What kind of story to use in this setup?

This started as me wondering if it would be possible to keep the existence of supers under wraps and evolved from there.  Essentially superhumans in this story are a combination of the Eternals/Inhumans and medieval noble houses, in that they exist due to godlike alien beings experimenting on early humanity, were the inspiration for myths and legends throughout “normal” human history, and currently live in a hidden society where marriage and breeding between houses are hugely political things.  As I said, I’m not entirely sure what kind of story to tell with this setup.  I’m also toying with the idea of each house having powers with some kind of theme, but I’m not sure how far that could go.  Any thoughts?

wrote:

This started as me wondering if it would be possible to keep the existence of supers under wraps and evolved from there.  Essentially superhumans in this story are a combination of the Eternals/Inhumans and medieval noble houses, in that they exist due to godlike alien beings experimenting on early humanity, were the inspiration for myths and legends throughout “normal” human history, and currently live in a hidden society where marriage and breeding between houses are hugely political things.  As I said, I’m not entirely sure what kind of story to tell with this setup.  I’m also toying with the idea of each house having powers with some kind of theme, but I’m not sure how far that could go.  Any thoughts?
 

I think you have several possibilities depending on which direction you want to take it in.

• Something Romeo & Juliet-esq - Two young lovers from competing families are falling for each other, and trying to keep it a secret from their families, and the world. You could also come up with reasons why the families haven’t married before: The children born from such a couple would potentially be powerful enough to destabilize the political balance between all the superfamilies.
• One member wants to break out and go her one ways (being a superhero) a thing her family disapprove of, but other families might be willing to consider (meaning that they might be willing to reveal themselves to the world). This one could be fairly political, and could maybe include some overthrowing of families.
• A classic “boy meets girl” setup, but where the girl has amazing superpowers that is revealed as she has to use them to save her date/boyfriend, and maybe several others, some getting a glimpse of her. She could also be a “1 in a 1.000 years” case, where she has powers/abilities that isn’t usually shown in her family (whom might try to wed her to another super, a thing she refuse since they are almost cousins?)

whelp, that’s what I have for now.

Jupiter's Legacy had some rebel kids of superheroes. Age of Adaline has a heroine that stops aging and has to move and change identities to avoid discovery. A secret identity might be useful for celebrities that complain they can't go out in public without being bothered by fans and photographers. It would take much discipline to endure the frustrations of normal people - waiting in lines and traffic -if one had superpowers.
Hancock and Super Ex  also had some supers living as humans.

I've always thought that a story involving a group of close friends where everyone is a normal human except for one girl, who is clearly superhuman, might be fun. She does some super-heroine stuff, but not as a profession, ala Kal and Kara. Her costume is kind of a reverse disguise that lets her dress normally when she's not being super and just blend in. Some people know who she is (outside her group of friends). 

Mostly she's growing up among this tight circle of friends, but has these abilities. She sometimes has to do stuff with those abilities to save her friends or others. Like being superhuman is accepted in her group, but she's a source of obsession by the rest of the world (while her friends mostly keep her secret). They are protective of her identity, while she is protective of them. 

Lots of possibilities there that aren't in the strictly canonical primary-colored caped Supergirl with a mild and meek Linda disguised alterego.

But rather a girl who everyone around her knows is super, but who is trying to figure out what to be when she grows up. Her options are obviously much greater than her friends. 


Shadar


 

I like 1 and 3 from rjjt

How about this? Inspired by some of the previous suggestions.

There is a prophecy that there would be a chosen one of the superbeings that a fraction of her power would completely overwhelm the combined might of all the other superhouses. Somehow the other houses have come to know of her identity as well as the single way to strip her of her powers: losing her virginity. They therefore then sent some of their most eligible and attractive young boys to steal her virginity at the high school she is attending.

The second part of the story could be a revenge and ascension fantasy when she finds out about the ploy and took revenge on all the boys and the superhouses and perhaps rise to become the supreme empress-goddess. 

So basic ideas conceived so far (unsure how many will actually be in the story)

Some houses have vacation homes in isolated parts of the outside world, but the minority who travel the world on a regular basis are seen as weird, at best.  Revealing the existence of the Uplifted (as they call themselves) to the Lowly (normal humans) is a VERY big no-no, and relationships with them are unthinkable.  Hence the existence of the Enforcers, who are tasked with maintaining secrecy.  They recruit a large number of psychics for those occasions on which memories need altering.  

Rank in a house is generally dependent on power.  

There are a relative minority who don’t actually look human due to some aspect of their powers.  They were discriminated against for much of the Uplifted’s history, but eventually formed the House of Outcasts.  A number of other houses send children with Outcast traits to the House of Outcasts, but not necessarily every house.

The majority of the Enforcer’s work consists of dealing with the younger generation.  Naturally they’ve always been somewhat more prone to wanting to leave, but  media taken or intercepted from the outside world is popular among them, and naturally frowned on by their elders.  The prevalence of superhero media has some of the more paranoid Enforcers nervous.

The aliens were of a more Lovecraftian bent than the Kree or Celestials.  If they actually have a concrete reason for what they did, it was so they could bet on what goes on with the various Houses for entertainment purposes.

I’m not sure how lifespans for the Uplifted work, or if they’re even consistent.

wrote:

How about this? Inspired by some of the previous suggestions.

There is a prophecy that there would be a chosen one of the superbeings that a fraction of her power would completely overwhelm the combined might of all the other superhouses. Somehow the other houses have come to know of her identity as well as the single way to strip her of her powers: losing her virginity. They therefore then sent some of their most eligible and attractive young boys to steal her virginity at the high school she is attending.

The second part of the story could be a revenge and ascension fantasy when she finds out about the ploy and took revenge on all the boys and the superhouses and perhaps rise to become the supreme empress-goddess. 
 

I think that I would personally play around with the prophecy in some way, or make it so that there is some kind of ticking clock. I see nothing wrong in it being her losing her innocence that is her weakness, but it also seems problematic in some manner to me, and I can’t put my finger on why. 

Yup, that might be it.
Her losing her powers as soon as she might get it on with someone could lead to her become irrelevant, if the plot is about how other factions consider her a threat because of her powers.

Then there's Bruce Wayne's superpower

Shadar: "involving a group of close friends where everyone is a normal human except for one girl, who is clearly superhuman"

The recent Supergirl TV series did this.

I think it's got huge potential as a way to show a younger generation's attitudes. As Wilma memorably put it while the buddies played Twister and did their homework one day:

"In my grandfather's Baby Boomer era, you could only be straight or gay, only local or international, only a do-gooder or a money-grubber. All these binary choices. Someone who could do what you could do, Super-Daphne, would find the government made them live in a secret underground lab to get analyzed. Only brought out to help win the war. No chance for someone like you to keep in touch with Fred, not even to mail him a new ascot.

In my father's Gen-X time, you could cross the lines some. You could work for a major corporation with a publicist and an insurance adjustor for your fights. Or you could start your own, but you'd need a Wall Street bank to fund your Headquarters Tower. And you and Fred would have to live separate from society.

In my older sister's Millennial life, you can have your gang do your own thing with your adventures in the van. Grab a burger and milkshake with Fred anywhere you like. But you still need a name and a theme song for your van, and they can't go on your social media that Human Resources might see at your day job.

Now, we're in the You Do You And That's Just Beautiful, Gen Z era at last. You can be a digital nomad, with online customers as you work at home or from the beach in Thailand. You get to pick your own pronouns, wear the clothes you like, kiss the people you like.

And now, you get to pick your adjectives, too. You don't have to let anyone call you Super or Flying or Heroic or any other label. Not unless you choose it for yourself! You're just our friend Daphne and we love you. And it's all great on your Instagram, whether you're playing a video game, or walking your cute little dog, or stomping the tanks of the evil Nazis. You just you do, girl! By the way, the pizza guy was really late again. Can you fly over here and give it a little help with your eye beams, please?"