TWS Lobby (For Winners and Losers of TWS!)

"That's Yang!" A voice carried, usurping the question directed at Bow. While Jack may be familiar with Pix by now, this would be the first time she would see his mouth actually move. He was in his normal human form, put at ease by the reassurances of the governing entity that their secret identities were safe no matter what they chose to reveal in this hub. Not powerfully built, Hugh was blessed with a natural slim figure despite his daily exercise routine being non-existent. He wore a high upturned collar usually found on raincoats and possessed black hair that was spiked. His face was anything but angular, in ironic contrast to his pixelised doppelganger. Intelligent eyes observed his surroundings with anticipation as if they saw some trick the others did not.

"Blonde bombshell, meddling vigilante, and leader of the reformed Teen Titans. Miss naturally pink is doubtless one of her lesser team-mates I couldn't be arsed researching." Peering at the viewing screen Pix saw the last two combatants begin sizing themselves up again. It didn't surprise him that Gilda had taken the Glassandally invitation, only that her match was moving into overtime. This put her at a disadvantage in terms of spectators. Anybody here might be pitched against her next, including this other Titan. Their familiarity with her capabilities and tactics would put her at a disadvantage. After all, Hugh barely knew Gilda, and he brashly fancied his chances when given preparation.

The Titan Bow wore her heart on her sleeve. Pix joined the growing crowd at observations and went to nudge her, "There's no need to be so tense." It was refreshing for a change to see somebody else's emotions so transparent. Pix's emoticons usually betrayed him when he was forced to stay in his metahuman form, "Being tense implies a chance Yang could win. But the outcome is certain. If you guys are smart, you'll pay attention to what Harpy can do rather than the doomed Titan."

It was a pity he'd not been in time to observe anyone else's match. Having lost, Pix believed himself reduced to an advisory role. He would instruct his feathered colleague to victory. Failing that, he would protect Gilda from similar opportunists. "I hate to end a cat-fight as much as the next hot-blooded male. But needs must." At a will, the pixels from the remaining screen crumbled to the floor. While Pix was around, no one would earmark Gilda for an easy strategy.

Bow giggled and nodded as he told her not to space out in a fight. As if she hadn't thought about that already. Though, she did need to focus a bit more. It was a great opportunity lost that she had spaced out while watching the other fights, she could have begun to weave a strategy. Oh well.

Then he shook her hand and she smiled pleasantly, until he spoke the word kill. Her face dropped and she looked away in shame. "I-I didn't really kill her... I'm gonna make that up to her when we get to the real world again..." She sighed, realizing that she must sound like an idiot to him. This tournament was supposed to be fight to the death. Bow didn't belong here. But it was too late to turn back now. She would just have to become friends with everyone once they got back to Earth.

She was about to say something else to Kyte, but then Jack spoke to her and she turned to face her with a giggle, nodding. "Nice to meet you too, Jack." When she asked if she knew Yang, Bow opened her mouth to speak but, as soon as she did that, another man piped in to answer her question for her.

Bow turned to face the newcomer as he began to pour out information on her friend. Her eyes were a little wide with shock and her mouth still agape from beginning to answer the question herself. She couldn't help but roll her eyes at being called a lesser team-mate, but listened to him. The way he talked made her begin to wonder just what kind of man he was. Of course, this was a tournament for everyone. Not just heroes. That meant he was probably, well, not. Though that really didn't matter to Bow. She would try and be his friend for as long as she could anyway. If only just for the tournament.

When he nudged her, she blinked and looked up at him, listening to what he had to say next and grinning. "Don't count out Yang just yet. She may not look it but, there's a reason she's our leader." She then stuck her tongue out playfully and giggled. This guy wasn't putting up a front. It was a nice change from everything. He wasn't pretending to be something he's not. Just, being himself. As he made the pixels fall Bow pouted, getting worried again and staring at them for a moment before sighing. As much as she hated it, he had just done her friend a favor as well. But then a question came to mind. "Well... Now what do we do?" *giggle*

Cain said that Jemmy was cute, not beautiful. Jemmy frowned and slunk down in her seat. Being called the cutest kid didn't quite make up for the insult. She glared at Cain for a while. As the castle shook, she bounced a foot into the air and landed back in her chair, but didn't react.

"Well I think you're ugly," Jemmy said. "That doesn't feel very good, does it?" Jemmy normally would have threatened Cain, but they were forbidden from fighting here.

Jemmy was never sure if she wanted to be a kid or a grown-up. That was probably why she had chosen shape-shifting powers. But now that power was gone, and she was stuck as a little kid. Jemmy didn't like being stuck, or having limitations. She could only be one thing, and if she ever didn't like that one thing, she would just have to deal with it.

She hated that.

"So Tenshi beat me." She frowned for a second. She had tried to say Kyte, but the word had somehow come out as Tenshi. "So Tenshi, or whatever name he's going by, beat me. Would it be better for me if he won or if he lost? I want him to lose a fight, so he knows how it feels to lose. On the other hand, if someone beats him and he beat me, would that make that other person better than me?"

Round two of the World's Strongest tournament was over and, by some grace of God, Bow had made it through. She appeared back at the lobby dazed and confused, looking around as if it were all a dream. She walked through the practically empty halls, just wondering how she would even hope to compete in the next round. This girl was a no show, she would have won if she had just made an appearance. Now Bow had to go on and fight against one of the others...

As she passed by the room broadcasting the next round of fights, she bit her lip. She had no chance against any of them and she knew it. Even Meta, whom she knew, would have no trouble at all destroying her, she thought. She sighed and kept walking, getting a piece of fruit in the food court as she made her way again down another hall.

When she came to a training room, she paused. It might be a good chance to do some training while the others were still fighting. Plus, it wasn't like she would be getting a disadvantage by wearing herself out, they were the ones actually fighting. She smiled as she walked in and looked around. There was everything she could possibly need. It was as if it were built for the contestants of this specific tournament. Crazy. She started stretching before sighing and wondering where to begin.

Fire. That was her strong suite, so that's where she would start. She went over to what looked like a firing range with targets set up at different points, some stationary and some moving. Her hands set ablaze and she licked her lips. "Ready... Set... Go!" She started throwing balls of fire at the targets, aiming straight at the hearts and heads... and a few groins. It was actually fun for her! A nice warm up. It wasn't like she had never trained as a Titan, but, something was missing right now. She looked around and figured it out. "They have droid thingies! Now I can really fight!" She giggled as she skipped over to the controls, starting to wonder if anyone else was here as she set the droids for medium difficulty.

"Yeah why not. I deal in subtlety and misdirection." Pix replied to the imposing figure of a man, if indeed a man he was.

As the screen was replaced, an ire befell Pix. They couldn't just change reality on him! His plan undone, the metahuman ground his teeth together in a miffed expression, a facial feat far beyond that what his emoticons were able to convey when still a sprite. He would have to find another way to be of benefit to Gilda. Maybe coaching her when she got back from this cat-fight. Not that the Thanagarian would take his advice willingly.

The contestant from before commented on his ill-luck. His choice of words drew an exasperated response, "Only fair!? A loophole reversed is never fair." Hugh finished griping and stormed off. He hoped Gilda took her mace to this joker next.

---

It was now part-way into the second round. Once more the monitors broadcast the prowess of the remaining competing contestants, free from meddlement by pixelkinesis. And Hugh would have been there watching except for two reasons. Firstly, his nerve had given out in asking to coach Gilda. She would probably use him as a punching bag. Secondly, the business before had caused him to ponder on the nature of their host.

Doubtless the entity in question was capable of reality manipulation. It's effortless fix of the previous situation hinted at nothing less. The change was too specific. Matter had been created out of nowhere to adapt against a very specific complication. Pix did not believe in God and felt such a being would have better things to do than hosting a tournament; which levelled the playing field of suspects.

Pacing across the station, Pix was suddenly very aware of their vulnerability at this moment. They were entirely at the mercy of whatever this power claimed to be. Had uttering the word 'Glassendally' given it dominion over them? Or was this merely an example of cosmic beings promoting the 'right of free will' among lesser beings? The more he contemplated the more this tournament's significance dawned.

Dizzy from his mental exertions, Pix stopped wandering and checked where he was. Some kind of training facility. There was someone moving about inside. Pix crossed the threshold as the figure began fiddling with a control panel. He coughed for attention, seeing it was one of those troublesome Titans. This discovery caused him some pause but he forced himself to continue awkwardly, "I told you Harpy would win."

A deep-set exclusion, which stems from being part of a group, caused him to hesitate from opening up to his enemy. However, at length Hugh quashed his reluctance and took the plunge. He needed to voice his concerns, "I want to pick someone's brain." Even a giggling school-girl's brain would do, "So set up the simulation. We can talk as it happens." Pix transformed from his human body into metahuman form (>_>).

Bow jumped lightly when she heard the cough. She had thought she was the only one in the entire lobby. When she turned to see Pix, she smiled pleasantly. Though they were on different teams, she found no reason to dislike him, yet. It wasn't her place to judge why he chose the path he did, so she wouldn't hold it against him. She couldn't help but giggle at his first sentence to meet her with and nodded. "Indeed you did..." She then thought about it and saw that he seemed awkward, if not a bit hesitant. With that in mind, she tilted her head and said quite seriously. "...You do realize that even if we're on opposing teams... We can still be friends, right?" She smiled gently as she finished.

When he said he wanted to pick someone's brain, she giggled and nodded. She set up the simulation to basic levels...because she couldn't do much more than that. Usually Yang would set it up for her. When it was all set up, she turned to Pix and extended her hand. "I'm Rainbow, by the way. Nice to meet you!" And with that she ran out into the middle of the battlefield, looking from side to side as the droids started to stir to life and she bit her lip. She looked back up to Pix and smiled. "Now... What would you like to talk about?"

Pix did not dare comment on the Titan's contrary claim. Friends between opposition? The notion sounded by its very nature incongruous. It was the fantasy of children. Though not, he would admit, beyond merit. Being of a political background Hugh knew all too well that negotiations were possible between people even in times of war. Diplomatic ties were common among states that may consider each other rivals, and not unheard of between those who denounced the very creed of one another. Whilst not generally considered or enthusiastically explored, relations between villains and heroes were entirely possible. The sprite was an avid supporter of this viewpoint.

But friendship?

The concept no doubt shared roots with his own lofty ideals. Only it was an amateurish standard Pix was not willing to lower himself to; his creed as promoted by Barney the Dinosaur. Any serious mind would laugh him out of House at such a suggestion. A fresh viewpoint could not be weighed down by its radical absurdities. Else it would never get anywhere.

So friendship. Gee. It was a nice offer and all, but Hugh thought they should just stick to being enemies for the time being. HIVE and Titans had a good thing going here. Let's not compromise that by making it awkward.

"Rainbow?" (>.<) A civil tongue caught his opinion on her name just in time. She was the entire entirety of the 'My Favourite Things' song. Shaking a proffered hand, he returned her courtesy, "You can call me Hugh, for now." The promise to preserve their secret identities was fresh in his mind. Pix rejoiced in the opportunity to forego his unimaginative codename for a change.

Trailing the girl as she positioned herself, Hugh twirled briefly to gaze at their attackers and sweat-dropped (0_0;). He was already regretting this decision. But he was committed now, and stood with his back to the Titan as she asked what he wanted to speak about, "Our host. No one else here has the least bit interest in an entity that just abducted us all simultaneously. We've literally no idea what we've gotten ourselves into."

The training scenario began. A single robot stepped forward and raised a shoulder mounted cannon. The others waited their turn, under computerised commands to attack in sequence rather than by opportunity. The initial assailant fired a spinning discus projectile that actually missed Pix whilst standing still (¬.¬). He was suddenly thankful of Rainbow's good sense at setting this simulation's level low, "Prove I'm not going crazy and tell me you have at least given the matter some thought."

As he spoke her name that way, she giggled. It was always one of two reactions. Either the person was shocked and sort of discredited it as an actual name, or they absolutely loved it. With his reaction, she smiled softly and nodded. "You can call me Rain, if you'd prefer, that's my first name." Honestly, she would tell him the truth of her name at any point in time, but when he told her his first name, she lit up, literally. All of the lights in the facility blinked on and she giggled. "Nice to meet you, Hugh!"

As they positioned themselves, Bow regretted the decision of training almost instantly. She should have just gotten food. They had all of her favorites in that strange food court. Then the man she was standing with practically read her mind as he spoke again. She bit her lip and nodded in agreement. Before she was able to speak her mind though, the robot distracted her by walking out with a cannon on his shoulder. When it fired and missed both of them as they stood still though, she laughed, glad she had set the whole thing at easy. She quickly sent a fireball at it, watching it try to sluggishly avoid the attack and fail miserable. The next one walked out with two pistols, but seemed to pause for a moment.

Then he spoke again and she looked at him, not really paying attention to the stupid robot anymore. Her eyes sparkled as she agreed with him, happy to know that she wasn't going crazy either. "You're not crazy... Unless we're both crazy... But, look around this training room. It has everything set up perfectly for each one of us. There are even TVs over there for you! And in the food court, they have all of my favorite things... Do you think that our host is just awesome, or do you think there's a different motive that has us all here?" Her mind was running wild with other questions, but she bit her tongue, not wanting to overload him.

Even as Bow was speaking, Pix was making use of the television screens. Her point dawned on him as he sent the newly acquired pixels across the arena. This was another example of overly convenient fortuitousness. Especially that whole secret identity promise. They were perfectly accommodated beyond what could be thought simple attentiveness. Was this an example of careful observation? Or telepathy? Or even omnipotence?

"It's difficult to predict a motive. Far too much speculation. Instead I put this to you;" The pixels swamped their target, ultimately ineffective against a metallic opponent, "We can see this entity is capable of instantaneous transportation and, yes, incarceration of numerous powerful individuals." The attacking robot fired its pistols, a charge of laser energy having slowly built up. Both guns misfired, Pix had jammed the barrels with floating pixel debris, "Therefore, it is the only entity we have ever encountered capable of pulling off the 21st century's biggest crime."

Two robots moved forward this time, each from opposite ends of the room, "It is henceforth the prime suspect in The Vanishing." These robots carried melee weapons. One a sabre capable of extending and retracting. The second a circular saw and a claw arm for grappling. They marched forward in mechanical fashion.

Bow was just about to respond to Pix's claim when she was teleported away...

(OOC: First one line post ever... I actually feel proud... )

Oh good. It looked like they wouldn't have to get their hands dirty, "Have at 'em." It was that warrior again. At first glance he didn't strike Hugh as the type to consider things too deeply. Yet he was proving to be of sound mind. Even a little better informed than the rest of them, if his last comment was to be taken plainly. Hugh hadn't considered that anyone here might be veterans of the arena. Did this mean everyone on Earth who didn't participate had had their memories wiped? Or was the candidacy merely different this time?

Although this interlude was helpful, Pix was more focused on how his initial ideas had been 'corrected'."You've misrepresented my theory. Don't do that." If there was ever a thing he hated, it was to be misrepresented. Choosing your words carefully meant nothing if folk were only going to hear every third syllable before filling in the blanks themselves.

"I suggested that the being, or beings; another mute point, were capable of The Vanishing. They are additionally the only ones we know of that are. I don't care that they're allowing us to go home. Just because a guy didn't murder you, doesn't mean he's innocent of the homicide you're investigating." Four laser pointers zeroed in from the robots lining the perimeter. They angled half on Kyte and half on Pix. He hurried his point.

"That they've held this tournament before only piles on the circumstantial evidence. They evidently enjoy meddling in mortal affairs. Who knows if, elsewhere, Superman isn't being kept as a trophy piece ready to break out when the whim takes them to start another such tourney." Two dozen small missiles launched from the robots, aiming for the combatants.

Also, Bow was gone. Didn't even get a chance to say Harpy was gonna beat her too.