Session 2: Capture the Flag

At the restaurant.
"What are the limits on your powers? Are there times when you can't use your powers? Are there down sides to using your power? Or general problems. For example When I was about 10 I got sick and now require 2-4 times as much food inorder to maintain my BMI"
Ceffer says ordering several different dishes.

"You certainly ask a lot of questions." Pearl orders a chicken and rice plate. "But how is eating more than should be reasonably possible a super power? Don't you know how strange it'll make you smell in an hour?"

I just told the waiter I will have my usual.

"I am still getting used to the idea of even using powers in the real world. So far, I've mostly just done racing games. The first night I had powered up, I had the hardest time getting to sleep, and when I did, I just couldn't saty asleep. I'm glad my dad figured out how to make the transformation two way."

"Not all powers are beneficial. But in my case I don't have any powers I just got sick one day and had to eat more to stay healthy. At first the doctors thought that I had some parasite, but it turns out I just have the metabolism of a humming bird. Also if you take my Temp it is about 101.2°F. It makes me stand out in night vision."
Ceffer shrugs. While eating he asks several more questions.
"I noticed that you did not shift very often Pearl. Have you thought of using your shifts in combat? Rook do you know how much you can do with your illusions? James what can you do with shadow? Junior you said have trouble sleeping with your powers anything else?"

*After what Ceffer said about night vision.* "So that's why you're always glowing..."

*Now.* "I have, but unfortunately it gets very difficult to change again if I've changed recently."

"First of all, if you must call me by an everyday type nickname, it's Tony. My Great Grandpa was 'Junior.'"

"Tony" sits back and starts fiddling with his chopsticks.

"And I bet the guys up in SuperSuits can come up with something to mask your infrared Christmas tree with something a little more ... casual."

"Xièxiè"
Ceffer thanks the waiter. Then turns to Rook.
"10 feet? You seemed to be affecting a lot more than that. How does your power work? Do you know? Are you affecting people by mind control or by creating quasi matter? It makes a difference."

After the waiter leaves, Pearl takes all the creamer and starts pouring the thimble sized cups into her otherwise empty tea cup. "Nice guy; he's my favorite." She looks around at everyone's drinks. Tony and Ceffer are both adding sugar to their tea, Rook has water, and the condiment rack is blocking her view of their last companion's beverage. "I do know that I've always had a taste for 'cat' food. And it looks like I'm not the only one who lets my powers influence what I eat. I suppose you could practice your taste illusions on yourself with that water, Rook?" She looks hungrily at Ceffer. "Could you spare one of those crackers you always seem to have? While this is the best restaurant in town, they are punctual to a fault; it always takes them almost exactly half an hour to bring out the food."

"Kitty you need to learn patience."
Ceffer chastises Pearl.
"I am not going to give you my emergency rations while are sitting in a restaurant. Let me reiterate when I got sick when I was ten I nearly died because I could not get enough to eat. You can survive not eating for a day. I nearly go into a coma. This is not a joke!"

Pearl grumbles something about fluffy nicknames. "I'm sorry. It's just that ever since I came to Wells Hills I've been aware of every second that passes."

"How aware? How long have we been in this restaurant?"
Ceffer checks his watch.

"Tony was here before me, so I don't know how long he's been here. I've been in the building for twenty eight minutes, four of which we spent waiting for everyone else. You and Rook have been in the building twenty six minutes, and our shadow walking friend snuck in the back about twenty five minutes ago, and I'm guessing it took him a minute and a half to find us here. We were all seated at this table fifteen minutes ago, received our menus half a minute after that, and our order was taken to the kitchen three minutes ago. There are about twenty six minutes left until the waiter and one of his friends bring out our food."

She seems to be accurate to the minute, at least as well as anyone can remember.

Pearl sighs at Tony. "Of course the meal had to come with an appetizer; you and your dear old dad just had to throw me off, didn't you?" She shrugs and accepts the first appetizer plate (ladies first, after all). "Thanks."

Tony looks at Smith's plate. After the waiter leaves.

Hey, cool, you got a dragon! It's so rare he does that one.

Ceffer Hawk checks the time and notes her accuracy. He pulls out notebook and starts writing his ideas and for teamwork and strategies for using the various powers on the team. Anyone glancing over his shoulder would most likely be unable to read it due to the unfamiliar language and encryption key used.

Pearl takes a sip of her cream. "Rook, how are you at creating illusions of people you've never met?"

I set down my fork after enjoying some of my appetizer.
To answer both your questions, while a bit of quasi matter is used for the base, it's mostly a matter of manipulating the targets mind, using their own memories/expectations to fill in the details. The more my targets know about my intended illusion, the more realistic it becomes. Since the tank was too unexpected from anyone, it came out looking flat. But since our opponents were expecting decoy flags, the illusions were nearly indistinguishable. I guess they could have tried to taste the flag, I still haven't cracked that sense.
I take another bite and sip my drink.
S'pose one of the stranger things that happened was my imaginary friend Johnny Bishop. I'd convinced the entire class that he was real, even the teachers. Once people started making friends with him themselves, he sort of took on a life of his own. He's long been out of my control. The nerd got better grades than me, but I guess when you're fueled by thirty-forty students and the teachers that's expected. I see him around town some times, I think he's the Father at the Parish nearby.

Pearl laughs. "Reminds me of the neighborhood cat at my old apartment complex; made nice with every single one of my friends, but for some reason she was only around when it was time to do my homework."

Tony swallows hard while Pearl is talking. He looks at Rook in disbelief.

"Wait! Hold on, and rewind! Just how long do your illusions last? What would have happened on his first kiss? If you have a range of just 10 feet, how can he exist past that range? Does he legally exist? And most importantly, what would happen to him if you died?"