Owner	Pose
Stella Roundtree	With Ted's number in her Kord Less (name notwithstanding, a solid phone), Stella was on her way to a job. Nothing too unusual, a rich woman suspecting her husband of cheating, among other things, wanting cameras set up outside and a check of the internal electronics. So it's very much a surprise when she gets there and is greeted by aggression. Stumbling back, bag in hand, her phone boops on and dials the last input number. Which leaves the following message, "Oh my GOD! WHY! Why would you do that! Oh, god, it burns! Are you CRAZ--" And that's it. She must have grabbed it, because that is all that goes through.
Ted Kord	Ted Kord is cruising along in the new Bug. Few people have seen it. Boom Boom got a peek before she passed out and snoozed. Truth be told, losing the other two was traumatic to Ted. They were pals almost. The AI was that good. Ted had gotten better at AI and this one might be more aware than most. this is why when he saw it had moved towards the hangar exit, he figured it wanted some air and took it out. A half billion dollars and no one was looking for trouble. So he set the autopilot and cranked up the Dropkick Murphys. Then the message comes through <<Oh my GOD! WHY! Why would you do that! Oh, god, it burns! Are you CRAZ-->> Ted looks at the message and makes a decision. "Voice command activate, this is Bug One. Security Override on current message. GPS and elevation. ASAP. Autopilot disengage." He spots the phone and Stella on the sensor display and puts the Bug through a turn that has the autopilot crying. Which is why in a minute or less Stella will hear the thrumming of powerful engines and sense a lot of electrical machinery overhead. No doubt she was interested in the alien tech aero-discs Ted used to fly down to street level to be Teddy on the spot. "What the hell did you do to her? Ow! Give me that! You doofus. It doesn't work very well on goggles. Just enough to make me angry is what! Lawyers. Here's my card. Give mine a call. When they go swimming the sharks leave the water is what! Oh yeah! Wo do you think you're slapping!" A door slams. Ted says more softly, "Stella?"
Stella Roundtree	Stella is covering her eyes and trying to get to the sink, opening them enough to see where it is and turning it on, just as the Bug comes into view. Not that Stella is seeing particularly well right now. Her copious makeup is not serving her well, some of the mascara and eyeliner having run down her cheeks as she attempts to flush her eyes with her water bottle. But the electric hum is definitely noticed. "Ted?" she calls as she hears the fresh commotion.      "She thinks she's so smart! I know that car, that's the one that skank drives! She thinks she can come in here and clean up the evidence!" the still very angry wife hollers, her very pink can of pepper spray depleted. "Get out here with that homewrecker!" "LADY! You called ME!" Stella yells, "You talked to me! You heard my... augh, this hurts!" she cries, splashing more water onto her face. And now, her water bottle is empty. "Ted?" she asks meekly, looking like a very sad goth raccoon with eyes tightly shut.
Ted Kord	Ted Kord responds very quickly to the meekly. It's a genetic imperative on males of the species. He does respond to it by grabbing her n a princess carry. he turns to leave, pausing only to look daggers at the woman behind him, who was advancing with a lamp. "Lady... I will go Batman on you. aWe are leaving. Yeah it's me, Stella. rescues are one perk of working for me. Sorry for being grabby but this is the best way to get you out of here." He steps out onto the street. His next step takes them straight up. Oops. Should have checked if she was okay with heights first.
Stella Roundtree	Not that she's looking at any heights. "That was the fastest interview I've ever done," she says. "What about my car?" She's very tense, head tilted down and one hand over her face, the other gripping his arm for stability, like she's worried she might fall. "This really hurts, are we going somewhere with a sink?" she asks, more trails of make-up sludge rolling down her cheeks as her eyes water.
Ted Kord	Ted Kord hangs onto her as they ascend. "The Bug has a full decontamination shower. It will take that mace off you. Also decontaminate your outfit because... you don't want to touch a mace spot and then touch your eye again after all this." They lift into the air and he figures the aero-discs must look really neat to Stella. If she can open her eyes. "It's better than a sink or an ER." A shadow falls over them and then, they rise through a hatch into a humming high tech air craft interior. He sets her down and makes sure she can stand.
Stella Roundtree	"The Bug? Is that this?" she asks, gesturing wildly around the area. She really is missing out on a show until she opens one bloodshot eye, and looks around. The other opens, and the pain, while horrible, is put aside for a split second as she takes it all in. And then she's back to squinting, one boot-clad foot on the floor after another and standing up. "Please lead the way to this shower you're talkin' about, if you don't mind," she says. "This was not how I was planning on my day going."
Ted Kord	Ted Kord puts his arm around Stella's shoulders and leads her to a hatch. "Shower is in there. Get plenty of water on your face. There's a chute for clothes. This locker has stuff to wear. Uhm, not a huge selection, and most of it is my size. Sorry about that. I will leave you to it. Hah." He opens the door and gives her a nudge.
Stella Roundtree	"I'm used to that. I buy a lot of band stuff, and they don't normally make girls' sizes," Stella says, laughing a little before she makes her way to the shower. At least her day won't be totally ruined. She's in there for a while, taking time to clean up, but grabbing a jersey and leggings from the locker. Even the leggings have to be rolled up twice at the ankles, the sizes way off. But at least free of stinging mace. She peeks back out of the shower, eyes still red but at least open, and face clean. Her hair is towel-dried, very long outside of its bun and down to her mid-back.
Ted Kord	Ted Kord is piloting the Bug along the Jersey Coast. As Stella exits he is looping around to head back to the city, and making a couple notes on a pad. He seems to be pondering some problem. He looks up and smiles when he hears the hatch. "Oh hey, all better are we? The no make up look suits you. Come have a seat." He shuts down the co-pilot controls. Safety first. He also makes a note to add some paper slippers and socks to the clothes locker. "Uhm, I have a first aid kit over there with more eye wash if you want it. Or not." He suddenly seems a little awkward. Females.
Stella Roundtree	"Ugh, I feel very bare without makeup. I don't think I've been without it since I was thirteen. Used to go nuts with it, though," she says, as if her usual look isn't pretty heavy as is. "I think I got it out, thanks," she says with a sigh, plopping into the seat. Finally, she can take a look at everything around her. She's quiet, taking it all in, tracking where things connect and all the electrical flow. "You okay?" she asks him, noting the awkwardness. She seems perfectly comfortable with herself, even out of her clothes. Maybe more so when she's not buttoned up for work. "And thanks. Thanks for coming to pick me up from my bad day at school, boss," she teases. "Today's lesson was to approach clients with sunglasses on. Maybe it'll make me look cooler and more intimidating," she says.
Ted Kord	Ted Kord shrugs. "Yeah I just... I feel like I came on pretty strong getting you up here and in the shower and all that. Like I'm patriarchal. Anyway, you're welcome. I'm just... I'm not good around women. Especially those better at adulting than me. Let you in on a secret... this is all the fantasy of a former fat kid who got picked on." Ted smiles a little and says softly, "Then... he built a robot bodyguard."
Stella Roundtree	"I'd say 'I can handle myself' and get all snarky, but all it took was a really mad rich lady to knock me out. So you can put your worry aside," she says, reaching out and patting his arm. "Today it's appreciated, not gonna be mad about getting some help when I need it. If it helps, you can think of me more as just a short dudebro hanging out here with ya who needed to borrow a change of clothes."      "I'd say it worked out for you, this thing is gorgeous," Stella says, gesturing around the interior of the Bug. "And you built a robot when you were a *kid*? That's awesome! I would have killed to have something like that. Looks like you've come a long way from being a fat kid or being picked on." She relaxes back, hands behind her head, "You must be real sma- um. REALLY smart to get all this put together," she says, enunciating more clearly lest she sound dumber than she feels inside of a giant technology beetle.
Ted Kord	Ted Kord looks over at Stella and then shales his head. "Dudebro... nononono. You're a female. The engineering differences are just huge. Trust me on this." He gives the hand on his arm a pat before it can be retracted. "So to continue your rescue... at my place, I do have all manner of outfits in different sizes. You can get outfitted properly or we can clean up your own clothes thoroughly and you can take a cab to your car whenever you like. Or we can order that Chinese food we mentioned before. That way if it doesn't go great, you don't waste a whole evening. You could also see my bots."
Stella Roundtree	Stella laughs at this, "All right, all right. But I'm nice, I promise. Honestly, I'd like an easy evening after that. Hopefully that insane woman hasn't taken her husband's golf clubs to my rental," she says, and bites her lower lip as she tries to remember what the $50 extra insurance covers. "So I GUESS I can buy us dinner as a thank-you," she says. "And I can change into something I'm not gonna trip in. Wait, why do you have a bunch of different sizes of clothes at your place?" she asks. "Is it for the robots?"
Ted Kord	Ted Kord waggles an eyebrow. "The bots don't look human. Superheroes often show up in disarray. Sometimes they stay over. They don't all live in their costumes. It seemed hospitable. I had one friend who's apartment was under observation. You have no idea the shit that happens to my community. Anyhoo yeah you can certainly stay for dinner. I'll send an employee to get your rental. I can put on a movie... you like monster movies?"
Stella Roundtree	"That is a good point you are making," she says. "And not human! I guess that gets rid of the uncanny valley possibility, huh? Hopefully. They don't have creepy little faces, I hope," she says. She's in a much better mood now that her face isn't burning. "Changing would be great, though. And the car. You really are doin' a lot for me, I really do appreciate it," she says. She does keep her hands to herself when she says this, though! No batting lashes or bedroom eyes. Granted, it might be hard to tell right now.      "I love monster movies! What kind are you thinkin'? Old classics? Slashers? Modern-but-terrible?" she asks. That part does get her to lean in a little closer.
Ted Kord	Ted Kord looks over to her with an appraising eye. "Any collection of monsters movies must include... nay start with -Them-. Best paced, best acted of all. Then of course -The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms-." The Bug is on auto pilot now. It waits for clearance before going to the Kord Co building and the landing pad. "Hunh. Angels ahead. Hang on Stella. There is acceleration, forcing Stella into her seat, then the Bug veers asideand heads out over the river and begins diving. "Hey put your belt on... here let me." He reaches over to secure his passenger, giving her arm a pat when he finishes. He secures his own belt. Then starts a dive.
Stella Roundtree	"Of course you'd like 'Them!' You're a bug guy," she says before seeing the angels ahead. "Ugh, I don't like any of that stuff. The people at the training thingy yesterday were enough for me," she says, letting him strap her in. Hey, it's his vehicle. Were he to do that in hers, might not go so well. She is holding onto the seat as they dip and dive, but she doesn't so much as bounce around. Her hair does, but she stays pretty stationary, much more so than a usual person would.
Ted Kord	The Bug hits the water with a lurch and then slips under it. Lights snap on inside and outside. "Ohhh. I have the Haunting, The Others, Primal Fear, Galaxy Quest, Alien and Aliens... there, we're safe. even angels won't take a dip in this stuff. Oh your power... did I have to bother with the seat belt?" The Bug proceeds to a large underwater door that swings open to admit it.
Stella Roundtree	"Nope! I can jump off a barn and be fine, but it's nice to be treated normal," she says. "And I can't watch Galaxy Quest with a guy! I'll cry!" she says, brushing some of her hair away from her eyes. "It gets so sad at... well, you know the part. That and the Iron Giant bring on the waterworks. And Terminator 2. I guess I save my sadness for robots and aliens," she says as she looks out of the bug, towards that underwater door. "I'm up for Alien or The Others, both sound good with what was it you suggested... dumplings."
Ted Kord	Ted Kord is silent as he guides the Bug int its hangar and it surfaces. The water drains away. Ted undoes his straps and gets up. He opens the deck hatch and says, I want to see this drop out of the hatch please. Unless the straps are stuck. Then I'll help. Oh bring your clothes." Ted himself jumps out of the Bug with no worries. Hey superhero.
Stella Roundtree	Stella unfastens her straps and gathers her clothes, wrapped in others to prevent contact, as well as her bag, which she delicately holds. It may have gotten hit as well, she might have to redo some paperwork. She departs as well, her jump occurring at the proper speed, landing gently but absolutely silently. It's almost eerie, or like a physics glitch. Seems she's not too worried, either. "I'm not sure we can save some of this," she says sadly about her former attire.
Ted Kord	Ted Kord watches in awe. Then he frowns. "This is Kord Co. we can do a hell of a lot. Besides, mace and I are old acquaintances. Bobo!" A large bot flies over and scans Stella for a moment. "Decon #5 for these clothing articles and papers. Then yourself. Launder the clothes, use Unstoppables and Snuggle. The works. Bring them upstairs to us. And no side treks to the Lego room. Do it. Oh... Stella, this is Beetle Operations Bot 01. Bobo for short. Come this way. Express elevator to the top. Yeah, all this money and I live above a shop." He chuckles.
Stella Roundtree	Stella gives a cheerful wave to the robot, "Hi, Bobo! Nice to meet you!" she says, almost like she's talking to a dog and not a robot. She hands over the articles, letting them go to the capable hands of the robot. "I am not used to this kind of treatment," she says, shaking her head. But she's content, following instructions and her host. "Must be nice to have the money, though. You get to build all these things," she says, almost tripping over the drooping leggings. She pulls up the waistband under the jersey, "So about something that fits me..."
Ted Kord	Ted Kord eyebrow waggles. "I dunno, you look kinda cute." The elevator takes them to the penthouse. Ted indicates a side room. "That's the wardrobe. I'm changing into sweats should it matter. Go to it... Bailey! Bailey this is Stella, escort and help her if she wants anything. Well I don't build things because I have money, I have money because I build things. Bailey make sure she doesn't trip... Bingo... set out some goodies. Put on Aliens." Ted gives a bow and heads for his own room.
Stella Roundtree	"I look cute in a lot," Stella says, "But this was not a combination I ever tried. I don't think it worked," she says. "All righty, Bailey, nice to meet you, let's see what we can find in here..." she says as she disappears into the wardrobe. She takes a good half hour, as there are plenty of options, but emerges in a pair of black leggings that actually fit her feminine form and a tight, red long-sleeve top with a looser black t-shirt over it, and a pair of socks so she's not stuck barefoot. She took the time to blow dry her hair, which is a touch staticky for a mere moment before she dispells that, letting it lay long and fluffy in a side part. Keeping it simple, it seems. "Now where's the movie room..." she asks the helpful robot.
Ted Kord	Ted Kord calls from the living room. "In here. It's not a mansion. Just a penthouse. C'mon down." ted had gotten Chinese food as advertised, dumplings noodles. There's a two liter of cola and a couple of bottles of beer as well as tea. "Aliens as advertised. Though you made me want to watch the Iron Giant again. The bots never saw it." Several more are resting on recharge stations in various corners.
Stella Roundtree	"I see food has arrived, wonderful," Stella says as she settles in. "Aw, don't make me cry in front of your robots. "But I've only ever been in penthouses to definitely remove cameras, not to actually socialize," she says. She finds a seat and gets a beer first, savoring the sound of the bottle opening and taking a drink before she makes a little plate of food. "Kinda feels like a slumber party," she grins. Though it might just be to make him squirm.
Ted Kord	Ted Kord gets a poke from Bailey before he speaks. "Bwahaha. Yeah that's me. A Casanova. Nope only sleepover is a 300 lb jock... who seems to be away " He pours some tea for himself and grabs a dumpling. He asks, "Do you control heat too? I ask because I can get you a quilt if you like." Sleepover. Yeah right. Bwahaha.
Stella Roundtree	"I don't know how to do heat or cold," she says. "And seriously? There's not another girl here who's gonna yell at me for being here, just a big dude... oh! Oh, I gotcha," she says, perhaps missing the point entirely. But her posture straightens up, less flirtatious. "But just sound, things in motion, and electricity. And only okay. Seeing other people with better control was a wakeup," she says. "I will take you up on that quilt."
Ted Kord	Ted Kord gets up and gets said quilt from a shelf. He goes over to Stella and drapes it around her like a robe. "Your majesty. No, you are indeed the only girl here. I find one sufficient Tee Bee Aitch. The power control thing yeah... there's probably all manner of things you can do. Heat is just kinetic energy on a subatomic level. Be interesting to see how the laws of thermodynamics behave around you. Getting rid of heat is a major problem fr many devices. I'll shut up about science... you picked a nice outfit. You can keep it. It suits you. I would not put on make up on today. I mean you. I don't wear makeup. No point. Goggles."
Stella Roundtree	Stella snuggles up in the quilt, like a bird fluffing her feathers. "Thank you, good sir!" she says. "The science of it can be a lot to think about. I know more about how things look and feel than what does on behind it. I can see it right now, when you or the robots move, I can see the electricity around things, and then I can see soundwaves," she says as she moves her hand almost like she's conducting an orchestra. "I can feel it and pull and push it, make it grow or shrink," she says. "It's more tactile than mental. But I'm willing to try anything you like out in the lab. Sounds like you have a few things in mind!" she says.      She opens up the quilt to look at her attire, "This *is* pretty cute. Thanks for letting me hold onto it," she says, bringing the quilt back around her body. And trust me, when I go back to my hotel, I shall be make-up free. Maybe for a few days... absolute torture," she says as she shakes her head.
Ted Kord	Ted Kord says, "No problem, but I scoff at your modesty. You are obviously a natural beauty. Oh you want some slippers? Are you that cold or you just need to snuggle?" He stops talking with a major effort and sits on the couch. "Bailey, get some slippers, please... for Stella! She's not a size thirteen." The little bit takes a look but seems foiled by the quilt. It shrugs. A minute later it comes back with several slippers. "These bots are getting smarter everyday."
Stella Roundtree	"Wait, I thought you said you had a 300 pound jock staying here?" she asks. "Is that not the person you're wantin' to snuggle?" she asks. "But if you want to cozy on up, there's room for two now that I'm mace-free," she says, grabbing another beer and popping that sucker open. The food to beer ratio is definitely getting skewed. She does let her feet emerge, toenails painted a metallic gray, as nicely manicured as her fingers, and starts trying on slippers like she's a comfort-driven Cinderella.
Ted Kord	Ted Kord hehs and sits down. "Why does everyone joke around about us. We're just bros. No I'd much rather snuggle a pretty girl like yourself. He sits down closer. Hmmm. Two beers. He takes a sip of tea. "Do you want some snuggling?" He puts an arm around her. Bailey begins trying slippers on Stella's feet and seems engrossed n the procedure.
Stella Roundtree	With her socks in her lap (who would wear slippers with socks! Maybe someone who wants to be warm, but she's going in), she watches the robot at work. It's adorable, and she's not going to ruin its fun! "Two guys who hang out in skin-tight clothing and are super jacked? I dunno where people might get that idea," she says. "Come on over, you at least earned a snuggle after saving me from a very depressing death today," she says, holding open the quilt for him.
Ted Kord	Ted Kord gets into the quilt and accepts the snuggle. "Awfully decent of you. But I mean a lot os superheroes team up all the time. I dunno why they single us out. To be clear... I like girls, if that wasn't obvious. Ah. Cozy. Can't build a bot to do this. Well... you could but it'd be wrong and sad. My, Bailey is having fun. Uhm, you going t9 be okay to go home?
Stella Roundtree	"Don't worry, I won't drink enough for you to have to deal with Bad Stella," she says. She is warm and cozy under the quilt. "But I'm not driving back to the hotel, I hope. I can take a cab or something," she says. "Just staying nice and buzzed," she says as she nestles against him. "And a person can like both! And it's fine if you like whatever, no judging on my end," she says. "Even if you JUST like girls," she says as she watches the robot beneath them continue to seek the perfect slipper.
Ted Kord	Ted Kord watches Bailey distractedly. "I mean, it might be hard to deal with bad Stella. I doubt I could sock her... not that I would. Buzzed Stella seems pretty chill though. I guess your day is turning out better?" "Mine surely is. I was kind of jealous of that big fellow, truth be told. Tabby is a great girl but she kind of gave me a headache. Heheh. This is nice and... I have apartments downstairs if you don't want to go to the hotel tonight. Just saying." He picks up a dumpling and holds it for her to nibble, or chomp. She's full of surprises it seems.
Stella Roundtree	"Buzzed Stella is great. Bad Stella is... demanding, yet friendly. You'll know you're great, but she's gonna boss you around at the same time. But I don't think you have fireworks here, so you should be fine," she says. "... but you do have bottles." She clears her throat, "Tabby seems fun. I gotta get back to that bar she works at, it was a great place to do work," she says, just before she neatly bites the dumpling. Some contents start to fall, and she stops that happening for a moment, slowing it. She then catches it in her palm and pops that in her mouth and chases it with her beer. "And you were jealous? You wanted to be there guiding my hand?" she asks, hand sneaky under the blanket to brush against his side. Yeah, she might be crashing in that apartment.
Ted Kord	Ted Kord shakes his head. "Nah, I'd be afraid of hurting you, if I didn't know you were special. I wanted to meet you. We're about the same age. I get all these... really young girls coming through here for professional superhero like reasons. I got. cyborg needing help, lovely girl really but just that. Sometimes I need adult time. Oh hey there, yeah that's me. That's such a neat trick with gravity and all. You're amazing." He gives her a playful nuzzle. "You know how I'd handle Bad Stella? I'd kill her with kindness... and foot rubs." Unnoticed, Bailey finds slippers that suit!
Stella Roundtree	"I KNOW, RIGHT?!" Stella says, a little too loud. "Everyone in this city is like TWENTY! I mean, they're pretty, but that seems like so much work. Hot, young models. And I'm just too old to want to go through all that drama," she says. "Maybe you could win over Bad Stella. But she'd be too busy telling you that you're awesome, and then decide to go destroy something out behind a bar and... that feels nice," she says, tilting her head to give him more area to nuzzle. "Honestly, I do admire you for not takin' advantage of 'em. A rich guy is catnip for some ladies to lock down. Well, and one with actual endurance," she snickers. "Theoretically."
Ted Kord	Ted Kord applies himself to the greater area opened up. "I'm only seven percent body fat. I run an obstacle course several times a week. You're a real, little sweet talker. And you're not old. You just wised up. It took me a while longer is what. And you have nice hair. He gives said hair a stroke. "God... I made my first impression on you wearing a damn toga. I'm going to kill Booster. Ehhh It seems to be turning out well. You want to stay over?"
Stella Roundtree	"Did he tell you to wear it?" she laughs. "Do you want me to unplug his tech?" she asks. "I didn't get a good look at it, but if he's close enough, I bet I could knock him down," she says. "I could stay over," she says. "Just so weird to do it bare-faced," she says, patting her cheeks. Her eyes are still red, but now it only looks like she's been crying, not that she's been blasted in the face with a chemical weapon. "Just so long as this doesn't affect my performance reviews," she says.
Ted Kord	Ted Kord says with a growl from Stella's neck. "He didn't say not too. It's cool. I'll get him back. I'm not going to sic you on him. Female attention will only encourage him..." He's feeling pretty encouraged himself. "It won't affect your review if it doesn't affect your performance, shall we say?" He looks back down at the little bot. "Good job Bailey! (I think Bailey is a girl. She is very interested in human clothes. She's also the smartest one it seems." More cozying.
Stella Roundtree	"Aw, Bailey's cute. They all are, really. And I promise, I will keep my performance very professional," Stella says, looking down at her slippers. "So! You got anything else interesting in this penthouse?" she asks, finishing off her second beer and setting it aside. She turns and presses her thigh against his, a hand atop it to follow. Seems that she might end up too distracted to go beyond a buzz this evening.