Open RP It's Showtime [NYC Event]

[Lodestar]

CENTRAL PARK​

Central Park was abuzz with activity. Tourists and locals alike jockeyed for spots in lines, looking to snag souvenir t-shirts, boxed action figures, and other memorabilia. News crews had come with vans and cameras, along with representatives from City Hall, the fire department, and the NYPD. Countless booths displayed newly-minted superhero merchandise, some authentic and some bootleg. Licensed music played from speakers, keeping the energy level high.

The Power Company was throwing a party.

For the low cost of $9.99 a person, visitors could get to know their new heroes up close and personal before their routine patrols started in earnest. Sure, there were an array of critics and worriers, people who were afraid of metahumans - but these metahumans were on cereal boxes. They smiled for the cameras, rather than skulking in the shadows. And to be sure, they looked impressive.

LODESTAR's chromelike skin gleamed in the afternoon sun. He wore a custom designer gilet emblazoned with "The Power Company" on the front and his own superheroic alias on the back. Underneath was his iconic battlesuit, a sleek piece inspired by fictional superheroes that matched his chrome coloration. He was standing in front of a large stylized backdrop, taking photographs with anyone who wanted one. In a little while, he'd go over to a booth for some Q&A, and then sign some autographs.

It wasn't his favorite part of the job, but it was mission-essential. And the tickets were for charity. So he kept professional, and kept smiling.

At least there were no angry mobs. People generally seemed glad to see him.

Hornet might not hold up as well with the crowds, he thought. Lodestar was the more social of the two by far. And the clouds of bees that occasionally followed Hornet around sometimes upset kids.

Better not be any stings.

There was a lot riding on today. Their debut had to be just right. Hopefully they wouldn't have to put out any fires.

 

[Hornet]

Among the tents and tables dotting the grassy expanse of Central Park's famous Great Lawn, one stood a noticeable distance away from the rest. The Hornet's black-and-yellow tent was some fifty yards from the rest of the event, a safety precaution insisted upon by the Power Company's lawyers, just in case there were any accidents with the wasps.

Not many people had yet arrived to investigate the Hornet's tent, perhaps because of the persistent buzzing sound surrounding it, as an entire nest of wasps was the centerpiece of the science-hero's display for the festival. It was contained within a protective mesh, to keep the aggressive insects away from escaping, but merely being in the presence of so many of the creatures and their notorious stingers was a deal-breaker for many of the event's attendees. Besides, Lodestar's powers were quite a bit more photogenic.

Nonetheless, a small crowd had gathered beneath the tent, where the Hornet was currently delivering a lecture on the nature of the creatures after which he'd named himself. Most of the onlookers were students, as the Power Company had distributed comped tickets to several schools around the city for the purpose of this lesson. Naturally, most of the kids were paying little attention, sneaking glances at their phones while their teachers weren't looking, or scheming to slip away from the group and sample the free food, or get a selfie with Lodestar. Nevertheless, the Hornet continued with his presentation, hoping that at least some of the knowledge was being absorbed by the students, perhaps unconsciously.

"Hornets don't just look like wasps- they're actually members of the same genus, known as the Vespa. That's where the name of the Italian moped comes from, if anybody is curious."

They were, in fact, not particularly curious. Harrison pressed on.

"Another interesting Hornet Fact is that they're what's known as eusocial creatures, which is a term that refers to the organization of an animal species' society. Eusocial creatures divide labor within their colony into reproductive and non-reproductive groups, which results in specialized biological groups that we call castes."

Introducing technical jargon likely hadn't been the smartest decision. He was losing them. Adjusting his red-lensed goggles where they sat on his forehead, the Hornet wracked his brain for something that might recapture the students' attention.

"You've all heard of the term 'Queen Bee,' right? Well, hornet colonies have queens too! In fact, within each nest, only the queen is capable of laying eggs, even though many of the other hornets are genetically female. Female hornets are the deadlier of the species, as male hornets don't even have a stinger!" Harrison paused, a thought occurring. It was a dangerous gambit, but it might just be his best chance to win back the crowd. "Well, except for me, that is."

With a dramatic flourish, the Hornet pulled his signature Stinger from the holster at his hip. It couldn't be mistaken for an ordinary weapon, the casing bearing no small resemblance to classic 1950s sci-fi blaster guns. The Power Company's PR people had insisted on making it look as nonthreatening as possible, so they could make toys modeled after it.

Grabbing one of the bundles of balloons tied to his tent, Harrison turned back to the students, who suddenly seemed much more interested now that weapons were involved.

"So, who's up for some target practice?"