Shin leaves Tenfold behind, going off to try and catch Valerie before she could leave. He was still frustrated and torn about how to deal with her wanting to get out of here with her sister. He didn't think it was safe with her being on Shard's s%#*list, and likely also being hunted by others.
He sees Connie, and beyond her, the two heads of Victoria and Valerie heading off. "Thanks for trying," He tells her, hustling off after them both. Technically it would have been faster to fly, but he wasn't sure he trusted his ability to curb his power right now.
"Valerie!" He calls out to her, hoping she stops. "I'm sorry. I had hoped for better." He looks at her and her sister with an understanding. "...I can't stop you from leaving. But I'm worried that it won't be safe for you to be on your own right now. At the very least, I'd like it if we had a way to keep in touch with each other. So I know that you're okay."
|
The day before the party Femtite receives a ring on her Bug-eye Communicator.
"Femtite, Indy here. Could you come by, I need to talk to you."
---
Femtite is looking jovial and festive when she shows up, having magical-girled on a pretty Christmas sweater-dress. It’s adorable, but she looks mildly annoyed. “Do you know my Goddesslike Beauty program can’t possibly make an Ugly Christmas Sweater because they’re objectively Not Beautiful?
“Sorry. Shoulda led with ‘hi.’” She smiles pleasantly. “What would you like to talk about?”
---
Raising an eye ridge he wonders
"If you wanted to participate in ugly sweaters, you could just wear one as Maeve. But that's not what I wanted to talk about. The other day the keyward on your bug-eye went out. Wouldn't be much of an issue seeing as it served it's purpose back when we returned with Val's parents. But, it does raise suspicion as to who and why."
He shakes his head, "The who is pretty obvious given I believe you and yours are the only ones really capable of accessing the Bug-eye, as anyone who wanted to toy with it without your express permission would be.... hard pressed to say the least."
Raising a clawed pointer at her, "So then the question is why Femtite?"
---
“I don’t want to pay money for something hideous,” she says of the sweater for Maeve.
When Percy mentions the magic on Bug-Eye being dispelled, her eyes light up. “That… actually worked!
“Ah, yes. With Mother having exiled Connie from the Nanometeor in response to the threat she made—Fuzzbat’s memory, you know… well, I thought it best to keep those two away from each other. So, I made a Selkie tennis racket! Final Fantasy selkie, not Girl From the Sea selkie.
“The idea was to remove Connie’s wards when it’s time to move the planet. Y’know… because Connie and my Mother in the same vicinity? While live-streaming…?
“Anyway, the device immediately melted into pinkish-purplish goop. But if Bug-Eye was warded, that explains that.”
---
Indarius deadpans first at the ugly sweater situation mainly because that's the whole point of ugly sweaters is to be ugly for the singular purpose of- that didn't matter.
He sighed and pinched at his muzzle, "Okay. Hold up, you want to disable the wards protecting your planet when it's at it's most vulnerable. Without asking the person who put them there if there would be any backlash consequences of just ripping them apart in an unspecified order. To keep your planet safe?" Indy doesn't push the question for a moment just to let her stew on that bombshell of information. But just before the gears start working he interjects again.
"Especially knowing that Connie is much Much more experienced with protective and tamper proof wards than myself? It's honestly probably best if my ward was the one to take the blow. I assume you haven't tried to dismantle any more. Do I have that right?"
---
Femtite shakes her head. “I was afraid to make another. It cost me thirteen dollars, and… yes, I did consider that she probably has multiple wards, and dispelling one could trigger another.”
Trying not to go off-topic, she gets to the direct answer. “Yes, you have that right.”
---
He removes his claws from his muzzle and glares at her, "Really because it seems to me like you didn't think about that until I brought it up right now. And you're claiming it as your own." With a wave of his paw he shoos that thought away, "More to the point of the matter however."
"One, that's a very asinine way of thinking, to consider it safe to deconstruct the wards protecting your planet, before you've assured your planet is safe at all. Two, you're just repeating the mistake of making decisions without consulting anyone. Three, you're repeating the mistake of making decisions behind Connie's back that definitely involve her. Four, you could have very potentially doomed your planet to destruction by tearing magical wards apart without knowing how they work or how they'll react to the attempt at all. Five, do you really think Connie threatened your mother over nothing of substance?
Though his tone has risen with each numbered point it fades again, like a wave crashing back into the sea. His gaze switches from a glare to one searching for the gears turning behind them, for the actual thoughts and feelings behind what he's about to say.
"Femtite, I know you love her, she's your mother and I would do the exact same for mine no matter what happened or what she did. But you can't ignore that she almost caused the complete extinction of your people's world twice now. Yes, she worked very hard to save it all that time ago and was crowned it's ruler 'forever' because of her deeds. That doesn't give her full control over every life on the Nanometeor, including your own, or how they get to be spent. Because as Connie's Pixite body has proven, Pixites can still die."
Not sounding big or particularly proud of pointing that out he continues, tension once again rising in his gullet, "She has to know her actions have consequences that can bounce back on her. What Connie said was a show that there are those who will reprimand her, that there are those who could remove her from power if she keeps endangering one, two, six, or any number of billions or trillions of lives. You defend her, even when she could have destroyed your entire way of life, and now you're taking similar missteps."
He breaths deep and actually starts to show some sign of anger over the repetition of Femtite's recent behavioral shift. "Because you're acting without thinking it through or consulting people who actually know what's going on, namely the people who put those safeguards in place in the first place. You're thinking like a young haughty queen who doesn't seek counsel from those around her."
Finally that anger comes full force, in a terrifying manner as the building wave of emotion erupts from him with a deep seated rumble that almost seems to shake the walls, "And that!" Only for his features to slacken with regret at raising his voice at her. He breaths deep sighs into the air, almost like someone who's exhausted of some invisible battle, "And that scares me. I think it scares us all. I don't want to yell at you Femtite, I really don't but what you've done. Especially recently it just hasn't sat well. I'm not saying Connie doesn't have her faults or isn't to blame either, because trust me she's pulled some s+&& without talking to us first. And- and she regrets it, even if I forgive her. I don't-" He takes a shaky breath, "I don't want you to have regrets because of the same reasons."
---
Femtite is pretty calm up until Percy justifies Connie’s threat. But it’s pixites-can-still-die that she speaks to.
“You don’t know what my people went through when we crashed into your world! You don’t know what my Mother went through after the Crash! For Connie to make a threat—an Act of War? That’s what removing a queen by force is, so yes, Mother severed her connection with the zombie body and removed it from this dimension.
“And you saw the looks on the faces of both queens in Fuzzbat’s memories. Did they look like they derived any pleasure from that? All Connie had to do was plant the pole—the insults and the threat were totally unnecessary.
“And now I’m on a mission to show Faetite’s people humans are our friends, and live-stream the Move to show humans who we are.
“I’m scared Connie is going to see my Mother’s ship and say something that undermines my whole mission. I’m scared to even talk to her about my planet at all—she’ll blow up. I can’t even say Merry Christmas without getting a negative comment in return.”
Her aura starts to flicker. “And now you’re doing it too. I make a ward dispeller. It doesn’t work. I stop and think. And now you’re like ‘oh really you got that idea from me just now.’ Really?! Do I have to live-stream my every thought just to prove I actually weigh options? Do you really think it was the thirteen dollars alone that stopped me? They have five-dollar bug-zappers too, y’know.”
---
The five-dollar bug-zapper comment actually throws Indy off for a moment before he lets out a short laugh, it's melancholic. "You're right I don't know, but that's because you don't tell us." His wings droop and his up until now straight and defiant tail curls around his lower legs.
"For humans a threat, or a warning, without action isn't an act of war as far as I know. How are we supposed to know it is for pixites if we aren't told? Yeah, she didn't need to say the things she did, I would have preferred she didn't. But she did and now we have to pick up the pieces. Preferably as delicately as possible, which means we need to know about Pixites and your mom more than ever. "
"You should also know that, you don't know everything that happened to Connie, neither do I, but you can always ask and if she feels safe enough to talk to you. Doubtful right now, there's a of bridge to be rebuilt. I'm sure she'd explain why she's so spiteful of your mother. But she's not here and I can't and won't answer for her, so."
He folds both of his forelimbs in front of him like a businessman in a meeting and lowers his head towards Femtite, "Tell me what happened when you crashed. Tell me what they tell you and all the other pixites. Tell me why your Mother, from both timelines, butts heads with Connie over such simple stuff."
---
Femtite relaxes a little. “Before I start, understand: Connie accusing my Mother of extinction-level risk does not make it so. In the second case, I have accepted the responsibility. In the first… it’s something Connie said about her anger: a ‘world-destroying wrath.’
“That phrasing is exactly why Faetite and many others fear humans. Titans. To my people, humans can be like intervening gods, capable of protecting us or destroying us… or removing our leaders like pieces on your chessboard.”
Moving on to The Crash…
“Before we came here, our planet was round—egg shaped, like any other rock in space. Our people were contained within, oblivious to our linear trajectory through the vast universe.
“I never viewed the memories of The Crash… I don’t think I could bear it. The world cracked open. Temperature fluctuations, presumably upon entry into your atmosphere, served as the only warning something was awry.
“They say there wasn’t pain. The deaths were on impact. Those who shifted to plasmatic states made up the majority of the survivors, many of which were displaced.
“Mother had the ability to grow to 970 microns, making it possible for the lost to see her, like a beacon. Mom added a telepathic AI feature to Honey Hive, The, and the two led a successful rescue effort.
“It may be obvious that Mother often found survivors among the dead. She also discovered the body of Queen Áine of the Lavender Spire. There was no funeral for her, as much as Mother thought she deserved the honor. The Four Queens couldn’t justify it… as so many pixites couldn’t be properly mourned.” She pauses before grimly adding, “Couldn’t find the time… couldn’t find all the bodies… and for many families, couldn’t find surviving relatives.”
---
Indy's face screws a bit on that first comment. "How could you assume responsibility for that? She's the one who gave you the stuff that made it all happen. The first instance has become a giant she said she said situation so I don't even know where to begin with that."
With a shake of his head he settles in to listen though. "I'm sorry that's awful, but you can still hold a funeral for those who have been lost. Did your queens never think of having a day of remembrance for those who died in the landing? Even without their bodies, there's plenty of examples you have to honor the memory of them, even if there aren't any family members left. We've got all kinds of those sort of things here on Earth."
He tried to keep his comments brief so as to not interrupt too much of her story.
---
To answer the question of responsibility: “I used my powers to investigate my own Mother, and overheard a conversation about a sister. Chastity only knew of her because I asked for advice the next day, thinking Mother had another daughter and never told me. I could go through the whole chain of events, but the only part my Mother had is giving me Seer’s Truth.”
Rather than go into that further, she answers his other question.
“There was too much to do to repair the world. And our planet was just sitting in the dirt. There were colossal creatures invading—bacteria! Our population was nearly wiped out from The Crash, and these monsters would not claim even one life.
“The first wave fell easily. Once my people found that killing these beasts gave them strength, hunting squads we organized. Those with the stronger minds were tasked with rebuilding. Those who could fight were the Huntresses.
“Then Mom discovered humans. She and other top scientists learned of your society and language, and eventually manipulated certain people into making way for a new exhibit at a local museum. Once the display case was constructed, the Nanometeor was delivered overnight as promised.
“No human was involved in the delivery, but since nothing was stolen and the Nanometeor was in place—glass case secured—people eventually stopped asking questions.”
Not forgetting what Percy actually asked:
“We did have a day of remembrance, recently. The funeral for Connie’s pixite corpse. Our people understood that she hadn’t actually died, that she chose not to become one of us. This wasn’t framed as a bad thing… it gave pixites the opportunity to have that funeral that no one was able to have during the crisis.
“I didn’t understand why Mother wanted a funeral until I saw how the pixites responded to it. It gave many of them closure… and maybe my Mother too. She and her predecessor had a complicated relationship.”
---
"So you believe you're the one responsible, because you peered into the alternate timeline? Is it because without bearing witness or hearing about it ourselves it wouldn't have happened? Since pixites are apparently too.." He grumbles not sure if there's a right word that isn't just insulting. "Pixites don't affect the cosmic flow or whatever, but Humans do hence why we've got the whole an observed particle thingy." Rumbling a bit he turns his head this way and that careful not to scrape his horns or frills anywhere. "I guess that makes sense. That's probably something you should tell everyone, that you feel responsible for it, why, and why your mom shouldn't be held accountable for it."
Chuckling rather uneasily he hummed, "Uh.. okay yeah so Connie didn't die... but that body." He recalls how it felt stuffing her mind and soul back into that cold stiff corpse. The perverse act even now bringing him to tremble a bit. "Nevermind." he states clearing his throat.
"I get the feeling that all relationships, pixite or otherwise are equally complicated and messy."
---
“I opened the dimensional door and heard the word ‘sister.’ That’s where the chain of events begins.” She shrugs. “The Crash wiped out much of the Pixite population. My mistake ultimately saved a billion who were otherwise doomed.
“Shin’s right… I should just count my blessings.”
Femtite still has a doubt about Percy’s advice.
“I… don’t think telling the rest of the team my Mother is not at fault for something will go over well.” Her aura pales considerably, and she falls silent for a few seconds.
Her aura flickers back to its golden glow as she agrees, “All relationships are messy and complicated.”
---
"I think they'd understand if you explain it, try it on one person at a time. We tend to get a bit of mob mentality. Anything else that might help me actually understand your people though?"
---
“Mob mentality… yes.” Femtite’s aura reddens as she stews silently, but when she eventually makes eye contact with Percy, she starts to cool down.
“I’m not sure what you’ll find interesting… what about dragons? Do you…? I mean, this is new and your parents are human.
“So do you know some things from your studies? Will you need to communicate with Mr. Drake to learn more? Are you… are you…? No, that’s probably not..”
Femtite’s aura flickers a little, then stabilizes as she decides not to ask.
---
"Don't exactly have much to go off of. Historical records are probably a bust, since there aren't accounts of anything other than the fire breathing kind.. at least in western. Sometimes poison spewing dragons crop up. But yeah any accurate historical stuff for dragons is probably just fantastical fluff."
He shifts a bit, "Medically there are bits of me that just don't make sense. Doctors say my bones and muscle tissue is so dense that I should weigh much more than I actually am. So i'm sure I'm breaking at least the square cube law. By that note I shouldn't be able to fly, so there goes a few aviation laws. Scale density, regenerative capabilities, the fact that i'm a living heat sink. Hard to tag what's actual science and what's just my magical nature because it's an odd amalgamation of both."
Though his draconic features were hard to read on most emotions, the teeth baring scowl signaled pretty obvious annoyance. Though it didn't seem directed at Femtite, "Burned any attempt at a bridge with Drake after that night. Am I what though?"
---
“No, you didn’t.” Femtite seems way too sure about that. “Well, okay, I mean.. you might have?
“But elders—okay… pixite elders have several millennia of experience. Our problems are just a flash in the pan of their existence.
“You should have seen Queen Solveig. When I had to speak before the council, she was silent the whole time… and when she spoke at the end, she was so—haha! She’s the oldest queen! I think she convinced Queen Donoma and Queen Kianga to accept my proposal. I never asked Mother—not my place—but I think the vote was 4-to-1, my favor!
“Oh, uh, haha..” She catches her tangent, and gets to the relevant part. “I want to help. Seriously. Who better to help you mend that bridge to Dragonville than a pixite? Pixites are fire, so if he sneezes on me, I won’t die.”
Her jovial expression grows serious. “Oh.. my question. I… hope it’s not rude, but I just wonder because….”
She doesn’t know which reason best finishes her sentence. So she skips to the question:
“Are you immortal?”
---
His eyes narrow for a moment and there's the immediate thought that he might shout again, but he relaxes and starts with the easiest question.
"I... don' t know. Probably not? Drake seemed to be centuries old, so I've probably got a life expectancy way longer than the normal human. As for Drake... sure he can't hurt you with his fire, but he's also a powerful mage like myself. And now that I bloodied his nose he's likely not going to play with kid gloves next time we see him. I wish it hadn't come to that, but I couldn't let him start wars with his plans."
Shaking his head he throws those thoughts away for now, he really didn't want to discuss Drake right now.
"In humans age jades us to things that are actually happening in the world. It brings experience, but I mean look at any politician now days, they're sort of blind to the changes happening and the ramifications of what they're doing. Because it nolonger affects them personally. That's... probably different with Pixites since you're all unaging. But I bet there are those who still want for change just slower. But I'm glad the eldest queen vouched for you."
---
“Me too. But I’m more glad about how Mother took it.
“She voted against me.”
---
Percy sits there and taps his claws awkwardly since Femtite asked a pretty deep question and didn't really do much with the response. Instead of letting it hang too long he cleared his throat prompting her to go on.
---
Femtite takes the hint to elaborate.
“Aaaaand the likely reason Queen Solveig heard my proposal is because the world changed, such that being set in one’s ways is futile. Even Mother openly encouraged me at the Council… if she did vote against me staying on Earth, it was love over logic.
“I think she understands that if things work out with Chastity, my Maeve body will age considerably. Mom will probably add a fail-safe so…”
She gets back to what this has to do with Percy.
“So… you don’t know if you’re immortal or not. That’s a thing you should know. That’s a think Drake does know, I’m sure.
“He’s not a nice dragon, and he has people under him who are targeting my world—so honestly, it’s easy for me to write him off as a villain. As hopeless and useless, best avoided.”
She floats up a little, still positioned as if seated n leg crossed over the other, until her eyes are level with Percy’s.
“But you need him for all the answers Science does not have about dragons, and to put it bluntly, he needs to adapt or fade into irrelevance.
“I want to help you with this, if you’ll have me. I think it’s worth the risk to give Drake one chance. Two, if he doesn’t try to kill me?”
---
Percy's eyes narrow, "A fail safe? To what, rip away your choice once again?"
He shook his head, "Also no, I don't need to know if i'm immortal or not. Why would that be something I NEED to know?"
---
“A fail safe so I don’t…” Her glow dims. “You don’t understand. Swapping bodies has to be done with care. My Maeve-body was hospitalized because of dehydration… I can’t just swap on a whim, and I can’t leave my pixite form dormant for too long.
“So what is my future if I stay human for Chastity?—which is NOT a choice ANYONE can take from me, except her. It means there will be days where I look not much different than I appear now. And most days, my human body will age. I have one hundred three point two remaining years, but like any other nonpowered human body, mine can die prematurely.
“The fail safe is so when my human body expires, I change back and Maeve is no more.” She’s trying not to get emotional, but she’s clearly shaken. “It would be irresponsible and suicidal not to have that fail safe.”
She stops for a beat. “Maybe you don’t need to know… maybe you haven’t given this the kinds of thought that I have. Maybe you’re better off not.”
---
"The funny thing is, the fact you call it a fail-safe proves that it isn't your choice, since you don't have the key to turn it off. You don't have direct control over it nor do you know the trigger." He takes the logical route with her, it's a harsh truth but it is a truth.
"Have you ever thought that maybe some things aren't meant to go on forever Femtite? Like just... for a moment imagine if no one ever died. If humans were un-aging, or just lived for eons and eons growing ever colder to the world around them. There wouldn't be room for new things to grow. How far would our search for new experiences and emotions push us, how depraved would people become in that search? How controlling would we get to make sure things don't change from when we were children, when 'our' time was perfect? Sadly, you don't have to look all that far, just look at some of the people in charge of this and other countries. They're so out of touch with modern society that they literally don't understand the concepts of self-acceptance. We have entire religions that say being queer is wrong, which I'm sure you've heard plenty about."
With a sigh Percy continues with some melancholy to his voice, "We even have stories about immortal beings, cursed to forever be leeches on society. They're called vampires, and since I'm a dragon and I'm real and we've had very vampire-like villains in the past and plenty of stories about them, i'm not so sure they're just fairy tales anymore."
His temper flares slightly at bringing reaching out to Drake up again but it stays under wraps and even toned, "I have given it thought, and it scares me to no f##$ing end. So I'd rather live my life as full as I can and enjoy every moment with the people I love while they're still here. If that means that I don't talk to Drake, fine, I already gave him a chance, just like I gave Mathers a chance. I'm tired of being stabbed in the back by those more knowledgeable than me."
---
Femtite’s expression flattens at the ‘proof.’
“It is absolutely a choice. Mother wanted me to abandon my human body because being human nearly got me killed. I’m choosing to keep Maeve for Chastity. There is no other reason to have that body. Not one—and of course I know the trigger: the runes activate when the Maeve body dies, so I don’t.”
She holds up both palms.
“Or do you mean the other trigger?”
Over one palm, a yellow ball of fire appears. Above the other, an amethyst ‘egg.’
The egg cracks. Half dissipates. The other half remains with its jagged formerly-interior surface facing the ‘sun.’
“Pixites were mortal before The Crash. What made us evolve?” Tiny yellow sparks, as minuscule as the sharp end of a pin, float from the sun to the open egg.
“Particles from your sun rejuvenate us. The fey acknowledge us as immortal, but we will not outlive your sun.”
The fire over Femtite’s right palm dims to orange. Tiny sparks continue to flow to her left, but they fizzle to nothing somewhere over her lap.
“Long before the rejuvenating effects cease, we’ll have had several millennia to seek an alternate location for the Nanometeor—a world with a younger yellow sun. We’ll also have had time to weigh the risks of such a move, develop pixotech that minimizes the risk, consult seers and fey for alternatives, and debate whether acceptance is best.”
She lowers her palms. The sun and the egg dissipate at once.
“It sounds like you’ve chosen acceptance. I won’t attempt to dissuade you.”
As much as Femtite wants to be helpful, she doesn’t think Percy wants her help. That or she’s going about it the wrong way, since bringing up Drake makes him mad, and he embraces mortality whether he has it or not.
---
Peecy does his best not to let his eyes glaze over when she talks about Maeve like she's just another outfit to wear and discard when it gets tattered. Or how yet again it's only for Chastity as if she doesn't have any other want for a human life. What happens if Chastity stops being a thing with Maeve, will that version of Femtite just get tossed in the bin with the rest?
"I wouldn't say I've accepted it. But I know it's something I don't need or want to worry about right now. "
---
Femtite decides not to harp on the topic of mortality, since it seems to be outside both her comfort zone and Percy’s, for different reasons.
“So, uhhh… mystery solved, right?“ she asks, eluding to the original topic of the ward-removal.
---
"Not really. You didn't really explain anything. You just reiterated that things were bad right after the nanometeor crashed. It turned out to not be so awful. No one grieved, then connie's body was a chance to grieve. That didn't explain why you're so worried about the wards, nor why Millie has such beef with Connie."
---
“Not so ba… but… the death tol… the pixites grieved decades la…” Femtite’s glow dims. She decides not to bother.
“I need the wards dispelled so the Queens can move our planet. I agree I should ask Connie.
“My Mother doesn’t have a beef, so much as she was threatened and responded.“ Femtite doesn’t say this in anger, but it’s obvious she’s uncomfortable with the topic.
---
Percy nods at that, knowing he probably stepped on her toes with his previous comment, but again it was the truth that she had told him some more stuff about her planet but none of it seemed to tie to the whole start of this affair in any way he could detect.
"Well yes, I think you should ask her. Not in the middle of anything important. But ask her to talk in private sometime I'm sure she'll be willing to listen. Just... be clear about your intentions and the reasons why. I also think you should keep trying to talk to everyone in the team and keep us updated on things. We're obviously not all going to agree, and will butt heads more than once. But one-on-ones are going to get more results than everyone jumping on the Queen Millie is bad train all at once. That is, for if you want to try to explain to the others why you feel like you're responsible for the recent near dooms of the Nanometeor, to them and try to help..." He pauses clicking his tongue a few times as if choosing the next word carefully.
"aaaaaabsolve? Queen Millie of the garnered disdain. A simple explaination certainly won't clear things up immediately so if you're looking for quick results.. don't. But I think it may help settle everyone's mind on how you have been handling the whole affair emotionally yourself."
---
Femtite smiles a little. “Thanks… it has been emotional. I don’t condone what my Mother did. I do understand what good she thought would come of it, and I told her Connie’s reaction was perfectly normal. Any human would do the same. But I told her with love… and this is how Whippoorwill advised me to handle it.
“I just wish the team wouldn’t act like I’m disloyal for not turning against my Mother—which would be the epitome of treachery. I am loyal to First Class, loyal to my mothers, my world, its queens and Chastity.”
She shrugs off absolution. “There are many actions I don’t think can be absolved. But they can be forgiven.”
---
Percy nods and hums seeming to be ready to cut this conversation really, but his eyes flash as he remembers something very important. "Also, Femtite. Thank you very much for your gift. I didn't use it myself, but gave it to someone very dear to me."
---
“Oh—that’s good. I’m glad you found an opportunity to help someone close.”
Femtite smiles warmly, relieved at the topic-shift and hopeful that the conversation will end on a high note.
Percy is silent again for a rotation of movement, and gives Connie's hand a gentle reaffirming squeeze. "Well, what if I made the promise that so long as I'm around you never have to be lonely? Unless you want to be. Femtite and I talked the other day and...some stuff was.. uncomfortable to think about."
He leaves that sit for another beat but not much more, "The age stuff mostly, if I'm like Drake I'll be around for... centuries?" There was an obvious quiver in his voice, and it isn't hard to imagine what being alive for centuries implies when compared to the life of a single human. "So I want to spend... All the precious moments with people I give a s@*! about." Chuckling weakly to try and make a better light of the situation and silently praying that wasn't too weird he clears his throat and continues on. "I mean you're at least in the top three of badasses I wanna keep an eye on."
Connie laughs silently. "Sounds like the promise would really be good for as long as I'm around. And you've gotta know that a promise that ephemeral makes me immediately want to tear it apart. 'Cause Perce? I am considering going pro at the degradation of long-term relationships if they ever open up a league. I've lived in so many places, gone to so many schools, known so many people and I am close-close with precisely none of them that I met more than a year ago. I am Hard to be around. You Will get sick of the effort it requires, or you will learn that I am a worse person than you think, and you will wash your hands of me. So don't worry, I'm not gonna hold you to your promise."
She stops their dance and puts her hand flat against his chest. "But I won't let you be lonely. Even if I'm long dead, even if you've gone all Dark Overlord. I won't permit it. Mostly I mean making sure you eventually get better at making new friends, and finding ways to move forward past the old. But even if it means signing you up in perpetuity with the most annoyingly persistent community outreach in the dimension, or a preposterously long procession of different heads in jars to brighten up the mood at your dark citadel, I'm not going to just let unasked for longevity erode you."
|
|
Percy doesn't press the issue about keeping in touch with Connie, since it's definitely not a conversation for right here in the middle of the dance floor. Especially when she places a hand on his chest to stop.
Taking the hint, he starts to maneuver towards the edge of the floor so they can both not be in the spotlight.
"I can only hope it doesn't erode me, with or without help. Anyway, I hope that while you're still here and let me be part of your life that I can at least be a good time. Our planned flight sort of got cut short. So we'll still have to do that, maybe New Years? I kind of want to talk to some of the fliers here, see if there's a better way than just slapping the air as fast and hard as I can. It's exhausting"
Once they reach the edge of the dance floor he looks down at her again, "I know you aren't like.. super into public affection, and I'm bad at people stuff. But would it be okay to give you a friendly hug? You know as thanks for the dance as far as anyone else might be concerned?"
Connie glances up and away with a wry smile.
"Sure bud."
|
|
Though it may sound a simple affair, Percy has to crane down to wrap his arms around Connie. While doing so he brings his wings around the pair. "Thanks again Connie, I know you may not think it. But you are a good friend, promise."
After a good squeeze he retracts both the wings and his own form, "You know they're sort of like a weird pair of long fingered hands... the wings I mean-"
Good to continue making small talk with Connie till she tires of it.
Some time in the night Percy approaches the girl he'd seen around with butterfly-like wings, hoping to get a chance to talk at least a little bit with faces he hadn't seen around Halcyon yet. Sliding up with two cups of the punch he offers one.
"Hey, don't believe we've met before... and now i'm not sure if I should use my actual name or the cape name, haha."
After Shin had left the building for a bit Percy shot Shin a text.
Percy: Hey man any chance you can get me in contact with either Whippoorwill? I wanted to get some training from other fliers over the break.
Percy approaches DD through the swath of people near her, not pushing, but feeling he might have a little authority to talk to his former teammate. "Hey Dee, you still got a hardwire to Angel? I need to ask her something to help with the new body."
Reginald blinks in astonishment. "Th-- thirteen feet?" He whistles in appreciation.
Felicity leans forward and whispers to Percy, "I think you're very cute at this size."
Chastity looks Maeve up and down and smiles. She swallows back her nervousness and steps in close. She closes her eyes and tilts her head up, her lips slightly pursed and flushed. She waits, ready for their lips to make contact...
Valerie and Victoria pause and let Shin catch up. The younger Tepe steps back, but smiles at Horizon.
Valerie, however, looks conflicted. "You don't have to apologize. My fault for putting myself in that situation."
She shrugs. "I got a lot to figure out. I've been manipulated and used all my life. I want to feel free for once. Trying to be a hero is just trading one group of manipulators for another."
Victoria holds up the phone Shane just gave her. "And you can reach her on this! Just ask Shane to pass along a message."
The girl with the butterfly wings also has a small pair of antennae poking out of her bangs. She tucks her hair behind her ears -- which are normal, though sporting a set of dangly earrings -- as she looks Indarius up and down. "No, I don't think we have, since I don't live here in Halcyon. I go by Glasswing. Interesting look. Did you take the Wyvern Serum?"
Maeve delicately caresses Chastity’s cheek with her fingers.
Lips touch.
—and in that moment, everything is warm and tingly. Tongue exploring tongue, hands exploring sweaters, bodies pressed! Mae can feel her girlfriend’s heart beating against her breast… pleasure and passion are voiced in aitches and ems and fluids and heat transfer.
Connie gets a late-night text at the end of a Maeve Day.
Mae: Hi Connie.
Mae: I really appreciated your words on the dance floor. You even covered a minor swear for me, which was sweet of you.
Mae: I think using a swear to compliment you ended up as a joke that fell flat. Sorry if that’s the case.
Mae: Hey, if you just wanna try and hang out and talk about nothing, I’m okay with that.
Mae: But I also feel like you’re the best person to talk to about something weird that happened today at Chastity’s house. It’s not meddling in my love-life if I ask, but I don’t want you to feel that’s what our get-together is all about. So if you’d rather I don’t bring it up, it’s okay—and Chas and I are fine, so it’s not some emergency thing and I can always ask Raquel when she’s back from break.
Mae: Ohhh… sorry to overshare!
Mae: Anyway.. There’s an authentic Hong Kong Café that Chas and I tried a couple times.
Mae: Lunch on me tomorrow?
Mae: Keeping my Maeve body for tonight just in case it’s yes!
Connie: oh I didn't cover a swear
Connie: (but it's not important)
Connie: and while you're bad at swearing it didn't bother me
Connie: you can definitely talk to me about your gf though
Connie: (especially if you're buying)
Connie: where's the cafe?
Mae: Yay!
Mae sends an InfiniMaps link and an image of the place, then adds,
Mae: Let’s meet at 1:30 so we don’t have to share our table with a stranger!
Mae: Good night!
• • •
When Connie arrives, Maeve is already seated at a table. The table is circular with six stools around it. There are shopping bags on one seat. In front of the empty seat next to her, there’s a napkin, spoon and a pair of long plastic chopsticks.
Maeve says to the waitress, “She’s here, Jie Jie! Hi Connie!”
There are several cooked pigs and ducks hung by the window, as well as a red banner with four gold characters:
Connie might have noticed the waitress speaking to a Chinese couple in Cantonese. But she addresses Connie in English, “Welcome to the Hong Kong Eatery. I’m sure Mei Mei’s gonna rave about the BBQ pork, but if you’re in a hot soup mood, I recommend the beef brisket noodle.”
Maeve already has her index finger on a photo of BBQ pork rice with choi sam. She sheepishly slides it away.
The waitress says, “You two ladies take your time,” and moves to another table, speaking Cantonese as fluent and confident as her English. She appears to be a college girl. Despite Maeve calling her something like J.J., the name tag says ‘Ash.’
"Nice place. So uh, whence comes all the recent sinophilia? I could have missed it, but it seems new. Is the hot soup temperature or spice-level hot?"
“The whatophiliwhat? Oh, no. It’s not..” Mae pats her shopping bags. “There’s a place nearby I can get cute dresses cheap, and when I walked by this place I noticed the food here is inexpensive.
“Delicious too! I took Chastity here twice already! She didn’t know there were Chinese restaurants that don’t have fortune cookies. Wait. If I’m expanding her worldview by showing her that, does that make me a sinophile? I don’t want to put a label on it.”
"Sinophile: one who enjoys/seeks out specifically Chinese culture/food/language/stuff. That was Cantonese at the 'holiday' party, right? I wasn't sure why you went with that for talking to me, 'cause I didn't know you'd picked it as a secondary Earth language. Was it 'cause of this restaurant? Still looking for temperature vs. scoville info on the soup btw."
Mae nods, “Oh, haha, yeah… there was a banner before.” She points to the banner that’s there now. “Like that one, which says something faai lok.”
The waitress ‘corrects’ Mae: “San Nin Faai Lok.”
“Oh—Happy New Year, right Jie Jie?”
The waitress nods, then says to Connie, “Beef brisket’s temperature-hot. Spicy-hot upon request.” And without skipping a beat: “Not eavesdropping, just heard ‘scoville.’”
“Where’s that?” Maeve asks. And despite her obvious fascination with learning a couple new words, she says, “I think I’m more like a cheapophile.”
Talking about nothing is So Hard. This is exactly why the last time I had a meal alone with someone it was a psychosexual puzzle/tacos
"Umm... do you have Sichuan beef? Or anything else with the little numbing peppers? I know it's a looooong way from Hong Kong, and not all Chinese food is the same, so If that's s*+!ty to ask I'll just get the....Yeah the pork knuckles with ginger and vinegar. and then maybe a pile of this red stuff after bite #1"
Once she can speak a little more freely, Connie opens with, "So... we haven't really talked about the new body since you got it. I'm guessing our food's a lot more interesting than before, but what's been the biggest surprise about meat-suiting up?"
The menu is bilingual with options that include chicken feet and duck tongue. The choices are unfamiliar and there are very few pictures. Connie might get the idea that Maeve was open to the waitress’ suggestion. Especially since she orders in Cantonese.
The waitress nods at Connie’s choice. “Yes, that is available.”
Once Ash leaves, Mae replies, “The body? Haha… last week I ha… oh, but ‘breathing’ is probably the bigger shock. The first day, I was already dealing with having to obey the law of gravity, and I went to a bistro because I was so hungry. I guess breathing is automatic because I didn’t even think about having to do it until I went to bed.
“Now I do full days as Mae, and I have a morning routine. Work out, study… mostly my anatomy text.”
"... Do you want to go any farther in your studies there? I'm guessing if you're reading that thing every day you can't be on your first go round."
“Med school,” she says without hesitation. Her expression suggests she’s not sure she should have blurted that.
"... Skipping intervening stuff? Cause I bet fiery space princess you could do that, but otherwise you're signing up for fourish years unless you want to go somewhere with accreditation issues."
“I’m not sure how I’ll even afford it,” Mae admits. “I have the grades, so a scholarship is possible… but I’ll probably need to do like Jie Jie and wait tables.
“And I’ll be honest, I don’t have to have a career. But I… well, you know. I may nee… want this body until…” She stares at her chopsticks for a moment. “…decades.”
"Sure sure. Anything else locked into the future I should know about? Or just Med school (and then probably doctoring)?"
Maeve shakes her head. “I’m just preparing for a possible future in which this human body grows up. Nothing’s locked.“ She lets out a bitter laugh. “Except maybe the Robertson’s door after I was over yesterday.”
"Strife in their little Kingdom of Peace?"
“Kingdom isn’t even the operative word,” she replies. “I mean… I always expect to be washing dishes or whatever, so Mrs. Robinson is normally very easy to please. The father has little to no interest in me, and the grandparents adored me on Thanksgiving. It was so easy—and Chastity even came up with a sewing activity for the two of us so we could have a real conversation.
“Then… Jonathan showed up. He wants her back, and she keeps shooting him down. And poor Chastity was flustered like ‘what’re you—what?—remember Maeve?’ and he did this desperate silly thing…” Maeve does NOT admit to being Jonathan’s mirror with the desperate gift-giving. “…and he noticed my eyes and said something nice, and Chas basically got him to leave, closing the door while he lingered.
“Then her mom’s like what’s wrong with you—and Chas is like, I don’t like him—and that goes on and her mom asks me if I’d want a pious man in my life.
“So, you know… I can’t be openly gay, so I said yes, I appreciate a good Christian—meaning her daughter obviously to not-the-mother. And then I said if I tell a boy no and he keeps pressuring me to say yes, he’s not asking he’s telling. And I said the pressure is hurting Chastity, emotionally, and the boy is getting hurt too from the repeated rejection.
“And I know that Chas would have understood if I didn’t stick up for her, but…”
Maeve pours a jasmine tea into Connie’s cup, and then her own while stuck on the word ‘but.’
“…well, what Chas is going through.. well… I guess it’s-it’s not exactly unprecedented?“
"...Sorry wait. I want to be clear. You don't see the patriarchal underpinnings? We can map those out later I guess. And wait, John-boy knows about your little sewing circle and he's still sniffing around? Mauve flag. . And he clocked that your eyes were different? Mm. Let me know if you want my worst case scenario about that. I feel like you left the last part of the story out though. How'd her mom react to you flouting her?"
“You can’t not see the patriarchy in that house. I just thought the women and girls… and Jonathan being a mama’s boy… well, I thought wrong.
“My eyes were an easy cover. I told him I used to wear contacts. I find cover stories are easy when you use safe half-truths, but the worst-case is a very real danger.
“He has this photo.” Mae shows her cell phone Home Screen. It’s a photo of Femtite and Chasity together with frozen yogurts from the fro-yo place near the museum.
Femtite’s eyes match in this photo.
“As for the mom… she hugged her daughter and while doing so, said ‘thank you for the Kildare perspective.’ I said ‘you’re welcome,’ but her eyes and tone suggested my opinion was not welcome at all.”
"Yeah. If we were farther south that would have been a 'bless your heart'. Femtite, I'm gonna tell you something hard to hear. Don't bother trying to persuade Chastity's parents of anything against their ways of thinking. They've had a lot of time to get set in their ways; they have a lot of voices with comfortable explanations of why they're right, and comfortable explanations of why you're wrong. It'll just bounce off at best. It's not a matter of love or understanding, because those ideas have been rerouted through some restrictive, f$&+ed up channels, so you're not gonna reach them that way, especially not while Chastity's under their roof. You lack the cultural competency to do a good job of it, so the more important thing is to help Chastity see what's going on. Even if she doesn't want to actually blame her parents for it, making sure she's able to see that 'I should be able to love without you interfering' or 'my friend shouldn't be afraid to tell you what she actually believes' are true reasonable things that she can hold in her heart is important. It does mean not just pretending everything's okay, which I know is not something that comes particularly naturally to you."
Mae nods. “That’s fine. I definitely don’t want to openly contradict the parents… but I don’t want to lie to them ei…well…to ‘did you kiss my daughter at the party?’ I’d respond with two lies and zero truths.
“But you’re right. That’s good, how you put it. I’ll tell Chastity that.”
She sips her tea, then just holds the cup for a moment.
“Jonathan… he’s not a bad person. But he is a nuisance. The Robertson parents are encouraging him to win their daughter back. Do you know anyone who went through something like this—parents getting a straight boy or girl to ‘tempt’ their gay adolescent? She was never into him. You’d think the parents at least would waste a different boy’s time, or accept not-ready-to-date-yet as an answer.”
"Yeah. In my experience when you can't lie, there's actually still a ton of wiggle room, but yes/no questions are best dodged by either deflection or obfuscation. Change the question or give an answer long enough to add some fuzziness." She shrugs. "Or just lie if that's an option. I don't think lying is particularly less ethical than other methods of deception, but I'm aware that the distinction can be very important for some people."
"Orientation barely enters into it. If he's not ready to hear a 'no', a 'no I'm gay' isn't necessarily a lot more effective. I could metaphorically break his legs if you want? The real problem is that her parents aren't taking no for an answer, but I think it would cause more knock on effects if I again metaphorically broke their legs. Finding a beard is probably easiest, but it's time consuming since the whole courtship thing is important training, so if he neglects to actually do that part, it won't work. And if he does, like I said, time consuming. Probably best to break his legs you know the drill and have her be 'too focused on her studies to date."
“Chas already tried breaking his metaphorical legs with the I’m-busy excuse.”
It’s apparent that Maeve knows what is meant by ‘beard.’ “I was hoping Jonathan was looking for a beard himself. He doesn’t seem to really be into her, though… oh, I might be reading too much into nothing. I only actually met him twice.”
"...Yeah a polite 'no thanks, I'm not interested' isn't actually what I meant by breaking his legs. John-Boy's clearly not suitable as a beard anyways, not that there's anyone who's So Perfect a beard that it's worth arguing with Chastity over. Especially since, as I said, I don't think it's actually the best course. "
Maeve decides not to explain what she meant. She’s pretty sure both of her reads on Johnny were wrong anyway, and the leg-breaking might be an impolite rejection.
“Okay. Do you mean Chastity needs to make her no a definitive, I’m-done-being-polite ‘no?’ Or do you mean someone does the leg-breaking for her? And how, specifically, does that work?”
"He's clearly talking to the parents, so her getting harsh with him is medium likely to get them to do a full sit down to talk about the future and proper behavior. If an interested third party interceded that wouldn't necessarily provoke the same response. Oh, and if it's me, I'd prefer not to be tied down with specifics. It's easier to be sourceless if he asks her at school, but I don't know if that happens."
Maeve smiles at the offer, but it’s one of those smiles that comes with a ‘but.’
“Aww… you meant literally you would… oh. Thanks, Connie.”
She doesn’t even say ‘but,’ but just goes straight to:
“He’s home-schooled.”
"Eh, I could still do it if she wants. Also, there are worse things than an annoying dude asking you out. If it doesn't show signs of escalating I can leave it alone."
“Chastity played off what I said about pressure… so maybe she talked her mother down. At least until Valentine’s Day.
“I’ll tell her you offered, but I’m thinking the same. If the pressure is off, do nothing.”
The waitress delivers the meals. After Maeve takes a bite, she asks Connie,
“Is it okay if I ask you how things are, romantically speaking?”
"Inert. And to keep it that way I have engaged in some otherwise ill-advised hookups."
“Oh.”
Maeve daintily mixes some green stuff into her rice before taking another bite of her BBQ pork. She then picks up her choi sam, and just holds the vegetable with her chopsticks.
“Well, if… if you enjoyed these moments, this is… well. It’s good, right?”
Mae takes a bite of her vegetable to shut herself up.
"Speaking from experience, it's better than the alternative. Plus, you know me, wheels within wheels. Sometimes a hookup can have additional goals."
Mae swallows. “If you’re happy, then I’m happy for you. Still, if you ever want to introduce your hookfriend…” She doesn’t even try to finish her sentence.
“How’s the pork knuckle?” She notices there’s a plain bowl of rice, apparently as a complimentary side. Mae takes her unused spoon and picks up a slice of BBQ pork from the untainted side of her bowl. She offers to place it on Connie’s rice. “Would you like a bite of mine? It’s an end piece.. those are the best.”
Connie gratefully takes a bite. "I don't think an introduction is likely. But hey, it's Halcyon. The odds of a significant other developing powers or secretly being villainous is already pretty high. I'll introduce you if it's ever not blisteringly awkward to do so. So, do you want me to tell you that I'm romantically happy and fulfilled? Or are you looking for why I might want to actively avoid a romantic relationship? It seems contra to our little detente here, but if that's what you want to talk about?"
Maeve replies, “I’m just asking because I do want you to be happy, whether you get there by seeking romance or avoiding it.”
"I am not currently experiencing or seeking romantic happiness. Do with it what you will, but I'd move on."
“Fair.”
Maeve would gladly move onto a new topic. She doesn’t have one in mind, but if she did, she definitely would move onto it.
Connie closes her eyes and takes a couple bites before she reopens them. "This is really good. Cheer's going well. I've been floor routine, but Jade asked me to practice as a flyer next week 'cause let's face it, I've got the build for it."
“Oh, how fun! Are you still doing special effects, or just the physical stuff now? Like, no powers so you can be in the competitions…?”
|
|
Reginald blinks in astonishment. "Th-- thirteen feet?" He whistles in appreciation.
Felicity leans forward and whispers to Percy, "I think you're very cute at this size."
The girl with the butterfly wings also has a small pair of antennae poking out of her bangs. She tucks her hair behind her ears -- which are normal, though sporting a set of dangly earrings -- as she looks Indarius up and down. "No, I don't think we have, since I don't live here in Halcyon. I go by Glasswing. Interesting look. Did you take the Wyvern Serum?"
Percy isn't sure exactly how to take his Father's appreciative whistle. "Small case stufy, but based on Drake uh... i'm still practically an infant in terms of soze."
He shrinks away at his mother's cooing, "Moooooom, come'on Connie's right there. Don't embarrass me like that." Drawing out the words and covering up with his wings as if he could blush.
Percy laughed uneasily, "Nope, this is just how I am. An actual ice breathing dragon au natural. I go by Indarius, nice to meet you glasswing."
He thumbed back to his wings, "This whole situation is still a bit new to me though, figuring out how to fly is rough."
Connie forces a believably beaming smile. "Sorry Perce, by my understanding parental embarrassment is part of what you came here for."
"It's not your fault he was the most ungracious a@+!%$# to your sincere efforts," Shin tells Valerie. "I had to curb my instinct to deck one of his copies for what he said about you..." He realizes he's gritting his teeth, and tries to relax a little.
"Anyways. I respect that you don't want to work as a hero. I don't want you to do anything you don't want to do. But I do think that maybe, if you want to try and build a different life for yourself, having a safe place to live and maybe being able to attend school to learn what you want to do with your life would be a good idea. Though I've learned some stuff about home schooling curriculums. You don't even need a guardian if you're emancipated to enroll and the state will pay for the costs..."
He wavers a little. "I just...want to know you'll be safe. That no one's going to try and exploit you again." He looks back briefly towards the party. Towards the team.
"...Maybe I want to come with you."
Emboldened by Connie, Felicity pulls Percy into a hug. "See? You're my sweet baby... boy-dragon. And I can think you're cute."
Reginald grunts and rolls his eyes. "Sweetheart, don't smother the boy." He suddenly realizes his choice of words and chuckles. "Perc, I guess I can't complain if you're really a giant badass dragon."
He drops into the reclining chair and props his chin on his hand. "You know, I've had a hell of a time with that lift. I've got the engine block lifted halfway out and it's stuck. Are you, like, super strong, by any chance?"
Chastity... isn't a great kisser. Too timid at first, then she forgets to swallow and it gets a little wet. She backs off, wipes her mouth while apologizing profusely, then closes her eyes for a second go.
She backs away, flustered. "I'm sorry. I'm messing it up. It's supposed to be perfect and I just don't know how to kiss a girl." Her cheeks burn red and she lets her hair drop in front of her face in embarrassment.
Glasswing gasps. "Oh! Indarius? I've heard of you! One of the new magic heroes, right?" Her brow furrows in confusion. "I thought you were a guy in robes. Interesting disguise."
She nods in better understanding when he explains that the dragon form is new. "Oh, yeah. Flight with wings is a whole thing. Sure. I wish it was as easy as Captain Stalwart makes it look. But I still have kind of an autopilot. So... your wings don't work on their own?"
Horizon's last statement gives her pause. Valerie stops and stares at Horizon for a moment, and it's only Victoria's open stare that shakes her free. "I mean, well, you do you." She glances back at her sister. "What? All right, whatever."
She gives Victoria a halfhearted kick to get her moving again and starts to follow her. Valerie pauses, though, and looks back to Shin. "Okay. Um, maybe you could, you know, help me get back into school somewhere. Someplace low-key. No ultra-preppy place where no one but a!*~*!&s go. Right? Dammit.
"And if it doesn't work out, maybe. We'll see, if you want to come along."
She turns her back and starts walking away. Victoria falls in step, walking close to her.
"He likes you!"
"Shut up."
"He liiiiikes you! Do you like him back?"
"Shut. Up."
Maeve brushes some hair away from Chastity’s face.
“You’re not messing anything up, Chastity, because you’re making me happy. That is all the kiss has to do.”
Mae runs her fingers through Chas’ hair, then brushes it back, exposing the left side of her neck.
“And if you aren’t having fun yet, it just means we need more practice.”
"This place is great! Check out the--" her voice is cut off when she sees the outside deck is occupied. Lounging in a deck chair is a thin man with a shock of pink in his hair.
"Oh good! You got my invitation! Hey Baby Girl! Caio, my boy! Good to see you again!" Cortex says.
"Surprise...?" He says to Skyler. To be fair, he was suspecting from the beginning Cortex could be behind this vacation, so he is not completely caught by surprise.
"Uh, hey Dad. So, uh... hi?" Skyler appears thoroughly caught off guard. She tugs uncomfortably at the oversized sweatshirt still keeping her frame amorphous and looking out-of-place in the beach house.
Cortex rises from his chair, setting down a drink with a little umbrella sticking out of the glass. "Come on, give your old man a hug," he says, holding his arms wide. Skyler sullenly enters the embrace, then steps away as soon as he lets go.
"Well, I know you two are eager to enjoy your little holiday getaway, so I won't be long. I wanted to offer you my Christmas gift, and then I'll be out of your way."
Skyler's mouth drops open. "Dad, you've never gotten me anything before. I don't need--"
Cortex puts his hand on her cheek. "You're cute, you know that? I've done plenty for you over the years." He drops his hand to his side and looks at Caio. "My gift is for you too. It's kind of a two-fer, come to think of it. And I don't mean letting you pop my daughter's cherry. That's totally up to her."
Caio extends his hand. "Merry Christmas, Cortex."
"And don't worry. I won't ever force her into do anything and I'm glad we agree her whole life is totally up to her."
Caio then takes her hand. "Sky, it is a good thing if your father wants to be more present. Family is always important."
smaller]"Is it?"[/smaller] she whispers, still on edge.
Cortex shakes Caio's hand, then waves them back inside. "I know you won't do anything wrong by her," he says with a chuckle. "And family is absolutely important. That's why I make sure that anyone who threatens my family pays for it. At first, I was going to do it all myself. But then I realized, you both have your own scores to settle. So, in the spirit of Christmas, I arranged for you to have this vacation where I can give you my surprise. Come on, upstairs."
Skyler frowns. "What are you talking about? Dad, I'm sure it's nice and all, but you didn't have to get us anything." She squeezes Caio's hand tight as she reluctantly follows Cortex up the stairs.
The upper floor of the beach house has a balcony overlooking the living area, with skylights offering plenty of natural light and a view of the ocean. The rest of the floor are bedrooms, one of which Cortex opens. Inside the bedroom is a woman gagged and bound in silvery chains that Caio immediately recognizes. Lua, the former werewolf howler. Skyler gasps.
"Merry f*+@ing Christmas, Baby Girl."
Caio drops Skyler's hand and slowly walks towards Lua. He crouches beside her and stares at the woman for a while, lost in his thoughts.
"Thanks for your gift, Cortex." He says as he stands up and turns back to them. "I could not arrest her when she came looking for me, but now we can, thanks to you. The Brazilian Consulate will be very pleased."
"She was already getting deported," Cortex says impatiently. "But that's nowhere near punishment enough. Not for having her dogs touch my baby girl."
Skyler shakes her head. "Dad, it's all right. I already did enough to the one who--"
"It's NOT all right!" Cortex cuts her off with a shout. His eyes blaze and Lua draws back. "Now. You neutered one werewolf. This one needs her fangs removed as well."
Skyler's eyes go wide. "No! I don't know what I did then! I can't--"
"Here's your chance to practice. Otherwise, if she gets away, what's she going to do? Continue to hurt people. Form another pack, hunt... whatever else werewolves do."
Lua's face shows panic and she turns to Caio, her voice muffled by the gag.
"You don't become an alpha without making enemies and being the strongest. Lua isn't strong, not physically, and she only managed it because she was a howler." Caio explains to them. "But she's lost her powers... when she returns to Brazil she'll be hunted down. She is done."
He looks back at Lua. "I've spent most of my life fearing and hating her for what she had done to me. I'll never forgive her, but I've moved past her. Blood only brings more blood."
"Sky, I'm pretty sure you've been told enough what to do. You alone must decide who you want to be."
"That's the beauty of telepathy," Cortex smirks. "There's no blood at all." He pauses, thinks, then amends, "aside from the odd nosebleed."
His brief side joke doesn't stop the telepath from looking deeply disappointed. "It's no fun to let someone else do your dirty work. And if she's not done? What if she's able to get power again? Trust me, you don't leave ruthless people alive and turn your back on them."
Skyler still looks wary, while Lua's initial look of fear is now replaced with fascination with Caio. She mumbles a question behind the gag.
"Oh, yeah. You probably don't know, do you?" Skyler says to Lua, moving into the bedroom to stand next to Caio. "He's free. The Wolf's gone."
Lua mumbles again, still questioning. Cortex's eyes flash, and he chuckles. "Oh, she doesn't like that fact one bit. Lua, darlin', what's the penalty for a werewolf who gets cured?"
"Mmph."
"Death. Though so," Cortex says. "Still just want to let her go?"
Skyler shakes her head. "I-- I shouldn't. It's not right."
Cortex rolls his eyes. "Baby, I'm going to kill her if you don't fix her. So take your pick."
"I wasn't cured." He says, turning to Lua again. "The spirit was taken away from me as a side-effect in a one of a kind ritual. There is still no cure."
Back to Cortex, he continues, holding his ground. "I'm not like you and I'm not like her. I'll repay hatred with kindness, for this is the only way to break the cycle... yes, it is risky, but I'll take the risk." He says, looking at Skyler by his side. "I'm not naïve. I know this is not how the world works, but if we don't take a stance, it will never change."
"Can't you see how deep into this cycle of hatred you are, Cortex?" He asks, hopeless. "You did not raise your daughter, probably because of too many enemies and I'm sure you've killed enough of them. Do you feel Skyler loves and respect you? I feel she is deeply scared of you... It is f+*+ing Christmas and here we are, trapped in a hostage negotiation, with you trying to make her become like you!" He looks between the two. "Isn't it time for you to include yourself on the list of people wishing her harm?"
Skyler grabs Caio by the shoulders. "No! Stop! Please, shut up!" she begs desperately, eyes wet. She spins around, keeping herself in between her father and her boyfriend. "I'll try! I'll make you proud, just don't hurt him!"
Cortex's dark and dangerous glower tears away from Caio as he watches Skyler focus on Lua. She leans over the bound woman, risks a quick glance over her shoulder at her father, then holds her hand out to hover just above her forehead. "You were going to take him away from me forever," Skyler whispers. Her fingers twitch and her hand moves like she is catching raindrops.
Lua shudders and her eyes go unfocused. Skyler steps back, trembling. "There. Violence now terrifies her."
Cortex smirks at the whimpering werewolf. "Not bad. A little vanilla, but you'll get more creative, I'm sure." His smile fades as he turns to Caio. "That's a special love, right there. You're lucky I gave you immunity. But don't push your luck, son."
"I did what you wanted, can you just go now?" Skyler says, not taking her eyes off Lua.
To look into Skyler's fearful eyes was like to look into a mirror. He was afraid his whole life and once he was free, he sworn to himself he'd not let that happen again... yet he was once again afraid, more so than ever.
There could be no future for him and Skyler as long as both were so deeply scared of Cortex. His fists slowly form into a ball. With Matariel's power, there could be a chance for him to knock Cortex out. Small chance, but at least there was one... but there was no rain now. Caio was simply a young man scared for himself and for his girlfriend, yet people react differently when scared and cornered.
In a flash, while Skyler was looking at Lua and begging her father to leave, Caio was trying to punch her father.
Directly Engage 9 (with afraid and influence). Impress, surprise or frighten!
Cortex rocks back from the pain and shock of the unexpected punch. He staggers back into the hallway as Skyler shrieks.
"M@!+$$-f$*&!~!" he shouts, holding his nose and reacting to the flow of blood. "When I said nosebleeds, I didn't ask for a f$@$ing demonstration!" He straightens, continuing to dab at his nose.
A massive headache strikes Caio without warning. A high-pitched whine fills his ears as agony floods his cranium. Coherent thought becomes nearly impossible as the pain makes him nearly insensate.
After a moment the nightmare migraine ceases, and Caio can see Skyler begging her father, tears streaming down her face. "...him immunity! Please! Stop it! Dad! He's just trying to protect me!"
Cortex pushes her away, eyes blazing in anger. "Quit your groveling. I'm just teaching him a lesson. He showed balls, but he needs to learn not to try that again." His glare switches to Caio. "You get one, and you just used it. Look at her, and think how tore up she'd be if you became a vegetable. Don't risk doing that to her."
"AAARRRGGGHHHhhhhhh..." He falls screaming, hands around his head, tears flowing from his eyes and blood from his nose.
As the pain ceases, Caio slowly stands up, both knees and hands shaking. "You... are... the one... doing... that... t... to... her..."
There was much he'd like to say, but he couldn't. He could barely walk in fact. Yet, his shaking hands formed into fists again. It broke his heart seeing Skyler crying in fear like that. He could not submit, for this would never change in the future. He needed to stand. "Do... do... your... worst..." He stumbles forward for a second punch. "F~!~er..."
Cortex bats away Caio's fist, shaking his head in disappointment and disgust. "I know your thoughts, kid. There's no way you can get another shot in," he says as he boxes Caio's ears. "You're just being stupid now."
Skyler screams helplessly as the fight continues. "Both of you! Stop! Dad, Caio, please! Stop!" She takes several steps toward the scrum, but doesn't intervene while the two combatants reach the balcony overlooking the first floor.
Cortex sidesteps another punch and drives a fist into his stomach. "I gave him a chance, Baby Girl. This is just stupidity rearing its ugly head. I'm doing you a favor -- another favor -- showing you what a dumbass he is." The CADRE mercenary shows off his fighting prowess, sweeping Caio's leg, grabbing an arm and flipping him over his shoulder, and off the balcony!!
Skyler screams at her father. Through the haze and pain of the landing, Caio can see her look over the railing at him, then turn back to Cortex. "F~%+ you!! You're not helping my life, you're making it miserable! Get out of my life!!"
As she pushes past him to the stairs, Cortex shakes his head and reaches out to her. "Baby Girl, be reasonable. You know I'm--"
"--Don't 'Baby Girl' me!! I'm not a child!" She reaches the lower floor and rushes to Caio's side.
His vision becomes unfocused as he sees Skyler coming towards him. He tries to reach for his flask, but can't manage the strength... he then reaches for Skyler, but passes out before she can reach him, hand outstretched.
Caio wakes up staring at a ceiling fan gently whirring overhead. He feels cushions all around him and his head is resting on a soft pillow.
A soft hand touches his cheek. "Hey. Hey, Caio? Can you hear me?" Skyler's face moves into his field of vision. Her eyes are wide and full of concern. "Are you... you okay?"
Caio blinks a couple times, a bit lost. He smiles to Skyler, confused about why she seems so worried. Then he remembers. He tries to get up immediately and soon regrets it as his head starts to spin again. "S$!$... where" He sits, blinking a couple more times. "Where is your father, Sky?"
"He's gone," she says, easing him back down on the bed. He can now see that he's on the large bed in the master bedroom of the beach house. "Take it easy. He left a while ago. It's just us."
"Are you ok?"
"Fine." She sits up and looks down at herself. She's still wearing the baggy hoodie and sweatpants from the plane. "Worried about you, that's all. I didn't-- I wasn't sure if I should call someone, like an ambulance or something."
"I think I'm fine..." He says, unsure because he did passed out. Moving his hand around his head, he feels a bit bump forming on the back, so he reaches for his flask, opens it and takes a sip. "... but just in case. This is rainwater and thanks to Matariel this is a cure all."
Sitting on the bed, he looks at her. "I'm sorry for punching your father but... I couldn't..."
Skyler shakes her head and again touches his cheek. "You don't have to worry. It's all right. We talked after you passed out." She leans in and kisses him lightly on the lips. "It was just a misunderstanding."
That world again. Misunderstanding. He wanted to scream and punch the walls... but he knew it would be pointless now. "What happened after I passed out?"
Skyler gets a far away look. "I was freaking out... lots of screaming... then we checked on you, and moved you to the bed. I was still mad, and scared for you, but when it seemed like you were going to be okay we... talked. He said he'd leave us alone. Said you had a lot to think about."
"I certainly do." He says, completely frustrated and hopeless. "I'm really proud of you."
A tear escapes and runs down her cheek. "He was behind it all. Todd's financial success, his position in the Church, even his staying with Mom. A psychic nudge here or there, insider trading he didn't even know he was doing, it was all him. All to make sure I had everything I possibly could want." She collapses on the bed and buries her face in his chest. "And I still told him I didn't want to see him ever again."
Caio wraps his arms around her, carefully. "I know this is confusing and that it doesn't make sense... but this is exactly why I'm proud of you, ok? One day you'll understand. I'm sure of it."
There was no point in confusing her even further, even if he wanted to tell here everything that really happened. "So... why don't we change and go take a dive... nothing like saltwater to clean the spirit and the moods."
Skyler sits back up, rubbing her eyes on her sleeve. "Can't," she says after composing herself from her brief cry. "I know the mood's not great and all, but I wore this the whole damn flight. So you're going to get your surprise." She grabs the hem of her hoodie and pulls it up over her head, revealing a bunch of red and green ribbons criss-crossing her body over a bright red bra. She pushes down her sweatpants to expose green panties and red net stockings.
"You want to open your present? 'Cause these things are itchy as hell."
For sure, Caio could not be more surprised. His eyes go wide and his mouth hangs open as he looks at her. And keeps looking at her. "I... just a little more so this image gets burned into my brain." He says, smiling like a child.
With care, he pulls the ribbons free, but leaves the bra and panties. "You are not in a hurry, are you?" He asks, as he takes his hoodie and shirt off.
"No," Skyler says with a tiny shake of her head. She helps him out of his shirt and straddles his waist. She tosses her hair as she looks down at him. "No hurry. Take your time."
"Good, because I want to kiss every inch of you." Considering how much effort she put into the wrapping, he did not want to simply rip everything apart. He starts with her mouth, a long and passionate kiss, one hand on her nape to guide her, the other roaming her body. Slowly, he moves to her neck, then chest.
Caio lifts her up, changing positions so she is now on her back. The kisses continue their trajectory, his hands moving from caressing to petting. Despite how it looked like, he did not want to assume she was indeed ready. He takes an extra time between her legs, only stopping the kisses when he reaches her knees, passing through the inside of her thighs. Only then he starts to venture beneath the second layer of the wrapping, always watching her.
Skyler watches Caio intently, seeing how he reacts to her open vulnerability. When his kisses move down her neck, her eyelids flutter and soft murmurs escape her throat. She assists him in removing the ribbons, twisting her body or arching her back so the unwrapping can continue.
When the ribbons are removed, she pauses so she can scratch a few spots where they chafed and mutters a bashful, "Sorry." When she's reduced to her lingerie and stockings, she coaxes Caio up so she can look him in the eye. "I... I want to, but... you're not going to, you know, get what you want and move on? Right? Sorry if I'm making it weird, but I want, I really want..." She searches his eyes, her own wide and vulnerable.
There were many funny things he could say to show her how silly her doubt was, considering all they have been through, but this moment wasn't one to make fun. Instead, Caio his hand on top of her heart. "I'm here to stay, ok?"
Skyler rests a hand on Caio's cheek. "Okay."
The Christmas break is over and students are slowly trickling back into the Halcyon Prep dormitories to get ready for the winter semester. The long, dreary winter historically puts a damper on villainous activities, giving both junior and seasoned heroes a chance to catch their collective breaths and train.
As the temperature drops, the city prosecution of William Westcott Mathers heats up, with the assistant District Attorney McCoy Hendricks contacting the main witnesses of the crime. The state's attorney appears beleaguered, however, as he gets a look at Indarius.
"You've got to be kidding me. First the purple demon, and now the white dragon! I can't prove he kidnapped anyone when no one he kidnapped is a freaking kid! Or has ever been a kid!" he exclaims, exasperated. "At the rate this trial is going to go, I'll be lucky if I can pin a destruction of property and reckless endangerment on him! Or was the fact that a twenty-ton section of building went crashing into the streets also a result of someone else's doing?"
In happier news, the media caught wind of the transference of the meteor containing the lives of over a billion Pixites from the Romita Museum to the Refractalry. Throughout Halcyon City, bloggers and reporters celebrate the historic move of an entire species under the umbrella of Earth's greatest heroes.
Except, it's all a show. Whippoorwill folds her arms as she stands next to her protege, shaking her head. "Yeah, there's no way in Hell we're allowing an entire world to be relocated to the Refractalry. First, it's not safe for the Alliance to allow an entire alien civilization to exist inside its HQ. Second, the Refractalry is still partially inside the Oblique Dimension. There's no way we can allow a microscopic civilization inside. Too much danger for everyone involved. That's why the meteor is being stored someplace far safer."
She turns to Horizon. "You get it, right?"
|
|
Percy glances at Connie, "Not helping." Then his mother pulls him into a deeper hug. "I still don't know how things will work with the Christmas party or family things until. I get this settled. I can obviously still show up, but yeah don't wanna put you at risk."
Squirming in his Mother's grip Percy manages a nod to his dad, "I'm stronger than I was. Not sure how much stronger exactly, but yeah. Claws are sharp too, but if it just needs lifted I've got plenty of tricks."
With a snap of his fingers he creates an illusion of himself before the transformation."Oh yeah that," he points, "was before this month. Like i said, very new development. And no they don't work on their own. I mean I understand the basics you know, flap em hard and fast and you'll go up. But like it's exhausting, I wonder how people eithout just levitation and stuff do it long term. If that makes sense? Not sure if i'm just not used to the workout or if there's a texhnique to it that i'm missing."
Shin has been busy the past few weeks. Looking into emancipation laws for Valerie and Victoria, how to get her enrolled into a new school. And looking into his own legal status as a time refugee. There were some cases in state law, since Halcyon had more than a few ending up here wanting to establish a legal residence. And that came with its own headaches. There were a lot of people who were lost in the system, who needed a helping hand. Alternate universe duplicates, time refugees, actual aliens with no way of returning home. A lot of them fell through the cracks in the system. He keeps wondering what would have happened if he'd popped out here and hadn't immediately ended in a superfight that tied him to a team.
So that's where his head's at when Whippoorwill's explaining to him the circumstances involving the Nanometeor, which go against what Femtite was expecting to happen with it. Though he understands the logic, it still feels like a betrayal. He's still sore with his mentor for a few things as well.
"Okay, so are you going to ask me to tell her this? Because I would think she'd be pretty pissed already if she knew. I'm a little miffed for being kept out of the loop too." He scowls and crosses his arms. "I mean, her whole society's got such general anxiety about the existence of the titans being able to pick up their world and do what they please with it. Like, how would you feel if some cosmic being just stuffed Halcyon City in a jar to keep it safe?" He asks, knowing full well how that happened once in the 60s.
Whippoorwill frowns at Horizon. "We've talked about this. Imagerie came up with the idea to move it inside our HQ, but she didn't think it through. I have no idea how a subatomic world is going to react to the odd geometries within the Refractalry. And it's the height of recklessness to take a 'let's see' approach."
Femtite rises—still in a sitting position at first, but she straightens her legs as she shyly raises her hand.
“Umm… guilty as not-charged?” She clarifies that “the someone else is me. I had an antigravity device from my Mom’s garage-slash-lab. I was trying to make the hell hounds float so they wouldn’t hurt anyone, but the device was too powerful at titanic proportions. So, the 82nd floor and up… went up.
“I wasn’t trying to hide this—I thought everyone knew, and I…” She leaves out the reason she was off-planet for a week. Her aura flickers as she relives that—
“…I had to race Horizon as he fell off the building unconscious. I caught him and flew him straight to the hospital. That’s why I was off-scene. I uh… am sorry.”
She doesn’t even dare ask if she has diplomatic immunity. If not for Captain Stalwart, there could have been loss of life from that blunder. The very thought compels her to ask,
“What must I do to atone for this?”
|
|
Indarius pulls his mouth straight and tight at the implications brought on by the attorney. "So wait, because I'm a dragon, still a child by the way, if we're going by law since I was raised and aged as a human. Are you trying to say I don't fall under protection from being knocked out and stolen from my residence, then transported halfway across the city, to be trapped in a magical barrier, and used as a focal point-slash-battery for a ritual that almost tore the very fabric of reality apart right under everyone's feet?"
He curls his claws tightly in a show of trying to keep his composure, knowing that the man in front of them all had far more experience with the law than 'most' of them had. But if his guess was correct the mere suggestion of that fact would burn through his fragile patience on the matter quite quickly.
"If so, then what? I'm supposed to just ignore all the anguish caused by that, which accelerated my growth into my current form, and resulted in extensive paranoia about being safe in my own home?"
"Are you f%++ing kidding me?! Are you so bereft of legal imagination that you think the term kidnapping only applies to children and baby goats?! To dispel some apparently plausible confusion, they also don't have to be gone for long enough to get sleepy and take a f*&*ing nap! Are you even f+%~ing trying?! Or did you get your JD from the f!%@ing Pandemonium Institute downtown? They're really good actually, probably top 5 in the country for training, you know, OTHER F%@!ING CLOWNS!"
Connie slams back into a seat, staring at the ceiling.
"Do you want me to just give you a list of charges that you can sign at the bottom?"
Chastity... isn't a great kisser. Too timid at first, then she forgets to swallow and it gets a little wet. She backs off, wipes her mouth while apologizing profusely, then closes her eyes for a second go.
She backs away, flustered. "I'm sorry. I'm messing it up. It's supposed to be perfect and I just don't know how to kiss a girl." Her cheeks burn red and she lets her hair drop in front of her face in embarrassment.
Maeve brushes some hair away from Chastity’s face.
“You’re not messing anything up, Chastity, because you’re making me happy. That is all the kiss has to do.”
Mae runs her fingers through Chas’ hair, then brushes it back, exposing the left side of her neck.
“And if you aren’t having fun yet, it just means we need more practice.”
Fearing her words might bring pressure instead of comfort, Mae goes on, “…but, if it helps, that kiss made me feel closer to you. It told me you wanted to get closer by trying something new, and it maybe you were nervous, but that only makes it a brave choice. And you chose me, and that makes me a very lucky girl, whether you think me human or pixite or princess… I am very lucky to have you in my life.
“Your lips said all those things to me, so to me, our first kiss was perfect.”
Mae lowers her hands, letting Chastity’s hair fall in place. She takes her girlfriend’s hands and gives them a reassuring squeeze, then loosens her grip.
“Wait. Connie… the only smart thing the D.A. said was the part that is my fault. And the kidnapping applying to human minors only or baby goats is definitely clown-level legalese.
“Is your father’s magic making him think this way?”
"Misunderstandings and lethargy perhaps produce more wrong in the world than deceit and malice do," she quotes. "Now Goethe had less experience with truly committed villains than I've had, but he's not wrong, especially cause he hedged unlike Hanlon."
"Man... you make it sound as if you did the heavy lifting of beating Matters in the first place." He says frowning. "What we do kind of becomes pointless if you can't do your part."
"Stopping him still mattered. Matters."
Hendricks tempers his exasperation when Indarius speaks. "Sorry. Would you like to speak with a victims' advocate?"
Hendricks facepalms when Femtite admits to the destruction due to her antigrav device. Conflux's rant has him bristling.
He jots down some notes on his legal pad while First Class continues talking. Then he leans back in his chair, clicking his pen in irritation. "The age of the kidnapped victim matters, because of subsection C which provides for a ten-year enhancement if the victim is underage. Did you know that? No? Then quit assuming I'm some clown who doesn't know the law."
He curls his lip at Conflux. "I have a very difficult job. I have to present actual evidence that will convince a jury that what you say actually happened, and that Mathers was behind it. I have to tie his actions to actual crimes, and present them to a jury in a way to get them to convict. And lastly, I have to rely on witnesses -- yourselves -- and so far you're not demonstrating that you can remain composed on the stand, now, are you?" He punctuates his statement with a glare.
"Now, if you can use a little imagination, I'll ask you to put yourself into the jury's shoes and consider that the two people that we're accusing him of kidnapping do not look human. I spoke with the devil girl earlier and she said she was 'trapped in a playing card.' Halcyon's seen weirder, certainly, but combining that with her demon-ness?" He shakes his head. "Indarius, I'm sorry but you simply have to face facts that your current appearance is also not helpful to our case. If the jury can't think of you as a human, they'll be much less sympathetic to your capture.
"Then there's the destruction of the building. Property damage from superhero battles is generally extensive, and hard to prove that solely the defendant caused it. If the antigravity device is truly what threw the building's top floors off, then pursing those related charges is a long shot at best."
He leans back in his seat. "And the charge of 'almost destroyed the world' is damn near impossible to prove. Because he didn't."
Chastity seems to feel much better. "Thank you."
She stays quiet and introspective the rest of the night as she heads back home, but subconsciously rubbing her lips from time to time.
Glasswing nods in understanding. "Yeah, it can be exhausting if you don't find some updrafts, and you look pretty dense. I'm far lighter than I look, part of my flight adaptations. You probably need to brute force your way into the air. Have you tried gliding yet? You should practice by getting high up in the air where the wind is stronger and use it to help keep you aloft."
Femtite lowers her head. “I’m sorry, Mr. McCoy. I was… improper.”
She sits back down and tries to tune out all of the anger, and behave as a princess should. And listen. She understands the human perspective least of all, but she does not think super humans fully understand non-powered humans.
Perhaps later, she may seek help from ‘normies,’ though without daring to use that term in case it would offend her newfound fanbase.
Shin's actually come prepared for this meeting with a written statement that he hands to the DA recalling the events of that night in as formal language as he can muster. He at least remembers the hell-hounds, the dismissive tone of Mathers, and the real reason the building had cracked apart.
"From where I was standing, it wasn't your anti-gravity that caused the building to break, but the summoned hounds that had been flung up to the ceiling in the first place. They were shockingly strong and kicking off the ceiling tore the entire top part of the building off. I would surmise that your anti-gravity actually kept it from falling long enough for back-up from the Alliance to arrive." Shin points out, hoping this is a good tactic for the DA to argue.
"Furthermore, Indarius' new transformation into this form is linked to his kidnapping. Mathers' ritual caused this, and has negatively affected his ability to have a normal life," He argues. "Doesn't that somehow qualify as assault, since he knew what he was doing was causing Indarius harm?"
Whippoorwill frowns at Horizon. "We've talked about this. Imagerie came up with the idea to move it inside our HQ, but she didn't think it through. I have no idea how a subatomic world is going to react to the odd geometries within the Refractalry. And it's the height of recklessness to take a 'let's see' approach."
"So no hard promises were made. She's going to be extremely pouty about this." Horizon rubs his temples. "Okay, so where then are we moving it? They require constant exposure to sunlight, so it has to be somewhat accessible. Preferably somewhere it isn't immediately recognized."
Caio frowns some. "I really don't understand all this legal procedure, but I thought the testimony of four out of five Alliance members, plus the one of Feya, who is considered an expert in magical subjects, would be enough."
"I understand a jury not being moved or believe completely on your own testimony, considering our age, but the countless times the Alliance saved earth should count for something..."
"Sorry, I responded to what you actually said about kidnapping, not what you just pulled a verbal retcon on to win an argument on legal expertise with a teenager... So that's a yes on the list? Any particular format that would be most helpful?"
|
|
Indarius huffed, hating what the attorney had said, but part of him couldn't help but know he was right in some way.
"So, you really think, just because we no longer look human they'll just side with the man who turned himself into a living piece of jerky? That's..." He sighs a small blistering blast before catching himself and stopping, "A hard pill to swallow. How do you think we could work with that? I've got a more human shape, but it's still pretty far from what I looked like before going full dragon. Actually I think with my current circumstances no matter what I try to shift into will be very draconic in nature."
Indy also held up a claw, "Also, since you know more about the law than us. How does the court typically handle meta-physical markers that would possibly link back to an individual? I know for a fact he was present in my dorm room, which has been relatively untouched since the incident. As well as channeling a great amount of aether through his person at the site of the ritual. While those would have ebbed substantially since it's been what... three months before any official investigation began? There should still be some sort of aetheric tremor or residue linking him to the acts committed. He asks in earnest having never really paid attention to courtroom drama shows that involved the various powersets within Halcyon, not that those were ever real and simply based on real-ish events.
Percy nods, "Ah yeah lighter than I look, stronger too, but still pretty um well hefty. I haven't really tried to glide yet, I haven't exactly even toured around Halcyon's air space either. I don't want to terrorize them with 'Ah a dragon in Halcyon someone call the Alliance.'" He Pantomimes a noble citizen of Halcyon freaking out over an imaginary creature flying overhead, before laughing a bit to himself and dismissing the illusion he'd created.
"I could probably make due in this form, but this isn't my norm anymore either. Walking and talking on two legs is easier than four, still learning how to maneuver around effectively as 'full' me." Shaking his head and interrupting his own thought he goes back to Glasswing's point.
"But no I don't really know how to read updrafts, and I haven't tried gliding yet, especially in the city. I was actually planning on talking to some of the other fliers who actually use wings for some practice advice. I don't suppose you're in town for a few weeks?"
"They still allow blood splatter 'analysts' so it's really more what you can convince the judge is science... I'd take a different tack. Don't try to make it a fingerprint analysis, make it recognizing someone's face or voice. Oh, but keep in mind, you'll want to use Feya for verification on that. I don't have the chops to sense things that finely. Though I swear, before you say one more thing about a lack of evidence, HE TRIED TO KILL MULTIPLE PEOPLE IN FRONT OF MANY CREDIBLE WITNESSES."
Hendricks rubs his temple. "He did? Who? The Alliance? Your team?" He sighs as he shakes his head. "Icicle Man v. The Praetorian: Use of super powers against other powered or unique abilitied people requires a specific intent to kill in order to be convicted of attempted murder. When you super types throw down, you're not usually at risk of getting charged with a crime even though you're throwing around energy that could vaporize a normal person. Do I need to explain specific intent? Mathers didn’t use hostages, and didn't purposely endanger innocents -- which also requires specific intent. Magneticicus v. Dusk."
He takes down Indarius's dorm room number. "I'll get an actual forensic team to look for actual evidence. There's not a lot of good precedent regarding the use of magical forensics. So even if the judge lets it in, it'll be tied up in appeals for years and could get overturned. I'm sure you only want to do this once."
Hendricks seems overly cautious, but still wants to put forth the best case he can. He seems like he's about to end this interview early because of Conflux's attitude. He doesn't seem compromised, and getting him to slip would be tough.
Glasswing looks regretful. "Only a couple days. I'm crashing with Screech before I head back to LA. And I hate flying in the cold. Maybe in the spring I'll get a chance to come back, see how you're doing.
"Or you can come out west? How long is your winter break?"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The air is crisp and cold, but the sky is bright blue on the day of the move. A sizable crowd of people huddle in their heavy coats and the puffs of their breath rise into the chill air to get a glimpse of the meteorite containing an entire civilization.
Ordnance had been selected to say a few words about the occasion. He is in one of his more common humanoid configurations, and is flanked by Imagerie and Whippoorwill.
"Hello. I'm honored to say a few words, not on behalf of the Pixite people, but for the many beings who have found Earth to be our new home. It is fitting that here in Halcyon City, which has been a refuge for many a star traveler, we set a place of honor for our microscopic guests. Earth has been my home for numerous years, and I am always impressed with the way most humans have come to welcome a being so unlike them. I count the whole race as my friends, and am sure the Pixites will come to feel the same. In this endeavor, the Alliance of Heroes has pledged to defend their home against all external threats. It's a dangerous universe, and only together can we find peace and security. Thank you."
A polite cheer rises from the crowd. Aliens have always been a source of nervousness and anxiety. While some have indeed been heroes and pleasant guests, there have easily been as many or more invaders and would-be conquerors.
A special guest is called upon to introduce the Pixite Princess and envoy from Nanometeor. A young man walks up to the stage, the president of the Femtite Fan Club, Conway Juszczyk!
He absolutely beams when he steps on stage and sees Femtite. Leaning toward the microphones, he says, "Hi, good morning. Thank you, Ordnance. Um, I was saved by Femtite, I think in one of her first acts of heroism on Earth. So, it's my privilege to introduce the princess of the Pixites. Femtite!"
Femtite silently takes in the DA’s professionalism, and is disappointed in herself for jumping to conclusions the moment Connie said ‘clown.’ She recalls what Percy said about ‘mob mentality.’
She keeps quiet, but will definitely thank Shin later for his supportive explanation of the anti-gravity device.
Femtite’s aura glows a bright peach as she sees her sweet, long lost friend take the stage.
She shrinks to a spark—then nothing—
—there’s a burst of fireworks, golds, pinks and purples lighting the sky! A white flash! A rainbow beam stretches from the heavens to a place by Conway’s side! Golden sparkles gently descend like snowflakes, along with one peachier spark—
—which expands into a starburst!—revealing Princess Femtite not in the gown she had planned to magical-girl on for the event—
—but a 1947 style poodle skirt in honor of her dear, dear, dearly-missed friend! Despite the relative simplicity of the outfit, Femtite is like a Goddess of Retro Fashion.
She is visibly emotional. This is NOT part of the show. She does not want to cry, but the tears are here. She lets them trickle.
“Conway…! Thank you so much for the intro…” She needs a sec. Two. “President of a fan club for me? Oh… oh Conway, I missed you so much!”
She gives the boy a warm hug! As she lingers a moment she whispers, “Call me.”
She says to the crowd, “People of Halcyon City, I want to first thank all of you for making room within your fine metropolis for our home. I do not wish to boast of my heroic acts. It is the least I can do for the people of Earth, especially you, my nearest neighbors.
“The real heroes here are the members of The Alliance!” She gestures to Whip and Imagerie, smiling sweetly at them both. “From the bottom of my heart, and on behalf of Queen Hinata of the Fuchsia Fiekds, Queen Kianga of the Ultraviolet Valley, Queen Donoma of the Amethyst Spike, Queen Solveig of the Mauve Mountains, and my Mother, Queen Millie of the Lavender Spire, thank you—thank you for providing our world, and her population of one-point-two billion pixites, with a safe haven under your roof!”
Shin is a little stung that one of his future self's own cases was being used to argue the point. But he stays calm and quiet on the manner.
"It'll be easier to charge him with assault than attempted murder. I think that you're doing well here. If there is anything we can do to make your job easier, I'm sure we'll be able to accomplish that." He tells him.
Shin is at the ceremony, but has requested that Connie keep watch on the Nanometeor to ensure no one attempts anything with the world. He feels this publicity is more than a little tempting for some villain to show up and mess with things.
"Thank you for speaking, Ordinance," He tells the alien hero. "...out of curiosity, I've been wondering about the extraplanetary immigrants who come here. Is there a process for becoming a citizen?"
|
|
Indarius pinches the bridge of his nose carefully, "Right. Mr. William Westscott Mathers. The most senior by the way not the oldest adopted son of the same name. Was the one present in my dorm room. But I have to ask, does being a hero mean we aren't able to be held hostage? Because I feel like trapping both Diva and I in magical containment may count. However-"
He leans down to eye level with the DA, "-You Do know more than we do, and I've yet to begin my studies on Halcyon law in conjunction with Powered individuals. I had hoped for other degrees first, but at this rate I may have to do law before the others just to make sure I can actually hold a business legally."
Indarius hums for a few moments, producing a small amount of frost across his muzzle, which breaks apart after he moves to answer.
"We've got a few weeks after this whole thing. And if you don't want to fly, or want to head back early I can always portal us to LA. So long as you've got a good open spot where there isn't ANY foot traffic... or traffic of any kind, nice open space so I don't accidentally shunt either of us or anything we take into anything else."
He waggles a finger, "If you can get me a good picture of a spot like that then yeah I can go. I'll even let my team know I'll be gone for a bit of practice." With that he finally tries the punch he'd brought over a chill having formed around the red plastic cup's exterior.
"Assault is in the same category. The fact is, super-powered brawls have become so ubiquitous that it's nearly impossible to get juries to agree they're crimes, outside of egregious conduct."
Hendricks turns back to Indarius. "Which is why I still have hope that we'll be able to pin a kidnapping charge against him. Going into your room and abducting you is a far cry from you investigating his lair and getting caught in a deathtrap." His frustration seeps through again. "But, the bright young hero I'd hoped to show the jury..." he gestures at the dragon in his conference room.
Conway returns the hug, then yields the microphone so Femtite can speak.
Once she finishes, Captain Stalwart descends from the sky holding a glowing amethyst meteorite in a sturdy-looking display case. The crystalline meteorite catches the sun in dazzling fashion, spraying colorful light across the assembled crowd.
"Let's get your people to their new home," he says with a smile and a wink. He nods and acknowledges the cheers at his arrival, but doesn't want to upstage the moment. He quickly takes flight again and disappears into the kaleidoscope of shapes that is the Alliance Headquarters.
While the crowd's attention is on Captain Stalwart, Whippoorwill whispers in Femtite's ear, "See me after. I need to show you something."
Imagerie interjects. "It's nothing bad. Promise."
Meanwhile, Ordnance replies to Horizon. "Certainly. It's rather involved, but I cannot blame them. There are a great many threats in the universe, so I understand the need for caution."
Caio raises his hand. "I'd like to make two points... first, we know for sure that Indarius' transformation was caused, if not very hastened, by the event in question. We still have his photos from before the transformation to show the jury and having him turned 'monstrous'..." He says, making air quotes and looking at Percy just to make sure he understood his choice of words were just to give shock and not reflect his views. "... should be an aggravating, no? He was not only kidnapped but transformed, and if he had plans to retire in the future, these plans will be incredibly harder now."[/]
[b]"My second point is the Mathers' usage of a demon lord and hellhounds... these are not mere weapons, but forces of unrestricted evil. If you'd like, I'm sure the Corps would be happy to testify on the severity of the usage of these forces, as no one simply unleashes them unless the have death and chaos in mind." He explains. "It might also add some pressure from the church against Mathers."
Rain keeps his distance during the ceremony, only present to show unity on the team.
Femtite was expecting her Mother’s ship to handle the move. Something’s…? She doesn’t panic. Whippoorwill whispers. Imagerie reassures. Okay. Valence isn’t about to attack or anything. Captain Stalwart is obviously… yes. All is well.
“Thank you, Captain Stalwart for ensuring safe travel for the billion-plus lives literally in your hands!
“And on behalf of my people, I would like to extend our gratitude to the Romita Museum of Natural History for providing us a home for the past few decades. I wish you well with the renovations, and look forward to seeing what new, exciting exhibit will replace my world in your science wing!”
Cheering along with the crowd, Femtite watches Captain Stalwart make the delivery without incident.
She turns to the crowd again. “And there we have it. My people are home. Thank you again, Halcyon City, for making us feel so welcome!”
She’s more than happy to take questions or chat, but for now she wants to find out what not-bad thing Whippoorwill wants to show her.
Her amethyst and sapphire eyes flit from Imagerie to Whip. “What would you like me to see?”
Shin was seeing the point here. Kidnapping was proveable, while anything else relating to violence was chalked up to simply superpowers slugging it out like kids in a schoolyard. So long as neither party attempted to grievously wound or murder the other with clear intent. It also insulated the Alliance and other hero teams from being sued for similar points. He could understand a little bit about how the law came to that.
"No matter how you spin it, a jury's going to look at Indarius like a full-fledged adult. You should all be prepared for the worst case scenario of him walking away," Shin says in warning. "Which will suck, but I understand there's not much else to do. We have to argue that Indarius was truly helpless and held against his will, and hope that the jury can see behind the scales. Bringing up the use of demons is a double-edged sword, seeing as some of our closest allies - like Diva - are demonic forces themselves. I think that's a road we don't want to walk down."
Shin nods to Ordinance, looking as his mentor and Imagerie close next to her for discussions. This definitely felt like the time to step in. "Could you visit me sometime at Unity? I have other things I'd like to discuss," He requests from the alien robot, before moving over to his teammate.
"Good show, Femtite. We shouldn't tarry here for too long. I think that maybe we can all fly off together, give a better showing to the people?" He suggests with a smile.
The Alliance leaves little time for Q&A after the ceremony, with Imagerie and Ordnance deflecting questions and Whippoorwill immediately heading toward the Refractalry. She bids Femtite to follow her with a movement of her head.
"Wait!" Conway's voice calls out and he hurries after Fems, but he immediately falters once the winged hero also turns and her eyes fall on him. "Wow..." he stammers as he appears starstruck seeing both heroes again with the dazzling Alliance Headquarters as a backdrop, but recovers with force of will. "I-- I will. Call you, I mean. Yeah. Um. Yeah."
Whippoorwill gently takes Femtite's arm. "Let me show you the security measures we've got in place," she says as she nods to acknowledge Conway, then guides her into the Oblique Dimension's mothership.
They enter the grand atrium, which is brilliantly lit from the clear panels allowing plenty of natural light. Numerous displays and monuments of former heroes and their great deeds fill the wide open space. Whip waves to Captain Stalwart, who is installing the Nanometeor's pedestal in a place where it will get plenty of light.
"Further in, please. Stay close." Whippoorwill keeps walking, pausing at an entryway into the HQ's inner chambers to input an override for Femtite. The interior of the Refractalry is similarly open and spacious, but the odd and shifting angles hinted at in the atrium is dominant. She sees patterns on the floor that appear to be pathways to help guide one through the mind-bending geometries at play.
"Okay. Real close this time. Follow me exactly." Whippoorwill spreads her wings and with a few powerful beats takes flight. She rises into the air and heads straight towards a tilted part of the ceiling, then takes a hard right and disappears!
When Femtite follows the same pattern, she gets a dizzying experience of the whole ceiling parting and the entire Refractalry falling away! When she recovers her bearings, she is back outside, hovering a few feet above a rocky, hilly ground crusted with stale snow and ice. The landscape is open and sprawling, revealing Halcyon City easily several miles away, while looming over her is an old observatory!
"I know there are rumors about the Refractalry having secret angles that can take us all over the city. While technically true, there's not all that many of them. This is one, and what I use to get here," Whippoorwill explains. She gestures to the observatory, with its old battered dome. "My secret workshop and armory. And the real home of the Nanometeor."
When Shin steps in to dissuade Femtite, she becomes suspicious. But Conway is so cute, so she just smiles and waves at both Conway and Shin, then obeys Whip.
“I… I…” Her tears start to flow. “I… was planning to move the planet from Halcyon City. Just… not today. Not necessarily even this year or decade. Or century. I di…didn’t think it was… or… this is…”
She wipes her eyes. “Sorry. I don’t mean to…” She tries to keep it together. “…” Actually tries.
“Thank you, Whippoorwill. My world has enemies—Dr. Sang, and a boy Valence, on the island of Montigua. And there are… needs?” She manages a teary smile. But her enthusiasm is genuine. “Do you mind if I look around?”
"The HQ is a glaring target for enemies. That's why we don't keep anything of real value there," Whippoorwill explains. She takes flight again and enters through a hatch near the old telescope.
Inside is a clean and open workspace with a living area, a small dojo and aerial obstacle course, and observation platform. An older gentleman with a heavy vest full of tools is on the lower floor. He waves up to Whippoorwill. "You brought the alien? Color me surprised."
"Not much choice. It's her world, after all. Femtite, meet Whetstone. Whetstone, Femtite." The man gives a little salute, then points to a spot behind Femtite on the observation platform. A small node of heavily reinforced metal is barely noticeable in the overall structure. "That's the real home for the meteorite. Not as glamorous as the fake in the HQ, but so much better protected. And, most importantly, secret. Light comes in from the other side through the highest grade of transparent ceramics. It should be able to withstand a direct strike from anything with less strength than Captain Stalwart."
She watches Femtite's reaction closely.
Her solidly golden glow is the first tell. Her eyes are wide.
“Thank you… thank you both. This is amazing!” She examines the transparent ceramic, first at human size—
—then she shrinks away to subatomic size, and for a moment, she floats in place at one picometer tall, catching subatomic particles emitted from the sun with her body!
She grows back, wide smile on her face. “This is better than glamorous. It’s safe. My world will be safe here. It will be one less thing to worry about!
“This is so much… your craftsmanship,” she says to Whetstone, and to Whippoorwill, “your generosity. I was not expecting this… and that was the point, wasn’t it? I needed to believe The Refractalry was home in order to sell it. That makes sense.”
She’s at a loss for words… for almost three seconds.
“I love it!” she blurts. “How do I thank…? I mean the words, thank you. From the bottom of my heart, but… what can I—? How do—?” She stammers a little. “I thought you were just gonna put my planet on a table by a window. A lot of planning and labor went into this!”
Femtite is extremely flustered! She’s overwhelmed with joy, yet can’t help but feel she should do something to repay Whippoorwill and Whetstone.
Whippoorwill arches an eyebrow at the princess dress, since the vibe of the interior of the observatory is clearly comfy sweats and exercise apparel. She doesn't comment, however.
The Alliance member watches Femtite inspect the new housing for the meteorite, but waves down the thank yous. "Please. That's not why we're doing this. With the fate of so many lives at stake, I wish I could offer more protection. Secrecy and misdirection is the best we've got, and it'll have to do for now. I trust you'll be discrete when you come here to visit?"
As for discretion…
“I will tell no one, but a select few pixites. Do you prefer I enter the Refractalry to visit my world, or fly directly?” She gestures toward the view of the city. “I tend to remain in my human form Mondays through Fridays on school weeks, so home visits will be infrequent. But if you need me to check with you, please. It is my world, but is is under your roof.
“I must respect this.”
She keeps her hands folded over her skirt, and again stifles her urge to give Whippoorwill a big hug.
"I don't mind you using the Refractalry's warp-lane. It'll probably make more sense anyway, in case there are those watching your movements. And it doesn't even have to be sinister; you've apparently got a fan base already. They tend to pay close attention to that stuff." Whippoorwill indeed doesn't seem like a hugger, remaining businesslike though not completely standoffish.
"When Whetstone or I aren't here, you'll have to slip in past the security systems. Going down to mosquito size or smaller should get you through. I have no issues with you setting something else in place in case you have to deter anything smaller than that. Just clear it with Whetstone first, so we're not stepping on each others' toes." She turns to him. "Can you think of anything else?"
He shakes his head. "The meteorite was out in plain view for years, so hopefully where it's at now will last for just as long or longer. Let me know of any specific threats, so I can include in what the perimeter scanners look for."
Once Femtite answers, Whip urges her back outside. "We should get back. I think Horizon wanted to talk to you."
Ordnance agrees to visit Horizon later. "It will be a pleasure. It was good seeing you again. Tell Femtite I hope she likes her home's new home." The shapeshifting robot alien reconfigures into a hoverjet and blasts off into the sky.
Meanwhile Conway is organizing the Femtite fans, getting them to move out of the cold open air and into a nearby hotel ballroom for a little reception. Once the heavy coats are removed, several people in the crowd are wearing Femtite or other First Class cosplay.
About fifteen minutes later, Whippoorwill and Femtite emerge from Alliance HQ. "I don't know if you want to brave that craziness, but I've definitely got other places to be," the winged hero comments, pointing to the impromptu convention of Femtite fans.
She folds her arms and looks at Horizon with an arched eyebrow asking an unspoken question.
“Just… please let me know if the cover story ever causes problems for The Alliance.”
Once back outside, she looks over toward the hotel, her enthusiastic expression suggesting that, unlike Whippoorwill, Femtite does NOT have better places to be. A Femtite Fan Club event is probably on her Top Two List of Best Places To Be Ever!
“Horizon? Is there something you wanted to talk about?” Glancing rather anxiously at the place she really wants to be right now, she adds, “And in case you’re going to reiterate the suggestion to fly off… you don’t need me to escape something you’re not interested in. I get it if you and the others, Rain especially, don’t really want to be here.
“But you understand I Have To, and Want To.”