Flameclaw/A new Leaf

From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe

James sighed as he walked out of the doors leading to the D. shuddering briefly at the slight tingle that ran through him as he felt the change in the air.. and the flow of the energies around him. Most could not feel that change, except those that dealt with magic. Or those that were magic, like him. He looked around at the now familiar sights of the Isles, sniffing the air.. that familiar salty air that was so familiar. He glanced behind him as he heard the door close, then started walking. He hated this place, and loved it at the same time. He'd lived here years, and it had not changed much, not till the occasional Rikti air raid had set off the Arachnos alarms in recent times.

The sun was long set, he prefered to spend his nights at the D these days.. despite the absence of magical flow and the lack of skies, he felt he fit in a bit better there. At least he wasnt a total freak to those people.. and the drinks were free. He absently raised a hand to his muzzle, rubbing his nose, then snorted, sending a small cloud of smoke into the air. He had conflicting feelings about his form. His mutant powers were incredible, and the gift of flight.. everything he had ever dreamed of. Yet his price to pay was turning into a dragon.. man. Or a dragon.. but he didnt like to use that, he attracted enough attention to himself as it was. Still, he mused.. thrusting his hands into his pockets as he walked along the beach path.. he wouldnt want to go back to the way he was.. he would miss being able to fly.

He chuckled to himself, muttering "And yet here I am, walking home.." he absently stretched his wings out behind himself and fanned them, before folding them to his back once more. he walked for several minutes, till he came to the beach and walked down towards the rocky area, stopped at his usual spot and sat down on his familiar rock. Behind him, Port Oakes glowed with a thousand lights, sending shimmers of light over the water before him. This was his favorite spot to come, these days. He always walked here after a night at the D, it was a habit.. he preferred to get away from it all and relax, before heading home to rest. He glanced behind himself, to make sure nobody was there.. his draconic sight provided him with night vision and he was able to see into the darkness with ease. He was alone.. as always. It was a respite in the Isles.. Port Oakes was comparaively safe, the family made sure of that. He had a working relationship with them.. they had fought a few times in the past, once he stopped working for one of their branches. These days he occasionally worked for them against other worse villain groups, for a price. The family was odd like that. They were respectable criminals, he mused. It paid the bills, and innocents didnt get hurt.

He curled his tail behind as he stared off into the water.. "And here I am.. a creature of fire, seeking solace in water.." he muttered. So many things about him were in conflict. He lived in the rogue Isles, yet he did not see himself as a villain. He knew he was classified as neutral.. he did not actively seek out crime. He did not kill.. he stole money from only the worse villain groups. Did that make him a villain? His work as a mercenary might.. and he knew that was what they classed him as. "no better than Hero Corps.." he sighed. They were seen as heroes, yet they sold the services of heroes.. they were mercenaries too. Superpowered mercenaries.. who were seen as heroes by many. Maybe he should think about joining them.. though would they accept him, being in the Isles? He stood, stretching some.. then turned and spread his wings, with a jump and a beat, he was off into the air, headed home. It had given him an idea, at least.

---

"You know, I was never keen on the whole tights thing.."

He was sat/straddled on a chair, reversed.. at his local tailors. He couldnt sit on a normal chair with his tail.. The 'tailor' one whom he knew catered her designs to both heroes and otherwise, in the back room of her clothing shop. He had been given the tip off by a friend of his.. and had gotten to know her better. She was a mage, he knew that.. her residence was enchanted to be forgotten by any who would think ill of her or think to burglarise her. She couldnt operate in Paragon, as the spell was an illegal selective memory wipe, he thought it was ridiculous.. that kind of spell would work wonders, in his estimation. Still.. he didnt know why he had gotten this in his head.. it had seemed such a good idea last night..

"James.. I know what you're thinking, you want to be a Hero type right? if you want to try and change your image, you have to look the part. You have to give it a try.. trust me, it looks good!" She was holding up a sketch what looked like a white set of pyjamas with a red flame motif on an overly pleased looking red-dragonman.

"Kara, It looks ridiculous..!" he snorted.. "And I cant grin like that.." He flicked his tail to one side on the chair, nearly knocking over a potted plant. The picture looked decidedly like something from a Japanese kids cartoon.

"And I bet it would burst into flames with the slightest.." She stomped her foot down, looking briefly irate.

"It does not look ridiculous! I spent hours coming upw ith this.. you'll look good in it, trust me. All the real super-looking types wear this kind of thing, and at least the underwear are on the inside.. It'll be a good new image for you. Better than those 80's reject leather.. and those pet chains.."

His head shot up, and he set his hand to his leather jacket.

"This is not rej.. hey! You got me this!" She smirked.

"You asked for it! And its not really the kind of thing a hero should wear if you want to be more traditional and trusted.." He sighed, his posture dropping some, head laying on his forearms across the chain back.

"Its hard for me, you know? I dont think I can even pull this off. At least all those others look human.." She sighed and moved over to him, setting a hand on his shoulder.

"What you are doesnt matter, James. its what you do that counts.. you have some very good super powers. I think you could make a real difference here. Unlike all those others, you have sense. And who knows, maybe they'll let you into Paragon if you do good here." He snorted.

"I dont think I would want to work in paragon. You know what they're like their.. they gont give a crap about any hero who isnt in their stupid superiority league. And some of the laws are ridiculous." He snorted, sending a puff of smoke into the air before him. She gave a small laugh.

"I know what you mean, but you cant spend your life here, you know. It wont be good for you, this place gets to you after a while, trust me.. I'm planning on leaving in a few years myself. He looked up at her and sat up straight.

"Really? Where are you off to..?" She shrugged.

"Somewhere not here James. You can get away with a lot here, but its not going to last much longer.. and neither is Paragon, but they're good places to start. Just dont consign your life to these hellholes, dear. Make a name and get out after a few years. Statesman and Recluse are going to kill each other and their lackeys before long, their egoes are crazy. Theres going to be a lot of folk caught in the crossfire, and I dont want anyone I know and care about to be one of them.

She shrugged and smirked at him as he absorbed her momentary lecture.

"Anyway.. I was thinking the chest looks a little sparce.. how about we add a little something here.." she gestured to the picture, he looked down.

"Alright.. so how long do you think..?"

She smiled "set a target on 2-3 years, then get out.." she smiled "Anyway, we'll talk on that another time. What do you think of this..?" she began sketching a ring bandolier on the suit.

"Err.. its fine.." he turned his thoughts back to the pyjamas.. err, tights.. err.. superhero costume.

"What about a cape..?" She gave him a look.

"No capes.."

He sighed "All of the real heroes have them.. and I am permitted.." She poked his right wing membrane. "Its not gonna work dear.. it'll just get in the way of these." He sighed in response..

"Damnit.. I just cant get a break like this.." She patted his shoulder.

"Thats why you'll make a good hero dear. Keep your head out of the clouds, dont get too cocky and consider yourself above everyone like the Phalanx." She smiled. "Plus, I think you look wonderful. You should be proud to be a Dragon. Most mages would shake the world to have what you have." he looked at her inconfusion, and she quickly changed the subject.

"At any rate... give me a few days. And dont worry, i'll enchant it against fire.." she paused and considered "And maybe bullets and blades.. I know your scales protect you, but a burst of gunfire would probably ruin it. Hmm, maybe i'll just make it repair itself.." she muttered as she walked out of the door, then stuck her head round.

"Anyway dear.. i'll call you when i'm done. We'll talk then.. I cant wait to see it on you. Later lizard." she laughed a bit as she walked out. He sighed and stood, flexing his wings some as he was dismissed, he hoped nobody would laugh.

---

It was two days till he got a call from her, and he hastened over to the little shop. He carefully walked down the small isles, keeping his wings to his sides, he heard a click behind him and glanced back.. an 'out to lunch' sign had appeared on the door. He shuddered.. magic had a habit of doing things he didnt like. Surely she could have just put the sign there herself.. he hated ghosts, and thats what it reminded him of.

"Ah, that was fast!" he glanced round to the door behind the counter and nodded.

"Well, I can fly.." he said as he made his way over.

"I've been looking forward to this..!" she grinned, leading him through..

"I havent.. but hey, I wanted it right..?" He stepped into the back room and glanced around, then sat down beside a table, glancing into a box of trinkets that sat there, beside a mettalic bracer.

"So, do you want to try it on..?" He looked at her confusedly.

"Err.. sure, where is it..?" He glanced around, she walked over and lifted the bracer.

"I thought about a ring.. but this seemed more 'you'. Here." He took the metal bracer confusedly, then slipped it on.. looking down at himself expectantly. Then tapped it. Rubbed it.. poked it. All the while she looked at him in amusement, till he gave up and sighed.

"Alright.. how do I..?" She looked at him patiently, he was reminded of a teacher back when he was in school.

"Stand, please?" He stood in response, flicking his tail behind, feeling very much the fool.

"Alright. I gave you extra effort with this one. You just wanted a suit.. but I got thinking, you might want to be able to swap between them more easily. You justneed to will the clothes you want to wear onto you.. they're stored inside the bracer." He looked at it confusedly.

"How..?" he began, but she stopped him.

"Nevermind that.. magic, remember? Anyway.. it can contain three different sets of clothing right now. All I had time for. Just will your 'supersuit' onto you. Close your eyes if it'll help you focus.." He nodded and closed his eyes.. concentrating. It felt like he was wearing some kind of sock.. he opened his eyes and looked down at himself as he heard a small chuckle.

"There you go.. easy, right? Just do the same to bring back your other clothes.. now, come this way!" she grabbed is hand and drew him over to a full length mirror. He stared at himself for a long moment.. taking in the shock of white. It dindt look so bad.. but he couldnt help but feel embaressed. He was glad he could not blush anymore he felt humiliated.. though it instead manifested in a flexing of his tail behind, he was glad nobody knew his new forms body language.

"Not so bad, you think?" she looked at him with some manner of pride.

"You'll fit right in..!"

He took a deep breath and turned, viewing himself from different angles.

"I guess.. I have seen quite a few costume wearing heroes about in the D."

She clapped her hands once "Thats a great place to try it out. See the reactions you get. I'll bet you nobody so much as blinks in your direction." She smiled, and he nodded in consent. It couldnt be so bad, could It..?