Do I know you? [Toby & Cissy]

THE MISSION WAS A SURPRISE— Tobias was usually kept out of these sorts of “shit hits the fan” scenarios because the last place the Public Safety Commission wanted him was in the thick of things. It was not the niche that he occupied, anyways—he was the “brain” of most endeavors, not the “brawn”.

But, lo and behold, while Tobias was lounging on the couch in linen pajama bottoms, watching events unfold both over the news and on his laptop. Gertrude was asleep on the back of the couch, Alice splayed across his lap. Tobias had a week’s worth of goods (at least) stashed for catastrophes of any sort, so he figured he would just… ride this month’s disaster out from the safety of his home…

But then the PSC called.

He was to babysit a dignitary. Great.

And there was no arguing with the PSC when they assigned you to a mission. You got your butt off of the couch, put on your hero gear, and waited for the transport.

And today, he was not operating as "The Informant", but as "Scoria”, a low-level sidekick who was just getting his start in the field of heroism. Had a phony profile online ad everything.

Tobias dressed in simple attire—a button-down shirt, slacks, and glasses—and waited until his ride arrived before walking outside. His ride was the kind of car that presidents were transported in—black and nondescript but secretly armored like a tank. These barely saw action, but… well, it was nondescript but well-equipped for mowing-down zombies. Thus, it was Tobias’s carriage. En route, he read the dossier for the mission.

The foreign dignitary was an ambassador by the name of Narcissa King. She was currently trapped inside of a gym and in need of protecting. Something about the name tickled the back of Tobias’s mind… where did he know that name… it had to be the news. With the amount of information he was constantly taking-in, he had to hear about the ambassador from somewhere. Anyways, she was at the gym, and he was to protect her until this whole thing blew over.

The car pushed forward, periodically stopping when necessary, accelerating through hoards of the undead at others. Tobias placed his cell-phone in his pocket and sighed, leaning back and closing his eyes.

He must have drifted-off, for he awoke to someone hitting the side of the car, and the terse shouts of the driver.

“I’m with the PSC, and it is of the upmost importance that you let me in!” the driver insisted, “There is a dignitary in need of protecting, and if you don’t allow this hero and I through, we’ll arrest you on the threat of obstruction of justice.”

A terse exchange followed, but finally the car was permitted into the parking garage of the building, banking up the ramp. Tobias sat-up, retrieving a baseball bat from the adjoining seat. It was… admittedly crude, but he couldn’t risk burning down the gym or burning the dignitary by activating his quirk.

They parked near the elevators, and Tobias stepped-out, straightening his tie.

“Keep the car running,” he insisted, tucking the bat beneath his arm while he put the bone-mic into his ear, “I’ll be in-touch if I need further assistance.”

“Yes, sir.”

With that, Tobias set-off towards the elevator, entering the business through the back door. Some patrons jumped at his entrance, but when they noticed that he wasn’t lurching along and snarling, they relaxed marginally. And when Tobias flashed his badge, they agreed to show him to the front desk.

Ten minutes after his arrival, an announcement went-out over the speakers of the gym.

“Pardon the interruption. King-san, Narcissa King-san, please come to the front desk,” a smooth, female voice trailed, “King-san, your party is waiting. Thank you.”

The microphone clicked into silence again.

As soon as she arrived, she would see a redheaded gentleman, unusually well-dressed, leaning on the counter, the baseball bat still dangling casually from his hand. The last they’d seen one another, Tobias had been in obsidian mode—so the redhead before her now would be, at the very least, unfamiliar by sight alone.

ft. narcissa king

quirk: c-rank burn, durability, heat resistance; combat abilities: jujitsu (e), magma sleeves (e), regeneration (d), cinder sprites (f)(summon); etc.: info. sifting (f), problem solving (f), interrogation (f), first aid (e)

ooc notes:

THE GENTLEMAN STOOD IDLY BY the counter, fixing his sleeves, adjusting his glasses—he made polite conversation with the lady at the front desk, doing his upmost to reassure her that, yes, the police officers and heroes alike would get this under control. A crisp voice interrupted the idle chatter, and Tobias lifted his gaze towards the speaker.

Ah—that would explain why he had recognized the name—

Tobias had assumed that he’d simply seen the woman’s name on the news, at one point. Tobias was always watching the news—it was at least partially factual and a great place to start one’s own research. But no—he knew this woman from the botanical garden. A singularly beautiful woman, with whom he’d discussed literature and mythology and flowers. Narcissa. How could he forget that name?

“Ms. King?” Tobias replied. Barbados, her file had said—was that culture more amenable to bowing, or shaking hands? Before Tobias could extend a hand, the woman bowed and introduced herself.

“Yes, ma’am, I’m sidekick Scoria,” Tobias said placidly, returning the bow, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, however dire the circumstances.”

Was it right to say “meet”? They had met before, after all. But it wouldn’t be professional to bring that meeting up. With any luck, she’d forgotten him, and Tobias could spare her the awkwardness that now roiled in his stomach.

“I hope you’ll excuse the baseball bat,” Tobias continued, keeping the implement tucked beneath his arm, “My quirk is rather… incendiary… so I have to make due with other things.”

He waved to the receptionist, thanking her for her help, and gestured ahead of him with an “after you” sort of gesture.

“I have an armored vehicle awaiting in the parking garage, Ms. King,” Tobias insisted, smiling friendlily, “That can take you wherever you desire to go.”

ft. narcissa king

quirk: c-rank burn, durability, heat resistance; combat abilities: jujitsu (e), magma sleeves (e), regeneration (d), cinder sprites (f)(summon); etc.: info. sifting/investigation (e), problem solving (f), interrogation (f), first aid (e), disguise (f)

ooc notes: