kokyreforest | Portals Up, Portals Down

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Portals Up, Portals Down

[ Dacey Nolan, age 24, walks calmly through the open air shopping center on the Gold Stage. At the window of a designer handbag store, she looks at her reflection in the glass. Tucking some stray brown locks of hair behind her ear, she grins at the people all around her. Saturday's are busy shopping times, and it's getting close to the holiday season. Music is blasting from the shopping center's speakers. Conversations fill the air when music notes aren't loud enough. Surely no one will notice Nolan should she snap her fingers with her right hand, still covered by hair.

Eyes glow blue as three handbags sitting on a shelf fall through a bright blue portal that opens underneath. The portal quickly disappears as her glow does. Nolan starts to walk away, knowing those handbags have fallen through a second portal back at her house, an orange portal created with a snap of her left hand. She starts to hum a Blue Rose song as she continues with her window shopping. What a pleasant day it is. Even the weather is nice.

What Nolan doesn't know is that her string of crimes hasn't gone completely unnoticed. Over-confidence is her vice. Security cameras have identified her as a person of interest. Her face has been present at many of the reported thefts, and it has long been thought a NEXT could be involved, though they don't know the power used.

As with many crimes involving NEXTs, the heroes have been called to action. Each hero is at a different gate to the shopping center. Origami Cyclone waits at Gate 3, around the corner of a large sporting goods store. All he's waiting for is the word from Agnes to start. ]

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It'll be a quick visit, ma'am. For his own benefit of knowing what his power might be capable of.

[ Ivan is trying very hard, and he is venturing into territory he has never dealt with before.

It should also be worth noting that the only two heroes from the Hero Academy in the past few years have been Origami and Barnaby... There are many years where no heroes are produced, and a number have powers that are utterly unsuited for heroics without a lot of creativity.

At least Sam has one up on them. ]

[ "If that's what you really think, then I have no objections. I didn't think Heroes did this sort of thing for their fans. I'm surprised." ]

It's, uh... it's something I've never done before. I don't know about the other heroes... I-I'm sorry to bother you, ma'am, but th-thank you for your understanding. You're very kind.

[ Sam will get to witness something that makes no sense. Ivan bows to the phone before handing him back his phone. ]

[ It definitely looks...strange...BUT IT ALSO LOOKS LIKE APPROVAL so Sam can't help lighting up like a kid on Christmas and hurrying to take his phone back--where he is promptly told not to make a nuisance of himself and not to bother Mr. Cyclone!! And of course he's just so thrilled he just nods. Even though she can't see him--you're not the only one, Ivan. ]

Mm, mm! I got it! I'll be home for supper--yeah, yeah! Thanks mom--bye!

[ IRONICALLY THESE KEYWORDS WERE THERE BEFORE ALL OF THIS..... ]

There's a bus that'll take us there. It won't take long to get there, and I'll, uh, I'll pay for your ticket.

[ This hadn't exactly been planned, so Ivan feels bad about making Sam pay for something he didn't prepare for.

No, Origami Cyclone does not have a car. ]

Oh...! Are you sure?? I think I have some allowance money... [ Sam wouldn't want to put all the burden on him! Plus he usually has to carry around enough for getting to and from school since his parents are both off and out a lot. ]

[ He's... not the highest paid hero in the first league, not at all. But Ivan still feels the need to be responsible. ]

... Are you sure? I mean, this is my idea so...

I commute both ways to school ever day sir! I'm totally prepared! [ Sort...of. He can probably only make it one-way, but he isn't thinking about the return trip home just yet. ]

[ He's being called "sir"? He's not old enough to be called "sir." ]

Okay, if you're sure...

[ Ivan will just lead them to the right bus station. Hopefully the trip there will go all right, and people won't think he's about to rob the bus because he's wearing a mask. (People doing robberies in animals masks are strangely a reoccurring thing in Stern Bild.) ]

[ It probably helps that he has someone as harmless and dorky as Sam his side. It's hard to look super-serious and dangerous when you've got an excited chatterbox like him rattling off questions about the Academy and going over what he's been doing since they "last met" (see, he can be covert too!)

There's definitely some looks though. You are just a little conspicuous Ivan :c ]

--And then I probably totally failed a math test, but I always do! I always wind up doing the make-ups, hehe...

[ Likewise, Ivan is still shyly stuttering and being nervous. ]

Ah, I wasn't very good at tests either. It seemed like no matter how much I studied, I always forgot everything when it came to take the test.

[ And don't even get him started on presentations. How he managed to give a mini lecture to the students, he's not sure. (And he did run off the stage at one point.)

But they soon arrive across the street from the Hero Academy. One can see the large bronze statue of Mr. Legend through the fence. It looks like some students are working on their endurance by doing laps on the track. ]

Me too, me too! My head just gets totally blank... I can only do well if it's just me taking the test. -Ah! Is that it?? It's huge!

[ Not that he's easily impressed or anything, but it is bigger than his school in Bronze. They don't have a field or front gate nearly so big. Ivan's shyness or his quiet demeanour don't squash anything for him--Origami's undercover after all!! ]

[ This is also possibly the greatest concentration of NEXTs in a single area for all of Stern Bild. NEXTs are still rather rare, so someone could easily live their life without meeting another NEXT. (Well, easier outside of Stern Bild or where heroes aren't employed) ]

Follow me, I'll take you to the principal's office.

[ That way they can have his blessing to talk to students and such. ]

The principal? Okay... [ For some reason Sam just assumed they would head straight on off to seeing students without encountering teachers or authority figures at all. ]

What're they like?

The principal? He's Timo Massini, and he was the principal when I was here. Barnaby too. He's a nice guy.

[ If the LIVE is anything to go by, the teachers are just as eccentric as Principal Massini is. Ivan knocks lightly on the door. ]

Excuse me, sir? It's Origami Cyclone. Are you busy at the moment?

[ Maybe Ivan should have called ahead... ]

[ Quiiiite possibly. But it's reassuring and super cool to realize that this guy graduated both Origami and Barnaby... This is sort of place True Heroes are forged and that's unbelievably awesome. Sam can't help fidgeting. ]

[ The door opens, and Massini doesn't waste any time in wrapping his arms around Ivan for a hug. (Which Ivan isn't very enthusiastic about. Never is.) "Ivan! So good to see you! How have you been doing?"

Ivan freezes. Despite wearing the mask, Massini had just used his real name! In front of someone who isn't a hero! ]

[ Ivan....?? Who's--does he mean origami?!

Even Sam looks shocked. Not only because of the name drop, but the huge hug as well--is one of those going to head his way if he's not careful?? ]

[ Massini finally pulls back and spots Sam. "Ah, are you one of our new students? I don't recognize you. How nice of you to help an underclassmen find his way around, Ivan. Though why are you wearing that mask here?"

It may be hard to see with his hair, but Ivan's blushing all the way to his ears. ]

S-Sir, please don't use my... real name...

[ Oh goddess of Justice, he's screwed. So might Sam because Massini is heading his way to give a hug. ]

[ That's adorable...or would be, if Sam had seen it. He's too busy gaping up at the overly-affectionate principal (so different than his own) to take notice as he makes a slightly startle squeak, and then bam. Super-hugged, by a man he barely knows. ]

N...n-nice to meet you, sir.....

[ Massini doesn't hug for long, but it is a very firm hug. He lets go of the poor boy and waves them both into his office. ]

I'm sorry. Even after all these years, I keep forgetting that you're Origami Cyclone now. Are you thinking of following in Wild Tiger's footsteps and wearing a mask instead of your helmet when you're in public? It's a good look for you.

[ At least this time he called Ivan "Origami Cyclone"... ]

N-No, sir... It's... um... We're trying to figure out what kind of NEXT Sam is. He's... not a new student here.

[ Ivan turns to Sam and puts his hands palm to palm before his face as if in prayer. He'd have a pleading face if it could be seen. ]

Could you... um... please not tell anyone my real name...?

Eh...? Oh!! Oh, yeah! Yes! Sorry...I didn't mean to overhear... [ Sam shakes his head and quickly stands up straight once again, giving a Very Enthusiastic Salite. ] You can count on me Mr. Origami!

[ He can't let down a Hero )8 The secret identity is the most important part... ]

Thanks...

[ Ivan really doesn't know what he's even doing anymore. "Ah, so you brought him here to try it out?" Massini asks. ]

Um, he has the power to temporarily block NEXT powers by touch, but he doesn't glow, and he's done it with people who aren't touching him. So... I'm helping him try and figure out what he can do.

[ Wait, he already said that. ]

[ I-it's okay Ivan, you're doing your best! ]

What he said! Um...but I didn't know anything about it until Origami Cyclone said anything so I'm still not entirely sure how it happens... [ Sam lifts a hand to scratch one cheek. ]

Edited 2014-11-04 06:17 (UTC)

[ Nodding along, Massini seems to get the basic idea of why Ivan brought Sam to the Academy. While the Academy lets certain things slip through the cracks, Massini cares about his students if nothing else. That care is extended to Sam. "I know a class that has some bright students who would probably love to help. I'll go ask them. Origami Cyclone, why don't you take... I'm sorry. I don't think I caught your name."

Ivan will leave Sam to introduce himself. He's still working on getting his nerves under better control. ]

I guess that is one way of getting Senpai to notice him

the secret is out

Senpai has to notice me if I have my hand on his butt 8|

ganbare, origami....

/sobbing

:'D

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holy you should look at senpai like that more often

But-but! He is Senpai o_o

shhhh shhhhhh.....

Ivan doesn't get to be masurao or senpai now? ;~;

do you really want to masurao with sam ivan

He wants to be a manly warrior. Isn't that what it means?

yes. let's go with that

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