10086/Am I Blue

Am I Blue
Date of Scene:	12 February 2022
Location:	Penthouse - Kord Co
Synopsis:	No description
Cast of Characters:	Ted Kord, Stella Roundtree, Booster Gold

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Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord had taken a sower after flying Stella around and then a nap. Nothing disturbed him, till now...

"Bailey! I know you did this! Bailey! Where are you? Report in. Unit 10! Report now! Wait'll I get my hands on you! No Legos for a week, for any of you! I better find Bailey!!" He stomps into the living room.

"I have had my trust abused and my person violated! She really did it now! Where is everyone?" He looks around the penthouse living area.

Stella Roundtree has posed:
     Okay, Stella might be getting a little too comfortable here too soon. She should probably be told to go home at some point. Lounging on the couch listening to music, she was half drifting off to sleep, but then yelling takes place. "What! What?" she says, turning off her music and sitting up, stretching and looking around. "What could Bailey have done wrong!" she says with a little laugh. "She's... it's? So sweet."

Booster Gold has posed:
It's like a convergence of ... something. Booster floats in, not quite sure what is going on. He hears Ted yelling, looks at himself and Skeets, and murmurs, "We just got here. Must have been someone else."

His gaze drifts over and spots Stella there, and he...well, he just does it. He'd been waiting. Not long, apparently. "STELLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA" in his best Brando. Which is not very good.

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord walks over to Stella and unclenches his fists. looking almost like he was about to menace her, if you never saw them interact, and didn't know Ted. He holds his hands in front of her to display perfectly painted blue fingernails. He sighs heavily. "Let's just forget our mutual attraction... it can't end well for you... you see the Universe hated me... apart from my billions. She got the toenails too. The little chica did a good job honestly."

Bailey floats in, very quietly.

Stella Roundtree has posed:
     "Why, are you usually the reason he yells?" the mutant on the couch asks of the very shiny, uh... hero! And his robot buddy. "BUT YES I AM HERE," she says, amplifying her voice to make it much louder than it needs to be, but behind Booster.
     She scoots closer to take a look at his nails, "Honestly, she really did do a good job. Nailed the color, too," she says. "You want me to get it off? Uh... I mean, get the polish off? Of your hands, at least. You can do your own toes," she says, sticking out her tongue.

Booster Gold has posed:
A chuckle slips forth from Booster, as he points to Stella and looks at Ted. "I like her. She's a keeper." A ringing sound goes off, and Booster looks down at his wrist. "Oops. Sorry about that. Destiny is calling me..." He winks at Ted. "Or maybe it's Champagne. I may have confused their numbers when I put it in." He nods to Stella. "Take care of him. He's got a fragile heart."

And with that, Booster flies the coop.

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord glares at Bailey for a moment then says, "Unit 10, no more unsolicited painting of humans or bots. Understood?" Bailey bobs once and Ted shoos her away. He manages to keep from laughing till she leaves. "She did match the shade of my uniform. That's a high level function of learning. I guess they are learning... I may need a child psychologist. Or Dr. Richards. Huuuuuuh." He rests his head on Stella's shoulder, if she'll allow. In any case he says, "You want to go out for coffee or cheesecake or something? I'm not going to demand a kiss or anything. I'll make our date really good. I'm not just going to check off boxes."

Stella Roundtree has posed:
     "I gotta get changed, but we can do that," she says, allowing the contact and giving his head a pat. "I could definitely do a some cheesecake. You gonna go out in your uniform, or are actual clothes the order of the day? At least it's not hard to go get changed, now that I live in your... building," she says, her gigantic headphones resting around her neck, perhaps rethinking a few things, but then changing the subject. "I guess you probably at least need to clean off your nails, lest people make the connection- wait. You're all public, right?" she asks.

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord sulks a moment. "I'm public, but I'm not going out in public with blue nails! Gosh I hope she didn't use the enamel we coat the Bug with to resist heat and corrosion. Well, she'll have to get this off." He picks his head up at the pat.

"Of course I'll wear civvies. I do have a life. I don't play hero all the time. I can dress very nicely when I want to. I don't just throw a blazer over the uniform. Meet you back on the couch in twenty?" He springs up.

Stella Roundtree has posed:
     "Well, I mean..." she says, thinking back. "We do not know each other all that well yet! So there's lots still to learn," she says apologetically. "And I think I can do twenty," she says. And off she goes, back to her new digs. And twenty minutes later, she's back, dressed in a casual black sweater-dress that ends mid-thigh, sheer black tights, gray leather winter boots with a wedge heel, and a long gray jacket with faux fur cuffs and collar. Her makeup is touched up, and she's popped on some very red lipstick. Not exactly a blazer over a uniform.

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord comes out. He opted for a pair of dark blue denim slacks, a black collar shirt (with the collar open), boots and a dark brown duster style coat. He's clean shaven and wearing clear glasses and an ear bud. He take in the view and smiles. He also has a bouquet of mixed flowers. Great to have bot delivery. He rubs the back of his head and holds them out to her. Not exactly his uniform under a blazer.

Stella Roundtree has posed:
     "And don't you look all dapper," Stella says, taking the flowers. "These are beautiful, thank you. Off to a good start," she says. "You clean up very nicely. Now, assuming you don't have to fight any bad guys, will you accompany me to dinner, Mr. Kord?" asks the short mutant. "And while I do love the flowers, would one of the bots mind putting them in a vase for me in my apartment so I can enjoy them when I come home?"

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord is nudged to the side by Bailey, who takes the flowers to comply. Ted signals for his elevator and holds the door for Stella, "After you milady? What sort of dinner would you like> What do they eat in that magical land called Ohio? I could have you in Ohio if there's a restaurant you want there, but I need the Bug. Or we could hit Straitlace, the steakhouse in the Hellfire Club? Best steaks in the city. You look very lovely."

Stella Roundtree has posed:
"Mostly carbs," Stella replies. "But definitely our fair share of animal products," she says. "Though we didn't eat our pigs... well, I don't think. My sister and I got really attached to some of them, and they were really cute. Anyway," she clears her throat. "But I'd do a steak," she says. "And thanks. We do look pretty good headin' out on the town, huh? And then only five more dates until you're allowed to hold my hand," she jokes. Hopefully. She strolls into the elevator with him, definitely the less nervous of the pair.

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord, if he is nervous, is taking pains to hide it. On the trip down he calls for his car to be brought around. It's a Bugatti. He explains it started as a joke based on the bug in the name but he determined they were great cars. He drives to the club, sure to stay under the speed limit. At the door, he greases a few palms, it being Friday and they are finally seated at a table.

Well here we are. You want a drink?" he asks as the server arrives.

Stella Roundtree has posed:
     Stella enjoys the ride over, sometimes shaking he head as if she can't believe that her city adventure is going so well! Thus far, anyway. She is tickled pink when Ted actually holds out her chair for her, settling in and grinning up a storm. At the mention of a drink, she says, "Oh yeah, I'll start with some wine, seems appropriate. Wow... this place is really nice," she says, looking around. "I don't know if I've ever eaten somewhere with people this dressed up! Though I definitely have taken cameras out of bathro- uh, places. In them," she says, slightly editing herself.

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord chuckles. "I feel like I heard a bit about you today and I haven't told you much about me. Shall I remain a man of mystery? Or do you have any questions about the whole hero thing or otherwise? Or tell me more about your family and Oh-High-Oh. Oh sorry, I'll have a Sam Adams." The server departs. He takes a sip of water, wonders what is going to ruin this? He puts his hand next to hers n the table. "Oh sorry, am I allowed to do that before those five dates? Bwa... heheheh."

Stella Roundtree has posed:
     "Well, I know you had a robot bodyguard when you were a kid, and it seems like you might be a little nervous around ladies, because you didn't want me to pretend to be a dude for your comfort, and your hetero life-mate is bold, but makes a surprisingly good omelette," Stella recounts, tapping her lower lip. "And you may brush my hand on occasion during this venture... but no holding! Un-hussy behavior, mister," she says with a giggle. "But yeah! Tell me, what're your folks like? Did you start your own business or take it over?" she asks. "And I guess the hero stuff comes after that, huh?"

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord deliberately gives Stella's hand a brush. "Oh, well I'm afraid I lost my parents when I was 14. Helicopter crash. My dad had created Kord Tool and Dye, but I made it what it is today. My Uncle Jervis helped me in this. He was a genius and he mentored me, taught me a lot about engineering and business. I lost him too after we had a falling out. And yeah, the heroing started after I took over Kord Co. The first Blue Beetle was a friend. I became the second to honor his memory. I found I liked it."

Stella Roundtree has posed:
     "I'm so sorry that happened to you. Fourteen is so young to be on your own," she says, allowing more of a hand bump and contact at that. Sheesh, dead parents only get the poor guy another centimeter of skin contact?
     "Is the first Blue Beetle alive? Am I allowed to ask that?" she asks. "I'm not sure if that's private or not. But I, personally, are very glad that you like the heroing part. I'm... and I can't believe I'm going to say this, very glad you have Booster, too. You two do seem to gel pretty well together," she says.

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord shakes his head and takes a sip of beer. "Dan died saving my life. He was a true hero. I was doing the her thing for a few years. Then I joined the Justice League. That was when I met Booster. Booster... is great in his way. He just needs to settle down a little and be more himself. Making the omelettes like he did, that was Booster and you would want him at your back." He leans forward and asks, "So tell me, your mom is a musician with her special talent and all, do you play anything? I thought I saw a guitar case among your things..." He's just a born detective.

Stella Roundtree has posed:
     Sheesh. Maybe she's regretting making him wait so many dates to do anything, the poor guy.
     "That's... a lot," she says. "A lot for someone to have gone through, I mean. We're not that old, and that was a lot of trauma, but... now I'm VERY glad you have Booster," she moves over to answering questions.
     "Yeah! My mom can manipulate sound. She plays guitar and banjo, I play guitar. Dad got me mine when I was little to keep me busy when my sister was a baby," she says. "Everyone is still alive, my dad's an electrician and my mom was a counselor for a long time. My sister is a gradeschool teacher. No one's inventing anything or saving the world, but we do okay," she says, swirling her wine in her hand. "I'd serenade you, but it's a lie. I never learned how to sing that well, but I can fake it."

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord orders two house specials when the server returns, two filet mignons with sides for the table, and bacon wrapped scallops for an appetizer. "I'd love to hear you play. About all I do is sing in the shower, badly. And don't play down your family. Superheroes may save the world, but they're the people who keep it running. They're just as vital. They sound nice. And I think teaching is a bonafide super power."

"I'm not going to lie, I hated poverty. when I made my money back... I decided I was going to be a good employer and give my people a break whenever possible. I'm nothing without them after all."

"what do you want to see in New York? May I suggest some ice skating at Rockefeller Center? I'm good at that."

Stella Roundtree has posed:
     "Oh man, they'd be thrilled to meet you- I mean, in any capacity," she says. "And if you told my mom that, you'd get a very gushy conversation about the merits of teaching and how young people aren't into it enough," she says. She listens to him talk while she devours a scallop, then asks, "So what's the catch? You're kind, you have a solid business, you treat your employees well, you're mutant-friendly and you suggest ice skating, which is adorable and I do absolutely love."

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord pops a scallop into his own mouth, chews, and considers until he swallows. "I sometimes have trouble taking things seriously, because I make jokes to hide my own fears. I got mauled by Doomsday and have some lingering PTSD, usually in the form of nightmares... though I slept soundly on the couch... the other night. I'm impatient. I'm a little quick to take a direct, physical approach to problem solving. I get lost in pretty blue eyes far too easily." Then dang it, he does put his hand on hers. Screw the schedule.

Stella Roundtree has posed:
     She allows the contact, it still technically doesn't count. There's no intertwining. "Okay, well! That explains some of it, then. You are direct, which I like, but I just don't want to get chewed up by the city too quick and go home with my tail between my legs because I rushed into things with a hot rich guy. I'd never hear the end of it," she says. "You move fast but... let's even see here," she says, those big blue eyes locking onto his. Intense! "Say everything goes the way you want. What's your ideal life from here on out? Best case scenario in your head. Not with me, just in general."

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord says, "Well I try not to get too far ahead of myself. Life is very uncertain. I like my life right now. I'd like a little more recognition and respect from the supers. I'd like to come home to someone who's eyes light up when they see me... besides Booster. I'd like to master those demons I mentioned. I'd like to see where my bots are going. I don't have a single goal. A single goal is a single point of failure." Is intertwining beginning?

Stella Roundtree has posed:
     Stella thinks this over, hand still resisting. There's that force again, keeping his hand from moving. She'll allow the touch, but not the more intimate grasp. When she sets a boundary, she apparently very much means it. "Those things sound pretty reasonable. Sounds like you have a lot to work out, though. But I think everyone does," she says, allowing his hand motion again. "I'm kind of curious to see where all that goes as well. And here I thought you were just a goofball," the brunette says, taking a sip from her wine glass.