Ice Cream Caper (Open)

"Strawberry cone, please."

"Of course, little girl." The ice cream vender scooped up some ice cream and put it on the cone. "Two dollars, please."

Jemmy reached for it, but the man held it out of her reach. Jemmy frowned. "I don't have any money. So you'll just have to give it to me for free."

"I can't do that. You have to pay for it." This child was old enough to know this. She looked 10 or 11. She looked very serious for someone ordering an ice cream cone. "Um, where are your parents?"

Jemmy sighed. She was really hungry. She hadn't eaten anything all day. She simply didn't have any money, and she couldn't make money anymore. For that matter, she couldn't make food anymore. Having your powers change on you sucks. "Look, I want that ice cream. If you don't give it to me, I will hurt you."

The vender took a deep breath. He hated mondays. "Missy, what will your parents think if you misbehave?"

What would they think? Well, Rain wouldn't approve of Jemmy stealing, or of hurting anybody. But Jemmy was so hungry. Rain wouldn't want her to starve without reason, right?

"What if I pay you back?"

"I'm not allowed to do that, Missy. If you don't have two dollars, then I can't give you an ice cream cone."

Jemmy formed a small orb of crackling black anti-energy and shot it at a nearby tree. The orb ate into the trunk. The tree cracked and collapsed to the ground with a crash.

The ice cream vender was stunned. He wasn't sure what he had just witnessed. Jemmy formed another orb, this one significantly bigger than the first. "Is your life worth two dollars?"

The man handed Jemmy an ice cream cone, and she dissipated the orb. Smiling brightly, Jemmy skipped away, licking her sweet, sugary treat.

The vender pulled out his cell phone and dialed 911. "Yes, I need to report a robbery, and a death threat...from a meta-human."

Oswald had just been walking along the streets when he saw a little girl approach the vendor. He was fairly new to the city, but he still knew it wasn't right for any kids to be alone. His gaze flickered down one way — no one; when he looked the other way, he saw the same. Nobody around that looked like they belonged to the girl, and vice versa.

He wasn't far from the tree that was hit with the energy ball, and he blinked slightly. It went without saying that he was probably toast if his augmentation got too close to her, so he'd keep it at bay as best as he could. After a moment, he took a few steps forward and saw her prance off. No, I didn't see her give any money to the guy.

When he noticed that the vendor grabbed his phone, he blinked before he walked over, fishing what little money he had out of his pocket and he looked at the vendor, then back at the little girl. So much for dinner tonight.

"Here, mate." He set the money down in front of the man, shooting him an apologetic look. "Sorry 'bout her, she's my little cousin, doesn't understand right and wrong jus' yet. I'll make sure her parents know wha' she's done." He took a few steps back and even offered a small smile before turning around and jogging after the little girl.

"Oi, you can't just go an' threaten a guy for ice cream," he said once he caught up to her, glancing down at her. "Jus' gave up my dinner to make sure the cops didn't try to arrest a little girl." He arched a brow, huffing. "Where are your parents?"

"That's exactly what I'd like to know," Jemmy said, answering the young man who had come running up to walk beside her. "I lost them, and I have no idea where they might be in this world."

She took another lick of her strawberry ice cream. The sugar was soothing. She started to shiver, though it was certainly not a cold day outside. "I can do whatever I want, and so can the ice cream man. I'm not big on rules. The good news is that nobody got hurt, so I don't know what your problem is. You're so in love with Order that you're upset about nothing. Oh, and if the cops know what's good for them, they'll leave me alone. I'm not in the mood to play games today."

Still, if this guy was so attached to Order, why would he have paid for Jemmy's cone? It didn't make much sense. She held up the ice cream cone. "Why did you pay for this? Why do you care if the police arrest me or not? Not that they could, but...I'm curious."

Ozzie stared at her for a moment, perhaps a little incredulously. "You can't just go around threatening people," he said, shaking his head. "No just because it's the rules, but because of common decency. No offense, but aren't you a little old to be so careless?" Honestly, he desperately hated seeing people that reminded him of...well, him.

"I paid for it because you're a bloody kid!" he exclaimed. "You're too young to go to prison, but juvie isn't exactly the place for a little girl like you. I've been there. Spent a big chunk o' my teen years in there. It screws you up."

There was a sharp pain in his stomach, and let out a frustrated huff as both arms instinctively wrapped around his middle. A soft string of curses left his lips and he glanced around. She was like him - the vendor had called her a meta-human, though; but if his power screwed up and...well, worked, he wouldn't be worried in her presence.

"You migh' even get put into the system," he added, gritting his teeth a bit at the pain. "That's nearly as bad as juvie. Well, depends on the — " He cut himself off as suddenly the pain grew all the more intense. "C'mon, stay in there....! "

The stranger said that Jemmy was too old to act so careless. Jemmy chuckled. If only he knew.

He told her that he had been in prison, and that he didn't want that to happen to her. Jemmy looked at him, interested. He seemed to care for her wellbeing. She decided he probably had good intentions, and she couldn't be upset with him about that.

Jemmy took a huge bite of ice cream, and started talking with her mouth full while gazing at the sky. "Thanks for your concern. You really don't have to worry about me, though. I'm not exactly normal. The police aren't a threat to me. Not many people are. Plus...I'm already messed up. My life is Chaos. Have you ever wondered..." Jemmy looked back at the stranger. He seemed to be having a really bad stomach ache. Either that or something horrible was about to burst out of his chest. "Are...you okay?"

Walking through Midtown in Murakami High School Uniform the young teen was simply wandering the streets with no goal in mind. Despite living in the city for numerous years and knowing the street well Bogan still appreciates looking around to enjoy the sights after school. He was humming the first verse of Satori when he walked by a Ice Cream Vendor, a low angry mumble had caught his attention leading him to look over to the vendor. Turning on his heel he walked over and with a concern look he inquired if anything was okay. The vendor took notice of him with an expression of annoyance, briefly stating that a young Meta had the nerve to threaten him. He continued to go on a rant about Meta's in which Bogan simply stood there and took in the hot air. The young teen give his condolences and took out a twenty and put it in the tip jar. Bidding a good afternoon he took his leave and went walking into the direction that the vendor mentioned.

After a few moments of walking down the sidewalk he saw a pair of people in the distance who bear the description the Vendor gave. As he walk closer he could hear snippets of the conversation between the two with the older seemly questioning why the younger girl did what she did. Suddenly the older one seemed to be having a stomach ache which made Bogan concern and quicken his steps. "Hey is everything alright over here?" He stated with concern as he got closer which strangely Bogan became light headed in the process. Bogan inwardly frown at this familiar sensation of something unnatural nearby but he could not pin what it was. It was not the feeling when he was near criminals rather he felt the air shift, as if reality was wrong. He felt his markings move in a chaotic fashion under his clothing.

Jemmy was sure this guy said something like "stay in there." He must be sick to his stomach. Another guy on the street was concerned about it, too. Jemmy wasn't a doctor, and she didn't know what to do with people who were sick.

"Well, try not to die." Jemmy started walking again, enjoying her cone. A police car turned the corner and parked on the side of the road. "Wow, that was fast." There apparently wasn't much going on in Jump City right now.

The police officer started walking up to Jemmy, trying not to look to serious. He was dealing with a little girl, and didn't want to scare her. "Miss, someone says that you...stole an ice cream cone from his stand. Did you pay for that?"

"I said I would pay him back, but he wouldn't give it to me. Anyway, someone already paid for it." Jemmy pointed back at the man who was still on the edge of barfing. "That guy."

The officer looked expectantly at Ozzie, then looked to Bogan. "Is that true? Was the ice cream paid for? Are you related to this girl?"

The markings slow down under his vest yet was still moving oddly as Bogan got use to being in the presence of the strange girl. Sound of a gurgling stomach and it's wet contents splashing on the sidewalk took Bogan attention to the man who seem to be ill. He furrow his brow in concern as he walk up to the man but stop when the whoop sound of a police car made him glance over his shoulder to see a police car coming from around the corner. Bogan turned around perplex and amazed by the fast response time, the city must be peaceful today which was good in Bogan's book. He watch as the officer step out of the car and head towards the girl. He listen to their conversation and perked up when he was address and walked over to where they were standing. "Yes sir, I just walked by the palor and overheard the vendor complain about something. So I check up on him to see if he is okay and I found out about the issue with the ice cream which was paid for by another man. After that I continue walking down the street and caught up to these two, I have no relations to the girl but I'll pay for any possible compensation."

The officer frowned. "No, there's nothing to pay. I'm just concerned about this happening again." The officer looked at Jemmy. "It isn't right to steal, little girl. What do you think your parents would think?"

Jemmy crossed her arms. She really wasn't in the mood for this. "I'm not a normal girl, you know."

"Oh yes, I heard that you had powers. But that doesn't change what is right and wrong. You shouldn't use your powers to do bad things."

"I don't have any money. I don't know where my parents are. How else am I supposed to get food?"

Now the officer looked really concerned. "You don't know where your parents are? Do you know where your home is?" Jemmy shook her head. "I think you should come with me. We'll help you find your parents."

Jemmy was about to protest, but then she thought about it. The police had records. If they could find any clues about where Kyte and Rain were, then it would be worth checking out. Jemmy nodded, then pointed at Bogan. "I'll go, but only if he comes too."

Bogan gave a shrug when he was declined, while it was true there was nothing to pay he did wanted to pay for the police time out of his way. He continue to watch the interaction between the two while occasionally looking behind him to see if the man is doing alright. When the topic of parents came up Bogan became a bit uncomfortable due to his past and concern for the little girl. While Bogan did not have the greatest experience when it comes to family relations he did have his sister and the thought of losing her saddens him. If he did not had his sister in the beginning all he will ever have known is darkness and oblivion. Bogan was brought out of his dark thoughts when he was addressed and refocus his attention to the situation at hand. He was perplex at first, wondering why he was important but he is not going to complain at the chance to help others. "I'll be happy to help out" Bogan said happily as he began to think up ideas to help search for the little girl parents. Considering she has powers he wonder if he could ask a favor to his sister if he could use her contacts in the military in case there is a chance of finding them in the military database. Though he will need to be subtle when he is with the police as digging around in military databanks is a bit of a no no. Regardless Bogan will do everything in his power to help the girl out in finding her parents.

The police officer nodded. "You don't have to do this, sir. But, if you really are fine with coming along, maybe you can keep her calm." They got in the car, and the officer waited for Jemmy to buckle up. She never did. "Miss, would you please buckle your seatbelt?"

Jemmy licked her cone again. "Nah. Not feeling it."

The officer rolled his eyes. "Sir, would you please buckle her seatbelt?"

If Bogan did try to buckle her seatbelt, Jemmy wouldn't stop him.

Either way, the officer would start driving to the station.

Jemmy looked at Bogan, curiously. "By the way, who in the universe are you? There's something different about you. Mind telling me what it is?"

((OOC - Redid my post as I felt it was too rush and short. )

"No need to worry officer I can sacerfice a few hours of my time given I had no plans for this afternoon" He said assuring to the officer before getting into the sleek cruiser and buckling in. His eyes wander the interior of the car and held back a bit of childish glee of being in a police car. Behind the driver seat he watch the officer get in and start up the engines with a low thrum. The officers eye was seen in the mirror as he look back at the girl sitted next to him to tell her to buckle up only to get a nonchalant reply which made Bogan wonder a bit on why she is being somewhat rebellious, yes he knew she was a child but he did not see the difficulty in buckling. Bogan did not say anything when he was ask to fasten her seatbelt, reaching over he grab onto the clips and snap them together before pulling the points to tighten the lap belt to secure the girl in place.

With that done Bogan returned to normal sitting posture, his back resting on the seat as he focus on the engines reving up and the jolt as the car went into motion onto the street. Bogan looked over to the little girl when she started speaking to give a question regarding himself. His mind drifted to the back of the driver seat seemingly interested in the lint. While he was not nervous of the question given the fact that he is well aware that he was born as a military science experiment in the more clandestine side of the government so the details of his nature was surly known by the JLA and most government agents in the city. So in hindsight he shouldn't keep it as a secret as it's not something to hide as that'll make it worse is someone he knew found out about and become hurt that Bogan did not trust them enough to handle the details. On the other hand it is not something to be bluntly thrown out there. Bogan look back at the little girl and felt that he could share some of his personal life. But was having a hard time trying to put into words that someone her age could understand, hell he doubt there are proper words to describe the things he seen in the void. Just bluntly telling he was the essence of all evil, darkness, chaos and the ultimate decreator of the omniverse would raise alarm.

"Well...My family were major scientists in the more clandestine part of the government. They became disgruntled with the current affairs going on Earth. Gods walking among men and aliens serving as protectors was seen as affront to human progress. So they sought a way to protect humankind interests, they needed a weapon." Bogan averted to the window as he watch buildings glide by. "But not just a weapon...A weapon to secure a place in the heavens for humankind. To prove they do not need these foreign aliens or gods.” Bogan tone was somewhat somber toward the end, watching cars go by unaware of how fragile their existence is, wrapped in a blanket of blissful ignorance to the bigger things just outside their sight and if was being honest he would have taken that blanket if he could, "They sought to dismantle the throne of god and place the human race ontop of a new creation, free of any other race. A universe where only Humans exist.“ He took a pause as an ambulance rolled by with sirens blaring before continuing as the car took a turn.

”So before I was born they placed me in a special tube and...performed experiments to craft me into the thing they desire. They...Took me somewhere dark. I was born in it, moulded by it. I didn't see the light for a long time.” Bogan look back forward to watch the road in front of them, ”My Sister was the only family member who was sympathetic and secretly took care of me. She taught me how to speak, to sing, and told tales of a world outside of the darkness I was in. If she had not step forward I would never have seen the light of life and what it can bring.” The car slowed down as it came to a traffic light and pedestrians walking across the crosswalk, Bogan took the moment to study their unique faces and wondered. Wonder if they have been kind to their loved ones and know just how precious they are. It was one of the things that perplexed Bogan in the beginning as how can some living things be cruel and believe wealth or power will bring them happiness. Do they stop to take a moment to take in how short their lives are and be grateful for every second alive.

”At the age of five...I was in a experiment, the final stage they called it in which I become something more. At the end they had succeeded, I did become something much more but more than they could ever comprehend. I’ve become something old, primordial. That predates God, Death, and the Omniverse itself.” Bogan felt his markings twitch beneath his clothing, quivering at the memory of finally understanding it all. ”As a child I could not take in the metamorphosis sort to speak, I can’t even describe the things that I have seen.” Bogan remember that he heard screaming only for it to dawn on him a few seconds later that he was the one screaming. He can recall the void staring into him and devour his soul. His body withering into dust as black energy course through him. The metal bracers and esoteric equipment that held him down all return to nothingness as darkness came forth from his form. ”In the midst of my madness I remember my sister and the words she spoke to me. I saw the spark of light and clung to it, when I came to my senses I was on my back and all I could see was the starry sky above. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Sitting up I saw no sign that the facility I was tested in existed at all and my sister unhampered a few yards away. She did not say anything except for coming to me and knelt by my side, took me into her arms and hug me. At that point I wept.” Bogan looked back over to the little girl, ”My family may have succeeded into what I’ve become but my sister taught me that I am the herald of my own destiny and the choices I make are of my will.” A few seconds of silence pass before Bogan broke it by speaking a question, ”So what is your story if you don’t mind me asking? I felt something...chaotic when I first met you,” Bogan said with interest with a tone much lighter than mere seconds ago.

Wow. This kid had issues. Jemmy had to admit, not everything he said made sense. But from his words, these humans had somehow transformed Bogan into some sort of abstract entity, like Jemmy herself. She suddenly sat up a little straighter, not sure what to think of the situation just yet. The two of them had more in common with each other than she could have ever imagined. There were differences, of course. Jemmy had been a Lord of Chaos ever since she was first created. She had never been human, but had taken a liking to their form.

Of course, their were instances where humans had ascended through various means into a greater entity. Some of those humans were now much more powerful than Jemmy herself. The current aspect of Dream came to mind. Was this kid like him? What was Bogan like? Would he be a friend, or an enemy?

By this point, the police officer was very quiet, he was listening to the conversation in the backseat with confusion and worry.

"They should really make a life of your movie. Seriously. But yeah, your senses are right. I am Shivering Jemmy of the Shallow Brigade, the Princess of Chaos. I watched the dawn of this universe and others before it. I also like ice cream. It sounds like you've become something much like me, a cosmic entity. I haven't met any of our kind since I last came here to Earth. It's nice to meet you, Mr...what was your name again?"

The remark of having a movie on his audio biography gave him a small smile, "It would have to be an abridged version then, inner monologues is not really Hollywood material." Bogan joked in a now more uplifted mood before quieting down to listen to what he had assumed was a strange girl. But as she went on Bogan eyes widen in wonder and fascination. While a hundred years ago her story would seem outlandish but with people like Captain Atom and Superman the notion of out of this world beings became the norm over the century, even with the normality Bogan knew that she was telling the truth and an sensation of great satisfaction came to Bogan as he now have someone in which he can relate too, and a intriguing one at that. This Shallow Brigade sounds mysterious, something he certainly have not heated before excluding his locked memories from his sister psychotherapy that came from his ascension into an abstract personification of Oblivion. So there is a chance he might know but until he learned on how to control his emotions and powers he is bluntly blind to the wide scope of Totality and Beyound.

It took a few seconds for Bogan to process the information before finding his voice to speak again, ”Bogan, My name is Bogan Genesis. It’s nice to meet you as well, it’s...nice to meet someone like us. I love the human race, but I know there will come to the time where they become extinct. So knowing there will be others like me is very reassuring for me. I always had a fear of being alone when the human race is gone. Watching nucleons and protons decay takes a very long time, including evaporation of black holes. But hey who knows, Humans are an innovative bunch so they could last for a long time, especially when they invent artificial planets and suns.” Bogan said the last line in a hopeful tone to lift the officer worry as he can tell they were alienating him. Figuring he should move the topic to a lighter topic he began talking about his interests, ”Anyways I like painting and writing novels, though I never published any of them as I’m usually more focus on therapy or training.” As Bogan talk his mood was more at ease, his markings sluggishly lacing his body underneath his school uniform. A thought came to mind when he was looking at Jemmy as he remember the reason he was heading to the station. ”Say Princess..Uh should I call you Princess? Anyways uh I was thinking about what you said of not knowing where your parents are. If you don’t mind me asking what are they like?”

Build new planets and suns in space? Now there was an interesting idea.

Bogan seemed very focused on the end of time and other depressing things like that. He wasn't completely hopeless yet, he just had a sense of doom hanging over him.

He asked if he should call her Princess. Jemmy giggled. It would be nice to be called by such a title. It didn't happen very often. "Yes. Yes you should. My parents are adopted. Rain is my mother. She is the first person who has ever loved me for who I really was. She is a good person. I miss her...Kyte is my adopted dad. We've had an...interesting relationship over the years. But he's alright. He's become a better person. I'd do anything to be back with them again. Oh, by the way..."

Jemmy slapped him on the cheek. It wasn't likely to actually hurt him, coming from a little girl.

"You need to live in the present. The future will still come whether you think about it or not. Yeah, maybe everybody you know will die, but they're not dead yet. So right now, enjoy those people. Where is this sister of yours right now?"