently you were accepted.

 

*sigh*

 

Stay out of trouble and we may be able to keep you out of jail for another year…maybe.

******************************************************************************************************

Somewhat Earlier:

In a dirty alley in Kings Row:

The same hulking man hands over a large sum of cash to a member of the family.

“You keep my mutant abilities quiet, and I keep paying you. Got it?”

 

The Family thug smiled and nodded. “Anything you want “Club”. We’ll make sure that genetic testing comes back “normal” and you’ll be able to play.”

*****************************************************************************************************

The Green

 

At 6’6” the “Bullet” was big, but he was dwarfed by 6’8” of hulking mass that was the linebacker known as “Club” (aka Mike Bana). Faster than most of the cornerbacks in the conference, and big enough to devour most running backs, he’d led the team in tackles and sacks the past year.

 

Sure, this new kid could huck the ball a mile, but that didn’t impress the Club.

 

The mass of man approached Max. “Hey pretty boy, c’mere. I’ve heard all the hype, and all the chicks are all over you. But you ain’t nuthin’ till you proved it on the field.”

 

Mike smiled, showing a toothy grin, but with one gap where a tooth had been knocked out. Then he continued, quietly to Max.

 

“I break pretty boys like you. Until you prove it on the field, you’re just another hunk of meat to me.”

Mike cracked his knuckles and continued to smile at Max.

“If you pay half the attention to the playbook as you do to those skanks you might actually be worth a damn. But until then, just watch yourself."

 

 

[Magairlín]

The Houston Library was three floors high. Cafe on the first floor, engineering books on the second, with a staircase twisting upwards in the center. It was lit by natural light spilling in through the skylight above, highlighting the modernist architectural features like the glass-balustered staircase or the inlay running up both sides of the steps.

 

Mia didn't care about the architecture. She cared that her study group met after her 9 am class ended, and about that stupid no-flying rule.

 

Up the staircase, through the second floor exit from the stairwell into the library itself, and toward the area with the study tables. Which were filled up by people not in her group.

 

She pulled out a phone and dialed, drawing glances from some of the people sitting at the tables.

[American Valor]

The Green

 

Max had just finished showing off to a few co-ed doing  handstand push up when he saw a huge moutain heading his way  he rolled to his feet and smiled an award winning smile.

Quote

The mass of man approached Max. “Hey pretty boy, c’mere. I’ve heard all the hype, and all the chicks are all over you. But you ain’t nuthin’ till you proved it on the field.” Mike smiled, showing a toothy grin, but with one gap where a tooth had been knocked out. Then he continued, quietly to Max.

 

Max feined a mock look of suprized to the group he had been clownin around with and looked at Mike.

 

 

Quote

“I break pretty boys like you. Until you prove it on the field, you’re just another hunk of meat to me.”

Mike cracked his knuckles and continued to smile at Max. “If you pay half the attention to the playbook as you do to those skanks you might actually be worth a damn. But until then, just watch yourself."

 

 

Max knew he should just listen but engaged instead.

 

"Dude, you're harshing our mellow, man. I know who you are. I'm just glad we're on the same team." Max turned with a florished bow to the group.

" Let me present the leader in tackles and sacks  Mike "the Club" Bana a true monster of the midway." Max contuined to smile 

 

Edited October 2, 2022 by American Valor
formating and spelling

[Coyotedancer]

[ It's been quite a while since I tried forum roleplay... but... Why not? I do have two members of my crew who are Paragon University students, after all. Although one of them is only visiting the main campus. Ajda's from "spooky U" over at the Salamanca campus. 😝 ]

 

Kai and Ajda - The LIbrary

 

One brown-haired girl with wire-frame glasses and a stack of books half the height of a wailer queen piled around her looked up briefly, and then returned to flipping the pages of a dusty history written in Latin, quietly grumbling something about Caesar Divi Nervae Filius Nerva Traianus Optimus Augustus and exactly what he could do with his conquest of Dacia.

 

The taller, darker-haired student next to her snorted, holding back a laugh. “That sounds more like something the Greeks would have tried,” she whispered. “Poor Democritus… So, still nothing about Pendalexius or his ship?”

 

“Not a word. I think conventional history miiiiight not be our best source if information this time. We are going to have to go more exotic.” The brown-haired girl’s accent was odd; a soft blend of French and English and Caribbean that could only have come from the Etoilean islands. The other was pure Paragon.

 

“The Midnighters?”

 

“I think so.”

 

“Damn. That means we have to reshelve all of THIS crap... Binks'll murderize us if we just leave Rome all over the table.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 2, 2022 by Coyotedancer

[Living_Hellfire]

The Man in Black used his sleeve to polish the strangely onyx coloured plaque outside his office at the far end of the main campus building. Grinning behind the cigar he nodded to himself, reading the words again;

"Mr. McRae"

"Guidance"

 

He pushed the door open to his little office, buried in the bowels of the building. Beyond the administrative office, past the cafeteria, behind the janitorial wing in a long forgotten back end of the campus. The interior was hardly plush, but almost entirely black. A functional, if institutional looking desk, a strange and heavy yet functional chair behind it. Book cases lined the room, filled with tomes and volumes of known and even occasionally unfamiliar lore. All made with the same strange mineral, black as the heart of a singularity, drinking in the light around it. Four actual torches lit the room, one in each corner the open flames licking at the black ceiling. Two chairs sat before the desk, cushioned but not extravagantly so, the way one might think of a chair to welcome a guest for a short time. A guest that may have something important to discuss but is not interested in lounging.

 

Mr. McRae rounded the desk and sat himself slowly into his articulated, heavy Infernite chair and leaned back, kicking his feet up onto the desk. His enjoyment of the moment was short-lived as the three foot Demonling sauntered around the corner and into the room, posting up against one of the black book-cases.

 

"So, this is what we're doing now?"

 

The Man in Black puffed his cigar and stared at the ceiling.

 

The imp snorted in derision "Of all the things you could do, you choose this?"

 

Infernal is a guttural language, comprised mostly of grunts, growls and snorts. The syntax is fairly sophisticated, relying mostly on emphasis and context but at the end of the day one can only spend so much time Downstairs before one becomes inured to it. It's the kind of language that sinks into your bones.

 

"Shut it, Screwtape." Replied The Man as he turned his head to regard his tormentor from behind opaque shades. "This is what I've chosen fer the time bein' an' I'll have none o'yer saucy lip about it."

 

The little demonling snorted. "You have the power to rule this world, and you choose... this?!" His wings fluttered as he motioned around at the little office in the backwoods of the building. "You have the power to usurp both Marcus and Stephen, you could burn this entire world to ash! You could send all of humanity Home and you choose to spend half your time standing on the end of a dock pulling fish and the other half telling children how to not be children? What's wrong with you?!"

 

"Aye!" The Man in Black stood, resting his hands on the desk as he leaned forward in anger. "I do choose it, ye gobshite! It's the place where I may make a difference in guidin' these youngsters, summat ye failed tae do with yer own nephew, didnae ye?!"

 

Screwtape snarls in response.

 

"An' yer failure tae guide yer kin is what tied ye tae me as penance, isnae that the case, ye feckin' bellend?!"

 

The Demonling launches himself across the desk at The Man in Black who smacks him out of the air, sending him rolling into a corner behind the desk.

 

"I'll nae have it, Screwtape!" Declares The Man as he takes the cigar from his mouth, the blue smoke encircling his hat like a halo.

 

"I'll-"

 

"Ye'll be feckin' silent! That's what ye'll be, ye bastard! This is what I've chosen fer the time bein' an' Granda himself kens quite while that it's temporary, but fer now I'll aid these youngsters howe'er I may, and ye'll be feckin' silent about it!"

 

And silent he was, in a very tense moment as the little Demonling picked himself up off the floor with as much dignity as possible.

 

There was a knock on the doorframe...

 

"Excuse me, Mr. McRae? May I have a word?"

 

The Man in Black and The Demonling turned their heads...

[OPEN TAG]

[Tenaxa]

On 10/2/2022 at 3:31 PM, American Valor said:

Max knew he should just listen but engaged instead.

 

"Dude, you're harshing our mellow, man. I know who you are. I'm just glad we're on the same team." Max turned with a florished bow to the group.

" Let me present the leader in tackles and sacks  Mike "the Club" Bana a true monster of the midway." Max contuined to smile 

 

 

There was a moment when Max’s smile seemed larger than even the hulking man next to him. And then people were talking and pointing at him.

 

Mike let out a low growl of frustration and then tried to smile and make nice. He realized that he’d made a faux pas of sorts – normal people don’t get to see the inner workings of the team. He should have kept this to the locker room but the pretty boy had gotten to him.

 

Still, at this point, he knew Max was in his element so there was no fighting it.

 

“Uh, yeah, the defense is going to continue to step up this year, so we’re hoping the offense can follow suit.”

 

He took an opportunity to lean over and grumble/whisper;

“I’m still watching you.”

 

 

 

[Magairlín]

Mia let the phone ring three times before hanging up with a frown. She started a text to Cath, holding the phone in one hand, thumb swiping almost automatically across the keyboard.

 

Had they gone somewhere else? Cancelled entirely? This was supposed to be the easy class on her schedule this semester. Last time she ever trusted-

 

The two girls looked like they'd been at the table for a while.

 

Nerds, she thought amiably. Hopefully it was just Latin or something they were discussing, and not magic.

 

She walked over to the table, to the dark-haired one. "Did you guys see a group of three here earlier? One of 'em would've had green skin. I was supposed to go over some math notes with 'em."

[Coyotedancer]

 

Kai and Ajda - The LIbrary

 

“It’s been pretty busy in here this morning,“ the dark-haired girl answered. “‘Bunch of people in and out. I don’t remember seeing anyone who was green, though. Kai?”

 

The other girl closed her book and added it to the stack, shaking her head. “I’m afraid not. There was a blue android looking for the Cambridge translation of Metamorphoses over in the 3000s… and a little red Abyssal Servant picking up something at the reserve desk for its summoner… Oh, and those twins with the green *wings*… But I haven’t seen anyone with green skin.”

 

“Gods, those wings… They really need to watch where they’re putting those things in tight quarters. ’Nearly knocked a couple of people over just turning around. It’s worse than people with backpacks on the train. But… yeah. Not green skinned.” The girl grinned. “I’m Ajda, by the way. Ajda Dare. Applied Metaphysics. Most of my classes are at Salamanca, but Central has a better library. This is Kai.”

 

The brown-haired one nodded. “Kylie Stolver. I’m in the History and Secondary Education programs.”   

 

 

 

 

[American Valor]

The Green

 

Max glanced at his watch, then looked at the group, at Mike, and then back at his watch. Max chuckled "Gotta go, running late to Dr. Sanstad Lecture." looking at Mike. "Club, See you on the field." He smiled at the group. "We will see you all at our first game this season, right?"  "Yea!" The group cheered as Max ran off towards Xavier lecture hall. He was lata to Dr. Sanstad medical briefing on Rikti physiology. Max had to keep his run to an easy pace which was still a fast clip as he crossed the Green.

Edited October 6, 2022 by American Valor

[Tenaxa]

Mike watch Max jog off (at a pace faster than most sprinters) and grumbled to himself; “That cocky QB better play as well has he talks.

 

”Hesitantly, a small boy-ish looking student approached.

 

“Um, excuse me Mr. Bana, it is time for your tutoring session. You need to write a paper on Alexander Pope’s Essay on Man.”

 

Mike turned toward the voice and glowered at the young man.

 

“The European Optimistic Philosophy movement in the 1700’s was pretty weak. Most proponents subsequently turned against it and even wrote satires of Pope’s work…er, I mean, I don’t feel like it, you write it for me, nerd!”

 

Then he stomped off hoping no one heard the exchange.

[Magairlín]

The Library

 

"Applied Metaphysics? As in magic? Seems strange, having that in a normal classroom.

 

I'm Mia Stone. I'm in the audio engineering program over in Founders."

[American Valor]

Xavier Lecture Hall Rikiti 101

 

 

Max entered Dr. Sanstad class lecture through the rear sets of double doors and took the first available seat.  Dr. Sanstad was in the middle of the medical briefing on Rikti physiology.  A media screen had a split stream showing an Rikiti autopsy at a Vanguard Facility. Max sat at first listening to Dr. Sanstad. Max watched the display hyper-focused on the Rikiti autopsy.

 

A smile of satisfaction crossed his face as a tear rolled quietly down his cheek. Max thoughts drifted to Grenadier Village in Baumton where he had lost his family, friends, everything. Max hated the Rikiti with a passion for more then those reasons but for most those reasons would be enough.  He reached up and wiped his face and started taking notes.

[American Valor]

The Houston Library

 

 

 

 

Daniel Cao sat in the cafe on the first floor discussing a class assigment with several students in chinese. Todays class had been a field trip of sorts . Several of his advanced students in Business Chinese were preparing to head overseas to meet and conduct business deals. Danny sat back drinking his coffee watching the 4 older students work their way through the assigment, Danny smiled they were doing well. Then out the window he noticed black plums of smoke coming froms the apts used for housing. Mr Cao stood up and in a loud voice " Class Dismissed." Then he hurried out the door racing towards the building that he knew was on fire.

 

 

((Open Tag/event))

 

 

Edited December 5, 2022 by American Valor
spelling

[Living_Hellfire]

The tones at fire station 15 in Steel Canyon South rang and four sets of boots hit the floor. Captain Norm Smith took brief note of his crew as they scrambled up from the kitchen table and raced to the bay floor towards Engine 5. Firefighter Gavin Gilchrist was first in his kit and first in the rig, slamming the "enroute" button from the driver's seat on the Mobile Data Terminal while Firefighter Talia Swayne hit the button to open the bay door. "Duck" Marsden took his seat in the crew 2 position in the back of the rig and was strapped in before Captain Smith even mounted the passenger side front. He looked back to check his crew, finding them locked and loaded he nodded to Firefighter Gilchrist who then gunned the engine and lit up the lights and sirens. Engine 5 roared from the station towards danger and all was right with the world.

((for reference to these characters please see 

))

 

***meanwhile, at the campus***

 

The Demonling scrabbled down the darkened hallway on all four legs, wings laid flat along his back. He turned the ninety degree corner, scoring long, deep lines in the marble flooring with his talons as he made the turn, barking in a guttural language at the top of his tiny lungs. The Man in Black stuck his head out his office doorway at the end of the hall, a cigar tucked into the corner of his mouth.

 

"Settle!" he said, stepping out into the hallway as Screwtape slid to a halt before him, leaving even more gouges in the flooring. "Begin again."

 

The Demonling barked a single word in Infernal and The Man frowned. "Show me." he said, pointing down the hall. The two set off at a brisk march.

 

****

 

"Dispatch from Engine five."

 

"Engine five, dispatch."

 

"Engine five, on location 542 Cartwright at Paragon City University Steel Canyon Campus, we have a six storey multi-residential hi-rise, type five construction. Multiple people evacuating, open flame showing from three sides, put in a working fire, I'll be Cartwright command."

 

"Dispatch copies, on location, establishing command. Working Fire."

 

Captain Smith replaced the hand-held in the cradle of the mobile of the rig and stepped down onto the pavement. His crew knew their assignments and needed no instruction; Firefighter Gilchrist leaped from the driver's seat and raced to the back of the Engine, grabbing a hose from the back of the engine and hauling it to the nearest hydrant while Firefighters Marsden and Swayne hucked their high-rise packs and grabbed their halogens and axes.

 

The fire scene was bedlam, because it always is in those first few moment. Civilians, powered and otherwise raced out the lobby door in their pajamas, some still holding text books. As Captain Smith acknowledged the next incoming ladder, instructing them to take control of the lobby as a District Chief pulled up in an SUV. Dispatch acknowledged and stood by patiently as Captain Smith relayed his size-up of the situation. District Chief Kent Hamilton took command.

 

"Ladder 27 from Command."

 

Lieutenant McCarthy thumbed her lapel mic as she led her crew into the building's lobby. "This is Ladder 27, go ahead Command."

 

"You are now lobby control sector, please secure the fire panel and take control of the elevators."

 

"Ladder 27 copies, we are now lobby control."

 

"Engine five from command."

 

"Go ahead Command, this is Engine five." Captain Smith turned his lapel mic into his mouth as he spoke.

 

"Engine five, you are now fire attack."

 

Norm Smith takes a moment to lock eyes with his crew. This is the big show. This is where a firefighter makes their bones. Firefighters Swayne and Marsden stare back at him. "Engine five copies. We are making our ascent." The Captain leads his crew to the stairwell as civilians continue to pour out of the elevators, into the lobby and out the front doors.

 

***

 

The Man in Black walked towards the fire scene as multiple fire trucks of various configurations pulled up and slowed his roll slightly as he recognized what was happening. Mortals were doing for themselves. He chewed his cigar as the little Demonling gesticulated frantically. The Man was calm as he watched Captain Smith take his crew into the building. He watched as powered youngsters found their courage and attempted to make entry. Some did so because they felt they needed to prove something. Some did so because they felt that they were about to lose something. The Man in Black strode past the Command vehicle towards the front of the building, arriving at the same time as a large football player named Max tried to bully his way past the police officers and firefighters maintaining entry control.

 

"Max!"

 

The young man turned his head.

 

"Max, I dinnae reckon we've met, but I've heard yer name about campus an' yer a good lad, but, mate... allow the professionals an opportunity tae do what they've been trained tae do, aye?"

 

The Man in Black gestured to the side of the building, out of the way of the entryway.

 

"Come along, then, lad." The Man in Black gestured away from the entryway of the building, grinning and winking from burnt orange shades, the smoke from his cigar forming a halo around his head.

 

There's a small pause as the large young man considered whether or not to break his way into the burning building, but instead decided to trust The Man and step to the side.

 

"We've nae met, mate, but ye may call me Mr. McRae." Said The Man.

Edited October 16, 2022 by Living_Hellfire

[Living_Hellfire]

On 10/12/2022 at 2:35 PM, American Valor said:

 

((Open Tag/event))

 

The Man in Black puffed the cigar, the sweet smelling blue smoke quickly rushed away as the two and a half inch hoses hit the front of the building. Max felt the droplets from the reflected spray on his large shoulders and looked at The Man maintaining a discreet distance as they ambled down the sidewalk. His suit was dry, but he seemed to be shrouded in steam.

 

"Max, I reckon ye were attemptin' tae make entry tae render aid, aye?" He doesn't wait for the young man to answer, seemingly already knowing what to expect in reply he barreled on "An' it's a noble urge, aye, so it is." The smoke from the cigar mingled with the steam as the two made their way to the end of the block, out of the way of the pandemonium unfolding behind them.

 

"Y'see, m'boy, one o'the hardest lessons tae learn fer folks like us is when tae allow mortals tae do fer themselves." He motioned to the activity in front of the building as more and more firetrucks arrived, spilling out people in grey and yellow bunker gear, air tanks strapped to their backs. "Come with me, lad."

 

The Man in Black led the young athlete across the street towards the quad where they could get a wider view of the scene. It didn't take long before Max saw that it wasn't the bedlam it appeared to be. As they watched together there seemed to be an order to the chaos. Firefighters went in, while others came out. The exiting firefighters were blackened and panting as they approached a crew of their siblings at an easel, there was an exchange of tags and markers and then they were hurried off to a hastily erected tent where they were given water. Their air tanks were refilled by a special truck. They stayed in this tent until breath was caught, hydration replenished and spirits renewed whereupon they donned their masks and refilled air tanks and re-entered the building.

 

Designated officers wandered around the residence building and it became clear that they were scanning for any lapse in safety protocols that might put the men and women fighting this fire at risk. Ambulances arrived on scene to care for persons carried from the building, providing oxygen and first aid. PCPD cruisers screamed up and officers began to provide scene control, preventing civilians from exposing themselves to danger.

 

Before long the smoke billowing from the top floors of the building turned to steam and a radio was overheard as District Chief Kent Hamilton declared an "under control" meaning the primary seat of the fire was extinguished. Now overhaul could begin. So far no civilians, powered or otherwise had been transported to hospital.

 

The Man in Black took the cigar from his mouth with the first two fingers of his right hand, letting it dangle at the end of his arm, the smoke encircling his arm like a serpent.

 

"D'ye see, lad? Ye must allow mortals tae do fer themselves. This is yer first lesson. We're here tae aid'em, nae tae babysit'em. We cannae do it all, e'en in life er death matters. They must do fer themselves."

 

 

"We're nae gods, nae matter how much power we wield, we must trust'em tae look out fer themselves. We cannae save'em, we cannae do fer'em in e'ery case er they'll lose the will tae do fer themselves an' that's the worst crime we could e'er commit, lad. Tae take from mortals their will tae aid themselves is akin tae scorchin' the earth ourselves."

 

The Man jammed the cigar back between his teeth. "D'ye unnerstand, lad?"

 

***

 

Captain Norm Smith led his crew out for the last time. His bones ached, his lungs burned and every muscle in his body screamed with the weight of his gear. At 52 years old he was staring down the barrel of the end of his career but he looked at the faces of his crew, all burning with excitement and satisfaction at having done their duty. They wouldn't see the moisture in his eyes as he led them to the accountability board to exchange their tags.

 

He looked across the street and his eye caught a well-built young man standing next to a familiar figure. A Man in Black who winked at him from behind opaque, burnt-orange shades. Norm Smith didn't see the wink, but he knew it happened. He nodded and headed to the tent.

Edited October 18, 2022 by Living_Hellfire

[American Valor]

Xavier Lecture Hall Rikiti 101

 

 

 Dr. Sanstad class lecture was just the begining of several lectures he had for the semester. the information would count for a quater of their grade. Max had taken serious notes and used his tablet to take photos at key points. As he exited the Lecture Hall he saw the dark plums of smoke and raced to the apt dorm area where the fire was taking place.

 

 

 

 

Cartwright Apartment Complex      Daniel Cao

 

Daniel arrived before the fire had full gotten to blaze and could hear the sirens in the distance. As Daniel rounded the rear corner he saw a six storey multi-residential hi-rise that was on fire. The back door was blocked preventing exit. Daniel raced to the door pushing the barrel off the door stoop and then yanking on the door. It was locked with a chain. Daniel could hear screaming comming from the otherside. He calmed himself before he spoke.

"The Paragon City Fire Dept and Heroes are on the way. Stand Back, I will get the door open."

"Did you hear dat?" movement came from the left.

Daniel focused his Chi and in fluid motion struck with the 'strength of the bear'. "Hi-Ya!" The claw strike snapping the chain 'KA-SNAP!' freeing the door. Daniel pulled the door open. Billowing smoke and heat poured forth. He called out while forcing the door to stay open.

"This way out Hurry this way." Daniel called.

Tenants raced passed him coughing, crying, half dressed in clothes and pajamas running out of the building; families, men, women and children. As they entered the courtyard they tried to continue running but stopped seeing the men coming around the corner. They stood in fear.  Several Hellions rounded the corner after hearing all the noise and saw Daniel dressed in his loose fitting cotton clothes forcing open the back door.

"Hey! You think you want to play pajama police, sleepy man. They wear tights. You and your friends here are toast!" He pointed at the tenants and Daniel.

 

"Get them boys!"

 

Daniel leap off the stoop...

 

Que the Music 😉

 

 

Quote

"Dispatch from Engine five."

 

"Engine five, dispatch."

 

"Engine five, on location 542 Cartwright at Paragon City University Steel Canyon Campus, we have a six storey multi-residential hi-rise, type five construction. Multiple people evacuating, open flame showing from three sides, put in a working fire, I'll be Cartwright command.

 

25 arrest-me tags later Daniel lead the soot covered tenants including himself around to the front of the apt complex to the awaiting paramedics.

 

 

 

Cartwright Apartment Complex      Maxwell Drake

 

 

A large crowd had formed behind the police line and as soon as Max tried to cross the line to help he was stopped. Max tried to push pass anyway when he saw Daniel in the rear area of the complex hearding tenants to saftey. Then he heard his name.

 

"Max!"

 

Max followed the voice and saw who was addressing him, a elderly man dresssed in a black suit wearring orange shades and smoking a cigar.  Max knew who this living legend was he read about him in the Sentinel files. He wasn't sure if he wanted to follow him then decided it couldn't hurt.

 

Max listen to Mr McRae while he spoke about people in terms of mortals he tried not to smile while he watched the firefighters attack the blazing inferno. They crossed over to the Quad while the fire was being fought. More fire trucks and Campus police arrived then paramedics to assist with the students and tenants.

 

Quote

 "We're nae gods, nae matter how much power we wield, we must trust'em tae look out fer themselves. We cannae save'em, we cannae do fer'em in e'ery case er they'll lose the will tae do fer themselves an' that's the worst crime we could e'er commit, lad. Tae take from mortals their will tae aid themselves is akin tae scorchin' the earth ourselves."

The Man jammed the cigar back between his teeth. "D'ye unnerstand, lad?"

 

Max turned and looked directly at Mr. McRae,

 

"You dont remember me do you?" Max waved it off.

 

"Nevermind I ain't who you think I am. I understand if you can help you help, witholding help gets people dead. I've got to get to the stadium football practice" Max said plainly

 

He gave a thumbs up to the firefighters looking their way.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 22, 2022 by American Valor
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