16649/Counterweights

Counterweights
Date of Scene:	25 December 2023
Location:	Upstate New York
Synopsis:	Gravity wells, gravitons, and black holes oh my!
Cast of Characters:	Franklin Hall, Roxanne Spaulding

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Franklin Hall has posed:
It has been well over a year since Graviton has made an appearance. He's spent quite a bit of time hiding out on his sky island, hidden in the clouds, and avoiding being noticed. He spent that time alone, contemplating all those who wronged him. Those that he would exact revenge upon. However, his track record for revenge hasn't been all that stellar or successful. He was foiled at every turn by people far less powerful than he. He could take on an entire team of Avengers and win. Yet, toss a pretty face in the mix, and he's caught off guard and defeated. Also during his contemplation, his meditation, he opened his mind to sensing the world around him. Feeling the gravimetric forces at work. Sensing the dense, the singularities, the quarks, quantums, halflifes, and all the gravitons. Especially when they were being manipulated by someone that was not him. He spent time playing chess with himself. Fixated on what it would take to strike his revenge and be successful. Then it hit him. He needed a team. A collective of people that would support him in is nefarious schemes. And what a better set of partners... people who would be as unique and as powerful as himself. So he returned to his meditations and sought out the disturbances in the fields. Then he sensed one and decided that he would start with it. He then left his sky island and began his search.

Roxanne Spaulding has posed:
Wheeeeeee

The rush of being in freefall always got her adrenaline up. This is what happens when you skyjump without the need for a parachute.

Naturally, she freaked out her instructors, as she continues to make her descent, finally hitting terminal velocity as her hair whips back and forth. She takes in a deep breath, and suddenly, she no longer travels at maximum speed towards the earth.

Changing the vectors of gravity acting upon her was easy. She's done it before numerous times, but never in this manner. Usually, she flies by floating up, not stopping the downward forces, so it's new.

Perhaps she did it too much as she starts rising, and then laughs as she glides through the air, her arms spread wide like a pair of wings before she lands safely down on the ground, somewhere just outside the city, where someone wouldn't notice a young woman jumping out of a plane.

Franklin Hall has posed:
She's hard to miss. Darting about in the sky, zipping here, there, showing off - he likes that. He appreciates anyone with hutzpah and the wherewithal to do what she wants, when she wants, and in front of whomever she wants without regard to their feelings, thoughts, or impressions. He ponders to himself as he moves toward her, wondering if she has what it takes, if she's a good fit, or if she's another one of those goodie-two-shoes heroes who want to save the world from people like him. None-the-less, Graviton sees her as a potential - especially considering that she has control over gravitons.

As he approaches wearing his blue and white costume with flowing cape, Graviton will become vertical and descend to a mere foot off the ground and a few yards from her. He'll greet her in an uplifted tone of appreciation, "You looked good out there. Great control. Discipline with your power. Though I noticed a bit of slippage when making corners and banking. As if you didn't control all the gravitons in and around you."

He himself is surrounded by a graviton field and uses it to not only allow him to fly, but protects his physical form. It's invisible, except to those who can sense gravitons.

Roxanne Spaulding has posed:
Does she see gravity in the way he does? Hers is a bit more unique; instead of 'seeing and sensing' gravitons, she can feel the folds of space, creating and manipulating gravity wells, that is, the distortions each object has upon the space-time continuum.

It's quite different from Graviton, but still as effective.

AS she holds a lot of potential as a result, she doesn't have the finest control. The mention of discipline causes her to chuckle softly.

"You have to be the first person -ever- to say I'm disciplined." she says, offering a toothy grin. Much like him, she's 'in costume'. A purple and green bodysuit clings onto her lithe and lush frame, with a black leather jacket as the piece of accotrement in her outfit.

"Tight turns and corners are still hard." she admits ruefully, sighing softly.

Franklin Hall has posed:
There's a subtle nod given as Graviton agrees with her assessment of her turning and how difficult it is by her count. He says, "By creating the wells that you do, it allows for diffuse error. Thus, the slippage is present. The tighter the well you create, the sharper the angle and far less slippage. It could mean the difference between careening into a stray bullet and cutting sharp enough that you are missed entirely. It would be a shame for someone as lovely and potentially gifted as yourself to lose her life in a firefight against someone who would be keen on doing you harm." then he course corrects, "Forgive me, my moniker is Graviton. Franklin Hall. Doctor of Physics."

Roxanne Spaulding has posed:
The mention of someone doing harm causes her to purse her lips. There is most definitely someone out there who would wish her harm, but she keeps mum on that for now.

The introduction earns a bow of her head in acknowledgement. "Fancy. PhD." she says, hrmming for a few moments. "I just started community college last year." she explains, before she makes her own introduction. "Roxie Spaulding. My nom de plume is Freefall." Amongst the known heroes anywhere, one most certainly does not exist, unless one were privy to Project CADMUS or I.O files.

Franklin Hall has posed:
He seems to appreciate the bow of her head and her station in life. Though when she gets to her codename, a smile graces his lips and teeth are shown with a slight chuckle. He gives a nod of his own. "Freefall is it? That's fitting. As you seemed quite adept at it." Then he offers a segue. "Now, my question for you would be this; Are you inclined to learn more about your abilities? To hone them and become as adept as your confidence demonstrates?"

His question is delivered with tact and a level tone. As if he has much to offer, though he's not proven or demonstrated anything to her. He still overflows with an unspoken confidence and intensity as his eyes remain on her own. Focused, sharp, and quite direct in words and intention.

Roxanne Spaulding has posed:
Her brows furrow at the question. Does she want to truly understand her powers and what she can really do? Does she want to know what her upperlimit is? The Project Genesis, CADMUS, and I.O were frightened of her potential, but living with a slacker has made her not even be remotely close to what she can do.

"How can you help me? I mean, other than being a professor of physics.:

Franklin Hall has posed:
A raised eyebrow is offered as Graviton begins to believe that she cannot sense his power; while he is quite able to sense hers. So she's not aware of whom she is speaking with. Though, it should have been obvious by his name that there might be an implied power behind it.

He states, "How, my dear, is not simply answered with words. It is shown."

He raises his right hand and the gravitons in her body are shifted. Inverted. Tossing her into the air as if she were free falling downward, instead of upward. Tickling her stomach with the sudden shift in gravity. He'll move with her, a few yards in front of her as they both ascend at unimaginable speeds. As they break the first 1,000 feet, he'll envelop her in his gravity bubble and protect her from asphyxiation. For they're about to go much, much higher. His eyes remain calm as they ascend, keeping them transfixed on her, watching for her reaction. And they will break 10,000 feet in a matter of seconds.

Roxanne Spaulding has posed:
'!!!'

That first sudden rush of g-forces upon her relatively tiny body causes her eye to widen. It's only through sheer force of will that she doesn't vomit her lunch from not too long ago, though she quickly gets her wits about her to see the way space-time is being folded by massive forces of gravity.

"Holy shit.."

There are things she cannot do. The bubble to create a life support environment? Definitely no. The fine control to where she can cut corers? Absolutely not.

Going this high? She hasn't tried.

Looking towards him, she gasps, as her eyes intimate that pure natural instinct of fear. Humans weren't made to go this high up. Or as fast. It takes sheer effort to not freak, especially since her powers are quite similar in nature.

And that's when she starts to focus, realizing what he's doing. "You manipulate gravity too."

Thank you Roxie Spaulding, nominee for captain obvious 2023.

Franklin Hall has posed:
Watching her reaction is thrilling to him. Knowing that she realizes that he has control over her and control over gravitons is icing on the cake. Though he barely shows his emotions. Instead, he remains calm, collected and sets an example for her.

40,000 feet and accelerating.

He gives a nod of acknowledgement and he states, "That I do. Which is also how I found you. And how one day I will train you will sense me, and others who manipulate gravity."

80,000 feet and climbing.

Roxanne Spaulding has posed:
It would make sense that there are others. While the scientists at I.O her abilities were indeed truly rare, doesn't mean she's one in a billion. Maybe like 7 in a billion.

As she continues the freefall upwards, she glances about, looking down as they're clearly nearing the stratosphere. There's a look of worry, as she's completely unaware of the sealed lifesupport environment that the gravity bubble around them has created.

"Uh.. I don't think gravity powers come with the ability to breathe up there."

Franklin Hall has posed:
120,000 feet and they come to a slowing stop. He allows for her to feel the weightlessness of space, yet not fly away as she's tethered to him via a strange feeling graviton leash.

He answers with a quiet tone of confidence, "It does not. However, as long as you don't hyperventilate, we'll be able to survive it a few minutes with the air I've compressed behind me. Air that I'm letting seep into our personal bubble."

He clearly has a lot of control and has practiced this many times. The other bubble is also invisible, though there could be a slight distortion of light through the reflection from below.

He then says, "Get your bearings. You can see clouds and landmasses below, and space above, even the moonrise."

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Roxanne Spaulding has posed:
They're somewhere in the stratosphere, right? That hazy horizon that shows both the landmasses and the stars in the 'sky'. "It's so beautiful." Roxie says with pure wonder, as she looks down at more of that little blue marble we call earth, a sight surely very few have seen.

The stunt causes her to quirk a brow and hrmms. "We can do that?" Well, at least he can. She has no idea how that would work using her powers.

"I'm just a little disoriented. It's hard to tell up down, left right, forward backward now."

Franklin Hall has posed:
"Up is always where /you/ want it to be. Not anywhere your opponent suspects. Right and left, forward and back; they are also interchangeable." He points at her stomach with his right hand and she will instantly feel the spinning of gravitonic directions. Feeling the pull and the shift of the gravitons shifting planes. He'll note, "A demonstration. Had this been in your head, it would render your semicicular canals, also called your vestibular senses, into chaos; giving you immediate, debilitating vertigo. Rendering you unable to fight, or survive an encounter. Though, it only tickles your stomach."

Roxanne Spaulding has posed:
The g-forces tugging on her lithe and lush frame, picking and prodding at her belly, makes her eyes widen. Ooop! She was close to throwing up this time, but has not... yet.

After a few moments to recover, she places her hands on her kneesas she looks up towards him. "That was mean."

Franklin Hall has posed:
He discontinues the power and settles her fully, as if she were standing on Earth, yet still floating in his bubble. Then he smiles with a hint of guilt, "My apologies. I underestimated your ability to resist gravimetric shifts. Perhaps that too is something that needs to be expounded upon. Though our time up here is about done. I promise to be gentle with our descent, that you not become troubled."

He'll do just that, start downward, fast enough to cover a good amount of space, but not in such a wonky or whippy way as their ascent.

Roxanne Spaulding has posed:
Unless he really ramps up the gforces they will hit terminal velocity pretty quickly. The air friction around the gravity bubble causing some heat to surround them. It becomes warm, but not hot. Thank goodness for small blessings.

"It's okay." she says, still regaining her bearings. Going up and down will do that to a girl.

"I just haven't used my powers a lot. At least, not after..." and she goes quiet. He might be Project Genesis related.

Or could he be her father?

Franklin Hall has posed:
The ground will come up quite fast, yet not breaking the sound barrier. The last mile he'll slow their descent and intend for a soft touchdown. He'll also let the bubble around them breathe with soft whistles as the fresh air zips through in streams.

He consoles and understands, "We all have a troubled past. Things that went awry and made us who we are today. But do not let those things impede you from being the best you that you can be. That you are meant to be."

They will touch down and the bubble will disperse from around her while he remains enveloped in an invisible field of gravitons.

Roxanne Spaulding has posed:
Looking around, she somehow gets the feeling they're no longer in New York City, let alone New York State. Alas, if she only had Queelocke still.

As they touch down, she notices the seemingly 'dead' corn field as it's somewhat chilly from winter. Did it snow? Who knows?

"So, this is going to sound weird, but.. are you familiar with Team 7?"

Franklin Hall has posed:
He shakes his head. "I've not been in circulation for quite some time. I've no idea of the team you speak. Is that something you're involved with?"

One thing that she may notice is that he doesn't actually touch the ground with his feet. He hovers mere inches above it. He's got on nice boots, probably doesn't want to get them dusty.

Roxanne Spaulding has posed:
A look of disappointment on her features is pretty clear as he shows no familiarity with the project or Team 7. "It's... no worries. It was something my dad was allegedly part of."

Gravity powers are shared, surely, she didn't think??

Looking at the way he barely floats from the surface, she hrmms and decides to try doing that. IT's a lot more difficult than it looks, balancing the various vectors of gravity to not really fly up, but not to sink to the bottom either. It's a mix of weight and counterweight at this point, which causes her to wince and eventually land on the ground.

"How do you maintain that?"

Franklin Hall has posed:
He has no clue why she appears disappointed, though he doesn't pursue the thread or the topic. Instead, he watches as she manipulates various gravity wells around her to rise, shift, then fall back to her position on the ground. He's becoming more aware of how she manipulates her powers. Which differs from his own style.

Graviton states, "I manipulate the actual graviton particle - all of them. Altering its flux. Whereas you seem to create gravity wells to 'fall' toward. If you were to create multiple wells in opposing points - perhaps four or 6 of them - all around you. Then you could levitate such as I am."

Roxanne Spaulding has posed:
It's all about her senses. It takes a little bit to see the wells forming around him as he pushes gravitons like his namesake through the space-time continuum, warping local space around him.

"So it's about finding a proper counterweight." Roxie says, seeming to understand.

Naturally, she doesn't get it the first time. She keeps on rising higher and higher, and then she starts bouncing up and down as she gets the hang of things.

Finally, perhaps after five minutes does she manage something that would apply equivalent forces upon her body to float like he does. She's just a little higher.

Franklin Hall has posed:
He observes, studies and takes some odd modicum of pride in watching her figure it out based on what he implied, or 'taught'. He remains silent with is observations and studies her level of manipulation and the nature of her power signature. He's sure he'll be able to find her again; when his need or interest arises.

Then when she finally gets the hang of it and settles to a 'levitation' he says, "There you are. Clearly, you're capable of great feats considering this stunt simply required inspiration and less than 5 minutes of application." - he offers a touch of flattery. It never hurts.

Roxanne Spaulding has posed:
Roxanne is untapped power. With the way she manipulates gravity, she could theoretically create singularities and perhaps even wormholes, folding space upon itself to connect two disparate places.

That just means, finer aspect of control are lacking. It's hard to do things with a jackhammer when a simple hammer will do.

"I also got some training from..." and she holds back, deciding not to reveal that she learned about her powers and how to use them from a clandestine organization.

Franklin Hall has posed:
"Your Team 7 specialists? That's what I would assume. And someone who may have known your father. I'm guessing that you didn't?" Graviton leads and then deduces based on things she's already revealed to him about her current situation and the evasiveness she seems to present when getting specific. He assumes she doesn't actually know the specifics. So, he offers verbal speculation to let her take the conversation where she might and possibly reveal more.

Roxanne Spaulding has posed:
"My mom just said he's out there. Some deadbeat, but.." And Roxanne sighs softly. "I still want to know who my father is. I was supposed to find him with the help of someone who defected, but I haven't seen him or been in touch."

Franklin Hall has posed:
"Doesn't sound like a lot to go on." Graviton notes while pondering the situation and how it would best serve the both of them if pursued. And then he quietens while letting her continue on with her story if she is inclined. He also maintains eye contact with an expression of anticipation of what she may share next.

Roxanne Spaulding has posed:
"Team 7 is small. It's plenty to go on. There's like a dozen potential dads there?" Of course, it doesn't help that the manifestations of their powers isn't genetic. There's no gravity manipulator in Team 7 after all.

"I was recruited for some internship, but it wasnt an internship. It was torture." she grumbles, at least, that's what she remembers from the constant calisthenics, the tests, and exposure to the gen-factor

Franklin Hall has posed:
There's a brief humph as he gives a nod and sort of seems to understand the bait and the switch of it all. Graviton then asks, "Torture?". Giving her plenty of reign to elaborate and to define it for him. Surely they didn't torture her.

Roxanne Spaulding has posed:
"Torture." Roxie repeats herself. Of course, there was working out endlessly and the constant mental tests, but there was also something else. "The program was run by a bunch of sadistic bitches. This one lady would inject us everyday with this green liquid for a 'clinical study'."

ANd she winces, remembering some of it. "It hurt like a bitch. And there was this psychic girl who could make your pain receptors fire or make you completely high. That bitch was the worst of them all. In order to practice her powers, they had her use them on us, hoping our own powers would manifest."

Franklin Hall has posed:
The furrowing of his brow shows sympathy with the hint of anger toward those who would torture in such a way. He says, "That's horrible." in a low tone of disgust. "And by you being here, you managed to escape that facility? I'm hoping you destroyed it on your way out."

His arms cross across his muscular chest. An indication of his not wanting to lash out at an unseen enemy - though he's very keen on making those people his enemy.

Roxanne Spaulding has posed:
"A few of us escaped, but we're scattered now. A lot of the powerful ones got taken and when I last saw them, they were certainly brainwashed. I don't remember them being murderous when they first started." Roxie says with a little wince.

"But a few heroes allowed us to escape."

Franklin Hall has posed:
"Got to hand it to the heroes, they sometimes do something worthwhile. And allowing you to escape; clearly worth it." States Graviton then he segues into something else - thus leaving the other questions to a future time. "How about this; how about you and I get together again and we can work on your power; make you better and more confident with them?"

Roxanne Spaulding has posed:
Fine control would be nice. Right now, her powers work more like a blunt instrument instead of a scalpel.

Noding at the offer, Roxie smiles, "I'd like that. Very much, actually!"