kokyreforest | 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. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Really? You always seem to know what you're doing! You're really cool and brave, there's no way i could do all those poses on TV!

[ The gym itself is actually a surprise because Sam expected...well, maybe something more super-power-y. If that makes any sense. Like a training facility for really awesome powers--but this looks really normal, actually. Huh. ]

Er... well, the truth is...

[ Four students walk in. One has the power to stretch her legs very long. Another can stretch his neck very tall. An older woman can sweat buckets, and the last student can stretch his skin like its dough. ]

Ah, it's you four. Um, hello again.

[ Ivan gets stared at. When he was at the Hero Academy giving (and failing at) speeches, he wasn't wearing a mask like he is now. They say hello and ask Sam what he'd like them to do. Principal Massini has already filled them in on the request. ]

[ Ah--his time to shine! Sam loses track of the conversation easily in favour of greeting the heroes-to-be with enthusiasm and a bright expression. He's never actually been in charge of directing anything so it takes him a moment. ]

Umm...! Well, I guess is it okay to see your powers?? Did the principal guy tell you why we're here?

[ They quickly say what they can do and even give a demonstration. The older woman is smart and quickly brings over a mop to clean up after her sweat power. The girl who can stretch her legs speaks up, "So, you can block NEXT powers by touch? And sometimes you can do it when a NEXT isn't touching you? Can I give it a try?"

Ivan moves to be in between and a little off to the side of Sam and the students. Stretchy Leg NEXT seems eager to be the first one to start. ]

Oh yeah, sure! Uhh...I'm sure sure how to do with without touching someone though. Should I try after you activate it and see what happens or before?

[ "Just stay right there..." Stretchy activates her power and balances on one foot as the other stretches out toward Sam. She's curious to see what happens, and once her toes touch Sam's leg, it's like a rubber band snapping back to her body as her power is blocked.

...

The resulting elastic snap of her leg has the unfortunate side effect of kicking Ivan in the face and knocking off his fox mask. His hands go up to his face, not because of his identity being revealed but because that had hurt! ]

[ Oh shoot NOT AS PLANNED ]

Aaaaah--Origami, are you okay???? I'm sorry! [ Even if he technically didn't hit him, that still looked...painful... ]

[ Stretchy gasps when she realizes she just kicked Origami Cyclone in the face. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know I'd do that. Are you okay?" The student who could elongate his neck goes for the first aid kit. The other male student simply looks distressed and is stretching his face. ]

I-I'm okay. See?

[ Yes, Ivan just revealed his face, but he's trying to show that he's okay... "Oh dear, I think that's going to bruise," the older woman with sweat powers says as she gets a better look at a red splotchy spot on his cheek. "Or maybe that mask took the brunt of it."

Mask? Mask?! Now Ivan remembers. ]

[ Yeah...about the mask thing. You're totally without it now Ivan, and Sam's got a nice, clear shot at your mug. Which has him nearly as shocked as the poor Hero--it just takes the older woman to remind him of that fact and to realize his blunder. ]

--I, I won't look...! [ Sam quickly throws his hands up over his face, but he's pretty sure it's too late to help. ]

[ For a few seconds, Ivan has his face covered with his hands again, but once Sam says that he won't look he... actually brings his hands down again. ]

I... um... well, I... guess you get to meet the real Origami Cyclone behind the mask with all the mistakes I've been making...

[ Then in another unexpected change, Ivan bows in apology to Sam. ]

I-I'm sorry if I don't live up to your expectations.

[ Ivan, no...that's so cute. Sam's going to keep his eyes covered just in case, but his expression turns surprised and awed anyway. ]

It's not your fault...! I was the one who stopped the power. I got you hit in the face and asked you to help me out in the first place.

But it is my fault. I'm the one who only acts like a cool ninja on TV.

[ Or a dorky ninja on TV depending on who one asks. ]

I'm just... not very interesting underneath it all.

[ He's just a teenager who has social anxieties and a love Japanese culture. He is also still bowing, and no doubt the other Hero Academy students are side-eyeing him awkwardly. He's not the graduate they aspire to be. (Barnaby had a fan club!) ]

[ Everyone's a Hero in their own way Origami! Though to be honest he would probably make a better villain than a hero....subterfuge and all that oop. ]

Don't say that, you're totally interesting! You helped me and you can transform and do all sorts of neat stuff!

Oh. Um... s-so you're not disappointed?

[ He can be just a person around Sam instead of a hero and failing to live up to the image and ideals of what a hero is? ]

Well, I was the one who got you hit in the face with a foot... [ So clearly he's the least impressive right now. ]

W-Well, it was my idea in the first place.

[ Ivan refuses to let go of the blame. ]

Portals Up, Portals Down

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oh my god I tagged this forever ago why didn't it go through

Giving this a try, but if the tag is too late, feel free to drop