There's a sharp crack! and Grace feels something tight around her leg, halting her progress. With frightening speed, Whippoorwill's whip had lashed out and caught her before she could get a few bounds.
"Grace. Stop a minute and think." Then she deliberately flicks her wrist and loosens the whip, letting Grace free.
"And you never told me that the Steel Guardian is dead," Whippoorwill adds solemnly. "You need time to process. You'll get it. I promise. But please help us."
”Grace, please listen,” Max pleads. ”You’ve been through a lot, but I really think this in your best interest, and the best interest of everybody else who has taken the pills. Shin and I will be there with you. We won’t let them hurt you. Please.”
Grace thumps the ground and fights a moment before going limp and sobbing on the floor.
Max kneels beside Grace and holds her tightly until the volleyball player stops crying.
Whippoorwill steps back, letting Grace's teammates step in and comfort her. She remains a presence in Unity Base as she slowly coils her whip and attaches it to her waist.
With the study of Grace and Ne'veah and the pills at the warehouse, it's confirmed that there is a mutagenic compound in the supplements, along with a suppressant that prevents the activation of the effects until the users stop taking it. Scientists from the Dawkins Research Facility are working on a cure, but for the time being the supplements are being continued until such time as the suppressant can be isolated and administered. Once that's done, then the gene therapy to prevent any mutations can be conducted.
Grace and Ne'veah, however, would take much more radical treatment because their changes are already in effect. At least until the rest of the students are treated, their changes are permanent.
===============
Conflux is able to magic the remains of the Steel Guardian armor into a shambling mess that lurches back to the base. It's in rough shape, crushed to the point that it has no room for a pilot. Its mechanisms are shot and the chassis cracked and rent.
===============
Classes are back in session. Grace has to decide whether to return to classes or find some homeschooling equivalent. For the others, classes are a mundane distraction from the recent few days.
Caio sees Skyler on Tuesday, but she avoids him. He catches her watching him on Wednesday, and on Thursday she comes up to him at lunch.
"I'm ready to talk," she says bluntly, then turns to walk towards an empty hallway.
Femtite wears the physical school uniform. She gives Connie a lot of dreamy looks, and in the halls, her urge to hold Connie’s hand is stronger than usual. (If Connie’s embarrassed by the hand-holding, Femtite will comply.
When she’s not holding Connie’s hand, she floats in the hall instead of walking. Her mind often drifts to that moment in Connie’s hand with the magical flame held to her, wrapping her fairy form around Connie’s finger, the sound of her voice…
Connie avoids anything tartan or plaid in her own wardrobe, but cheerfully takes Femms's hand when they walk between the classes except when it makes her feel two feet tall which isn't often.
The Guardian Suit was only in the base for a very short while, disappearing from the public space overnight.
|
Indarius offered what aid he could to the adult supers when they arrived on the scene. Giving a look to Caio and the others he made sure to hand the music device back to him. "Here probably not good to leave it with me for now. Connie I know tonight has been crazy, we all need a rest after... well everything. But could you help me with Infinity's journal tomorrow at the base?"
The young mage still looked quite ready to bounce right back to his focus of the infinity issue, especially with the limited knowledge that he had come to recently in regards to Violet. It also brought forward the need to deal with Caio's wolf in a more permanent manner.
Indarius headed to the medical room after the entire talk with Whip, hoping to catch some of the team still. He gave Grace a lookover, "Hey, glad to see you're okay and alive SG. We're all gonna keep working hard at this situation and get you back to not being covered in fur."
His attempt at softening the blow might not have landed.
The rest of the weekend was pretty awful, indy had to message Quincy and inform him that hero stuff got into the way of him and Caio making it to the game. Which sort of soured Sunday where he came to the realization that without either a break or another set of fresh eyes he wasn't gonna make any progress. But the obsession to figure out the secrets of the journal had set in and began chewing at his psych.
This all lead to him being rather detached and aimless through class.
“I managed to heal a lot of furry people today. Grace, Hapry, Chiro… that spider guy who bit me. And the Alliance even gave me credit for saving lives.”
She slows the Bug to a hover. She takes both of Connie’s hands in hers.
“But I couldn’t have done all that if you hadn’t saved me.”
“I wish I could explain the feeling of being held like that… I was so weak, so cold… and you took me in your hand and held fire to me. I didn’t want to let go.”
Her aura becomes slightly pinker, as she looks lustfully at Connie.
“You really are my hero, Connie. I didn’t particularly want to be the damsel in distress, but after being rescued by you, I’m kinda glad I got caught. Even the fear and the cold… all worth it.
“Because it led to that moment in your hand.”
She squeezes Femms's hands, leaning into her body before trailing a kiss along her collarbone.
"Besides, I'm guessing really what you like is the closeness and feeling cared for anyways, and that's definitely something we can handle without freaky spiderbites. If you really want the whole adrenaline and lack of control thing before the aftercare part... Well. We can maybe figure that out later too."
With all of the huge battles and revelations that have happened recently, Max finds it hard to concentrate on her classes. Now that their relationship isn't a secret anymore, she's eager to spend time with Grace and help her with adjusting to her new body. She also mulls over what she's learned about Reverend Reibold and his followers' sinister plans, as well as the ritual Lola Rosser has presented to her. She wonders what Cyan and Scarlet are up to, what other plots they may be concocting. Suffice to say, there is a lot on her mind...
Grace had spent the previous few days trying to grow accustomed to her new body. And, surprisingly, she was coming to terms with it. She was a knock out, now. Even if she was covered in fur. And she was fast. And flexible. And strong. And nimble. It was all, surreal.
But…she was finding clothing to be very frustrating. Even if her new clothes did fit and look great on her, they itched against her fur and she felt like she was burning up in even the lightest shirts and shorts.
So, when Monday came around, she showed up to school in a short skirt, a tank top that fell about six inches above the waist band, and no shoes. She walked boldly through the halls, not caring about the looks she was receiving.
Max's heart skips a beat when she sees Grace's outfit and confidence. She waves as she gets close. "Hey. You're looking good! Are you feeling good? I remember my first day in classes after my change..."
”I don’t really have a choice in it,” Grace replies as she brushes her hair behind her longer ear. ”I spent all weekend trying to find clothes I could stand. Everything itches and makes me feel like I’m wearing a winter coat! I’m like, 50% sweat, 20% fur, and 10% itching under here!” she says as she fans herself with her notebook.
"I'm sure we can figure something out. Maybe Conflux can make you a personal cooling device or something?" Max suggests.
On Monday, Shin is mostly mended after a couple of days getting himself put back together. He's gotten his hand fixed and the gashes are starting to heal nicely. Though he's definitely been trying to keep his stress down, he doesn't quite know what to expect for the upcoming school week.
So seeing his girlfriend with her girlfriend, there's a brief surreal moment where he's looking at them both, trying to decide how to play this out - and then realizing, he doesn't have to hide anymore.
So right in the middle of the hallway, he's suddenly wreathed in that event horizon of darkness briefly as he floats over to both of them. It's enough to give him a lift up to kiss Grace on the cheek, before settling back down onto the ground.
"Hey. How are things with your mom now that she knows?" He asks.
Grace’s eyes widen at Shin’s brazen display of his powers in class. But, she figured the cat was out of the literal bag…
She returned the kiss and replies ”Awkward. Tense. She’s not a fan of my wardrobe choices but after I explained it and showed her she understands.”
She wraps her legs around Connie, making a futile attempt to keep her temperature down. As soon as her tongue is free, she says, ”I want you… I don’t want to burn you…” She kisses Connie on the lips, the neck, runs fingers through Connie’s hair.
She knows she can’t go too far without a means of cooling her fire…
Connie slides off the bed, what might have been a seductive shimmy betrayed by an almost jittery excitement. She bends down to pull an icecube tray out of her minifridge, and brings it back to bed with a twist and a **crack**.
"Lemme know if this gets too cold, kay?" Taking advantage of Femms's crop top to run ice around her bellybutton. At first it hissed, beads of moisture flowing and fleeing the heat of her body. When the ice melted away, Connie's lips replaced it, gently teasing Femms with her lips and tongue until she was once more too hot to touch. With a grin and more ice, Connie looked up Femms's body till their eyes met. "Hope you don't mind if we take our time..."
Max gives Shin a cordial nod, then looks back at Grace. "You're going to need a new costume for the next time we go into battle," she says. "And you'll need to pick a new alias, too. Have you though of one yet?"
Grace rolls her eyes. ”More clothes issues!” she sighs in frustration. She shakes her head. ”No…I haven’t thought that far ahead,” she adds.
Percy drops into a seat next to Max and gives a breathy sigh, clearly exhausted from the day
"Sup Max... crazy f##%in day you guys had by the look of things."
"It's been a crazy f$&@ing week," Max confirms. "I'm sorry I kinda left you hanging after the ball. There was a lot going on."
"I.... I get it, I just wanted to try and enjoy one normal night ya know."
He sat there silently for a moment, before looking over "Talked to the sort of ghost of Dr. Infinity earlier.. apparently he stuffed an astral projection sort of memory bank, kind of magical AI into one of his journals. Hoping Connie can actually help me figure out how to get him back though."
Max's eyes widen. "Percy, that's awesome! This could be the breakthrough you've been waiting for! What did the projection say?"
Percy looked at Max silently for a while
"Um.. well good news maybe and also some bad news involving.. Violet. But if I can summon him back we can deal with it and get you back to your old self again."
He scratches at his forearms under his robe clearly another of his little nervous motions
Max frowns, noting Percy's nervous behavior. "You're holding something back."
He tried to look away but couldn't bring himself to do it for long.
"He said... Violet was prophesized to bring about an apocalypse, but he also said he took steps to weaken her, and that we shouldn't worry too much." Percy's face contorted a bit at the thought, but he sat upright and leaned towards her
"But that's okay, cause we can stop it before it happens. He can teach me how to seal her into another figurine and free you from her influence."
"Oh," Max says. She looks down at her feet. "Apocalypses are pretty bad..."
Percy rubs the back of his head
"Yeah..." He looks around the room for a bit
"Um.. so how's.. uh, Grace? Steel Guardian I'm... not sure which is right.. right now."
"Just Grace. She's going to need a new hero name now, I guess. She's doing okay, all things considered. I've been here for her. And Shin has, too."
He nods
"Is she... still going to be part of the team? I mean.. she has the suit and can remake it or something yeah?"
"I doubt she'll wear the suit again. But her new form has it's own abilities, and she still has the heart of a hero. It's her choice, but I hope she'll still fight by our side."
"If she's up to it, I'll help her just like I would have before."
He looks over Max's self again
"How are you holding up?"
"Oh, you know... Not so great, actually."
Percy stands and heads over to Max placing a hand on her shoulder
"Hey, I told you I'd be here to help you, and wasn't gonna leave. Not for the trip to the hell club, not once we've got your demon sorted out, and not even if some kind of apocalypse starts. We're all in this together."
Fuzzbat nuzzles under Max's hand offering her a comforting fuzzball to calm her nerves
Max smiles again, stroking Fuzzbat's fur. "Thanks, Percy. I've spent the last two days like, super worried about Grace. Now that we've got the pill situation under control, all my fears and anxieties about my own doom have come rushing back. But it's not quite as scary knowing that I've got you in my corner.
"And you've got me in your corner, too. I'm with you to the end, no matter what that end may look like. And we'll have a do over for the Halloween party. We all deserve to have one totally normal day."
"Thanks Max, I've been just... so damn messed up about these journals from Mathers. I know they've got that projection in it and they're so important right now. Really need everyone's help on this one. Cause it's the answer to solving like... alot of our issues right now. I'd really like just another shot at normal though, one that doesn't get crashed by any heroing for once."
"I might be able to help," Max says. "Ever since the Halloween party, I've been able to get these...visions. They alerted me to the ur-daemons, and they were instrumental in tracking down the source of the Mongrels' pills. I could look at the journals again and see if the visions tell me anything."
He nods "I'd like Connie to take a look at them first, just to see if there's any.... 'tampering' with them."
"Okay. Well, just call me when you need me."
"I will.. thanks Max." Percy gave her a hug partially to reassure her and also himself
Shin is currently in the med lab still. He's been taking care and resting, even after having confirmed he wasn't concussed again. He didn't want to take any chances. Plus, there was the meeting with Grace's mother to get done later.
He sets down the puzzle book he's been working on in pencil, the tip worn down and in need of sharpening. "All right, we can talk. What did you want to talk about?"
”A few things, actually. First, and most importantly, is Grace. You know we have been...intimate. I would like to continue my relationship with her, and she seems keen on continuing hers with you at the same time. So... where does that put you and me?”
"The same relationship I had with Scorch. As friends who share a lover," Shin answers. "I've known Grace a couple months now. She was my friend before my sweetheart. I don't know what our relationship could be, but at the moment I feel this is a boundary that's got to be set."
Max nods. "Alright. I'm happy to respect that boundary, though should either you or Grace want something more..." The demoness shrugs, leaving the thought hanging.
"Moving on. I don't think it's much of a secret that you and I haven't seen eye-to-eye on how the team should be lead. I haven't exactly been trying to undermine your authority, but I have been developing my own type of leadership ideals. You've got a good head for tactics and strategy, but I feel like oftentimes, you lead with your head, not with your heart. Whereas I am more in touch with my own and others' feelings.
"So, my proposal is that the two of us share the mantle of leadership. Co-captains, as it were. Maybe with two voices working together to make decisions, the rest of the team will be more respectful and there will be less hurt feelings along the way. What do you think?"
Shin rubs the bridge of his nose. "I appreciate that you have different ideas of how to work with the team. But leading with the heart is exactly how my last team ended up in disaster. If you think that you need to talk things out with others on the team and soothe hurt feelings, that's counseling that you can do without undermining authority. But decisions in the field and strategies are what I've been training with Whippoorwill to do. Everyone can voice their opinions, but ultimately only one person has to be able to make the call."
Max shrugs. She wasn't really expecting Shin to go for the offer, but she felt like she had to make it, anyway. "Very well. I'll defer to your leadership. But I do care about the team and their feelings, and that includes you. I see how you keep things bottled up most of the time. And I see the toll that takes on you. So I would ask that you try to open up, just a bit more. If not to me, then to somebody else. I want you to have a clear head when you're making those dangerous calls."
"That's the point of mentorship - I have that pressure valve with Whippoorwill. She keeps me steady when I feel like I'm unraveling." He pauses. "Though part of that was simply me doing everything in my power to protect Grace's identity. Which seems to be a moot point now."
Max smiles slightly. ”Yeah. I’m sure that was a heavy burden to carry. Maybe now, there won’t be so much weighing on you. As always, I’m here for you. If you want to talk to me about anything, I will listen.”
Shin smiles. "Thanks. But I'm much more concerned about you than myself," He admits. "Don't think I haven't noticed how you've been using your powers lately recklessly. These visions you've been having for example. They were helpful, but I'm worried about every time you use some new power that you're getting closer to becoming irrevocably the demon and no longer Max. Can you promise me not to rely on those powers unless it's a life-threatening emergency?"
Max's smile disappears again. "I can promise to try my best not to rely on them," she says.
"Max, do you still want a cure?" Shin asks her. "To go back to your body?"
A conflicted look appears on Max’s face. ”I don’t want to lose myself and become Violet like her sisters want. I don’t want to become a tool for evil. But... These past few months, being part of this team, growing into my powers... I’ll admit that if we do manage to find a cure, it will be hard to just give all of this up.
“But it’s about more than just my abilities. I’m not sure if you know this, Shin. I certainly never told you. But, before my transformation... I was male. For so long after this change, I resented this female body. I was so uncomfortable in my skin. Just looking in the mirror was excruciating. But being accepted like this, by Grace especially, has helped me to accept it myself. Even enjoy it. So... Do I want to go back to my old body? My male body? I don’t know...”
The demoness looks at Shin. ”What do you make of it all? Am I being corrupted by demonic powers? Or am I just trying to figure myself out, same as anybody else?”
"...'I am, I exist'."
Shin speaks as he looks out towards Clocktower in the center of Unity Station. "I read a lot of my father's books growing up. He was a physicist, but he also had an interest in philosophy. There was this French philosopher he really liked, Decartes. I think I'm recalling it because he equates the experiences of a person as the possible fabrications of a demon. It couldn't be proven, but it was possible and so it would always be in doubt. There was only thing that you could be certain of - that you existed. 'I am, I exist'. And because you exist, you can doubt," He finishes.
"You're doubting yourself, you not taking your powers at face value, you're worried about corruption - I say that more than anything means you're staying human. So long as you keep asking yourself if this is your true feelings, or something else."
"...Though, I'll be honest, you're the first transgender person I've met. If that's something you feel that you are. I think, maybe, it also has to do with how you think to yourself. Like if you refer to yourself in your head as a girl." He suggests.
Max muses on Shin’s insightful words. When he mentions Max is transgender, she opens her mouth to protest at first. But then she reflects on everything that’s happened the past few months, and something subtle shifts in her mind.
”Yes. I think you’re right. I think I needed to hear somebody else say it out loud. I like myself this way. Maybe more than I did before. So... I guess that makes me transgender.” She laughs softly.
On a whim, Max walks over and leans in to give Shin a friendly kiss on the cheek. "Thanks, Shin. I'll see you around." She turns and walks off.
Caio sighs, tired, as he drops himself on the couch. "I'm... beaten. Not physically... I did not unleashed the Wolf... he escaped he fully overcame all my protections and it was just pure luck that I was able to control him before..."
He shakes his head again. "I almost killed all of them and... do you know what the Wolf wanted to do with Terrier?" He looks at her, ashamed and horrified.
Max’s face falls. ”I can imagine. Caio... The means might have been unpleasant, but the ends were definitely worthwhile. You stopped the Mongrels. Hopefully, no more students will transform into animal hybrids now. I just wish we weren’t too late for Neveah. And...and Grace.”
"Yes but... the clock is ticking, Max. The Wolf is getting stronger faster than I am."
”I know a little something about ticking clocks,” Max says. ”Don’t despair, Caio. You’ll find a way to come out on top. Just like I’m going to find a way to stop from becoming Violet.”
Max looks down at her feet, and her tail lashes behind her. ”Back to Grace, though... That’s one of the things I wanted to talk to you about. A few days before the Halloween Ball, she came to my dorm room and revealed her identity to me. I thought she just wanted a friend to confide in, but... we ended up becoming more than friendly, if you get my meaning...”
Caio nods, happy that this revelation did not harmed him in the least. "That is... wow! How Shin is reacting to this?"
”Surprisingly well. Apparently, he’s had experience with three way relationships before. So... it just might work out for all of us.”
"I do hope it does... just be careful, ok?" He says. He can't say much more about the matter, since he could not see himself in this type of relationship.
"I will," Max says with a smile. It doesn't last very long, though.
"Um, what's happening with... with you and Skyler?"
"It is a mess... and I'm not sure we can fix it." He says, crushed.
"Her powers are more than just seeing people's auras... she has some thing about bonding her aura to another person, as if becoming one... and being one with me means being one with the Wolf..." He explains. "She almost turned into a she-wolf just for being close to me."
"We can't have that happen..."
"It won't happen. With all the magic and super science at our disposal, there has to be a workaround. You and her will be able to be together one day." Max says. She offers Caio a comforting hug.
Caio returns the hug. "I'm certainly not giving up on us... you know I'm too stubborn for that." He jokes.
”I sure do! And I’m not giving up on you either.”
((Asking: What can I do to help you be happy?))
((Answer: Just be his best friend again, not wanting to be more than that. Their moment as a couple should stay in the past.))
((Question: Is Max ok with them being just friends, or is she hoping for more?))
((She seems okay with being friends. But theres something different about her body language and scent. You get the sense that if you wanted to be more than friends, she might be more open to it than before.))
Caio shoves away the idea of him and Max being a thing again... He was fighting for Skyler and Max was already in a pretty mess with Grace and Shin... He was certainly not willing to insert himself in that.
"I'll be asking this same question to everyone, but have you considered moving to the base as well?" He says, since this was his plan from when he moved in, but he feels a bit insecure of himself with all the affairs among the others. "I think it would help us a lot in the sense of seeing ourselves as a team."
”I think that actually might be a good idea, at least for me. We’re definitely stronger together. And we can stay up all night playing video games, like the good old days!"
"And finally get more players to play commander." He adds, happy to distract his mind. "So... you three will share a bed?" He tries to joke. "It would be quite a coordination effort to spoon."
Max laughs. "Shin's not there yet. Right now, Grace is dating both of us, but we aren't dating each other. Who knows what the future holds, though?"
Caio fakes a shiver. "Yikes! Shin is handsome but... uh yikes... it is my head now, he talking to you during sex like it was a mission..." He can't not laugh.
Max bursts out laughing as well. ”Ugh, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that!”
"Grace, Max, listen to me. This is important and I'm counting on you. I need you to remove your clothes, but keep the shoes. We'll need those for..." He tries to make a Horizon impression, but can't keep his face straight at the end.
Max is laughing so hard there are tears in her eyes! ”Oh my God, stop!”
"Sorry..." He says, clearly not sorry. "Max, I missed this so much."
Max wipes at her eyes. ”Me too, Caio. Let’s promise not to fight anymore, okay? I need my best friend by my side. No matter what comes our way.”
"No matter what." He repeats her words.
"I can help with the uniform situation. I've been using Whippoorwill's resources putting my own gear together. I think I could put something lightweight enough for you," He suggests to Grace, reaching out to gently squeeze her hand.
"As for a name...I'll be honest, I was thinking of this cat themed cape from my time, Tabby Cat. She wasn't transformed but used a lot of gymnastics and stealth to ambush muggers, crooks, and other criminals from the shadows. Maybe something like Alley Cat?"
Grace shakes her head. ”Too childish. I don’t want an alias that won’t age well,” Grace says as she resumes walking through the halls between them.
Femtite freezes as the trio—Shin, Grace and Max—passes her in the hall. She just waves and says nothing to interrupt whatever conversation they’re having.
But she does notice how much Grace resembles her mother walking with her harem girls.
I am definitely reading way too much into this. Stupid mommy-issues.
Caio takes a deep breath, focusing his mind at nothing in particular, which he manages surprisingly quickly... he loses a bit of concentration as he notices how easy it was this time, a proof that the circle did worked. Refocusing, he forces his mind to clear again before he concentrates on specific memories... he thinks of Max and the night they crossed the line between friends and lovers. The memory is so clear that he can smell Max pheromones and feel the chill of the night in his skin.
Focusing more, he remembers the feeling of dread of losing his control of the wolf, as well as the smell of sulphur... the humidity in his skin... As Caio opens his eyes, he doesn't see his bedroom, but instead the dark kennel where the wolf was locked... where he was supposed to be locked, because the cell is destroyed and the chains are broken...
A rumbling growl echoes through the chamber, making it impossible to locate the source. Caio's hackles raise as he feels eyes on him. Eyes full of contempt and malice.
Caio turns around, slowly, as if any sudden move could cost his life. He tries to shift his eyes to pierce the shadows, but he can't... Apparently here he was just a normal human there.
He takes a deep breath. This is just in my head.
"I know you are there... I'm not afraid of you." He lies.
The silence grows as the tension ratchets up. Another growl, louder this time, rings in his ears. As if the wolf does not care if Caio knows from which direction his doom will come, the sound has a clear direction. He spins around and sees two burning yellow eyes in the gloom.
You are nothing but fear. Fear and weakness. The animal-men were nothing to me. Their blood still tastes sweet on my tongue. You remember," the growling voice reverberates in Caio's skull, and his mouth is filled with the taste of blood.
Caio steps back as the size of the wolf towers over him. The Wolf was right of course, he was terrified, but the thought that it was just inside his head causes him to recover.
"I do remember... But you will not get loose again. I won't allow it."
The growl almost sounds like a laugh as it pads forward. "And how will you stop me, when you are just gristle in my teeth?"
Caio steps back and around, measuring the distance between himself and the bars of the cell and the chains inside it. "It doesn't matter how... I will. My grandfather put you in chains and I'll do so again... you will not get loose. You will not kill people. I won't let you!"
In a blur of motion, the wolf lunges! Before Caio can react, he feels jaws clamp down on his side and he is picked up bodily, shaken roughly, and flung across the room. He rolls over and over until he comes to a stop. "You cannot win," the wolf growls, but it does not sound like a threat. It is stating fact.
Stunned and confused, Caio has trouble to stand and breath. His hands reach for his torso and comes up bloodied, everything hurting terribly. He closes his eyes, concentrating back on his room, even if the fear and pain were making the process difficult. He grits his teeth. "I'll f+&%ing try..." He stumbles back towards the cell.
The wolf lunges again, this time shouldering Caio with its bulk. He flies backward into the cage!
Caio hits the wall, falling close to one of the broken pieces of the silver chain. He grabs it and tries to get back to his feet, even if he realises how futile is his effort to try to beat the wolf here, where he is powerless, while the Wolf is monstrously strong.
He closes his eyes, trying again to concentrate on his room, to escape the kennel... Caio is blinded by the light of his bedroom, too strong in contrast to the dark dungeon. For a moment, he is relieved to have escaped the kennel, but then, as his vision clears, he notices two terrifying things: first, he is covered in blood, and second, he is still clutching a piece of broken chain...
"ARRGHH! F&%$! SHIT... MAX!!!" Caio screams in his room, horrified.
Caio lies on the middle of his room, soaked in sweat. His white shirt is covered in blood, and he has several bruises on his arms and face. Lifting his shirt, there is a huge bite mark on his side, stretching all over his chest. Besides him, there is a broken silver chain.
Caio’s shouts wake Max from her slumber. She immediately rushes into his room, dressed in a lacy red negligee. ”Caio! Holy shit! What happened?” she asks in shock, staring at his bloody injuries.
"I... Faced the Wolf... And lost pretty badly." He says as he looks at his wounds, pressing his hands to stop the bleeding... Even if he'd heal, if he lost too much blood, he'd be in trouble.
He looks at Max and blushes, looking away. "F**#, Max, you are not leaving too much for the imagination, are you? I'm now happy to be bleeding so badly, so the blood can't go there."
"Oh! Sorry!" Max says, blushing. She concentrates a moment, and her clothes slither over her body, changing into her normal (still figure-hugging) costume. "When I'm asleep, this thing has a mind of its own."
She sits beside Caio with a worried look on her face. "It's getting worse, huh? The Wolf seems to be stronger than ever..."
"At least we know what happens to the souls of creeps and pervs... they turn into red dresses." He jokes, but soon regrets, since laughing is extremely painful.
"He is a freaking lot stronger." He says sighing and looking to the ceiling.
Caio then points to his wounds and the mysterious chain. "But these are awesome news... for now I know how to stop the Wolf." He smiles, hopeful. "I'm going to kill him."
"Kill him? How? And...how can I help?" Max asks, leaning forward.
"It is complicated, and I'll need to explain a couple things before..."
"That night when we... redecorated your room, for a moment you was in control of me, remember?" He asks. "While the control lasted, I was inside a dungeon, or a kennel, with two cells. The Wolf was in one of them and I was in the other... and I saw Violet there. Please don't freak out, ok?"
"For a while I though it was just a dream, thus why I've never mentioned it to you. But with this circle I've just made, a meditation circle, I was able to access that memory, or that place, whatever." He says, and takes a moment to breath.
"The Wolf wasn't locked anymore and we fought... well, I just actually took a major beating, because while there I'm just human." He shifts position. Most of the bleeding has stopped, so even if much slower than normal, the wounds are starting to heal. "The thing is... if it was just in my mind, how could I be wounded in real life, and how could I bring a piece of the chains that used to bind the Wolf with me?"
"Max, magic always involves equivalencies, exchanges, and balances. If I can bring things from the kennel, I can also bring things to the kennel. If the Wolf can harm me, I can harm him. If he can kill me, something he seemed to really want to, I can also kill him."
"I don't know if anyone can help me with this... but if I fail... if the Wolf wins, there will only be him. You once took control of us so... perhaps you can do so again."
Max blushes again as Caio mentions their night of shared passion. While she has felt ashamed of it at the time, she now looks back on it much more fondly. Even though it happened for the wrong reasons, she wasn’t upset that it had happened.
She listens to Caio’s plan and nods. ”I will certainly try. If the worst comes to pass... I’ll make sure the Wolf doesn’t hurt anybody.
“When are you planning on trying this plan of yours?”
"As soon as I can think of a way that I, a powerless human, could be able to kill the Wolf... Ideas? It needs to involve silver." He says.
”Maybe I can help out more,” Max says, taking Caio’s hands. ”I promised Shin I wouldn’t rely on my demonic powers except in emergency situations. But your life is on the line here. I think this qualifies.”
She closes her eyes. When she opens them, they are glowing red, and she stares at Caio, seeming to gaze into his soul...
Max's vision goes red, and she feels herself spinning around Caio as a disembodied spirit. She can hear a distant howl, though for some reason she knows it's coming from Caio -- though not really. She senses the wolf inside him, awake and caged, howling.
Then she hears an answering howl. Her vision shifts, and she sees herself at an airport. Three people are disembarking from a plane. There's a danger to them, she can tell. The howls are coming from them, and she hears Caio's wolf calling in response. Drawing them closer and closer.
Max grimaces as her eyes return to their normal yellow shade. "I didn't see anything useful to help with actually defeating the Wolf. But I saw three people getting off of a plane. They were howling, and the Wolf was calling back to them. They're coming for you, Caio. You only have a few days, at most, before they're here."
"F~#%! Of course they are... as if the pile of shit on top of my head wasn't big enough!"
"Were you able to see them? Was the leader a woman?" He ask, worried. "I wasn't counting on Lua making a move so soon..."
"Yes, there was a woman," Max says. She describes the three people she saw in detail. One of them matches the description of Lua.
Caio is visibly worried. "Lua is very bad news... this 'girl power thing' doesn't really work with werewolves, since a Pack is usually ruled by the strongest and scariest member, and males are far bigger and stronger... Lua is the alpha of her pack and that is the case because she is also a howler."
"A howler can easily control other werewolves, causing them to act as if they were a single beast... a 'pack' mind, and even throw them in a state of savagery that could keep them going for their prey even with fatal wounds." He looks at Max. "We need to tell the others and probably even tell the Corps."
Max nods, her expression grim. "Right. I'll inform the rest of the team tomorrow morning. You can alert the Corps. For now, just try to get some rest, if you can."
The next morning, Max does as promised, alerting the others to Caio's situation.
At the end of Monday, Horizon reaches out to Whippoorwill after the last class for the day.
"So I just wanted to touch base with you about the events of this weekend. I'm not entirely sure that I could call it a total victory, considering that we still have hundreds of students on the brink of hybridization. And Grace has..." He stops, ruminating before continuing. "...and those who have changed might not be changed back. I can't help but feel that was my fault. At the very least, I should have put things together after learning Ne'veah only changed after she'd lost access to the drug."
He rubs his hand, the fingers still a little tender after being fixed. "...how are you doing though, sensei? I didn't want to say during the meeting with the Alliance but you seemed to be tense about Lester Lawrence, not without good reason. But I could tell this seemed to affect you on a personal level..."
"I just hate it when you give someone a second chance and they squander it," Whippoorwill replies with a sigh.
"He was involved in the trafficking of Wy. That drug was a mess. At least this one doesn't seem to influence the behavior of those who took it... at least maybe before the actual change. Keep a close eye on Grace, would you? Ne'veah was also adamant to not being tested. We've got a small sample size, but we really don't want anything bigger than what we've got already.
"Anyway, I tracked Lester to one of his distribution hubs, but then, so did Mourning Dove. She's a homicidal revenant. And drug dealers are her targets of choice. The fight was bloody, and Lester needs to count himself lucky he didn't catch a bullet for his involvement. He ultimately cooperated in rounding up the last of the Wy hubs, Mourning Dove killed a lot of the people above him before she was stopped, and the whole ugly mess ended up getting Lester around five years at the state penitentiary."
"...To be honest, when we interviewed Lester, he didn't seem to know that the Mongrels were involved at all. He clearly believed the scheme was not illegal - not that it wasn't immoral to begin with selling kids anything under the table," Shin added. He wonders a little about Morning Dove. He should take some time to read more about the villains currently around or only recently incarcerated.
"I'm going to be extra vigilant with Grace for a while. She's not just dating me, but Max...It's funny how that's happened twice." He says with some amusement. "But...as for keeping her identity secret when she was working under the old name. It was something confided to me in private, and even after I learned she could be affected by the drugs, I did everything I could to keep that secret. Even bringing her in to the Alliance for testing before she changed and omitting those details. And I think that's also been a root cause for some of the friction I've been having with the rest of the team. So I am a little relieved to not have to do that anymore."
He sighs, before continuing. "I also wanted to ask your advice - you obviously have to deal with your own unique physiology when it comes to wardrobes. So I was wondering if perhaps you could help Grace out seeing as she's having a hard time wearing anything modest comfortably now that she's got fur everywhere. If you have anyone to refer to for this, I'd appreciate that as well."
"My wardrobe just needs to be backless. I don't have any special insights to what someone with fur needs. As far as others who are in a similar situation, let's see... Smilodon comes to mind but he doesn't wear much more than a loincloth. Calico wears a body stocking, but she doesn't have fur.
"We might be able to find something. But most outfits are made to be durable and protective. If regular clothing isn't comfortable, I can't imagine anything heavier will be. I can ask some of our tech support people if they've got any suggestions," she offers.
After agreeing to be studied, Grace undergoes a second battery of tests with the promises that her cooperation will help immensely.
Also in the high-tech lab is Ne'veah, though her cooperation was clearly far more coerced. Her demeanor changes abruptly when she sees Grace, somehow recognizing her immediately.
"Grace! You look great! OMG!"
Grace is hugging herself when she is reintroduced to Nev. She shakes her head anxiously and says ”I…I can’t believe this is happening.”
She looks at herself in the mirror, assuming it is most definitely a two way mirror, and adds ”How did you know it was me? I look nothing like myself. Even my face is shaped different!”
"You smell the same," Nev shrugs. "Like the other night. I could tell. All our team's going to change. It's going to be awesome!"
”Awesome? Awesome!?!?” Grace counters. ”We are going to be considered druggies! Cheaters! We’re all gonna be kicked out of ALL sports. Probably even the school! We…we probably aren’t going to get to see each other anymore…” she explains.
"Honestly, who cares about sports now? Look at us! I nearly beat Whippoorwill! I'm strong, I'm powerful, and I don't care about what others think!"
She grins, baring her pointed teeth, and her eyes glitter. "We'll be the leaders. When the others start to change, they'll look to us. Of course well be together."
Grace shakes her head. ”We aren’t forming a new band of Mongrels, Nev. We are just going to be ourselves. Just…as…cat people I guess.”
She holds out her arms and regards her sharpened nails. "I'm thinking 'felinoids'. What do you think?"
Grace shakes her head. ”You’re ridiculous,” she mutters as she lays down on the floor. She holds her own hands up and looks at her claws. She pops them in and out a few times, feeling strange at how natural it feels to do that. And how weird her hands look without fingernails, with claw slats instead.
"Felids? Or just 'Felines.'" Nev studies Grace. "You're feeling it too. You gotta be. Panther Pride. We're better. Better than we've ever been. And the best part? It's my parents' fault! They freaked out and started calling for an exorcism or something stupid like that. But it's because they pulled me out of school early. Ha! Serves them right!"
”You know the boys are going to start turning, too? Right? You don’t get to just…declare yourself Queen of Shiba because you turned first,” Grace points out.
Ne'veah smiles. "Why not? First of a new breed. You know the humans are going to want to stop the rest of us from changing. Even turn us back. They'll call it a 'cure.'" She uses finger quotes.
Her voice goes low. "We should do whatever it takes to stop them. You don't want to go back, do you?"
Grace huffs and says ”Nev. Just…shut up,” before folding her arms across her eyes.
Ne'veah falls silent. She paces back and forth like a caged animal until one of the scientists arrives to inform Grace that her mother is here.
"Be seeing you," Nev says with a waggle of her fingers and a flick of her tail.
Grace is escorted through the facility and taken to where her mother is waiting. She looks like she hasn't slept in days, with dark circles under her eyes and a bedraggled appearance.
She stands up as the door opens. "Grace?" is all she can say as she sees her.
Max falls in step beside Grace as she heads to meet her mother. The demoness gives Grace an encouraging nod.
Grace walks in, her head hung down and eyes on the floor, especially once she sees her mother and the state she was in. ”H-hey, mom…”
"They said... they said... my baby." Eyes already dry from crying too long stream new tears as she holds out her arms.
Grace also falls into open sobbing, stepping over to her mother and dropping to her knees in her arms.
Her mother squeezes her tight, hugging her desperately. "Grace, my baby, my sweet Grace..." she says over and over.
”I’m so sorry, mom. I thought…I could be like dad. Like…all the heroes you and him admired…” she sobs. ”I messed up. And now…I’m…”
"Shhh. You scared me to death, but I'm not, I'm not going to be mad. I'm just glad you're alive. Just promise you won't scare me like that! We'll figure all the rest out later, just promise me! No more secrets, please!"
She nods her head against her mother’s stomach. She stands on shaking legs and says ”So…I wanna introduce you to…a couple of people. This…is Diva. Her actual name is Max. And…this is Horizon…but…you’ve already met,” before pausing. She takes a breath and adds ”And we are all three…kind of…dating.”
Max smiles nervously and waves. "Nice to meet you, ma'am ."
Grace's mother's mouth drops open as she looks at the demoness. "Oh my." She closes her eyes as she is clearly trying to process but her exhaustion is not helping.
"Nice... nice meeting you too. And call me Trish."
"Okay," Max replies, blushing under her scrutiny.
Trish sways on her feet, the last two days of worry, no sleep and no food catching up to her. "Grace, let's go home. We can talk all about... this... in the morning."
"Go home now. If you need someone from the Alliance to talk to you, I can see about getting that done," Horizon says.
Grace's mother is in the kitchen with a cup of coffee when Grace comes down. She looks marginally rested. Her breath catches when she sees Grace.
"You look... you look strong."
”I mean…physically I am, I guess,” she mumbles as she fruitlessly tries to stretch her now too small clothes to cover herself more.
Her mother rubs her eyes as she slowly stands up. "I'm going to have to take a while to get used to this, and the idea that you were a super hero this whole time. But... I still love you. Whatever else we have to talk about, remember that, okay?"
Grace nods.
She scratches at her stomach and back, growing frustrated.
”It itches, mom…”she whines.
"I'm sorry," her mother replies, stepping close and giving a hand a squeeze. "Stay here. I'll get a brush."
She comes back soon carrying several. She coaxes her towards a kitchen chair."Sit down."
Grace sits with a huff.
"Don't go huffing me, young lady," she says in a motherly tone but Grace can hear the smile behind it. She starts running a brush through her hair, starting with what's on her head. After a few slow, deliberate strokes, she moves to Grace's shoulders. She brushes the fur gently along her neck and then runs the bristles down her back.
”I’m not,” Grace says dourly. ”I’m huffing the itching!”
Her mother stays silent and focused on her task.
Grace closes her eyes and enjoys the brushing. Without even realizing it, she starts making a purring sound.
She works the brushes down her back and sides to her waist, but eventually has to give her own shoulders a break. "Feel better?"
”Yeah. But…I can’t just continuously brush myself. And…every time fabric rubs against it the wrong way, it’s like a thousand ants are crawling over that spot!” Grace complains.
Her mother looks at her with sympathy in her eyes. "Well, we can try some different fabrics. Maybe something light and airy, that won't rub too much. At least until this is fixed. I know they're going to focus on making sure the other students don't change, so you'll just have to be patient and make do."
After helping her experiment with different clothing to strike the balance between comfort and modesty, Grace's mother starts crying all of a sudden. "I never should have stayed in Halcyon City. After your father passed, we should have left. This... this is my fault. I'm so sorry."
Grace steps over and wraps her in a hug, still somewhat surprised at being taller than her now. ”No, mom. It’s not. I…I made bad decisions that led me to this. And now…I have to live with those decisions…this is nobody’s fault but mine,” she says through her own tears.
"But it's still my job to protect you. And I failed. I don't know where I went wrong, what I could have done, or said, or-- or-- or something!"
”You didn’t do anything wrong. I just…” she sobbed, ”when I found the suit…and realized it was dads work, I wanted…to make you both proud…”
"Make me proud? But Grace! You didn't tell me!"
”I…planned to…one day…when I had done something worth being proud of…” she stammers. She then adds ”Doesn’t look like I ever will…”
She reaches up and cups Grace's face with her hands, shaking her head vigorously. "No! Don't say that! You've always made me proud, and I'm sure your father is too. You'll absolutely get your chance again!"
”S-so…you.want me…to keep doing the…hero thing?” she asks.
Her mother takes a step back. "I mean, want is a strong word... but... if it's what you want to do, even after this," she gestures at Grace's body, "don't keep me out of the loop."
She goes and sits down. "It's not like you'll be allowed to play volleyball until you're cured."
”If I’m cured…” Grace mumbles.
Her mother is back on her feet and taking Grace's hands. "If it doesn't happen, then... so be it. It'll take getting used to, but... I wasn't hallucinating last night, was I? Shin still likes you. And... I can't say I approve of a demon, but if she's someone in the same situation as you... then... I'll just have to keep an open mind."
”Yeah. Same as me. Changed against her will,” Grace clarifies.
Her mother's eyebrows go up. "I see. And you're...?" she shakes her head quickly. "Nevermind. That's none of my business. And it's certainly not the biggest thing I'm going to have to adjust to."
She steps back and takes Grace in again. "I swear, if I hadn't spent an hour brushing your fur, I would think this is all a dream."
The past few days have done much to help shape Max’s perception of herself. On Monday, after school, she dials up Angel Taylor.
”Miss Taylor? It’s Max...Devil Diva? I know it’s been a while, but, I think I might be ready to start that positive PR campaign we were working on...”
Max is placed on hold for several minutes while Angel is reached. Eventually she comes on the line. "Maximilian! How nice to hear from you! You're ready to start, then? Let's meet at my office later this week if you're open. I'll put you back with my administrative assistant; she'll find an open spot on my schedule."
"Thank you, Miss Taylor!" Max says happily
A car is waiting for Max outside the school when classes let out.
Max makes her way to the car and gets inside along with Grace.
”Thanks for coming with me, Grace. Are you excited to see Taylor Tower?”
”I’ve been there before,” Grace reminds Max, ”…but this time, I expect it will be different.”
The driver weaves them through the thoroughfares of Halcyon City to the Tower District. It's a dizzying route that runs through the massive skyscrapers that turn the streets into narrow canyons, and finally underground into a parking garage level.
The driver pulls up next to a bank of elevators where everyone disembarks and takes a rapid ride to one of the upper floors of the tower. The elevator doors open into a posh suite in tasteful modern décor and wide open windows overlooking the amazing Halcyon skyline.
Angel is on a headphone, shouting and pacing while her fluffy white wings flap in agitation. "No, absolutely not. We are not a 'hype machine,' we take actual heroes, not some corporate, focus-group assembled power team! You heard me!"
She taps the button on her earbud -- though it looks like she wishes she could slam a telephone receiver into its cradle. "Your 4:10 is here," an assistant whispers.
Angel brightens when she sees Max. "Oh! Good to see you again! Please, sit. And who's this with you?" she looks Grace up and down.
”H-hi, Ms. Taylor. It’s me…Grace Gilliam? One of Kayla’s friends?”
Max sits down across from Angel. She reaches over to hold Grace's hand as her girlfriend nervously introduces herself.
Grace intertwined her fingers with Max’s.
Angel concentrates for a minute, as she searches her memory for Grace's name. "Okay! I think I remember. The cat look is new, then? Is this something to do about the rumors surrounding the school athletic programs? There's been quite a buzz on social media. "
Grace nods demurely in embarrassment.
Angel's mouth twists. "All right. The rumors aren't pleasant."
She turns to Max. "Have you brought Grace here because you'd like me to consider her for a contract? Or is she here for emotional support?"
”A…a contract? For what?” Grace asks in surprise.
"PR work, my dear. Social media presence, public appearances, sponsorship deals, that sort of thing. The public relations arm of Taylor International manages the images of hundreds of powered and special individuals across the globe. We protect them from negative press, smear campaigns, and the like, while managing endorsements and sponsorships to make sure you have a comfortable income."
"She came along so support me, but..." Max glances at Grace. "I suppose that's up to her, if you're offering."
She brushes her hair behind her ear. ”Why would anyone care about images of me?” she asks.
"Because you are beautiful, inside and out," Max says to Grace, smiling.
If it weren’t for the fur, the others would see her blushing furiously. Even so, her body language makes it obvious also.
”Hush it,” she says playfully.
Max chuckles and leans over to give Grace a kiss on the cheek.
”I mean…” she starts, then Angel begins with Max, so she gets quiet and has a seat.
Angel regards the two's interactions with an amused smile. "It's not so much about me offering. It's a business deal. I would have to do my own research to make sure that I can take her on as one of the Taylor family, and some other basic vetting."
She leans back and taps a button. "Bring me the Devil Diva file," she says, then steeples her fingers. "When we last spoke, you left me with quite a challenge. I've taken the liberty of preparing a few options for your social media presence and some possible public appearances. Charity work, that sort of thing. There's always Cape Watch and other streamers that pay close attention to the super hero scene. That's low-hanging fruit, but it builds awareness."
Max nods. "Right. Well, I'm in a different place now when I was back then, too. I feel more...comfortable, with who I am. So I'm willing to do whatever you think is best to ensure I have a positive image, and to make the most impact."
Angel smiles. "I'm pleased that you're more comfortable with who you are. Definitely makes it easier when we don't have to request reporters to dance around uncomfortable topics. They do like to toe the line. Or stride brazenly across it."
An assistant arrives with a tablet computer. She hands it to Max. "These are some concepts we've got. The devil theme is problematic due to the negative connotations of Hell and various religious iconography, but that's not insurmountable," Angel explains. Max can swipe through the images on the tablet, which include things like alternate costume choices, doll and toy lines, logos, clothing lines, and even some proposed endorsement deals like devil's food snack cakes.
"We'll start you off simple and as innocent as possible -- remind the public you're still a teenager. I've avoided anything too gender-focused, partly because we want to downplay the 'succubus' angle, but also because of your, <ahem> dysphoria. If you're more comfortable now, we can talk about fashion lines and makeup colors in the future. They're typically big sellers for any female cape."
Max swipes through all the images, chuckling at some of them, grimacing at a few.
"Yeah, fashion and makeup are okay. Thanks for doing all of this, Miss Taylor. It looks like you've thought of everything! I'm ready to start. Just tell me what you need me to do."
Angel stands up. "Excellent. Projections anticipate a thirty percent return in the first two quarters, with as much as fifty to sixty after that, provided you've got some high-profile fights where you don't wreck things too badly. That's going to be something we can't account for, but you'll have to keep in mind. School takes precedence, but you should consider going on crimefighting patrols as soon as possible."
She motions for Max to follow her to her desk, where another computer is set up. "This is the standard contract for an underage hero. T.I. takes thirty percent, minus certain expenses. Do you have a guardian or are you emancipated? There's still laws about entering into contracts with minors. I can have a guardian ad litem appointed for you if you need."
Grace watches the whole thing, growing antsy.
"Emancipated," Max says quickly. She reads over the contract, then signs on the dotted line.
Angel smiles as she watches Max sign the contract. She then turns to Grace. "Well, then. Do you have any questions, Miss Gilliam? Any thoughts on being a hero yourself? Unless that's all cosmetic...?"
”I was already a hero, thank you!” she counters. ”But…yeah…I suppose I do need a rebranding. But…my mom would need to be part of any deals. “
"She needs a new hero name and a costume," Max adds.
"All ready a hero, hmm? Interesting. Which one?" Angel doesn't seem to have any problem with Grace needing her mother to be involved. "Certainly! Say no more, we can schedule something else for when she's here, if you'd like. And work on a name and put together some costume ideas."
”I…used to pilot the Steel Guardian,” Grace says. ”As for costumes, ever since my change, most clothes and fabrics are very itchy. Just for the record.”
Angel walks up close to Grace. "If I may?" she asks before actually touching her fur.
”Ummmm, sure?” she says in confused embarrassment.
The winged woman runs her hand along Grace's shoulder and upper arm. She gently pinches a tuft of fur, then leans in to get a look at the soft hairs covering her face. "Very cute. I think you can be quite popular. Much more warm and cuddly than a suit of armor."
Grace stands still as Angel runs her hand on her arm. ”Thanks?” she says, more of a question than response. ”I…used to look a lot different. But then the change happened. And all…this,” she adds as she gestures up and down her body.
Max laughs softly when Angel calls Grace "cute." She is inclined to agree.
Angel rolls her eyes. "Of course you look different. I'd remember if my niece brought a catgirl over to one of her sleepovers."
Concluding the meeting, Angel calls over a young woman waiting nearby. "This is Harper. She'll be your image consultant, Max. She'll direct you on your social media posts -- like we did last time, only she'll have time to really coach you through them. Plus, she'll help out with fashion, and will be setting your schedule once we get the public appearances lined up."
As Harper sticks her hand out for a shake, Angel turns to Grace. "It was lovely to meet you again. Talk to your mother about signing on. The Steel Guardian was a mystery to the public, and you could hide behind the armor and keep a normal life." She gestures at her body. "Now you don't have that option. It's good that Max is helping you through all this, but we can help too. Think about it. Let me know."
Max offers her hand to Harper. "It's nice to meet you, Harper. I look forward to working with you!"
"Me too!" Harper gushes. She looks young, barely in her twenties, but she's stylishly dressed with her hair in a messy bun and small thick-rimmed glasses. "It's going to be great!"
Max can't help but grin at the young woman's enthusiasm!
”Okay…let me…just call her real quick,” Grace says before calling her mother on her cell phone. Once she answers, she explains everything she can before saying ”Okay…hang on,” and turning to Angel and saying ”She has some questions for you,” as she holds out the phone.
Angel takes the phone and steps away to have a brief conversation with Grace's mother. While she's talking, Harper takes the tablet from Max and starts swiping through some of the clothing and costume designs. They're almost all far more modest and heroic than Max's cursed outfit would allow.
"What do you think? Should we schedule you for a fitting? It could take several hours, so why not this weekend?"
Max knows she'll have to focus to keep the cursed dress in check as undergarments beneath these costume choices. Still, she needs to send the right message with this PR campaign.
"Sure, provided I'm not needed to smackdown some super villains!" she says.
Harper laughs. "Oh, right! If that happens, you just go right on ahead!"
Angel returns with the phone. "She's going to think about it. Harper, could you get some promotional materials for Miss Gilliam here for her mother to review on her way out?" The image consultant nods her head vigorously. "All right, if that will be all, I'll see both of you later."
"Thank you, Miss Taylor! See you soon!" Max says with a smile.
On the car ride back from Taylor Tower, Max looks over at Grace. "I think this will be good for both of us. My reputation needs the boost to fight against the propaganda Reverend Reibold and his cronise are spreading, and this will help you gain confidence in your new body."
Grace nods, but blushes at the comment about her body. ”Yeah…it’s different…” she replies.
Max reaches over to take Grace's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "You're still the same person on the inside, no matter what you look like."
The demoness is quiet for a few moments as she looks out the window. Then she looks back at Grace. "So this whole...relationship thing with you and Shin... I've never done anything like this before. I spoke to Shin a bit about his expectations, but I wanted to talk to you, too."
Grace’s breath catches. ”Wh-what do you mean? What did…you two talk about?” she asks nervously.
"Not much. He wanted to make clear that there was a boundary between me and him. That we would just be friends who share a lover."
Grace blushes furiously, suddenly grateful for the cover her fur provided to hide it.
"So, my question for you is, how open do you want this relationship to be? If somebody else were to come along that caught my eye, for example, would it be okay if I pursued them? Would you prefer if the two of us remained exclusive?
"I'm not asking these question to make you feel uncomfortable. I just want to establish the ground rules of our relationship so neither one of us ends up getting hurt."
Grace crosses her now long legs, finding her bare feet interesting suddenly. She gives some furtive glances up from them towards the driver in embarrassment.
"You don't have to answer right away. But I think it's important that we talk about this again, when you're ready," Max says.
Grace reaches over and presses the button to raise the barrier between the driver and back seat.
”Sorry. Not used to talking about this sort of thing, especially in front of strangers” she says. She turns to face Max and takes her hands. ”I…suppose if you want us to be…flexible, then I’m okay with that. Especially since I’m also with Shin. Just…make sure whoever you are with…isn’t…you know…loaded with STD’s and shit…”
Max makes a face. "Ugh. Of course. This is all hypothetical right now. I'm happy just being with you."