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Post by Skidar on Dec 13, 2017 7:53:30 GMT
Elroy sighed. No point in pretending he was asleep. Even in the dark of his room in the back of the lab he could feel the energy flying to his phone. Texts, e-mails, memos. His alarm int he background counting down until it was set to go off. Everything running in the background, yet as obvious as a projection on the wall. He got up and raked his hands through his curly hair. He'd fallen asleep in his clothes again. He headed to the bathroom for a fast shower and changed before heading to the door to his classroom, cup of straught espresso in his hand. His hand hovered just over the knob. He knew the second he opened the door it would be a gail force wind of information flooding his senses. He breathed out through his nose and took a gulp of espresso and swung the door open.
Instantly the sanctuary was broken and he shut his eyes to avoid the blast of information. Headlines, texts zooming through the air, traffic reports, the sound of a thousand different mp3 players playing different tunes, dog collars, security fences. Everything flooded him at once and he shook his head to shake the imput to their alloted categories. He made his way to his desk, the lights flickered on as he approached and the computer flashed on at lightning speed.
"Alright, lets grade papers." he sighed to himself, trying to ignore the paticularily catchy youtube video someone was sharing across the compound.
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Post by noodlerface on Dec 13, 2017 8:05:38 GMT
Johnny laughed at the video open on his phone as he strutted across the campus, shutting it off as he came up to Elroy's greenhouse. Giving a quick tap to the door, he pushed it open without pause, sticking his head inside with a smile. "G'day Elly," he greeted, forcing himself through the door, shutting out the chill quickly behind him. "Listen, I know you suffer every time you leave that room of yours," he began, pulling a chair out and taking a seat across the desk. "But then I came up with this banger of an idea!" He pulled a pair of earmuffs from his belt, twirling it around on his finger, eyes alight with a proud grin. "Ey? Ey? Earmuffs! Bloody genius! Pop those on, they'll make it nice and quiet mate."
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Post by Skidar on Dec 13, 2017 8:13:40 GMT
Elroy almost didn't notice Johnny until the gust of cold air ruffled the papers on his des and he set his mug on them to still them without tearing his eyes from the computer. He glanced up at him as he spoke and smiled faintly at the ear muffs. "Its a nice thought, Johnny, but I'm afraid the only thing they'll block out is the cold." he popped them on to show. "You just got seven instagram notifications for that topless pic you posted last thursday at 7:23pm which is weird because weren't you in Sheila's apartment, why were you taking topless shots. Also I think your mother just sent you an e-mail, I skimmed the topic line, just sounds like she's got a computer virus. Too many illegal movie downloads." he passed the earmuffs back. "Thanks for the thought though, Johnny. I guess powers are also curses in a way though." he looked at his own phone as the screen dimme. Dead battery. "Can't say there aren't perks though." he held the phone in his hand and his eyes flashed blue, the phone screen lit up, charge to the maxed once more.
"So, I doubt you came all the way just for me, what's up?"
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Post by noodlerface on Dec 13, 2017 8:21:22 GMT
Johnny watched Elroy in silence as he rattled on, stumped. "Alright, I get it, they were the prototypes. I'll work on it," he said, slinging the earmuffs back through his belt. "And listen mate, when a prime topless selfie opportunity arises, you take it. Specially when your girlfriend is there to help with mood lighting." He winked, fishing a chip from his pocket and popping it into his mouth. He proffered a chip to Elroy. "Actually, yeah, I guess I came by to see how Nico's doing. The scamp hasn't visited me in a while, I'm feeling a bit dissed. You've got him hard at work over here?"
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Post by Skidar on Dec 13, 2017 8:25:37 GMT
Elroy smiled and his stomach rumbled as he nibbled the chip. He hadn't left the lab in a few days, he was starting to run low on real food and he was already a lanky bean pole. He glanced over his shoulder at Nico's desk. "He's not in yet. He's been helping me come up with better signal blockers for my car. Its getting damn near impossible to drive these days with all the crossed signals and its a pain to be chauffeured everywhere like a kid." His stomach rumbled again. "Oh well, I guess I should hunt down some real breakfast, I think that kid cleaned me out of cliff bars."
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Post by noodlerface on Dec 13, 2017 8:30:35 GMT
Johnny bobbed his head as if he understood what Elroy was saying, perking instantly at the mention of food. "Cracker of an idea mate, let's go get some brekkie." He stood up, propping the door to the office open for Elroy as he stepped outside. "D'you reckon the cafeteria's open yet?"
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Post by Skidar on Dec 13, 2017 8:37:21 GMT
Elroy tugged on his jacket and scarf and his eyes flashed blue. "Maggie just used her card key to opem the fornt doors for the students. Should still be hot if they leave up anything." He headed to the door and groaned before raising his hand, his phone and key card flew across the room into his palm. "Hate when I lave them on my desk, you think I wouldn't forget them all the time." He headed outside and snapped his fingers. The door slid shut and locked behind them. He headed across the compound, eyes darting around following the signals that zoomed all around them, invisible to non technopaths. He rubbed his temples as then passed the gym and he felt the thrum of a hundred heart rate monitors going off. He was happy to pass and have the disturbing drumming quieten in the background. He entered the cafeteria with Johnny and looked around, so much was going on, it still wasn't nearly as maddening as being in the city though. He jumped hearing someone say his name loudly, like he'd missed it the first time.
"What? Oh, sorry Maggie. Good morning." he yawned.
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Post by noodlerface on Dec 13, 2017 8:43:59 GMT
Johnny smiled bemusedly at the information. "I know you suffer, but it's so good to hear about food." At Maggie's greeting, Johnny raised a hand in a cheery wave. "G'day Maggie! I heard there was a piping hot breakfast for us somewhere?" he asked with a wide smile, thumping the yawning Elroy on the back. "And I this bloke is in serious need of an espresso I think. Bit spacey there. You want to sit down mate?" He began leading Elroy to one of the nearby seats.
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Post by Skidar on Dec 13, 2017 8:48:42 GMT
Elroy nodded and took advantage of some premade breakfast burritos and sat down with his coffee. He scanned the area, catching bits of news, gossip, talk shows, sports. He lost interest and tuned out what he could. He was happy to eat something hot and smirked watching Johnny charm the old lunch ladies. He sipped his coffee and caught a suspicious headline regarding another border scuffle fromt he reboot rebels. He frowned and looked at his phone, his eyes flashed and all the available news stories flashed int he air in front of them. He combed through the first-hand accounts and videos. No one killed, not this time. He sighed in relief seeing Molly's face giving an interview. She was safe. He knitted his fingers together and rested his chin on his hands. She made him nervous. He wished she never joined the Commandos.
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Post by noodlerface on Dec 13, 2017 8:54:27 GMT
Johnny munched on a piece of toast lathered in jam, watching Elroy's face as he ate. He knew Elroy saw things that others couldn't, but it still made for some hilarious expressions. When it wasn't troubling, that is. "Something in the news mate?" he asked. "You're eyebrows are doing some wild twitching over there. And those are no happy sighs." His brow pinched, and he leaned forward in mild alarm. "It's not the rebels?"
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Post by Skidar on Dec 13, 2017 17:49:16 GMT
Elroy waved his hand and the highlights shrunk back into his phone, he turned it off to block the signals. "Yeah, another attack. I was making sure it wasn't.... wasn't someone I knew." he sipped his coffee. "They're getting bolder. This one was inside the City. Usually they keep to the other side of the bridges." he picked at his food, the thought of Reboot crawling the streets was stealing away his appetite. "I guess it was a minor spat, someone got jumped, luckily there was a Commando patrol making the rounds and they got broken up. Three in custody, two ran off and the victim seems ok." he drummed his fingers on the table to organize his thoughts. He remembered last year he'd been walking home from the gym when he'd been surrounded by a Reboot gang who told him they were taking him in...
--
"Come on techy, you're coming with us." a particularily hulking muscle head lumbered forward.
Elroy stepped back, brows knitted tight. "No thanks..." he muttered.
"Tom just grab him we gotta get outta here!" a woman with long greasy hair hissed, hovering a few feet overhead to keep a lookout."
The musclehead, Tom, grabbed the front of his jacket and yanked him off his feet. Elroy's eyes blazed blue and cabled blew out of the walls behind him and wrapped around Tom's neck, yanking him to the wall with enough force to smash bricks. The muscle head shook it off and Elroy dropped to the pavement. He saw the others rushing over and he waved his hand, the entire block lost power and the lights vanished, pitching them into inky darkness. He returned his command to the cables and they shot around the arms and legs of his attackers and bound them alltogether like a writing pile of trained snakes.
He turned the lights back on as a Commando hovercraft zoomed around the corner and Molly jumped out.
"What's going on here!" she ran forward, fists blazing with live fire.
Elroy stooped and picked up his gym bag. "Mugging I guess."
Molly glanced between him and the pile of writhing, shouting rebels. "Who's mugging who?" she smirked.
"Hilarious." Elroy frowned, his heart was still racing from the ordeal, he didn't have time to humor Molly's banter.
"Are you ok?" She asked, letting her flames wither.
"I'm fine. You should double your patrols of this area." Elroy started to walk away.
"Elly." Molly sighed in exasperation. "I really do think you'd make a great Commando."
"Will you stop already." Elroy tugged up his hoody. "Tell Falconer I said no."
"I'm being honest!" Molly snapped. "Just 'cause I changed my career doesn't make me a sellout and just 'cause you're such a brainiac doesn't make you better than me!"
"I never said that!" Elroy snapped, the street light above him flickered in response to the tension in his tone.
"You never had to." Molly growled. "Besides its true."
"Yeah, its true cause you're a cop and what you say is true, no matter the facts." Elroy snorted and turned to leave.
"Get back here so I can get your statement!" Molly called angrily. Elroy gave a single gestured statement over his shoulder then turned the corner and headed home, fuming.
--
Elroy pulled himself from his memories and glanced at Johnny. "So." he tried to change the subject. "How's the dog problem?"
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Post by noodlerface on Dec 13, 2017 21:36:06 GMT
Johnny watched Elroy glaze over and took another bite of his toast, his appetite abating. He groaned at the question, head falling to the cafeteria table with a dull thunk. "He hates me Elly, he still hates me. I've tried bribing the bugger, I've tried tricking him into another room - I even tried the macho alpha male gig, and it still hasn't worked!" He lifted his head, rubbing a hand over his brow desolately. "He's indomitable. You ever dealt with pests?" He tucked his head under his arm, moaning. "I shouldn't call him that, he's a good boy. I just want him to like me. Do I give off a bad guy vibe? Is it my perfect teeth? Are they threatening d'you think?"
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Post by Skidar on Dec 13, 2017 22:05:29 GMT
Elroy snorted a laugh into his coffee. "Doesn't he weigh like... 8lbs?" Elroy shrugged. "I've never had a pet before. Maybe he just thinks you're taking too much attention away from him when you hang out with Sheila? I can't help much in that department."
--
Angani got out of the cab and scanned his badge at the gate before entering the campus. He scanned the skies for Kaiser and Angel but didn't see either of them. His pager buzzed and he checked it. His paycheck was in the office to pick up. He pocketed the pager and headed towards the nurse's office.
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Post by noodlerface on Dec 13, 2017 23:06:03 GMT
Johnny raised his hands in mock surrender. "Doesn't matter what size a bloke is, if there's murder in his eyes," he said solemnly. Wincing at Elroy's suggestion, he nodded. "Yeah, I figured as much. I don't want the poor bugger to think I'm trying to give him the boot. But when I try to get on with him, he bites!" He shrugged helplessly. "Sheila hasn't seemed to notice yet. Hopefully we can work this whole mess out before it starts affecting her."
---
Kaiser dove through the air, the frigid wind whipping past his face. He laughed breathlessly, sending out sonar shots every moment or so, dipping between the high rises of the city. As they came up to the Acaedemy, he rolled in the air to wave an arm at an Angel. "Where to from here?" he called into the wind.
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Post by Skidar on Dec 14, 2017 1:11:29 GMT
Elroy shrugged with a helpless smile. "She knows you're trying. I'm sure you two will be alright. Well. you three." he teased.
--
Angel touched down on the frosty commons lawn. "Well, gotta check in, then we'll head over the the flyer's gym. Where's that boy o' yours?"
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sometime after ten, hope you'll be up! also.... WILL PROFILE thatisall 
