It took me a while to weight in my options. Some people were a lot more generous then others, on the flipside I also still had some measure of pride and with it, the self respect tonotdemand silk sheets and waiting hands purely by virtue of having mystical superpowers.

I said I'd cook and clean and I meant it damn it.

Also I had to sort through the crazies and people with agendas. Parahuman Online was an open form that let anyone post there provided they followed the code of conduct. Heroes, villains, gangsters, civilians, world renowned celebrities and nobodies out in nowhere.

On a completely unrelated note to that, I'd like to state that Factual Determined Analysis was an awesome charm. It was the only charm I had yet acquired from She Who Lives In Her Name, and probably one of the best investments I actually made in my initial charm selection. I hadn't really used it much given circumstance but you could not understate the value of a bullshit detector that worked as well across the internet as it did in person.

The guy I ended up picking out of my surprisingly large pool of volunteers was a Mr. Elijah Thomson, University student and rapid culinary maestro; AKA burger flipper down at one of the local fast joints.

He was however studying to be a genuine chief, though he also was taking courses in law to keep his options open. Which nearly had me thinking he was nuts for trying to hold down two demanding courses loads as well as his job.

A job he didn't really seem to need either if the nice little suburb he drove us to was any hint. Still he told me he worked it to keep himself honest, and get some time clocked in a kitchen, no matter how greasy and I could buy the logic. I mean honestly his story didn't have adimeon how weird I was.

Anyway after picking me up from downtown my new Landlord slash roommate gave me a ride to their house. There stated reason was to avoid bringing heat down on their house since I was an obvious cape. Something I approved of really.

Didn't stop me from realizing that it was also so they could get a good look at me long away from their house, which I honestly also approved of.

Hewasa touch excitable, but more in the 'I can't believe I've got a superhero crashing in my garage squee' kind of way. rather then the 'just wait until he's asleep then I can break out the handcuffs' sort.

Again, bullshit detector is best social charm.

"Nice digs," I responded in appreciation.

Elijah grinned, "Pretty cool huh? Dad got a sweet deal on it at a police auction. Gave it to me as a graduation gift," he had a sort of giddy air to him about that, as if even he didn't really believe he got a freakinghouseas a graduation gift.

I whistled, "Shit man... living in a place like that," I glanced over and smirked, "Makes me wonder what you're doing driving a old dinosaur like this," I thumped the hood lightly.

"Oh you didnotinsult my baby," He intoned with a warning yet not overly serious tone.

I raised an eyebrow and looked at the car again, "Baby?"

"This, my friend, is a genuine Audi CoupeQuattro," he rolled the last part of the name, "The first competitive four wheel drive car to hit circulation, lasting half a generation in continuous production, one of the very key points of the finest in German automotive engineering," He slid his hand over the hood. "This baby will cut through snow, mud, and potholes bigger then my own gigantic head in the highest of style."

I couldn't help it, I busted down laughing.

"Seriously man, it's a classic," he intoned.

I managed to get a hold of myself, "Right, a true classic, got it," I agreed. "You are one strange cat man."

"Says the guy who glows brighter then a floodlight," He commented. "You know half my neighbors thoughtBehemothhad rolled into town when you did your first light show."

I blinked, "Seriously?"

"No shit," He commented. "Bright green light like a sunrise in the middle of the night. Woke me up screaming about some kind of atomic apocalypse."

I bit my tongue at that, not commenting on just how accurate his neighbors really where. "Guess I should try and keep the glow down then," I admitted.

"Nah man, you do your thing. It's kind of cool you know? Shows people that someone's out there doingsomething," his smile dipped a bit before coming back full force. "Like how Legend does flyovers of NY... Uh... not that I'm saying you need to keep pace with Legend-" He started.

I waved him off, "It's cool. Sets a goal for me anyway," I shrugged then fought off a yawn. "That said... I can work on my triumvirate imitation in the morning if it's cool with you. I spent the afternoon busting up a freaking merchant raid and haven't slept on anything softer then a sleeping bag in almost a week."

"'s cool," he agreed. "I got an early morning myself. Come on, I'll show you where you can crash."

"Appreciate it," I agreed, lugging out my big travel bag out from the back.

"So what's it like anyway?" he asked as we walked in. "The superhero thing?"

"It's..." I considered for a moment, "A trip." I summarized. "One best explained over either a good night's sleep or coffee."

"Have to be the first one then, my house is a caffeine free zone," He informed.

I snapped back in horror.

He snorted, "Just kidding you man. I'm aUniversitystudent. Of course I got the good stuff."

I relaxed, "Had me worried for a moment..."