Owner	Pose
Ted Kord	Ted Kord started by asking Bobo, "Give me a readout of Ms. Roundtree's consumption of mimosas..." A look at the tablet Bobo is texting on. "I see. What is the alcohol by volume of your mimosas. Okay... Kordi?" That is addressed at his digital assistant. Kordi chimes. "Give me an estimate how long will it take a fit and athletic woman about... 55 kilos to process that alcohol." An answer on the tablet. "What about with a cold shower, coffee and sweating it out? ... None of that affects the duration? Okay. this will make the day fly. Uhm Bailey do a biometric reading. Not you Bobo, you're a boy." Stella will wake up covered in a wonderful warm blanket. Her sneakers were removed. A pitcher of water is nearby on the coffee table. A bucket is nearby on the floor. Ted s nearby doing paperwork. He may be looking at her. Because he does that after every signature.
Stella Roundtree	It had all been going so well until it wasn't. Miss Roundtree awakens. She'd nearly beaten the first rough part of the day with the pancakes, but then things escalated, and she was having so much fun. Now less. It is at least warm, and she reaches out from the blanket to the water like any primal animal must. And she drinks. Not pounding it. And then she notices that she's being observed.      "Hey there, Ted," she says. "Well this is a little embarrassing, did I fall asleep on the couch like an old lady?" It's rough, but it should be rougher. Perhaps this is not an uncommon afternoon experience on her days off. "Thanks for tucking me in, though. Or was it Bailey?"
Ted Kord	Ted Kord smiles. "I did the tucking. Bailey did take your sneakers off. We were talking around you for a while. How are you feeling? Need anything?" She better not put in a request for a mimosa. That'd be pushing her luck. He doesn't SAY this. He does scoot over and put her feet in his lap. "As I understand it, to feel better you TLC: Time, Liquids, Comfort."
Stella Roundtree	"You know... I just need a hot shower and lots of fluids," she says. "Thank you for taking care of me and being so kind," she says. Her voice is very soft. "But I did get myself into this. You are a very caring person, aren't you?" she considers, the wheels in her head slowly turning. "I think you need someone to take care of. I don't want you to feel like I'm helpless- not that I'm saying this is an example of that! But I'm not exactly proud of you HAVING to take care of me." She rubs her temples. "It was different when I got maced, I did need an assist. But I should not have put you in this position... or you, Bailey!" she calls out. "That was not okay of me," she says, taking another drink of water.
Ted Kord	Ted Kord looks uncomfortable. "I tend to take care of people. I took in Booster and Skeets. I'm making an indestructible phone for Hella. I know you're an adult and can take care of yourself. It's just people can't always. So I did. I know I do it too much. that's something wrong with me. I just started to put Booster to work earning his keep. You don't have that problem." "I think I told you, I thought I failed to save a bunch of kids. I needed Spider-Man and Joan to talk me off the ledge... almost literally. Everyone needs help at times. But I overdo it. I scare people off." "You want a foot rub?"
Stella Roundtree	She listens, his voice modulated to be softer by the time is reaches her ears. She can see all the sound waves, tweaking them as needed to better fit her mental state. "You didn't tell me about that. And that's a lot of burden to take on," she says, feeling very guilty. "I hadn't thought about how much you have to take care of others in terms of keepin' them alive, or from dying. I can see why you overdo it. But it's... a lot. We don't know each other that well," she points out.      She refills her water glass and tucks her legs under her body, no foot rubs today. "When I was talkin' to Booster about Hella, he said something that sort of stuck out," she says. "He said that Hella 'sees him for him'. And I don't think you see me for me. I think you see what you want to see. Someone more fragile than I am. Who needs more saving than I do. I like that you care, I really do!" she says, rushing with those words. "But it feels like you're holding on so tight that I can't breathe. And maybe you're trying to hold on to someone who's not real, just a projection of who you want me to be. And I'm not going to be able to live up to that." She averts her gaze. Her glass isn't that empty, but she tops it off anyway. "I need a shower..."
Ted Kord	Ted Kordholds a hand up to stop her. "I need to know, is this a matter of working things out? Or is it no good from the start? Can you tell me that before you go. If it is no good... I rather know right now. I do back off over time. But it may take too much time for you. You may not like the base level I arrive at. So I'm sorry to put you on the spot but you raised good objections." "One thing I will point out... you may see yourself as someone less capable than you are. You complained about being behind... how so? You're using your powers to make a way in the world. 99% of supers can't or won't do that. And keeping the world going is what you, and everybody like you do. We may save it but we aren't geared up to run it. I think it's awesome what you do. I'm done. You want to think on where we go from here... I'll wait a bit. But I refuse to agonize over this for weeks or months because you want to spare me or whatever."
Stella Roundtree	"The base level is too much," she says, nodding very gently. "Honestly, I wish we'd met workin' together and I'd just gotten time to get to know you, because I actually really do like who you are as a human being," she admits. "I like spending time with you. You're fun and smart and passionate. Your robots are adorable, and your friends are amazing," she says, fidgeting.      "Oh, I do feel behind. But I'm gettin' to know people now," she says. "I can train, I can get better," she says with a smile, bunched up under the blanket. "People with bigger, badder powers than mine get by here. But I won't leave you in a lurch. We can break things off here. Maybe you'll get to know me better and like who I really am, maybe not," she shrugs. Post-vino veritas. "I'm grateful for what you've done for me. I'll repay you however you want. But I can get my shit out by end of day, too. Just need a shower and a minute to compose myself."
Ted Kord	Ted Kord snaps his fingers at Bailey who retrieves the sneakers under the couch and holds them for Stella. "Take some time looking for a place, a day a week, unless you like that hotel. I admit I am disappointed. But honestly I could feel it and this is better if not good. Leave whatever you want for the services rendered." He gets up and pulls his robe off, Beetle armor underneath. "I think a little separation is good right now. I'll be in touch and I can give you Hella's number. She's taken with you." He's checking his gear, looking away. "I need to do some work around here. Thank you Stella. I'll see you." The Blue Beetle does his patented backflip and lands on his aero-discs. He gives her a small smile and then the skylight opens and he flies through it.
Stella Roundtree	Ugh. Not how she wanted to start her... afternoon? What time is it, even? She has a little cry against the blanket, then dries her eyes and takes her sneakers, putting them on and getting ready to go pack up her stuff. After a long shower, of course.