15842/=The Pitter Patter of Little Feet

=The Pitter Patter of Little Feet
Date of Scene:	11 September 2023
Location:	The Free House
Synopsis:	The coming of Oberon!
Cast of Characters:	Scott Free, Big Barda

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Scott Free has posed:
Scott Free meets Barda at the door after her workday. He leans up to give her a hug and kiss. Then he whispers in her ear, "This house has a squatter, an uninvited guest. A possible spy." He switches to kiss her on the other cheek. "I set a trap, a plate of nachos in the den. Imma catch the little bastard. So just act natural. Oh. I made us nachos, if he leaves us any." He finishes pretending to merely kiss her and steps back, mouthing, please don't wreck the joint.

Big Barda has posed:
Big Barda returns the hug and kiss, and as he holds the pose to whisper into her ear he can feel her slowly tensing. Uninvited guest... squatter... spy... She relaxes when he says to just act natural, and puts on her best Stepford Wives smile when they disengage. "You made nachos?" she echoes, sticking to the last part, at least. Lifting one foot up, then the other, she slips off her boots... the construction site wasn't comfortable with her wearing sneakers.

Scott Free has posed:
Scott Free stows the boots for her. "Yes, just give them A FEW MINUTES TO COOL IN THE DEN. We can snuggle on the couch and I could be persuaded to perform a back rub." the intent being -let him know he has a few minutes to grab the nachos. "I have also made a pitcher of margaritas for you." Mind the nachos were seasoned with ghost peppers, an innocuous little pepper with a zesty taste to them anyway. Apokoliptian spices being one means of achieving spontaneous combustion when given to humans. He goes to the sofa and pats the cushion beside him. He smiles and that is not an act.

Big Barda has posed:
Big Barda lifts a dark brow, watching and listening and trying to keep up with the ruse. This is a tactical thing, however, and she catches on pretty well. And... backrub. She smiles as well, and moves to the cushion beside him. Turning, she offers her back and pulls her long, black hair out of the way. "Well it would be rude of me to turn down a back rub, after all."

Scott Free has posed:
Scott Free begins kneading muscles with the density of vulcanized rubber. She loosens up pretty quickly. Construction is the equivalent of light housework to her. As for the boots, all they did was protect her pedicure, and make her feet hot. Scott then hears a ping from his Mother Box. He gets up quickly, stealthily. Maybe a little too quickly, for the woman warrior who was leaning into her back rub. For a killing machine she really took to snuggling. Like a great cat Scott slips over to the door to the den and kicks it in and plunges in!

"A... ha?"

Big Barda has posed:
Big Barda's combat reflexes prevent her from bowling over backwards when Scott so suddenly gets up and slips over to the door. He kicks it open and is still processing what he sees when Barda zooms past him, fists at the ready!

Scott Free has posed:
Scott Free gets spun around by Barda, stopping his spin precisely where he started. Then he sees the boots sticking out under a lengthy wall hanging. He holds up two fingers to Barda to wait. He pounces on the wall hanging and throws a haymaker at chest level. His fist collides with the brick wall behind the hanging with a dull crack. "Ow what the... OWWWWW!"

A little person emerges from his hiding place. He is balding, with a thick fringe of white hair that blends into magnificent mutton chops. He quickly kneecaps Scott as he passes.

"Ow! Motherf... don't hurt him!! He's diminutive." Then the little man notes Barda by the door and runs to a bookcase with a fearful cry of "Nyaaaaaaahhhh!!"

Big Barda has posed:
Big Barda pauses when Scott gives the signal, which is probably a good thing before she tears the whole house down. The little person who emerges sees the very tall, fierce-looking woman wearing a cropped t-shirt and cutoff denim shorts.

It's probably more frightening than if she had been in full armor.

"I can see that." she replies, peering down at their guest. "Unless he wishes to become a rug for the parlor, he should start talking. Now. Begin with why you are here."

Scott Free has posed:
Scott Free gets up. He recovers pretty quickly from the blunt trauma, faster than a human. "I intend you no harm little man."

"Fuck you. You couldn't harm me if you tried. It's the human tank here with curves I'm worried about." He gestures at Barda with an unlit cigar wiping nacho cheese off his face with his free hand. "Awright I give you got me... but call me 'little' man again and I work your other knee. I am Thomas Jacob Kurtzberg, I go by my stage name -Oberon! And I've lived here with the real Mr. Miracle for 30 years as his assitant, manager, and cook."

Scott says, "Cook?"

Oberon says, "I been squatting and keeping an eye on the place... it's my home."

Big Barda has posed:
Big Barda squints, holding her martial stance against the much-smaller man... who calls himself Oberon, no less. "Yes, you -should- be afraid of me, Oberon." she replies in a lower voice that is somehow not a growl. She relaxes a little when he mentions that he's a cook.

"You can cook?" No one, and I mean NO ONE criticizes Barda's cooking. But she knows better than to think it is anything but 'basely nutritious bordering on toxic'.

Scott Free has posed:
Oberon says, "I also was the real Mr. Miracle's engineer for his act. But... well the job didn't come with a retirement plan and when Thaddeus left me high and dry and put this place on the market, I used the different secret doors and rooms to keep living here. I was checking you out... not that way get over yourself stretch! You couldn't keep up with the O-man. I was just curious about you and then I see sonny here fiddling with Thaddeus' costume and gear..."

Scott's expression softens by degrees. "I was trying to figure out what sort of illusionist he was..." Scott explains.

Oberon snaps, "Thaddeus Brown was not an illusionist! He was an escape artist! Mr. Miracle: the world's greatest escape artist!"

Big Barda has posed:
Big Barda smirks at the mention of being 'checked out', but she doesn't seem interested in pummeling this Oberon. Not yet. She looks to Scott, then.

"What does he mean by 'fiddling with Thaddeus' costume'?" She doesn't keep close track on what Scott does while she's working, but then again that level of freedom has been the nature of their relationship. "Tell us more about this Mr. Miracle, then. And what else did you do for him besides cook?" Yes, she'll want to swap recipes later, but that's not the most important right now.

Scott Free has posed:
Scott Free sighs. Yeah he was going to tell her about this. There's a ping ping from Scott's Mother Box and then Scott is standing in the Mr. Miracle outfit. "I programmed it into my wardrobe. I still called myself the Amazing Scott though. It got me noticed more with my street act." Oberon turns around and raises an eyebrow at the sudden change. "Quick change artist hunh? That's pretty good. You're pretty good... but you got all the showmanship of a bust of Balzac. I could help you with your act... get you some gigs, show you Thaddeus' routines... would you consider letting me stay? I don't take up a lot of room."

Big Barda has posed:
Big Barda turns and looks over the new outfit as well. "It's a good look on you, Scott." she replies, folding sinewy arms over her large chest. She watches the exchange between Scott and Oberon for a moment.

"I will consider not dismembering you." she declares after a moment. "Scott keeps the suit, and you will help him." There is a pause, then she adds. "And we will discuss your cooking."

Scott Free has posed:
Oberon nods enthusiastically, "Sure, I'll start with those nachos, They were all right but a little bland. I tell you what, I'll make dinner for you guys and here, we can use these to celebrate.! He produces some more cigars and offers them freely. "I been saving these for a special occasion! Not getting dismembered or locked up fits the bill. Scotty, you want? No? tall lady?" He offers a cigar cautiously to Barda.

Big Barda has posed:
Big Barda eyes the offered cigar a little suspiciously, but bends a little to pluck one from Oberon's fingers. "Dinner would be a good way to start." she declares. The cigar gets carefully tucked into her cleavage for later. "And over dinner, you will tell us of this Mr. Miracle. It seems there are many things we don't know." After a moment, she even smiles a little. "I am Barda."