#burn warning

It was Dash who answered, not quite hovering over Kwan’s shoulder as he worked, “Because, Fenton, I might not like you, but what kind of person would ignore an injury like that?” He gestured towards Danny’s left side.

Danny grimaced and lowered his head.  Skulker had got an upgrade and not only did the new energy blade burn and cut, whatever was coating it was preventing the healing properties of his ectoplasm from working.  His entire left side looked like it had road rash and the yet uncovered scrapes still slowly oozed.  He had burns that still stung fiercely where his ectoplasm had reacted to the chemical.

Kwan deftly tied off the bandages at Danny’s shoulder and neatly tucked away the edges.  “We shouldn’t cover up the lighter scrapes and burns, they’re more likely to get infected if we do.” he stated.

Dash gingerly lifted up the tattered remains of Danny’s favorite shirt.  It was covered in green and red stains and had quickly been discarded when the impromptu doctoring had begun.  He pinched the ruined clothing between his thumb and finger and dropped it into the trashcan.  Dash then went through the open door to his room into his closet and pulled out his matching shirt from freshman year’s Dash Bash.  He tossed it into Danny’s lap and said, “Here you can have this.  I wouldn’t wear it even if it did still fit.”

Danny was startled out of his hunched position and slowly clenched his fingers around the material. “Why would you-“he started, looking up at the two A-Listers.  

“I already told you.” Dash interrupted, “We might be jerks to you, and enjoy wailing on you, but we’re not that heartless.”  Dash turned to meet Danny’s eyes, “You needed help, and we were able to help, so we did. Got it?”

Danny nodded, “Got it,” he agreed.

Kwan pointed at the shirt in Danny’s hands, “Wait about five more minutes before putting that on, it’ll give the antiseptic gel more time to set.”

“How do you know so much about first aid?” Danny asked.

Dash was quick again to answer, clapping his hand on Kwan’s shoulder, “My man Kwan wants to be a doctor after we graduate.  He’s been studying medical stuff for years already.”

Kwan ducked his head at the praise, “I just really want to help people.  I was born premature and doctors and nurses have been an inspiration to me for my whole life.” he lifted his head to smile at Danny, “Since I was a little kid I’ve wanted to help other people like they helped me.”

“Wow, that’s amazing!” Danny exclaimed, “You’ll be great at it, you’ve already got the bedside manner and,” he added, looking away with a slight blush on his cheeks, “Your hands are very gentle.”

“Kwan’s the real MVP of the Casper High Ravens!  He’s always takin’ care of the team and makin’ sure we’re in the best shape possible!” Dash boasted, bulldozing through the slight awkwardness without a care.

“Well thanks you, again, especially for not bringing me to a hospital.” Danny said.

Dash and Kwan looked at each other, communicating silently before Dash spoke up once more, “You were bleeding red and green Fenton, whatever freaky stuff you have going on with you, you don’t deserve the Guys in White busting down your door and locking you up for experimentation.”

“No one deserves that.” Kwan added softly, rubbing his arm.

Danny barely held in a wince, so they had noticed.  “Thank you.” He thanked them again, heartfelt.

“Don’t mention it.  Like really don’t mention it.”  Dash said, “We don’t need it getting out that the A-List was nice to one of the losers.”

Danny could only nod again; stunned by the kindness he had been shown.

A knock on the door interrupted the lapsed silence.

“Are you boys done in there yet?” Paulina’s voice demanded through the wood.  Danny yelped and quickly yanked the shirt up to cover his skin, blushing as Paulina barged through the door; make up bag in one hand and a bag of snacks, towels, and water in the other.

“What a mess you’ve left for me to work with.” she lightly scolded as she set about cleaning Danny’s face up and trying to salvage his hairdo.

“If Kwan is our doctor…” Dash said,

“Paulie is our nurse and coach!” Kwan brightly said with a grin.

“Thanks.” was all Danny was able to say as Paulina carefully made up his face to hide the beginnings of a black eye and various other bruising.

She waved her hand dismissively, “It’s the least we can do.”  She paused in her ministrations to regard him with her hands on her hips.  “And don’t think we didn’t see you save that little girl from the possessed toilets!” She pointed her finger in Danny’s face and waggled it, making him go cross-eyed, “You wouldn’t even have gotten hit if you hadn’t done that.”

Danny blushed again, turning redder by the word, it was true, he wouldn’t have, but he couldn’t let a little girl get mauled by flying fanged toilets.

Paulina went back to skillfully applying foundation and concealer to Danny’s face, “You’re going to sit there and let us help you, and you’re not leaving until Star gets back with the food I ordered, and you’ve eaten.”

“Oh no, Nurse Paulie’s got him now!” Dash shouted.

“There’s no escaping now dude!  Just take it and let us pay you back a little!” Kwan crowed.

“Shh!” Paulina loudly shushed them with a smile, ignoring the two boys’ high-fiving behind her.

A loud banging once again interrupted the moment as Star yelled, “Help me out, I can’t get the door with my hands full!”

Kwan jumped and ran to the door, letting in her in.  Star was juggling two very large bags of takeout.

“Yes! Chinese food!” Dash cheered.

“Well Fenton,” Star stated as she put the food onto the kitchen table, “You’re looking a lot better than earlier.”

Danny flushed bright red with a slightly greenish tinge, not used to all of the positive attention and fuss, especially from this group.

“Of course he does!” Dash boasted with his mouth full, “How could it be anything less with Kwan and Paulina taking care of him!”

“Oh you.” Paulina said, smiling as she lightly smacked Dash’s arm with the makeup pouch she had just zipped closed.

“Well come on Danny,” Star spoke up again as he was finally able to put the shirt on, “Enjoy some food and feel better, no one would believe you or us anyways.” she said with a wink.

Demesne: Pandora has her own little studio. On a prominent display is a statue of a flame in human shape. Un-Element: The lanterns of her studio are lit by the terrible fires of inspiration.

Treasures: At Arc 0, Pandora is allowed a single Treasure.

Workshop Connection: Pandora has Connection 3 to her studio. At Arc 0 she can manipulate the timing of events in her studio and the surrounding Region. She can also manipulate the level of light and heat within it.

Become Somebody 3 (The Muse of Flame)

Role: Pandora is the Muse of Flame, good at sparking and forging ideas. Truth: Pandora is a member of the Smelt family, for better or worse. Failing: All Smelts are cursed of course, but hers afflicts people with an inspiration that they obsess over until it burns them out (in some cases literally).

Who Burns? (Wages of Sin)

Pandora can tell when someone is cursed and hurting from it or when they’re gripped with obsession over their ideas.

Lanterns in the Dark (Shared Experience)

Pandora can grant herself an Affliction that grants an insight into someone’s desire for inspiration or who wants to bring inspiration to someone else.

Points of Light (Your Truth)

The following facts regarding Pandora are protected by a level 3 Auctoritas.

I am a Smelt, with all that that entails.

I am a Muse, the spark and forge of ideas.

The Divine Flame (Unstoppable + Commanding Aura)

Nothing can stop Pandora from expressing herself as a Muse to somebody, sheathing that action in an Auctoritas and Obstacle with ratings equal to her Arc.

On top of this, Pandora has the ability to engage the flame of inspiration in somebody or increase their desire for arts and crafts. This manifests as a Wound of sorts.

She can choose to use a stronger version of that power, that creates a scene of divine wonder that aids Pandora’s attempts to communicate her Role before the power takes effect.

Snuff the Spark (Reject)

Alternately, Pandora can strip someone of their creative drive or talent for a particular art or craft.

Sample Knight Quest Miracles

Role: Pandora Smelt is the Muse of Flame.

Truth: Pandora is a part of the Smelt family, and can manifest their legend or social standing.

Failing: Like all Smelts she is cursed.

Knight 0-1: Pandora thinks on how to be a better muse or how to fit in with the rest of the Smelt family, gaining a +1 Tool to efforts to do so.

Alternately, Pandora can wreath herself in the Truth of being a Smelt or the Failing of being cursed.

Knight 2: Pandora can engage in actions appropriate to her role, such as granting inspiration or improve her connection to flame.

Knight 3: Pandora can draw on her connection to the ancestral fire spirit possibly to boost her ranking among fire spirits or other Smelts or invoke epic versions of other powers.

Sample Shepherd Quest Miracles

Craft: Talk it Out is the usual skill Pandora uses for her Treasures, mostly people. She might be able to get some mileage out of Spiritual Energy to purify or Arts and Crafts for places.

Treasures: Anyone that Pandora can claim right now, and possibly counting the connection to her studio.

Shepherd 0: Pandora can use her Craft to grant a creature or place a +1 Tool that anyone can use. She typically applies it to her Studio to boost productivity.

Alternately, if she has a Craft to justify it, Pandora can give someone a Superior Skill at Level 2.

Other Arcs of Note

Specialist: Pandora engages in either the Smelt family politics or a hidden world of artists and crafters. She will draw on the power of her Divine Gifts or manipulation of fire or the connections to friend and family to gain an edge.