10432/The Unnatural Order

The Unnatural Order
Date of Scene:	11 March 2022
Location:	Penthouse - Kord Co
Synopsis:	It's Super Joan! Not!
Cast of Characters:	Ted Kord, Joan Wright

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Ted Kord has posed:
Pago Pago.

Ted really hated that island. It took the lives of his uncle and best friend. It also made Ted the Blue Beetle. The last two trips were disastrous.

However, Kord Co. tech was laying around there and Ted felt obligated to clean it up before someone began selling slightly smashed killer bots. Sections of the base were collapsed and would require months to excavate... or minutes if your girlfriend was a high powered Mutant with retrokinesis. An exchange would be made later to Joan's satisfaction. Ted was hoping it involved carnal knowledge but past experience said she'd want Legos, dumplings or cargo pants. She knew darned well she could have the other stuff anytime.

He did have a couple of surprises for her though. A small box and a larger box, about the size of a paperback.

"Pago Pago is coming into view," Ted says. He pulls the second box out of a cabinet. "Annnnd I wanted you to take a look at something for me..."

Joan Wright has posed:
As Ted mentions Pago Pago coming into view, Joan glances down to her waist to make sure she's buckled in but still aware of how to quickly get the restraints off should they need to make another unplanned landing. She may have useful abilities but as proven the last time around, she definitely has her limits.

While she's securely in her seat, she looks over to the owner of the vehicle they're traveling in. He's still moving about the cabin area. She gives the technological guru a curious glance, "What is it Ted?"

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord sets the Bug's autopilot to circle the island and run scans. Then he turns and says, "It's that magic scarab. I can't get it to do anything now. I got to think maybe it got damaged internally. I thought your power could fix it. It might be handy to have around at times. Though I wouldn't use it for anything short of a major emergency. Can you give it a try?"

Joan Wright has posed:
"Magic... scarab?" Joan repeats, tone a bit uncertain regarding the item being described. "Do you mean like its hollow save for some pieces that need to be arranged a certain way?" She asks, glancing to the box that's now in Ted's hand, wondering if the item he's describing is inside that. "Have you taken X-rays of it?"

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord looks annoyed. "The fucking thing won't be x-rayed. I did a sonogram of it. It has some kind of structure. It got knocked around when the first Blue Beetle died, fighting my uncle's robots. Probably more afterwards. I hear something rattling when I move it sometimes. I mean it's magic but you do a kind of magic too." He holds the box out and uncovers it, revealing a beetle covered in lapis lazuli.

Joan Wright has posed:
When the box is opened, Joan leans forward to glance into it. Brown eyes study the deep blue object, taking note of the tiny flecks of yellow from the rocky material. "Well...I could try but," She looks over to Ted, making sure to get eye contact with him to ensure that he understands what she says next, "I can't make any guarantees it will be back the way it was. This might not work."

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord leans in for a kiss. "No worries. It doesn't work as it is. I know you'll give it your best shot. I appreciate it. Also thanks for doing all the heavy lifting on these forays. Oh a twenty ton rock is blocking our way? My girlfriend will get it. Bwahaha!" He pauses a moment. He never called her his girlfriend out loud. He turns back to the controls and the Bug closes on the island. He adjusts his straps as e returns to active piloting.

Joan Wright has posed:
Joan grants Ted his unspoken request, leaning forward in her seat to give Ted his kiss, pulling her head back as he starts talking again. She figures he is making reference to the time on Pago Pago where they had to go running to that one collapsed entrance way and she was waving her arms like a madwoman to get them safe passage out. It was likely an impressive display to those not aware of the ability but there was a quirk to it she didn't feel the need to point out then.

"Only if that rock was part of something prior to it." She adds in to Ted's joke, "If that rock was there to begin with, we'd have to go around." She looks back to the inside of the box, considering the item inside before reaching in to take it out. "Okay, I'll see what I can do with this."

As Ted goes back to the controls, she gently runs her hands along the scarab. Studying its detailing. "Hmm." She bites her lip in thought for a moment before she gently rests the Beetle on her lap, using one freed hand to close the fingers together save for the thumb and index. She takes a deep breath, closing her eyes for a few seconds before opening them again.

"Back where you were." She says gently, directing her index finger to the little scarab in her lap.

Ted Kord has posed:
Just like that there is a discharge of energy, blinding both the craft's occupants. Ted is in slightly better shape. His goggles stopped most of the flash but he was moving in for a landing. He shakes his head to clear his vision. Science! "Joan are you all right? Joan, speak to me? Can you see?"

His vision clears enough for him to make out the peak looming in front of him. His hands on the control register the Bug is not handling right. Whatever the discharge was it knocked power generation to hell. He yanks at the yoke, fighting savagely to right his craft and veer off as the hydraulics fail. "Joan hang on!"

They crash.

It would be certain death in an ordinary aircraft. The Bug bangs into the mountain. As it slides airbags deploy, knocking Ted silly. Then its legs stab into the rock. It slides downward a bit and holds. Then the lights go out, replaced by red emergency lighting. The cabin fills with smoke from the airbag's detonation, a further distraction. Ted's head slumps down as he reaches for Joan's hand.

Joan Wright has posed:
Not expecting the bright light, Joan lets a out a startled cry that is suddenly stopped by the sensation of something hitting her chest. OW. Joan's head pitches forward, eyes squinting shut as the after effects of the bright light linger behind her eyelids.

"I feel like something hit me." She offers up, shaking her head as her hands tightly grasp onto the soft material of the chair arms. Oh gosh not another crash. There's a stoic screech as she feels the vehicle banging and reaching impact. As to the source being her or the aircraft, it is unknown. Or at least Joan's not going to clarify. Feeling a hand brush against hers, she grasps on to it extremely tightly.

THUMP!THUMP!THUMPA-

They still. Taking deep breaths, Joan starts to open her eyes. The red on blue causes for the interior of the cabinet to look plum crazy.

"We REALLY need to stop going to Pago Pago." She comments, removing her other hand from the dented metal of the chair arm.

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord screams suddenly in pain, puling his hand out of hers after a second attempt! He struggles with his airbag. Apparently he reserved the good material for his airbag. He seems far more disoriented thanJoan somehow. Maybe the bag hit him harder? "Joan, I hurt my hand somehow. I might ave a broken bone. Can you help me with the belts? Let's get out... let the AC clear the air..."

Joan Wright has posed:
While Joan may not have told where the screech was sourced from, the narrative is a big ol' tattletale.

Starting to come to her senses, she leans forward, batting her airbag out of the way before getting out of her seat. Somehow during the whole crashing business her restraints had failed. But being she didn't go through the window, it must not have been til near the end of the crash. Not having the time to think about it, she stumbles forward, moving over towards Ted, swatting at his air bag as well before reaching for the release for his restraints.

They fail as well. "I think someone's been cutting corners with your supplies." Joan comments, reaching an arm down to pull Ted up. "Mine broke too."

Speaking of broke.

So did the top two buttons of her blouse. Bailey would be so proud.

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord finally gets up, cradling his hand. Then he's yeeted up like e weighs nothing. Joan must have a doozy of a pair of adrenal glands, he's thinking. His head is still swimming as he stagers against her and tries to get to the hatch. His arm goes around her waist to guide her with him. He hardly moves her and something feels off. But he's sort of swamped with pain, a possible concussion, and blurred vision. He gets to the hatch, which proves to be stuck.

"When it rains it pours. Give me a hand here? We might need to get the pry bar." The Bug creaks and tilts a little to prove him right.

Joan Wright has posed:
Getting a sense of where Ted is trying to lead her, Joan uses the light touch to suss out the right direction. The dimly lit interior isn't the best for picking up details but it IS enough to locate the hatch. She steps back letting Ted work with the hatch. But that is a short term plan. Didn't he say he hurt his hand earlier?

She moves in, putting her hands on the hatch as well. "Ok let's try on three..." Joan recommends, hoping that with their powers combined they can manage the exit.

"One...Two...THREE!" Joan yells out the third number as she gives her allto help Ted with it. COME ON ADRENALINE!

The door breaks off.

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord boggles at the hatch's demise, watching it fall off the ledge the Bu landed on, five hundred feet or more. "The He..." Looking down there and off balance from several hard knocks and the departure of the hatch, he falls out of the opening. He almost makes a grab for Joan, but realizes, he'd probably just pull her after him. And he took his discs off to pilot the Bug all comfy. Ted falls to his death. He has time to think, "Has she been working out? She looks really buff."

Joan Wright has posed:
In probably what could be considered the most heroic, or most stupid moments of Joan's life, the architect's eyes widen as she catches glimpse of her boyfriend stumbling forward through the opening. "TED!" Joan ends up leaning forward out the hatch to grab at Ted's previously aborted attempt to grab at her. Despite Ted's good intentions of NOT pulling Joan with him, she clearly did not get the memo as she too ends up falling out of the hatch.

BANG!

A hand clamps on to the doorway as the other snatches onto Ted's outstretched arm tightly. As the slack goes away, Instead of falling downwards, Ted is instead swung, initially away from the bit of cliffside the Bug is latched onto, and then towards.

Oh if only these two could pick up some tips from the living member of the Amazing Graysons right about now.

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord is no slouch at acrobatics. He can't do a quadruple flip, but a double flip is pretty good. Ignoring the stabbing pain of Joan's grip, on the arm with the injured hand, he manages to grab at her belt. It snaps as he pulls himself towards her, wrapping his arm and a leg around her, instinctively.

"Joan, you're hurting me... why are you hurting me? You need help opening a pickle jar." He notes the arm and shoulder he grabbed. He sees her shoulders are wider than before. He is good with spacial perception. He sees her hand denting the edge of the hatch. Chest to chest, he can feel her abs through her shirt which is showing signs of distress. "The scarab! You got the scarab to work!" Then his legs slowly go out from under him and he slides down those abs.

Joan Wright has posed:
Well, so much for just flinging Ted to safety.

Would that have worked?

Dunno.

Either way Joan is hanging from the bug by one hand with a Ted clinging to her. Joan gives an apologetic look as Ted accuses her of hurting him. "I'm sorry!" She blurts out looking right into Ted's eyes, "I - how am I-?" And now he's slidi- "HEY MY EYES ARE UP HERE!" The free arm wraps around, hugging Ted to her before he can slide too far down.

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord wraps his legs around Joan's waist. He only has one working arm at the moment. His arm goes around her shoulder. Eye to eye with Joan he says, "You have lovely brown eyes. Have I ever told you that. Can you please take me inside the Bug so I can power it the hell back up and we can go home? Hey... the original Blue Beetle could fly. Can you fly at all?"

Yes Joan's eyes may be up there, but clearly the show was down there. Considering she was carrying him like a puppy and denting metal, Ted was biting back that reply.

He could not help but notice button number three was showing signs of stress. Being an engineer.

Joan Wright has posed:
Joan glances down and looks back to Ted. "Are you sure you want me to test that theory right NOW?" She squeaks out. The poor third button does indeed have a lot of extra stress upon it now. And with the added effort and Joan starting to try and PULL them up with one hand, the added pressure proves to be too much. It gives way, button flying towards Ted's face.

Doing her best to ignore the added breeze, Joan shifts, trying to get Ted closer to the opening.

To the BUG. The opening to the BUG.

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord shakes his head as the button pings off his goggles. He shrugs. "Be good to know. I'm going to climb up you and pull you up. Or throw you a rope." He does give her a quick peck on the lips. "My hero." True to his word he gets one foot up on her shoulder. Then the other foot on the other shoulder. He balances there for a moment and then jumps back into the opening.

In the Bug.

He turns to look at her. then he carefully leans out and grabs her by the belt again. He only has the one hand working properly, so he throws himself backwards, hoping he still out weighs her by enough to sling her back in the Bug.

Hopefully her clothes will hold up a little longer.

Joan Wright has posed:
As Ted successfully starts pulling Joan up by the belt, Joan's grip on the frame loosens.

And then the belt no longer had her. And Joan no longer had the doorway.

"OH MY G-" Joan starts to blurt out as she falls to her death, vanishing from sight.

Quiet greets the freshly rescued Ted.

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord doesn't scream. He whistles. <<PHWEET>> A pair of silver discs fly out of storage and attach to his feet. The pain in his arm and hand is forgotten and he springs back out the opening, switching his goggles to IR mode to pierce the fog and find his erstwhile rescuer.

"Joan! I really had enough of this fucking mountain! Joan!" He swoops down... Dan Garett was pretty tough. He was no Superman though. She could be hurt... not to mention disheveled. "JOAN!"

Joan Wright has posed:
The infrared is quite useful in tracking down where Joan fell. The figure is still, arms and legs spread out in a bit of a jumping jack position. As Ted makes his way down, it becomes clear that Joan did NOT in fact go splat upon the ground below.

She is instead, sprawled out about five feet away from it, just hovering in the position the IR had revealed her to be in. Joan does not appear to be happy. Eyes closed, she seems to be rotating through a series of coping methods. In this case the methods consist of deep breaths, closed eyes and a lowly muttered repetition of the phrase 'I hate pago'.

Guess she can fly after all.

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord lands beside her. Then he sits down and takes er in his arms. Ted pulls his goggles down. He wipes the hair away from her face and hugs her tight. Not that it feels tight to her. The three button opening is forgotten and ignored as he buries his face against her shoulder.

"Oh God... I thought... fucking Pago Pago. I am paying damage Control a buttload to handle the rest of this clean up for me, on condition they do it when you are on vacation." Despite her rock hard skin, she may notice wetness on her neck where Ted is nuzzling her. though it's more like he can't let go than he's trying to maul a superhuman female.

"I'm sorry. I... I never mentioned this... lost my parents in a helicopter crash. Then I lost my uncle and my best friend... twice. Joanie... if these powers stick... please be careful. I couldn't stand something happening to you. I'd sooner face Doomsday than lose you."

Joan Wright has posed:
Feeling Ted's arms, Joan opens her eyes and she starts to lower slowly. Once she's sitting on the ground, she leans into the hug. She lifts an arm up but upon the hand brushing Ted's back, she moves the arm away. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord laughs a little. "You want to hear something funny, Joans? This strength and flying and such. They don't impress me. I've seen people doing all this a lot. The thing you do to impress me... actually it intimidates me at times... you live in the normal world and the superhuman world. You do your adulting in the normal world... which let's face it, I'm just a big 12 year old most of the time. I hire people for the adult stuff. If you're going to be a heavy hitter... I'm happy for you. I'll let you take the lead. As long as things between us stay the same, or get better. Which reminds me... " He fiddles in a belt pouch for a bit and produces a jeweler's box. He flips it open to reveal a simple silvery ring.

"It's a friendship ring... I'm trying not to be pushy but I figure it's been two years."

Joan Wright has posed:
Joan frowns, "I don't want to be a heavy hitter. So I hope it wears of-"

She pauses as the box is opened revealing the ring. Brows rising, Joan turns her head to look over towards Ted in protest before he explains the jewelry.

A friendship ring.

She'd seen those be done before. Usually in middle school and with the hand made ones. But considering Ted's lead up to the presentation, in a way it makes sense. "Ted, that's sweet." She looks to her fingers, wondering if they were still small enough.

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord gets up and offers a hand to Joan. Because trust. "The hatch you tore off is over there. How about you take it back up to the Bug and we'll tie it in place and go home but first... give me a ride. I want to see what it's like." He blushes a little "Just take it slow..."