Issue 1 Downtime

Natalya was cleared by the doctor for several things: light drinking, light exercise, using her powers. Open combat was not one of those things and so she hadn't been able to respond to the distress call from Maldon. Still, she'd made enough calls to figure out what was going on and if it involved clowns, it was probably that damned Circus. So now she was in the waiting room at the medical center, waiting on the team to get back. While she waited, she was on her phone. "Look, I understand that an extra set of documents takes extra time. Bill me for the extra and I'll pay it and owe you one. Just don't file anything more than the preliminaries until I've had a chance to talk to her, okay?"

((Totally Open))

It turns out walking UP hill takes longer than slingshotting yourself DOWN hill, so it took longer for Will and co to get back than it did for them to head out, but head back they did, Will organizing the injured clowns walking in.

"No one make any funny movements."

"That's offensive," the fat clown says.

"I'm sorry.

Now, we need to get you check in. Can you all squeeze into one room?"

"Good to see your sense of humor wasn't injured," Natalya said, hanging up her phone.

"It's been a very odd day.

And that's saying something, coming from me."

Personnel started taking the clowns in to be treated and processed, taking them off Will's hands.

"Who all was involved and are they all okay?" The room was confused enough and crowded with clowns that Natalya was having a hard time making sense of it.

"A young student here -- a Mars Tiboldt -- seemed to be the primary target of the attack. Elena was on scene and called in the alarm, and Bobby and Steph were in the area.

There are some minor cuts and bruises, but nothing too serious."

"That's good." Natalya was a veteran of hiding reactions and even her calm demeanor slipped when Mars was mentioned. She glared past Will at the clowns being processed. Thankfully, none of them turned into ice sculptures. "Thanks for responding so quickly, Will."

"That's what we're here for, Natalya. That's our job."

"I know it is. Doesn't mean I don't get to say 'thank you'."

"And I'll take it!," Will chuckled.

"So. Crazy circus. Not even a super-powered circus."

"Access the files on the Circus of Crime," Natalya said quietly and almost, one might say, conspiratorially. "You'll probably find a few matches."

"Gotcha. Not familiar with them, actually...smallest of the small fry?"

"Count yourself lucky. And yeah, small time, but the big shots are trained enough to actually be worth being briefly concerned about."

"I'll make sure to distribute the information to the active members.

Limber little bastards, but not too bright."

"We probably haven't seen the last of them. I realize there's no hope of keeping word from getting around, but I'd consider it a personal favor if you'd handle this as discreetly as possible."

"Not a problem," Will said, a bit surprised. "I'll cancel Pablo Fanque's fair."

"I just had to miss this didn't I?" Nick said as he leaned against a doorway, surveying the clowns, "I haven't gotten to beat up a clown yet."

"Well, it's like this," she said, drawing Will aside and continuing to speak quietly. "Mars is the daughter of the head of the Circus. And she doesn't want who her parents are to color the attitudes of the other highschoolers, something the Headmistress agreed with."

Elena slipped past Nick, smirking. "Trust me, it's not all fun and games." Now, in addition to her sunburn, she was sporting a really nice combination bruise and knot on her forehead.

"I understand. Lips are sealed," Will nodded. "Might need to keep an eye on her now that this has happened, though."

"I can help with that. I'll keep her with me the rest of the day while you chase down things from your angle."

Mars if finally released from the care of one of the nurses, sporting several band-aids to cover the small cuts on her face and arms. Nothing too serious, although she was told that she was very lucky not to break something from jumping out of a window like that.

The worst cut was on her hand, which had needed several stitches. Arrows were sharp and, as the nurse had lectured her, extremely dangerous to try to catch.

She was still carrying the archer's bow. In all the confusion no one had thought to take it from her.

"Natalya!" Mars says, looking happy to see the woman.

"I would gladly sport a goose-egg to put the hurt on these bozos... whatever they did," Nick answered Elena.

"Attacked an Institute student," Elena said to Nick, stopping at the front desk. "I think this is just a level 1," she told the nurse. The nurse nodded and went into the storeroom, coming back with a bag labeled with Elena's name and "Level 1 Burn Kit" on it.

"Mars!" Natalya said, extending an arm towards her in apparent invitation. "Are you alright?"

Mars gives Natalya a quick one-armed hug, "Yeah, I'm fine."

"The doctor says I shouldn't jump out of anymore windows though. He looked like he gives that advice a lot though..."

"The advice is overrated," Will smiled. "Just be careful."

Elena Rousseau wrote:"Attacked an Institute student," Elena said to Nick, stopping at the front desk. "I think this is just a level 1," she told the nurse. The nurse nodded and went into the storeroom, coming back with a bag labeled with Elena's name and "Level 1 Burn Kit" on it.

"They should be glad I wasn't there then," he growled, giving one of the clowns a malicious look.

"What would have done, Varkan? Honked their noses?" Elena was obviously teasing him.

Will Stanton wrote:"The advice is overrated," Will smiled. "Just be careful."

Natalya returned Mars' hug. "Listen to this man. He's a much better influence than I am."

"Plus, he can kick you into a cart full of watermelons," Mars says, "I try to listen to anyone that can do that."

"Okay, I'm going to get you out of here," she said to Mars. "Will, you need anything, you call, okay?"

"Of course, Natalya..." Will said, raising an eyebrow.

"Thanks for all your help," Mars tells Will.

Elena Rousseau wrote:"What would have done, Varkan? Honked their noses?" Elena was obviously teasing him.

"Nah. Cream pies," he responded, "A lot of them."

"That would have been a sight," Elena said.

"Best show on Earth," he answered with a straight face.