"Not really. Can you find out if I should come over? Shayera and I had a fight last night, and..." Bronwyn closed her eyes and took a quick breath, "I just want to make sure... I don't even know what I want right now actually."
Just your luck if because you didn't think it was a good idea to go over last night, now you're banned from her place.
Shayera had been listening in as soon as she heard Bronwyn's voice on the other side of Shaun's phone. She felt her body go rigid, but forced herself to pick at the omelette that Shaun had made her.
Ice crawled up her spine, just waiting to hear Bronwyn let loose a torrent of hurt and blame for her actions last night. At how selfish she was and how she was just the worst person in the world. She deserves to say that to my face, she thinks.
"She... She can come over," she says hoarsely, just barely audible over the sound of cooking.
Cassie finished her coffee with a sigh of satisfaction and then made her way round the bench to help Shaun with the bacon. When he asks her about her plans for the day she shrugs. "This'n that. Alexis wants to go shopping for some clothes with me and Shae. Bron too I think. I should head back to where I'm staying too. I've got some lessons this afternoon."
When Shayera and Alexis came to breakfast she smiled at them, reddening a little, but was surprised that neither of them seemed to be in very good moods. - Morose was more like it. As Shayera sat picking at her food, Cassie asked Alexis to help her with another round of coffee. Once in the kitchen together, she leaned in and whispered "Is she OK? Do you know what's wrong?"
Shaun’s eyes dart towards the table when he hears Shayera. ”...God that’s spooky. She heard ya’, said ye’ can come.” He studies Bronwyn with a sympathetic look. ”...ya’ go any requests? French toast? Crumpet? I can make just ‘bout anythin’ that isn’t too obscure.”
Letting out a deep sigh, Shaun got back to his station behind the burners. He sees Cassie grab Alexis, but thinks better than to listen in. He tends to the next batch of hashbrowns, waiting for Cassie to finish up her conversation. Still though, he found himself lingering on the mage’s helping hand given just a moment ago. How close she was...he clears his throat and takes a sip of coffee. I gotta chill before these sweatpants...shrink too much. He stares at the potatoes, doing his best to think about something else.
Alexis didn't like coffee. It smelled and tasted too bitter for her. But Cassie asked her to help so she went along with her, all while also chewing on some toast and eating some bacon. "She got in a fight with Bronwyn. She's sad. I hope they make up today. Love makes feelings stronger, I think."
She was dressed in one of Shayera's looser long sleeved shirts and some leggings, wearing a pair of borrowed flats. It was good and easy for shopping. Though she guessed that she needed new undergarments.
"We can meet Bronwyn where we go shopping, right? And then tonight, we should have another team meeting and figure out how to divide the work," She suggested with a smile.
Power nullifier, most dangerous tot he team. strong and durable, would hurt Shaun or me. power nullifier would render Wing's fighting style dangerous. dunno what it would do to Bran. But Jezebel is a close second... Wing seems especially vulnerable, given museum fight. wouldn't want to let Kaoru in range either... I might be able to resist, and We could neutralize Shaun easily.
Well... that's a good rule. but maybe these guys are nuts enough to honestly want to be the bad guys. and the other 4 are... concerning. 4 unknowns is more than I like to go on. She takes a breath But, I don't know If we should even be investigating. It says they don't have evidence they are breaking the Law. and they seem dangerous.
Yeah... we'd have to find out the vector. Then figure out a way to nullify. and if it is Telepathic, it'll be a pain in the ass to block.
She starts to shift. I'm sorry, but I should get home. it's late...
Kaoru nods. "Perhaps, but if they're a religious organization, pretty sure it means they need to keep some things as public record. Unless of course they're a criminal organization that somehow doesn't want the governmental tax breaks that let them keep more of their ill-gained goods. Though I guess if they're not being obvious, they'll be labeled as less of a threat that other crazy things likely to come up." Of course, whether that's actually an accurate assessment is questionable.
As Alexandra points out the time, Kaoru grimaces slightly. "Yeah yeah, my bad. I should have kept better track of the time." And mother's not home yet. Means she'll probably be sleeping through most of tomorrow... She closes her laptop and stands to lead Alexandra to the door. She gives the girl a warm smile. "Thanks for hanging out and helping end an otherwise kind of crappy evening on a high note. Do you want me to call you a lyft, or do you have it covered?"
She sounds so hoarse. She was crying. Wait, was she crying because she feels bad that she was completely horrible? Or was she crying because I was really horrible in some way that I don't understand?
Or is she really going to leave me?
"I'm not really hungry, umm. Just like... whatever Shayera's having whatever... Alexis is having? Wait no, only whatever you're having."
***
Broad daylight wasn't the right time for her to just sprint through the city. She'd had to repeat that to herself a few times to really believe it. Her card had been declined when she'd tried to order a Lyft. Fine. Mary-Beth didn't really have money to burn, but she did have her license and, on Saturday, the keys to an old station wagon.
"Thank you so much MB. You're the best. Umm... Probably I won't need a ride? but umm...
Thank you."
Mary-Beth gave her a level look over the frames of her glasses that said Bronwyn was absolutely not going to get rid of her that easily
"Sure. Bronwyn, I'm sticking around. If things go okay, call me and let me know I should go. And if you don't call me for like an hour, I'm coming up after you, and you're paying for wherever I end up parking."
"Thanks."
As she walked over to the elevator, she reached up to her comm link and tapped twice. "I'm here."
"...uh...I'll make ya' half of what I'm puttin' together. Don't wanna drown ya' in protein..." He gives the athlete a small smile. "Hey, don't kill yourself with worry before ya' get here, a'ight? I dunno what happened, but it's not ta' end of ta' world. Ye' got dropped out of a high-speed car yesterday, ye' got some relationship problems today. Just another bit a pain ta' get through. Good news is, next time it'll hurt a bit less."
- - -
With the cooking finally done, Shaun plants himself at the table, a small mountain range of carbs and protein layed out before him like a kingdom of breakfast. As he pours himself something he was fairly certain was orange juice, he again looks over at the despondent Wingblade. "...so...what happened?"
I don't really know what the fight was about, so I don't know how serious it is. "Thanks. I'll try"
"Love can do that." Cassie whispers back to Alexis. But I'm sure they'll be OK. They do seem to really love each other. I wonder what happened?"
Returning to the table with another cup of coffee, she sits down next to Shayera and sips it, leaning over and giving the other girl a gentle nudge. "I'm sure it'll be OK." she whispers. "If you want to talk about it or anything, let me know. It wasn't anything to do with,... you know,.. me kissing you when I did the ritual was it? I can talk to her about what happened if you want?".
After she finishes her coffee, she asks Shayera whether she can use the shower and, then heads off returning some time later freshly washed, finding that, whilst she's been away from the table, Bronwyn has arrived. Although the clothes she's wearing are the same as the day before, they appear spotlessly clean and ironed.
Bronwyn was coming over, everyone knew they'd been in a fight, and everyone was watching and waiting. Cassie had sat next to her and given her a nudge. Shayera shakes her head, the most vigorous motion she'd made since waking up this morning. "No. It wasn't that," she says to the remains of her food.
She pushes herself away from the table and wanders toward the balcony. She moves to the rail and leans out over it, staring at the distant ground.
Cassie stands and gives the others a quick look, going to the balcony door, she knocks gently and then steps through, closing it behind her before walking over to join Shayera at the rail. "Wan't to talk about it?" she asks, "I don't know if I can help, but I probably know a bit more about relationship stuff than Alexis does, and Shaun's well, Shaun.
Shayera hangs her head, letting her hair cascade over her face. "She told her parents last night. That she's gay, like she promised. But, before that, they put up bars over her windows. So, she told them and then left, but didn't want to come here. I don't-- I don't know why. She tells her parents because of me but doesn't want to be here, with me. I want to be more in her life, not less! Why did it get worse?"
Crunchcrunchcrunchcrunch
Alexis liked cereal. She was worried about how Shayera was acting though. At least Cassie was talking to her.
She should speak to Bronwyn, but didn't know her phone number. But she had a comm, so that would work. She tapped the earbud once for team comms, speaking to Bronwyn (And everyone else as well). "Bronwyn! Are you coming to go shopping with me today? I think it will be nice. Also all of Shayera's clothes are too tight on me. Especially my chest. Oh, and I have to return your sister's dress. Can I come and say thanks to her for lending it to me?"
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I can walk... it's not super far Alexandra lies as she heads out, making her coat swoosh a little, like a hero from an old movie. she hopes it amuses Kaoru, but doesn't look back to check.
Oh, Alexandra, what have you done now. She thinks to herself as she goes Kaoru doesn't want you... or at least doesn't want to do that with you. Are you okay with that. did you just do this to get laid? are you okay waiting. should you go find someone to... entertain you while Kaoru decides to make up his mind? you aren't dating him, not technically. And it's not like you didn't give him a chance to say it... is he really worth waiting for? Can you give him time to make up his mind? Are you going to push him, like the last one probably did?. her mind keeps going, even as she falls into an uneasy sleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~the next day~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She wakes to breakfast being made... by dad. that is to say, breakfast was greasy eggs and a fried slice
Heard you had a fun evening Gillian said
F+%~in' peachy Alexandra groused, pouring coffee for herself.
What happened? Dad asked
Oh, not much, just got pressganged into joining a team. after having to deal with some idiots on the highway. F&@%in' dinosaur theme
oh boy. another team with the Silver shadow on it... do they know about that? gill smirked?
I told them. they didn't care.
Well, maybe this one will work out. any notable teammates? dad asked
A techie. An idiot baseline with a claymore. An ancient celtic warrior inhabiting a human host. Some girl who I'm pretty sure s Prima facie evidence for some crimes against humanity by some NGO or whatever Whip's kid... and a mage who I'm pretty sure has a mind-fogging thing on them.
sounds like a regular barrel of monkeys!
Eh, Shaun's not that Hirsute.
You sure you want to keep being the Shadow? could just let me do this?
F!$~ you, Gill
Alexandra quietly took out her phone, and sent a text to Kaoru >Gonna go try to make peace with Wing or Bron. if you wanna see the fireworks, hurry to the base.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~at Chateau Airborne~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alexandra walks in in the mid morning, and senses tension immediately senses tension.
Morning, team... she says, nervous.
Shaun blinks as Shayera completely ignores him and walks off, Cassie shortly behind. "... sure. Fine. Not like I'm tryin'ta' help or whatever..." He watches Alexis start digging into her own morning meal cornucopia, then shrugs dejectedly and starts digging himself.
He is jostled out of his haze by Alexandra's arrival. "Oh. Mornin' Alex." He gestures in the direction of the crowded counter-top, steam still rising off of numerous players of toast, fired eggs, bacon and more. "Help yourself. I made more then enough. Don't bother talkin' w'Wing right now. She n' Bron went through some shit last night 'parently." He finishes chewing the half-sausage in his cheek. "Ye' get invited ta' that shoppin' party too? Or ya' just here ta' shoot me again?"
Kaoru shook her head at Alexandra's antics before closing the door and heading upstairs to her room. ヒーローらしいね. She looked at her phone. She still hadn't actually sent a response to Bronwyn's text during the movie.
> It's fine, really. Sorry I piled on.
> Are we good?
> tell me later tho. Didn't anyone ever teach you not to text during a movie?
> ;-p
Of course, by now the response she had carefully typed up was so incredibly out of date that it was worthless. So she deleted it. They had been good (at least as far as Kaoru was concerned). But then all that BS with the "team" had happened, and now she had no idea where they stood. She had hurt Alexis and Bronwyn had had to clean up the mess, so now Bronwyn probably hated her too. God only knew what kind of one-sided story she had gotten. Well, she seems fairly reasonable, so maybe she realizes whatever Alexis said was just one side of the story? She snorted. That was laughable. Utterly, totally, and completely laughable. People just didn't take her side in these things. Well, except maybe Alexandra. She at least seemed to see both sides enough not to completely blame her.
She wasn't sure what to say now. So she just went with a non-answer.
< Sorry, assumed you'd have your phone turned off during the movie.
< Hope I didn't ruin it for you
< At least, no more than the scriptwriter did
< Have a good night
She then plugged her phone in, got ready for bed, and went to sleep.
-----
Kaoru woke up at her normal early hour feeling good. Much better than she should have. She was going to have a day all to herself, with none of the heroing BS. She was determined to actually find a nice, quiet, secluded place in Monument Park with decent acoustics to be her little hidey-hole. And she was going to do it with science and motion sensors. She was also going to do some musical research to figure out what new sheet music to learn, though she was somewhat less excited at that prospect. Mostly because she suspected it would involve listening to music she wouldn't like as much as her normal selection. But maybe she would be proven wrong!
She skipped breakfast per usual, instead choosing to stock up on matcha tea and make a few sandwiches and whatnot for a picnic-style lunch (except minus the actual picnic). That done, she grabbed what she would need for the day and headed out, enjoying the quiet solitude of an early, weekday morning. More than she was enjoying the talking fish song playing through her battered old headphones anyway. Not that it was actually bad, it was just weird finding out it was an actual song. Though the lead singer's voice was kinda scratchy, and he was one of those people who liked to dance around the correct pitch instead of just hitting it.
She had already arrived at the park and had sent out her drone to do aerial recon when she got Alexandra's message and attempted to decode it. Sure, on its surface it was an invitation. But what was it really? Did Alexandra feel nervous and want support? Or...ok, so that was basically the only interpretation that came to mind other than literally just 'come if you think it would be entertaining'. Uggg, why did peopling have to be so hard? Eventually, she decided to just go without trying to interpret cryptic-ness and hope that if Alexandra needed her, she would just ask.
< Kinda want to avoid that place for the foreseeable future. As much as I can anyway :/
< Good luck though!
< And let me know if you want to rant afterward or something
"Wow, That's massive" Cassie says, peering over the rail a little nervously [b]"I know some people have a real problem with that and,.. well it must've been difficult. I don't know why she wouldn't want to stay here, but I'm sure she has her reasons,... Its pretty obvious that she's crazy about you. I don't know but,.. Maybe it'd be too much for her parents all at once? Not that my family experiences have been overly positive, but she probably still cares what they think. Maybe telling them she's moving in with her girlfriend on the same day she told them she's gay would've been too much? You need to talk to her though really. See what she says."
Alexandra looks at shaun intently... damnit, the guy was a decent cook. better than her or dad or Lily at any rate. She makes herself a egg and bacon sandwich. Thanks, this isn't half bad. Though, I was expecting you'd make black pudding or some thing seh sits opposite shaun
Oh dear, trouble in... whatever hell those two are putting each other in? she says. You know what?
eh, quit your whinging. You got a little too aggressive, and got shot for it. consider it a learning experience. She smiles besides, keep bringing it up, I'm gonna start thinking you liked it.
Bronwyn suddenly jerked against her seatbelt as Alexis's cheery tones burst into her ear. She listened carefully, sure that she was going to hear some kind of clue that would tell her what to expect once she got there, but at the end all she could think was, Wow, big boobs, what a curse...
Be nice! That's not what Alexis actually said. Just 'cause you're int a crappy mood doesn't mean...
If Shayera and I break up, I'm still on the team, right? God, but will Alexis even want to see me? It's not like a secret that she likes Shayera more. UGH!
"Umm. Maybe, Alexis, we'll see. I'm sure you'll find lots of nice clothes that fit better. It's probably better if I take the dr... Actually, don't worry about it. Go ahead and keep the dress for now.If she asks for it back, I'll let you know."
Mary-Beth gave Bronwyn a serious side-eye. "I'm sorry, you use your team's comms to talk about dresses?"
"It's not just- Shut up."
"Nah. 'Merican grub is better f'pre-workout. Plus it doesn't cost an arm n' a leg at the store. An'...well, this place doesn't have ta' ingredients f'puddin' anyway."
He shrugs. "Not a clue. Nobody's told me nothin'." He grumpily tries to drown a pork link in some syrup. "Whatever it was, happened last night, I guess after we broke f'ta' day." He allows the sausage to see sunlight briefly before he downs it. "'Course from what I can tell, I'm ta' only person ta' not know." He gives Alexis a semi-pointed look.
"Learnin' experience my ass..." he mutters, roughly bitting an apple slice in two. "A'ight look. Can we just put ta' feud on hold till I get my run in? I need ta' clear my head after yesterday still." Suddenly, his brow furrows and he gives Alexandra a curious look. "Do ye' work out at all? Weight trainin', endurance trials, gymnastics?"
Alexis nodded, even though Bronwyn couldn't see that. "Okay! I hope that seeing you will cheer Shayera up. She seems really sad right now, but won't tell me much about what's going on. Oh. I forgot, this is an open channel. I think I need a phone too so I can talk in private. Also learn how to text too. That's what the girls in school are always doing when they should be paying attention to class."
She moved from cereal to some sausages, nibbling on them slowly to savor the taste. "We can talk more when you get here, okay? I'll let you inside when you do. Unless you already know how to get up here."
Alexandra nods. Yeah, I do a bit, but patrolling kinda does most of the work to maintain it, so I usually only do an hour every couple day. She says Never focused much on weight training. I'm reasonably strong, much as any athlete, and know how to apply that force. I'll never match a super, especially given that Strength is in the trinity. she says
her hand goes to her earpiece as there is chatter on the line. kinda sounds like you aren't the only one who doesn't know what's going on. I think puppy girl might know less. she says. She makes sure they are alone int he room, her comms are off, and there is no one in the wings before she says What the f%+@ do we do about her? She can't camouflage well, but keeping her here will cause her to lose socialization. and apparently, she'll bring a cadre of scientists and mercenaries that make Reaver look f#&+in' ethical.
Shaun appraises Alexandra and snorts. ”Right, “athlete levels,” sure. Pretty sure Bron could out-do ya’, but sure.” A forkful of eggs disappear before he continues. ”Well, a little tip f’ya’, if ye’ got brawn AN’ know how ta’ apply it (like your’s truly), ye’ can keep up with supers easy.” He gives the detective a smug half-smile. ”But! I’m askin’cause I’m goin’runnin’ after I’m done here. I was gonna invite...well, anybody ‘cept Kaoru n’ ye’, but it looks like ye’re ta’ only one free.”
”...ah shit! That’s what I forgot this mornin’. My comm.” He absentmindedly scratches at his ear as Alexandra expresses her concerns. ”I say let’em come. If they’re really so desperate ta’ get Lex back, that means they A, don’t have more r’at least a lot more like her. B, they want to keep her hidden, which is all ta’ more reason ta’ keep her out in public. An’/or C, ta’ more she learns about ta’ real world, ta’ more she’s gonna hate ta’ f!!$s who took her from it. When she’s distressed, she can level a buildin’. What’da’ya’ think she’s gonna do ta’ t’persons who actually make her mad?” He gives Alexandra a significant look. Such as somebody who stole her “boyfriend”...
Yeah. Bron probably could outdo me... but... well I'm not too upset about that. she says, leaving it a bit vague Not the big timers. Alexis or Wing would wipe the floor with either of us. and there would be no easy about that fight, even if we didn't fight fair. she says. Eh, I'm here to make nice with Wing or Bron, whichever comes first. Pissed a coupel to many off, and I might have to deal with you guys for a while.
I don't think you quite get the gravity of the situation. They dealt enough damage to Wing to lay her up for 6 months... or maybe kill her, not clear on that. and they had the resources to make Alexis, and from her stories, others like her. If they have enough, they won't be retrieving an Asset, they'll be plugging a leak. She said
yeah. she's not overly emotionally stable,a nd in command of incredible powers... you say that like it's a good thing.
Shaun's eyebrow shoots upward. "Well well well! Ta' infamous Silver Shadow's makin' peace with a team. Pretty sure ya' told me that's ta' first seal of ta' end-times, so I'll just get braced f'that."
"I didn't get this far bein' scared off by people bigger then me. Like I said, let'em come. I got a blade f'each of 'em."
He gives an nod. "Fair, but that's our job. Ta' keep her stable, help her get stable. Don't go messin' with her. An' besides, not like she's alone in ta' unstable department. Ye've got some issues, Wing's not ready ta' be leadin' us, Kaoru's an a@+!*!&, Bran's head is about six centuries behind him, Cassie's..." He stops, a blush moving out from his cheeks. "Well, she's a'ight, but ye' get my point."
The last plate clear, he stands and starts collecting dishes, balancing a surprisingly large amount of them on his arm. "Anyway, I'm gonna go Google where ta' f#&% I should run. Come if ya' want, don't if ya' don't."
It was turning out to be annoyingly difficult to find places that were both in remote-enough/random-enough areas and had decent acoustics. Kaoru was getting a bit worried that the one bridge she had already found was going to be her best bet. Her drone had returned, the but aerial maps didn't point to anything super obvious either, though they had allowed her to eliminate several locations without actually going there.
It was starting to get later in the morning. Late enough that she was actually starting to run into people. Not that it really mattered since no one spared her a second glance. She moved with purpose and with her headphones on, that was enough to deter anyone from trying to strike up a conversation. But even just knowing they were there somehow detracted from the experience.
Oh well, she only had a few more places to hit, and then she could break for an early lunch. She needed to check out that card thing she had been forced into taking and plan for tonight.
Have to deal with you bastards for a month longer, and I did do something pretty shitty to those two. she says Okay, in order, I haven't messed with her, haven't been anything but cordial to her. I don't even want to know what you consider my issues to be, but what the hell did Kaoru do to you, that you've got such a f~!%in' issue? She writes down "Magic girl is named Cassie", quickly, trying desperately to keep it in her head
Kaoru had wound up finishing planting all her motion sensors a little earlier than she had expected and subsequently wandered off to find a nice shady tree nearby to sit under. Really, she had wanted to find a tree to climb up into but the ones in this particular area of the park were not very conducive to such a thing.
It was still a little early for lunch, so she pulled out her computer and a couple of sensors to begin checking out that authorization card thing that allowed her to vigilante or something. She wanted to make sure there weren't any hidden trackers or listening devices attached (and if there were, she wanted to immediately neutralize them one way or another). Since this would require her full attention, she switched up her music from her 'research' to some instrumental music that she didn't need to focus on.
She hoped this would at least occupy her enough that she wouldn't be compulsively checking the motion data streaming to her laptop every 5 minutes. She'd probably have to wait at least a week to get enough data. Actually, a week wouldn't be enough since that was bound to suffer from time of week biases since traffic to the park would undoubtedly be different during the weekend than during the week, but she wasn't sure she could wait long enough to get a better data set.
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As the young and decidedly unheroic Kaoru takes their walk around Halcyon's Monument Park, there happens to be a lot that's going on in the expansive public area.
The first that they see happen to be a public gathering in front of one of the park's namesake monuments, that to one of the Golden Age's first heroes, Wendy Sparks, who became the face of feminism during the second World War. Kaoru can recognize her iconic goggles and bandana from the old propaganda posters in her history books. She also sees that the gathering is a public awards ceremony to the female heroes of Halcyon (Wingblade noticably absent).
That wasn't the only difference though, as today it seemed that her drone had picked up quite a few interesting and jarring scenes. On the opposite side, mole men in dark glasses were running amok, chased by the Pangolin, a hero in tech armor with scaled plates, claws and a long sticky whip he was using to corral them.
Near the bridge where she'd been practicing before, some hero they didn't know was duking it out with someone else with telekinetic powers, the drone catching the moment where he was caught with a piece of rebar, his arm stretching out like rubber and snapping it back at his opponent. The telekinetic in his cloak soared around his foe's counter attack.
As it viewed the skyline, Kaoru could see that there were probably a dozen or more individuals in flight around the city. Some with real wings, others with a glow of gold or green or silver, and one riding what looked like a Griffon steed. As the view lowered, it took in several figures leaping from rooftops, swinging on grappling lines, or just jumping several stories in a single bound.
But perhaps the most unusual thing of all wasn't the many powered and unpowered heroes and vigilantes out in the city. It was how the public reacted, or rather, lacked their reaction. People kept at their work, went on jogs, ate hot dogs and had early lunches together. They barely batted an eye to those flying or swinging or moving at super speeds, other than perhaps snapping pictures with their phones.
The police worked diligently to block the public off access to areas under conflict. They wrote incident reports, talked to heroes after conflicts, and called in different kinds of paddy wagons depending on power sets. They didn't seem to mind it at all.
This was Halcyon. And in Halcyon, necromancer voodoo priests and mutant dinosaur men were normal. Just as normal as undying winged angels, Celtic knights, young sorceresses and skilled vigilantes. This was the normal that was everyone's life in this city.
What does Kaoru do?
"Well f'one he's a hypocrite. Tries ta' chew me out f'me tryin'ta' get in costume at ta' museum, meanwhile he's so carefully dressed ta' look like he doesn't care I could cut a rope with his edge. F'two, he's a prick who decided ta' best response ta' me tryin' ta' show him some kindness was ta' bite my head off n' say my bein' a hero isn't worth shit. An' f'three, he doesn't give two shits about bein' a hero. Hell, if y'want my full opinion, I think he's gonna be workin'f'ta' bad guys at some point, an' I really hope I get ta' be ta' first person ta' punch his teeth in." Shaun punctuates the rant by roughly slamming the dishes down on the counter. "Oh, an' on ta' subject of Alexis, he's a right-douche ta' her, but now I'm beginnin'ta' wonder if that wasn't brought on by ye', since ya' clearly give no shits about Lex's mental state. Because ya' did mess w'her Alex. Ye' stole her boyfriend. An' I don't care if that's what actually happened, 'cause that's how Lex sees it. An' as we established, she ain't too stable."
- - -
A few hours into Kaoru's diagnosis of the card, the smell of cigarette smoke wafts past her nose. Any sort of look around would reveal that a man in a grey three-piece suit has taken to resting against the same tree, not four feet away from her. His face is turned away, but a cigarette smolders in his fingers as the other hand rubs his face. Whoever he is, he is very tall, at least 6'5", and built like a professional weightlifter. His hair is shaved, but the roots still display a rich red coloration.
Then he grunts, and shifts to lean his back against the tree, and Kaoru can see his face.
He looks almost identical to Shaun.
The same brow, the same chin, the same eyes, the same nose, the resemblance to the Scotsman is uncanny and deeply eerie. The only features of his person that distinguish him from Shaun are his much shorter hair and much, much larger size. As well as the fact that you've never seen Shaun wear tight-fitting sleeves...or a suit.
Alexandra ruffles as Shaun lays into Kaoru I'm sure what you considered Kindness was rather different than how Kay or I would define it. And not everyone needs to want to be a hero, to help. Some of us are thrill seekers, or after fame. Or profit, I you can get corporate sponsorship. and some of us just are in possession of abilities we cannot let lie. I don't think it's a s simple as "want's to be a hero/complete scumbag"
And quit it with the white-knight routine. I snogged a cute guy who was untaken. He turner her down before anything happened between us. Kaoru didn't have romantic interest in her. Given your undying affection for the girl, why don't you date her? she snarls, consciously gripping her sandwich to prevent her hands going for her crossbow... or his throat.
You know why I think you dislike Kaoru and I? Because we're baselines. We're living proof that it isn't because of your genetics that you are ineffective. It's because you're you!
Alexis hummed as she took out one of her textbooks and got to her homework while waiting for Shayera and Cassie and Shaun to finish their conversation. She was a student after all, and getting this done now meant she didn't have to worry about it later.
The math was easy. That had been pounded into her from the beginning, as well as reading comprehension. But history was difficult for her. Mostly because she didn't know enough to understand why people were fighting all of these wars that apparently happened all around the world. She was also worried that she might write something strange and make people suspicious of her.
Maybe she could skip history classes then? Or find an excuse to avoid them.
"So what ye're sayin' is, there's a third category of a~#~%%%s gettin' in ta' way between hero n' villain, an'ye' n' Kaoru go there? Works just fine w'me."
He gives Alexandra an inscrutable look. "...it's not that. We need ta' be careful w'her. If somebody pushes her too far, by, say, takin'ta' person she's decided is her current toy, she might just break that person in half. So, we keep. Her. Happy. That's all I'm tryin'ta' do. Nothin' else..." The look on his face indicates he might not be convinced that that's his only reason.
Shaun clenches his fists, trying his best not to outright snap. "I. AM. A. HERO." He looks Alexandra dead in the eyes with a face of cold fury. "I have worked my ass off ta' be ta' best hero I can be. I have bleed, I have sacrificed, I have trained most of my life away. What have ye'n' Kaoru done f'it? Ye' got born into a family of self-righteous cunts, an' Kaoru got lucky by bein' Lex's playthin'. Y'wanna know why I can feel ta' back of my neck writhe with rage every time I think 'bout ye'n' him? Because you two didn't earn ta' right ta' be heroes. I did. I've got ta' scars, I've got ta' results, I've got. What. It. Takes. More than ta' sword, more than ta' uniform, I've got ta' spine ta' stand up n' do ta' right thin'." He shakes his head, partially out of exhaustion, partially out of disgust. "Ye've just got ta' gall ta' get in my way. An' when ye' get somebody killed, I won't feel sorry f'ya', 'cause ya' had it comin'."
With a forceful toss he launches a dishtowel into Alexandra's face and marches out the kitchen door, stomping past Bronwyn as she exits the elevator. Breathing heavily, he disappears back into the gym, where the sounds of heavy object being tossed around can be heard for a few minutes.
As she walked around, Kaoru could feel her good mood evaporating as a deep simmering anger started to bubble. Was nowhere safe in the gods-forsaken city? Was it really too much to ask for to find one quiet place where she could escape all this blasted nonsense? Did everything have to insist on throwing this hero BS in her face?
A part of her (and not even a particularly small part) desperately wanted to join in and help the villains just to prove how much of a hero she wasn't. (Un?)fortunately, her sense of self-preservation and her desire not to go to jail stopped her from doing that. That didn't stop her from fantasizing about it though. Visions of this whole terrible city burning down around her danced in her mind's eye. The satisfaction she'd feel as her 'teammates' finally realized how fking unheroic she was. It's not like they could even really blame her. She had told them right from the fking start that this warped image they had of her was wrong. It wasn't her fault they refused to believe it. It would feel so sweet to crush their optimism like that. To finally see those looks of hatred and disgust on their faces directed at her like they should be.
But then the mental look of Alexis' rage turned to one of hurt. And she remembered Bronwyn comforting her on her first day of school even after all her athletics jibes. And Alexandra's smile and warm green eyes and far too kind words. And her anger just sort of...dissipated. She desperately tried to hold onto the fleeing threads and to rekindle the fire inside her to no avail. Instead, she just felt...disappointed. Why did everybody need to turn her into somebody else? Why couldn't she just be herself?
Gods, she needed to get out of this city. She needed to go somewhere normal. Where people would stop putting such high expectations on her. Expectations she couldn't meet even if she wanted to. Out of this comic book fantasy where people saw only black and white, good and evil, heroes and villains. Didn't they realize that life wasn't that simple? That not only were there grays but blues and greens and reds and every other color? Life was more than some binary choice. So where were the people who didn't fit into these dichotomies supposed to go?
-----
Throwing herself into the problem at hand had done a remarkable job lightening Kaoru's previously dark mood. By now she was pretty sure there wasn't any spyware on the card and she had definitely passed into the 'paranoid and definitely not necessarily' branch of testing. But it was distracting and that was almost more important. Until the disgusting smell of cigarette smoke caught her attention.
She turned her head to glare at the perpetrator, pulling her headphones off and pausing the music. Despite herself, she couldn't help but admire his suit. His broad shoulders and muscular physique filled it out in a way she could only dream of. Even if she were to start working out, she would never have that nice triangle shape that men's clothing seemed designed to flatter. It was already a miracle that she could bind her chest flat enough not to ruin the lines on the men's shirts she had already (and finding those shirts had already been tough enough as is).
Then he turned his head and she saw his face and for one terrible moment she thought she had been checking out Shaun. She very quickly pulled out her thermos of matcha tea to wash away the bile. But she was left wondering why he looked so much like that a#~#$~@. Older brother perhaps? Or, given the circus that had been earlier that morning, something weirder like a clone? Might be best not to say anything until she had more info. First thing to check would be how similar his voice and speech were to the angry Scotsman; after all, people who grew up together tended to talk like each other, whether or not they meant to.
"Hey, do you mind? I'd rather not get cancer through second-hand smoke."
Having thoroughly vented his frustrations on a defenseless rowing machine , Shaun changed into a plain green tank and a tartan hoodie.
- - -
The Shaun-alike blinks, then looks down at Kaoru like he's only just noticed her. "Uh, *cough*, what?" His voice is deep and full of bass, with a slight midwestern tilt. In other words, nearly nothing like the mid-range, super-thick accent Kaoru knows Shaun to speak with. "Didn't see you there. Sorry..." He drops the tobacco roll on the ground and rubs a finely tailored shoe into it before resuming staring into space. "...what're ya listening to kid?" he asks, clearly attempting to make polite small talk.
Kaoru's eyes follow the motion of the cigarette. Fk, his dress sense was impeccable. He had even used a full Windsor knot to perfectly complement the wide collar on his dress shirt and huge shoulders. Unless that was the only knot he knew and it was pure coincidence? No, that was definitely it. There was no fking way someone who looked that much like Shaun could be that stylish.
"Piano Guys," she said flatly, trying not to glare too venomously at him. After all, he wasn't Shaun, so she should at least try not to be a complete ass. "You here from out of town? Visiting family or newly arrived? Your accent's midwestern," she added by way of explanation. Ok, even if he doesn't talk like that dipshit, maybe he's still related some way. And if I'm *very* lucky, maybe I can get that idiot in trouble.
The well-dressed man nods absentmindedly. "Hm...good pick. They're talented..."
His eyes slide over to Kaoru when she begins to pry, his eyes suspicious. "...just got back actually. I don't...well, if I live anywhere I guess it'd be Halcyon. But I'm not in town a whole lot. Business trips..." He coughs and looks forward again. "You sure as hell aren't from around here. I'm guessing...Chinese? Japanese?" Without looking, he motions to the laptop. "I'm not great with kanji, but I know that isn't Korean."
Kaoru bit back a sarcastic comment about how clearly all the locals must be white for him to make such an assumption. "Japanese-American, if that's what your asking." Technically she was actually a dual citizen since her mother had been born in Japan, and her parents had made sure to register her with the Japanese government, but he didn't need to know that. She smirked. "And setting my language preferences to Japanese is cheaper than a privacy screen."
She paused. If Alexandra were here, she would no doubt have some super smooth, subtle way to find out this guy's relationship to the resident thorn in her side. She would also probably figure out where he had gone on his business trip from his watch, where he was from by the kind of tobacco he liked, and his favorite flavor of ice cream from...something else. But she wasn't, and Kaoru wasn't her, so she went with the direct approach. "You look like a student at Halcyon High. He your brother or something?"
He chuckles, a sound that rumbles up from the back of his throat. "Fair enough..."
The pointed question almost immediately gets his posture to stiffen. He stands fully upright and looks down at Kaoru with narrow eyes. He is indeed very tall, his silhouette eclisping the sun entirely. "...I don't have any family." A not-quite casual smile curls his lips. "You're a curious one aren't ya? What's your name?"
"...I don't have any family."
"By choice or by genetics? 'Cause you could be his twin."
"You're a curious one aren't ya? What's your name?"
"Kaoru. What's yours?" She resisted the urge to stand up as well. It wouldn't make much of a difference, and she was pretty sure such an action would only highlight the fact that he had about a foot on her in height.
"...choice. A bad choice, but a choice." His expression is distant but stoic in that classical, statuesque manner. "Just drop it kid. I don't have a twin, and I don't have family."
He studies Kaoru for a long, quiet minute. The air around Kaoru suddenly seems uncomfortably warm. "...Duncan. You been in the city for long, Kaoru?"
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Kaoru considers making a comment about how he's not missing much (especially if he really were related to Shaun) but instead settles for a half-shrug and drops the topic. She meets his gaze levelly as he studies her. Oddly, she didn't feel self-conscious about it. She just felt like she needed to show she didn't feel threatened by him. Even if perhaps she should have. "Not too long. Why do you ask, Duncan?"
Duncan's eyebrow raises in exactly the same way as Shaun's. Though, his associated expression is much more stoic than the teen's. "Wanna know if my boss sent you to spy on me." Judging from his face and voice, he's dead serious.
Kaoru smirked. "Well, if they did, now is where I'd be asking for a counter-offer to feed them false information. Though if I were your boss, I would have picked someone more subtle than me for this kind of work. And I probably would have approached you instead of sitting around just hoping you'd decide to smoke next to my chosen tree, so I could spark up a conversation."
He blinks, slightly surprised by the "counter offer." He chuckles again, the sound seemingly dissipating the unnerving warmth. "Wow. That's...not the reaction I was anticipating. You've got some mouth on ya kid." His posture relaxes again as he takes a seat on the ground next to Kaoru. "You don't work for her. You're not boring enough. Got too much of a personality." A coy smile crosses his face. "But, it's not exactly hard to find me. I'm a bit of a creature of habit. I always stop here to relax...when I'm in town that is..."
Kaoru raises an eyebrow at the man. "Oh? Were you expecting a flat denial then? I suppose that would be the typical response from both someone who was spying on you and some random person who didn't know what the hell you were talking about. Though if you are worried about someone spying on you, you either need to figure out what misinformation you want to spread and have it prepared or you need to be less predictable to make it harder to play you."
"Wow, That's massive" Cassie says, peering over the rail a little nervously [b]"I know some people have a real problem with that and,.. well it must've been difficult. I don't know why she wouldn't want to stay here, but I'm sure she has her reasons,... Its pretty obvious that she's crazy about you. I don't know but,.. Maybe it'd be too much for her parents all at once? Not that my family experiences have been overly positive, but she probably still cares what they think. Maybe telling them she's moving in with her girlfriend on the same day she told them she's gay would've been too much? You need to talk to her though really. See what she says."
[dice=Comfort]2d6
"Too much for them? Her parents put bars on her windows before they found out she was gay. If she can't come to me until things get better with them, then we may never be together! I don't want her to be-- I just want-- I don't know. And then I yelled at her and wasn't supportive and now it's all messed up. I messed it up. And she's coming and she's going to hate me and how can I lead a team if I can't even be a good girlfriend?"
Her verbal torrent finally ends with her red-rimmed eyes looking wild and desperate at Cassie.
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Duncan shakes his head. ”Nah, worried’s the wrong term. More...morbidly curious, I suppose...” He waves a hand dismissively. ”’Sides, what little normality I get nowadays is the only thing keeping me sane. My boss...well, let’s just say she’s a bit much. And I don’t have much to occupy myself with besides work, so...” He sags against the tree, having seemingly dropped his guard somewhat and allowing an inner tiredness to show.
Alexandra Rolls her eyes at Shaun's Melodrama.she goes to Wing's room, but hears... unstable emotions coming from that one... maybe she'd apologize later.
And so, she was in the dining room, with Alexis, trying to think of something nice to say.
ouch. You gut stuck in Am. Hist. 2? Gods, do I not miss that class. she says what else are you in? Bio, Geometry, World lit?
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"Hmm, well maybe you should find a new job? Sounds a bit like a hostile work environment. I'm guessing it pays well, but there are more important things in life. And yeah, I know, I'm just some kid, so what the hell do I know about this? But the number one regret people in hospitals have on their deathbed is that they worked too much. I mean, I don't know if you're religious or anything, but if you're not, and you believe this is the only life we get, do you really want to spend it doing something that's clearly burning you out?"
You're a bit of a hypocrite, aren't you? You know mother works one of those high-paying, no work-life balance jobs, and you get to reap all the benefits of her salary from it. Can you really just tell this guy there are more important things than money while you're sitting cozy and fed from someone else's labor? You *know* she constantly looks tired, right? And you've never tried to get her to change her job. You've never been grounded because there would be no point. What's she going to do? Make sure you're in bed by 9pm from the other side of the globe? I think you just *like* being alone and having free run of the house. You've practically been crawling up the walls having her around for the past couple of weeks.
What are you really planning?
”HA!” A laugh explodes out of him, a sound with enough bass behind it to rattle windows. ”Aha, oh jeez kid! Ah, “burning me out.” That’s funny. You sure you don’t work for her?” He clears his throat. ”Eh, it’s not that simple. I...signed a contract without reading the fine print. Short of me just dropping dead right now, the b!%&+ owns me. And...well, let’s just say I’m not likely to die anytime soon.” He shoots Kaoru a playful glance. ”And even if I did, I’m pretty sure she’d own my remains too. Probably mount them on her wall or something.”
”No...quitting isn’t an option for me. I just gotta...persist...” He stares forlornly off at a family having a picnic across the way before sighing deeply. ”...hey, you got any classic rock on that thing?”