Titans Tryouts : The Waiting Room

[jla_extras]

With a number of new, young heroes cropping up all over the nation, there has been much discussion of the role that the Titans will take in training and assisting the new crop of super-heroes. Heroes like Static. And the Scarab. And Zachary Zatara. And Vulcan

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[forged_by_fire]

The Justi-Flyer was parked down the block and around the corner, hoping to avoid any parking tickets this time.

Mikey had gotten half way to the tower and turned around three times before finally getting up the courage to answer the open casting call. Pandora wasn't helping. She was used to Vulcan being a solitary soldier, a lone wolf. But when your mentor gets a giant hole blown into his abdomen less than an hour after kidnapping you, and deciding you would be the next in line...? Yeah, your circumstance can be considered atypical.

So there they were, in a corner of the room: the over-armored, barely-15 year old boy with a giant sword strapped to his back, and the curvaceous woman dressed like some slutty-secretary sitting mechanically in a chair next to him. Even in this crowed they seemed slightly awkward, and out of place.

[kidflash2]

Kid Flash is on hand to meet the newcomer.

"Hey there! Cool sword. Are you here for the audition?"

Clearly, he must have some other plausible explanations in mind, if he has to ask.

[forged_by_fire]

"Uh, yeah, I guess," Mikey replied, his eyes not quite meeting Kid Flash's. He shifted slightly under his...tunic? Over-zealous cape? Giant bib? He really wasn't used to all this. It'd just been him and Pan for the past few months. Plus? He was more than a little intimidated by the numerous super heroes.

[all_giving]

Pandora, however, was not intemidated. She stared down Kid Flash with the haughty incredulity of an over-protective mother.

[kidflash2]

Bart.. doesn't really grasp the concept of a staredown. The boy raised in a video game world still has difficulty with the concept of intimidation, really. He glances at Pandora, thoughtfully.

"And you're his.. mother?"

[forged_by_fire]

Mikey practically choked on his laugh, but regained composure quickly when Pandora turned her--slightly softened--gaze on him. "Uh, no. Pan's...complicated; more like a legal guardian."

[kidflash2]

"Oh, yeah. I have those, too. My real mom lives in the future. Well, welcome to Titans Tower.. what kind of powers do you have?"

[all_giving]

"Vulcan possesses many atribu--"

[forged_by_fire]

"--Fire," Mikey cut her off. He hadn't really figured out what all he could do with that fire, however.

[kidflash2]

Bart seems.. puzzled by Pandora, looking back and forth between her and Vulcan.

"Well, fire can be handy for a lot of things.. do you shoot fire, control existing fire, talk to fire..?"

[forged_by_fire]

"Um, still kinda figuring it out, actually," he gave a half shrug and scratched under his helmet. The thing got a little uncomfortable after a while. "Oh!" he exclaimed, "I've finally got this down, though--"

Bright orange flames erupted suddenly over his entire body, but settled quickly into yellow-orange tongues rippling over his entire body and suit.

A hint of a bright, white glow on his left cheek peaked out from underneath his helmet.

[kidflash2]

"A fiery aura, handy for keeping villains away."

He thinks a little more.

"So what do you do for fun? Do you play video games?"

[forged_by_fire]

"Not as well as you'd think," he said, recalling some previous encounter.

As the flames dissipated, Miguel answered, "No, not really. They had one at Derby, I think. Atari or something? I never really played with it, though." The flee-bag motels he and Pandora were staying at weren't exactly selected for their amenities, either.

[kidflash2]

"Really? Oh, wow, you need to see our game room then. I mean, it's not up to 31st century standards, but we've got PlayStation, LexBox.."

Suddenly, he switches gears.

"Do you want something to eat?"

[forged_by_fire]

Mikey--not as swift as Kid Flash, in any sense--was caught slightly off guard, "I, uh...yeah, I guess. Sure?" He'd be glad for any food that wasn't pizza, honestly. "Free leftovers from the buffet" seemed like a good perk when he first started working at the Pasadena Pizza and a Movie Company, but that didn't take long to get old.

"Pan doesn't really eat, though," he amended.

[kidflash2]

Bart vanishes for a split second, before returning with an armful - and a mouthful - of food. A variety of refreshments made available to the guests.

"Doesn't eat?" He finishes chewing, and swallows. "Is she a robot?"